Free Web NovelChapter 1515: Full Moon
Unulatu remained silent.
Anyone could see that Unulatu’s cause was lost. She could not possibly fail to understand it.
At that moment, a breeze that no one noticed drifted by, carrying a fallen leaf that landed upon Unulatu’s shoulder.
Qi Xuansu suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of unease and foreboding.
Although he could not see any specific anomaly, Qi Xuansu sensed that the surrounding environment was undergoing a subtle yet profound transformation.
It was as though the arrival of a powerful existence was quietly altering its surroundings. Everything seemed perfectly natural, yet those subtle influences gradually accumulated into something bigger.
The change was extraordinarily subtle. Even Hun Ahau might not have been able to perceive it, yet Qi Xuansu did, because he had experienced something similar before.
Yet Qi Xuansu could not perceive the exact location of that powerful existence. This indicated that the newcomer’s cultivation far surpassed his own and likely exceeded even Hun Ahau’s. From this alone, Qi Xuansu could determine that the newcomer was likely an Immortal.
In the end, Qi Xuansu fixed his gaze upon Unulatu before him. He was certain that subtle changes had occurred within her, much like when True Lord Ziguang had once entered his body.
Unulatu finally spoke, “Sage Qi, may I speak with you alone?”
Qi Xuansu already had a rough idea of what was happening. He gave Unulatu a long look before replying, “Of course.”
Unulatu turned and walked into the palace chambers behind her.
Maranga seemed somewhat at a loss, but Utu tugged at him. Realization dawned on him, and he followed Utu in stepping aside.
As Qi Xuansu prepared to enter the chambers, Hun Ahau, Tantai Ying, and Huangfu Xi all urged him not to take unnecessary risks, saying that someone as noble as him should not stand under a crumbling hall.
Qi Xuansu replied, “That is no longer Unulatu. It’s Ixchel. Killing a Daoist Order envoy is a grave crime, so she won’t do anything to me. In a sense, the ancient gods are the true nobles who cannot afford to take risks. Even if Ixchel intended to act against me, whether I enter the chambers or not would make no difference to her.”
Only then did the others cease their objections, though they remained on full alert. They would come to his aid at the slightest sign of trouble.
Qi Xuansu entered Unulatu’s chambers alone.
This bedchamber actually consisted of several sections. The innermost area was the true sleeping quarters, while the outer section resembled a reception hall.
Now possessed by Ixchel, Unulatu stood there with her back to the doors, waiting for Qi Xuansu.
After Qi Xuansu entered, the entire environment began to change. The palace vanished, replaced by a star-filled sky. Beneath his feet was a vast sea, and at the distant horizon, a gigantic full moon slowly revealed half of its face.
This was the Full Moon Goddess’s divine domain. If she wished, her domain could assume countless forms, even becoming the world of the dead. The key lay in the moon itself.
Naturally, those outside had no means of spying upon or overhearing the conversation between the two within her divine domain.
Qi Xuansu took the initiative and spoke first. “Full Moon Goddess, we meet again.”
Ixchel, who had been facing away from Qi Xuansu, turned around. Though she was not using her true appearance, Unulatu herself was already a peerless beauty. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her pearly teeth were gently biting her lip. There was a trace of sorrow, mixed with grievance and disappointment, as though she wished to speak yet held back. It was a sight that would stir pity in anyone who saw her.
Unfortunately, Qi Xuansu had a literal heart of stone. Moreover, his body spirits suppressed and controlled all instinctive emotions, so he remained completely unmoved.
Beauty, however exquisite, was but a reflection in a mirror, ultimately nothing more than a beautiful skeleton.
The combined gaze of Ixchel and Unulatu scrutinized Qi Xuansu, as though seeking to see through to the depths of his heart.
This was hardly surprising. For an existence at the Immortal level, all manner of divine abilities were to be expected. Seeing through the hearts of men was not particularly difficult.
But unfortunately for her, Qi Xuansu had the Longevity Stone Heart. No matter how powerful her divine sight was, she could not peer into the stone heart.
Ixchel could not help but sigh softly. “Sage Qi, though I dislike admitting it, you have disappointed me greatly.”
Qi Xuansu replied, “Full Moon Goddess, I am neither your believer nor your servant. I have no obligation to do anything for you. Everything I do is from the standpoint of the Daoist Order.”
Ixchel said, “Of course, I would not expect a Daoist envoy to act on my behalf. What disappoints me is that the Daoist envoy does not trust me and has instead been misled by others.”
Qi Xuansu asked, “Are you referring to Chak Chel sending assassins after me in an attempt to muddy the waters?”
“You know?” Ixchel seemed somewhat surprised. “Since you know the truth, why are you still choosing to go along with the misunderstanding?”
Qi Xuansu replied, “Before I answer that question, I would like you to answer one of mine first. What exactly is the story behind the humanoid insects?”
Ixchel seemed to have anticipated the question. “Sage Qi, a blade alone is neither good nor evil. What matters is the hand that wields it. Perhaps these humanoid insects are indeed wicked, but I can restrain them and put them to proper use, like stopping the Shadow Tide and disrupting those evil sacrificial rituals.”
Qi Xuansu immediately asked, “Then what about the human-faced fruit trees, using living people to refine divine power? The humanoid insects are attempting to open a passage to the Spirit Realm. Are these any better?”
Ixchel fell silent for a moment before replying, “The humanoid insects are greedy and require sustenance. This is a necessary evil. When weighing two harms, one chooses the lesser. There is no other way. I would never allow them to succeed in opening a passage to the Spirit Realm. At the final moment before their success, I would personally intervene to stop them. To let their hopes shatter at the very instant of triumph would itself be their punishment.”
Qi Xuansu neither agreed nor disagreed. “Then let me ask you another question. What about Unulatu’s attempt to seize the throne? Without your support, she would never have dared aspire to the position of emperor. This would greatly undermine the stability of the Tawantin Empire.”
Ixchel replied, “The royal family is Kukulkan’s foundation. To overthrow Kukulkan’s rule, one must first shake the royal family that serves as that foundation. Unulatu is the most suitable candidate for that purpose. Now that you intend to bring Unulatu down, you are in fact helping Kukulkan. It grieves your allies and delights your enemies. I hope you will think carefully before proceeding, Sage Qi.”
Qi Xuansu said, “At this point, Kukulkan has merely sent down an avatar in accordance with the original agreement. He has not committed any obvious transgressions, nor can it be conclusively said that the Shadow Tide is connected to him. On the other hand, you have secretly manipulated the humanoid insects, supported Unulatu, and established the Heron Society. How exactly am I supposed to trust you? To put it bluntly, I have not personally witnessed whatever evils Kukulkan may have committed, but I can clearly see how you have been undermining stability, Full Moon Goddess.”
The moment these words were spoken, the entire divine domain fell into a deathly silence.
Ixchel remained silent for an even longer time. With her power, even though she could not display the full might of an Immortal in the mortal world, her descended avatar alone was still capable of killing Qi Xuansu. Yet she could not do so, because the consequences would be catastrophic, far beyond what she could bear.
If it were merely a matter of not wanting to provoke him, there would be no need for Ixchel to act this way. They could simply keep out of each other’s affairs. Why would a dignified deity lower herself so much? The real issue was that the conflict among the ancient gods had reached a critical stage. She needed the support of the Daoist Order behind Qi Xuansu, and Qi Xuansu had been granted enormous discretionary authority by the Daoist Order, enough to influence its stance. That left her with no choice but to lower her head.
Thus, she not only had to adopt a humble posture but also patiently answer Qi Xuansu’s relentless questioning. From this perspective, the Full Moon Goddess was indeed someone capable of bending when necessary.
Ixchel slowly said, “Blood sacrifice means offering living people as sacrifices. Like burial with the dead, it is a bloody and barbaric practice that runs contrary to the civilized ideals of the Daoist Order. In Kukulkan’s blood sacrifices, the victim’s heart is cut out and offered to the god along with the soul. The corpse is then rolled down the pyramid steps to the base. Priests of lower rank flay the skin from the body, while the remaining flesh is distributed among nobles and believers for consumption. The hands and feet are reserved for the priests themselves. Sage Qi, you’ve already witnessed this firsthand during his first covert visit to New Paititi.
“You’ve also witnessed the clouds of fire accumulated within Kukulkan’s divine kingdom through countless blood sacrifices. Surely, that is not something I fabricated out of thin air.
“There’s also Chak Chel, Kukulkan’s supporter. She has acted against you on several occasions, attempting to use the power of the Daoist Order to strike at me. Surely, you do not think I secretly orchestrated those events myself, right? Do you suspect that I am employing a self-inflicted injury scheme?”
Her words sounded exceedingly sincere. Unfortunately, Ixchel had to maintain the dignity of a goddess and could not break down in tears. Otherwise, her story might have seemed even more convincing.
Qi Xuansu could not entirely dismiss her words, yet he could not simply accept them either. “At the end of the day, this is nothing more than infighting between your two factions. Both sides wish to use the Daoist Order as a weapon against the other. That is absolutely unacceptable.”
Unable to perceive Qi Xuansu’s inner thoughts, Ixchel could only speculate about his intentions as an ordinary mortal would. Fortunately, aside from a handful of primordial deities, most gods had once been human themselves, so this was not entirely unfamiliar territory.
Ixchel said, “I am willing to acknowledge my mistakes. I am also willing to make amends for them. I simply do not know how I should do so. Sage Qi, will you enlighten me?”
Qi Xuansu suddenly asked, “Has something happened to Kukulkan? Why has he not appeared personally?”
Ixchel countered, “What makes you say that, Sage Qi?”
Qi Xuansu replied, “Kukulkan sent down an avatar, yet it possessed only his former powers and none of the powers associated with the sun. Moreover, the avatar lacked intelligence. That is highly unusual.”
Ixchel said, “Sage Qi, you sure are sharp. Nothing can get past you. In truth, I would also like to know what exactly has happened to Kukulkan. Unfortunately, Chak Chel has completely sealed off all information concerning him. At present, Chak Chel is the one who leads Kukulkan’s followers against me.”
Qi Xuansu studied Ixchel carefully. “Can I still trust you, Full Moon Goddess?”
“Of course you can, Sage Qi.” A sincere and captivating smile appeared upon Unulatu’s face.
Qi Xuansu said, “Very well. I hope that in the near future, you will provide me with information regarding Kukulkan.”
Ixchel replied, “Of course. However, I also hope that you will spare Unulatu’s life because she is an exceptionally suitable vessel for me. If she remains alive, it will also make communication between us much more convenient.”
Qi Xuansu nodded. “Agreed.”
