Volume One: The Most Heartless Phoenix Tree Blossom Chapter Four: Little Fish

The cold wind sweeps under the waning moon as solitary birds return; withered trees, a blue lamp, a lone figure intoxicated. Though the heart remains tied to the Forgotten Dust Valley, it is but empty sorrow—when will the hero return? —Lanling Anthology

Lanling Void was created by Lady Lanling and Lord Zhuo Hua five years after their escape from the Xuanhuang Void. Using the Desolate Cauldron as its heart, the Celestial Grotto Drum as its shell, and the Cloud Heaven Stele as its eye, they reshaped a sentient void. All the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas were constructed to mirror their homeland, the Xuanhuang Void. There are four great oceans and five continents: the Eastern Yi, Southern Yan, Western Qi, Northern Lun, and Central Divine Continents. The four oceans are the Eastern Lapping Waves, Western Boundless Seas, Northern Frosted Mist, and Southern Kunpeng Seas. The Cloud Heaven Stele stands atop the northernmost peak of Cangwu Mountain in Northern Lun, while the Desolate Cauldron slumbers in the deepest depths of the Kunpeng Sea. — Fragment from the Records of Xuanhuang Wonders

Zhuo Hua stood beneath the Cloud Heaven Stele, head raised, gazing up at it, his eyes fixed upon its form. The stele soared into the clouds, its edges sharp and defined, built entirely of arcane stone, with a jet-black body unmarred by the slightest flaw. On all four sides, intricate totems and the names of restored constellations were engraved.

Looking far into the distance, one could see the stele’s spire piercing directly toward the heavens. Every day at noon, the golden sun of Lanling Void would reach its zenith above the stele, painting its apex with a layer of gold.

Zhuo Hua recalled that, when they had fled in haste into the Desolate Cauldron, the elders had entrusted them with the Cloud Heaven Stele within the Infinite Cosmos Pouch. The elders’ instructions were clear: upon finding a suitable void for life to flourish, they were to plant the stele atop the highest peak, exactly three thousand three hundred and thirty zhang high.

Thus, it could absorb the sun’s essence with utmost efficiency, for within the stele lay another world—the Cloud Palace resided there, and all its energy depended on this obsidian monument.

When the two of them had finally settled in this new void, Zhuo Hua placed the stele atop Cangwu Mountain. Originally, the mountain stood only three thousand three hundred zhang; using the Primordial Chalice, they gathered earth from ten surrounding peaks to raise the final thirty zhang.

At that time, Lanling was happier and more earnest than Zhuo Hua had ever seen. At night, they hung the Azure Moon Pearl overhead, and together, with their own hands, they carried and piled the earth, shaping the range.

Zhuo Hua watched as Lanling made trip after trip, utterly focused, heedless of the mud on her face and hands. When the tallest peak was finally done, Lanling clapped her hands with glee, running circles around the mountains they had built together. At last, she leapt before Zhuo Hua, rose on tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, tilted her head, and smiled sweetly, “Zhuo Hua, we’ve done it, we’ve really finished! Tomorrow we’ll shape the mountains just like this!”

The pale light bathed Lanling, her red dress radiant as fire. That silken laughter, bright as a brocade zither, echoed endlessly in Zhuo Hua’s mind.

“Is the Exalted One pondering the constellations yet to be awakened?” Jingmu Kan’s eyes shimmered as she spoke gently.

With a thud, Jiaomu Jiao jumped down from his Crimson Cloud Beast, strode over, and declared, “The Exalted One is thinking of you!” As he spoke, he lightly tapped Jingmu Kan’s forehead.

Zhuo Hua tucked away the Infinite Cosmos Pouch, hands clasped behind his back, studying Jingmu Kan carefully. Today, she wore the Vermilion Bird Jade Hairpin he had gifted her, set in her hair atop a violet dress, looking especially delicate and lovely. He couldn’t help but praise her, “Qin Ying, today you resemble the rosy clouds of dawn in the Cloud Palace—truly beautiful.”

Jingmu Kan blushed instantly. Jiaomu Jiao teased, “The Exalted One is actually calling you by your mortal name! How many years has it been? And still he remembers.”

Zhuo Hua passed them, waving for them to follow, and said softly, “What is so hard about remembering her name?”

“The Exalted One bears the burdens of the world; we mortals haven’t used our old names since our awakening, and it’s been tens of thousands of years. May I ask, does the Exalted One recall this humble one’s lowly name?”

“You’re nothing but an old flood dragon—what name could you possibly have?” Jingmu Kan suddenly declared.

“There! You see? I only spoke up to ease your nerves before you wrung your kerchief to shreds. Don’t be ungrateful!” Jiaomu Jiao grumbled.

“All right. No unruly chatter under the Cloud Heaven Stele. By the way, Jiaomu, how have the garrison arrangements gone?” Zhuo Hua turned, his expression now grave.

Jiaomu Jiao bowed low. “Exalted One, everything has been arranged as you commanded. The White Tiger Palace has also placed the Xuantian Bell at the crucial passage, so if anything stirs, the Twelve Cloud Palace Guards will respond instantly. Nothing will go amiss.”

Zhuo Hua nodded. “Kui Wolf and Dou Xie are both veterans of three dynasties; with their ninth-tier divine cultivation and seasoned methods, I have no concerns about the Cloud Palace’s safety.”

Jiaomu Jiao whispered, “But both were awakened by the Lady herself, perhaps you should…”

Zhuo Hua shot him a glare. “No matter who awakened them, they are all celestial attendants of Cloudtop Palace. Didn’t you see them fight, blood-soaked, at the Borderlands? Never again doubt your fellows. You know well I despise divisions among the four palaces.”

Jiaomu Jiao, embarrassed, replied, “As you command.”

“Exalted One,” Jingmu Kan interjected to break the awkwardness, “the Cloud Heaven Stele is now doubly guarded, with four shadow guards lurking here by day and night. Nothing could go wrong.”

“Very well. Let us pass through the stele and descend to the mortal realm.” With that, Zhuo Hua stepped toward the monument, clutching the Azure Moon Pearl tightly.

The four of them made their way along the monument path on Cangwu Mountain, where the eternal winds howled with heavy snow, lashing against them.

“Xiao Yun, perhaps you should return to your fish form and rest in this water orb,” Jingmu Kan suggested, concern in her eyes.

“Yes, Xiao Yun,” Jiaomu Jiao agreed. “With merely seven hundred years of cultivation, it’s hard enough for you to maintain human form. Your true energy is too weak to withstand the white gales of the far north.”

Xiao Yun walked with head bowed, brows tightly knit, arms wrapped around her bundle. Unable to resist the cold, her hair was already dusted with frost.

The little handmaid, once a brocaded carp, appeared about fifteen or sixteen, donned in a red jacket with white trim, her hair styled in double buns adorned with blue pearl flowers. Her face was oval, eyes bright yet weary, cheeks flushed, upper teeth biting her lower lip—she seemed at the limits of endurance.

This little carp had been plucked from the Pusa River by Jiaomu Jiao before their departure.

At the time, Zhuo Hua asked, “Are you willing to take human form and journey with us in the mortal world? If you agree, I will aid your transformation.”

Whether from joy or excitement, the little fish’s head and tail thrashed wildly, mouth agape as she cried, “Little fish is willing! Little fish is willing!”

“Excellent. I shall guide your transformation and condense your spirit.” Zhuo Hua produced the Azure Moon Pearl, pinching it above the carp’s head with his left hand, forming a flower gesture with his right, and intoned, “With the Azure Moon Pearl, let your spirit awaken.” In an instant, the carp rose in a cluster of silvery light, floating midair as the glow gathered and gradually took human shape.

“I grant you the surname Zhuo, and the given name Yun. Are you pleased?” Zhuo Hua asked after a moment’s thought.

Xiao Yun knelt on the Jade Water Bridge, her body trembling with excitement. “Thank you, Exalted One, for your grace in transforming and naming me. Zhuo Yun would die ten thousand deaths in gratitude.”

Jiaomu Jiao joked, “Yun’er, you should be thanking me, old Jiaomu—if not for my casual catch, you would’ve dawdled another five centuries in the Pusa River.”

Jingmu Kan stepped forward to help Xiao Yun up, feigning indignation. “Ah, what fortune you must have accrued in your past life! Throughout these four oceans and five continents, who else has been personally transformed by the Exalted One or granted a divine surname?” She cast a sidelong glance at Zhuo Hua as she spoke.

Xiao Yun tried to kneel again, but Jingmu Kan hurried to lift her. Jiaomu Jiao laughed, “You’re becoming addicted to kneeling, little one. Go now and pack your things—the Exalted One is about to depart.”

The scene returned to the path by the monument.

“Exalted One,” Jiaomu Jiao’s voice broke Zhuo Hua’s reverie.

He turned and asked, “What is it?”

Jiaomu Jiao hurried to catch up, speaking softly, “Xiao Yun is a stubborn one!”

He covered his mouth, snickering.

“You old dragon, give her a Wind-Settling Pill so she can endure this mountain pass. Once we reach the town at the foot of the mountain, we’ll rest,” Zhuo Hua instructed.

“Heh, as the Exalted One commands,” answered Jiaomu Jiao, bowing before hurrying to Xiao Yun’s side. From his sachet, he produced a small blue porcelain bottle, poured out a golden pill, and handed it to her. “Little carp, take this Wind-Settling Pill—the Exalted One has bestowed it upon you. Our Exalted One is ever compassionate!”

Xiao Yun received the gleaming pill, her eyes glimmering with gratitude. “Thank you for your grace, Exalted One,” she murmured, swallowing it. At once, a circle of blue light enveloped her, softening the biting winds. No longer did she need to muster her true energy to resist the cold.