Ling Request

"It's been almost ten years since the Thunder Goddess disappeared," Xiao Wen said, her voice pitched low in the reverent hush of the palace hall. "Is there a way we can help her?"

Ling let out a slow, relieved sigh. "Five years left, then. If we hadn't crossed paths, it might have become too late."

Xiao Wen's brow furrowed. "I always thought a Fate Fragment couldn't be separated from its master without killing both. How did you leave the Goddess's side, and both of you still survive?"

Ling fixed her with a serene, enigmatic stare. "Once you reach the Fate Saint stage," she said softly, "there's very little that can't be done." She left it at that, though Xiao Wen felt a rush of renewed determination. If such feats are possible at higher stages… then I have more reason than ever to climb.

The newly reborn Ling turned to Xuefeng, who'd been standing quietly at the edge of this strange dream-world, trying to process it all. At her gaze, he felt an odd sense that the master-servant roles had reversed. She seemed so… powerful now, older and regal in a way that caught him off guard. He took a few steps forward, unsure of how to act in the presence of a woman who had once belonged to a legendary Fate Saint.

"Xuefeng," Ling commanded, her tone gentle but unwavering.

He came closer, his heart pinching with a faint nostalgia for her earlier, chirpy voice. Even though it had only been a short while, he already missed that playful timbre. Now, she radiated a maternal warmth—something that soothed him even as it reminded him of the gulf between them.

"I'm going to pass along all the Spirit Arts of Lightning Cultivation that I've inherited. With them, you'll be able to accumulate more Lightning Qi—and, more importantly, wield it in battle." As she spoke, she pressed a hand to his brow. A sudden blaze of light overwhelmed him, and he gasped as knowledge flooded his mind.

Dozens—no, hundreds—of Lightning Spirit Arts burned into his consciousness, each a new possibility. The information came so fast his head throbbed in protest, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to endure. Strength was key to surviving in this world; what Ling gave him now was beyond priceless.

When she finished, he sagged in relief, panting. Ling lifted her hand, satisfied. "That's enough for the moment. You can leave now—I need a word with you in private first, though."

A flick of her finger dismissed Xiao Wen and Lang from the space. In an instant, the two of them vanished like sparks snuffed out by a cold gust of wind.

Xuefeng rubbed his temples, waiting for the pounding in his skull to fade. "So… something you didn't want to say in front of them?" he ventured.

Ling's steady gaze settled on him with unmistakable urgency. "Yes. I want you to save the Thunder Goddess—my previous master—in five years' time."

"Where is she? And what kind of danger is she in?" Xuefeng asked, not outright refusing but clearly wary. Risking his life for a stranger was no small thing, no matter how legendary.

Ling's voice took on a quiet note of sorrow. "She's encased in Thousand Years Old Ice at the bottom of a lake. She had no choice but to freeze her body to keep it alive after we split. Part of her soul came with me, in the hope I could find someone able to help. But…" Ling's eyes flickered with grief. "She's in the Heaven Realm. You'll have to ascend within five years, or she'll die."

Xuefeng's stomach dropped. "She's not even in this world?"

"No." Ling's tone tightened. "She ascended six years ago. An emperor there tried to force her to be his consort. When she refused, he hunted her down and nearly killed her. With what little Fate Qi we had left, she froze herself. That gave her a maximum of ten years—five of which are gone." She let out a shaky breath. "I know it's a lot to ask. But I hoped—"

Xuefeng lifted a hand. "I'm not saying no. Just don't expect me to swear on it this second. I'll do what I can, but five years… that's a long time." He gave a short, uncomfortable laugh. "And still might not be enough."

Ling's shoulders eased, relief softening her face. "Thank you. It's all I can ask."

Then, with a gentle nudge of her power, she pushed him from her crystalline domain. He felt a sudden lurch, as though yanked upward from deep water, and snapped back into the real world.

They were still in midair, and the shock of returning to his body almost made Xuefeng loosen his grip around Xiao Wen's waist. She'd resumed her position on Lulu's back, leaning into him so he wouldn't plummet. The wind bit at his cheeks again, and he had to blink against the icy sting.

He realized they were in the midst of a swift descent. Lulu sliced through the clouds, landing gracefully beside Wuying's Twin-Winged Eagle in a clearing near a large, moonlit lake. The white tiger touched down lightly, stirring a small cloud of dust.

Xiao Wen craned her neck, wordlessly questioning what he'd learned. Xuefeng just shook his head. He doubted knowledge of the Thunder Goddess's plight would help Xiao Wen any, and it wasn't really his place to talk. Her expression flickered with frustration but she didn't press the issue—not yet.

He slipped off Lulu's back, stumbling a bit on damp grass. The air smelled rich here, tinged with water and thick forest growth. Nearby, Wuying waited next to her eagle, arms folded.

"How was your flight?" she asked, her tone unreadable.

"I got the information I needed," Xuefeng said quietly. "Sorry you had to ride alone."

Wuying waved off the apology, though her eyes flicked to Xiao Wen for a split second. "It's fine. I spent the time cultivating. So, how about we find something to eat?" She shot a glance at Lulu. "Then again, every Spirit Beast within miles has probably sensed that tiger's aura and fled."

Xiao Wen's lips curved into a playful grin. "Lulu, you can take a break." She brandished a small medallion, and in a flash of light, the majestic white tiger vanished.

Wuying nodded, mirroring the motion with her own Beast Token; her Twin-Winged Eagle disappeared as well. With the area suddenly quiet, Xuefeng realized they were now just three people standing beneath a thin canopy of trees, a soft hush over the lake.

"Good. Let's see if we can coax something out of hiding," he said. Then, with a determined look, he gathered his Qi. A moment later, a clone of himself materialized, shimmering faintly. The act drained a noticeable chunk of his Spirit Qi, but he stayed focused.

"Nice Spirit Art," Xiao Wen remarked, arching a brow.

"Thanks," Xuefeng replied, sinking to the ground and closing his eyes to concentrate on controlling the clone. Through that doppelgänger, he sprinted into the forest, brandishing a sword fashioned after the Rank 5 Spirit Sword he'd once used.

It wasn't long before he encountered a bear—a hulking creature, nearly twice the size of any mundane grizzly. This must be the local apex predator, he thought, tension coiling in his gut.

"Okay," Xuefeng murmured under his breath, gathering his resolve. "Here goes nothing."