“…”
All the Demon Kings failed to notice that, while the Cold Flood Dragon King and Macaque King were exchanging words, the Blood Locust King’s eyes beneath the black robe stirred; his choice of Shuzhou was not so simple.
…
Demon Kings converged in Shuzhou for communication, and at the same time in Stargazing Valley.
“Demon stars converging, what does this mean?”
The Valley Master of Stargazing Valley had never seen such an odd and deceitful celestial phenomenon.
Among the manuals left by previous Valley Masters, such an event had never occurred: even the concept of demon stars was something he had discerned from the unknown.
Faced with this situation, he naturally wanted to continue his calculations, but he felt a layer of dense fog separating him from reality, insurmountable no matter how hard he tried to deduce the true circumstances.
This fog held no aggression, nor did it backlash, but it was like a chasm from heaven, blocking him from the truth.
“The truth that cannot be observed, the situation created by countless dynasties can no longer be maintained, can it? It augurs a great upheaval!”
The Valley Master did not discover anything, but he knew that this event was an unprecedented great change.
“An unforeseen change, I wonder if it is good or bad. Can my Stargazing Valley’s heritage endure through such upheaval?”
The usually placid heart of the Valley Master rippled, and he resumed his calculations.
After finishing, his aged face could no longer maintain its usual expression.
Because in his recent calculations, not only had the situation become bafflingly intricate, but there seemed to be exceedingly unusual aspects to the ancestral teachings of Stargazing Valley.
“Opportunity lies outside!”
This was a result deduced by the Valley Master himself.
However, in thousands of years of Stargazing Valley’s tradition, through countless eras including the founder’s times, all calculations concluded with “Opportunity lies within, do not act rashly.”
But now, a completely different directive had emerged, even perhaps the exact opposite.
What in the world did this mean?
“Opportunity lies outside…”
The Valley Master pondered over his calculated outcome and then reflected on another ancestral teaching.
“No prediction is immutable; decisions must be made according to varying circumstances.”
Thus, the Valley Master made his decision.
“Xing, Yue!”
The child attendants at the Valley Master’s sides stirred.
“Valley Master, what are your orders?”
“You two have reached a certain proficiency in the Stargazing Skill. Normally, you should not leave, but the situation has changed; both of you should leave the valley and seek out the person in your hearts.
This person could be the Heir of Destiny, the enemy of destiny, someone who could save your lives, or anyone else, but remember to follow your hearts.
You may travel together or separately, but bear in mind: once you leave the valley, you bear the heritage of Stargazing Valley, do not return. You both carry the complete heritage; wherever any one of you is, there lies Stargazing Valley.
Additionally—”
The Valley Master, without waiting for Xing or Yue to respond, gestured towards the sky with one hand, and then touched each of their heads.
“From now on, you have the potential of the Great Grandmaster. Stargazing Valley watches over all, a legacy hard to pass on through books. What you need to know, you already know. Whoever becomes the Great Grandmaster first will be the next Valley Master of Stargazing Valley. Go now, leave!”
Xing and Yue, both children barely over ten years old, bowed deeply to the Valley Master upon hearing his words.
The Valley Master was their leader, as well as their father and master.
After bowing, the two stood and walked towards the exit, seemingly aging a year with every step, transforming into young adults in their twenties as they reached the outside of the Stargazing Tower.
This was the secret technique of Stargazing Valley.
Seeing them depart, the fog in the Valley Master’s heart cleared a little.
Once more, he “saw” something.
“No wonder it’s opportunity outside, am I also unable to escape?”
The Valley Master foresaw his own death.
“Celestial changes are afoot, so I might as well try what past Valley Masters have wanted but didn’t dare to do, to oppose the fate of the world. It will certainly lead to a gruesome death, won’t it?”
…
After leaving Stargazing Valley, Yue was the first to speak, “Xing, what do you plan to do?”
“To seek the Heir of Destiny. The collapse of the great Zhou dynasty is unavoidable. The Heir of Destiny is the one in my heart, the one to bend everything back to its proper course.”
“Then it seems we are destined to part ways. I need to find someone who can preserve my life. The Valley Master’s words mean we must preserve the heritage. You seek the troubled Heir of Destiny, which is fraught with peril. Even if you were by his side, you might find death. I must ensure the preservation of the Stargazing heritage.”
Xing didn’t openly agree or disagree, but eventually, he nodded and said, “Very well!”
Yue then said, “Then this is where we part. If either of us becomes the Great Grandmaster, we will feel it, and the other’s Stargazing heritage must not be passed on.”
The heritage of Stargazing, there could only be one Valley Master in each generation.
Xing nodded again.
Afterward, they went their separate ways, each embarking on their journey to find the person in their heart.
Not long after they left Stargazing Valley, news spread far and wide.
Stargazing Valley was a place of exceptional uniqueness within the great Zhou, not even the royal family at its peak dared to interfere with it.
It was a power that had outlived countless dynasties.
There was only one other power similar to it, the Border Army, also one of the nine supreme forces of the world, a military force that no royal family dared command, and to which they had to submit supplies obediently.
There once was a prince who was taken seriously in the struggle for the throne; he tried to control the Border Army. The generals of the Border Army immediately executed that prince, and the royal family made no move against them, not even an inquiry, as if the prince had died for nothing.
It was such powers, whether it be the Border Army or Stargazing Valley, that hadn’t had any successors emerge before.
But once they did, they attracted the attention of all those coveting the world. Stargazing Valley’s Stargazing Skill was not just a mere advantage like adding wings to a tiger.
Yet, no force could truly intercept the successors of Stargazing Valley.
Every time the two appeared, by the time forces from other powers arrived, they had already vanished without a trace.
The only thing they could ascertain was that both had entered Shuzhou.
And after entering Shuzhou, no one could find their whereabouts anymore, as if they had disappeared into thin air.
“Disappear in Shuzhou? Indeed, there must be something in Shuzhou, send people into Shuzhou to investigate!”
“It’s Shuzhou again, send someone to check it out!”
King Yong Nian, the current occupant of Shuzhou, naturally received the news as well.
“Stargazing Valley successors have come to Shuzhou? Find them, dig three feet into the ground if you must, but locate them!”
King Yong Nian’s mood had been terrible lately. Even though he had taken the lead, he had been thwarted by the River King, and the situation was not looking good.
The appearance of a Stargazing Valley successor might offer a solution.
Since they were on his territory now, he held the advantage.
…
The Border Army, another transcendent power, also received the news.
From the dawn of civilization with the first dynasty, this military force, although seemingly part of the imperial order, was independent and had a history even longer than Stargazing Valley’s, and it had killed countless royals with ambitions over the millennia.
This time, their Military Leader received the message about Stargazing Valley’s successors.
“Stargazing Valley successors have emerged? That signifies that a great change is about to occur!”
As a fellow transcendent power, the Border Army was well aware of Stargazing Valley and quickly made a decision.
“Issue an order to all armies, not only to guard against external enemies but also to be vigilant of internal threats, cautious of being breached from within!”
“Yes, Military Leader!”
…
With the appearance of Stargazing Valley successors, various forces began to stir.
A storm is coming!