Mad Doctor No. 9

Perhaps it's time to go and see that mysterious astrologer.

A light drizzle fell over West Lake in Hangzhou.

Tingyu Pavilion is an elegant pavilion built by the lake, nestled among weeping willows, with white walls and black tiles.

A couplet hangs on the door: "Observing the rain and stars, one knows one's destiny; playing the zither and brewing tea, one passes through a fleeting life."

Wang Tian knocked on the door knocker, and Nightingale also knocked on the door.

After a while, the door opened, and a young boy dressed in blue walked in: "Who are you looking for?"

Wang Tian clasped his hands and said, "I request an audience with Senior Nangong Yue."

The boy glanced at them and said, "Our master doesn't want to see guests today. You two, please go back."

Nightingale presented her identification and said, "We are a special forces unit of the Security Bureau, and we have something important to discuss with you."

The boy didn't seem to mind and replied, "Master said we're not receiving guests today. Let's go."

Just as the two were leaving in frustration, a clear, melodious female voice rang out: "Please come in."

The boy responded and opened the door.

We passed through the courtyard and arrived at the hall.

The furnishings in the hall are simple and antique.

A woman in a long, moon-white dress was playing the guqin with her back to them.

The music was ethereal, like rain pattering on banana leaves or stars falling onto a calm lake, incomparably pure and beautiful.

As Wang Tianjing listened, she felt a sense of peace in her heart, and her injuries also improved considerably.

After the song ended, the woman slowly turned around.

Wang Tian was immediately captivated by her beauty.

The woman looked to be in her early twenties. She was very beautiful, but she had an ethereal quality to her, as if she were not from this world.

What's most special is her eyes, which are like a dazzling star.

"Your name is Wang Tian," Nangong Yue said coldly. "I knew you'd come. Sit down!"

The two sat down.

The boy brought over the tea.

"I know why you're here," Nangong Yue said directly. "The High Priest of the Eternal Life Society is indeed skilled in astrology, but he follows a crooked path, using blood sacrifices to tamper with the stars and forcibly peek into the secrets of heaven. This harms himself and interferes with the way of heaven."

Wang Tian asked, "Senior, do you have a solution?"

"Yes, but there will be a price to pay." Nangong Yue glanced at him and said, "I need a drop of your blood from between your eyebrows."

"What is it?" Wang Tian asked.

Nangong Yue took out an ancient map.

It was a star chart with seven stars specially marked on it.

"This is the Seven Stars Locking the Heavens Map," Nangong Yue said, pointing to the map. "The Eternal Life Society intends to use the power of the seven stars aligning to open the Heavenly Gate during a total solar eclipse. However, the Heavenly Way has its rules, and forcibly changing those rules will inevitably result in a backlash. I need you to guard these seven locations on the day of the total solar eclipse, and no one is allowed to approach them."

Wang Tian frowned and said, "One person alone cannot do this."

Nangong Yue looked at Nightingale and said, "Of course, it's not just you. Longhu Mountain, the Gu Clan, the Qin Family, the Yun Family, everyone who guards their lineage will participate. And your task is to guard the center of the Taklamakan Desert."

She paused briefly: "The Heavenly Gate is right there. That's... also the place where the divine messengers descend."

Wang Tian thought for a moment and said, "I want to know, what is a divine messenger? What is another world?"

Nangong Yue sighed softly: "They are an advanced civilization called the God Race. They possess technology and power that we do not understand, yet they are cold and ruthless, regarding inferior civilizations as ants. The Eternal Life Society worships them and hopes to become their representatives on Earth."

"If that's the case, why not just go down to the mortal realm?"

"That's because the laws of the two realms are different," Nangong Yue explained. "The Heavenly Gate is their passage. When the divine messengers descend, they need a 'container' in this world, and they must adapt to it. Over the years, the Eternal Life Society has been constantly creating modified humans and collecting the blood of guardians, all in order to provide the divine messengers with a suitable vessel."

Wang Tian suddenly realized.

This was an invasion, and the Immortal Society acted as its guide.

"I understand," Wang Tian said solemnly. "But before that, I must recover my strength as soon as possible, and at the same time make my companions stronger."

Nangong Yue nodded.

"Starstone can help stabilize your injuries. As for improving your combat power..." she said, taking an ancient book from the bookshelf and handing it to Wang Tian. "This is the 'Starry Sky Body Forging Technique' passed down by the Nangong family. It can draw the power of the stars into the body to strengthen oneself. You can learn it or teach it to others."

As she spoke, she took out a jade box from her bosom: "Here are seven Starshine Stones, to be distributed among the seven main combatants. On the day of the total solar eclipse, they can absorb a portion of the stellar power to enhance the user's strength."

Wang Tian put it away and bowed deeply: "Thank you, senior."

Nangong Yue waved her hand and smiled, "No need to thank me. I'm a guardian too, it's what I should do. Besides..." She looked deeply at Wang Tian and said, "I've already calculated it for you. The divination shows that this total solar eclipse is a matter of life and death. The only chance of survival lies in one variable."

"What happened?"

"I don't know." Nangong Yue shook her head. "The divination is vague. I can only tell that this variable is related to you. It could be a person or a thing. In any case, no matter what happens that day, you must not give up on yourself."

Upon exiting Tingyu Pavilion, the rain had stopped, and a rainbow appeared.

Nightingale was driving, and in the passenger seat, Wang Tian looked at the starstone in his hand, lost in thought.

There are only three months left.

Within three months, he must recover from his injuries, improve his strength, contact all the guardians, and formulate a battle plan... Time is tight, but there is no other way.

My phone vibrated, and Xu Lao's private message came through: "We've made contact with the successors of the European Templars, the American Shamans, and the African Sun Priests. They've agreed to join the battle. Also, the Eternal Life Society has been making big moves recently, seemingly preparing for their final vessel."

Container? Wang Tian recalled what Nangong Yue had said before: the divine messenger must adapt to this body; in this realm, the divine messenger must adapt.

A chilling thought came to mind: Could it be that the Eternal Life Society is collecting so much Guardian Blood in order to create a perfect body that can house the divine messenger?

And that body is very likely his, a fusion of several bloodlines.

Wang Tian clenched his fists.

We must win this battle.

Not for heroism, but simply to... live and protect the people I care about.

The car drove out of West Lake and headed into the distance.

Meanwhile, in Tingyu Pavilion, Nangong Yue stood by the window, watching the carriage gradually disappear into the distance, and murmured:

"Wang Tian, ​​your destiny star is a calamity star. Three months from now, when the solar eclipse occurs, either you will illuminate the entire world, or you will... perish together with this calamity star."

"Everything depends on this turn of events."

It started raining again outside the window.