Chapter Forty-Four: An Uninvited Enemy

Soon after, Wuyu rose, sword in hand, and began to dance. Her toes barely left the ground as her entire body floated gracefully in the air. For a time, the festival platform glittered with the flash of blades and dazzling spiritual light. Wuyu’s figure was lithe and ethereal; her deep silver hair seemed to merge with the cold gleam of her sword, a vision of breathtaking beauty. The sword dance lasted for about a quarter of an incense stick’s time, during which Wuyu’s toes did not touch the ground in the slightest.

Although every disciple beneath the stage was versed in the arts of immortality, they watched in utter astonishment. For throughout the entire sword dance, Wuyu had not employed any spell of levitation. Her body, light as a swan’s feather, was lifted solely by the sword in her hand. Without such weightless grace, and without the subtle unity of sword and self to counterbalance her form, it would have been impossible to achieve such a feat unaided by celestial arts.

Though the festival demanded solemn silence, a few disciples could not help but whisper their admiration below.

At the end of her dance, Wuyu retracted her sword as her toes touched down, so lightly that no sound arose. She respectfully cradled the sword in both hands and placed it back upon the ritual altar. Then Tianji Zi stepped forward to join Wuyu, and together they lit incense and offered prayers.

“This is to inform all the gods and immortals of the heavens that the Xuanwu Festival begins. After this, the two Protectors will ascend the high platforms and cast their spells to guard the formation,” Tai Shang Xiao Jun whispered.

“That was truly beautiful!” Hua Sheng was still lost in the memory of Wuyu’s sword dance. “Is it always the main and deputy record-keepers of the Student Committee who perform the rites each year?”

“Yes. Since I enrolled, it has always been Tianji Zi who guards the formation. The previous female Protector was a few years older, but she graduated last year. The newly appointed Wuyu is renowned as an exceptionally gifted prodigy of the arts, so she assumed the role of festival Protector this year.”

“I suppose only a master of the highest order could take on such a responsibility,” Hua Sheng sighed, voicing his thoughts.

When the incense offerings were finished, Wuyu and Tianji Zi descended from the altar, each taking a different side. They walked directly to two newly built towers beside the Lingyan Pagoda, ascended into the clouds, and sat cross-legged atop the aerial platforms.

Before long, two pillars of golden light shone from the towers, merging with the structures themselves like enormous ceremonial candles.

At this moment, the disciples below began to cheer. Hua Sheng craned his neck to look; he saw an elegant youth of twelve or thirteen, eyes radiating golden light, dressed in a purple-gold robe symbolizing the auspicious energies of the East. The boy’s heroic bearing was unmistakable. As he stepped onto the festival platform amid a chorus of cheers, the mountaintop was suffused with radiant clouds and shimmering light.

“My! Who is this extraordinary young Daoist? Everyone seems to know him—he must be no ordinary person. Is he also a Protector?” Hua Sheng asked.

Tai Shang Xiao Jun nearly collapsed, hurrying to signal Hua Sheng to keep his voice down.

“He’s no mere Protector! That is the illustrious Star Lord of the Dao—Headmaster of the Academy of the Arts!”

“Oh… what?!” Hua Sheng was so stunned his jaw nearly hit the ground. “Didn’t you say the Star Lord of the Dao was an old man? He looks younger than we are!”

“When did I say he was old? I only said he is over eighteen thousand four hundred years of age.”

“But he doesn’t even look eighteen, let alone eighteen thousand!” Hua Sheng rubbed his eyes. Luckily he wasn’t far from the stage and could be certain the person standing there was a youth, not a diminutive elder.

“Not only is the Master the academy’s head, he’s also one of the seven immortal sages who founded Sacred Peace!” Tai Shang Xiao Jun explained.

Hua Sheng marveled inwardly at the wonders of the day. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine the academy’s headmaster would appear as a youth. Had Tai Shang Xiao Jun not warned him, he would never have guessed that this seemingly twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy possessed such an astounding identity.

The Star Lord of the Dao bowed to heaven, earth, and the Xuanwu Lingyan Pagoda, and then began to recite the festival oration.

“In the cycles of antiquity and today, customs have changed, but the reverence for the holy and divine endures through the ages. The sacred emerged from the deepest antiquity, bringing forth myriad creations, establishing order, and continuing the mandate of heaven. I, the humble Star Lord of the Dao, together with my disciples, faithfully follow the Great Way, look up to the holy ones, set our hearts for heaven and earth, establish destiny for the living, and beseech the arts and immortals to guide us, that the Academy may bring peace for generations. May the divine spirit remain ever bright, and accept this offering!”

The Star Lord’s youthful voice rang out clear and bright. Though not thunderous, it was heard throughout every corner of the academy.

When the recitation ended, the academy’s immortal masters ascended the platform in turn. Hua Sheng spotted among them Immortal Jue Guang, Immortal Yu Ran, Immortal Huo Lei, and Immortal Qing Miao, all dressed in fresh ceremonial robes, faces solemn and reverent.

Led by the Star Lord of the Dao, a hundred immortal masters and tens of thousands of disciples all bowed in unison to heaven, earth, and the Xuanwu Lingyan Pagoda three times.

As Hua Sheng concentrated on the ritual, he suddenly felt a burning heat at his chest, followed by a searing pain, as if his chest had touched fire. Looking down, he was shocked to find it was no illusion—the Time Bodhi hidden in his robe was emitting flames, igniting his Daoist robe! The fire grew fiercer by the moment.

Overcome by pain, Hua Sheng frantically slapped at his robe to extinguish the flames. Unexpectedly, the Time Bodhi burst from the burned hole in his clothing and shot into the air. Tai Shang Xiao Jun, startled by Hua Sheng’s reaction, tried to snatch it, but the Bodhi slipped through his fingers.

Sensing something amiss, Hua Sheng pointed at the Time Bodhi and chanted, “By command of urgent law—return!”

The Time Bodhi halted in midair, half a yard from his palm.

Tai Shang Xiao Jun also intoned, “By command of urgent law—return! Return! Return!”

But no matter how they tried, the Time Bodhi did not move, as if drawn upward by an immense force.

“Return! Return!” Both tried to summon it, but with a tearing sensation, both their fingers felt as if ripped open. Suddenly, the force slackened, and the Time Bodhi shot a blinding beam of light skyward.

The silence and solemnity of the festival were shattered as tens of thousands of disciples turned their attention to the glowing artifact above, whispering in alarm.

Disaster! What should I do? Should I fly up and retrieve the Time Bodhi?

Thoughts raced through Hua Sheng’s mind as he hesitated, torn between action and retreat. Suddenly, a shadowy figure leaped from the bamboo grove beside the Lingyan Pagoda. Clad in black and wreathed in dark smoke, the figure’s face was obscured.

Worse yet, Hua Sheng saw the figure snatch the Time Bodhi from the air. His heart plummeted, as if doused in icy water.

More disciples noticed the shadow. Immortal Jue Guang bellowed, “Who goes there?”

With this shout, the crowd’s murmurs erupted, like a kettle boiling on the fire. No one could have predicted someone would dare cause trouble before the entire academy—especially with the Star Lord of the Dao present.

The shadow in the smoke gave no reply.

“Insolent knave! Begone at once!” Jue Guang Immortal leaped skyward, charging at the figure.

The shadow merely raised a hand. Instantly, the clear sky darkened with clouds, and a thunderbolt, ten yards wide, crashed down upon Jue Guang and the altar.

The deafening roar of thunder left everyone’s ears ringing. The disciples below instinctively ducked.

“Careful! That’s a Celestial Thunderstorm spell!” Tai Shang Xiao Jun shielded himself with an arm.

Jue Guang Immortal dodged the colossal lightning, which sliced past his cheek like a sword, then crashed into the altar. In the split second before impact, the Star Lord of the Dao stepped forward and swept his palm—summoning a flash of lightning twice as broad from the altar.

A tremendous explosion shook the air. The two bolts collided in a blinding burst, leaving many disciples momentarily blinded. The Star Lord’s lightning not only neutralized the invader’s storm, but arced toward the shadow. As it neared, the shadow swept a hand, deflecting the bolt into a nearby bamboo grove, which was instantly charred.

“How dare you desecrate the festival!”

With Jue Guang Immortal’s cry, he closed in within ten feet of the shadow and struck out with his palm. The figure countered, and at the instant their hands touched, Jue Guang was encased in ice and hurled hundreds of yards away, past the Xuanwu Sacred Mountain. Snow began to fall heavily over the entire academy, blanketing miles around.

“That’s the Myriad-Year Profound Ice! Another Celestial-level spell!” a disciple exclaimed, and unrest grew among the crowd.

Though Jue Guang Immortal was accomplished, he was cast aside so easily by the shadow, whose repeated use of Celestial-level spells revealed unfathomable power.

Over a dozen immortals flew from the altar to attack. The shadow, hands pressed together, summoned a tornado that swirled about him, sending stones and sand flying, preventing anyone from approaching.

Then, a blinding light shot from the storm—it was the Cosmos Ring!

The earth shook as the Cosmos Ring whistled toward the shadow, followed closely by Qing Miao Immortal, seeking to seize the moment for a decisive blow.

But the shadow moved to meet it, and with a muffled thud, caught the ring in his hand. The legendary artifact seemed a mere trinket in his grasp. With a flick of a finger, the ring spun upright in the air, then shot forth like an arrow, striking Qing Miao Immortal in the chest and sending both plummeting over the cliff.

On the other side, Yu Ran Immortal was about to lead more into the fray, but the Star Lord of the Dao stopped him.

“The enemy’s power is formidable—do not act rashly! See to Jue Guang and Qing Miao at once, and evacuate the disciples quickly. I will deal with this intruder!”

Yu Ran Immortal obeyed and flew down the mountain, while the other festival masters began to clear the crowd.

The Star Lord of the Dao ascended into the air and addressed the shadow. “You must be a master of the immortal arts. What feud lies between you and our academy? Will you not disperse this smoke and show your face?”

The shadow said nothing, but opened his palm to reveal the glowing Time Bodhi.

The Star Lord’s expression grew grave.

“To take the Time Bodhi and disrupt our festival—what is your aim?”

Hua Sheng heard every word from below, and was overwhelmed with shame. He had never imagined that the Time Bodhi he, Wuyu, and Tai Shang Xiao Jun had secured through such hardship had already drawn such dangerous attention, now bringing disaster upon the academy. Remembering the affair of the Samadhi Fire, he realized his arrival had brought nothing but trouble—a veritable jinx.

As the disciples fled down the mountainside, Hua Sheng grabbed Tai Shang Xiao Jun. “We can’t leave! Wuyu is still on the high platform by the Lingyan Pagoda!”

“Who said we were leaving? We just need to find somewhere to hide for a bit!”

Indeed, both high platforms were still occupied by Tianji Zi and Wuyu, each enveloped in the golden glow of the protective formation, oblivious to the chaos outside. Though both were strong disciples, it seemed unlikely they could withstand an opponent who had so easily repelled Jue Guang Immortal.

Worried for Wuyu’s safety, Hua Sheng and Tai Shang Xiao Jun slipped into the fleeing crowd and found concealment in a nearby bamboo grove.