Chapter Thirty-One: Wounds in the Dream! The Willow Deity Protects the Path
Hearing Willow God’s question, Star of Morning did not answer her immediately. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Little Dot and said, “Are you truly determined to learn my cultivation method now?”
Seeing Star of Morning’s stern expression—something he had never witnessed before—Little Dot swallowed nervously, hastily grabbed the milk bottle hanging from his neck, took a sip, then quickly put it down, and nodded his tiny head with desperate force. He tried to imitate his master’s seriousness, his small face taut and grave.
Star of Morning nearly burst out laughing at Little Dot’s antics, but to maintain his solemn demeanor, he clenched his teeth and suppressed his amusement, though the muscles in his face twitched uncontrollably.
Nodding, Star of Morning spoke, “You are my first disciple. If you wish to learn my method, you must pass certain trials. Are you willing?”
Tilting his small head in thought, Little Dot nodded earnestly. “I am willing to accept Master’s test!” His voice carried a solemnity he had never shown before.
Lately, for reasons unknown, he kept having the same recurring dream: his young self, placed upon a cold stone slab, a woman digging a bone from his chest with a knife.
He could distinctly feel this bone’s importance to him.
He was in pain—pain so intense he could barely breathe, so overwhelming that even his cries grew faint.
Yet the woman never spared him a glance, gazing tenderly instead at a boy nearby, older than himself.
That boy possessed eerily strange eyes, as if able to see through his very body.
As the bone was removed, the boy’s eyes remained cold and indifferent. Little Dot’s body grew weaker and weaker, until at last, all consciousness faded…
Observing the odd change in Little Dot’s demeanor, so different from his usual self, Star of Morning gradually let the smile slip from his face. He understood well what had happened to Little Dot.
The suffering endured by his disciple could not simply be erased by the death of that cruel woman. Such an ending would not only be unfair to Little Dot, but could not quell Star of Morning’s own boundless fury.
Over the past three years, he had come to regard this lovable disciple as his own son.
Star of Morning had always possessed a compassionate heart—unless it concerned those close to him, he was not prone to violence. Yet now, for the first time, a savage impulse stirred in his soul.
As for the one with double pupils, Little Dot would settle accounts with him personally in due time—how could his death be atoned for with a mere “I return your life”? As for the wicked woman already dead, hmph!
Little Dot, standing before Star of Morning, failed to notice anything amiss, but Willow God beside him suddenly sensed a surge of murderous intent erupting from Star of Morning—a force so powerful that even she, on the verge of stepping into the Celestial King realm, felt a chill of terror.
Willow God was perplexed, staring blankly at Star of Morning, but found no clue.
Star of Morning calmly addressed Little Dot:
“Although you have not cultivated, your physical body now rivals that of a young beast king! I want you to cross the Great Wilderness alone, a journey of one hundred thousand miles. When you return, I shall teach you an unparalleled cultivation method. Go and make your preparations.”
He gently patted Little Dot’s head, thinking to himself:
This time, Master will not let you have regrets.
Upon hearing that Star of Morning would teach him an unparalleled method, Little Dot’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He hurriedly asked, “Is Master going to teach me the Nine Cycles Mysterious Art that Skin Monkey and the others practice?”
Star of Morning shook his head, replying warmly, “It’s even greater than that.”
The little one grew more thrilled, clenched his tiny fists, and waved them several times in excitement. “Then I’ll be stronger than them in the future! Master, I’ll go tell Grandpa Chief and then complete the task. Please wait for me!” With that, he dashed off toward the village.
Watching the child run off, Star of Morning sighed fondly:
“Willow God, am I being too harsh? He’s still just a child…”
---
To cross the Great Wilderness for one hundred thousand miles—even the offspring of fierce beasts would struggle to survive such a journey!”
Willow God was silent for a moment, then said, “In these chaotic times, it is best to acquire the power for self-preservation early.”
Star of Morning gazed at the sky, sighed, and felt troubled in his heart, unsure whether his choice was right or wrong.
Though he could clear the path for Little Dot now, if Little Dot wished to dominate all realms, he would have to ascend step by step to the summit through blood and trials. Otherwise, even if Star of Morning could lift him to the heavens after lifting the seal, his own heart would remain incomplete, just as it was now.
As Star of Morning sank into silence, Willow God suddenly asked, “Is your cultivation method called Nine Cycles Mysterious Art?”
Star of Morning looked at her in surprise. “Why do you ask?”
“In this world there are countless methods—I am familiar with most, but have never heard of such a method. Thus I ask,” Willow God replied.
Star of Morning shook his head calmly. “No, I have never practiced any cultivation method. What I teach those children is merely so Little Dot will have some companions in the future.”
Willow God was instantly dumbfounded. If he had never practiced any cultivation method, where did Star of Morning’s transcendent power come from?
Seeing her confusion, Star of Morning smiled serenely. “I am familiar with every cultivation method in all realms—for example, your Willow God Method.”
Willow God was shocked, rising abruptly. The Willow God Method she created was immensely powerful, rivaling any method in this world. How could Star of Morning know it? This was beyond her imagination.
After a moment’s thought, Star of Morning said, “If you agree to one condition, I will let you see the Nine Cycles Mysterious Art. What do you say?”
She lowered her head and pondered for a while, unable to resist her curiosity about Star of Morning’s method, and asked, “What is the condition?”
“It is not difficult. You need only act as the guardian for the little one for ten thousand years, ensuring his safety during mortal calamities.”
“With you around, who could hurt him?” Willow God was puzzled.
Star of Morning shook his head. “I cannot act freely. Otherwise, unimaginable consequences will follow.”
He had come to this world to temper his heart and to protect the future Wild Heaven Emperor from excessive hardship before the final battle. If he intervened too often, he would surely attract the attention of the Corpse Emperor from the depths of the Sea of Realms.
After all, the Corpse Immortal Emperor could already gaze upon the river of fate and stir the tides of space-time itself!
Had he not suffered the corruption of black blood and lost his Dao marks in this world, he would have become a saint long ago.
If the Corpse Emperor learned that someone of equal cultivation freely walked the world, he would destroy all life—even obliterate the nine heavens and ten earths—to slay Star of Morning and seize his body.
Star of Morning did not fear a battle with the Corpse Emperor; to him, the Corpse Immortal Emperor was but a dried skeleton in a tomb. Though their realms were equal, the Corpse Emperor was already incomplete—killing him would not be difficult.
But with his current power, he could not preserve this realm during such a battle. To shatter the world would not be Star of Morning’s wish.
If Willow God cultivated the perfected Nine Cycles Mysterious Art, she could protect Little Dot before the final battle. When that time came, Star of Morning could unleash his power without reservation, help his disciple thoroughly slay the Corpse Emperor, and seek the secret of the vanished Dao above the heavens. This was the plan Star of Morning had devised for the future of this world.
Naturally, the glorious deed of the Wild Heaven Emperor—severing past and future with a single sword for the safety of the nine heavens and ten earths, standing alone throughout the ages—must not be omitted!
Otherwise, the absence of the World of Shrouded Heavens would be a regret; after all, Star of Morning had keen interest in that world.
Upon hearing Star of Morning’s words, Willow God thought briefly and then resolutely replied, “Agreed!”
The allure of an unknown method was indeed great, and protecting a child posed little challenge for her.
---
Willow God could not have foreseen that this promise would plunge her into endless blood battles in the future, but ultimately she would obtain what she desired. Gains and losses—who can truly judge?
Seeing Willow God agree, Star of Morning wasted no time. With a tap of his finger, a purple light shot into Willow God’s sea of consciousness, and he vanished from sight.
Only a barely audible murmur echoed in the void: “Finish showing off and leave—what a thrill!”
Of course, Star of Morning had not really left just to show off. He simply did not wish to witness what was about to happen next, so he departed.
Willow God paid no attention to the voice from the void. She was utterly astounded by the Nine Cycles Mysterious Art now imprinted in her mind!
The Willow God Method she had created rivaled the ten fierce treasure arts, endlessly enduring, a supreme law of this realm.
Yet, in this world, cultivation methods were all attained through comprehension—each practitioner’s path differed, even when cultivating the same method. Even if others learned the Willow God Method, the path they walked would never be identical.
But the Nine Cycles Mysterious Art given to her by Star of Morning was entirely different from any method in this realm. It was divided into nine layers.
Yes, Star of Morning had transmitted all nine layers to her.
Unlike the children, with Willow God’s talent and cultivation, if she focused on this method, Star of Morning believed she had a chance to reach the summit! As for the children, their fate would depend on their opportunities.
If one cultivated the nine layers step by step, reaching the highest level would allow one to transcend and achieve eternity!
Willow God stared blankly at the method within her soul, her emotions surging. This method conveyed a sense of absolute completeness.
Whereas every method in this realm—including her own Willow God Method—would, upon reaching a certain realm, reveal a faint sense of incompleteness.
Throughout the ages, countless astonishing geniuses had tried to fill this gap, but none succeeded, not even the dark clan on the other side of the Sea of Realms.
Willow God smiled wryly. She had intended to use this method to perfect her Willow God Method, but things had turned out quite differently.
Should she switch to cultivating the Nine Cycles Mysterious Art, or continue striving to perfect her own method? Could she truly bring her method to completion?
She shook her head. Throughout the ages, countless beings equal or superior in cultivation to herself had failed to achieve this; she had no confidence either.
She could see that if she switched to the Nine Cycles Mysterious Art, by reaching the eighth layer, she could end the dark calamity herself!
But her Willow God Method was the fruit of millions of years of painstaking creation and refinement—how could she bear to abandon it?
She wished to merge the two methods, but how could a cup already full of water hold anything more? At least, she could not do it.
As Willow God wrestled with her dilemma, a small, dejected figure approached—it was Little Dot, who had earlier run off with excitement to find the village chief.
He came before Willow God, his large eyes searching for Star of Morning, but finding nothing, a trace of disappointment flickered across them.
He asked Willow God, “Willow God, where did my master go?” His voice carried a hint of tears.