The Journey of Flower - Chapter 109

Taoist Seven Star Path

Nan Wuye was detained in the Nine Heavens, mainly guarded by Seven Northern Star Lords.

Hua Qiangu had seen them twice at the celestial banquet, but did not greet each others. At that time those seven deities didn’t drink or chat with people, their attention only focused on playing chess with six Southern Dipper Lords. There were scuffled game between the thirteen men. It had been several days since the celestial banquet ended, but they hadn’t finished their chess game yet. The intensity of the battle was unimaginable.

Their chess pieces were all stars in the sky that could build as the best weapons in the world. Of course, it could also forge as the strongest cage in the world. At the same time, they laid out the Northern Dipper seven-stars formation which is the source of the million arrays, nothing in the universe able to break it. Most of the other formation in the world are derived from them.

Hua Qiangu looking at it from afar. Although the sky was pitch black, she still able to see through layers of barrier, the seven shining stars in the Nine Heavens. Importantly, Xiao Ye is in the center surrounded by the Celestial Pivot Star, Great Gate Star, Prosperity Star, and Scholar Star.

Dongfang Yuqing followed her line of sight and looking at the northern sky. He then touched her head to ease her worries.

“Let’s go.”

Hua Qiangu lifted her finger and conveniently summoned the cloud to rid on. Beneath Dongfang Yuqing’s foot, there were also foggy cloud slowly forming. It’s not magic spell but rather like some kind of transparent chariot.

“Can you catch up with my speed?”

“Of course.” Dongfang Yuqing nodded and answered with the smiled.

Because the way to the Nine Heavens is straight up, riding the clouds is more stable and faster than riding the swords. The two of them disappeared in the sky in a blink.

The wind blew from the top of their heads and speed was extremely fast. Surrounding was dark making them unable to see clearly. Hua Qiangu spreads her qi, so she doesn’t feel cold at all. It’s like being in the sea with faintly sense of obstruction and stickiness. Throughout the journey, she recalled the days of being in the cave with Xiao Ye. Although the time together were not too long, she had watched him grow up little by little with her own eyes. It was just like a life of concentration. Human’s feeling are often like this. Even it was only a moment of meeting and knowing each others, it would arouse the heartbeat with desire instantly. It is also worth remembering and pursuing for a lifetime. Using a lifetime to protect and wait for.

When the body finally feels a sense of free from obstruction rushing out of the sea, she knew right away, they have arrived the Nine Heavens. There are many heavenly celestials underneath here, in the middle is Milky Way of sun and moon, and Gods and Buddhas are directly above it, but this is just an abstract concept of location. In fact, it is the same as the salvage of wilderness, each has its own different space. The Nine Heaven connected by secret path, sometimes overlaps may occur. Buddha says: One flower, one world. Everything has its own universe, it can be big or small. It’s just that summer insects can’t talk about ice (it’s impossible to speak to persons of limited experience). It’s something that people at different space and time can never understand.

Dongfang Yuqing suddenly approached her, gently look into her eyes and breathed. Suddenly her eyes seemed to be covered with a thin layer of water mist on the glass. Everything in front of her was blurred. Then the two peel off the clouds and fly out, her surrounding suddenly became extremely brilliance, making her unable to open her eyes. Although the eyes have been covered with a transparent sheet,it was still burning hot feeling like needles prick. A gust of wind blew in her face, clouds slowly closed behind him. Hua Qiangu curiously looked at this glorious world that full of stars. It was too dazzling forcing her to shut her eyes.

The sky was full of stars at all directions, bright and dark, at near and far distant. It seemed like it maybe more than people on earth. Not only above, there are also starlight shines beneath her feet. Hua Qiangu bowed her head and saw Dongfang Yuqing was standing on the water. A river that is incomparably wide, water stains trail down could not see the end. The water surface is crystal clear, at this time calm and waveless. Feeling like there is no current flow at all. Reflecting the stars in the sky glistening, momentary creating an illusion, don’t know whether the stars are in the sky or at the bottom of the river.

Hua Qiangu could not resist from squatting down and stretched out her hands to touch it. Unexpectedly, she scooped out a handful of sparkling things. It’s like fragments of countless stars.

“This is the Milky Way. we are heading north for countercurrent flow so that we will be able to find the Big Dipper.”

Hua Qiangu used the spell to make herself invisible. As Dongfang Yuqing, he drew a magical charm to hide his body. The two quietly flew over the surface of the water. The space around them was too quiet, but it also bright and beautiful. When looking up makes people feel even more lonely.

Seeing the Big Dipper, but when closer they only saw a huge halo of seven regiments. It was like seven suns. It seemed like there was something hidden in the hao. Since it was too bright so they are unable to tell whether it was real or not.

Dongfang Yuqing put index finger on his lips and made a shh sound at her. The then smile as he talk to her with inner sounds: “The stars are sleeping.”

Since they already have a basic understanding of the outside situation, they have prepared in advance. It was easy for them to break through the heavy guarded of the heavenly troops at the entrance of Big Dipper Array. However, the formation inside was like a maze, and infinitely vast. It’s not easy to find Nan Wuye here. Although Dongfang Yuqing is good at the art of divination, there’s still some confusion about the natural changes of the stars.

Several entrances outside were heavily guarded, but none of them were in the array. The two have been in here for a while and occasionally encounters some strange and terrified traps. Fortunately, Dongfang is here, so they could pass through dangerous crisis safely.

Nan Wuye’s vital breath was completely shielded, so they unable to perceive where he was. Hua Qiangu could only find directions by her intuition.

There is no sun or moon, unknowingly, they have been in array for three days already. Hua Qiangu became anxious, she wanted to get the primordial spirit out and go look for him, but she was unable to separate it from her human body.

“Most of magical powers were forbidden inside the the array. The Big Dipper array is completely blocked. Typically it is easy to enter, but there is no way to get out. Even the most powerful people when trap inside here, there will be no way to get out. In the past, when Xuanwu Emperor captured Fu Mu ghost, he lured him into the Big Dipper array first and trapped him for three year before he was arrested.”

“To say that, does it mean even we could save Xiao Ye, there is no way to get out?”

Dongfang Yuqing nodded: “When we came in I have tried all kinds of methods to leave a mark along the way, but it was useless.”

“Aren’t we walking right into the trap?”

“How can you catch tiger’s cubs without entering the tiger’s den?” Dongfang looking around with interesting: “Before Nan Wuye was lock up in prison at 18th floor of underworld under the sea. That place is not as beautiful as these Nine Heavens and more dangerous and harder to break through. However, on the day of your return, suddenly Nan Wuye was transferred to this place.”

Hua Qiangu was shocked.

Dongfang smiled and shook his head: “Your Shifu predicted that you would not wait until the day of execution directly come to Jade lake of Mount Kunlun to rob the person and having head on confrontation with him. You would rather secretly rescue the person ahead of time. It’s been set up since then, only waiting for us to jump in.”

“He wants to trap us here?”

“Of course, the day of five-star shine, Xiao Ye must die. There’s no more reason for you to disobey him and become the enemy with the Six Realms.”

Indeed, if Xiao Ye died, what else could she do besides being heartbroken? Would she destroy the entire Immortal Realm to avenge him?

Dongfang Yuqing patted her shoulder: “Don’t worry, since I dare to come, I will naturally think of the way to go out. First, you must find Xiao Ye’s location. At this time, your Shifu’s immortal power has completely restored, you no need to take into consideration his body can not bear to suppress the demon god power. You’re just trying to use force to break the seal, the more demon god power is released, the better it is. Xiao Ye is the real demon god, demon power will also recognize its master. It will take us to find him.”

Hua Qiangu nodded and began to use the method Duo Langan taught her to break through the seal. Inexplicable forces gather around and finally she felt something, pointing to the right: “Over there.”

The two bypassed one after another messy and foggy obstacle, and at last they saw a huge diamond-like object in the air. They could not tell what material it made of, but it is more transparent than the crystal, and each side reflected with glistering starlight. Nan Wuye’s little body in there was condensed like a worm in amber. It seems that he has been sleeping for a long time.

“Xiao Ye!”

Hua Qiangu rushed forward as she cried out in bitter happiness. Dongfang Yuqing did not stop her, but at the moment when she was about to touch it, she was bounced away by the surrounding enchantment.

Suddenly, the Big Dipper shines brightly. As if had pressed the turn on switch, the whole world was filled with light, and nothing could be seen. If it weren’t for the cold lights, Hua Qiangu wondering her body may already melted.

Dongfang Yuqing raised the corner of his mouth and smiled: “The stars awake.”

Feeling someone has come closer, Hua Qiangu raised her two fingers slid quickly through the eyelids. When she opened her eyes again, she was able to see the thing under such extreme light.

She saw seven immortals descending from the sky in fluttering clothes. Some of them held fans in their hands, writing brush, flutes, and chessboard. They were extremely elegant, but murderous as well.

Although there is murderous aura, it has no killing intent. Hua Qiangu politely cupping her hands and bowed her head to greet in courtesy. The seven deities look indifferent. Even they have different appearances, their expressions are exactly the same. Creating unspeakable strangeness.

“Hua Qiangu?” Destroyer of Armies Star Lord suddenly asked, his eyes piercing straight at her.

“It is me.”

“We have been waiting for you for a long time. You’d better allowing yourself to be capture without putting up a fight immediately, we’ve just played halfway of chess game and rushing to go back.” The Celestial Pivot Star Lord’s tone was full of impatience, but his look still unchanged.

Hua Qiangu knew they have their duties, it is useless to say more instead it is better off to hurry to save Xiao Ye. With a wave of her hand, her qi condensed into a purple lightsaber that had flown into the air and ready to to combat.

Dongfang Yuqing was afraid that they would not come, and trapped them in this maze rotation. Since now they are here, things are much easier to take care of. He send inner sound wave to Hua Qiangu: “As long as we defeat these seven people, there will be a way to go out. Let me deal with them, you go to save Xiao Ye.”

Hua Qiangu didn’t listen to him instead she has secured Dongfang behind her. With his mortal body, how could he win these seven immortals.

The Seven Northern Stars Lords are only thinking about rushing back to play chess, so they did not care about more people bullying less people. Not to mention, most of the time they attack and retreat at the same time.

At the beginning of the chaos battle, seven people have their own strengths. Their attacking were quick and accurate. Hua Qiangu was encircled in array, and there was no way to retreat. The array was impossible to break, she tried to use the demon power to break it but it was like confronted the tough with toughness. Seeing this, Dongfang Yuqing formed strange figures, using recruiting monstrous technique. Nevertheless, it has fallen into the wind.

After fighting for a few hours, the two sides were so well-matched that neither could gain upper hand. Hua Qiangu is getting more anxious and the seven stars lords, although there were not visible expression on their faces, they also started feeling impatient.

She tried to lead the seven people to where Xiao Ye at, using the gap in between, attempting to hit the transparent crystal-like thing with a few waves of her super power. She wanted to break it up, but unexpectedly it bounce back.

“Don’t waste your energy on it. It took seven of us thousands of years to refine this dazzling star stone. Even you use Pangu axe, it would take a while to chop it up. Based on your ability, is it possible to open it?” The Great Gate Star Lord sarcastically said.

*Pangu- creator of universe in Chinese mythology.

Hua Qiangu’s eyebrows are tightly locked. She rebuked in her heart: Well, since I can’t open it, I will take the whole thing with me.

The demon power is skyrocketing, countless lightsaber flying around in the air. The seven people were temporarily forced to withdraw. Seeing a violent wind suddenly sprang up even the clouds in the distant were torn into pieces. They did not expect that Hua Qiangu is able to control the demon power to such a degree, and also attempt to take the dazzling star stone away. The seven people frowned at the same time.

However, the dazzling star stone seem to remain unmoved in the mid air, it wouldn’t budge an inch.

Dongfang Yuqing suddenly smile and took out a chess manual book from his sleeve. The worn cover was written with two words “Tian Yi” (Chinese ancient name for board game).

“I knew you seven people have been looking for this ancient chess manual book for a long time. How about we exchange them?”

The eyes of the seven people lit up at the same time, but only a second they returned to normal as usual.

“How would I be tempted by this external object?” The one that spoke while holding writing brush is the Scholar Star Lord.

Dongfang Yuqing gave a lazy smile: “If you don’t want it, then forget it.” He torn it apart as he said it.

Seven people were stunned, in the meantime they reached out at the same time trying to save the book. Dongfang Yuqing took this opportunity dragged Hua Qiangu and making her moved a few strange steps. Just because of the loophole in the seven people formation, she was thrown out of the array.

Hua Qiangu turned around to look at him, she saw he was surrounded by the seven men. Except for the one time when he compete mechanism technique with Kuang Yetian, she had never seen Dongfang fight with anyone. Mortals have limited power, but she didn’t expect that he could fight the Nine Heavens deities without relying on magic power to such frientening point. What if he cultivate to become immortal?

She doesn’t much time to care about this, it’s important to save Xiao Ye first. She once again used all magic power to open the dazzling star stone, but there was only a flash of great light. Counterattack of the object making her spitted out a mouthful of blood. There was not even a small opening in the stone.

At that time, she suddenly heard Dongfang hum a little. She hurried look back and saw an extra piece of jade-like stone is pressing over his head. The stone is getting bigger, Dongfang was trying to support it with his two hands, and his face has became pale as paper.

Those seven stars lords took advantage of this opportunity constantly pressed on his big acupuncture points, but they didn’t expect it didn’t work at all. Seeing this, Hua Qiangu flew over in a hurry, the stone is already the size of a small hill. The red spells on the stone flashed, it turned out it was Bai Zihua’s handwriting.

Shifu?

The seven stars lords surrounded her again. At this moment, Hua Qiangu was burning with anxiety, in anyway she couldn’t get close to it.

Dongfang Yuqing attempting several times wanted to use a different techniques or trying to escape, but they were all blocked. That stone is almost equivalent to the sum of the weight of three mountains of the five sacred mountain of the Daoists. After all, he is just a mortal, how would he able to withstand it?

Hua Qiangu’s mind was in chaos making her losing her focus, the loopholes appeared one after another. She shot out a few palms while shouting: “Let go of him!”

The Celestial Pivot Star Lord shook his head: “The High Immortal has specially instructed, we can leave you alone, but Dongfang Yuqing must not let go.”

Hua Qiangu was taken aback, knowing that the ordinary immortal spells would not be able to defeat Dongfang. Did Shiful specially use the stone to deal with him? But why?

Dongfang Yuqing smiled with bitterness. i should have figured out Bai Zihua wanted to kill me. It was not because I took her back from the savage of wilderness, but because I told her that she could use Nuwa stone to save Bai Zihua. If I stay by Qiangu’s side and became her wings, letting her fly farther and farther away from him. How could he be willing? As long as he get rid of me, everything about Qiangu would be completely under his control. It is also impossible to save Xiao Ye. Therefore, from the beginning he did not intend to do anything to Qiangu. This trap was not for her, his target was actually me.

Even though, this was his intention, there is no need to be this ruthless. If want to kill just kill. My time is up, I has nothing to say. However, no matter what himself as an immortal, don’t have to be this ruthless. Having me crush into meatloaf alive in front of Qiangu? Couldn’t he change a better way of killing me giving me a rather good-looking death? At least leaving with a whole body! Is this what they called ‘not die in peace’?