Thirteenth month of death

Chapter 258 Silent Changes
When Li Daosheng and Su Moshi left Xuanbing Palace, it was nearly dusk.

The setting sun dyed the continuous icebergs blood red, and a roar like an avalanche came from afar, as if the entire mountain range was mourning the loss of the Cold Marrow Needle.

Li Daosheng's footsteps left deep marks on the snow, and the long mark between his eyebrows once again glowed with an unnatural blue light, intertwining with the red light of the Blood Jade Bead to form a strange purple pattern.

"Where to next?" Su Moshi's voice came from behind, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.

Li Daosheng did not answer immediately.

His gaze swept beyond the mountains, looking into the distance—where a point of light flickered in his mind, the next mark left by Wudao.

"Southeast, seven hundred miles away." His voice seemed lower than usual. "Azure Sword Sect."

Su Moshi frowned slightly: "The Azure Nether Sword Sect is famous for its swords, and every disciple in the sect is a master of swordsmanship. This sect is both righteous and evil, and does whatever it wants, so it is not easy to get along with them."

"It's alright." A strange smile appeared on Li Daosheng's lips. "It's a good opportunity to see for myself."

That smile made Su Moshi's heart tighten.

Since the Cold Marrow Needle entered his body, Li Daosheng has become less and less like himself. His eyes are colder, his tone is more indifferent, and the occasional expression he reveals is more unfamiliar.

The bronze mirror flew out from her waist, drawing a streak of blue light in the air: "Let's find a place to stay first, and then go to the Azure Sword Sect tomorrow."

Li Daosheng did not object, but glanced at her thoughtfully.

After flying on the bronze mirror for a while, the two landed in a valley.

There is a hot spring in the valley, with steam rising from it. Surprisingly, many cold-resistant flowers and plants grow around it, which stand out against the snow.

Su Moshi put away the bronze mirror, walked to the edge of the hot spring, squatted down, and lightly touched the water with his fingertips: "There's actually a place like this near the Xuanbing Palace..."

"At the confluence of the earth's veins." Li Daosheng stood behind her, his tone as calm as if stating an insignificant fact. "The Cold Marrow Needle suppresses the heat, causing the ground to tremble when the needle leaves the ground, and geothermal heat surges upward."

This is not something Li Daosheng would say.

Su Moshi turned to look at him and found that Li Daosheng was staring at his reflection. The face on the water was sometimes clear and sometimes blurry, as if two people were fighting for the same body.

"Are you alright?" she asked softly.

Li Daosheng suddenly reached into the water, shattering the reflection: "Wudao is watching me."

This sentence seemed to lower the temperature in the surrounding area by a few degrees.

Su Moshi stood up, the bronze mirror already in his hand: "What do you mean?"

“Literal meaning.” Li Daosheng pointed to his eyes. “Through my eyes, he can see everything.”

Su Moshi subconsciously took a half step back, the bronze mirror shimmering with a blue light: "Is there any way to sever this connection?"

Li Daosheng shook his head, a purple light flashing between his brows: "Unless I die, or..."

"Or what?"

“Or he might have cut off contact on his own initiative.” Li Daosheng smiled. “Do you think that’s possible?”

At this moment, Li Daosheng became more like himself.

As night fell completely, a thin mist rose around the hot spring, enveloping the two figures.

Su Moshi found a natural cave nearby and made some simple arrangements to use it as a temporary place to live.

The cave is dry and warm, and there are even some dry grasses in the corners where you can sit and rest.

"I'll go take a look around," Li Daosheng said, and started to walk out.

"Wait a minute." Su Moshi called out to him, "Your condition is unstable right now, let me go instead."

Li Daosheng stopped and stood with his back to her in silence for a moment: "Are you afraid I'll leave?" "I'm afraid you won't be you anymore," Su Moshi said truthfully.

Li Daosheng's shoulders trembled slightly, as if he were laughing: "Don't worry, at least until I've gathered all the magic treasures, I should still be myself."

These words did not reassure Su Moshi, but she still nodded: "Be careful."

Once Li Daosheng's figure disappeared into the night, Su Moshi immediately took out a bronze mirror, bit his fingertip, and drew a talisman on the mirror surface.

Ripples spread across the mirror, and a scene gradually emerged—Li Daosheng had not gone far, but had returned to the hot spring, looking down at his reflection, his lips moving as if he were talking to someone.

Even more strangely, his reflection on the water's surface did not match his movements, and sometimes even showed completely different expressions.

Is he talking to Wudao?
Su Moshi's heart sank. Li Daosheng was communicating with Wudao, or rather... being influenced by Wudao.

Just as she was about to continue observing, the mirror suddenly shook violently, and the image shattered like a bubble.

A powerful backlash came from the bronze mirror, making her hands go numb.

“Peeping into other people’s private conversations is not a good habit.” Li Daosheng’s voice came from the mirror, his tone carrying Wudao’s unique sarcasm.

Su Moshi put away the bronze mirror, his expression unchanged: "I'm just worried about Li Daosheng."

Wudao's voice did not continue.

Not long after, Li Daosheng returned.

In the firelight, Li Daosheng's shadow twisted and distorted on the rock wall, swaying and dancing.

"What are you saying to Wudao?" Su Moshi finally couldn't help but ask. Before Li Daosheng could answer, she immediately said, "Since collecting his magic treasures will make you lose yourself, then stop. That's enough."

“The Wayless One created me.” Li Daosheng sat cross-legged on the ground.

“With his blood, flesh, soul, and the qualities he collected from various worlds, I am the vessel he prepared to hold his memories and power after his defeat.”

“Therefore, I hope he succeeds more than anyone else,” Li Daosheng said calmly.

The success he referred to was that Wudao was able to take down the Thirteenth Month and completely eliminate the extra time.

Su Moshi was speechless for a moment.

“The Thirteenth Month is a trap,” he said. Li Daosheng looked at Su Moshi. “It selects the protagonist of each world simply to steal the source and bring it back to life.”

"The loss of spiritual energy in the Mountain and Sea Realm is only a symptom; the real problem is the loss of the world's fundamental power."

"The same is true in other worlds; destruction is happening."

“So…” Li Daosheng looked at the firelight, “we weren’t given extra time to live again. We were chosen by a god from beyond the realm and became its apostles.”

Li Daosheng looked up at her: "Now I am gradually understanding Wudao, and my subconscious is becoming less and less resistant to this influence. If one day my thoughts are completely assimilated by him, and my choices are also influenced by him, will you kill me?"

Su Moshi did not provide an answer.

The moonlight was obscured by dark clouds, plunging the cave into darkness.

Silent all night.

As the thin mist enveloped the area and the eastern sky began to lighten, the long night finally came to an end.

Li Daosheng seems to still be Li Daosheng, and Su Moshi is still the same Su Moshi.

The bronze mirror flew through the air, suddenly growing larger. The two silently stepped onto it and flew towards the southeast.

The Azure Sword Sect also possesses a magical artifact—the Rose Sword Hairpin.

(End of this chapter)