The canopy of heaven had long since turned dark. However, countless stars illuminated the night, sending starlight cascading down onto the river that surrounded the Moonrite Region. The starlight was reflected on the water, creating a dazzling scene that made it seem like the stars were falling into the mortal world. It was actually hard to tell what was in the sky and what wasn’t.

This was the Yin Sacrifice River. It had once been as red as blood and filled with countless corpses, as well as gruish river spirits. But now that the red moon had disappeared, and the curse with it, the river was different. The grues were gone. The fetters had vanished. And what was left behind was a peaceful, beautiful river.

The sound of gurgling water could be heard as a huge ship sailed across the water toward the Holytide Region.

Wu Jianwu sat on the boom, looking quietly off into the distance, where another, smaller ship was fading from view. Looking at the distant ship, Wu Jianwu sighed disconsolately.

Ningyan was at the bottom of the boom. He had a hemp rag in his hand which, out of force of habit, he was using to scrub the deck clean. He had never been a germaphobe. However, his time in the Moonrite Region had left him with a new habit that allowed him to spot even the tiniest speck of dirt or dust around him. After finishing with his scrubbing, he looked up at Wu Jianwu. He considered making a sarcastic quip, but considering the mood Wu Jianwu was in, he shook his head and held back.

He knew exactly why Wu Jianwu was acting like this. Six hours ago, they had still been in the Green Spirit Pharmacy in the Bitter Life Mountains. But because of the situation in Sea-Sealing County, they were now on this ship.

In what appeared to be a big coincidence, shortly after they set off, they encountered a smaller ship, upon which sat a young woman. In the past, she had been called by the name Mistress Rosyclouds.

Wu Jianwu had looked at her. She had looked at Wu Jianwu.

Then she closed her eyes.

Sighing, Ningyan said, “What is love, I’d like to know…?”

“It depends on who’s the first to say no!” Wu Jianwu snapped bitterly. He produced a jug of alcohol and took a drink, resulting in a few drops landing on the deck.

Irritated, Ningyan started scrubbing again.

Xu Qing sat cross-legged at the prow of the ship, his expression serious. The Captain leaned on the rail next to him, shaking his head as he sized up both Xu Qing and the water.

“Well, little Ah Qing, it seems someone didn’t want you to leave so soon! But that’s fine. Ling’er’s not here. Hahaha!”

The Captain’s eyes glittered in anticipation of what was about to happen.

As he had said, Ling’er wasn’t onboard. Neither was the innkeeper from Plankspring Way. It wasn’t that Ling’er had declined to come with Xu Qing back to Sea-Sealing County. Rather, absorbing Emperor Ancient Spirit’s imperial energy had put her into a deep sleep. She needed time. It was as if she was in secluded meditation, and wasn’t to be disturbed.

Therefore, Xu Qing had left her in the Green Spirit Pharmacy. As expected, the innkeeper chose to stay with her. Nethersprite also stayed behind, not because of Ling’er, but because she had no intention of returning to Sea-Sealing County.

Because of that, there were only the four of them on the ship.

In response to the Captain’s words, Xu Qing frowned. He knew what the Captain was talking about. This ship was a gift from the Heir Apparent, and it should have been able to make the trip across regions in a very short time. But almost as soon as they set off, some muddy clay started building up on the hull of the ship. As it gathered, it pulsed with a miraculous power that caused the ship to slow down dramatically.

Ninth Sib never showed up at the shop, and even after they set sail, he was nowhere to be seen.

Given the circumstances, Xu Qing was fairly certain he knew who had caused the ship to slow down. His speculations were soon confirmed. After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, enough clay had built up on the hull that the ship stopped in place.

“Get ready!” the Captain said, his eyes glittering.

Xu Qing looked up.

After the ship stopped, the clay fell off, swept across the water to the front of the ship, and then formed into a huge clay fox. Though made from clay, the fox emanated a seven-colored glow, as well as a holy sensation that would make anyone it touched feel the urge to bow in worship.

This was a god. Hēr arrival caused the river water to go still. The waves died down. The sky went dark. It was as if the clay fox were the only thing left on the river. Shē was the source of everything.

Wu Jianwu was so startled he fell off the boom and onto the deck below. Ningyan wasn’t sure what to do, and just trembled, his face a mask of terror. They had no idea who this clay fox was.

Only the Captain was looking forward keenly to what was to come. As he looked on intently, the clay fox’s eyes opened. They were phoenix-like eyes, inherently seductive and deeply charming. Ignoring the Captain, the clay fox looked at Xu Qing.

“Why did you run away, you naughty little boy? You didn’t even say goodbye. Don’t tell me you forgot about me?”

The tender voice caused magical laws to back away and natural laws to go into hiding. Even space-time was affected, as all four seasons appeared at the same time in the area, along with what appeared to be suns, moons, stars, and heavenly bodies. Godfire burned, releasing a terrifying aura, and causing everything to ripple and distort. Mutagen appeared in the sky.

The clay fox seemed even stronger than during the battle of the gods. Crimson Mother’s flesh had clearly benefited hēr a lot.

Seeing all that, the Captain cleared his throat and quickly said, “Big Sis, the reality is—”

“Shut up, Kidney Boy!” the clay fox interrupted in a flirtatious voice. “Say one more word and I’ll take both kidneys this time.”

The Captain gasped and then snapped his mouth shut.

Xu Qing hesitated, then opened his mouth to speak. Before he could, the clay fox laughed softly and gave Xu Qing a profound look.

“Li Zihua saw the future upon reaching godly ascension. When I reached godly ascension, what future do you think I saw, naughty boy?”

Xu Qing’s expression flickered.

The clay fox was already fading from view, and in the end, left behind only some words spoken in a flirtatious voice.

“Take care of your primal yang, naughty boy. When you have the time, come to the Firemoon Darkheaven people and find me. We can have some fun together.”

Shortly after, the world returned to normal.

As Ningyan shivered, Wu Jianwu gaped, and the Captain muttered under his breath, the ship blurred. Then, a thrumming sound rang out over the water as it burst forward with incredible speed, entering the Holytide Region and racing toward Sea-Sealing County.

The Holytide Region was covered by a beautiful starry sky. The glittering stars were like scattered flower petals. Also in that sky was a figure keeping pace with the ship. He had a black robe and long black hair. He had stars in his eyes, a body like a sword, and an expression like ice. He was none other than Ninth Sib.