Chapter 89 Sunrise in the East, Rain in the West

After bidding farewell to Master Jiang and his daughter, as well as Captain Zeng Fu, Yun Bai sprinted out of the alley.

He was anxious to return, eager to share this incredible news with his sister!

The sunset rays filtered through the leaves of the old locust trees lining the street, casting dancing golden spots on his running figure. His steps were so light he felt as if he might take flight, yet within Yun Bai, complex and profound emotions surged.

He seemed to see his past life again, that small courtyard on the blue planet.

His parents were always busy in the laboratory, and he and his sister, Yun Qian, were each other's best playmates.

They chased and played in the yard, their laughter crisp and clear; under the starry summer sky, they shared their dreams and secrets about the vast Universe. His sister's large eyes, always full of curiosity and mischief, were the warmest starlight in the depths of his memory.

Later, the whole family moved to the newly discovered human immigrant planet, "Dawn III."

Just when they thought a brand new chapter of life was about to unfold, the century-long war between the Human Race and the insectoid race suddenly erupted. The cold insectoid fleet, like a shadow of death, shrouded their new home.

When the final evacuation order was given, his parents used their lives to buy time for them to board the escape ship... That violent explosion and the blinding white light remained a nightmare he was unwilling to touch even now.

After becoming an interstellar astronaut, thanks to his excellent grades, he and his sister were selected to execute the deep space exploration mission of the "universe shuttle," shouldering the mission of finding a new home and allies for the remaining human sparks.

However, while traversing an unknown cosmic singularity, the ship encountered an unprecedented spacetime storm.

Violent turbulence, piercing alarms, out-of-control gravity... Before his consciousness sank into darkness, he only remembered clutching his sister's hand tightly...

When he woke up again, he was already in this bizarre world of Cultivation.

Two young bodies, two Souls from another world. For over a decade, he had carefully guarded his sister, using these still-tender shoulders to carry the heavy burden of their survival.

How many late nights had he watched his sister curl up in the corner of the bed, tortured by headaches, her little face pale, covered in cold sweat, emitting painful moans? His heart felt as if it were being repeatedly sliced by a dull knife, wishing he could suffer in her place.

He Cultivated desperately, crazily accepted dangerous missions, and hovered on the edge of life and death countless times, all to accumulate Spirit Stones to find that slim hope—the soul-stabilizing pill.

Now, this hope had finally truly arrived!

His sister's tortured Sea of Consciousness was about to be soothed. She could be like a normal child, feeling the sunshine and breeze, learning, laughing, and embracing all the beauty of this new world.

Yun Bai seemed to have already seen his sister taking the Medicinal Pill, her pale little face regaining vitality. Those eyes, so similar to his past life and always filled with the stars and the sea, would curve into crescent moons again, revealing a long-lost, cloudless, brilliant smile.

He quickened his pace again, almost turning into a blurred shadow as he swept across the street. The direction of home was right ahead. He knew his sister must be waiting for him at home right now.

Perhaps she was head-to-head with Shen Qi, studying some basic Formation, her little face full of focus; or perhaps she was resting her chin in her hands, pondering a new recipe for Inedia Pill in front of the Pill Furnace, a speck of medicine ash on her nose tip.

No matter what she was doing, when he told her that the illness that had plagued her for years was about to end, she would definitely jump up in surprise, just like when she received a favorite gift in her past life, and then throw herself into his arms, tears of excitement sparkling in her eyes.

Thinking of this, the corners of Yun Bai's mouth couldn't help but lift upward. His steps became more urgent, wishing he could reach the door in a single stride.

The scorching sun melted into gold, dyeing the ancient streets of Chu Prefecture into a warm orange-red.

Carrying immense joy, Yun Bai walked briskly back to the familiar small courtyard in the south of the city.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, he saw Yang Peilan sitting on a small stool, head down, picking fresh vegetables.

"Aunt Yang!" Yun Bai's voice carried irrepressible excitement.

"Oh my, Young Master Yun is back?" Yang Peilan looked up, a trace of surprise on her face. "Why so early today? Qianqian and Shen Qi haven't finished school yet."

"I know," Yun Bai nodded with a smile, taking a stack of Spirit Stones emitting a soft spiritual light from his Storage Pouch and stuffing them into Yang Peilan's hands. "You've worked hard. Go to the Fengtian Restaurant next door right now and book a table for a grand feast! Chicken, duck, fish, meat, seasonal fresh vegetables—order the best! If the Spirit Stones aren't enough, add more. Tonight, we shall celebrate properly!"

Excitement shone in his eyes, as if he could already see his sister's surprised, smiling face.

Yang Peilan was stunned by this sudden "extravagance" and the unprecedented relaxed joy on Yun Bai's face, but she immediately smiled: "Alright! Don't worry, Young Master, leave it to me. I'll make sure Miss Qianqian eats happily!"

Although she didn't know the reason, seeing Yun Bai so happy, she felt sincerely relieved. She carefully put away the Spirit Stones, stood up, and hurried out.

Yun Bai watched Aunt Yang leave, took a deep breath, turned, and walked quickly toward Qingya Academy.

Thinking of the various cute expressions his sister might have when hearing the good news, his steps were so light he almost started running, and the smile on his lips could not be suppressed.

...

...

...

However, at the other end of Chu Prefecture, inside the mansion with the high-hanging plaque reading "Chen Mansion," the atmosphere was like the dead silence before a storm, suffocatingly oppressive.

In the spacious courtyard, dozens of figures wearing jet-black cloaks stood like lifeless statues. The shadows of their hoods completely covered their faces, and only the cold aura of blood mixed with Devilish Qi radiating from their bodies silently declared their identity—members of the Demon Race possessed by Heavenly Demons.

Above the steps, Patriarch Chen Sheng stood with his hands behind his back, his face as gloomy as water.

Beside him, a tall figure shrouded in even deeper black mist stood quietly, like an abyss waiting to devour people.

Patriarch Chen Sheng held a Formation Plate in his hand, the size of a palm, yet flowing with complex light patterns.

He injected spiritual power, the Formation Plate hummed, and a three-dimensional, detailed light and shadow instantly projected into the center of the courtyard—it was a miniature model of the entire Chu Prefecture.

The city walls, streets, major buildings, and even the Formation nodes of the State Religion's mountain gate and the patrol routes of the city garrison were clearly marked.

"See clearly." Patriarch Chen Sheng's voice was ice-cold, devoid of any temperature. His fingertips moved rapidly across the light and shadow model. "The State Religion's mountain gate, the East and West Markets, Fengtian Restaurant, the medical clinic in the south of the city, the Tongbao Bank, and here—" His fingertips landed heavily on the light spot representing Qingya Academy. "Qingya Academy. Not a single one can be spared!"

He paused, a flash of nearly insane cruelty in his eyes: "Remember! What we want is not wanton slaughter, but panic! Chaos! We must make the entire Chu Prefecture fall into a state of martial law, trembling at the slightest sound!"

"Make them all feel insecure, unable to sleep at night! The taste of fear is the most delicious food in the world! The more they fear, the richer the negative spiritual energy they dissipate, which is more beneficial to our grand plan!"

"Fear... is the best resource..." The figure shrouded in black mist beside him made a hoarse, dry sound, like sandpaper rubbing, carrying a kind of inhuman greed.

The corners of Patriarch Chen Sheng's mouth hooked into a cold arc. He waved his hand violently at the puppet-like black-robed men below: "Set off! Create chaos, spread fear! Let this Chu Prefecture tremble for our feast!"

"Yes!" Dozens of black-robed men, like activated marionettes, bowed in unison, their voices like metal rubbing, cold and emotionless.

The next moment, they scattered silently like ghosts merging into the shadows, disappearing deep into the layers of courtyards of the Chen Mansion, sneaking toward their respective assigned targets.