Chapter 39

In an instant, the jade slips dotting the library pavilion shone like a scattering of brilliant stars. Amidst the flickering luminescence, the cub swayed her head, humming in rhythmic agreement. Soon, the radiance faded, and the jade slips returned to their former silent state.

The little one’s spirit returned to her body. She looked around, lifting her small head with pride. She possessed a vast, endless ocean of Taoist techniques, all now imprinted within her mind. Although she could not comprehend most of them, Yu Youyou felt as though she had become a miniature version of the Gong Clan Library Pavilion—knowing everything, understanding everything.

"The jade slips..." Ao Qing observed, turning his gaze toward the cub. Her emotions were entirely written on her face, making them easy for him to read. He spoke slowly, "Have you obtained all that the Gong Clan had hidden? The descendants of the Gong Clan are truly miraculous."

He wondered if it was Yu Youyou alone, or if this entire lineage of the Gong Clan patriarchs possessed the ability to receive the legacy of all the Gong Clan’s jade slips. Regardless, after a moment’s thought, Ao Qing was certain that Gong Miaohua had never received such a gift. Had she, she would have flaunted it long ago.

It was good—and quite interesting—that Gong Miaohua had received nothing. She was the one considered the more "pure" heir, the closest bloodline to the Gong Clan patriarch, while Yu Youyou was the offspring of a Gong Clan descendant and an outsider. Yet, it seemed Yu Youyou had received far more of the clan’s secrets and blessings. Whether it was the library pavilion or the various manifestations of Gong ancestors in the ancestral temple, Gong Miaohua clearly paled in comparison. It turned out that compared to their Youyou, the self-important Gong Miaohua was the true failure.

"Have you found a technique you can cultivate?" Ao Qing had no interest in the treasures of the Gong Clan; he cared only for the cub’s well-being.

Yu Youyou patiently searched through the overwhelmingly vast sea of knowledge for a moment, then pointed at her fingers and said shyly, "Eat."

There were fragments of text suggesting that if a Gong clansman felt hungry and wanted to eat everything, they should not panic! Just eat if you want to. Eat as much as you can. It was perfectly fine. As for cultivation... she thought for a moment, then waved her small hand in a carefree gesture to her elders. "Whatever happens, happens." Though she could now speak fluently, she remained accustomed to being concise.

Chu Xingyun pondered the meaning behind the advice the Gong Clan had left for his little junior sister and said softly, "Letting nature take its course?"

The cub had been examined, and it appeared she could not cultivate in the traditional sense. Yet, she had consumed demonic veins and heavenly lightning; those spiritual energies were stored within her body, and her path of cultivation was undoubtedly different from other practitioners. Seeing the cub’s firm conviction, Chu Xingyun smiled and said, "Then let us let our little junior sister follow her own path."

The others nodded in agreement. Since they had come to worship the ancestors for Yu Youyou’s sake—and although the process had been filled with turbulence—it was successfully completed, with many unexpected boons.

Sect Master Yu said to Ao Qing, "I will accompany my martial uncle back to the Azure Dragon Clan." Ao Qing was injured and would have to travel a long way to protect the little golden dragon, which would surely entail many complications. As a sect master of many years, while his cultivation was one thing, he was highly experienced in handling such trivial matters and intelligence.

Ao Qing did indeed need him. The matter of a golden dragon being born into the Azure Dragon Clan was something that required someone adept at managing such rumors. Ao Qing was furious. At this point, even if the couple Ao Yong and his wife claimed the dragon egg was not theirs, it would only make people believe they were hiding something. What was more infuriating was that, despite the truth of their claim, no one would believe them.

Sect Master Yu felt a sense of frustration on Ao Qing’s behalf. Since they had brought back an egg of unknown origin, why had they not simply stated it was someone else's child instead of tacitly accepting for three hundred years that it was their own? There was likely more to this story. After all, the couple were not entirely foolish. Sect Master Yu decided to accompany Ao Qing to the Azure Dragon Clan to investigate the situation.

However, the shattering of the Gong Clan’s restrictions also needed to be addressed. They did not travel far after leaving the Gong Clan, choosing instead to rest at the nearby outer gate of the Tai Gu Sect.

As they left the Gong Clan, Yu Youyou peered over Chu Xingyun’s shoulder. Deep in the abyss lay the Gong Clan. Until the moment she departed, it remained silent, devoid of the terrifying, all-consuming aura mentioned in the book. Instead, she found it quite comforting.

She absentmindedly stroked the little golden dragon, which was camouflaged as a bracelet on her arm, and whispered into Chu Xingyun’s ear, "It isn't."

She was not the Yu Youyou from the book, so everything was different. Just as in the book, the memories of the original Yu Youyou never included the appearance of the Gong ancestors or the manifestation of their spirits; yet, the cub was experiencing all of this. This experience made her feel very happy.

Everything had changed. And so, she had a vague feeling that the Gong Clan would no longer become the terrifying, avoided "land of spiritual extinction" that it was in the book. The Gong Clan would remain here, waiting for the return of every descendant, and one day, it would regain its vitality.

For once, Chu Xingyun did not share a telepathic connection with the cub and failed to grasp her meaning. However, feeling her relaxed mood, he offered a gentle smile.

The group soon reached the Tai Gu Sect’s camp. Upon landing, Sect Master Yu saw his disciples approach. After glancing at the information provided, he handed a letter to Chu Xingyun while frowning slightly. "The Wen and Sun clans are marrying again and have sent me an invitation..." He had no intention of going and tossed it aside. Looking at the next jade slip, his face darkened. "The Qingyang Sect wants to discuss the ownership of the Heaven Beyond the Heavens with me. Ignore them."

He handled the sect's affairs with practiced ease. As a sect master with endless responsibilities, it was clear that his time away had caused a backlog of work. Yu Youyou yawned, tucked into the crook of Chu Xingyun’s neck, and wrapped her small arms tightly around it, allowing him to focus on unfolding the letter in his hand.

Such a thoughtful little junior sister made Chu Xingyun smile, but after reading the letter, his expression grew strained. The cub leaned forward, rubbing her cheek against his in concern.

"What is it?" Sect Master Yu asked after finishing his own correspondence.

"It is nothing, just family matters," Chu Xingyun replied. He was a prince from a mortal dynasty; "family matters" referred to the affairs of the imperial house. While these sounded profound, they were of little importance to transcendent cultivators.

Sect Master Yu looked at his disciple for a long moment and said, "Youyou is currently healthy, so there is no need for you to worry while remaining in the sect. If there is something urgent at home, you should go back." Cultivation often meant losing track of time, and he did not want his disciple to have regrets. Mortal lives were short compared to those of cultivators; perhaps a single period of meditation would see the mortal world changed beyond recognition. Chu Xingyun still had family in the palace, and the Sect Master often received letters from his home that left cultivators amused—such as those urging him to marry. That dynasty had produced Chu Xingyun and was now flourishing; they naturally understood what it meant for a mortal kingdom to have a powerful high-level expert watching over it.

"This disciple understands," Chu Xingyun sighed softly, but he added, "The Gong Clan's restrictions are all broken and need to be restored. This disciple is not talented, but I have studied arrays for many years and have made progress. Although the most critical arrays will require the help of our elders, I am confident in handling the remaining restrictions. I wish to stay here to repair the Gong Clan's defenses."

This was his way of sharing the burden. Though he was no longer the son-in-law of the Gong Clan, the bond with the clan patriarch and the former sect master remained. Sect Master Yu had indeed intended to ask an elder skilled in arrays to come, but he hesitated, knowing it was a private matter that would occupy an elder’s time for an unknown duration. Seeing Chu Xingyun offer, and knowing his disciple’s aptitude for arrays and his unusual encounters with rare techniques, the Sect Master nodded slightly.

"Starting tomorrow, I will have people collect and deliver the materials you need." Rebuilding the arrays would require a significant amount of resources. Sect Master Yu would have to pay for this out of his own pocket. He paused, then handed a jade slip to a disciple, ordering it to be sent to the Crimson Flame Demon Lord and his wife. After all, the breaking of the restrictions was partly due to the appearance of the Gong spirits, which had triggered a lightning tribulation. Sect Master Yu did not intend to tell Gong Miaohua about such an important matter. If she knew about the spirits, the Crimson Flame Demon Lord would know too. He could not allow that, especially if it drew attention to the abnormalities surrounding Yu Youyou.

Of course, since he hadn't mentioned it, Gong Miaohua would think the broken restrictions had nothing to do with her, and Sect Master Yu didn't care. He was simply notifying her as a descendant of the Gong Clan; if she didn't want to help, that was fine, but it would prevent her from complaining later that she hadn't been informed. The wealthy Sect Master Yu would simply cover the costs himself.

Chu Xingyun agreed.

"Me, me!"

Yu Youyou had memorized many of the secret arrays of the Gong Clan. Although she was not skilled in the art of arrays, she could brainstorm with her senior brother, and she eagerly volunteered.

Sect Master Yu looked at his busy daughter in surprise, initially reluctant to let her leave his side. But catching a nod of approval from Ao Qing, he hesitated and then said, "Very well, Daddy agrees."

The little one’s bloodline was indeed extraordinary, and he could not be so overly cautious that he kept her confined within the Tai Gu Sect forever, never seeing the world. Since Yu Youyou was now publicly known as a "failure," she was safe. She had been treated with disdain in the Nine Nether Demon City yet remained unharmed, which proved her safety. Moreover, Chu Xingyun was powerful and carried several magical treasures; even if they encountered an immortal-tier expert, he would surely be able to escape with her.

"Master, do not worry; this disciple will keep our little junior sister safe," Chu Xingyun said with a smile, seeing the little one clutching his clothes, unwilling to let go, and happy to stay behind with him.