Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

From there, things had gone quiet but everyone at the fortress had grown even more anxious. 

"The army that Shi Hou had brought are camping around that mountain. What's more, the Hundun Clan's barrier had expanded to protect them as well. It doesn't seem like we can use these cannons." 

Zi Jing clicked his tongue as he continued to keep watch of the mountain. 

"The scouts can't even come close. At this rate, we won't know what's happening", he muttered. 

"Nothing?" 

Yu Zhen then arrived at the tower, bringing him food and other things. He turned and shook his head. 

"No movement", he answered. 

"Hm, you should go down and rest, you've been up here the past few days", she said to him. 

Zi Jing sighed while eating his food, a bowl of rice topped with a plethora of food.

"You never know what may happen. I have to prepare well", he said. 

She scoffed at him. 

"Zi Jing, you might be the youngest commander out of all of us and perhaps the smartest. But you are still somewhat of an idiot. Even Du Xiu and Nie Xia will say the same thing. Sure, something may happen but certainly not for a few days. You should focus on your health first or when something does happen, you're going to end up fainting before you can even help."

"That won't-" 

He looked at her only to find a very doubtful face, one a mother would make to her lying child. 

"I understand."

Yu Zhen chuckled before looking out of the tower, staring at the mountain. 

"I can keep watch while you rest. If something happens, I'll send for someone to inform you."

He nodded and finished his food quietly before leaving the tower, eventually dropping into his bed. 

Meanwhile, the soldiers were hard at work, training even harder, preparing as much as they could. but Ming Yue was not among them, sparring like she usually did. Rather, she stared out towards the lake. Those who didn't know were curious as to why this young woman was there every day. 

Some would stand and the sidelines, whispering to each other. 

"What do you think she's doing?" 

"Maybe that's just her favorite spot, she's always training there, isn't she?"

"You're right but still, I heard that she was a sparring demon and suddenly she's stopped? It's strange, don't you think?"

"Ah whatever, maybe she's doing her own preparations for the upcoming battle." 

But while these few muttered quietly to each other there were few that knew the real reason. Every day that passed was another day closer towards getting back Drifting Sky. But as time went by, a feeling inside her began to grow. 

She looked at the clear waters, sighing as she stared out. 

"It won't be long now, would it?" she wondered, "What would happen to Drifting Sky once I get it back?"

Despite these thoughts, there was no one to answer them, not even Xue Yue's voice popped up. Her other self seemed quiet, maybe she was asleep. Whatever it was, Ming Yue tried not to pay too much mind to it. If Xue Yue wanted to speak, she would speak. 

She just continued to gaze out into the waters. 

The lake itself was unmoving, the surface of it was serene and unbroken. It was a strange phenomenon to see, especially with the clashing powers of the Hundun Clan. 

But even the churning clouds seemed to grow quiet. Instead, lightning seemed to crack down at the peak of the mountain. A single bolt that flashed out every now and then, still powerful enough to produce a thundering crack that everyone at the fortress could hear. 

Something was happening but no one knew what.

"Are you just going to wait there until you get your sword back?" 

A voice came up from behind her as Xuan Yin appeared with her falcon.

"Back from scouting?" asked Ming Yue. 

The archer nodded. 

"Yeah, unfortunately, no one can get close to the barrier that the Hundun Clan created. No one really knows what's going on in there. And it's beginning to get more difficult to keep watch of it. Whatever is happening, the pressure around there is getting worse and worse."

There was a frown on her face and a trace of frustration in her voice. 

"None of us can do a thing either. We're practically sitting ducks."

She looked at the lake before turning towards Ming Yue. 

"In any case, has anything changed?" she asked her. 

Ming Yue shook her head. 

"No, but I can feel it. I don't know how but I can."

She spoke with a certain confidence, one that not even Xuan Yin could question. 

"Alright then, I'm going to head back for a meal, you can keep watching I suppose." 

Her friend gave her a look before walking away. Having just come back from scouting the mountain, what Xuan Yin needed was a meal and rest. And Ming Yue just stayed by the lake and watched it. 

It was calming to watch and truly a beautiful view. 

At some point she took off her shoes, submerging her feet into the lake and walking further in until the water had reached her knees. 

She felt the chilly water touch her skin before the power emanating from the World Serpent began to seep into her body. That cold touch followed by a filling warmth seemed to relax her body. The energy within this water was not violent at all, it was enveloping and comfortable.

Closing her eyes, Ming Yue began to focus on the lake, sensing the depths of these waters. 

It was incredibly deep and dense with energy, making it somewhat difficult to see through. Nevertheless, her consciousness slowly waded through. And now that she was at the final stage of the Earth Realm, she saw that this serene lake was far from it. 

"It's so... colorful. What is all of this?" 

She couldn't help but look around in awe. The lake itself simply contained all sorts of colors, each one representing one of the World's energies. From fire to water, metal to lightning, even life and death, there were even ones that she had never seen before. 

"These must be all of the worldly laws, aren't they?" she thought. 

It had to be. After all, this all originated from Yin Bing, the World Serpent. The great and powerful being who was responsible for bringing life back into the broken lands. 

Her eyes wandered through all of the various forces. Even she didn't quite understand it all, it felt incredibly familiar to her. 

As Ming Yue's mind went further and further in, she moved towards the center of the lake, sensing the World Serpent's body.  It was at the center of the lake, coiled around what could only be her sword. It was a sight to see. This massive being lying in the center of the lake, almost sleeping in a way. 

Ming Yue moved further in to take a better look but before she could even take a glance at it, the World Serpent's eyes opened and looked straight at her. 

"You're a bit too early, young one. But don't worry, when it is called it will come. Even if it is incomplete, you will complete it." 

Her voice echoed in Ming Yue's mind before her consciousness was sent back. In an instant, she found herself back in her body, standing at the edge of the lake. She looked at the lake before stepping out of it and walking back, giving another look. 

She thought about the words that the serpent said to her. 

"If it is incomplete, you will complete it." 

Those words echoed in her mind. 

"What does that mean?" she wondered.

Even if Ming Yue didn't know now, she would know soon enough.. Especially as the lightning the stuck the mountain's peak grew stronger and stronger.