Simultaneous Transmigration: From Japanese Anime to American Comics

Chapter 151 – Revisiting Familiar Grounds! Old Affairs in Southern Borders!

After Li Xiaoyao left, only Zixuan's heart-wrenching sobs remained within the Nuwa Temple. As Chu Yang listened to her crying, he was suddenly reminded of the first time he met Zhao Ling'er.

That girl loved to cry too.

The women of the Nuwa Clan seemed to have a rather stable inheritance when it came to crying—just like their spiritual powers.

Chu Yang still hated scenes like this. He cut in, "Crying won't solve anything. It only wastes time. In all the years you've been away from Nanzhao, everything that was supposed to happen has already happened. At this point, anything other than making amends is meaningless."

Zixuan gazed at the statue of the Nuwa Goddess, then cast a spell to extract the Sacred Spirit Pearl from her body. She held it out and said, "I ask the Goddess to reclaim this Sacred Spirit Pearl. I am not worthy of it."

But the Nuwa Goddess did not take it back. Instead, she fell into complete silence.

Zixuan stood up in panic, calling out for the Goddess to manifest, like a little girl who'd lost her mother—helplessly pacing back and forth inside the temple.

"It's obvious the Nuwa Goddess does not approve of the way you're trying to make amends."

Chu Yang walked up to her and tried to persuade her to take the Sacred Spirit Pearl back. But Zixuan continued calling for the Goddess. Chu Yang shook his head and turned to leave the temple.

In a remote, desolate place, Chu Yang entered the Soul Palace.

As soon as he arrived, the Magic Chu Yang greeted him with a cheerful smile, holding out a newly upgraded version of the Devouring Demon Gu. "The duplication technology for the Devouring Demon Gu is now flawless. There will be no more power loss. And what's more—we've developed an upgraded version!"

The Xianxia Chu Yang took the Gu and examined it curiously. "What's different about the upgraded Devouring Demon Gu?"

Magic Chu Yang replied proudly, "The original Devouring Demon Gu could only devour monsters, but the upgraded version can now target demons, spirits, and ghouls—so long as they have a physical body."

Xianxia Chu Yang was stunned. Science truly is the primary productive force.

"What about the Golden Silkworm Gu?" he asked eagerly.

"That one's much harder to replicate than the Devouring Demon Gu," Magic Chu Yang said with a troubled expression. "The duplication process is extremely difficult. We have to prepare for failure. More importantly, it takes a long time for a Golden Silkworm Gu to mature. We still haven't found a suitable way to accelerate that process."

There was simply too little data on Gu insects. Working behind closed doors would only waste time. To make real progress, they'd need more samples—or perhaps insights from the Miao people's breeding techniques.

Xianxia Chu Yang thought for a moment, then said, "I'm currently at the Nuwa Temple in Nanzhao, and Zixuan is with me. She probably knows a lot about Gu insects. She might be able to help us gather some materials."

Magic Chu Yang's face lit up, nodding quickly. "That's perfect. Try to get as many Gu as possible. Learn whatever you can from her."

With that, Xianxia Chu Yang took the newly refined upgraded Devouring Demon Gu and left the Soul Palace.

Back at the Nuwa Temple, Zixuan stood motionless, like she had lost her soul. She had accepted that the Nuwa Goddess no longer wished to respond to her.

"Senior Zixuan, instead of being lost in sorrow, how about helping me with something?"

Zixuan turned toward Chu Yang, who stood at the temple entrance. Her voice was heavy. "You've seen what I've become. It's not that I don't want to help you… I just don't have the strength."

Chu Yang shook his head with a smile. "No strength needed. All I ask is that you take me somewhere."

Zixuan looked surprised.

Not long after, the two of them arrived at the White Miao Tribe's settlement. In recent years, the Lunar Sect Cult had gained overwhelming power in Nanzhao, forcing the entire White Miao Tribe to relocate deep into the mountains.

Zixuan had returned once when Qing'er passed away, but she was driven out by the former Saintess.

Now, revisiting this place, her face was filled with sorrow.

"If only the Nuwa Goddess had let Xiaoyao and me go back ten years… I would've taken Qing'er's place and died instead," she murmured.

"Destiny has its own plans," Chu Yang replied. "Even if you went back, you probably wouldn't be able to change what happened. That's why the Nuwa Goddess warned Xiaoyao not to try to alter the past."

He glanced at her, then strode boldly into the White Miao settlement.

Over a dozen years, the tribe's population had sharply declined—now barely a fifth of its former size. Deep in the mountains, they not only had to compete with wild beasts for survival, but also face constant threats from the Lunar Sect Cult.

Chu Yang's Daoist robe quickly drew the tribe's attention. A group of armed Miao warriors surrounded him and Zixuan, their eyes filled with hostility—ready to attack at any moment.

"Stand down!"

A crisp voice, like an oriole's song, rang out. The warriors immediately stepped back, and the surrounding people showed expressions of respect—their demeanor suggested the speaker held high status.

Before long, Chu Yang saw a graceful woman whose beauty rivaled Zixuan's.

"Saintess!"

The crowd greeted her in unison.

Ming Yuanqing.

Disciple of Puppet Granny, former Saintess, and mother of the next Saintess, A'nu.

Also, the wife of the Drunken Sword Immortal.

Chu Yang suddenly felt a headache coming on.

How should he address his master-uncle's wife?

The moment Ming Yuanqing appeared, her cold gaze locked onto Zixuan. She had seen this woman as a child. Her master once told her she was to assist this woman in the future.

But in the end, it was Qing'er whom she supported—wholeheartedly helping her become the beloved Witch Queen of the people.

And then Qing'er died.

During the time she and Qing'er needed help most, this centuries-old descendant of the Nuwa Clan never once showed up.

It was only after Qing'er had suppressed the Water Demon that she finally came—putting on a display of grief.

Ming Yuanqing's expression gradually darkened as her memories flooded back.

If Puppet Granny's attitude toward Zixuan was one of disappointed frustration, then Ming Yuanqing's was pure resentment.

If Zixuan had stayed… if she hadn't taken the Sacred Spirit Pearl away… perhaps Nanzhao wouldn't be in this state today!

"You are a sinner to both Nanzhao and the Nuwa Clan. You shouldn't be here. My master made that clear before her death," Ming Yuanqing said, pointing toward the exit. "Please leave—and take your friend with you."

She knew Zixuan had left for love, so when her eyes shifted to Chu Yang, there was a trace of something off.

Chu Yang glared right back.

Was she kidding?

In Jianghu, hitting on your elder's wife was a crime punishable by being drowned in a pig cage!

"I'm a disciple of Shu Mountain. By chance, I met Zhao Ling'er on Immortal Spirit Island and escorted her safely to Shu Mountain. She's now resting peacefully in Yuzhou City at the mountain's base."

"It's been quite a while—A'nu should've contacted you by now."

Chu Yang took a deep breath and forced a polite smile as he explained.

Ming Yuanqing's icy demeanor abruptly softened, replaced by unease and guilt.

She quickly waved off the guards and stepped up to Chu Yang, asking gently, "Are you Daoist Chu Yang of Shu Mountain—or Daoist Xu Changqing?"

The moment she said Xu Changqing's name, Zixuan visibly faltered.

Chu Yang cupped his hands. "I am Chu Yang of Shu Mountain. Xu Changqing is my senior brother. I've come to the White Miao Tribe today with a request. I hope the Saintess can lend her aid."

Out of respect for Chu Yang, Ming Yuanqing finally allowed Zixuan to return to her long-lost home, though her attitude remained frosty.

Toward Chu Yang, however, she became a completely different person—warm and kind.

"I must thank you, Daoist Chu Yang, for saving A'nu and Tang Yu. I warned A'nu long ago that Bai Yue was dangerous, but the girl is too naive—she thought he was a good man. She had no idea what monster lay beneath his mask!"

When she mentioned A'nu, Ming Yuanqing was just like any ordinary mother.

"Saintess, there's no need to worry. A'nu and Ling'er are both safe in Yuzhou. They're protected by Elder Shi, Tang Yu, and my master-uncle, the Drunken Sword Immortal."

"My master-uncle is very fond of A'nu. He was supposed to be roaming the world, yet he chose to stay in Yuzhou and go nowhere else. The two of them really are fated."

"But I don't know why—whenever he's with A'nu, he always ends up in tears."

As Chu Yang animatedly recounted A'nu's days in Yuzhou, Ming Yuanqing's face glowed with maternal warmth—until the name "Drunken Sword Immortal" came up. Her smile froze.

Chu Yang figured it was time to stop. Sooner or later, Ming Yuanqing would go looking for the Drunken Sword Immortal—or vice versa.

"Daoist Chu Yang has spoken for quite a while, but I haven't asked yet—what does the White Miao Tribe owe you help with?" she asked, quickly shifting the subject.

"I'm very interested in the Gu insects of Miaojiang. That's why I've come. But please rest assured—this will be a fair exchange. I'll offer compensation that the Saintess finds satisfactory."

Chu Yang pulled out a jade vial and poured out a few Blood Bodhi fruits.

"Daoist Chu Yang, you speak too humbly. The White Miao Tribe owes you a great debt. A few Gu insects are nothing. As long as it's not a sacred relic of the Nuwa Clan, you can have anything you need!"

Ming Yuanqing pledged solemnly.

Chu Yang smiled.

Dealing with reasonable people really was a pleasure.

The two talked for a long time. Chu Yang not only learned the methods of raising Gu from the White Miao Tribe, but also obtained many specimens.

Unfortunately, there was no Golden Silkworm Gu.

According to Ming Yuanqing, Golden Silkworm Gu could not be bred by human hands. They were born from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and any Gu insect had the potential to evolve into one.

No wonder Magic Chu Yang said copying one was so difficult…

Looks like he'd have to find another way—maybe throw some advanced tech at it.

Having achieved his goal, Chu Yang still left many Blood Bodhi fruits with Ming Yuanqing, using the same explanation he gave when trading the Devouring Demon Gu with Zhao Ling'er.

Ming Yuanqing, unwilling to delay Chu Yang's cultivation, accepted the arrangement as a transaction. But she left him with a promise:

No matter what it was, if Chu Yang ever needed the White Miao Tribe, they would do everything they could to assist him.

Ming Yuanqing personally escorted Chu Yang to the outskirts. Just before he left, she suddenly remembered something and said softly, "If Daoist Chu Yang urgently needs a Golden Silkworm Gu, you might try heading south of Nanzhao to the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains. Many naturally occurring Gu insects live there."

"But you must stay near the outskirts. Do not venture too deep. The Black Witch Tribe and the Sixty-Three Barbarian Clans dwell there—they are violent and dangerous."

"But the most dangerous of all—"

"Be silent!"

Ming Yuanqing's words were suddenly cut off—rudely—by Zixuan. For the first time, she showed a firm attitude in front of her.

This was Chu Yang's first time hearing about the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains south of the Southern Border. That clearly wasn't part of the Chinese Paladin setting. It must've been merged in from another world line.

What story was tied to the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains?

The Black Witch Tribe?

Chu Yang suddenly recalled the rival clan of the White Miao—the Black Miao Tribe.

Ming Yuanqing, for the first time, revealed a trace of guilt on her face. She nodded at Zixuan and said, "This is the White Miao Tribe's greatest taboo. I should not have spoken of it."

Zixuan sighed. "If Daoist Chu Yang wants to know more, let's find a place with no one around. This matter… brings shame to the Nuwa Clan."

The two of them left the White Miao settlement—not returning to the Nuwa Temple, but sitting down instead at a dilapidated pavilion thirty miles away.

"Daoist Chu, you probably also know that every generation of Nuwa's descendants is accompanied by a Saintess. For as many years as the Nuwa Clan has passed down its legacy, the position of the Saintess has endured just as long."

"The role of the Saintess is to assist Nuwa's descendants in rapidly growing into their power. However, several thousand years ago, there was one Saintess whose talent and brilliance were unmatched in her time—even the Nuwa descendant of that era was no match for her."

"Gradually, that woman became dissatisfied with merely being a Saintess. She sought immortality and enlightenment of the Great Dao, wishing to forge her own path. There's nothing wrong with that—everyone has the right to choose their path."

"But her actions directly caused the split between the White Miao and the Black Miao tribes. She led a faction of Black Miao into the Ten-Thousand Mountains and proclaimed themselves the Black Witch Tribe."

"She also stole a large number of precious treasures from the clan, plunging the Nuwa Clan into a long period of decline. Fortunately, she didn't take the three most vital artifacts: the Sky Serpent Staff, the Sacred Spirit Cloak, and the Sacred Spirit Pearl."

"Her greatest crime, however, was using dark arts in pursuit of immortality. She created a monster born of the world's resentment and malevolence—a creature that would grow stronger the more it absorbed this ambient hostility, much like the Evil Sword Immortal of today."

"The only difference is that resentment is even more easily produced than evil thoughts, especially in the heat of battle."

"In fact, one could say that as long as someone wanted to kill this creature, it would endlessly feed off that person's killing intent."

"Unlike the head of Shu Mountain, who quickly realized his mistake and sealed the Evil Sword Immortal, this woman instead aided the creature's growth, becoming its enabler."

"Until one day, she realized the monster had grown beyond even her control—and then she fell into despair."

"She returned to Miao Territory, hoping to join forces with Nuwa's descendant to destroy the creature she had unleashed."

"For the sake of the common people, Nuwa's descendant agreed. The two went together to the Ten-Thousand Mountains, but at the critical moment, the woman developed feelings for the very monster she had created—and held back."

"The mission failed. Nuwa's descendant died in the attempt. The sacred treasures were returned to the clan by members of the Black Witch Tribe. Consumed by regret, the woman had no choice but to seek another way to seal the monster."

"In the end, she used her own flesh and blood as the binding force, sealing the creature deep within the Demon-Sealing Cave of the Ten-Thousand Mountains."

"That woman was named Linglong. The monster she created came to be known by the people of the Ten-Thousand Mountains as the Beast God."

Only after hearing all this did Chu Yang finally understand the full story.

Zhuxian!

Ancient records in Shu Mountain's Sutra Pavilion had once mentioned the Qingyun Sect. But Chu Yang had never seen the sect in the Central Plains himself, nor could he uncover any information about it.

Including Burning Fragrance Valley and Tianyin Temple, there were no such sects anywhere in the Central Plains.

Over time, Chu Yang had assumed it was all a misunderstanding. He never imagined he'd hear the story of Linglong and the Beast God from Zixuan's own lips today.

Linglong—she had actually been the Saintess from several thousand years ago!