An overwhelming flood of information washed over Li Xiaofei.
Little Aunt continued, "The situation on the Star Battlefield was tense. All five Emperors were fighting at the frontlines, leaving Heaven vulnerable. It was at that moment that the Mother of All Beasts struck a heavy blow. The Lord of Doushuai Palace was defeated. If not for the Blood-Drinking Sword falling from the heavens at a critical moment to suppress the Mother of All Beasts, Heaven would likely have already become a nest for the Wild Reapers."
The importance of Heaven to the human race of the galactic realms was self-evident. If it truly fell into the hands of the Reapers, the consequences would be catastrophic. The thought alone was chilling.
Li Xiaofei couldn’t help but ask, "Who was it that betrayed Heaven?"
Little Aunt pondered for a moment before replying, "I don't know the full story. After all, the incident had already taken place when I returned. But based on scattered clues, there are several suspects: the Lord of Heavenly River, the Great Sage, the Lord of Time, the Sword Immortal, and the Lord of the Underworld."
Li Xiaofei found most of these names unfamiliar. Except for the Great Sage.
Could there really be a Monkey King in Heaven?
In countless novels, the monkey was portrayed as a heroic figure. Had he really betrayed Heaven? Then again, the monkey had once rebelled against Heaven in the legends.
"Who is the Lord of Doushuai Palace?" Li Xiaofei asked again.
For some reason, he had the feeling the answer wouldn't be the Taishang Laojun.
Little Aunt replied, "She was from the Asking Sword Sect, one of the greatest Great Dao Pill Emperors of the human race. Her name was Ximen Qianxue."
So it wasn't the Taishang Laojun after all. And judging from the name Ximen Qianxue, she was likely a woman. But then why had that dark crimson giant Ruo mentioned a Golden Horned Boy earlier?
Someone entrusted with guarding Heaven had to be extraordinarily powerful and absolutely trustworthy, yet even she had been defeated. It was a clear testament to the terrifying strength of the Mother of All Beasts. And an even greater testament to the unforgivable betrayal that had led to it all.
"Little Aunt, what exactly is your true identity?" Li Xiaofei asked.
Little Aunt fell silent for a moment before replying, "I was once one of the Seven Celestial Maidens who served under the Queen Mother of the West. There are some tales of me passed down among the common folk, but not many."
This answer was something Li Xiaofei had never expected.
One of the Seven Celestial Maidens?
Those were the seven goddesses who served directly under the Queen Mother herself. Among them, the youngest sister was famously known in mortal legends for the Heavenly Maiden's Marriage, where she wed the mortal Dong Yong.
Back then, it was said that the Monkey King had used his body-fixation spell on the Seven Celestial Maidens in the Peach Garden. It almost seemed destined that these seven sisters would descend to the mortal realm and become entangled with mortals.
Is it because I myself had once been a mere mortal that I had met Little Aunt?
"Are there any other immortals still within Heaven today?" Li Xiaofei thought for a moment and then asked.
If there were others like Little Aunt hidden throughout Heaven, and if they could be gathered, then dealing with the Mother of All Beasts would become much more achievable.
Little Aunt shook her head and said, "So far, no others have been found. The soldiers, immortals, and citizens of the old Heaven are either dead, scattered, or lost beyond reach."
Li Xiaofei sighed quietly in his heart.
He then asked, "Little Aunt, you've been hiding here in Heaven for so long. Do you have any information about the Mother of All Beasts? How much strength does it have left? Is there any way we can kill it?"
Little Aunt replied, "That beast has been suppressed by the Blood-Drinking Sword and cannot emerge directly. However, the Ruo it has deployed across Heaven are everywhere and have endlessly reproduced over the centuries. Their numbers are now as numerous as the stars. If they initiate the Devour Evolution, soon enough, new powerful beings that are capable of shaking the seal will be born. Once the Blood-Drinking Sword’s power weakens, the beast will have a chance to break free. If it manages to touch the laws of Heaven and Earth, it will recover rapidly. Unless all five Celestial Emperors descend in person, it will be nearly impossible to destroy it."
Li Xiaofei’s expression turned grave as he asked, "What exactly is the Blood-Drinking Sword?"
Little Aunt replied, "It is the weapon of the Sword Immortal Ding Hao, infused with the Emperor's Laws. It embodies the blood of countless immortal citizens and war generals of Heaven, shed in battle. Its power carries a pressure comparable to that of an Immortal Emperor himself, which is why it was able to suppress the Mother of All Beasts."
Li Xiaofei’s heart stirred as he asked, "If we could obtain this weapon, would we be able to deal with the Mother of All Beasts?"
Little Aunt shook her head slightly. "Simply obtaining it is not enough. You must also be able to wield it."
"Wield it?" Li Xiaofei frowned and asked, "What does it mean to wield it?"
Little Aunt explained, "An Immortal Emperor’s Weapon is not an ordinary weapon. When fully activated, it is as if an Immortal Emperor had personally descended. It can shatter the heavens, sever stars, and rip apart galaxies. To unleash its power, three things are needed. First, a strong compatibility with the weapon’s nature. Second, a formidable cultivation base, and third, the indomitable will to control it."
She paused for a moment, then added, "The mysteries involved are difficult to put into words. Throughout history, only a handful even among the Five Great Immortal Emperors have managed to partially activate their Emperor Weapons. To fully master one... aside from becoming an Immortal Emperor yourself, it's nearly impossible."
Li Xiaofei fell into deep thought.
"According to what you said, Little Aunt, if we wish to slay the Mother of All Beasts and restore Heaven, the Blood-Drinking Sword is our last hope," he said solemnly. "Where is the Blood-Drinking Sword now?"
Little Aunt answered, "It remains within Doushuai Palace." Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽
"Then I want to go to Doushuai Palace and try. How can I get there?"
Before Little Aunt could reply, Miss Tan eagerly chimed in, "That’s easy! Once Old Tan returns, he can use his space-time secret technique to take you there."
"Really?" Li Xiaofei was overjoyed.
Little Aunt considered for a moment and then nodded. "Given City Leader Tan’s current strength, it is possible. The chances of success are fair."
After a brief discussion, the three of them finalized the plan. Little Aunt was very supportive of Li Xiaofei's decision to head to Doushuai Palace.
Though in truth, his cultivation was still far from sufficient, and by common sense, it would be impossible for him to wield the Blood-Drinking Sword. But having watched this young man come this far, Little Aunt knew he was favored by fate itself.
Perhaps Heaven, lost for centuries, had been waiting for someone like him. There was still enough time. Little Aunt decided she would personally test and temper Li Xiaofei’s cultivation before then. The conversation naturally shifted back toward cultivation. Little Aunt turned and entered the treehouse.
A moment later, Little Aunt returned carrying a box.
"This is something I prepared for you," she said with a gentle smile.
Li Xiaofei opened the box and found a water peach about the size of a fist. Instantly, a guess formed in his mind, and he was struck with immense shock.
"A Peach from the Peach Garden," he murmured.
Little Aunt nodded and said, "This is indeed one of the legendary peaches from the Peach Garden. However, after many years without a proper gardener’s care, the yield has greatly diminished. The one before you is a three-thousand-year ripened peach. While it may not grant immediate immortality, it has tremendous effects in improving physique, extending lifespan, and increasing cultivation."
Li Xiaofei took a deep, steadying breath.
A Peach of the Peach Garden!
It was the ultimate sacred fruit in the myths of Great Xia. He never imagined he would obtain one so easily. He looked at Little Aunt, wanting to say something.
"Go ahead and eat it," Little Aunt interrupted with a smile. "This one was specially saved for you. We've already eaten ours."
Li Xiaofei no longer felt any hesitation.
"Thank you, Little Aunt," he said earnestly.
He picked up the peach and took a large bite. It was sweet and tangy, far more delicious than any ordinary peach he had ever tasted. Yet, it still retained the familiar essence of a peach.
As the flesh and juice entered his stomach, a warm current spread through his body. Soon, the warmth flooded his limbs and bones, washing through him like the soothing waters of a hot spring as it cleansed and renewed every part of him.
Li Xiaofei felt an unprecedented sense of comfort. It was as if he were about to ascend into the air. He knew this was the Peach Garden’s peach’s energy taking effect.
He immediately crossed his legs and sat down before the treehouse, activating his cultivation technique to absorb the energy. In mere moments, he entered a profound state of deep meditation.
Streams of divine radiance began to flow out from every pore of Li Xiaofei’s body. He sat there with an aura of solemn majesty, radiating a sacred and holy presence.
A look of deep satisfaction appeared on Little Aunt’s face. The peach affected different people in different ways. For ordinary mortals, it could strengthen the body and ward off all diseases. For those with natural talent, it could cleanse the body and extend life. For those with deeply rooted spiritual foundations, it could even allow ascension into the heavens. And for those blessed with great fate and fortune, it could help them attune to the Great Dao itself.
Li Xiaofei’s current state was a clear sign that he was someone with tremendous destiny.
Time flowed by. One full day passed. Then another night. Yet Li Xiaofei remained immersed in his deep meditative state.
Suddenly, the towering thousand-meter-tall tree began to tremble slightly, its branches swaying as though trying to convey a warning.
Little Aunt’s expression changed subtly. Instantly, a thick branch rose beneath her feet, lifting her into the air. In a flash, she was soaring thousands of meters up.
She looked toward the outskirts of the peach forest. Far in the distance, at the edge of the grove, the crimson giant Ruo ignited with blinding flames, its entire body burning like a radiant star.
It began striding toward the peach garden. The outer peach trees responded immediately, firing countless leaf-blades and summoning vast root networks from underground in an attempt to block the monster’s advance.
Yet the crimson giant Ruo's flames burned with such an intense, absolute heat that any branch, leaf, or root within a hundred meters instantly turned to ash. The peach garden caught fire. The crimson giant Ruo let out a piercing, wretched scream. It was clear now, the flames covering its body were not some divine or innate power.
It was truly burning itself alive by setting its own body ablaze. It was igniting itself, and then igniting the peach garden. It was attempting mutual destruction. Behind it, the Ruo swarm grew even more frenzied, charging toward the grove in a suicidal assault, showing no regard for their lives.
Little Aunt’s expression shifted to one of surprise. The Ruo had attacked the peach garden countless times. They had tried again and again, nearly every day, without pause. But never had they launched an assault as desperate and mad as this.
Although the Ruo were ferocious and numerous, their actions were always driven by a primal instinct for survival and slaughter. Even at their wildest, they would not launch such reckless, suicidal attacks.
Especially the higher-stage evolved Ruo, who, as beings of the Wild Faction, valued their survival and the pursuit of evolution with an almost incomprehensible obsession.
After a moment of thought, Little Aunt seemed to realize something. She returned to the treehouse and found Luo Ge.
"What exactly happened before you encountered the Ruo swarm? Why did they suddenly besiege you?" she asked sharply.
Luo Ge thought for a moment and then immediately understood.
The Eight Trigrams Furnace!
She quickly recounted everything that had happened in detail.
"You obtained the Eight Trigrams Furnace?" Little Aunt’s eyes widened in astonishment, a mix of surprise and delight flashing across her face. "With that furnace... perhaps it really is possible to reawaken the Blood-Drinking Sword!"