Maiden Galaxy

"What's this about Sima Xiangru, you can't mean Liu Che is hiding her in a golden house?" Chen Mo asked.

This was more or less the truth. Rumor had it that Liu Hongyu had a storehouse for her most treasured belongings. Constructed within the Weiyang Palace was a splendid and dazzling golden house, and hidden inside the golden house was an outstanding beauty.

As for who this beauty was, opinions differed.

It was said that the Central Star Field once came to investigate, but there was no verdict. The identity of just who was in Liu Che's Golden House For Beloveds, this was also an enduring topic among the Sixteen Star Marquis.

However, Star World's current guess was that she may be one of Star World's Seven Beauties.

Only someone of this level of peerlessness could stir the Qilin Martial Emperor's heart.

Chen Mo pondered. If they were to be someone who actually was related somehow to Liu Che, then there were many women historically, including the mistress of the famous Golden House For Beloveds, Empress Chen of Wu Chen A'jiao, whose outstanding beauty originated the phrase, Li Yannian's sickly little sister absent from the public eye, Li Furen, or perhaps Wei Zifu, the first empress to possess a posthumous title. There were also legendary characters like Consort Hook and Consort Soul.

"I heard before that Sima Xiangju came to the Qilin Star Kingdom in the past to compose a fu, but she eventually vanished without a trace. No one knows her whereabout. She may be trapped in the Golden House." Yu Youwei theorized.

"Even if she's actually shut inside the Golden House, don't tell me you can save her?" While Yu Youwei's boldness slightly surprised Chen Mo, what she wanted to do was to rescue someone from right under the nose of one of the Sixteen Star Marquis.

"You wouldn't be planning to enter that lion's den like a lamb, right?" Chen Mo wrinkled his brow.

"That was the idea, but how could Youwei ever catch the Martial Emperor's eye. Chen Mo, you need not worry." Yu Youwei felt warmth in her heart knowing he was concerned about her.

"I feel you aren't that lacking compared to Sima Xiangru. There's a great possibility you might catch her eye." Chen Mo was unconvinced.

Yu Youwei chuckled.

"How is your investigation going right now?" Chen Mo asked.

"Youwei has a few leads at the moment. I need to find an opportunity to get close to the Golden House for a look, to see just what is hidden in there."

Chen Mo's brow wrinkled tighter and tighter. Looking at Yu Youwei's weak and delicate appearance, he never imagined she would do something so bold, but he also knew that he could not whisk her away. Besides, this Yuanshou was unpredictable, and he himself was in even more danger.

Yu Youwei also felt that compared to worrying about herself, Chen Mo's situation was even worse.

"You actually came to participate in the Yuanshou. Ai, are you unaware the goal of the Yuanshou is not hunting qilin?"

"I heard. In the past, there were Qilin Cubs who were killed by the ‘qilin' instead during the Yuanshou." Chen Mo already had mental preparations.

"Yet you still came?" Yu Youwei already somewhat grasped the Qilin Star Kingdom's most famous Yuanshou during her past few years in the Weiyang Palace. The Western Field Yuanshou was convened in the name of hunting qilin. In fact, this was a trick by Liu Che to feed the "White Tiger." These chose Qilin Cubs were the actual game of the Western Fields.

"I have faith in myself." Chen Mo's smile made Yu YOuwei force a smile.

Faith in oneself.

Fancy that this man would dare blurt out such words. The Yuanshou hunt was a centuries old tradition, and the cultivators who became meals for the White Tiger were innumerable. If he was a Lord Of Heaven, Yu Youwei could even be a bit confident, but right now, he was merely Earthly Immortal. Even if he cultivated Star Energy, he could not possibly be a match for the Holy Beast. There were even a few famous Star Generals who were eaten by the White Tiger.

"I'm not alone this time, I even have a helping hand."

"Is that so. Very well, then." Yu Youwei knew she had no way to persuade this man, and neither was this the reason she came to see him so late at night. The girl took out a leather map. "This is a map of the Western Fields. Perhaps it will prove of some help to you."

"Thanks."

"I heard the maids say that because the ‘White Tiger' has apparently harmed too many creatures while under Liu Honyu's care, it has very vicious behavior. The Holy Beast has already nearly become a Fierce Beast. If you truly can kill the White Tiger, this would be a form of liberation." Yu Youwei pitied the White Tiger. To think one of Heaven's Four Symbols was actually raised to be a ferocious beast by someone, this was much too sad.

"However, even if you actually kill the White Tiger, do you have some kind of escape plan afterwards?" Yu Youwei did not let him go: "Liu Hongyu highly values the White Tiger. If you kill the White Tiger, she definitely will not leave the matter at that."

"I have the Three Worlds Immortal Movement Pendant. It'd really be for the best if I can kill it and then escape." Chen Mo already knew that his Three Worlds Immortal Movement Pendant was still capable of two more uses.

"Seems that Young Lord has already planned very thoroughly. Then Youwei shall not waste breath on needless persuasion." Yu Youwei saw that it was already very late. Lingering any longer risked being discovered.

"Youwei wishes Young Lord the best of luck and shall take leave now." Yu Youwei prepared to leave.

"Wait a sec…I have a pet to give you." Chen Mo said.

"Hm?"

Chen Mo looked around and activated his Divine Intent. The "fei yi" flew out from his Astral Stone. Its body was enormous, like a dragon's. "Master, I am in the middle of self-cultivation. Have you any orders?" The fei yi let out a flattering voice.

"Oh…" Yu Youwei's little mouth hung agape.

What manner of monster was this.

"This Primeval Chaos Strange Beast is very powerful. If you're actually in any danger, it can at least help you escape." Chen Mo did not have much use for the fei yi. He might as well have it act as the girl's bodyguard. "Fei yi, as of now, you are to remain at Yu Youwei's side and protect her. Should anything happen to her, I will serve you up on a platter." 

His Divine Intent moved, making the fei yi roll about in pain. It promptly agreed and shrank itself into a ball, rolling into the Astral Stone.

Chen Mo's School Of Mind was already proficient. He did not fear that the fei yi would scheme anything.

"Youwei thanks the Young Lord." Yu YOuwei's expresison was elegant.

Before Thousand Theories And Wonders could feel very moved, all of a sudden, Chen Mo embraced her without warning. Then, he lowered his head like he did back when they first signed their contract.

Yu Youwei's lips felt hot, and her body went limp. She originally wanted to shove Chen Mo away, but her hand had barely pushed when she gave up resistance

She allowed the man his request.

"Wait until I settle things at Mount Hua, then I'll come back to take you away." Chen Mo's words sounded even more like a lover's promise to elope.

Yu Youwei slightly smiled. Her heart had never been so tranquil, yet her blood had never been so hot.

"Then Youwei shall wait for you this time."

She whispered softly under the moonlight.

…

The next day.

Following Shangguan Jie and the Qilin Pavilion officers' lead, the hundred Qilin Cubs majestically gathered in front of Qilin Mountain, located in the Weiyang Palace.

A vast ceremonial troupe was already deployed in the valley, and Qilin Martial Emperor Liu Che sat high upon a jade platform.

Everyone knelt in greeting when they saw the Martial Emperor.

Liu Hongyu was high up, surveying the situation.

The ancient Western Fields were not located in one of the Qilin Star Kingdom's Star Fields. Rather, it was concealed in one of Qilin Mountain's entrances. The interior was an ancient, fertile Star Field dimension, used by Liu Hongyu to create such a space. There were many treasures from antiquity inside. Add on the uncountable number of cultivators and Star Generals that entered throughout the years of Yuanshou, a bounty of treasure as vast as the starry sky had accumulated over time. In order to attract the participation of other Star Generals, the Qilin Martial Emperor even threw in many more treasures.

There were even rumors of a Purple Rose Treasure.

The "Western Fields Jiaba"¹ was already considered a famous fortune ground in Star World.

The Qilin Martial Emperor used her own formidable Star Energy to seal and conceal it. Every Yuanshou, or perhaps whenever she wanted to relieve her boredom, she would open it. There was no other way for any other cultivators to enter it, so even if they realized they were being treated as prey to hunt during the Yuanshou Qilin Hunt, to provide the Martial Emperor entertainment, cultivators endlessly rushed over each time. Even the Ten Great Sects had cultivators who treated it as a goal for experience.

There were always people who deluded themselves that they were lucky people capable of overcoming fate. If they could obtain a lucky encounter in the Western Fields Yuanshou, their cultivation Realm would someday be able to shine over a thousand li.

The rules for this Western Fields Yuanshou were esceedingly simple.

All "Qilin Cubs" were required to hold on to special talismans created from the Qilin Claws in order to be able to enter the Western Fields. THe time limit was one month. After one month, the Qilin Claw talisman would emit red light. At this time, the Qilin Cub was required to rush for the exit in order to be able to elave the Western Fields. If they missed the timing, they would be forever left behind in this ancient space, up until they died.

During this month, cultivators could act however they pleased. There were no restrictions.

Of course, the Qilin Martial Emperor said, ostensibly, that whoever was able to hunt the "qilin" would be rewarded generously. Those able to claim its pelt would be ennobled. Those able to obtain its flesh could be conferred the title of marquis. Those able to claim its soul could be made Qilin General.

Heavenly Shaoshu Star "Servant Of Weiyang" Shangguan Jie announced this Yuanshou's rules. The woman looked at these smug Qilin Cubs, pursing her lips in schadenfreude. Then, she made everyone prepare.

Chen Mo silently meditated.

The other Qilin Cubs did not dare be careless. They each rubbed their palms in wait for this rare trial.

Su Mushuang looked at the astrological chart in her hands. The girl's brow was slightly furrowed. "The movement of the hexagrams, the way of the three poles; the celestial bodies say that the Holy Beast will return to Heaven yet fall to the ground…What is the meaning of this?"

"Heaven, Earth, and Man. It seems something unforeseen will happen in this Yuanshou. En, fortunately, I received Ancestral Master's Spirit Treasure, the Dual Modes Ruler.² Ai, no matter what, I must go to the Western Fields this time. This is the only place that has it." Su Mushuang muttered. She searched through the crowd for that man that was so bold as to ask her for half of the Sobbing Qilin Stone.

Chen Mo sensed someone's attention was on him. His gaze scanned about, and he caught sight of the young lady from the Purple Firmaments Immortal Palace. He could not help but courteously nod.

Su Mushuang grunted, still in contemplation.

"Where did you go last night?" Qingyi walked to his side.

"What were you doing waiting for me to return last night…I'm but an upstanding gentleman." Chen Mo laughed.

Qingyi was speechless.

"These Western Fields are an ancient primordial chaos ground. The terrain inside is complex, and there will be Primeval Chaos Demon Beasts. After we enter, we will lose touch with each other." Qingyi said.

"This is easy to deal with. The White Tiger is a Holy Beast, so its movements will be very noticeable. When the time comes, let's converge according to its activities." Chen Mo thought.

"No, facing a ‘qilin' alone is extremely dangerous." Qingyi handed out a Ten Thousand Li Sound Transmission Talisman: "This Sound Transmission Talisman can cover a range of ten thousand li."

Chen Mo took the talisman.

Qingyi did not feel reassured at all and explained with a few more words: "I will also leave behind a red arrow mark. If you can sense the markings, you can find me." 

"Good. Come to think of it, I have a question I want to ask you, Qingyi." Chen Mo said.

"You want to ask about my Star Name? I have never told my Star Name to a man. You will know when the time comes." Qingyi refused.

"Then what do you think our chances are of success in hunting the White TIger. To be frank, the other treasures in the Western Fields are also my goal. I've entertained the idea that I may not necessarily want to actually go hunt the qilin. The Qilin Martial Emperor makes it sound great, but if I actually kill her pet, I fear we will be dead without a corpse to bury."

"Are you backing out?" Qingyi's tone was cold.

Chen Mo shrugged. "I want to know a definitive answer."

"The White Tiger has a ‘Jian Bing Seven Mansions Star Stone.' Obtaining this is my goal." Qingyi coldly said: "This is not difficult at all, is it."

Jian Bing Seven Stars, huh.

Chen Mo was pensive.

Just as he was about to ask more, the Qilin Claw in his hand suddenly glowed green. The Qilin Martial Emperor already opened the Western Fields. An enormous vortex appeared in the sky above Qilin Mountain.

"Go."

Qingyi allowed no time for talk. She pulled Chen Mo's shoulder and flew up towards the vortex.

1. 西野嘉巴 ↩
2. Definitely Hu Mi. ↩

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