Chapter 86: The Saintess’s Heart

On the other side!

The domain shrouded by Night Endless’s sword intent was dim and oppressive.

Roughly seven or eight meters from Night Endless, a two-meter radius hexagonal array surfaced, its dazzling light illuminating the world around them. The array was unfathomably complex, each line of inscription concealing profound meaning. Twelve fairy maidens formed seals with their hands, divine radiance flowing about them to give birth to this formation.

At the heart of the array, the Saintess finally moved. A crystal orb, radiating a milky white glow, emerged from her dantian, about the size of a basketball.

She reached out and grasped the orb. The moment her hands touched it, a sense of the sacred washed over her. She murmured incantations beneath her breath, as if reciting a secret art.

At last, the Saintess called out in a clear, commanding tone:

“Holy Light, Mirror of Clarity!”

The milky crystal orb slipped from her hands, floating above her head and bursting forth with intense white brilliance, illuminating the heavens like a miniature sun. In an instant, ripples of white light swept outward, reaching the edge of Night Endless’s sword intent. Bathed in this radiance, the fairy maidens of the Celestial Moon Sanctuary finally saw the world as it ought to be.

“Saintess, what just happened?” one of the maidens asked, bewildered by all she’d witnessed.

“It was a form of intent. It appears to have solidified into a domain. Within such a domain, all senses and perceptions are thrown into chaos—you see only the world he wills you to see. In truth, we never left where we stood. Once you exit the bounds of his domain, everything returns to normal.”

The Saintess explained gently to the twelve attendants who had followed her for more than a decade. “His domain extends only twenty meters. You all go ahead—I’ll remain to study it.”

“But, Saintess, after using the secret art, your body is weak...”

“It’s nothing, don’t worry,” she replied, waving her hand. “Go on.”

The twelve fairy-like attendants could only acquiesce with a helpless “Yes!” They dispelled the formation, leapt back, and all withdrew beyond the reach of Night Endless’s sword domain.

With a gesture, the Saintess summoned the milky crystal orb, shrinking it until it returned to her body.

Once more, the sky was bleak and dim, and a red glow emanated from Night Endless.

“Wine! Where’s the wine?”

The aftereffects of liquor muddled Night Endless’s mind. He swayed unsteadily, oblivious to the world around him. Tossing the empty flask aside, he shouted in a drunken frenzy, consumed by nothing but his thirst for more.

The Saintess silently produced a third bottle, stepped forward with a lotus-like gait, and stopped three meters from Night Endless—unable to approach further. The blue longsword was in Night Endless’s grip, while the swords of the twelve attendants spun protectively around him.

Any further step would shatter this fragile peace and provoke an attack.

Above Night Endless, a thousand swords circled in perfect formation. More and more swords and surging blood energy were drawn into his sword domain.

Without a word, the Saintess uncorked the bottle. A wave of fragrant aroma drifted out.

Night Endless sniffed the air, finally turning toward her.

All at once, a chill ran down the Saintess’s spine.

Night Endless had appeared before her without warning. His scarred face startled her deeply.

He seized the flask with delight, drinking like a man possessed by addiction.

“Was that... instant movement?” the Saintess murmured. In her senses, Night Endless was no more than an ordinary man, wholly devoid of cultivation. Yet nothing she saw could be described as ordinary.

There are only three possibilities when one cannot discern another’s cultivation.

The first: he is truly an ordinary mortal, without the slightest cultivation.

The second: he possesses some artifact that shields him from the perception of others.

The third: his cultivation surpasses hers by so much that she cannot sense it at all—unless he wills it, she would always perceive him as a commoner.

But the domain that Night Endless released made it impossible to consider him a mere mortal.

Thus, the Saintess naturally concluded that Night Endless was a master of unfathomable power.

One thing, however, continued to puzzle her: if his strength was so deep, why had he been cast out by a mere Golden Core realm bird-demon?

Perhaps there were other reasons. That was all she could surmise.

Even though she had used a secret technique of the Celestial Moon Sanctuary to temporarily raise her cultivation, the demoness atop the mountain had seemed to her as unfathomable as an endless abyss, and she herself nothing more than one who gazed into it.

That demoness had looked upon Night Endless with a complicated expression, and Night Endless had clearly known her. In the end, the demoness personally arranged for his departure. Surely, they were Dao companions, ultimately separated by the gulf between human and demon. Unable to bear the pain, he had turned to drink. Yes, that must be it!

The Saintess, feeling she had unraveled the truth, raised her head proudly, her expression smug with self-satisfaction.

Twin golden flames rose from her eyes, visible beyond her veil—golden fire leaping within her gaze.

She fixed Night Endless with those eyes, as if to pierce all his secrets. Yet all she could see was that he bore three mighty auras, one of which belonged to the Nine Holy Masters of the Celestial Moon Sanctuary.

“But how does he carry the aura of the Nine Holy Masters? And not just theirs—two others even stronger!” she whispered, eyes wide with shock.

At first, she’d sensed only the aura of her own Sanctuary’s masters, but with her “Heaven’s Eye,” she now perceived the other two.

Her astonishment gave way to awe. Anyone able to mingle with the Nine Holy Masters could not be any less formidable than they.

In her eyes, this scarred and ugly man was a venerable master of unimaginable depth, perhaps even acquainted with the Nine Holy Masters themselves—thus allowing her and her attendants to follow without hindrance.

With this realization, the Saintess resolved to cling to Night Endless at all costs. If she could receive even a word of instruction from such a master, the very thought made her tremble with excitement.

First, though, she must fulfill any request this predecessor might make. If he was pleased—“Hehehe...” The Saintess giggled foolishly, as though she’d stumbled upon a great opportunity, her hands and feet fidgeting in glee.

“Calm yourself, calm yourself!” she chided herself, striving to still her exuberant heart...