Chapter 107: Overturning the World

At this moment, Bei Ling's robe suddenly faded dreamily into pure white. Sitting upon the broad cliff’s edge and the cold blue stone beneath her, her jet-black hair nearly touched the stone as she gazed at a plum tree heavy with budding blossoms. It was as if she were experiencing the very moment when Nan Luo once sat cross-legged here beneath the stars and moon, loudly reciting the "Huang Ting" scripture. In this instant, she seemed ethereal and otherworldly—like a mountain spirit, or a fairy among flowers.

Qing Qing, sensing the sudden transformation in her aura and hearing her chillingly clear words, felt an inexplicable stirring within her heart.

Years ago, when she was still a little green snake struggling to survive in the mountains—cautious, hiding in the shadows—she met Nan Luo. Huddled beneath the cliff where Nan Luo often sat, she listened to the teachings, and the once vague thoughts in her mind slowly became clear. One day, she felt compelled to repay Nan Luo’s kindness and resolutely returned to her former demon king to steal a green mirror.

She had no idea that the mirror was a congenital artifact; she only knew she needed to do something. In her heart, Nan Luo was her master. Though Nan Luo never acknowledged it, Qing Qing had already accepted this truth.

When Nan Luo suddenly vanished without a trace, Qing Qing searched everywhere and hid in the fissures of the blue stone where her master had spent countless days and nights, waiting... Until one day, her master returned and gave her the name Qing Qing. She had originally been named Qian Qian, but from that day on, her name changed.

That night was the happiest day of her life, for her master finally taught her the path of cultivation—specifically, a method of nurturing qi. Though Nan Luo still did not openly admit to being her master, she no longer denied it. This alone brought Qing Qing great joy. The only slight imperfection was that many people secretly eavesdropped on her master’s teachings, and though Nan Luo knew, she did not chase them away. Later, Qing Qing understood why.

What followed, however, pained her deeply. She watched her master kneel, worshipping the now vanished Taiji Palace, asking questions whose meaning she could not grasp. Three days later, amidst storm and snow, Nan Luo finally mounted a radiant divine bird and departed.

She could neither catch up nor call out to her. From that day forward, many years passed in the blink of an eye.

In the years since, she occasionally heard Nan Luo’s name but never dared confirm if those deeds were truly done by her master. Until today, when definitive news finally arrived.

Qing Qing took a deep breath, staring at Bei Ling’s back. Fighting back a sudden, inexplicable ache in her heart, she quickly said, “Of course I remember. He is my master. It was here that he taught me. Did he send you here? Why hasn’t he come himself?”

From Bei Ling’s tone, Qing Qing could tell that this woman knew her master—and their relationship must be extraordinary.

“Your master? Haha, he’s still waiting for his own master to save his life!” Bei Ling’s voice was strange, as if deliberately distancing herself.

Though Qing Qing sensed this, doubt suddenly crept in. She asked with suspicion, “Is my master injured? Didn’t he tell you that the Taiji Palace disappeared many years ago?”

At these words, Bei Ling suddenly stood up and swiftly appeared before Qing Qing, her voice cold: “Disappeared? How could that be...” Before Qing Qing could reply, she quickly added, “This is the source of a spiritual vein. How could you possibly seize it? The Taiji Palace must still be here.”

“Master knelt here for three days and nights, asking a question he could not answer. Don’t you know that?” Qing Qing asked with puzzlement, gently fanning herself with a small green fan, assuming a defensive stance.

She thought to herself: If this woman truly knows my master, and if he has fallen into some predicament, she must have been sent by his master to seek help. She would surely know that the Taiji Palace vanished many years ago. But if she does not know my master, how could she know so much?

Bei Ling ignored Qing Qing’s words. Instead, her figure flickered, moving through the enveloping white mist with such speed it made Qing Qing’s heart race.

“This woman’s spatial escape technique is remarkable!” Qing Qing thought. Who exactly was her master to have such a connection with this woman? Why was she so agitated at the mention of the Taiji Palace’s disappearance?

As Qing Qing pondered, Bei Ling suddenly vanished and reappeared above the valley. Her once pure white robe had transformed into a blood-red garment. A faint red glow flickered in her eyes. In this moment, she radiated killing intent, appearing mad and demonic in Qing Qing’s sight.

Her crimson lips parted, and the valley’s skies darkened. The white mist surged like a broken dam toward Bei Ling, but no matter how much the mist poured, it seemed endless and could not be completely consumed.

Suddenly, Bei Ling shouted coldly into the void, “Tong Xuan, your disciple is about to die! Your disciple Nan Luo is about to die! Will you not save him? Tong Xuan, are you afraid of Emperor Jun and dare not come? Tong Xuan, come out! If you do not, I will slaughter all the creatures in this mountain, and all the sins will be on your head!”

Bei Ling’s blood-red robe seemed to drip with blood, her long black hair fluttering wildly in the wind, exuding a demonic aura.

Qing Qing was startled. How could this woman be so different? Moments ago, she was ethereal and dreamlike, sitting quietly on the blue stone; now she was bloodthirsty and frenzied. Amidst her shock, vast swaths of green mountains and trees began to wither as their spiritual energy dissipated.

Unable to contain herself, Qing Qing shouted, “This is the place where my master cultivates. Do not act recklessly.” The words slipped out in a moment of urgency, but unexpectedly, Bei Ling stopped immediately at her command.

Bei Ling turned coldly toward Qing Qing, then muttered softly to herself, “Right. I’m only here to deliver a message. The message has been delivered. If his master won’t save him, what does that have to do with me? So, should I go back?”

At this, Bei Ling suddenly seemed lost, the vexation she had felt since learning Nan Luo was trapped in the Taiyin Stele growing ever stronger.

At that moment, a majestic voice echoed from the sky: “Who dares say they will slaughter all creatures in the mountain and make others bear the sins?”

Bei Ling turned to see a man dressed in apricot-yellow Taoist robes, his hair neatly tied back and coiled high. He appeared spirited and sharp. Though he spoke calmly, his gaze fixed on Bei Ling, clearly certain she was the one who had spoken.

Seeing his upright and imposing spirit, Bei Ling’s irritation inexplicably surged. She thought bitterly, “I’m not here to cause trouble where you cultivate. Someone else is provoking me.”

She glared coldly at the Taoist who stood upon the clouds, expressionless: “I said those words. What will you do about it?”

The Taoist replied solemnly, his voice dignified and imposing, “All things possess spirit. How can you arrogantly wield your power to unjustly take the lives of others? If someone with greater power than you sought to take your life without cause, how would you feel?”

“Heh, want to take my life? If you have the ability, come and try. If you can’t and are killed, whose fault is that? Do you, Taoist, think your power surpasses mine and wish to defend the trees and flowers here?”

Though fierce and believing in the law of the strong, Bei Ling was not foolish or brute. With this, she turned the moral debate into a contest of strength.

“Heh, seems you have great confidence in your power. Fine, let me show you that there are always greater forces beyond the heavens. Watch my treasure... Overturn the earth and sky.”

The Taoist stood still, raised his right hand to the sky, and conjured a dark yellow talisman. It spun rapidly, growing instantly into a colossal seal like a mountain, pressing down toward Bei Ling.

It radiated grandeur and righteousness, leaving no escape.

Beneath the seal were two mysterious, profound characters: “Overturn Heaven.”