If the world were at peace, and the imperial court’s authority sufficiently intact, the common people would never be allowed to build a city on their own. At most, they could only form villages or hamlets. The saying «Imperial authority does not reach the countryside» was, in this context, a sideways confirmation of that reality.

However, in this chaotic age, the Son of celestial was growing old, locked behind palace walls, and uprisings broke out across the land. Refugees who could no longer survive, ambitious regional masters, treacherous vassal kings, and even the foreign tribes of the north—all, in silent agreement, were gradually pushing over the already riddled and broken foundations of Great Zhou’s dynasty.

In such a climate, the matter of the common folk forming a city at the base of Purple Mountain—even for Pei Xiu, a court official still loyal to Great Zhou—would not be opposed.

Though the act itself was improper, in Pei Xiu’s view, if it could protect the lives of the people in this region, it was the right path.

«My master, please take this celestial  medicine.»

Just then, a household servant came running over with quick steps, respectfully presenting a glass vial.

Pei Xiu held the vial in hand, unable to conceal the admiration on his face.

The medicine inside was an azure liquid. After opening the cap and sniffing carefully, he was met with a refreshing fragrance that seemed to soothe the body all over.

Seeing that the nearby citizens were already lining up, each receiving a vial from the constables, Pei Xiu didn’t hesitate either. Tilting his head back, he drank the celestial  medicine in one go.

He wasn’t sure if it was just an illusion, but the moment the liquid passed down his throat and entered his stomach, a wave of heat surged up from his abdomen, and the fatigue of the entire night was instantly washed away.

At just the right moment, Feng Yunqiu spoke:

«Those afflicted by the plague shall be cured upon taking this medicine. Those healthy shall be protected from ever contracting the disease in the future.»

As expected, this miracle drug created by Nuwa had both curative and preventive properties.

«But as celestial  medicine is limited, the Celestial master has also bestowed a celestial prescription. Mortal physicians, by following this method, can also cure the sick.»

«In addition, there are also the Celestial master’s Five Commandments…»

As Feng Yunqiu listed off these commandments—such as «do not drink untreated water»—Pei Xiu grew thoughtful. He glanced at the smiling commoners and solemnly declared:

«Please rest assured, Lady Spirit Maiden. I shall see it done!»

«But presently, beyond treating the sick, we must also prioritize building shelters for the people—lest they freeze to death in the snow.»

Keeping warm in winter was indeed a matter of life and death.

                                                   …Scene Transition…

The following day.

Huang Rong and Xuan Yuan  stood side by side atop a floating cloud platform, waving at Nuwa from a distance.

«Sister Nuwa, Xing-ge and I are heading out now.»

«Go on, go on,» Nuwa waved them off nonchalantly. «I’m watching things here, everything’s under control.»

Xuan Yuan  offered a few last instructions before pouring his energy into the Mysterious Radiance Pendant.

Nuwa’s eyes instantly lit up with endless streams of data as she closely observed the time-space gate gradually opening before Xuan Yuan  .

Although, back when Huang Rong had been diligently training, she and Xuan Yuan  had spent time analyzing this pendant together—and Xuan Yuan  had even used it several times before Nuwa’s eyes to travel to another world—the mechanism of this time-space gate was something Nuwa could not decipher.

Since her computational core was stationed within Purple Mountain, and the Spiral Jade Token that Xuan Yuan  carried was merely an auxiliary module, she had no way of accompanying him across the threshold.

Otherwise, she would’ve instantly crashed from lack of computing power.

«We’re off,» Xuan Yuan  said as he took Huang Rong’s hand and stepped into the time-space gate, disappearing from sight.

As the two vanished, the gentle smile on Nuwa’s face slowly faded. Her expression turned blank, devoid of even a trace of humanity.

Legend has it that the great Celestial celestial  Nuwa from ancient times—the one who spread civilization—was most certainly not the bubbly, playful persona she showed in front of Xuan Yuan  and Huang Rong.

On the other side, Shen and Huang reappeared in an unnamed valley outside of Xiangyang City.

Xuan Yuan  raised a hand, and a bird swooped down from the sky, obediently perching on the back of his hand.

«Eh? Xing-ge, you left a drone here?»

«I came back once while you were training and set it up,» Xuan Yuan  explained. «I programmed it with an autonomous scanning protocol to search this valley.»

Huang Rong instantly understood—Xing-ge was still thinking about that «Dugu Nine Swords» he had mentioned before.

After reviewing the data gathered by the bird over the past few days, Xuan Yuan  smiled:

«Good girl Rong’er, we’ve found both the celestial  Eagle and the Sword Tomb.»

With a sweep of his arm, he pulled Huang Rong into an embrace, and with a bound, they leapt into the air—leaving behind a trail of golden flowing light.

Each step they took seemed to shrink space itself—vanishing from one spot and reappearing dozens of meters ahead, as though celestial  or ghostly.

Wherever Xuan Yuan  disappeared, fiery red lotus blossoms bloomed in the air, and golden, shadowy Mystic Birds flapped their wings—phantasms that vanished in a blink.

Huang Rong leaned into Xuan Yuan’s arms, watching him flicker through the air with such effortless agility, and laughed behind her hand:

«Peach Blossom Island’s lightness technique in Xing-ge’s hands really does look like a Celestial spell. Rong’er has no way of producing lotus blossoms with every step.»

«Don’t even mention it. I feel like I’m playing a flashy, low-budget MMORPG.»

Inside the Eastern Imperial Palace, Nuwa had recreated many games from Xuan Yuan  ’s past era. Though the only players in those MMOs were Huang Rong and Nuwa, who was Nuwa if not the literal definition of a one-woman army?

With just a flick of her fingers, she could create thousands—tens of thousands—of alternate accounts all at once, overwhelming bosses with sheer numbers while Huang Rong cheered her on. The chaotic sight was one Xuan Yuan  had witnessed firsthand.

But since Huang Rong had been focused on her cultivation, she hadn’t had much time to play—despite her clear fondness for it.

Not long after, the two of them reached the secluded depths of the valley, a place untouched by human presence.

Before them stood a rocky cave entrance, concealed beneath dense vines and forest growth.

«This is where that Senior Dugu was buried?» Huang Rong stepped forward, lifting the branches that blocked the entrance.

She had heard of the legend of Dugu Qiubai from Xuan Yuan  , and had long since been intrigued—what kind of person could cry out that thunderous line:

«I have slain all my foes, defeated all heroes; no one dares challenge me—how utterly tragic!»

Xuan Yuan  was deep in thought as well.

In the original story, Yang Guo only learned the heavy sword style from the celestial  Eagle here. The Dugu Nine Swords manual was never mentioned.

But in the later era of Swordsman, Feng Qingyang had inherited the technique.

It was impossible to believe that Dugu Qiubai hadn’t left behind the Nine Swords. Xuan Yuan  ’s only guess was that the manual had been hidden within the tomb of the Sword Demon himself.

«Rong’er, step back.»

«Alright!»

Huang Rong obediently floated back to Xuan Yuan  ’s side. With a wave of his hand, golden flames burst forth from the vines and branches covering the entrance. In mere moments, they were reduced to ash, revealing the cave mouth.

The two exchanged a smile and stepped in together.

Deeper inside, they came upon a small mound of stones, crudely stacked.

Xuan Yuan  shook his head:

«A sword demon of his generation, and in the end, not even a soul came to bury him. It must have been that celestial  Eagle, bringing these scattered stones in its beak to form a lonely grave.»

Huang Rong smiled:

«Xing-ge, let’s build a proper tomb for this Senior Sword Demon, shall we?»

Xuan Yuan  agreed:

«Indeed. Since we are to receive his legacy, we ought to raise him a worthy monument.»