117 The Blood Curse of Shui

"What else do you know?"

The spirit dared not hold back anything and truthfully recounted everything he knew to Litian.

Litian’s gaze darkened. Trembling under such a look, the spirit longed to flee, yet his feet were rooted to the spot. He could only stand in silence, not daring to make a sound.

Litian did not want to expose his own trail to rescue Siji. However, knowing Nüluo’s nature, he realized that if she learned Siji was in trouble, she would undoubtedly rush to save her. Even if Siji were guilty, Nüluo would not dwell on it at such a time, choosing instead to heal her wounds first.

But Litian did not want Nüluo to suffer for these irrelevant matters, even though Siji had brought this upon herself. With this in mind, Litian decided to head to Fengdu City first. As for the spirit, he devised another plan.

The figures of Litian and the spirit vanished.

***

In the Celestial Queen’s Palace of the Divine Realm:

The shopkeeper knelt on the floor, his forehead pressed against the ground. He dared not look up, nor could he, yet he could clearly feel the fury of Her Highness, the Celestial Queen.

Lei Ling longed to tear the kneeling figure into pieces. To fail at such a simple task—what a useless waste.

"You mean to tell me that you didn't even see what your opponent looked like before the spirit was snatched away?" Lei Ling’s voice sounded as if it were being squeezed through gritted teeth, each word striking the shopkeeper like a hammer.

"This subordinate is incompetent. I beg for your punishment, Your Highness." The shopkeeper lowered his head further, wishing the ground would open up and swallow him whole; that would be better than enduring her wrath.

"Incompetent. You are quite right." Lei Ling stood up abruptly and hurled a crystal goblet at the shopkeeper’s head. "You useless thing!"

Blood trickled down his forehead onto the floor, yet he dared not lift his head. Through the scattered crystal shards, he saw his own wretched reflection.

"You useless thing, do you have any idea that your blunder has nearly caused my entire plan to fail?"

"This subordinate is willing to accept any punishment. Please, Your Highness, calm your anger."

"Punishment? Is my punishment something you could even withstand?" Lei Ling sat back down slowly. She calmed her rage; being angry now would not mend the situation. "Get up."

The shopkeeper stood up shakily, slowly lifting his head. He did not even dare to wipe the blood from his brow.

"Look at the state of you." With a wave of Lei Ling’s hand, the shopkeeper’s wounds healed at a visible rate, and the crystal shards on the floor vanished. Everything returned to normal.

Yet, the shopkeeper felt no relief. The more she acted this way, the more terrified he became; such gestures only meant one thing: the Queen was livid.

"Think carefully—who exactly was it that attacked you?"

The shopkeeper shook his head. "I do not know, Your Highness." In truth, he had a few suspects in mind, but upon reflection, it seemed impossible. Why would they attack a mere nobody like him?

"And the other spirits?"

"This subordinate has gathered them in the side hall you designated, Your Highness."

Lei Ling was satisfied with this. "Do not let a single word slip. Otherwise, you know the consequences."

The shopkeeper nodded frantically. As if he had the courage to utter even half a syllable!

"Very well, leave." The shopkeeper turned and retreated. Not until he was outside the palace did he dare believe he had emerged alive, able to embrace the sunlight once more.

Lei Ling watched his retreating figure, a malicious glint in her eyes. He was still useful; otherwise, she would never have let him leave so easily.

She entered the side hall where the spirits of the Xiuyi tribe were gathered—a highly secluded corner of the Celestial Queen’s Palace, one that was easily overlooked. No one would ever imagine such a place was hidden here. Moreover, the dilapidated door was sealed with a barrier unique to Lei Ling, one that only she could undo. Previously, only the shopkeeper could enter, but it seemed he would have no need to return here again.

As she pushed the door open, a scent of decay and stagnation rushed out. Her arrival drew the gaze of every spirit.

The spirits of the Xiuyi tribe, who had mysteriously vanished from the human realm, were all gathered here. Only two had slipped through the net. While this would affect her plans to a certain degree, they were indeed a miraculous race. Despite their terror, they were doing their best to restrain themselves.

Lei Ling could not help but laugh. Excellent. The more they struggled, the more violent the backlash against Nüluo would be. Who would have thought that the humans the Goddess of Earth had spent her entire life protecting would one day become her death warrant?

It had taken Lei Ling ten thousand years to uncover this secret.

The Xiuyi were the most gifted of all human tribes, and the most mystical. If their spirits were gathered, shattered, and re-fused, and then cursed, the power of that curse would rebound onto Nüluo. This was the Blood Curse of the Xiuyi—a curse that could not be undone. The only flaw was that the most critical spirit had gone missing; otherwise, she could have killed Nüluo outright. But as things stood, even if Nüluo did not die, she would fall into an eternal slumber. And if she truly never woke again, the human realm would fall into her hands.

"Nüluo, this time, you cannot escape." Lei Ling longed to laugh out loud. She would stop at nothing to eliminate her rival.

Lei Ling approached the spirits, her eyes filled with evil. Like a starving beast that had finally found prey in the wilderness, she raised her sharp claws to tear open the victim's chest.

The spirits were paralyzed by her gaze, retreating instinctively until there was nowhere left to go. Lei Ling raised her hands high, and the spirits were instantly held fast by an overwhelming force. It was as if invisible hands were drawing them together, compressing them.

The spirits tried to scream, but they could make no sound; Lei Ling had stolen their right to speak. They could even see their own bodies slowly turning into fragments. Finally, they lost the ability to think, for they could no longer possess any thoughts at all.

Lei Ling watched in excitement as the spirits shattered. Thinking of the curse Nüluo was about to endure, she felt an uncontrollable joy. But she had to proceed with the next step without the slightest negligence.

Her fingers traced through the air, weaving one unrecognizable character after another. The broken fragments danced, merging into one. By now, these spirits had become nothing more than a tool. They were pathetic and wretched; they could not control their own fate in life, and in death, they could not choose their own end. They were merely victims of ambition, and the goddess they were to harm was the very Goddess of Earth they had sworn to protect for all eternity.

The harm could not be undone. Perhaps only the blood of their descendants could wash away their sins, though they were innocent.

Lei Ling’s fingers finally stopped. She held her final pose—a posture she considered the most noble, yet it could not hide her evil soul. At that moment, the most exalted Celestial Queen of the Divine Realm was uglier than the most hideous demon.

The fused fragments began to spin. In the center of the vortex, a figure gradually appeared—it was Nüluo. But in the vortex, Nüluo’s face was deathly pale, and her golden hair had turned white. Finally, she collapsed into the center of the whirlpool. A flash of light passed, and both Nüluo and the spirits vanished.

The Blood Curse was complete.

"Hahahaha..." Lei Ling laughed triumphantly. The progress of her plans had exceeded her expectations. Her laughter echoed through the palace—wanton and evil.

***

In the human realm, it suddenly began to rain. At first, it was a light drizzle, but the downpour grew heavier, as if the sky were wailing, conveying its silent sorrow through its tears.

Nüluo stood outside the main palace, catching a few raindrops. It had not rained for a long time. But why would such a heavy rain occur in this season?

She would have to ask Siji.

Shaoguang hurried to the main palace, only to find Nüluo standing in the rain.

"Your Highness, please come inside! What if you injure yourself?" Shaoguang urged, and Nüluo obediently returned to the hall.

"Your Highness!" Shaoguang’s voice lingered. Had she not arrived, would the Goddess have stood there forever?

"I know, I know. Just this once. Shaoguang, go and ask Siji why such rain has suddenly appeared in this season."

"Your Highness..." Shaoguang suddenly grew hesitant.

"What has happened?"

Shaoguang decided to tell the truth. Siji had gone too far this time. "Your Highness, Siji is missing."

Nüluo’s gaze darkened. "Has she forgotten my orders?"

Shaoguang wanted to plead for her, but she was also angry. If Siji had a reason for leaving, she could have explained it to the Goddess. Why leave without a word? Nüluo wondered if she should punish Siji this time.

Suddenly, she felt a heat in her throat, and a mouthful of blood sprayed forth. Under the crimson stain, Nüluo slowly collapsed.

"Your Highness!" Shaoguang was stunned by the sight. She frantically tried to wipe away the terrifying blood, but it spilled like beads from a broken string, uncontrollable and relentless.

Shaoguang had known the Goddess had once been severely wounded, but she never imagined it was this grave. Her eyes welled with tears instantly.

Nüluo covered her mouth with her hand, but she could not stop the blood from flowing. What was happening? Had her wounds suddenly worsened? It didn't feel like that. Nüluo felt the world turning black.

"Your Highness!" Shaoguang’s hands trembled as she channeled her own power into Nüluo, though it was but a drop in the ocean.

"Shao... guang... do not... tell... anyone..." Even these few words seemed to drain all of Nüluo’s strength.

Shaoguang held back her tears and laid Nüluo on the couch. Once settled, Nüluo tried to gather her strength, but she had none left and fell into a deep slumber.

Shaoguang wiped away her tears. Fortunately, the cycle of reincarnation had been handed over to the realm of time and space, and the human world was at peace. There was little that required the Goddess’s attention; even if she did not appear for a while, it would not cause a major catastrophe.

Shaoguang had to remain calm to minimize the impact. She composed herself and sat quietly beside Nüluo, guarding her as if she were guarding her own life.