The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 1275 - 678: Moya’s Story

Capital.

A sudden downpour drenched the ancient city, and due to the early notice posted by the Astronomical Observatory, the citizens rushed home and closed their doors.

The torrential rain made the streets of the city soaking wet, raising a low "mist."

Inside the Astronomical Observatory, within a building almost as tall as the Heavenly Master Mansion’s clock tower, numerous Star Officials were busy.

At the top of the building, on the Observatory, the Standard Third-Rank Supervisor sat cross-legged under the vaulted eaves, gazing absentmindedly at the ink-green bamboo grove outside the city.

"Master, I’ve brought what you asked for."

Behind him, a young boy laboriously dragged a wooden box up there, then placed it on the ground with a thud, pretending to wipe his sweat and feign exhaustion:

"It’s summer now, and moving this on a rainy day wasn’t easy. Are you really in such a hurry to see it?"

It has been almost two months since Zhao Douan left the Capital.

A while ago, someone from the Ministry of Justice sent word to the Astronomical Observatory, requesting a Star Official go over because while sorting through confiscated materials from the Divine Dragon Temple, they unexpectedly found a box of dusty scrolls.

It appeared to be related to astrology, so they sought professional appraisal.

The Divine Dragon Temple’s industry was vast.

Initially, there was only a rough inventory, and the complete check has not been finished yet.

The Star Official returned from the Ministry of Justice, visibly excited, reporting to the Supervisor, hence the box was brought over.

"Eager for knowledge; rainy days are perfect for reading when going out is inconvenient, don’t you think?"

The elderly Lord Supervisor turned around and said, smiling.

He stood up, walked to the box, and sat down again.

The seals on the box had been opened; it appeared to be aged, and upon opening, it was full of dust, sealed away for countless years.

The Old Director carefully took out a yellowed book, opened it, and recognized it with delight:

"It’s indeed a Moya manuscript!"

The boy asked, bewildered: "What is that?"

The Old Director caressed the book’s cover, smiling:

"Tell me, what is the earliest star-gazing or astrology book preserved till now?"

The boy answered without hesitation:

"Six hundred years ago. Back then, Qi Country burned the Capital in desperation, destroying valuable records and books, thus the earliest records left in the Astronomical Observatory date back only six hundred years."

The Old Director shook his head:

"Incorrect. Although Qi Country burned books, some valuable records still survived among civilians.

At that time, though the Divine Dragon Temple had not yet achieved its later glory, it was already taking shape. Within the Capital, there was a small temple where impoverished monks preserved some of the legacy left by the Moya Practitioner a thousand years ago, which included parts of manuscripts."

In his later years, the Moya Practitioner was engrossed in stargazing and astrology, leaving behind numerous writings. Although most original manuscripts were gone, the Divine Dragon Temple held onto some handwritten copies, which is entirely reasonable."

The boy was startled:

"Are these the records left by the Moya Practitioner a thousand years ago?"

Old Director nodded, his eyes showing reverence:

"It’s fortunate that we recognized them, or the Ministry of Justice, unfamiliar with their value, might have discarded them, causing an immeasurable loss."

Raindrops fell like beads off the eaves of the buildings.

The rain fell so vigorously that only its sound was in the old man’s ear, as he read through the ancient manuscript, opening it to the first page with a phrase: 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Disaster Star falls at Mubei’s utmost."

...

...

Grand Ancestor Emperor of Yu Country!

In the heart of Mubei Forest, beneath the fiery, splendid banyan tree, when Ancestor Xu uttered this phrase with a smile.

At the doorway, several people’s minds buzzed simultaneously.

No matter how speculations had been formed along the way, witnessing historical legends alive brought a tsunami of impact, impossible to pacify.

"Xu..." Zhao Douan’s eyes widened, comparing the elderly fist-master before him with the middle-aged Xu Manzi from the Martial God Map; emotions surged within him.

The Empress beside him was even more stunned, staring at the ancestor she had only seen in paintings, a whirlpool of mixed feelings inside her.

Zhang Yan Yi was also moved, for this immortal-like figure displayed rare genuine respect, standing with hands folded, wholly embodying the demeanor of a junior scholar.

"Master..." Tuoba Weizhi hesitated for a moment. She surprisingly accepted it the fastest, stepping forward to bow in respect.

In La Garden, Tuoba Weizhi had experienced repeated slumber and awakening; six hundred years didn’t seem long in her perception...

Thus, upon seeing Ancestor Xu, it felt natural, like a long-awaited reunion.

Ancestor Xu nodded to her gently, then smiled and shook his head:

"Since we last parted, I’ve said you’re no longer my servant."

"Forefather... I..."

At this moment, Xu Zhenguan’s eyes reddened, nearly unable to hold back from rushing forward, but was restrained abruptly by Zhao Douan:

"Hold on."

Zhao Douan was considerably wary: "We haven’t confirmed his identity yet!"

The Empress also snapped out of it; Mubei Forest was too mystical to just trust by a mere sighting.

Hearing this, Ancestor Xu wasn’t annoyed; instead, he laughed:

"Quite cautious, indeed. Let me think of a way to prove my identity... Ah..."

He seemed to remember something, suddenly lifting a hand, awakening the Dragon Essence in Zhao Douan’s Qi Sea, which had lain dormant like a dead snake. It struggled and burst through the Qi Sea, joyfully coiling around the old fist-master beneath the tree.

Before others, the Dragon Essence, usually imposing and aloof, behaved like a puppy, pleasingly circling around the old fist-master, astonishing the onlookers.