Chapter 25: The Promise

"The young master is the Return-to-Void divine demon closest to the Heavenly God," said Snow Scorpion Heavenly God with emotion. "If the Divine King were still here, knowing he had such a disciple, he would surely be very pleased."

"The Divine King..." Red Snow Heavenly God's gaze grew distant, and the others fell silent. They were all most loyal to San Shou Daoist; otherwise, they would not have waited silently through endless ages.

Ji Ning, in his black robe, asked in confusion, "Elders, you speak of a young master? I don't quite understand. And have you always been in this water mansion? How could you appear when I was in the Silent Destruction Domain?" Though he had guessed something from their words, he only knew he was San Shou Daoist's successor; much still puzzled him.

"Let me speak." A crisp voice rang out, and the child looked at Ji Ning.

"Yuan Guang Heavenly God," said Ji Ning.

"Just call me Yuan Guang," the child said with a smile. "I know you have many doubts. Let me explain simply. Father was a Chaos True God born from chaos, powerful from birth. After Pangu created heaven and earth, many divine demons were born. They were naturally warlike, so battles among divine demons filled the entire ancient world."

"Powerful beings like Patriarch Bodhi remained aloof, living in seclusion and avoiding conflict. But Father was fond of battle, so he gathered a large number of divine demons to form a force—the 'Plucking Star Mansion.' In the ancient Pangu world, the Plucking Star Mansion was quite renowned," the child continued. "This force had many divine demons under Father's command. The seven of us all belonged to the Plucking Star Mansion."

Ji Ning nodded slightly.

"The ancient Pangu world endured countless upheavals, even some catastrophes, but everything passed safely. Yet the final battle—the one that shattered the ancient world and caused Father's fall—was entirely different from the past." The child's eyes flashed with sharpness, with killing intent. He was a divine demon born from heaven and earth; San Shou was a True God born from chaos.

They were closer than many biological father and son.

He had never known of San Shou's death until the Yellow-Furred Great Bear got the answer from Patriarch Bodhi. He had waited endless ages, hoping his father still lived, but this news crushed him and filled him with rage and fire. He longed for battle, for revenge. Yet he knew his strength was still insufficient!

"What exactly happened in that battle, we don't know either, since we didn't participate. We only know that Father resolutely followed Nuwa Empress and stood on her side," the child said.

"Followed Nuwa Empress?" Ji Ning silently noted.

Nuwa was the foremost existence in the Three Realms, having reached Pangu's level.

Was that battle a factional war?

Nuwa Empress was one faction; were there others? Ji Ning knew well that sometimes civil war was more brutal and maddening than war against external enemies.

"Nuwa Empress could not protect us all. Father followed her, so before that battle, she helped us leave a retreat," the child said. "The cave mansion treasure you obtained was created by Father with great effort. Moreover, Nuwa Empress specially opened a vast great world within this water mansion, which we call the 'Plucking Star Great World,' where we have lived."

"What? There's a great world inside the water mansion?" Ji Ning was stunned.

Though shocked, he quickly understood.

That made sense.

Some precious innate spirit treasures in the Three Realms naturally contain a great world within. As for personally refining a treasure that contains a great world, ordinary True Gods or Dao Ancestors could not do it, but Nuwa Empress could—and she had done so more than once. Such a great world within a treasure is called a 'cavern realm.'

"We all knew that Father wanted to choose a successor, unwilling for the divine ability 'Plucking Star Hand' to be lost," the child said. "Father was powerful enough to lead the entire Plucking Star Mansion. But could his successor do the same? No one knew. Father did not force the many divine demons to follow the next mansion master; those willing to stay could stay, and those unwilling could leave."

"Some divine demons left, while we stayed in the Plucking Star Great World," the child said.

"We waited for Father's successor, for the new master of our Plucking Star Mansion." The child looked at Ji Ning.

The other Heavenly Gods also looked at Ji Ning.

In their hearts...

Ji Ning was that person!

And the best choice!

Though his blood boiled, Ji Ning quickly calmed down: "Can you tell me about the Plucking Star Great World? Can one enter and leave it freely?"

"No," said Snow Scorpion Heavenly God with a smile. "The Plucking Star Great World was created by Nuwa Empress, and the formations and restrictions were also set by her. Even a True God or Dao Ancestor could only break through by force. Those who left the Plucking Star Mansion were released by us controlling the world formation. Once they left, they could not find the Plucking Star Great World again, as it is within a treasure."

"Who controls the formation?" Ji Ning asked.

"I, Yuan Guang, and Snow Scorpion," said Red Snow Heavenly God. "Yuan Guang followed the Divine King earliest and is his son, trusted by him. Snow Scorpion and I once fought for the Divine King across the lands, and we were the strongest Heavenly Gods under him, able to command respect. So the three of us control the world formation."

Ji Ning nodded.

"I know Master San Shou Daoist's command: if I do not become a Heavenly God, even if I die, you need not intervene, correct?" Ji Ning asked.

"Correct," Red Snow Heavenly God nodded.

"But you saved me in the Silent Destruction Domain," Ji Ning said.

"Even if we hadn't saved you, the Plucking Star Mansion would have fallen into the hands of the Broken Horn World's master. He would likely have forcibly refined the spirit treasure and discovered the Plucking Star Great World, leading to a battle anyway. So the seven of us came out," said Red Snow Heavenly God. "It wasn't entirely for you."

Ji Ning smiled: "Since you've come out, elders, the Three Realms are now caught in a great storm, no less than the one that shattered the ancient world. Even my master said he faced the danger of annihilation. I, a little one, need not even mention it. So frankly, I need your help very much. But if you won't help, that's fine too."

"The Three Realms are indeed chaotic now," Snow Scorpion quickly sent a voice transmission. "Since we're out, let's follow the young master for now."

"Father instructed that we need not interfere before his successor becomes a Heavenly God," the child transmitted.

"The Divine King only gave a directive, leaving it to our discretion. Now that the Three Realms are in chaos, experiencing some trials and tempering will benefit our strength," the bald old man transmitted.

"Brother Red Snow, I'll follow your lead."

"Me too."

Blazing Sun and Dark Moon looked at Red Snow.

All eyes turned to Red Snow, their leader—strongest and most able to command respect.

Red Snow pondered, then looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning met Red Snow Heavenly God's gaze.

"Ji Ning," Red Snow Heavenly God said, "Indeed, a great storm is about to begin. Following the Divine King's words exactly may not be suitable. But if we all follow you, you will have no tempering at all. We give you a promise: before you become a Heavenly God, you have one chance to call on us. The seven of us will go all out to help you—but only once! After that one chance is used, we will absolutely not help you. Even if you die, we will only watch. If you die, it can only be blamed on your insufficient strength or luck."

The other six Heavenly Gods also looked at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning smiled: "Good. Having a single promise from seven elders is enough! This is like an extra protective charm for me. If I still die before becoming a Heavenly God, I can only blame myself."

"Mm."

Red Snow Heavenly God nodded.

The child then urged, "Ji Ning, become a Heavenly God quickly."

"Don't keep us waiting too long," the enchanting woman added.

"Our Plucking Star Mansion needs a master." The gentle youth also looked at Ji Ning, their eyes full of expectation.

Whoosh!

Then the seven figures vanished into thin air.

Ji Ning breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't expected these seven Heavenly Gods to follow him forever; getting one promise was enough. In the face of this storm, the invisible pressure had long made Ji Ning feel constant threat, so he naturally did his utmost to increase his chances of survival.

In this catastrophe, he wanted to live, and he wanted his loved ones to live as well.

...

The sky was dim.

In the Black-White College of Anchan City, Yu Wei was in her dwelling, silently pondering alone. A candle had been lit beside her, its flickering light casting a complex expression on her face.

"Stop thinking."

"Do what must be done." Yu Wei walked out of the room alone, looked up at the sky—already dark, with a faint crescent moon visible at the horizon—and whispered, "Junior apprentice-brother, come back. You must come back."

Suddenly, Yu Wei felt an inexplicable resonance in her heart.

Whoosh.

Like a gust of wind, she instantly flew high into the air.

High in the sky.

A youth appeared in the dim midair, silently gazing into the distance. There, in the midair, was Yu Wei, her eyes full of surprise and tears. She had felt a spiritual connection and flown up, as if bound by fate.

Ji Ning looked at Yu Wei, and her gaze immediately reminded him of Sister Qiuye.

Yu Wei and Sister Qiuye had something in common: both regarded Ji Ning as the most important person in their lives, willing to risk their lives for him. Ji Ning could feel it from Sister Qiuye, and he could feel it from Yu Wei. He had sensed it during the Immortal Fate Convention, and now... even more strongly. Ji Ning did not know that Yu Wei, while overcoming her heart demon tribulation, had lived with him for three thousand years in the 'heart demon world.'

"Senior apprentice-sister," Ji Ning called out.