Chapter 113: A Change Born from the Mysterious Essence of Heaven and Earth

Li Shun naturally knew nothing of everything that had transpired in Lihuo County after his death.

As the day neared its end, Threefold Self-Reflection activated once more.

Time flowed backward, returning to the beginning of the day.

The Second Reflection.

At this very moment, Li Shun and his two companions were galloping down the official road.

A glimmer flashed through his eyes as he resisted the urge to glance at Duan Jiuzhang.

Instead, with a thought, his consciousness descended into the Fangcun space.

'The Fangcun space... didn't revert to its original state?'

Looking at the newly opened ring of land along the outer edge, as well as the fresh territory that had appeared within the domain of the Threefold Self-Reflection stone statue, Li Shun's heart shook violently.

In the past, whenever Threefold Self-Reflection was activated, everything inside the Fangcun space would reset along with time.

But now, an unprecedented exception had appeared.

'Every abnormality began with the Xuanhuang Qi of Heaven and Earth.'

'As long as it remained within the Heaven-Earth Realm, nothing could escape the effects of Threefold Self-Reflection.'

'Yet the changes brought about by the Xuanhuang Qi were not erased when time rewound.'

'Does this mean... that the Xuanhuang Qi of Heaven and Earth possesses a status even higher than the Heaven-Earth Realm itself?'

For a moment, Li Shun was profoundly shaken, countless thoughts surging through his mind.

At the same time.

Sacred Capital.

Directorate of Celestial Observation.

Tower of Celestial Observation.

The top of the tower was utterly silent.

Only rhythmic snores rose and fell beneath the starlit sky overhead.

Suddenly, a profound yet somewhat urgent fluctuation descended upon the tower.

The Grand Supervision Heavenly Mirror activated of its own accord, illuminating the entirety of Great Qian.

Moments later, the image rapidly magnified, revealing the scene at Lord Ge Temple in Lihuo County.

Yet above the flowing image floated a tiny black point, as deep as an abyss and radiating an indescribably chilling aura.

The little girl remained fast asleep.

Yet the black point continuously caused the Grand Heavenly Mirror to emit wave after wave of fluctuations.

It was as though it were issuing some kind of warning.

Not long afterward, the little girl was finally awakened.

"How many times have I told you? Don't disturb your grand-aunt's sleep..."

She rubbed her eyes groggily.

A moment later...

"Ahhh!"

A miserable scream echoed across the top of the tower.

"Martial Grand-Aunt! What has alarmed you?"

An elderly man with snow-white hair and beard immediately rushed up from below after hearing the scream.

The little girl's expression changed instantly.

The image displayed within the Grand Heavenly Mirror vanished at once.

"Ahem... Wuxiu, it's nothing."

"I just had a nightmare."

The old man looked somewhat bewildered.

After carefully observing her for a moment, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

"You may withdraw," the little girl instructed.

"As you command, Martial Grand-Aunt."

The elderly man named 'Ying Wuxiu' respectfully retreated.

Only after secretly confirming that Ying Wuxiu had truly left did the little girl reopen the Grand Heavenly Mirror.

She stared fixedly at the black point above it, her face filled with utter despair.

"No way... no way... no way..."

"Why has a portion of the Xuanhuang Qi of Heaven and Earth disappeared for no reason?"

"This..."

Her gaze repeatedly swept across the miniature image of Great Qian, trying to locate the missing Xuanhuang Qi.

Yet she found nothing.

Refusing to give up, she repeatedly zoomed the miniature world in and out.

Still nothing.

"Could the Grand Heavenly Mirror be broken?" She muttered to herself.

Her eyes suddenly lit up.

"Xigua!"

A snow-white dog instantly leaped out of thin air.

The moment it appeared, it wagged its tail frantically while trying to curry favor with the little girl.

She merely grinned.

Reaching out, she grabbed the dog before tossing it straight into the Grand Heavenly Mirror.

A streak of white shot wildly through the mirror's miniature world.

Within moments, it had traversed every corner of the landscape.

The dog bounced back out.

It was still dizzy from the experience, unable to stand steadily on all four legs.

Even so, it didn't bark.

It merely let out a pitiful whimper.

"So the mirror isn't broken..."

The little girl's expression grew even gloomier.

"This is really bad..."

No one knew what she was thinking.

Her expression changed repeatedly as she occasionally glanced toward the floor below, where Ying Wuxiu had gone.

After hesitating for a long while, she ultimately did not dare make the matter public.

She picked up Xigua, who was still rubbing against her leg, then gently tapped its forehead.

In an instant, Xigua transformed into a little girl identical to herself.

At first, Xigua looked completely confused.

But upon meeting the little girl's unusually serious gaze, it immediately understood.

It leaped onto the starry bed and imitated her sleeping posture, lying spread-eagle.

Not long afterward, it appeared to have truly fallen asleep.

As for the Great Siming herself, she silently transformed into a rainbow streak and sped toward Lihuo County.

"What a waste of my lifespan..."

Her grumbling voice could faintly be heard drifting through the night sky.

...

By noon, Li Shun's group entered the borders of Lihuo County.

"It's so hot..."

The conversation that had already taken place once before unfolded again.

The three of them decided to stop in the city and rest for a while.

Just as before, they entered the teahouse and encountered the funeral procession.

Duan Jiuzhang also recounted Lord Ge's past deeds to Li Shun and Li Qing.

However, the moment Duan Jiuzhang spotted a certain familiar figure within the procession, his words came to an abrupt halt.

He shot to his feet, unable to conceal his astonishment.

"Senior Duan? What's wrong?"

Li Qing asked in confusion.

Li Shun likewise appeared somewhat surprised.

Yet inside, alarm bells were already ringing.

Because...

This had absolutely not happened during the previous reflection!

'What caused this change?'

Following Duan Jiuzhang's line of sight, Li Shun quietly examined the procession.

He compared every face passing before him with what he had seen yesterday.

Moments later, he locked onto the target.

A harmless-looking little girl no more than seven or eight years old.

Yet...

She had appeared somewhere she absolutely should not have.

Pretending not to notice, Li Shun allowed his gaze to drift past her.

Deep within his heart, however, he firmly memorized every detail of the little girl's appearance.

By then, Duan Jiuzhang had already regained his composure.

"Ahem. It's nothing. I saw an old acquaintance."

"You two wait here for a moment."

With those words, he left the teahouse and quietly followed the Great Siming's trail.

"Brother..."

Li Qing hesitated.

"It's fine."

"We'll just wait here."

"This Crimson Blossom Tea tastes quite good. Have another cup."

Li Shun spoke with perfect calm.

...

Outside Lord Ge Shrine.

Duan Jiuzhang respectfully bowed.

"I did not know the Great Siming had come in person. This humble official failed to welcome you from afar. I beg your..."

The little girl impatiently interrupted him.

"Enough, enough."

"I came here in secret precisely because I don't want anyone else finding out."

Duan Jiuzhang hesitated briefly before lowering his voice.

"May I ask..."

"I came here..."

"I'm just looking for someone."

"Mhm. Looking for someone."

She nodded emphatically, repeating herself.

A faint gleam flashed through Duan Jiuzhang's eyes, but he wisely asked no further questions.

"Oh right."

"Weren't you supposed to be in Qing Province?"

"Why are you here too?"

Only then did the little girl remember to ask.

Duan Jiuzhang honestly recounted everything that had happened.

"Something that exciting happened?"

The little girl's eyes immediately sparkled.

"I want to come along and watch the excit..."

That was what she had intended to say.

But halfway through her sentence, she could only let out a helpless sigh.