Chapter 84: Shadows That Will Not Dissipate

Feng Ke’er used her black dantian to simulate and practice new skills, unconsciously passing the time until the following midday.

It was time for her bath again.

She dared not delay, hurriedly running to the edge of the cold pool. With no green-haired turtle or golden carp present, she was the largest creature there. So she leapt straight from the waterfall and landed by the pool’s shore.

This time, she discovered a new situation: the surface of the cold pool was covered with a pale mass. It was clusters of small black fish flipping about, occasionally interspersed with a few large black fish that had just mutated into demon beasts.

What was going on? Was it a case of collective food poisoning?

While pondering, with a splash, a wave rose on the surface. A large black fish leapt two feet above the water, crashing headfirst into a rock by the shore. Its skull split open, its tail weakly flicked, and it lay lifeless.

Suicide by crashing against the shore? Dear heavens, after finally advancing to demon beast status, why would it seek death so desperately?

Feng Ke’er was baffled. She began silently reciting the Clear Heart Incantation while cautiously reaching out to test the pool’s water. The Clear Heart Incantation could detoxify, so even if the water was poisonous, she was not afraid.

As her hand touched the water, she drew a deep breath: the pool water was merely cool, far less bone-chilling than before.

She scratched her head, understanding the reason the black fish, both large and small, could not survive: she had taken away the blocks of gray stone, and so the pool’s temperature began to return to normal. The fish had long adapted to the frigid water, and now, with the temperature rising, it was as if their lives were forfeit. The small black fish, being ordinary animals, lacked endurance and were the first to die in droves. Some large black fish, advanced to demon beasts, also succumbed. The rest, those with particularly strong endurance, tried to leap out of the water and escape. Unfortunately, having never left the water before, their strength was misjudged and they ended up “committing suicide by crashing into rocks.”

In just a short while, two more large black fish flew out from the pool, crashing onto the shore. Sadly, the first split its head open and died instantly. The other landed on the sandy bank and, fortunately, survived the impact, but, unable to adjust to the dry environment, weakly wriggled a few times before perishing.

Demon beasts had awakened intelligence. The tragic fate of the brave pioneers frightened the other large black fish still in the pool. During Feng Ke’er’s three-hour bath, no more large black fish attempted to leap ashore. Instead, they chose to swim into the depths. There, sunlight did not reach, and the water was much cooler than at the surface.

Over the next few days, Feng Ke’er continued coming to the cold pool at midday for three hours each time. The water temperature gradually stabilized. Because sunlight reached the pool for only a short period, its temperature, though higher than before, remained far lower than the river upstream.

Finally, Feng Ke’er followed the instructions of the Master of the Heavenly Teachings.

For nine days straight, she bathed for three hours each day.

On the ninth day, after her bath, she returned to the top of the waterfall, and the Master of the Heavenly Teachings “pulled” her into the dense mist again.

“Well done, you’ve completed this task beautifully.” The voice from behind the mist sounded very pleased. “Now I will teach you the formula for the second layer of the Clear Heart Incantation, as your reward.”

“Wait.” Feng Ke’er quickly stopped him. “The second layer? How many layers does the Clear Heart Incantation have?”

The voice laughed, “Silly girl, isn’t it obvious? By the rules of the martial world, divine skills always have ten layers.”

You’re such a trickster! Feng Ke’er pressed her forehead. “Are you the Master of the Heavenly Teachings?”

The voice paused and sighed. “Child, must you be so perceptive? A name is but a symbol. Since you say I am the Master of the Heavenly Teachings, then so be it.”

What does it mean that I “think” so? All signs point to you being exactly that! Feng Ke’er rolled her eyes and continued, “Then, may I boldly ask, Master, the skill you taught me isn’t really the Clear Heart Incantation, but your own divine art, isn’t it?”

The Master of the Heavenly Teachings chuckled, “You should feel honored. So many people have dreamed of learning this.”

Feng Ke’er mimicked his tone, chuckling too, “So, among all those people, why did you choose me? Is it because of the Phoenix Jade Token, or because you think I am the reincarnation of Nuwa?”

Aside from that, she really couldn’t see what else might catch his eye.

Unexpectedly, the Master of the Heavenly Teachings became angry and shouted, “Nonsense! Don’t listen to Feng San’s wild talk. You are you, and have nothing whatsoever to do with Nuwa’s reincarnation.”

Well, I, the person involved, haven’t even exploded yet, and he’s already yelling! Feng Ke’er scratched her head, momentarily at a loss for words.

The Master of the Heavenly Teachings seemed to realize his lapse and softened his tone considerably, “Child, yes, because of that old Feng San, you carry a bit of their clan’s aura. But after nine days in the cold pool, you have completely rid yourself of that peculiar scent.”

“Is it because of the gray stone? What exactly is it?” Feng Ke’er asked, suddenly enlightened. So this was the true purpose of her task! Master, why do you care so much for me? She truly felt flattered.

“It’s fine to tell you,” the Master replied. “It’s actually an eye—a dragon’s eye. Long ago, when Pangu created heaven and earth, a dragon secretly opened a patch of chaos, calling it the Demon Realm, and proclaimed itself Demon King. Later, as the Demon Realm’s power grew, its followers rebelled. Amid the chaos, the demon dragon was wounded and had one eye gouged out by a subordinate. That eye flew out of the Demon Realm and, by chance, landed by this pool. The demon dragon was a water-type divine beast, and its eye contained the purest, coldest water spirit energy. Over time, this energy spread through the pool, transforming ordinary water into a frigid spirit pool—perfect for washing away the strange scents from your body. But since you took away the dragon’s eye and used up the accumulated spirit energy, the pool is now just an ordinary body of water. You needn’t bathe there anymore. Spending so much time in the mortal realm, especially in polluted environments, left you with many odd scents. If you have time, try refining the dragon’s eye—it works better than bathing.”

It was essentially a body-tempering process. Feng Ke’er herself felt that after bathing, the spiritual energy within her was much purer.

“Thank you, Master,” she said sincerely. Whatever his motives, he had never harmed her.

The Master of the Heavenly Teachings laughed gently, “You’re a funny child... Go now. When your next task comes, I’ll summon you. Remember to practice the Clear Heart Incantation diligently.”

Before the voice finished, Feng Ke’er’s vision flashed, and her mind was suddenly filled with rows of golden, four-character formulas.

Then she found herself back at the waterfall’s peak.

She roasted some giant fire ant meat to fill her stomach, then slipped back into her new cave and began practicing the second layer of the Clear Heart Incantation.

Compared to the first layer, the second was far more complex and demanding. The first time she practiced, it took nearly three hours. But afterward, she felt especially refreshed. Previously, after practicing the Clear Heart Incantation, she’d feel a bit hungry, so she’d prepared some fire ant jerky as a snack. This time, not only wasn’t she hungry, she felt as if she’d just eaten a large bowl of rice. Could the second layer of the Clear Heart Incantation serve as a meal substitute?

It was becoming more and more miraculous. Feng Ke’er shook her head, clearing her mind, and took a small piece of the dragon’s eye from her storage pouch, pondering how to refine it.

At that moment, the crystal mirror hanging on the eastern wall of her cave suddenly flashed blindingly.

Something was happening!

Feng Ke’er quickly put the dragon’s eye back in her pouch and leapt from her chaise lounge to the mirror, investigating.

In the phantom crystal mirror, beneath the pitch-black night sky, she saw a blurry black figure riding a sword toward the cold pool.

He finally landed by the pool’s edge.

Moonlight gleamed off his bronze ghost-mask.

The mask was identical to the one Feng Yulin wore, but the newcomer’s build was much slimmer.

Feng Ke’er frowned: could it be Feng Yulin’s associate?

Looking again through the mirror, the newcomer gazed toward the base of the waterfall, uttered a soft “hmm,” and murmured, “How can this be? Where have all the demon beasts gone? And where is that huge stone?”

Then, spreading his arms, he lightly tapped the water’s surface and soared to where the gray stone had been.

After confirming the stone was truly gone, he returned to the shore.

He seemed to have noticed the change in water temperature, squatting down, rolling up his wide sleeves, and testing the water.

“How odd!” Immediately, he shook water from his hand and looked around, muttering, “Could it be because of the five-colored light from the pool bottom a few days ago? Did that brat advance again? Impossible...”

Hearing “five-colored light” and “that brat,” Feng Ke’er was suddenly startled.

Clearly, this was not his first visit to the pool. He’d been here before, but did not recognize the dragon’s eye, and so ignored the pool. This time, he came specifically because of the five-colored light she released during her advancement.

On that occasion, she leveled up twice, and the five-colored light bursting from her body shone like a treasure descending, illuminating the entire valley. No wonder nearby cultivators would notice.

He was Feng Yulin! Few knew that she would emit five-colored light when leveling up—Feng Yulin was one of them!

Why had he changed his appearance again? What was he planning? Feng Ke’er clenched her fists, angrily staring at the man in the mirror.

He, unaware, lingered by the pool, then leapt to the waterfall’s top, heading upstream, searching as he went.

When he reached the base of the cliff, he stopped and looked up, muttering to himself, “This would be a perfect spot to build a cave abode...”

Feng Ke’er’s palms broke out in cold sweat. Feng Yulin’s cultivation was far beyond hers, and she worried her new cave might be exposed.

Fortunately, he only paused briefly at the cliff, then continued upstream along the river.

Perhaps seeing the vast, deserted landscape, he removed his bronze ghost-mask as he walked.

Just then, the northern crystal mirror flashed.

Switching to the northern view, Feng Ke’er clearly saw his face—he was indeed Feng Yulin. This must be his true appearance. Previously, disguised as Li Hentian, not only was his face false, but even his tall and handsome form was a sham.

This impostor had tracked her here, truly a relentless shadow!

(To be continued)

Heavenly Scripture, Chapter 84: Relentless Shadow—update complete!