The setting sun is like blood, fading away little by little, the red clouds spread out in the western sky in summer, and the night changes to cover this ancient city.
The stars are always there, no matter it is a clear day or a dark night, but when they are blocked, a small person standing on the ground cannot see clearly.
But when Ji Ping'an was pulled up into the clouds and stood at a high place, with no obstruction above his head, the gradually brightening starry sky became particularly clear and intimate.
Then his expression changed somewhat, but considering that there were two peak experts standing next to him, he tried his best to control the intensity of his expression and frowned:
"Just now...I noticed some fluctuations in the sea of stars."
Xin Yaoguang and Qi Hongmian, two equally beautiful but completely different faces, both have doubts and uncertainties.
As powerful people in the Divine Treasure Realm, they were already aware of the heaven and earth and captured the changes just now. They were not too surprised that Ji Ping'an could detect it.
I just thought it was the special, professional field of the three-series star officials.
"There is indeed something strange happening." Xin Yaoguang said hesitantly: "But the source is not sure."
The little red bird on Qi Hongmian's shoulder raised its head, conveying an uneasy mood, which she paid great attention to:
"Although there have been occasional fluctuations in previous years, it is a bit early this year."
Xin Yaoguang didn't answer. He pinched his brows tiredly and breathed out softly:
"This is not the area that my Taoist sect is good at. Okay, let's leave it at that."
She had maintained the Taoist realm for several days and was already quite tired.
Waving his sleeves, he sent Ji Ping'an to the stands below, then his figure was blurry and dim, and he returned towards the gate.
Qi Hongmian snorted, turned into a stream of light, and fled towards the Beast Control Sect's station.
On the observation deck, Ji Ping'an's eyes were dazzled, and he landed on the floor with his feet. Facing the complicated sight lines, as well as Li Guofeng, Luo Huaizhu and others rushing over, he hid the worries in his heart and squeezed out a smile:
"I'm a little tired. I want to go back and rest first."
The four prison princes were overjoyed and readily agreed.
Li Guofeng brought a group of disciples back with the escape method.
Ji Ping'an no longer cares about the boiling crowd below, the lively celebrations in the entire divine capital tonight, and how the afterglow of this grand prize will spread.
Tonight, even the gods are destined to have no sleep.
…
…
Inside Qinglian Xiaozhu.
The lights were bright, and Ji Ping'an sat alone in a wooden barrel, soaking his body in hot water and closing his eyes.
After being promoted to Po San in one breath, the mortal body begins to transform. Although it usually absorbs starlight and constantly eliminates impurities, it can only enter Po Jiu Realm.
Only a lot of dirt will be discharged from the pores... Ji Pingan attaches great importance to laying a solid foundation.
The bathtub has been filled with treasured medicinal liquid. At this moment, as the medicinal liquid is gradually absorbed, the spirit element in the Qi Sea gradually becomes stable.
It is several times deeper than the Qi-nourishing realm.
With his three-breaking cultivation level, extremely deep accumulation of Taiyin Path, and mastery of the techniques of Xingguan and Dao Sect.
The combat power he can exert at this moment has undergone earth-shaking changes. For example, if he meets the Master of Juxian Manor again, there is no need to use his belt to trap the enemy and use his flying sword.
You can also defeat five by breaking three blocks.
Considering how difficult it is to advance in this world, he would be considered a master if he traveled around the world.
Ji Ping'an was not happy to have regained some strength after setting foot on the mountain twice. On the contrary, he was more concerned about another thing.
He suddenly opened his eyes, and an illusory astrolabe appeared in his eyes. In front of him, strands of spiritual elements gathered together, forming an illusory astrolabe.
After breaking three, his secret skill from his previous life, Dayan Tianji Jue, gradually showed its power.
And just now, after going through a terrifying amount of deductions and calculations, Ji Ping'an repeatedly divined the stars and finally came up with a result that shocked him:
"The stars have returned, ahead of schedule!"
Ji Ping'an's face was solemn.
According to his original calculation, the stars in the sky should return to their positions this time around someday in late summer.
But the previous disturbance in the starry sky clearly told him that this round of changes seemed to be dozens of days early.
To be precise, it is very likely that it will happen tonight.
"Why? Is it because my original calculation was not accurate enough? This is indeed possible. After all, it involves a huge sea of stars. Historically, any error in star records for thousands of years will lead to a deviation in the final result."
"But it's too much of a coincidence."
Ji Ping'an was confused and couldn't understand.
However, no matter what the reason was, the time was advanced. Fortunately, everything happened just in time.
Thinking of this, he stepped out of the tub, used magic to remove the water stains, put on his clothes and opened the door.
Then I saw a beautiful figure sitting under the peach tree in the courtyard.
Xu Xiurong sat quietly on his wicker chair. Hearing the sound, he suddenly turned his head, with a smile on his face.
She stood up and walked over lightly. Perhaps because she was too happy, or because of the familiarity of being alone, she lost the majesty of a "prisoner" and looked like a young girl.
He just hurriedly walked to Ji Ping'an, looking at his clean and peaceful face with beautiful eyes, and suddenly he didn't know what to say.
After hearing the news before, she rushed to Hunhe, but missed Li Guofeng, and rushed back. When she learned that Ji Ping'an was resting, she ordered that no one else come to disturb her.
But he ran to the yard and stared at the lantern in a daze. His mind turned over and over again, and he had a lot of things to ask, but finally he came up with one sentence:
"Congratulations."
Ji Ping'an smiled: "Luck."
Xu Xiurong was a little helpless, thinking that with such a big victory, shouldn't normal people be so excited? As a result, you seem to have no big reaction.
It seems that the prisoner like me is so naive...
Inexplicably angry.
But... who allowed himself, the nominal "disciple" and subordinate official, to save face for the entire Qintian Prison?
It can only be done by him, which can probably be understood as the privilege of top students.
Xu Xiurong puffed up his cheeks slightly:
"Now the entire Qintian Prison is full of joy. The star officials and the prison students are all praising you. In just a few months, your reputation has surpassed that of Luo Huaizhu. If I hadn't stopped you, you would have rushed here. People can wash this yard down.”
Ji Ping'an was speechless: "Is it so exaggerated?"
Xu Xiurong hummed and suddenly said:
"It's not an exaggeration at all. It can even be said that as long as you step out now and hook your fingers, those female supervisors and female star officials will probably compete to be your Taoist companion."
There was something inexplicable in his tone.
Including you? ...Ji Pingan was helpless, wondering why everyone suddenly liked telling such jokes so much.
Qi Hongmian is like this, and so are you, but looking back on the past thousand years of life, no matter how many identities, faces, or even temperaments he has changed... he seems to have always been popular with women.
However, perhaps it was because of what happened to Wei Huayang that he had some complex feelings left behind, so that when faced with the women in his life who were flying like moths to a flame, he was always worried about letting them down... but instead left a lot of regrets.
Wei Huayang is a regret, Xu Yuanyun is a regret, and the colored glaze in the ancient well seven hundred years ago... isn't it a regret?
It's just that this person has passed away, and all the women in his life have finally returned to the sea of stars, but he is still alive.
In fact, what he himself was reluctant to admit was that the fundamental reason why he rejected too many outstanding people over a long period of time was that he did not want to invest too much emotion.
As long as you are ruthless, your old friend will die and you will not be burdened by love and suffer too much pain after you are reincarnated.
Immortality may be a dream for many people, but for him, he was already tired of it.
While their thoughts were ups and downs, a man and a woman in the small courtyard looked at each other in silence, and the atmosphere was inexplicably awkward.
Finally, it was Ji Ping'an who spoke first and said seriously:
"Put aside celebrating in advance. When I came back, I heard from Huang He that there was a disturbance in the stars tonight?"
Seeing him talking about "business", Xu Xiurong breathed a sigh of relief silently, said "Yes" and said:
"I've heard about it too, but star disturbances happen every year."
The implication is that it's not a big deal.
Ji Pingan said:
"According to the rules left by the Imperial Master at that time, if you win the Grand Prize on behalf of Qin Tianjian, you can ask for a stargazing session, right?"
Xu Xiurong was stunned for a moment, nodded and said: "Indeed. Do you want to take the opportunity to stargazing?"
As he said this, the female warden suddenly lit up her eyes and said:
"It is indeed a good opportunity. One of the large-scale stargazing is to detect celestial phenomena and leave records. In addition, after the formation is opened, it will indeed be of great benefit to the host who is bathing in the starlight. Therefore, as a reward, you have just been promoted today. Po San is the best time to absorb starlight, and during the star disturbance period, the starlight is particularly grand... It will be of great benefit to your cultivation... You can also explore the sky by the way, why didn't I think of that?"
The more she talked, the more excited she became.
Ji Ping'an opened his mouth and thought, okay, he doesn't need to make up reasons anymore, this woman has already figured it out.
However, as Xu Xiurong said, large-scale stargazing is of great benefit to the host's cultivation. Ji Ping'an can break through three in one go. Logically speaking, it will take a long time to stabilize.
But if you take advantage of the opportunity of "gazing at the sky", you can save this time.
Xu Xiurong frowned and said: "However, time is too late. Large-scale sky observation requires a series of cumbersome techniques. You have not learned..."
Ji Ping'an said: "The national teacher taught me."
Xu Xiurong was silent for a moment, took a deep breath, controlled his jealousy, turned around and pulled him out:
"We need to prepare to watch the sky. We don't have much time left. Let's go see Li Guofeng and the others."
…
…
The essence of the Qintian Prison is a star-gazing yamen. However, most of the time, it only draws the star map with the help of the magic weapon placed on the top of the "Star-gazing Tower".
There are not many large-scale ceremonies to open the magic circle, but the relevant resources are always reserved in the prison to prevent emergencies so that they can be opened in time.
When they heard Ji Ping'an's request, Li Guofeng and others readily agreed. This was due to the rules, the reward for him, and the fact that it was really suitable for strengthening his cultivation.
But there is another reason. As the chief eunuch, Li Guofeng also vaguely noticed that something was wrong with the starry sky tonight.
However, limited to the realm of cultivation, his induction was very vague, and his divination was fruitless.
So, just as the entire Qintian Prison was rejoicing and immersed in the festive atmosphere, and the students gathered in the dining hall to talk and celebrate, a piece of news suddenly reached their ears:
As the leader and biggest contributor to this grand award, Ji Ping'an will step onto the Star Observation Tower tonight to start a large-scale sky viewing ceremony.
At the same time, orders one after another were conveyed to the four yamen in the hurried footsteps of the bells and drums.
Namely: the Astronomical Section, the Leuke Section, the Huihui Section, and the Li Ke Section were established by four mortal officials and were subdivided offices that had little to do with spiritual practice.
A famous official was summoned, returned to his position, and opened the warehouse.
Move the special crystals one by one to the four corners of Qintian Prison and place them in different buildings.
The Si Li of each branch personally held the formation and was responsible for opening different positions of the entire formation.
"The entire Qintian Prison is a huge star-gazing instrument. When it starts operating, the world's largest 'telescope' will also come to the world."
This sentence was said by the Imperial Master in the past.
It was recorded in the "Zhi" in Qintian Prison.
At this moment, when the order is issued, if you look down from the sky, a famous official, Zhong Diangu, is running along the streets, running from building to building.
Convey instructions.
In the center of the entire Qintian Prison, a majestic pavilion rises from the ground, with a spiral staircase winding around the outside like a winding mountain road.
This is the Star Observation Tower, the tallest building in the entire divine capital. When you step on top of it, you can have a panoramic view of all the buildings including the Imperial City.
This is not in line with "Zhou Rites", but because the person who built it was a national master, although the emperors of the past dynasties had some complaints about it, no one dared to comment on it.
…
Stargazing downstairs.
Ji Ping'an put on a unique white robe, raised his head, and looked at the extremely tall building. Looking at the peak where the magical lanterns on the eaves gradually became smaller, under the gaze of the five supervisors, he stepped forward, Climb the wooden steps.
Climb up the steps.
…
At the same time, in a palace in the eastern part of Qintian Prison, the lights were bright, a famous star official and a government servant pushed the wrench of the magic weapon, and one person shouted:
"Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, Ji...the Eastern Qinglong Qisu has been deployed!"
…
Ji Ping'an stepped forward and walked along the wooden steps.
…
A Dian Zhong, holding an order flag, rushed to a main hall, confirmed it, and said loudly:
"Dou, Niu, Nv, Xu, Danger, Shi, Bi... The deployment of the Northern Xuanwu Qisu has been completed!"
…
in the dark.
Ji Ping'an gradually moved away from the ground, walking in the dark night, and the wind around him gradually became stronger.
…
In the main hall on the west side, a white-haired priest turned the wrench and chanted:
"Kui, Lou, Wei, Pleiades, Bi, Xi, Shen...the Western White Tiger Qisu has been deployed!"
…
Whoosh whoosh... the wind is howling.
Ji Ping'an heard the crisp sound of bells hanging from the eaves.
…
In the brightly lit building, a group of officials reported in unison:
"Jing, Gui, Liu, Xing, Zhang, Yi, Zhen... Southern Suzaku Qisu has been deployed!"
…
"despair!"
Ji Ping'an stepped on the last step and arrived at the top of the stargazing building.
Here is a Bagua-shaped platform, with dense formations at its feet that make people dizzy just by looking at it.
Magical crystals were fixed around it, emitting soft light, illuminating a huge strange instrument as big as a house.
It has a bronze base, composed of circles of rings, and is rotating slowly. On both sides of it are dozens of large magic weapons of different shapes, all engraved with formation patterns.
Together they form a group. If a star official who has not studied for a long time comes here, he will definitely be extremely confused.
But Ji Ping'an only saw familiarity in his eyes.
"I'm back."
He stood in the wind, listening to the sweet clicking sound of those precision instruments in operation, as if he was seeing a group of old friends reunited after a long absence.
When he said these words, the magic weapon on the entire observatory seemed to suddenly "come alive", waking up from its lifeless and eternal operation.
Every ring, every gear, every chain, and every component seems to be conscious, emitting silent cheers.
The entire Qintian Prison is a huge formation, which also gave birth to extremely vague spirits.
The star observatory is the hub. When they sensed the familiar aura, the entire Qintian Prison danced excitedly for him.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
At the same time, four low roars appeared rhythmically, indicating that the formations at the four corners were activating.
Every time there was a sound, a bright beam of light rose from the dark buildings and pierced the sky, like an endless sword.
It can be seen from every corner of the entire divine capital city.
In the small courtyard.
Gou Hanyi wore a coat, pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard, looking up at the four light pillars penetrating the sky, with a sense of nostalgia in his gray-blue eyes.
In Liangyi Hall, Luo Huaizhu, Mu Yaoyao and others gathered in the courtyard, looking up at the Star Observation Tower with some yearning.
At the entrance of the three dining halls, a group of star officers and supervisors rushed out, excitedly looking at this magnificent scene, with deep shock in their eyes.
"Is this stargazing?" Shi Jilun murmured.
Xue Hongjian, who was next to him, said: "It hasn't started yet, but when the main formation of the Star Observation Building is opened, it will be truly spectacular."
…
Stargazing rooftop.
Ji Ping'an stood on the top of the tallest building on the entire continent, in the center of the Bagua Diagram. The Yin and Yang Tai Chi under his feet slowly rotated, and the star coordinates engraved on the floor lit up, and then connected with each other to form a galaxy.
He opened his arms and his white robes fluttered in the wind, as if he was standing in the galaxy.
Ji Ping'an raised his head and looked at the endless sky, the extraordinarily bright starry sky tonight.
A bright moon hung directly above, surrounded by a halo of blurred light, and the black satin-like night was dotted with countless stars.
In the whole world, he is the only one who truly knows what the universe looks like, but after searching for so many years, he has not been able to find a familiar hometown in this specious starry sky.
"start up!"
Ji Ping'an said.
Then, the star map under his feet suddenly erupted into bright starlight, enveloping him. This pillar of light was far more brilliant and grand than the previous ones.
And when the five light pillars intersected above his head, a circular "mirror" composed of starlight and spiritual elements slowly emerged in the sky.
Suddenly it looked as if a hole had been burned out of the night.
This is the astronomical telescope that Ji Ping'an spent all his efforts to build. At this moment, when his eyes passed through this mirror, he looked at the starry sky.
The countless ancient stars also moved slowly according to his calculations perfectly, returning to their original appearance.
The stars have aligned.
At this moment, Ji Ping'an's heart beat uncontrollably. This was an extremely rare moment in his thousand-year long life.
He tried his best to open his eyes wide, not wanting to miss any detail.
Then, the expression on his face suddenly stiffened, and his pupils shrank into needles.
In his field of vision, the light of the full moon hanging high in the starry sky became visibly dim, as if... extinguished.
And when the dazzling brilliance faded, human eyes were finally able to see clearly the round and smooth surface of the moon, without any flaws, and a surrounding circle of fine, slowly rotating "halos" like precision gears. ".
That's not the moon.
Then, the whole starry sky flickered, some stars shook, and then...
Ji Ping'an's pupils reflected countless falling stars.
(End of chapter)
