Chapter 68: The City Forsaken by Heaven (Part Two)

“The person depicted in the portrait is you, Fairy. Each elder of the temple, before passing away, would leave behind a testament, instructing us to patiently await the arrival of the fairy in the painting. As long as she appears, she will lead the people of Abandoned Heaven City to live as normal human beings. But we have waited for so, so long,” he said with a heavy sigh. “We have waited until many have lost faith and hope. You can see it in the eyes of the people in this ancient city—their gazes are filled with nothing but deadness and indifference. Yet, at last, the fairy has come. I, Mo Fan, the 1,087th elder of the Abandoned Heaven City Temple, pay my respects to you.”

As he spoke, the old man bent his knees and knelt slowly before Ji Mo, offering the most devout salute.

“Greetings, Fairy!” As the elder knelt, all those who had followed him did the same, bowing and calling out in unison.

“Please, get up, all of you, quickly!” Ji Mo, only fourteen years old, had never before been regarded as a savior. Overwhelmed and flustered, she stammered, “Elder, please have everyone rise. If there is anything I can do for you, let us discuss it standing.”

Elder Mo Fan seemed to notice her youth and inexperience, how uneasy she was with the ceremony. He stood up first and signaled for the others to do the same. Only then did he address Ji Mo again: “Fairy, please accompany me to the temple. Once you see it for yourself, everything will become clear.”

In this situation, Ji Mo knew escape was impossible. She could only curse Ao Feng bitterly in her heart and brace herself to say, “Elder Mo, please lead the way.” Mo Fan nodded and turned, guiding Ji Mo along a street to the southeast.

Ji Mo followed behind, and, strangely, the assembled townsfolk automatically fell in behind her as well. Glancing back at the dense, seemingly endless crowd, Ji Mo felt her scalp tingle with unease.

It was a long walk to the temple, winding through several alleys and streets, covering at least ten kilometers before an ancient, solemn temple finally appeared before her.

Ji Mo scrutinized the building. The temple had three stories, each a little over three meters high, making the total height about ten meters. It covered more than five hundred square meters. The structure was built from a dark golden stone, its eaves and roof tiled in a glossy black, while the main doors were fashioned from a dark red ancient wood unfamiliar to Ji Mo.

Perhaps due to the passage of time, grayish-white speckles dotted the temple walls and doors. Aside from this, the temple stood in stark contrast to the surrounding streets and buildings—it was exceptionally clean and orderly, exuding a profound sense of dignity and solemnity.

Flanking the temple entrance were two ancient trees, so large it would take several people to encircle each one. Yet the stone-paved courtyard was spotless, without a trace of dust or fallen leaves. Though age had left its mark, not a hint of neglect could be seen; it was clear the temple had always been carefully tended.

“Please, Fairy.” At the temple steps, Elder Mo Fan bowed slightly and gestured for Ji Mo to enter.

After a moment’s hesitation, Ji Mo followed him inside. The crowd that had gathered respectfully remained outside, not daring to enter. Ji Mo glanced back and sighed with relief; being the focus of so many hopeful, fervent eyes was no easy thing.

Inside the main hall, the first thing that caught Ji Mo’s eye was a statue in the center of the room. The statue stood two meters tall: a man riding a divine dragon. The dragon had no eyes—where they should have been, there were only empty hollows, as if gouged out. Only the front claws of the dragon were lifelike.

The man stood with hands clasped behind his back, head slightly raised, his gaze fixed on some unseen distance. His features were blurred and indistinct, making it impossible to discern his appearance. Yet, despite the lack of visible expression or dragon’s eyes, the statue radiated an indescribable sense of pressure.

To the left of the statue hung a portrait: a woman in a yellow dress, with bright eyes and an alluring visage. Ji Mo was startled to see that the woman in the portrait was herself—albeit slightly older, more mature, and even more beautiful.

Though Elder Mo Fan had told her about the portrait, Ji Mo was still deeply shocked to see it. She stared at the painting, her gaze filled with confusion and disbelief.

Elder Mo Fan noticed her reaction and could not help but ask, “Fairy, you are the one destined by the heavens. Why are you so surprised to see this portrait?”

“Elder Mo, to be truthful, I have no idea what any of this means. I don’t believe I am someone sent by fate. The woman in the painting may look very much like me, but that doesn’t mean she is me. I am only a lowly cultivator, with little strength, and I don’t know what I can do for you.” Ji Mo lowered her gaze and forced a bitter smile.

“Fairy, you are too modest. I do not know what a cultivator is, but I can see you are not like us. Your body is pure, free of any taint, your entire being radiates celestial energy—just as the ancient texts describe the fairies of the Nine Heavens. We of Abandoned Heaven City are filled with deathly energy; only a fairy can dispel it and grant new life to us and this city,” Elder Mo Fan replied.

“How does one dispel this deathly energy you speak of?” Ji Mo asked.

“What? Fairy, you do not know?” Mo Fan stared at her in astonishment.

“I told you, I am not your destined one. I come from another world of cultivation, and am only a minor practitioner. I arrived here by accident and have no idea how to dispel deathly energy.” As Mo Fan fixed his gaze on her, Ji Mo felt a little cruel saying this, but she had no choice but to be honest.

“No, Fairy, you are too modest. Your portrait hangs beside our Divine Lord—there can be no mistake. Ah, by Divine Lord, I mean that statue,” Mo Fan said, shaking his head, unwilling to accept her words. He pointed to the statue.

“Divine Lord? Who is he?” Ji Mo glanced at the statue and asked.

“We do not know what kind of man he was, but according to our ancient texts, he was a great one. When he was alive, our city was not called Abandoned Heaven City, but Moon City. In those days, Moon City flourished—an unparalleled place, a holy land coveted by people from countless surrounding nations,” Elder Mo Fan explained.

“And afterwards? What happened to him?” Ji Mo pressed further.