Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 732 (1): The Last Night

Of course, having multiple paths to break through to the Profound Control Realm only meant that Zhao Changhe was destined to succeed one way or another, not that success was imminent.

The Profound Control Realm was, after all, the quintessential watershed between two eras. Its significance as a dividing line lay in its sheer difficulty, a monumental threshold marking the separation of mortals from the immortals.

People like Ye Wuzong dismissed it as not being true immortality, due Profound Control figures having to rely on artifacts to preserve their soul. But even so, the truth was that without crossing this threshold, even such preservation was impossible. Unless one reached this realm, death was inevitable. So in the broadest sense, crossing into this realm meant touching the gateway to immortality. At a minimum, one’s natural lifespan would vastly outstrip ordinary martial artists. Aging became an afterthought—maintaining youth became effortless.

Then there was flight, the most iconic manifestation of the Profound Control Realm. While some, like Ye Wuzong or indeed Zhao Changhe and Yue Hongling, could achieve limited flight beforehand, true flight remained the domain of those who had broken through. Anything else was mere hovering, and it consumed a tremendous amount of energy.

And finally, the mastery and embodiment of a specific law of reality—this was the undeniable line separating mortals from gods and demons.

Zhao Changhe continued practicing the Starry River Sword Intent[1] within the Heavenly Tome, endlessly refining his technique. Meanwhile, Yue Hongling sparred with Little Bird, using it as a whetstone to both nurture her sword spirit and temper her Supreme Sword Body. After three days of this routine, Yue Hongling’s sword had begun to coalesce the beginnings of a spirit. Yet Zhao Changhe had still not managed to break through.

It was worth noting that cultivating within the Spirit Tribe’s territory came with virtually unlimited access to resources and medicinal aids—as long as one was willing to stomach their unnerving appearances. For body tempering, in particular, the environment was ideal. Whether it was Zhao Changhe’s blood and qi or Yue Hongling’s sword bones, they had been further reinforced, leaving no gaps or weaknesses.

Despite his lack of a breakthrough, Zhao Changhe was not discouraged. His mindset remained calm. He knew he was on the right path, and progress was simply a matter of time and patience. This was the essence of refinement—he had advanced too quickly in the past, leaving little time to truly consolidate his foundation.

In the meantime, he focused on deepening his understanding of the powers of destiny, karma, life and death, and the divine axe’s lightning. These areas might not directly aid his breakthrough, but they would prove invaluable in the battles ahead. The power of life and death would be critical against Jiuyou, while the divine axe’s lightning was tied to the threat of Tngri.

Time was short, and there was not enough of it to master everything. However, the Heavenly Tome allowed him to save significant time. Its simulations far outstripped what could be achieved through ordinary training.

And, of course... he made time to chat with River of Stars.

Adorable as the little spirit was, her stoic personality made her an almost comically unresponsive conversational partner.

“Little Starry... do you want something to eat?” Zhao Changhe ventured.

“Master, you’re annoying.”

“...I know sword spirits don’t eat food. I meant something like high-grade minerals or treasures imbued with spirit qi for you to absorb. Surely that’s something you’d like?”

The little girl rolled over, presenting him with her back.

Zhao Changhe suddenly recalled Dragon Bird’s complaint. “She doesn’t even answer when you try talking to her. Instead, she’ll turn around and show you her scrawny little butt. What’s there to look at? It’s just a tiny thing...”

If this were his actual child being so rude, Zhao Changhe was not sure whether he would want to scold her or give her a spanking. Unfortunately, this was a sword spirit. Whether it was Dragon Bird’s brashness or River of Star’s aloofness, their personalities were immutable.

Zhao Changhe tried again. “Would you like it if I brought you out to play?”

River of Stars replied flatly, “If you’re trying to ask what I want...”

“Mm-hm?”

“Then stop bothering me, that’s all.”

“...”

“Or you could get rid of that really noisy, vicious idiot. That would work too.”

Zhao Changhe stumbled out of the sword’s inner world, utterly defeated. Whether she was calling the saber noisy and vicious or actually referring to him, he could not tell.

Hovering in the void, the blind woman tilted her head slightly, observing the “father-daughter” interaction. The rare sight of Zhao Changhe being left speechless and helpless brought a faint smile to her lips.

“Still no progress?” Yue Hongling approached, returning Dragon Bird to him before sitting down nearby.

Zhao Changhe, clearly exasperated, muttered, “Like talking to a rock. No—worse, like talking to the night sky.”

“Breaking into the Profound Control Realm is like that. To be honest, I think that just being able to send a message is already progress. You can’t expect an immediate response. Just take your time,” Yue Hongling said reassuringly.

“...I was talking about River of Stars.”

Yue Hongling did not know whether to laugh or cry. “So River of Stars is more important than breaking through to the Profound Control Realm?”

“Of course. I’ll break through eventually, but a child’s cuteness only lasts a couple of years.”

River of Stars: “...”

Yue Hongling bit her lip, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. To any woman’s ears, Zhao Changhe’s words sounded like the wistful musings of a man ready to have children.

But in times like these, who had the luxury of thinking about raising a family? The current situation was not conducive to that sort of life. Yue Hongling knew they would not be staying here much longer, anyway. Zhao Changhe was merely waiting for Sisi to stabilize Miaojiang’s political landscape and mobilize her forces. Once that was accomplished, it would be time to march north.

How long that process would take was anyone’s guess, but it was unlikely to require that much time. Miaojiang already had the groundwork for unity, thanks to its prior “council system.” Transitioning from that model to a formal monarchy did not require starting from scratch. Moreover, Miaojiang had experienced centralized rule in the past, so people there had some measure of familiarity with these things.

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In addition, Zhao Changhe’s arrival carried the weight of the Han court’s decree. Sisi was now officially recognized as the King of Dali, a vassal to the newly established Han dynasty. With Zhao Changhe’s direct support as King Zhao, the Han people of Miaojiang no longer felt disconnected or rootless. This newfound sense of belonging had stabilized their morale and solidified Sisi’s authority.

With the tribes unified and military power firmly in hand, bringing the entire expanse of Miaojiang under control was more or less inevitable. There was no need for Sisi to personally lead campaigns across the region; the kingdom’s establishment was already a foregone conclusion.

As these thoughts crossed Yue Hongling’s mind, Sisi appeared on the horizon, riding the wind directly toward the thatched cottage.

Both Zhao Changhe and Yue Hongling stopped their conversation and looked up.

Sisi’s attire was far from regal. She wore no royal robes, nor the elaborate crowns of her people. Instead, she looked as she always had—like a simple Miao girl. Barefoot and dressed plainly, she traveled alone, without attendants. From a distance, and even from up close, no one would guess that this unassuming figure was the queen who had recently shaken all of Miaojiang.

Noticing their curious stares, Sisi landed lightly and grinned. “What’s with the looks? Have you forgotten me after just a few days?”

Yue Hongling asked curiously, “You dress like this even as a queen? Doesn’t anyone complain?”

“I do it on purpose,” Sisi replied with a smile. “It gives people like Pan Wan the impression that I’m not in it for personal comfort. I didn’t even replace those old, dilapidated plaques that fell apart. Sure, some people think it’s unbecoming of a queen, but there are more who appreciate it. After all, everyone’s been struggling for years. Miaojiang is really poor.”

Zhao Changhe nodded in agreement. Miaojiang was indeed poor. Years of turmoil under the likes of Di Muzhi and Lei Zhentang had left the region in shambles. Sisi had even allocated grain from the Spirit Tribe to support the rest of Miaojiang, but the Spirit Tribe did not have infinite supplies either, and could not sustain that aid long-term. While there had been some recovery in recent months, with herds grazing along the shores of Erhai not long ago, winter had set in. No matter how much progress had been made, resources were still scarce, and the people were struggling.

In some ways, the hardships had made unifying Miaojiang easier. As Sisi had said, if the old ways were not working, why not try something new? Maybe it would be better.

Zhao Changhe asked, “So it’s all completely stabilized now?”

“Yes,” Sisi replied lazily. “King Zhao governs Miaojiang from afar without even showing his face. If I take a few liberties, you better not blame me.”

Zhao Changhe did not say anything in response. Instead, he pulled her into his lap and placed his hand on her slender waist, letting it wander upward before giving her a firm squeeze. “You mean like this?”

In the past, there might have been some mistrust between them. But with the Heart-Bonding Gu binding them, a bond that worked both ways, there was no room left for suspicion. If this were the old days, Zhao Changhe would not have stayed holed up in a cottage while something as monumental as the founding of Miaojiang’s kingdom unfolded.

Sisi, however, was a little startled by his open display of affection in front of Yue Hongling. She cast a quick glance at Yue Hongling, but the other woman showed no reaction. Sisi blinked, then grinned mischievously. “I heard you two talking about kids just now.”

Zhao Changhe raised an eyebrow. “You could hear us from that far away? Your approach to wind control isn’t even the same as ours... Anyway, so what if we were talking about kids?”

Sisi wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, “The lord is about to head off to war, so the lady doesn’t get jealous if the lord spends time with his maids. Is that it?”

Yue Hongling shot her a glare. Of course that was it. It was obvious they were leaving soon—what was there to be jealous about? Why wouldn’t she let him have his little moments of affection? Who had the energy to get worked up over such trivial things?

Sisi, however, laughed softly. “You’re heading off to war, but I’m staying behind to hold the fort in Miaojiang. Which means... other people can’t have a child, but I can.”

Yue Hongling’s eyes widened in shock. “What?”

1. This is the sword intent with which Zhao Changhe wields River of Stars and is in connection with the galaxy. Starry River, as well as River of Stars, are both names that are in relation to the Milky Way and the galaxy. ☜