Chapter 5: Princess of Yelang Country [2]

Mo Qingcheng pulled the amulet hanging from her chest out from her collar—a cylindrical stone also engraved with the Yelang Heavenly Script, with a round bead embedded at its top. This was precisely the key to opening the Seven-Bead Plate.

She slowly inserted the amulet into the small circular hole in the center of the Seven-Bead Plate, turning it gently while silently reciting an incantation. The black disc, which had just moments ago been dark and unremarkable, suddenly flashed with multicolored light. The colorful radiance grew brighter and brighter, echoing the stars in the sky above.

Having finished the first half of the incantation, Mo Qingcheng withdrew the amulet, slit her finger, and let her blood drip into the small hole. The final secret to opening the Seven-Bead Plate was the maiden's blood from her own body.

Everything was going smoothly; she would soon be able to travel through time and space to return to the past. Mo Qingcheng's breathing grew increasingly rapid, and the blood in her entire body surged. The usually calm woman could no longer remain composed; she stared at the Seven-Bead Plate with total concentration, her eyes incredibly bright and shining like stars as she silently recited the second half of the incantation.

Perhaps drawn by the multicolored light emitted by the Seven-Bead Plate, Song Bao had leaped onto Mo Qingcheng's shoulder at some unknown moment, peeking out to observe its master's strange behavior. Seeing the multicolored light reaching straight toward the heavens, it jumped up and down excitedly upon the Seven-Bead Plate.

"Don't mess around!" Mo Qingcheng grabbed Song Bao, stuffed it into her bosom, and continued reciting the final part of the incantation.

Activating the Yelang sacred relic, the Seven-Bead Plate, was an incomparably holy ritual that could not be interrupted. However, there was no time to restart the incantation; killing intent was flying in the distance, and the assassins of the Dark Night Pavilion would soon appear.

"I truly didn't expect that you were actually the Saintess of the Yelang Kingdom. Hand over the Seven-Bead Plate, quickly!" Ouyang Xiu leaped onto the giant rock at the mountain peak, drawing his blade and lunging a vicious strike toward Mo Qingcheng.

At this moment, she had no way to escape. Behind her was a cliff, and before her was the peerlessly skilled Ouyang Xiu. All the martial arts she had learned came from the Dark Night Pavilion, making her even less of an opponent for the Pavilion Master.

The heavily injured Mo Qingcheng calculated inwardly how much chance of success she might have if she fought with all her might, but looking at the assassins and fellow disciples appearing one after another behind the Pavilion Master, she knew that there was no hope of escaping today.

But no one could stop her; even if she had to be crushed to pieces, she feared nothing. Goddess Nüwa, please let her return to the past!

Mo Qingcheng prayed silently, scooped up the Seven-Bead Plate, and threw herself off the giant rock at the mountain peak. Beneath her was the pitch-black abyss of the canyon, and the wind howled in her ears.

Suddenly, the multicolored light emitted by the Seven-Bead Plate illuminated the boundless night as bright as day, making it impossible for anyone to open their eyes. No one knew what was happening; they only saw Mo Qingcheng vanish into thin air, leaving no trace behind.

...☆...☆...☆...

The year 2014, S City, China.

Melodious music filled the holy, white-decorated cathedral. The evening sunset shone through the colored stained-glass windows, projecting onto the guests filling the hall. A grand wedding was about to begin.

Standing beneath a gilded statue of the Crucifixion of Jesus was a tall and slender figure. A black suit made the groom's thin yet well-built body appear even more upright. His exquisite features seemed as if they had been outlined by God's own divine brush, perfect to the point of being flawless, radiating a sun-like, vigorous vitality.

However, the groom's extraordinarily handsome face appeared slightly haggard due to recent lack of sleep. His constantly fidgeting legs and nonchalant expression made his father's face beside him look even more grim: "Behave yourself today, and don't you dare try to pull any stunts!"

Hearing his father's warning, the groom composed himself somewhat and forced himself to perk up. He narrowed his eyes slightly toward the distance, a strange smile tugging at the corners of his mouth: "Dad, don't worry. Your son definitely won't let you down today!"