Wandering Gods of Day and Night

"However, without the Sealing Platform in the human world, the Divine Decree was previously impossible to achieve. But now that you have activated the Kongming Mirror, there is a new method."

"What do you mean by that?"

Zhou Xuan asked.

"The world inside your Kongming Mirror is different from the mirror worlds of others."

The God of Suffering said, "Your presence is clearly the Creator of the Mirror World. You brought light to the mirror, and thus the mirror world gained starlight.

In other words, you are the supreme will of the Mirror World,

and as such, you can naturally enact the Divine Decree within the Mirror World."

Hearing this, Zhou Xuan was somewhat confused. Could a decree from the Mirror World take effect in the real world?

"According to my predictions, I believe that Mirror World is not an illusion. It always feels to me... like it is even more real than the Jing Country's real world,

and you, Zhou Xuan, seem to have been birthed by that Mirror World..."

The God of Suffering's words were cryptic and mysterious, so much so that Zhou Xuan even thought they sounded like the delirious ravings of a madman.

"In any case, trust me. Once the Divine Decree is enacted within the Mirror World, it will certainly take effect in the real world."

"Then I'll do as you suggest."

Having heard this, Zhou Xuan said no more. With a cupped fist salute, he bid farewell to the God of Suffering and departed on a Divine Soul Day Trip.

"This young man is truly extraordinary. He has experienced countless miracles, and today, two more have been added."

After Zhou Xuan left, an aged voice emerged from behind the God of Suffering.

"Lao Yun, still sneaking around?"

"Sneaking around? I've always been right here behind you, openly listening to your conversation. It's just that you can't see me."

A ghostly figure slowly materialized,

revealing the graceful form of the incense fire Taoist behind the God of Suffering.

"You said Zhou Xuan created two miracles today. One was slaying Gong Zheng's Dharma Body—what was the other?"

"Slaying Gong Zheng's Dharma Body counts as a miracle?"

The incense fire Taoist, wearing a look of disdain, shook the horsetail whisk in his hand and said, "The Sixteen Forms represent the pinnacle of Jing Country's might. They are forged from the great mountains, rivers, human cultural essence, and the ever-shifting winds and clouds—a force of unmatched power, further imbued with a sliver of Blood Well Venerable's consciousness wielding a blade.

If that blade couldn't sever Gong Zheng's Dharma Body, *that* would've been a miracle!"

"Then what kind of miracle are you talking about?"

"A decree enacted in the human world, a Divine Decree within the Mirror World... that is the true miracle. It is something unprecedented in the two-thousand-year history of Jing Country, something no one has even dared to contemplate... not even if the Venerable were to resurrect."

Jing Country is a decayed yet meticulous machine.

This machine dictates that the 'Divine Decree' must be completed on the Sealing Platform of the Heavenly Kingdom, adhering only to the machine's original programming.

If Zhou Xuan successfully enacts the Divine Decree in the Mirror World, he will shatter this iron rule."

"That certainly qualifies as a miracle. What's the second one?"

"The second miracle, you ask?" The incense fire Taoist's face shifted to one of mocking and sarcasm. He playfully twirled his whisk, letting its snowy white threads brush against the wooden board of the Fangxiang clan, and said,

"You, Sweeping Star, would actually stoop so low as to seek help from the Nuo God's Servant Tree, changing your entire aura to match that of the Nuo God—just to save Zhou Xuan.

And then, after meeting with him, you divulged so many secrets without asking for a single favor in return. Such an anomaly hasn't occurred in Jing Country for over two millennia."

"You old bull-nosed Taoist, you've got quite the sharp tongue... When was I ever so petty?"

"If all eight of the major Heavenly Gods possessed the same integrity and selflessness as the Nuo God, back during the battle with the Heavenly Ghost, how could any of you have fallen?

Each of you harbored your own selfish motives and ended up bewitched by the Heavenly Ghost. In the end, you were forced to dissolve your paths, clinging to mere remnants of your will to survive. Only the Nuo God, with a heart wholly dedicated to the welfare of the world's people, managed to emerge unscathed from that 'Heavenly Heart Trap.'

All of you held grudges against the Nuo God, refusing to acknowledge why he was the leader of the nine great Heavenly Gods... But from my perspective, everything you've suffered was well-deserved! And you, Sweeping Star, you were the most scheming of all the Heavenly Gods..."

"Enough, enough! That's all in the past now. I've changed—I've made amends…"

"You should've done that long ago. If not for Zhou Xuan helping you gather new Human Desire Power, you wouldn't have willingly revealed even the smallest of your secrets..."

After scolding the God of Suffering, the incense fire Taoist smacked the wooden board three times with his whisk as a form of punishment. Then, content, he rode off southward on a donkey.

The God of Suffering called after him, "You old bull-nosed Taoist, don't just focus on scolding me… Tell me this: now that Gong Zheng's clone has been cut, he'll definitely seek revenge on Zhou Xuan. What kind of method will he use?"

"Cannot say, cannot say... The Heavenly Stars above and the hidden secrets below—some things cannot be spoken."

As the incense fire Taoist uttered these words, his form disappeared.

"Old bull-nose, accusing me of hiding secrets, but aren't you doing the same?" the God of Suffering muttered indignantly.

...

East Market Street, Zhou Family's Jingyi Shop,

Lady Hong Guan, the Music Master, and Yun Ziliang had never been so anxious before. The three of them paced back and forth uneasily inside the tiny shop,

but the store was so small that it couldn't accommodate such frantic movement.

Every so often, the three of them would bump into each other, exchange quick, annoyed glances, and then, still tense with worry, lower their heads and resume their restless pacing.

"I'm back."

Zhou Xuan's voice echoed through the hall.

Yun Ziliang, the most excitable of the three, clapped his hands together with a loud "smack" and exclaimed, "I, Lao Yun, knew it! You lucky rascal are blessed by the heavens. Of course, you wouldn't die so easily!"