GD Ch. 56 Part 1

Chapter 56: Does She Recognize Me?

Cold Eye.

When Zhuyou saw the two words, she was stunned for a long time, fearing that she had misread them.

She had searched for two hundred years, yet she didn’t even know what Cold Eye looked like. Fortunately, she had exchanged heart’s blood with Changying, which suppressed the toxic mist in her eyes, slightly diminishing her desire to find it.

She had almost given up hope, and was on the verge of abandoning her search, when the Cold Eye suddenly fell upon her like a gift from heaven, striking her head and leaving her dizzy, her ears ringing, and her thoughts in disarray.

She stared expressionlessly, and after regaining her composure, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curl up slightly, as if she had found sweet dew in a desert. For a moment, she was at a loss.

Was it really Cold Eye?

After confirming multiple times, it was indeed Cold Eye. Every stroke of the characters was correct.

Hanzhu, standing beside her, naturally also saw the two words. She murmured, “Cold Eye?”

“Yes,” Zhuyou replied, raising her delicate hand and wiping it over the dark ghostly aura. The characters dissipated like smoke.

Hanzhu was also stunned. She had infiltrated Shangxi City numerous times recently, all to ask Wu Buzhi if there was any news about Cold Eye.

Since the Devil Realm was sealed off by the Heavenly Realm a hundred years ago, Shangxi City had not been spared. Although the Heavenly Realm had not openly stationed troops there, they had sent celestial inspectors to patrol, hoping to capture the Second and Third Lords of the Devil Realm, who had fled to unknown locations.

And, of course, her—a fallen immortal turned devil.

Hanzhu stared blankly for a long time before stammering, “Is Cold Eye really… really about to appear?”

Zhuyou shook her head. She couldn’t figure out where Wu Buzhi had gotten this information, but if Cold Eye was truly about to appear, she would definitely go.

After exchanging heart’s blood, the toxic mist in her eyes had stopped spreading, but it still lingered, occasionally clouding her vision. It wasn’t as severe as before, but it was still uncomfortable.

“Could the Cold Eye’s appearance be a trap?” Hanzhu quickly added, worried that this might be a ploy by the Heavenly Realm.

Zhuyou had naturally considered this as well, given how suddenly it had appeared.

This place, only mentioned in ancient texts, had suddenly descended upon her after two hundred years of searching. It was undeniably strange.

Zhuyou pursed her lips, crushing the colorful paper boat in her hand into fine shreds. She wondered if the Heavenly Realm knew she was searching for Cold Eye. If they did, it could only be because of Changying or Jingyi.

She and Hanzhu had mentioned Cold Eye in front of Changying before. That dragon had an excellent memory and would surely remember.

Could it be that the dragon she raised had turned into a white-eyed wolf, setting a trap for her to fall into?

If it was Jingyi, she must have deduced it herself, but after two hundred years without interference, it seemed unlikely she had the capability.

“But where is the edge of the boundless ocean, under the twilight?” Hanzhu hurriedly asked.

“The boundless ocean, the twilight… it must be where the sky meets the sea,” Zhuyou frowned, thinking.

Hanzhu’s eyes darted around, her thoughts racing. “But where does the sky meet the sea? Since the chaos was divided, heaven and earth no longer connect.”

Zhuyou frowned, pondering. Indeed, as Hanzhu said, where could one find the edge of the boundless ocean and under the twilight now? If it truly existed, it could only be in that place.

Hanzhu, observing her mistress’ expression, bit her lip and quickly said, “Mistress, let me scout ahead.”

“No need,” Zhuyou waved her hand. “If it’s a trap, would you go to your death?”

Hanzhu quickly added, “Mistress—”

Zhuyou shot her a cold glance and smirked. “I saved you twice, not so you could die for me. Besides, if you fell into their trap, I’d be the one dealing with the aftermath.”

Hanzhu quickly lowered her head. Her mistress was right.

Zhuyou glanced at the Turbid Mirror again, still unsure what to do with it. If her suspicions were correct, this would be a troublesome matter.

The world was once chaos, until the gods separated heaven and earth. Three thousand years ago, the ancient Devil Clan invaded the Heavenly Realm, but were ultimately annihilated by the ancient gods. After that war, the ancient gods fell one by one. The royal family, carrying the bloodline of devils, should have been wiped out, but a child survived. A thousand years ago, that devil returned to the Devil Realm, leading an army to seize Shangxi City, and was called the Devil Lord.

To trace back a thousand years and find the remaining hun soul of the Devil Lord, she would need a body from that era. Even with the Turbid Mirror, given her age, she couldn’t go back.

Hanzhu was still anxious. The thought of her mistress going alone to find Cold Eye made her nervous. She hesitated, then asked, “What if it really is a trap by the Heavenly Realm?”

“I will return unharmed,” Zhuyou said calmly.

Hanzhu’s breath, caught in her throat, didn’t relax. She glanced at the Turbid Mirror and asked, “Mistress, what about this sacred object?”

“Put it away for now,” Zhuyou tapped the table. Her thoughts were mostly occupied by Cold Eye. After regaining her composure, she realized she couldn’t find anyone who could trace back a thousand years.

She had too few people she could use. The First Lord might have been able to glimpse events from a thousand years ago, but after the conflict a hundred years ago, he had disappeared without a trace.

Without someone to wield it, the Turbid Mirror was useless. It was better to store it away and see if there were other methods.

Hanzhu nodded. Where to hide the Turbid Mirror wasn’t her decision, and it wouldn’t be good if too many people knew its location. If someone peered into her mind, she would betray her mistress.

She had learned much over the past hundred years and knew not to meddle in matters she shouldn’t.

Zhuyou pondered the edge of the boundless ocean and under the twilight, which couldn’t be far from the Dragon Palace. She wondered which celestial was guarding Cold Eye and if she would meet the dragon she had raised a hundred years ago.

If they were to meet again, it would be bittersweet. A hundred years ago, she and that dragon were inseparable. Now, if they met, they would likely be at odds.

After a hundred years, if that dragon stood before her, she might not even recognize it.

Forget it. Even if the dragon didn’t harm her, how could she tolerate it? She had become a devil, and her eyes could no longer bear the sight of celestials. If it came to a fight, she would have to strike first.

She sighed inwardly, then picked up the Turbid Mirror.

She didn’t touch the surface but stared at it for a while before saying, “Close your eyes.”

Hanzhu quickly closed her eyes and turned her head slightly.

Zhuyou held her pale palm over the mirror, and a deep blue spiritual energy, vast as the ocean, enveloped the surface. Though the energy was as blue as the deep sea, the wind it stirred was scorching like fire.

It was early spring in the Mortal Realm, and the intense spiritual energy caused Hanzhu to break into a sweat. She didn’t dare open her eyes or move.

The energy was bright, like falling stars, and when it touched the mirror, the surface seemed to hold a pool of water.

Then, with a crackling sound, a thin layer of ice formed on the Turbid Mirror—a restriction placed by Zhuyou.

She had discovered only in the past hundred years that the drop of heart’s blood taken from Changying had other uses. Unfortunately, the blood had long since left its original owner, and its divine power was now weak. But it was enough to place this restriction.

The restriction was odorless and formless, like Changying in her youth—seemingly weak and without spiritual power, but in reality, unfathomable and without flaw.

“Open your eyes,” Zhuyou withdrew her hand.

Hanzhu slowly opened her eyes, still turned away. “When will you leave, Mistress?”

“Wu Buzhi didn’t say when Cold Eye would appear. He probably doesn’t know,” Zhuyou stored the Turbid Mirror in her spatial pouch.

“But how did Wu Buzhi get this information? Could someone have deliberately sold it to him?” Hanzhu asked cautiously.

“If so, the seller didn’t lose out. I took the bait,” Zhuyou smiled, her eyes curving slightly, looking genuinely innocent.

Hanzhu pressed her lips together. Though she often heard her mistress mock herself, it still made her uncomfortable.

Zhuyou stood up, took a deep breath, and said calmly, “Don’t let Luo Qing and Jing Kexin know I’m going to find Cold Eye.”

Hanzhu nodded repeatedly. “What if the Second Lord and Third Lord ask?”

“Tell them I’ve entered the Turbid Mirror. They won’t disturb me then,” Zhuyou said indifferently.

Hanzhu quickly agreed. “Then I’ll await your return, Mistress.”

Zhuyou thought for a moment. “If something happens, leave. Don’t wait here foolishly.”

“Understood,” Hanzhu replied promptly.

***

When Cold Eye appeared, the celestials of the Nine Heavens were astonished, all asking what realm Cold Eye was and which celestial had guarded it for thousands of years.

After asking around, the celestials were still confused, unsure what lay within Cold Eye.

Later, a celestial saw the Heavenly Emperor summon East Sea Monarch, and then the Divine Venerable entered the hall for discussions. It seemed Cold Eye was under the control of the Dragon Clan.

As soon as Changying spoke, the Heavenly Emperor agreed without further questions.

East Sea Monarch nodded repeatedly, agreeing to whatever the Divine Venerable said.

Afterward, a cascade of multicolored light descended from the Heavenly Palace to the Mortal Realm, signaling the descent of celestial beings. The mortal sects quickly became aware of this and hurriedly gathered their disciples, selecting the most outstanding among them.

However, this realm was something they had never heard of before, unlike Shenhua Mountain, which at least had been visited by predecessors in the past.

Although celestial beings had personally manifested this time, very few cultivators ventured out to seek it. Everyone desired this heaven-sent opportunity, but such opportunities were not meant for ordinary people.

Shenhua Mountain was already perilous enough, let alone this suddenly appearing Cold Eye.

Where there is gain, there is loss. Many have lost their lives in pursuit of such opportunities. The sect masters, well aware of this, personally led their disciples to investigate. Yet, even so, the riddle of “the edge of the boundless ocean, beneath the twilight” remained unsolved.

Where is the edge of the boundless ocean? And every inch of land lies beneath the twilight. How, then, could Cold Eye be found?

Hanzhu stayed in the city, while Zhuyou left that very night.

Zhuyou headed straight for the East Sea but did not enter the water. Instead, she waited until sunrise and then darted toward the horizon where the sea met the sky.

The azure sea was calm and unruffled. As Zhuyou’s toes lightly touched the surface, ripples spread out in circles. Her outer robe billowed in the wind, resembling a thin mist over the sea.

Beneath the divine light of twilight, the pressure was immense, making it difficult for her to move. The sea surface reflected a large, mottled shadow.

The shadow had wings, with long feathers trailing behind, their tips flickering like flames.

It was a phoenix.

Zhuyou nearly revealed her true form under the twilight’s light but managed to resist.

Ordinary phoenixes are red, radiant like blazing fire, adorned with multicolored auspicious light. But she had fallen into devilry, her feathers now pitch black, devoid of any other color.

Though Cold Eye’s appearance was said to bring blessings to the Mortal Realm, at this moment, she was the only one standing in the sea.

Mortals might not know, but she had long heard that when the ancient gods transformed into the twilight, it was in this very place. Thus, she had come directly without detours.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, with gentle winds and calm waves. No swallows or sparrows were in sight, nor did any ospreys appear.

Zhuyou paused on the sea, looking down. Yet, the sea was bottomless, and she could discern nothing special. How, then, could she know where Cold Eye was?

She still didn’t know what Cold Eye looked like. How could she find it?

Just as she was about to leave, a fierce wind nearly knocked her over.

Beneath her feet, white waves suddenly surged, forming a massive whirlpool.

The whirlpool was pitch black, like a bowl of freshly ground ink, darker than the surrounding seawater.

As the waves rose, the sound of splashing water filled the air.

A bone-chilling cold emanated from the whirlpool. Though Zhuyou hadn’t entered the water, she felt as if she were trapped in an icy cavern, cold and damp.

Was this Cold Eye?

She quickly stepped back, fearing she might be swept into it if she wasn’t careful.