Chapter 57: Celestial Pillar

After a brief conversation, Han Pu-ning left Fan Xianshu behind and instructed Lingyu to return first.

Lingyu did not seek out the disciples on duty for lodging arrangements; instead, she inquired about Liu Weiyi’s whereabouts and went to find her.

When Liu Weiyi saw her, she was still furious. “Why are you coming to me again? Didn’t you refuse my advice and insist on following Han Pu-ning to your doom?” Lingyu was not one to disregard kindness. Han Pu-ning, trusted most by the master of the temple, could easily recommend her as a direct disciple, showing his power within Xuanyuan Temple. While Liu Weiyi had her own foundation, she was still not Han Pu-ning’s equal. She was not Lingyu’s master and could have remained indifferent, avoiding offense to Han Pu-ning, but she did not. This affection was even rarer than five years of devoted teaching.

Lingyu brushed her robes and knelt, offering no argument. “Aunt Liu, please forgive me. I am ashamed to have let down your care.”

Liu Weiyi’s expression softened gradually. After a long silence, she sighed deeply.

“Lingyu, I don’t know what entanglements exist between your master and Han Pu-ning, but you—”

She wanted to say more, yet in the end, she held back. Looking at Lingyu, her gaze was complex. This niece was not her disciple by name, but her proudest student. If not for this upheaval, perhaps she would have said nothing; even if Lingyu followed Han Pu-ning, it would be but a struggle for power. But now, disaster loomed—who knew what Han Pu-ning might do...

“Aunt Liu.” Lingyu raised her head and looked at her calmly. “I don’t know how to explain everything. I can only say—he possesses something I desire.”

Liu Weiyi was startled, staring at her in silence.

“I know what I must do, and I am certain: all of this is for myself.”

With that, she did not elaborate further, kowtowed three times, and rose to leave.

Liu Weiyi sat in silence for a long time, finally sighing softly and murmuring to herself, “You mean to say—you are the same kind of person as he is, aren’t you?”

Faced with Liu Weiyi, Lingyu did not know how to explain. Should she tell her she planned to ascend to the higher realm and needed Han Pu-ning’s help? The matter was too complicated; she was unsure if Liu Weiyi would believe her or if Han Pu-ning would permit her to speak of it. She could only leave it at that—perhaps one day, when she was certain of the existence of the passage, she could confess...

Early the next morning, a small boat was already waiting at the dock.

When Lingyu arrived, Han Pu-ning was there with Fan Xianshu.

Fan Xianshu had changed into the robes of a Xuanyuan Temple disciple—a deep blue brocade Daoist robe, which made him appear elegant and composed. Even the scarred face seemed less intimidating. In truth, Fan Xianshu was only seventeen or eighteen, his cultivation at the fifth level of Qi Refining; among wandering cultivators, it was rare to enter Xuanyuan Temple directly as an elite disciple. Who knew where Han Pu-ning had found him.

Seeing her approach, Han Pu-ning merely nodded calmly. “Let’s go.”

The small boat, unmanned, moved on its own, breaking through the waves, slowly sailing into the depths of the sea.

Sea wind brushed their ears, seabirds danced overhead, and all around was boundless ocean and vast sky.

Lingyu’s mood broadened with the horizon. She exhaled the stale air from her chest, savoring the comfort of the water vapor brushing her face.

Among the islands, many small boats came and went. Most were mortals, but there were quite a few cultivators as well. Judging by their attire, not only disciples from the major temples, but even wandering cultivators gathered here, and there were a few Buddhist monks.

Mortals fished or transported goods, while cultivators searched the sea, sometimes banding together to hunt a demon beast.

If not for the rupture of the Heavenly Pillar, this scene would have been so peaceful and serene.

The boat sailed for half a day; the surrounding islands grew sparse and fishing boats disappeared. The sea wind carried an indescribable heaviness, pressing on their chests.

As the boat proceeded, the oppressive air thickened, gradually becoming a gray mist.

Within the mist, Lingyu felt the spiritual energy around her stagnate; even the true essence in her meridians ceased to flow.

A thought struck her, and she looked up to ask, “Uncle Han, when repairing the Heavenly Pillar, is it impossible to restore one’s true essence?”

Han Pu-ning glanced at her in surprise. “Yes, which is why we need a large amount of elixirs.”

“…No wonder.” No wonder so many materials were needed—not only minerals and timber, but vast quantities of spiritual herbs.

When the gray mist had nearly solidified, they finally heard shouts and the sounds of knocking in the distance. As the sounds grew clearer, a towering mountain came into view.

Because of the mist, they saw the mountain only once they were at its base. Looking up from below, the mountain filled their vision, its end unseen; the gray-white cliff face was jagged and steep, with barely any footholds. Iron chains hung down the sheer walls, with wooden planks laid across them; countless cultivators moved back and forth on the planks, busy as ants.

“Uncle Han, where is the fissure?” Lingyu searched for a while but couldn’t find it.

Han Pu-ning replied, “It’s hidden by a formation. Otherwise, the Southern Sea would already be affected.”

“Oh…”

“Will we be doing the same as them?” Fan Xianshu suddenly asked, pointing at the cultivators.

Han Pu-ning smiled. “If that were your purpose, why would I have brought you here?” With that, he was the first to disembark.

Lingyu and Fan Xianshu exchanged a glance and silently followed.

“Master Pu-ning!” As they entered the work site at the mountain’s base, a Xuanyuan Temple disciple approached. Lingyu saw that it was Zhang Zhaoguan—she hadn’t expected he’d been transferred directly to the Southern Pole.

Pu-ning pointed to Lingyu and Fan Xianshu. “Look after these two for now. I’ll make arrangements later.”

Zhang Zhaoguan’s eyes flickered with surprise, but he said nothing and simply agreed.

After Han Pu-ning left, Zhang Zhaoguan led them aside to rest.

“This junior brother is newly initiated, is he? May I know your name?” Zhang Zhaoguan looked at Fan Xianshu and smiled.

Fan Xianshu nodded, replying briefly, “I am Fan Xianshu.”

“So you are Brother Fan,” Zhang Zhaoguan cupped his hands, asking no more, then turned to Lingyu. “Sister Cheng, didn’t you leave with that rascal Qingshu? How did you come here? Where is Qingshu?”

Lingyu replied, “To be honest, Brother Zhang, Brother Qingshu and I went to the Xiluo Forest, but on the way, we encountered a pack of wolf demons and became separated.”

“Wolf demons?” The usual careless expression on Zhang Zhaoguan’s face turned serious. He asked earnestly, “Did Qingshu encounter danger?”

Lingyu shook her head and concisely recounted the events, altering some details, and concluded, “Brother Zhang, there’s no need to worry. They should merely be lost.”

Zhang Zhaoguan breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”

With that, Zhang Zhaoguan hurried off to his tasks.

Lingyu sat aside, considering whether she should try to glean some information from him, when a loud crash sounded, startling everyone into panic.

She heard someone shout, “Elder, quick, find the elder!”

Zhang Zhaoguan rushed out, joining the other stewards in shouting, “Remain calm, don’t panic!”

Unfortunately, it had little effect.

Amid the chaos, Lingyu felt her nerves tighten and looked up. Three cultivators appeared atop a high platform—though “platform” was merely a protrusion on the cliff, barely noticeable unless one looked closely.

One was an old man in white robes, with the appearance of a child with crane-white hair—the venerable Feng, guardian of the Sword Pavilion at Xuanyuan Temple; another was a red-robed elder, childlike in stature; the third, a distinguished middle-aged scholar.

As soon as the three appeared, the crowd of cultivators seemed to find their backbone, instantly calming.

A steward stepped forward, bowing hurriedly but respectfully and reported, “Three elders, the protective formation has broken again—the gap is about a foot wide.”

“A foot?” The middle-aged scholar frowned, stepping onto the planks.

The steward hurried after him, reporting as they walked, “Master Yutang, we are maintaining it with all our strength, but the formation…”

After he left, Elder Feng sighed softly. “The breaches grow larger each time. I fear this formation will not last much longer.”

The red-robed elder’s brow was equally furrowed. “Indeed, we must act swiftly.”

Elder Feng forced a bitter smile. “Easy to say, not so easy to do.”

Lingyu listened, her heart sinking. It seemed the situation was worse than she had imagined. Once the formation failed, the winds of the void would sweep into the Southern Sea. Who would have the power then to repair the Heavenly Pillar? If the Pillar could not be mended, the world would be destroyed. To survive, she would have to find the way to the upper realm...

Night fell. Han Pu-ning returned, called Lingyu and Fan Xianshu, and led them away.

Far from the crowd, he suddenly stopped and said, “Our chance has come.” His voice was urgent, filled with excitement.

Lingyu was stunned. “What do you mean, Uncle?”

Han Pu-ning said, “You both know about the protective formation breaking again today, right?”

Both nodded.

“The situation is dire. None of the elders are confident they can repair the Heavenly Pillar before the formation fails, so…” He lowered his voice, “They have decided to seek another way out.”

“Another way out?” Lingyu echoed.

Han Pu-ning nodded. “At this point, I might as well tell you the truth. Over twenty years ago, I suspected the existence of a world beyond the heavens. For this, I befriended many disciples, supporting them in various ways as they traveled and sought treasures, hoping to gather more information.” He looked at Lingyu, “You once wondered about your master’s relationship with me? It is really that simple.”

This was the first time Lingyu heard him acknowledge his true purpose. She felt a weight lift from her heart—at least she had not guessed wrongly. As for why her master was Han Pu-ning’s person, that did not concern her much.

“…I also tried to sound out my fellow disciples, but unfortunately, none believed me. Each thought I was plotting for the position of national master, deliberately disturbing their minds. Over the years, I have gathered much information and finally pieced together a rough outline: the path to the upper realm should be hidden within the Southern Polar Wonderland!”

“Southern Polar Wonderland?” Fan Xianshu frowned. “Is that the site of the national master’s contest?”

“You actually know?” Han Pu-ning raised his brows.

Fan Xianshu nodded. “I once accidentally acquired the notes of a Tai Zhen temple priest, which mentioned fragments about the contest for the national master, and that it was held in the Southern Polar Wonderland.”

Han Pu-ning, seeing no reason to doubt him, continued, “Originally, I planned to find an opportunity to send you both inside.

Now that they are finally taking this matter seriously, this is our chance!”