Second Time

Chapter 66 - Reformation

"I can't progress any further like this," Shao Yue mumbled. She'd reached the absolute limit of the Heavenly Realm. "I guess it's time to reclaim my title as Empress."

She opened her eyes and looked over at Cai Fei, who was meditating next to her. Cai Fei sensed the gaze and blinked, meeting it.

"I'm going to go break through," Shao Yue said. "Do you want to come?"

Cai Fei nodded. "Of course."

They rose to their feet and headed out, taking to the skies. Shao Yue extended her hand, a beam of light jumping from the ground into the back of her hand, a spider symbol manifesting before slowly fading.

"Will the heavens finally give you the punishment you deserve?" Liezhu asked. She then sighed. "Probably not. It seems... this is the correct path for you."

"What do you mean?"

"Like I said before, cultivators who mess with the timeline get punished heavily by the heavens. However, in this world, it feels as if the only way for a human to reach Void Traversal would be to go back in time, as you did. The heavens are completely ignoring your transgressions, or perhaps, approving of them."

Shao Yue hummed. "Do you know why?"

"I know how, but not why. Even that butterfly doesn't know why. Maybe it will be explained to you once you reach Void Traversal."

"Hm. So, do you think this tribulation will be enhanced like my Heavenly Realm tribulation?"

"Almost certainly. A normal Soul Manifestation tribulation would be trivial for you. Find a place with the five elements. Maybe a volcano by the ocean."

"Volcano by the ocean..." Shao Yue searched her memories, then nodded. "Got it."

They stopped by the central peak and invited Lai Qiao along. He laughed and agreed, his two wives following as they shot off into the distance on their flying weapons.

Shao Yue led them to an island several thousand kilometers away that was little more than a mountain jutting out of the ocean, uninhabited by humans. Forests covered the base of the mountain.

She turned to her companions. "I don't know how intense this tribulation will be. Let's separate here. Please keep a safe distance."

Shao Yue let out Liezhu, who panicked for a moment before sending out threads of silk that grabbed onto the ends of all the nearby flying weapons. She landed on the resulting web, pouting at Shao Yue. "You know I can't fly!"

Shao Yue smiled and headed down to the island, sitting cross-legged near the peak of the mountain.

"When I first reached the Emperor Realm, I was twelve hundred years old," Shao Yue muttered to herself. "The Dao I found back then, while not incorrect, was a little ignorant. I've only been living this life for a few decades, but it has changed my perspective in many ways."

She looked up at the sky. "Before, my goal had been to climb to the peak of the world, to try to break through its boundaries and search for life in the stars. Now, I know that life exists. I want to explore it all. I want to be able to go anywhere in the starry sky."

She then turned her gaze towards Cai Fei, who stood in the air several kilometers away, wings slowly flapping. "Before, I had been content to walk my path alone. I wanted to press onward no matter what. Now, I have someone I want to take with me. I don't mind waiting a bit for her to catch up."

Shao Yue smiled and closed her eyes. "My own Dao... The past me is still me. I've only grown a bit more experienced. My Dao has evolved. This new me, is also still me."