Beneath the Moon Palace, there was a hidden Altar.
Here, the sun lost its brilliance, and the Yin Essence did not show.
Though it was midday, not a single ray of sunlight could be seen, and at midnight, not even a thread of Moonlight appeared.
The air held only a surge of crimson radiance.
This crimson light burned fiercely, gnawing away the surrounding grass and trees like locusts, leaving not a trace of life—only a bare, desolate Altar.
Luo Dan’er had just landed from the clouds, when the crimson radiance surged towards her like maggots on rotting bones, frantically seeping into her skin.
“So hot!”
It was as if she had fallen into molten lava; first came the searing heat, then the stinging pain.
The sensation of even her soul burning made her cry out, and even when she summoned her Magical Power to protect herself, the crimson energy drilled relentlessly into her skin, as though it met no resistance at all.
“Nalan’er, be careful. This Evil Sun is not like the sun, which is balanced and nurturing, giving birth to all things. Instead, it is most violent and aggressive, unable to tolerate any trace of life.”
“It is undying and indestructible, of the highest order—neither the five elements nor the five virtues can suppress it, and none of the various Daoist schools can destroy it. Only Moonlight carrying the Yin Essence is its natural nemesis. Upon contact, it dissolves, never to act with tyranny again.”
At that moment, the Palace Master of the Moon Palace descended upon the Altar, her white, delicate feet stepping directly onto the ground.
The surrounding crimson radiance, upon seeing her, lost all of its previous arrogance, and melted away like snow under a blazing sun—vanishing in an instant without leaving a trace.
At the same time, beneath the Altar, deep within the earth’s core, something seemed to awaken, letting out a cry of utter hatred.
The sound was more piercing than any bird, sharper than any beast. Under this cry, the jade Altar began to tremble, cracks spreading across its surface, revealing the searing magma beneath.
“Sinful Beast.”
The Palace Master frowned slightly, lifted her long, slender right leg from under her gown, and stomped down forcefully on the Altar.
“Boom.”
Countless threads of Moonlight emerged from her body, pouring into the ground through the gaps between the jade tiles.
In almost an instant, the hateful cry turned into a painful wail.
The surging magma and crimson energy quieted and vanished, and the Altar returned to its original calm.
“As the Ritual approaches, this Sinful Beast is becoming quite restless.”
With a wave of her delicate hand, a stream of Moonlight flowed from her fingertip, transforming into two meditation cushions—one large, one small.
The Palace Master sat first upon the larger cushion, closing her eyes to meditate.
Luo Dan’er quickly followed, taking her seat on the smaller cushion and pretending to cultivate.
But she could not absorb spiritual energy as ordinary cultivators did; this sitting meditation was nothing more than an act.
As time passed, boredom quickly overwhelmed her. In her mind, she replayed the stories Limuqun had told her over and over, but still, the Palace Master made no move.
Ahhh, so boring, I’m going to die from boredom.
Luo Dan’er awkwardly opened her eyes, stealing a glance at the Palace Master beside her.
The other remained serene and unmoving, lost in cultivation, like an ancient and unchanging statue.
She stretched out her hand, waving it quietly in front of the Palace Master’s face.
No reaction.
It seemed she was fully absorbed in cultivation!
Certain that the Palace Master had no time to spare for her, Luo Dan’er began fidgeting more and more.
She kicked her small feet, wrapped in embroidered shoes, rubbed her tender cheeks, and measured her own growth with her hands, comparing how much she’d gained since adding insoles.
In the end, these little amusements grew dull as well.
Ugh, so annoying!
She propped her chin up with her hand and let out a long sigh.
It’d be better to be with Limuqun—at least he could put on a show and make me laugh.
But the moment she thought of Limuqun, an idea suddenly flashed in her mind.
Why not send a message to Limuqun!
That’s right, I’m suffering here—why can’t he tell me a story to relieve my boredom?
As soon as the thought arose, she felt her world open up.
No sooner thought than done. Luo Dan’er found a comfortable position and called out in her mind, “Limuqun, Limuqun?”
She called several times in a row, but the only response was Limuqun’s heavy breathing, and a rhythmic banging sound.
Strange, what is he doing?
Confused, she called out, “Hey, hey, Limuqun, stop pretending to be mute! Why aren’t you talking?”
“Mm, mm? Mm!”
On the Heart Voice side, Limuqun’s heavy breathing came through, startled and embarrassed.
“Luo Dan’er?!”
“Hmph, that’s right, it’s me.” Luo Dan’er pouted, proudly declaring, but before she could continue, she heard Limuqun shouting beside him:
“Woc, Zuo Qiuli, what are you up to?!”
“Hehe, just trying to spice things up a bit.”
Their voices echoed in Luo Dan’er’s heart, making her frown in annoyance. She said discontentedly, “Limuqun, I’m talking to you—can’t you focus?”
“N-no, I—hiss~ Oh, I—I’m a bit busy right now. How about we talk later?”
Busy? Listening to his panting, Luo Dan’er grew even more puzzled. She couldn’t help but ask, “What are you busy with that you can’t even talk?”
“Huff, huff, nothing much, just… uh, exercising, that’s all.”
“Hiss!!!—Zuo Qiuli, stop touching me!”
Huh?
Exercising?
Limuqun’s explanation only made Luo Dan’er more confused.
“Hey, hey, Limuqun, why are you exercising for no reason?”
“Hiss~ Exercise is good, it’s good for the body, don’t you know?”
“Besides, I’ve held back for so long. Isn’t it okay for me to move around a bit?”
It sounded like a flawless explanation.
But as a woman, her intuition told her something wasn’t right.
Hmm, what exactly is off?
She narrowed her eyes, listening intently to the Heart Voice.
Suddenly, she caught another sound amid Limuqun’s heavy breaths—a different voice, hard to describe, neither a moan nor a cry, but one Luo Dan’er had never heard before.
But Luo Dan’er instantly recognized the owner of the voice.
Mother Superior?!
In that instant, Luo Dan’er felt an inexplicable wave of anxiety and unease rise in her heart.
“Hey, hey, Limuqun, are you lying to me? I feel like you’re hiding something!”
“I—really, I’m not lying to you, hiss~ I’m really just exercising!”
“No way. If you’re exercising, why is Mother Superior’s voice next to you?”
“Uh, this, well, I really am exercising, I—hiss!!!”
Suddenly, there was a hoarse, low growl through the Heart Voice, and Limuqun abruptly lost contact.
“Hey, hey, hey? Hey, hey, hey? Limuqun, answer me!”
Growing even more uneasy, Luo Dan’er shouted in her mind.
“Ahem, it’s nothing. He just fainted for a bit—he’ll wake up soon.”
It was Zuo Qiuli’s voice that replied in her heart.
“Huh?” Luo Dan’er was stunned, then immediately demanded, “Zuo Qiuli, tell me the truth! What exactly is Limuqun doing with Mother Superior?”
“Uh—he didn’t lie to you, really. How should I put it… He really is exercising.”
Zuo Qiuli suddenly seemed to have a bright idea, her voice rising:
“Boxing! That’s it, boxing, you know? The two of them are boxing—training their combat skills!”