Maiden Galaxy

When I had set out, the willows drooped in spring. Now that I have returned, snow is falling.

Long and slow was the way, hungry and thirsty all day. My heart is filled with sorrow, but who would know.

Homecoming, homecoming, when homecoming is also known as a stop…

The faint guqin music trickled like a stream, a clarity that saw through the years, accumulating all waves and ripples. Each note soft yet grand, engrossing to the ear.

This song was the "Song Of Homecoming,"¹ personally penned by the Fu Sage Sima Xiangru. It was one of Star World's poems, and the girl played the qin inside her chambers. Her music was ethereal and flowing, echoing back and forth.

Anyone listening would be not bear to interrupt this heavenly song.

The messenger female general hesitated a moment. In the end, she said nothing.

"What's the matter, why'd you clam up if you have something to say. Li,² this isn't your style~" The young woman's voice was even more pleasant compared to the slow qin music.

The female general answered: "Your Highness, we have just received information from ‘Siyou' regarding Qilin Martial Emperor Liu Che."³

"Liu Hongyu should have convened another ‘Yuanshou' now, right. Every time there's always some trifle. As long as they aren't too unreasonable, leave them to Dong Zhongshu to handle."

"This time, Lord You Dong personally passed this message to Your Highness."

"Huh? Li, tell me."

The female general paused. Upright and frank, she reported: "The Yuanshou has already ended. The Four Symbols White Tiger has been slain."

The guqin music came to an abrupt halt.

Infinite silence.

"Li, come in and tell me carefully."

The female general entered the chambers. Fragrance assailed her nostrils, filling her lungs with the scent of orchids.

The decorations in the room were simple yet without elegance. They were unassuming, not at all like the private chamber of the Central Star Field's master, but every detail in the room, every item was sufficient to raise carnage in the other Star Fields.

The old story, "Luo God's Endowment Diagram," that came from the "Mountains and Rivers Divine Heart," Gu Kaizhi's True Work, a passage from the Orchid Pavilion Preface calligraphy personally presented by Calligraphy Sage Wang Xizhi herself, a Silver Lining Glaze Ice Cracked Vase sent by White Clothed Sword Immortal Li Bai. There was even her True Work on it, "I am drunk and would like to sleep, but bring your guqin tomorrow if you please."

Even the guzheng she just played, with its round head and double linked waist, was in the legendary "Fuxi Style." This was the Heavenly Tang Star Kingdom's famous "Nine Firmaments Ring Pendant," bestowed by Li Shimin.

The girl already came to the Sun Terrace. It had a rare "starlight spider plant," with its pervasive rattan leaves and abundant starlight. This starlight spider plant was extremely rare, and it once went for auction at the Thousand Gold Pavilion for an astronomical price of more than five hundred thousand Astral Dollars.

The girl wore a purple skirt matching her purple hair. Her back was beautiful, like a painting.

"Your Highness."

"Li, what happened."

"Rumor is that a Star Warrior named Mo Chen appeared in this Yuanshou. He cultivated the Four Symbols Black Turtle, and he worked with Li Mi to hunt the White Tiger. In the end, Li Mi and someone from the School Of Diplomacy escaped. But that man successfully killed the White Tiger and obtained its soul."

"This Palace has also seen the White Tiger, it is not something Li Mi and a Star Warrior can handle together. Mo Chen…Never heard of this name." The young woman imbued the starlight spider plant with purple Immortal Qi.

"It is possibly an alias, but he used the Five Emperors Seal. He may be related to the massive changes in the Cangwu Star Field's Connecting Valley."

The girl's figure froze, and she turned her head back in astonishment.

The young woman's countenance was absolutely beautiful. Her facial features were picturesque, difficult to portray unless in a hundred different ways. This was just like a gongbi portrait that Portrait Sage Wu Daozi painted; she seemed that she could only exist in a painting. Her delicate figure was delicate like a fairy, and at first glance, she would make it difficult for people to turn away.

"The Five Emperors Seal…He actually used the Five Emperors Seal?!"

"Yes, Your Highness."

The girl's brows slightly wrinkled. This news was not very welcome. She was a bit aware of the FIve Emperors Seal's background. The legendary Maiden Mountain's Ancient Five Emperors were a force even older than the Primordial Star Names. Even top-notch Star Generals could not possibly control them. She did not dare lightly touch that herself, but she never imagined that someone was actually capable of using it. To have obtained the Five Emperors' acknowledgement, this was too outrageous.

"And then." The young girl had a premonition that things were definitely very interesting.

General Li's narrated the the events of the Yuanshou thought leaving out any details.

After learning that Qilin Martial Emperor Liu Che and Son Of Heaven Liu Xiu surprisingly fought over a man, the young woman showed a charming smile. "They are but the fourth and fifth Star Marquis. To actually have mobilized so significantly for a man, what sort of magic does this man have."

"Your Highness, the information from the ‘Siyou'⁴ indicates that Liu Che has already assembled the officers of the Qilin Pavilion. They have gathered the Million Qilin Guard and are preparing to invade the Yuanwu Star Kingdom." Li felt that Her Highness was paying attention to the wrong details. She was a young lady, after all.

Internecine strife between Star Marquis would inevitably throw Star World into chaos. Now that Xiang Yu's Star Name had appeared, this was not a good sign.

"This won't do. Although Mian'er⁵ would be very pleased to see them kill each other, now is not the time." The girl pursed her lips and shook her head.

"Li, have the ‘Siyou' monitor the trail of the Star Marquis. This Palace will go stop those two Star Marquis from causing a ruckus." She thought for a moment, "I may as well go see this man, what kind of being is he."

"Li will accompany Your Highness."

"No need to trouble yourself, Li. This is but a piece of cake."

The girl smiled, glittering as a spring flower.

…

"Princess, could it be you actually want to help this man?"

"The Qilin Martial Emperor's forces have already set out for the Yuanwu Star Kingdom. This is not good."

"Princess, I feel that this man's origins are strange. I fear he is a scourge."

"Your Servant agrees with Elder Sister Cen Peng.⁶ He killed the qilin and has now offended the Martial Emperor…Had he been a woman, Your Servant would not oppose the Princess' decision, but a man has dirtied the Princess' eyes."

"Jing Dan,⁷ how can you speak like this to the Princess. This truly is impudent."

"Is what Dan said incorrect, though? Sister Deng Yu,⁸ say something."

"Sister Houxiu's mind is as a clear mirror. As Little Sisters, we should heed Elder Sister's arrangements.

"Yes."

"This man saved Sister Tayan's life. We should not treat him with prejudice."

"Everything follows the Princess' decision."

"Ai, will you Elder Sisters actually allow a man to reside in the Star Mansion Palace? This, this…"

"Jing Dan, though you are young, do not cause trouble. If you are displeased, leave the Star Mansion Palace for now."

"Hmph, Jing Dan will obey Elder Sisters. Hmph."

The voices seemed to come from high beyong the clouds and were a bit noisy.

What is this place??

Where am I?

The voices gradually grew distant. Chen Mo sensed that he had arrived in a strange, indistinct world. In his mind, there was suddenly a tumultuous wave. A Black Turtle carried him along. He was unsure of how long he floated in this empty haze, but he knew he was heading west. Eventually, a desolate lake appeared in front of him.

The Black Turtle did not advance further. Upon the lake lay an ugly beast as black as coal.

Chen Mo walked over. When his hand touched the charcoal, a peculiar scene occurred.

The charcoal peeled away, very quickly revealing black and white markings. The black was completely dark while the white glinted like snow. The two colors were a complete match, perfect without flaw, like the Daoist yin and yang, the dual modes, Qian and Kun…

The grotesque beast revealed its original form.

Surprisingly, it was the White Tiger.

White Tiger!!

Chen Mo remembered. He was hunting in the Western Fields, and he killed the White Tiger, obtaining its soul.

"You have come."

The White Tiger opened its mouth and spoke in human tongue.

"You can talk?" Chen Mo was very surprised.

"When even demons in Star World are capable of human speech, how can I, a Holy Beast of Heaven, master of the four directions, not be?" The White Tiger grumbled and spoke in displeasure.

Chen Mo glanced back at the Black Turtle's soul.

"I am the White Tiger's soul. I still have a bit of strength left. This wisp of Divine Intent has yet to disperse completely, so I am capable of speaking with you in your mind." The White Tiger rose and paced over the lake.

"En, what did you want to say."

"I was trapped by the Qilin Martial Emperor in the Western Fields for centuries. Hunting the Primordial Spirits of cultivators, the destinies of Star Generals, in the end, I fell to such a plight. Today, having received Your Distinguished Self's aid, I finally am free."

"It was indeed a bit wretched that a Holy Beast who guards the four directions to suffer that." Chen Mo spoke forthrightly. 

White Tiger: "…"

"Now, I have already accomplished my karma. Since you have the Black Turtle's soul, you have been recognized by Heaven. To turn my soul over to you would not besmirch my dignity as a Holy Beast of Heaven." The White Tiger pretended not to have heard and continued to speak.

Chen Mo intuitively understood to listen respectfully.

Then came a verbose narrative, probably about the White Tiger's centuries in the Yuanshou, that it devoured the Primordial Spirits of countless cultivators, which was the reason it had many cultivation methods. These cultivation methods were useless to the White Tiger, however, perhaps they may be of use to Chen Mo. This time, it would pass the techniques its soul cultivator on to him before, in the end, fusing into the western position of his body like the Black Turtle.

But assimilating with the White Tiger's soul was very challenging. It possessed the strongest offense, and even a One or Two Calamity Lord Of Heaven would be very hard-pressed. Fortunately, Chen Mo already had the Black Turtle.

The Four Symbols Black Turtle possessed the strongest defense. The two were in mutual harmony, complementing one another like the Dual Modes, making up for each other's weaknesses.

"Right, you can use that Primeval Chaos True Qi of yours." The White Tiger suddenly said.

"This Primeval Chaos True Qi is the True Qi of Heaven, something beyond this world. It can help you harmonize even more quickly. I will impart a Jian Bing cultivation technique to you, slowly comprehend it."

"No need for slow comprehension, I have the Bodhi Soul Technique. A few days will suffice."

"This is for the best."

"If you are able to imbue the qi of the Seven Mansion Star Stones into your body's seven acupuncture points, it will be even more perfect."

"Sure."

Because the White Tiger's soul was "fresh out of the oven," the power obtained from cultivating it this time was even more pure and abundant than compared to with the Black Turtle.

The White Tiger imparted a cultivation method into Chen Mo's mind. Then, its body glowed.

Chen Mo was already no longer as strained as he was back when he harmonized with the Black Turtle's soul. He had the Black Turtle and the Five Emperors Seal. Manipulating the White Tiger's soul was a familiar task.

The Star Manual Of Masters Gan And Shi circulated Star Energy to help convert the Primeval Chaos Star Energy.

The spirit-light on the White Tiger's body began to spill like droplets into Chen Mo's mind. Chen Mo immediately felt tens of thousands of swords drill into his mind. Even with the Black Turtle's mind, this pain was more severe than he imagined.

It hurts.

It hurts so much.

Chen Mo felt every cell in his body suffer rending pain millions of times over. Each cell was split apart, ignited, and in immense pain. "I am the strongest in offense, you must endure." The White Tiger said mercilessly.

Ah!!!

Agh!!!!

Chen Mo's pain was beyond control. At this moment, a warm spirit-light suddenly descended from the sky into his mind. As if he was put in a warm embrace, his wounds strangely shrunk. This heavenly aura accelerated the harmonization of the White Tiger's soul at the same time.

Outside the haze, voices again cursed.

"Bastard, this man actually dared to embrace Elder Sister Houxiu, Dan will kill him, kill him…Don't stop me…Wuu…Not even I have hugged those enormous…"

"I said this man cannot be trusted."

"He is harmonizing with the White Tiger's soul, do not cause trouble."

"What, the Four Symbols can also be harmonized with, I do not believe that, absolutely not..'

"Ah!! His hand touched Elder Sister's body. Kill him, kill him!!"

"Princess, Dan'er is nearly mad…"

"Send her out. What remains unseen is deemed to be clean."

"Don't stop me. Elder Sister's big…chest…"

"Princess, your compassion is truly vast. Fortunately, he is not conscious. Otherwise, This General would have also wanted to cut him into tiny pieces."

"Even if this man dies from the pain, he can do so without regrets!"

The bigger one's heart, the larger her chest.

Chen Mo deeply felt the significance of these words. Then, he lost consciousness again amidst the suppleness.

1. 采薇曲, shares a name with Gong Caiwei. ↩
2. 離 ↩
3. Some familiar namedrops… ↩
4. The context makes it unclear who or what "Siyou" is. I'm thinking it's the name of the imperial family's shadow force. ↩
5. 眠兒 ↩
6. 岑彭 ↩
7. 景丹 ↩
8. 鄧禹 ↩

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