Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Twenty-Six

At the same moment, several beams of light soared from the open grounds of Misty Island's main hall, streaking toward the southern waters of the East Sea.

Amidst the raging winds and towering waves, Chong Zhao led the charge. A translucent jade bamboo slip hung at his waist, his thin lips pressed tightly together. The revelations he had just learned flashed through his eyes, his anxiety impossible to conceal.

A-Shuo, don’t let anything happen to you. Please, don’t let anything happen!

Half an incense stick’s time earlier, within Misty Island’s main hall, Song Feng had guided Chong Zhao and Er Yun to a secluded area behind the hall. There, the memorial tablets of Misty Island’s past Sect Leaders were enshrined. Though called immortal tablets, they were merely bamboo slips carved with names after their passing.

Song Feng lit three sticks of incense before Song He’s tablet before slowly turning around.

"Uncle, what exactly is going on? Who injured you? Why is there such commotion over the sea? What is that long-dormant evil spirit?"

Er Yun could no longer hold back, firing off questions one after another.

After a long silence, Song Feng finally spoke, "Tonight, someone breached the Restriction our sect placed on Fire-Ice Island."

"Fire-Ice Island? What place is that?" Er Yun was stunned. Having lived on Misty Island for centuries, she had never heard of such an island.

Chong Zhao also asked, "Junior Martial Uncle, why have I never heard of this island? Why did our sect establish a Restriction there?"

Song Feng sighed softly, looking at Chong Zhao. "Actually, you’ve been to Fire-Ice Island before. That Restriction was laid down by your Master three years ago at the cost of his life."

"Father set it up?" Er Yun was taken aback.

"Master laid it? You mean that desolate island from three years ago?" Chong Zhao was even more puzzled. "Junior Martial Uncle, what exactly is that island? Why was Master severely injured there back then?"

"In truth, that island wasn’t barren ten years ago, nor was it called Fire-Ice Island. Everything traces back to a celestial fire a decade ago." Song Feng’s voice grew distant. "The East Sea lies at the border of the Immortal Realm, far from conflicts, with few blessed lands across its waters. Ten years ago, a celestial fire descended from the heavens and struck that island. The flames burned ceaselessly, day and night. Though uninhabited, the island housed many living beings. Naturally, Senior Brother and I went to extinguish the fire. But the celestial fire’s power was immense—we couldn’t even approach within a hundred miles, let alone set foot on the island."

Chong Zhao blurted out, "Back then, Master was already an Upper Lord. If even he couldn’t get close, then that fire must have been..."

"Indeed, that fire contained at least the power of the Divine Realm," Song Feng said slowly.

"If this involved the Divine Realm, and the fire wouldn’t cease, why wasn’t it reported to the Heavenly Palace?" Chong Zhao asked, confused.

Song Feng sighed, his eyes revealing a trace of complexity. He hesitated before finally saying, "Senior Brother lived a life of honor, protecting the East Sea. Only once did he act out of selfishness—and it ended up costing him dearly."

Chong Zhao’s expression changed. He glanced at the darkened hall beyond, a sense of unease settling in his heart."The path of immortality is long, yet it too has an end. Yun'er, Zhao'er, we Immortals may live for thousands of years, but our lifespans are not eternal. If one can survive the third Heavenly Tribulation, they may ascend to the Peak of High Lords and glimpse the Divine Realm. If not, they will meet their end in ashes and smoke. A decade ago, Senior Brother calculated that his third Heavenly Tribulation would descend in a few years. Yet his Immortal Power had not grown for a century. He knew in his heart that surviving this third tribulation was nearly impossible—unless he encountered a rare opportunity or consumed a Divine Grade Immortal Pill to forcibly elevate his cultivation to the Peak of High Lords before the tribulation arrived..."

Song Feng turned his head. "The Misty Isle has long been in decline. Where would such opportunities or Divine Grade Immortal Pills come from? Yet if Senior Brother were to fall, our Misty Isle would lose even its last foothold. That celestial fire descending upon the remote island in the East Sea was his—and our sect's—only chance."

"What kind of chance?"

"Where divine signs appear, divine treasures must follow. That celestial fire burned endlessly, infused with Divine Power. Senior Brother believed it must contain power from the Divine Realm—or at least materials capable of refining a Divine Grade Immortal Pill. So we cast an Immortal Veil around the island to conceal the fire's power from the Heavenly Palace."

Though Song Feng spoke softly, Chong Zhao felt a weight settle in his chest. How could Immortal Power contend with Divine Power? His Master's grievous injuries on that island surely meant something had gone terribly wrong.

"Then what happened? If you were guarding the island, why was Father left with incurable injuries?" Er Yun pressed urgently. Three years ago, Song He had passed without explanation, leaving the mystery of his sudden demise heavy on her heart.

"The celestial fire proved far more powerful than we imagined, burning for years without end. Fortunately, it never breached the island. With the Misty Isle needing guardians, we agreed to take turns watching the island until the fire extinguished. Yet year after year, the flames only grew stronger. My fears deepened—if that fire broke through the Immortal Veil, it could devastate all life in the East Sea. I resolved to report this to the Heavenly Palace and the Phoenix Emperor..."

Song Feng paused, and Chong Zhao guessed, "No word of this reached the Immortal Realm, meaning you and Master never reported it. Did... Master disagree?"

Song Feng nodded. "After years of waiting, with his tribulation imminent, Senior Brother couldn't bear to abandon his chance. We argued fiercely, but his concern for the East Sea's creatures remained. He promised that if the fire hadn't extinguished within a month, we would report it. Then I returned to the Misty Isle—only to find, upon my return..." Song Feng turned to Chong Zhao, "the extinguished fire, my gravely injured Senior Brother, and you with Bai Shuo."

Chong Zhao was stunned. "But when A-Shuo and I drifted to that island, the fire was already gone. The place was desolate, with only Master unconscious on the shore.""At first I found it strange too," Song Feng began, his voice heavy. "But with Senior Brother severely injured, I didn't have time to think deeply. I simply brought you all back to Misty Isle. Several days later, when Senior Brother regained consciousness, he told me that shortly after I left, the Heavenly Fire suddenly became restless, nearly breaking through the Immortal Veil. Without time to report to the Celestial Palace, he expended all his immortal power to extinguish the Heavenly Fire to save the creatures of the Eastern Sea. He thought he would die quietly on that island, but unexpectedly, the two of you drifted there and cared for him so diligently that he survived long enough for me to arrive."

"You know what happened next. Senior Brother's injuries were beyond healing. Even after exhausting all the immortal medicines on Misty Isle, we could only prolong his life for three months. Before his passing, he took you as his final disciple, set Restrictions on the Fire-Ice Isle, and transferred his last remaining immortal essence to you before departing this world."

Song Feng sighed deeply, his voice tinged with sorrow.

Silence filled the hall. Er Yun's eyes were red-rimmed, while Chong Zhao, though moved, couldn't shake his growing doubts.

"If the Heavenly Fire was already extinguished, why did Master set Restrictions on Fire-Ice Isle?" Chong Zhao asked.

"Though the Heavenly Fire was quenched, the Divine Power within it did not completely vanish," Song Feng explained slowly. "It transformed into a spring, remaining on that island. Senior Brother placed Restrictions around the spring, preventing any immortal or demon below the rank of High Lord from approaching. Before his passing, he warned me that Immortal Jin Yao was known for his strict enforcement of laws. If he learned that our sect had nearly endangered countless lives in the Eastern Sea for selfish reasons, Misty Isle would likely become a target of persecution and exile in the Immortal Realm. To protect the peace of this island and our thousand-year reputation, seeing that the Heavenly Fire was extinguished and the residual Divine Power sealed within the spring, I agreed to bury this secret, telling outsiders only that Senior Brother had perished during a Heavenly Tribulation."

Song Feng paused, looking at the two of them. "This matter was meant to be our sect's most guarded secret. I had planned to reveal it only when passing Misty Isle to you both, entrusting you with the Restrictions on Fire-Ice Isle as well... Yet, our past selfishness has now led to catastrophe."

"Junior Martial Uncle, what exactly happened on Fire-Ice Isle? Is the chaos in the Eastern Sea tonight connected to it?" Chong Zhao pressed, his voice grave.

Song Feng nodded. "Tonight, I sensed someone breaching the Restrictions Senior Brother had set. I went to stop them, only to find that the spring we had hidden all these years was now devoid of Divine Qi, instead radiating sinister energy. That spring originally contained immense power, yet somehow, over the years, it has given birth to a malevolent force. Had someone not stumbled upon it tonight, allowing me to investigate, the entire Eastern Sea might have been destroyed when that evil fully emerged. I barely escaped using our sect's secret techniques and attempted to activate the Heaven-Shaking Array to seek aid from the Celestial Palace, but it was too late. The malevolence destroyed the array and raised towering waves around the Eastern Sea, cutting us off from the outside world. Now, Misty Isle stands alone..."

Chong Zhao and Er Yun listened with growing dread, their faces pale. If Song Feng's words were true, the entire Eastern Sea was doomed.

"Uncle, what should we do now?" Er Yun asked, voice trembling.

Song Feng took a labored breath, his gaze resolute. "To save Misty Isle now, there's only one way left..."Song Feng chanted an immortal incantation as a surge of immortal power shot from his palm toward the altar ahead. The energy landed on the offering table, causing hundreds of bamboo slips to suddenly rise into the air. A faint yet pure immortal power slowly emanated from the slips. Beads of cold sweat formed on Song Feng's forehead before he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the bamboo slips.

"Junior Martial Uncle!"

"Second Uncle!"

Song Feng's face turned deathly pale as he swayed unsteadily. Chong Zhao and Er Yun hurried forward to support him.

"Stay back!" Song Feng roared angrily. He bit his fingertip and used his blood to inscribe an immortal seal in midair. The seal erupted with a blinding white light, restraining the restless bamboo slips. As the glow faded, a single jade-like bamboo slip as thick as an arm remained suspended, its surface streaked with blood-red veins and radiating an overwhelming, domineering immortal power.

Song Feng could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground.

"Junior Martial Uncle!" Chong Zhao quickly caught him. With a weak wave of Song Feng's hand, the jade slip flew toward Chong Zhao and landed in his palm.

His face ashen, Song Feng looked at Chong Zhao and Er Yun and spoke slowly, "This is the immortal slip left behind by successive generations of our Misty Isle's Sect Leaders after their passing. I've refined it using my immortal essence. Now, this slip contains the power of a Peak Upper Immortal. Zhao'er, you and Yun'er must lead the island's elite disciples and take this slip to the Fire-Ice Isle. With it, you may be able to reactivate the Restriction left by your Master and reseal that demonic entity within the spring."

Gasping for breath, Song Feng suddenly gripped Er Yun's hand tightly. "If sealing fails... even if it means the complete annihilation of our Misty Isle lineage on the Fire-Ice Isle... you must destroy that spring's eye! Promise me!"

Meeting Song Feng's bloodshot gaze, Er Yun's heart trembled violently, her face filled with terror. Though she was usually the pride of heaven, faced with such sudden calamity and the life-or-death crisis of their immortal sect, she was at a loss.

"Junior Martial Uncle, even if it costs our lives, we will never let this evil creature escape to harm others! Rest assured! Senior Sister, let's go!" Chong Zhao clutched the slip and pulled Er Yun toward the hall's exit, but Song Feng called out to stop them.

"Wait!" The two turned back to see Song Feng wearing a strange expression as he beckoned to Er Yun. "Yun'er, stay. I have one more thing to tell you. Zhao'er, go gather our fellow disciples first."

"Yes, Junior Martial Uncle." Knowing this mission was likely a desperate struggle for survival, Chong Zhao thought urgently of Bai Shuo and hurried off.

The sound of thunder interrupted Chong Zhao's recollection. Several streaks of immortal light traversed the treacherous sea, heading straight south. The closer they got to the southern region, the more intense the thunderstorm became, and the malevolent energy grew increasingly palpable.

Chong Zhao tightened his grip on the bamboo slip at his waist, his expression icy as he recalled everything that had transpired in the main hall earlier.

Er Yun walked beside him, studying his troubled face with a complex expression, a hint of wariness hidden in her gaze.

Second Uncle... if everything is as you suspect... then who exactly is this person before me?

Half an incense stick's time earlier, Chong Zhao had rushed out of the hall, leaving Er Yun alone inside with Song Feng. She looked at him in confusion. "Second Uncle...?"

"Yun'er, come closer... there's something I must tell you..." Song Feng beckoned.

Er Yun leaned in, and as Song Feng whispered a single sentence, her eyes widened in disbelief. "Second Uncle?!"

Song Feng grasped her hand firmly, his gaze burning with intensity. "Remember this—trust no one. Yun'er, the future of Misty Isle rests in your hands now."Er Yun's eyes were red, her expression shifting between emotions, but she finally gave a firm nod. "Second Uncle, don't worry. Yun'er will not fail your trust!"

Song Feng nodded, his face exhausted beyond measure.

Er Yun rose and hurried out. As the hall doors closed again, Song Feng could no longer hold on, coughing up a mouthful of blood before collapsing onto the meditation mat.

"Senior Sister, we're here! Right there!"

A sharp call snapped Chong Zhao and Er Yun back to attention.

With a wave of his hand, Chong Zhao halted the disciples just outside the eerily silent island. Everyone gazed solemnly at the sinister Qi swirling around its perimeter.

The surroundings of Fire-Ice Island were swarmed by crows, the island itself shrouded in mist. Despite the clear skies elsewhere, this place was as dark as night, enveloped by layers of malevolent Qi that made approach impossible. The dark energy was slowly spreading across the surrounding sea, freezing the waters wherever it touched and instantly shattering any living creatures caught in its path.

"Formation! Block this Qi!" Seeing the danger, Chong Zhao barked the order. The disciples summoned their immortal Swords, dozens of beams of light weaving into a grander Formation to contain the encroaching darkness.

The Qi roared furiously, relentlessly battering the immortal barrier. The disciples paled, their eyes wide with shock.

"Junior Brother, time is running out!" Er Yun said gravely. "We must seal the spring before this Qi spirals out of control, or the entire Eastern Sea will be doomed!"

Chong Zhao nodded and tossed a bamboo slip into the air. A surge of immortal power shot from it, striking the dark Qi surrounding Fire-Ice Island.

"Break!" Chong Zhao shouted. The thick miasma finally parted at one spot.

"Go!" Seizing the moment, Chong Zhao grabbed Er Yun's hand and dashed toward the island.

A flash of spiritual light later, the two landed on Fire-Ice Island. Strangely, stepping onto the island brought an unnatural calm—except for the suffocating silence that pressed down on them.

Chong Zhao took the Jade Slip from his waist. With a flick of his fingers, the slip instantly pointed toward a spot inland, glowing fiercely with scorching radiance.

"There!" Chong Zhao gestured south. "The slip can sense the Qi's source. That must be where the spring is. Senior Sister, let's go!"

"Wait!" Er Yun suddenly stopped Chong Zhao, extending her hand. "Junior Brother, give me the slip."

Chong Zhao froze, confused. "Senior Sister...?"

"Junior Brother Chong Zhao, after leaving the main hall earlier, did you go to the herb garden?"

Er Yun spoke slowly. Chong Zhao halted mid-step, his brow furrowing.

Half an incense stick’s time earlier, Chong Zhao had exited the main hall. He hurried to a corner, where a bamboo flute materialized in his palm.

"A-Shuo! A-Shuo!"

The flute remained silent. Chong Zhao's expression darkened as he channeled more energy into it, calling again, "A-Shuo? A-Shuo?!"

Still, no response came. Unable to wait any longer, Chong Zhao vanished from the spot in a blur.

The moment he disappeared, Er Yun stepped out from the hall. Sensing something amiss, she followed.

The herb garden was in disarray, battered by fierce winds. A streak of light flashed as Chong Zhao landed amidst the chaos.

"A-Shuo!"

No answer came—not even from the old turtle. Chong Zhao rushed into the thatched hut, only to freeze at the sight inside.

The room was strewn with scattered medicine boxes. Bai Shuo was nowhere to be seen. The old turtle lay sprawled on the floor, its shell emitting faint traces of immortal energy.

Before it rested a water mirror, its surface floating with tiny fragments of turtle shell."Turtle Master!" Chong Zhao hurried forward, channeling a surge of immortal energy into the old turtle's shell. The turtle slowly regained consciousness, its eyes dazed.

"Where is A-Shuo?!" Chong Zhao pressed urgently.

With such a major incident occurring on Misty Isle, given Bai Shuo's temperament, she would surely have hidden safely in the herb garden. If the bamboo flute couldn't find her, something must have happened.

The old turtle's eyes gradually cleared, and upon seeing Chong Zhao, it became agitated. "A-Zhao, Little Bai is in trouble!"

"What exactly happened?"

"It's all my fault, alas! Little Bai discovered you were injured and wanted to refine a first-grade Medicinal Pill for you. But where on this island would one find the rare ingredients needed for such a pill? Afraid she might cause trouble, I tricked her into going to the Coral Sea. Who knew that clever girl would outwit me and knock me out? Just now, when strange disturbances occurred outside the island, I grew worried and summoned her back—only to find she wasn't in the Coral Sea at all! I used divination to locate her and found she was in the southern waters of the East Sea. But as soon as I pinpointed her location, a sinister Qi appeared in the water mirror, blocking my calculations and injuring me!"

"Little Bai is in the southeastern sea?!" Chong Zhao's voice faltered as he suddenly recalled Song Feng's earlier words.

Tonight, someone had breached the Restriction set by Song He on the Fire-Ice Isle—and that person was A-Shuo!

Chong Zhao's expression darkened. He tightened his grip on the bamboo flute. Behind them, outside the thatched hut's window, Er Yun's face was clouded with uncertainty.

"I know it was her who broke into Father's Restriction," Er Yun said, extending a hand, his expression grave. "If Bai Shuo has already fallen into the hands of that demonic entity and is used to threaten you, you might hesitate. With the East Sea in imminent peril, I cannot allow personal feelings to jeopardize our mission. No matter what happens next, the one who Seals the spring must be me."

Chong Zhao clenched the jade slip, his expression conflicted.

Er Yun grew angrier. "Why are you still hesitating? It was that troublemaker who awakened that evil creature! She caused Junior Martial Uncle's injury and now has put all of Misty Isle in danger. Junior Brother, would you betray the entire sect for her sake?!"

Chong Zhao's hidden hand tightened within his sleeve. His expression shifted several times before he finally spoke in a heavy voice, "Senior Sister, the sect's kindness to me weighs as heavily as a mountain. Master and Sect Leader have given me a second chance at life—even ten thousand deaths could not repay their grace. Now, with demons wreaking havoc across the East Sea, what use is saving one person if the East Sea itself is lost? I understand the gravity of the situation. If you doubt me, this Jade Slip shall be entrusted to you."

He handed the slip to Er Yun, whose palm grew heavy with its weight. Seeing Chong Zhao's earnest expression, she turned to leave but hesitated and stopped him. "Wait!"

Chong Zhao looked back, his gaze fixed on her.

Er Yun's expression was complex. She took a deep breath and suddenly asked, "Then tell me—if Bai Shuo were in danger, what would you do?"

Chong Zhao was taken aback for a moment before speaking slowly, "A-Shuo has also shown me kindness and support. If she were in danger, I would spare no effort, even at the cost of my life, to protect her."

Er Yun gazed at Chong Zhao and let out a relieved sigh. "Junior Brother, though I dislike your answer, I am satisfied now—at least I can choose to trust you."

She handed the bamboo slip back to Chong Zhao. "This bamboo slip is our only hope right now. If you were a demon in disguise, you wouldn't have handed it over to me so easily."

Chong Zhao was stunned. "A demon in disguise? Senior Sister, what exactly are you talking about?"

Er Yun's expression turned grave. "Second Uncle said that even if our Misty Island has declined, the Heaven-Shaking Formation was set up by our founding ancestors. It is anchored in the Spiritual Qi of the entire island. Even if destroyed, it wouldn't vanish without a trace—unless..."

Chong Zhao's face paled slightly. "Unless what...?"

"Unless it was destroyed by someone from within the island," Er Yun said slowly. "But on this entire island, only Second Uncle, you, me, and the ten second-generation Cloud Drift Disciples we brought this time know how to activate the Heaven-Shaking Formation." She glanced at the ten streaks of immortal light outside the island. "Second Uncle told me not to trust anyone—except myself."

Chong Zhao's expression shifted slightly as he looked at Er Yun.