The afterlife blew up Gensokyo

"Where exactly are we going?"

After patiently following Shi Bai for about an hour, Huo Qing'e finally couldn't help but ask the question.

Although it was unusually cool around her, and she didn't have to endure the scorching sun, her pace had clearly slowed down after walking non-stop for so long.

After all, she is just an ordinary person now, and even slightly lacking in nutrition.

"Hmm... Let's find a suitable entrance. Didn't you say that your idol is He Xiangu, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism? I'll take you to see her while I'm at it, and remember to get her autograph."

Looking at the distant green mountains, Shi Bai casually answered.

"Take me to see immortals? Are you an immortal yourself?"

After a slight pause, Huo Qing'e seemed quite suspicious.

If it weren't for the amazing Taoist techniques the other party had previously displayed in front of her, and the fact that his character seemed trustworthy, she wouldn't have chosen to travel with this mysterious guy of unknown origin.

After all, everything that happened today seemed a bit too surreal to her.

Because her father abandoned her when she was young in pursuit of Taoist arts, Huo Qing'e developed an unusual interest in Taoist arts from a young age. Her favorite thing to do since childhood was to hide outside teahouses and listen to storytellers recount strange tales about Taoists.

Her most admired figure was He Xiangu, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism, who, according to storytellers, traveled the world to save the common people and finally achieved perfect merit and ascended to immortality.

According to her original plan, she was to marry into the Huo family today and become the wife of Huo Heng, the eldest son of the Huo family. Then, she would use the Huo family's wealth and power to help her learn Taoist arts. After gaining the most basic ability to protect herself, she would fake her death and leave the Huo family to officially begin pursuing what she truly wanted.

To achieve her goal, she wouldn't mind treating herself as a commodity in a transaction. As for what would happen to the Huo family after she faked her death and left... what did that have to do with her?

To her, her husband, with whom she shared a bed every day, was nothing more than a pawn to be used. Even if he genuinely loved her and was willing to give everything for her, so what?

As long as it benefits oneself, one doesn't care what happens to the people around them.

Huo Qing'e undoubtedly had a thorough grasp of how to win people's hearts; otherwise, Huo Heng wouldn't have been so captivated by her and insisted on marrying her despite his family's objections.

In her original plan, even with the help of the Huo family's wealth and power, relying on the few tattered Taoist books left by her father and some extra gains, it would still take her at least five or six years, or even longer, to embark on the path of cultivation. Although this timeframe seemed rather long, she could bear it.

However, compared to his own plan that required self-sacrifice and a great deal of time, anyone would make the best choice: to exchange a broken bronze bell that he couldn't understand at all for the opportunity to be guided on the path of cultivation by a true cultivator.

And judging from previous events, the other party at least seems to have acted with considerable principles.

"An immortal? Of course I'm an immortal! I often cultivate immortality every night, sometimes until three or four in the morning. My current cultivation level is already at the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm..."

While rambling on and on, Shi Bai finally stopped under a large tree and extended his hand to the other person.

"Didn't you want to cultivate yourself into an immortal? I'll take you to the Heavenly Realm first. Give me that bronze bell."

"...After I give it to you, you won't just suddenly run away, will you?"

Biting her lip, Huo Qing'e raised her head.

“I have nothing left, you can’t lie to me.”

"What, you've been scammed before?"

Shi Bai raised an eyebrow with some curiosity.

“I once helped a Taoist nun and asked her to teach me Taoist arts, but she said that my character was not up to par and I was not suitable for Taoist cultivation. After I recovered, she left some money and left.”

Huo Qing'e's face looked slightly gloomy.

"Although I saw through her intentions long ago and stole a few Taoist books from her to study on my own, I am illiterate and can only start from scratch... Do you also think my character is not up to par?"

"What are you thinking? My word is my bond."

Shi Bai glanced thoughtfully at the small package that the other person always carried tightly on their back, and smiled.

"If you're worried, just hold on tight to my clothes. We're destined to meet, and from now on you'll be my student. Remember to call me teacher."

"Shouldn't it be Master?"

Upon hearing this, Huo Qing'e seemed much relieved, but she still appeared somewhat puzzled.

"If we're going to call them teachers, they should be the ones mentioned in the classics..."

"Calling me 'teacher' sounds nicer. 'Master' makes me sound like a locksmith or a bathhouse attendant... You are the third student I've taken on."

As if recalling some unbearable past events, Shi Bai sighed helplessly.

"You don't know, I used to have many apprentices, but they all killed me, their master, more than once. After that, I stopped taking apprentices and only accepted students."

"........."

Not knowing how to complain, after a moment of silence, Huo Qing'e turned around and reached into her bosom to rummage around.

"You still left it there..."

Looking at the girl's actions with her back to him, Shi Bai's lips twitched involuntarily.

"……Give."

A moment later, Huo Qing'e, having straightened her clothes, turned around, first reaching out to tightly grasp the hem of his clothes, and then handing him the bronze bell that was still faintly warm in her hand.

Although her words were completely calm and her tone and actions were extremely composed, the blush that had even crept up to her ears betrayed her inner emotions.

"........."

With a twitch in his eye, Shi Bai took the still-warm bronze bell. He first tapped the bell hard with his index finger, not without jealousy, and then tossed it over his head.

As the golden light shone on the bell, the originally dilapidated bronze bell was also given a brand new look.

Looking up blankly at the bronze bell that was completely different from the one above her two heads, a strange light flashed in Huo Qing'e's eyes.

"Teacher, what exactly is this bronze bell?"

She changed her tune quite quickly.

"The Eastern Emperor Bell, one of the Ten Divine Weapons of China, can ward off all evil spirits and traverse space. Its function is to open the gate to the Heavenly Realm."

With a light laugh, Shi Bai reached out and grasped the other person's hand.

"Hold on tight, or you'll be in big trouble if you get lost in the spatial turbulence."

"……Um."

Stealing a glance at the hand that was holding hers, Huo Qing'e's voice was barely audible.

Then, in the next instant, the scene before her eyes suddenly changed completely.

—This is a vast world that stretches as far as the eye can see.

Floating islands, pavilions suspended in mid-air.

In the boundless space stands a luxurious architectural complex with a strong classical feel.

Magnificent palaces and towers, splendid and magnificent, with carved beams and painted rafters, layered pavilions and terraces... Almost every type of Eastern high-rise building, mansion, palace and building can be found in this densely packed building that stretches as far as the eye can see. No words can be used to describe their grandeur and magnificence.

"here it is……"

Staring blankly at the scene before her, Huo Qing'e unconsciously widened her eyes.

"The Celestial Realm, or the Immortal Realm, is where immortals reside."

Shi Bai glanced thoughtfully at the bustling buildings over there before landing on the ground with Huo Qing'e.

It's been so long since I've been here. It seems that the development of the Heavenly Realm has been completely on the right track. But who can tell him... what exactly is going on with this South Heavenly Gate in front of him?

Or did those guys from Jinwu actually create an Eastern Heavenly Court based on their own silly idea from before?

...........................................................................

"That's right, because as the number of immortals coming to the Heavenly Realm increases, the Heavenly Realm needs a visible manager and management organization."

Under the same maple tree in the courtyard, Xiaoye sat opposite Shibai, looking quite serious.

"So it was under these circumstances that the administrative body called the Heavenly Court was born. And that's not all; all the ideas you put forward before regarding the construction of the Heavenly Realm are being realized one by one."

"I understand."

Shi Bai nodded with a serious expression.

"But why are you sitting so far away from me when you're talking to me? Did I do something to upset you?"

"Hmph, you know perfectly well what you've done."

Turning her head away angrily, Xiaoye let out a soft snort.

"Uh... so I already said that it was an accident..."

Shi Bai reached out and scratched his hair.

"Besides, you did scold me back then, so there's no need to stay angry until now, right?"

"You... I just want to be angry, is that not allowed?!"

"Well...I understand."

After a moment of thought, looking at Xiaoye in front of him, he suddenly realized something, and then held up a finger in front of him with a serious expression.

"Xiaoye, remember to drink plenty of hot drinks at times like this... Pfft!!"

A steamed bun landed with exceptional precision in his mouth.

..............................................................................

"Please, Huo Qing'e is just my student, just like my relationship with the succubus. Why are you jealous?"

While eating the steamed bun in his mouth, Shi Bai finally understood the reason and had a look of both laughter and tears on his face.

"And besides, she's not Bai... cough cough, besides visiting you all, I have another very important matter to discuss with you this time."

The person who almost blurted out their XP coughed a few times to cover it up and quickly changed the subject.

"Who's jealous of you? I'm not jealous at all!!"

Xiaoye took a vicious bite of the bun.

"Absolutely no envy, absolutely no jealousy, absolutely nothing!! No means no!!"

"Yes, yes, you're not jealous."

With a slightly helpless smile, Shi Bai took out the cards that he had shown Heca before.

"I've returned this time for something very important. There's a plan I need your help with. Once that happens, I'll be able to freely enter and leave the Celestial Realm, and you won't need to be trapped there anymore, or rather, all of you..."

"What plan!?"

Before he could finish speaking, Xiaoye quickly raised her head.

Rules are the most fundamental elements that constitute a world.

Even the Dragon God, who is the representative of the world's will, cannot violate some core rules, because those core rules are the foundation of the Dragon God's existence.

All Xiaoye can do now is try to skirt the rules as much as possible, doing what she wants within the minimum limits allowed by the core rules.

It is precisely for this reason that beings like her, who have survived from the ancient mythological era to the present, are not allowed to leave the Celestial Realm. Because they are too powerful, if they leave the Celestial Realm, they could potentially have extremely serious consequences for the outside world, just like the ten suns that once appeared out of nowhere.

To put it bluntly, it's a refuge; to put it nicely, it's heaven; to put it seriously, it's a prison.

"A combination of science and mystery...?"

After tilting her head and thinking for a moment, Xiaoye asked a question very seriously.

“What is science?”

"Science is...you'll find out later."

After thinking for a long time and realizing that the problem could not be explained, Bai decisively chose to postpone it.

"You can rest assured about what I do. The number of immortals and celestial beings that the Heavenly Realm can support is probably nearing its limit, right? You don't need to worry about that; I will take care of it."

"So these cards... wait a minute, I have a question."

After picking up the cards on the table and glancing at them a few times, Xiaoye looked up at the other person as if she had suddenly thought of something.

"Xiaoxi and I are both UR level, so what level is that girl who came to the Celestial Realm with you? She must also be one of the beings you selected for your encyclopedia, right?"

"Uh... SR rank, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, let's go eat!"

Xiaoye stood up, satisfied.

ps：ヽ(ー_ー)ノ

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Huo Qing'e's Taoist Arts