Chapter 137: The Map of White Mountains and Black Waters

The Heavenly Crystal Bomb exploded overhead with a thunderous roar, and the scene before the white-haired granny changed completely.

She suddenly found herself in a black-and-white world. The lofty mountains and flowing waters, the little bridge and the houses beyond it—all were rendered in only those two colors, as though no third color existed. The white-haired granny remained composed. With a single whirl, the Pink Rose Sword enveloped her body in a layer of white light, after which she proceeded cautiously, muttering inwardly that this place was far too strange—even her Pink Rose Sword had lost its pink color.

After crossing the little bridge, she discovered a house with black tiles beneath an ancient willow whose age was impossible to guess. From the black-lacquered doorway emerged a man dressed in black. With his hands clasped behind his back, he sauntered across the bridge and approached her with a smile.

At the sight of the young man’s little tiger teeth, the white-haired granny’s hatred made her teeth itch. She held three silver needles between her fingers and glared at him with eyes blazing like fire.

Lei Xiang!

This unremarkable-looking youth had destroyed Qianqian’s physical body in the Xiao Ya Sect, leaving her still unable to find a suitable vessel. Qianqian was the white-haired granny’s only family—how could she stand idly by? Yet she had brought twenty-five Core Formation experts to besiege the Prajna Sect, with the primary purpose of eliminating Lei Xiang. Who could have expected him to turn the battle into a disastrous defeat? Of the twenty-five Core Formation cultivators, only nine remained. To Xiao Ya, such a failure was an absolute humiliation. This boy could not be allowed to live.

The white-haired granny flicked her middle finger three times, yet nothing shot forth, as though she had merely snapped her finger at the air. But Lei Xiang, who was strolling toward her, suddenly felt the muscles throughout his body tighten for no reason. Rollers extended from beneath the Windfire Boots on his feet. His body slid, twisted, and flashed through the air, writhing without pattern like an eel. Only after twisting dozens of times did he finally come to a stop, a fine sheen of cold sweat forming on his brow.

The white-haired granny was startled as well and let out a surprised cry. She had absolute confidence in her Granny Wang’s Ghost-Tracking Needles. This unique concealed weapon had been invented by her three hundred years ago and named after herself. She would not claim that it was invincible, but at the Core Formation level, no one had ever escaped its array unscathed. Earlier, while pursuing Lei Xiang, she had relied on this extraordinary weapon to destroy his flying artifact, the White Jade Bed. Why, then, had the needles suddenly become ineffective here?

Lei Xiang steadied himself and slowly said, “Granny, I think we should have a proper conversation. You can see for yourself that, in this black-and-white world, I make the rules.”

The white-haired granny could not help examining her surroundings again. Apart from the monochrome palette, nothing else seemed different. Gritting her teeth, she said nothing. The Pink Rose Sword, which she had silently empowered with a profound incantation, transformed into a mass of white light and shot forward.

“Looks like you still refuse to give up.”

The instant he spoke, an enormous Blue Lotus Disc rose before Lei Xiang. It, too, emitted no pale-blue radiance, yet it easily deflected the Pink Rose Sword.

The white-haired granny sighed inwardly. She knew Lei Xiang was telling the truth. The failure of her Ghost-Tracking Needles just now was no different from the sword’s fruitless assault. Had they been outside, even if her attack failed to kill him, it would at least have damaged his defenses. It could never have been dispelled so effortlessly.

There was something strange about this place.

“First, tell me where we are. And then tell me what you want.”

Hearing this, Lei Xiang’s heart relaxed. He knew he had won.

“Actually, I only want to make a trade with you. I have no desire to harm you. I merely want to know the location of the Xiao Ya Sect’s headquarters.”

The white-haired granny hated him almost beyond words, but her expression remained calm. “Explain this place to me first. Then I will decide, depending on the circumstances, whether I am willing to trade with you.”

At that moment, Lei Xiang stopped fifty zhang away from her. His hands were still clasped behind his back, and he smiled lazily.

“It is very simple. This land of black mountains and white waters is my personal domain. On my own territory, I naturally make the rules. The speed and force of any attack you launch can be increased or reduced at will, so long as I wish it. In short, everything within this place is under my control.”

The white-haired granny drew in a sharp breath. His words confirmed her suspicions. The speed of her Ghost-Tracking Needles had been reduced to one-third of its usual rate, while the power of the Pink Rose Sword had fallen by nearly half. She had already suspected that this sinister place was under Lei Xiang’s control.

At last, she let out a long sigh. “Very well. I can tell you where our headquarters is. It is the extraordinarily mysterious Skyborne Island. But ordinary people cannot even find its location, much less discover a way to enter. If you offer me sufficient compensation, I can give you the details.”

What the white-haired granny could never have imagined was that some of Lei Xiang’s claims were false. This was not his personal space, and he was far from free to do as he pleased within it. During his desperate struggle at the Prajna Sect, Lei Xiang had conceived this plan and decided to take a gamble, using the treasure he had obtained from his mother’s room in the Blood Severing Space: the Black Mountain White River Diagram.

He still remembered that when he had accidentally entered it, he had been completely incapable of finding his own way out. This extraordinary treasure could undoubtedly form a world of its own. Now that Lei Xiang had largely refined it, he could naturally use it to trap people. But it was merely an extraordinary treasure, not Lei Xiang’s absolute domain. Had it truly been an absolute domain, he would have enjoyed far greater freedom.

Moreover, the treasure consumed an enormous amount of spiritual power. With Lei Xiang’s current cultivation, he could maintain it for no more than a day.

The white-haired granny knew none of this.

In truth, Lei Xiang was the one in the greatest haste. He could not afford to waste time. Yet outwardly, he had to appear calm and unconcerned. The premium spirit stone in his hand had already turned a dull gray, but he continued unhurriedly, “I, Lei Xiang, always keep my word. Tell me how to enter, Granny, and I will send you out at once.”

The white-haired granny gathered her pure-white hair with one hand and smiled faintly. “I have already answered your first question. You should dispel this space first. Only then will I tell you how to enter and leave Skyborne Island.”

Seeing how resolute she was, Lei Xiang had no choice but to summon the Blue Lotus Disc. He then pointed toward a spot in the air. A dazzling radiance of black and white flashed, and when the white-haired granny opened her eyes, she found herself back outside the Prajna Sect.

Delighted, she said blandly, “Lei Xiang, you truly do as you say. Then this old woman will tell you: Skyborne Island appears once every ten thousand years. Only when it manifests can one climb up by means of the Heavenly Ladder. The last appearance was several centuries ago, which means you must wait at least nine thousand more years before you have any chance of seeing it.”

“Impossible!” Lei Xiang replied with absolute certainty. “A friend of mine was captured and taken to Skyborne Island only a few years ago. How could it be accessible only once every ten thousand years? There must be another way to reach the island. Granny, fulfill your promise and tell me.”

The white-haired granny slowly shook her white head. “No. I promised only to answer that one question, and I have fulfilled my promise. Now it is time for the two of us to settle this. Prepare to die, boy!”

Before Lei Xiang could react, the Pink Rose Sword had already crossed the distance of fifty zhang. With a shrill hiss as it tore through the air, its tip stabbed toward the Blue Lotus Disc before Lei Xiang.

Lei Xiang froze. He had not expected her to attack without warning. Still, he had complete confidence in the Blue Lotus Disc, and so he coldly watched the white-haired granny while steadily raising the Nine-Nine Immortal-Slaying Spear in his hand.

By then, the three-inch pink blade had already pierced through Lei Xiang’s outermost protective barrier. Such power was beyond anything he could withstand. Fortunately, he possessed the Blue Lotus Disc, an artifact of immortal rank.

At the instant the pink sword light touched the Blue Lotus Disc, Lei Xiang gently pulled the trigger. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for—the perfect moment to strike.

A sharp crack rang out, followed by a muffled impact.

The body of the Pink Rose Sword drove viciously into Lei Xiang’s chest. The Universe Origin Bag played a crucial role, yet Lei Xiang was still sent flying thirty zhang into the air in utter shock.

The Blue Lotus Disc!

That was the only thought in Lei Xiang’s mind.

The Blue Lotus Disc had actually been knocked aside, leaving his chest completely exposed and allowing him to suffer this fatal blow.