socalfunplaces Chapter 43 The Starry Sky You Observed Is Illusory
Chapter 43 The Starry Sky You Observed Is Illusory
In the Qin state, on a mountain peak that is dry and receives little rain year-round and receives plenty of sunshine, lies a complex of buildings larger than the Xiaoshengxianzhuang.
This is the residence of the Yin-Yang School, one of the Hundred Schools of Thought in the Qin Dynasty timeline.
The reason this place was chosen as their base was because the Yin-Yang School needed to observe the stars.
Stargazing requires excellent natural and meteorological conditions. If the chosen location is cloudy all year round and rainy frequently, what's the point of stargazing?
This location was chosen by the ancestors of the Yin-Yang School after traveling to many places. It is dry with little rain, has many clear nights, and the clouds have little interference with starlight, making it stable and calm enough.
Few people know about the Yin-Yang School's headquarters, and few come here, but today four young men have appeared at the foot of the mountain.
As the four young men were about to climb the mountain, two ordinary-looking men suddenly jumped out of the woods ahead and blocked their way.
The two men, their eyes vacant and like puppets being manipulated, said in stiff tones, "No passage ahead."
The four young men paid no attention to the two men, but instead focused their gaze on a tree in the woods several hundred meters ahead, where a girl was hiding among the treetops.
The girl wore a light blue-purple long dress with crescent-shaped patterns adorning the hem. Her hair was light purple and styled in an updo, with a few strands hanging down from each side, secured by several sky-blue crystal hairpins.
Seeing that all four young men were looking at her, the girl was startled. With her ability to conceal her presence, even the elders of the sect would have difficulty detecting her, but now these four had discovered her.
It's hard not to notice; aside from anything else, her thermal image is like a bright light in the dark, right there in the open.
The girl was still wondering who these four people were when she heard the young man in the lead say, "Cheng Yuan from the Three-Body School has come to visit Lord Donghuang of the Yin-Yang School."
These four people were also simulated robots controlled by Cheng Yuan and the three governors. They did not come to visit the Yin-Yang School after listening to Xunzi's words, but Cheng Yuan had already decided to visit the Hundred Schools of Thought in the Qin Dynasty. It was all happening simultaneously.
Upon hearing this, the girl had the same question as Fu Nian and Xunzi: Is there such a school among the Hundred Schools of Thought of the Three Bodies?
Having been discovered, the girl no longer concealed herself. She jumped down from the tree and looked at the four: "You wish to pay a visit to His Majesty the Eastern Emperor?"
Looking at the Moon Goddess as she was in her youth, Cheng Yuan smiled and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you to inform me, Miss."
The young version of the Moon Goddess glanced at the four people and said, "His Majesty the Eastern Emperor may not necessarily see you."
Cheng Yuan said, "Just inform him, Miss. Whether His Excellency Donghuang will see us or not is another matter."
The young goddess Moon Goddess said no more. A ball of pale purple light separated from her body and transformed into a small purple rabbit. The rabbit seemed to have its own life and quickly ran up the mountain.
Inside the LV-223 safe house, the psionic governor said, "Internal energy is such a special kind of energy that it can still exist after a martial artist leaves, and it even has some characteristics of life."
The way the young girl, Moon Goddess, conjured a rabbit using her inner strength is very valuable for research, as it involves the technology of initially life-forming energy.
Shortly after the rabbit ran up the mountain, a black and gold three-legged crow flew down from the mountain and landed on the tree where the girl, Moon Goddess, had previously hidden, its eyes looking at Cheng Yuan and the other three.
Upon seeing the three-legged golden crow, the young moon goddess respectfully bowed: "Greetings, Your Majesty the Eastern Emperor!"
The black-and-gold crow nodded, and a deep, magnetic middle-aged male voice came from its beak: "Please invite our distinguished guests to come up the mountain for a chat."
The Scientific Administrator asked, "How did he do that? Did he project his own consciousness onto this energy entity, the Golden Crow, and make it speak?"
If the rabbit conjured by the Moon Goddess using her inner energy is a low-level energy life form, then this three-legged golden crow is a mid-level one. It is so lifelike that it is just like a real bird. If it wanted to, it could blend in with all the other birds and be indistinguishable from them.
The young Moon Goddess was already surprised to see the Eastern Emperor personally conjure up a three-legged golden crow, and she was even more astonished and amazed when she heard the Eastern Emperor address the four as honored guests and take the initiative to invite them up the mountain.
What is the background of this Trisolaran family that makes them worthy of such treatment from His Majesty the Eastern Emperor?
Little did she know that after receiving her message from the Moon Rabbit, Donghuang Taiyi used astrological principles to observe the celestial phenomena and discovered that the arrival of these four people was not predicted by astrological principles.
This piqued Donghuang Taiyi's interest; there were indeed beings in the world beyond destiny!
Following the black and gold three-legged crow, Cheng Yuan and his companions entered the depths of the Yin Yang School's territory.
The further in you go, the dimmer the light becomes. Eventually, apart from the faint light emitted by the three-legged golden crow leading the way, it is pitch black all around.
But suddenly, a point of light appeared in the darkness, followed by a second, then a third...
Numerous points of light dotted the surrounding darkness, but instead of dispelling it, they made the darkness even deeper.
These points of light form a starry sky in the darkness, rotating and changing like a real cosmic sky.
Donghuang Taiyi, dressed in a wide black robe and wearing a black and gold mask, calmly looked at the four people in front of him, wanting to see how they would react to the star chart.
In the past, even experts of the same level would show subtle changes in expression when entering this place for the first time.
But the four people didn't react at all; they were neither shocked nor curious.
In fact, the three governors were still curious, but not about the star chart itself; they were more interested in how Donghuang Taiyi had created it.
This is another type of holographic projection technology, but its current level of detail is not high enough and it appears somewhat crude.
The voice of Donghuang Taiyi came from ahead: "On this auspicious day, at this propitious hour, we solemnly and joyfully welcome the Supreme Emperor. I grasp the long sword with its jade hilt, its tinkling sound ringing out. On the jade mat, with its jade ornaments, let us offer fragrant blossoms. Fragrant dishes are steamed on orchid-covered mats, and cassia wine and peppered liquor are laid out..."
Donghuang Taiyi recited it exceptionally well, his voice ethereal and unpredictable, making listeners feel as if they could see a mysterious and noble deity sitting in the darkness, watching the people on earth offer sacrifices to him.
As Donghuang Taiyi was reciting with great enthusiasm, a voice suddenly rang out: "These are verses from 'Nine Songs: Donghuang Taiyi' in the 'Songs of Chu.' Your Excellency Donghuang, you are in high spirits."
Donghuang Taiyi, whose recitation had been interrupted, remained silent for a few seconds: "I apologize for not being able to greet you properly when you arrived, my esteemed guests."
Donghuang Taiyi's black robe could block the prying eyes of most people in the Qin Shi world, but it could not stop the four simulation robots controlled by Cheng Yuan and the other three from seeing through the black robe and recognizing the true face of this Donghuang.
He was a handsome middle-aged man with a calm and composed demeanor, as if he had everything under control.
Cheng Yuan said, "It is our presumptuous visit that has occurred to us. We should ask for your understanding, Your Majesty."
After exchanging a few polite words, Donghuang Taiyi asked, "What brings you distinguished guests here? I haven't seen any of you appear in the celestial constellations I've observed."
"If you could see our arrival in the constellations you observe, that would be truly frightening."
From LV-223, Cheng Yuanxin spoke, then controlled the lifelike robot to reply: "We have come here primarily for one matter: Does Your Majesty the Eastern Emperor know the whereabouts of the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden?"
Upon hearing Cheng Yuan's question, Donghuang Taiyi's expression, hidden beneath his black and gold mask, subtly changed.
Many people in the world know the legend of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady, but most people only regard it as a legend. Few people truly believe that the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady exists and go to search for her whereabouts.
The Yin-Yang School happens to be one of these "few" schools!
The creation myth of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady is not only true, but it still exists today, though it is sleeping somewhere.
One of their goals as Yin-Yang practitioners was to find and unlock the sleeping place of this creator deity.
Donghuang Taiyi remained silent, so Cheng Yuan continued, "I will pay His Majesty Donghuang the appropriate reward later. What does His Majesty think of this reward?"
A sphere appeared in Cheng Yuan's hand. The sphere glowed and projected a starry sky.
Donghuang Taiyi looked over and immediately recognized it as the star chart that he and many of his predecessors in the Yin-Yang School had been studying.
However, this star chart is clearer and more complete than that of the Yin-Yang School, as if someone actually went up to the stars and accurately drew it.
Before Donghuang Taiyi could finish looking at the star chart, it disappeared. He understood that he needed to answer questions to receive this special reward.
As for Xunzi, a gentleman can deceive him with principles and use the common people of the Qin Dynasty to bind him. As for Donghuang Taiyi of the Yin-Yang School, a different approach should be taken.
Donghuang Taiyi was silent for a moment, then said, "The reward you offered is tempting, but it's not enough to answer this question."
Cheng Yuan said, "What if we add the secret of this starry sky? I believe that secret is of paramount importance to His Majesty the Eastern Emperor and the Yin-Yang School."
"To show my sincerity, I will first tell the secret to His Majesty the Eastern Emperor, but His Majesty the Eastern Emperor must remember to keep his word, otherwise the one who breaks his promise will be punished."
Donghuang Taiyi did not take Cheng Yuan's threat too seriously. He said, "Please speak, if this secret is truly of great importance to the Yin-Yang School, I will not go back on my word."
"I hope so."
Cheng Yuan said, "The secret is that the starry sky that you Yin Yang School have been observing all along is an illusion."
Cheng Yuan and the other three keenly observed that Donghuang Taiyi's body trembled slightly beneath his black robe, and his pupils contracted sharply beneath his black and gold mask. Clearly, this secret had greatly shaken Donghuang Taiyi.
The astrological laws of the Yin-Yang school are based on celestial phenomena. By observing the changes in the trajectory of stars, one can predict the development of things in advance and deduce the fate of an individual or a group of people.
They have been doing this all along and have almost never made a mistake, except for these four people today.
If the starry sky is illusory, many of the Yin-Yang School's secret techniques related to astrology will be affected.
No, the fact that the arcane arts were affected is a minor matter; what's more important is: who created the false starry sky?
Why is it that even though the starry sky is illusory, they can discern true destiny from these false celestial phenomena?
What exactly did they observe?
Donghuang Taiyi said in a deep voice, "How do you intend to prove it?"
Cheng Yuandao said, "I'm only responsible for telling His Majesty the Eastern Emperor the secret, not for proving it. If you want proof, that's a different price!"
Donghuang Taiyi: "What's the price?"
Cheng Yuandao said, "The entire Yin-Yang School has joined us and will obey our commands. I have revealed the secret; now it is your turn, Lord Donghuang, to answer my question!"
After a moment of silence, Donghuang Taiyi said, "The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden should be asleep. Our Yin Yang School is also searching for her sleeping place."
"Her last miracle in the world was during the great battle between the Yellow Emperor and Chi You. There were probably three people who knew her whereabouts and left clues: the Yellow Emperor, the Yan Emperor, and the already dead Chi You."
"The Yellow Emperor was once aided by the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady, and was the most likely of the three to know this. The secret he left behind may be hidden in the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon."
"Emperor Yan and Emperor Huang were allies, so perhaps Emperor Yan knew this. If Emperor Yan had any secrets, they should be kept by the farmers."
"Chi You was defeated and died, but his spirit did not die and his body did not perish. The Yellow Emperor dismembered his body and buried them in the five extreme places. If Chi You's body can be gathered together, we may be able to obtain some clues."
"We speculate that the place where the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden sleeps may also be related to Yu Yuan and Tang Valley. Yu Yuan is the place where the sun sets, and Tang Valley is the place where the sun rises. This world was created by the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, and the great sun in the sky must be related to the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden."
"This is all the information that my Yin-Yang School knows."
After Donghuang Taiyi finished speaking, Cheng Yuan said, "Thank you for informing me, Your Excellency Donghuang. I hope to have the opportunity to cooperate with you again in the future."
Cheng Yuan tossed a jade pendant over, and Donghuang Taiyi caught it with his internal force. After sensing it, he realized that it was not a jade pendant, but a mechanical artifact with many mechanical components inside.
The mechanism was so intricate and precise that even his thoughts could not fully perceive it.
The Gongshu family and the Mo family did not have such methods, so who exactly is this Three-Body School?
Donghuang Taiyi had originally intended to test the four of them, but he suppressed that thought at this moment.