The spiritual auras of greenery and osmanthus intertwined, giving rise to a dense ambiance of spring. It was as if spring had truly arrived, and the cold ice was finally melted into a babbling brook, softly embracing the green mountains.
Drizzling rain fell like strings of pearls, moistening the long-parched and freezing earth. It allowed the land to gradually regain its vitality, opening itself wide to embrace the meticulous, gentle rain.
That must be the spiritual aura belonging to the “Medical Immortal,” right? Healing and gentle, just like this spring rain.
Master, having suffered deeply from the torment of scorching sword intent, might allow him to kiss away his tears and lick the wounds covering his battered body. In the end, he would transform from a frigid moon into a pool of spring water, dancing to the rhythm of the gentle rain.
Perhaps he would even stretch out his arms, yielding softly and submissively into his embrace, actively offering up his own kiss?
Just like that osmanthus tree—though trembling slightly in the drizzle, it still delicately extended its branches, hungering for more.
A Master filled with attachment, allowing the other person to demand and take whatever he pleased…
That was a soft, tender side of him that Su Li could never witness.
Su Li closed his eyes; before his sight and deep within his heart lay a pitch-black void.
Yet, a fierce desire blazed with extreme brilliance within that darkness:
He wanted to see Master in all his different forms.
Whether begging for mercy or clinging in devotion—he wanted every single side of him!
Suddenly, a moment of stark clarity struck his mind:
One for the first half of the night, another for the second half.
Perhaps it wasn’t that Master was balancing the waters between them, but that these two had long been fully aware of each other’s existence, yet neither had ever called it out.
Simply because neither was capable of letting go, leaving them with no choice but this arrangement…
And Master had never explicitly chosen either one of them.
If so, why couldn’t he join them?
As long as he grew strong enough, as long as he swiftly advanced to the Nascent Soul realm and then pushed into the Dao Combination realm, Master would surely accept him as well!
He had to accept him!
For now, all he could do was endure temporarily—endure, and wait for that day to arrive…
Inside the bedchamber, as the first ray of dawn light filtered in, Lu Yin concluded the soul-nourishing process for the two soul-spirits.
He sat with his hands resting lightly in his lap, watching the golden shadow of sunlight glide across the peach-wood low table.
Recalling how Su Li had been injured twice in a short span—first pierced through the chest by a demon cultivator, and then wounded by a Luan bird—he wondered if Heavenly Dao was intervening behind the scenes.
With the Cataclysm of World Annihilation drawing near, he needed to forge Su Li’s Natal Divine Sword as soon as possible.
Lu Yin lowered his gaze. He already had a plan for the Natal Divine Sword’s blank. Supreme Will Valley possessed a secret realm; could he use the pretext of a joint exploration with Feixing Workshop to have Supreme Will Valley open that realm as the final arena for the tournament?
With this thought, his fingertips moved slightly, releasing several messaging frost-flakes that fluttered outward in different directions.
The next day, Lu Yin summoned Su Li via message.
Immortal Venerable Lingyue still appeared so lofty, cold, and unapproachable, leaving no trace of the secrets from the previous night.
His voice was as clear as ice: “Supreme Will Valley has already punished their rising star. They have also decided to open a secret realm they’ve kept sealed for a long time as compensation for your accidental injury.
The Qingpeng Secret Realm hasn’t been opened for a century, and it holds no small amount of heavenly treasures and rare materials. Securing entry is a rare opportunity.”
“To trigger such a massive fortune, your disciple is truly overwhelmed. It’s just…” Lu Yin asked with apparent casualty, an innocent look on his face that no one could find fault with, though a subtle depth lingered in his eyes. “I didn’t see Senior Medical Immortal enter or leave Lingyue Pavilion. When was this decision negotiated?”
Immortal Venerable Lingyue stiffened for a split second, unnaturally biting his lip before saying, “It was… settled by your Grandmaster. I was merely informed of it.”
With that, he dismissed him: “Go prepare. We will board the airship shortly and head to the Unmindful Sea to open the secret realm.”
Su Li nodded with an appearance of “obedient compliance”: “Understood.”
Yet the moment he turned around, the corners of Su Li’s lips curved slightly upward: Oh… so when Master lies, he makes a subtle habit of biting his lip.
Heh, does Master know that every time he bites those pale, icy lips, a flush of vivid, tender red bleeds through?
Sooner or later, I will teach those pale lips to be thoroughly stained with that color—and see if he ever dares to lie again.
A few days later, the three major sects—Linghua Sect, Red Blood Lake, and Supreme Will Valley—each boarded their respective airships and set off toward the entrance of the legendary Qingpeng Secret Realm!
Among the three major sects, Red Blood Lake’s airship was shaped like a giant bronze flying sword. Surrounding it were dozens of “Sword-Guarding Elders” flying on swords, rotating every morning at the hour of the Rabbit. Rays of flying swords gleamed with intimidating power, enveloping the central bronze sword. Its tip pierced through clouds and mist, surging forward with the force of wind and thunder.
Supreme Will Valley’s airship resembled a rolling hill crowned with a ancient tree reaching toward the heavens. The cabins were nestled amid its pale green branches. As it moved, countless vines trailed downward, scattering a shower of cherry blossoms that swept away the clouds and left behind a sky filled with fragrance.
Though all were called airships, the only one with a true ship shape was Linghua Sect’s Fahua Treasure Vessel. Gorgeous and exquisitely crafted, it was a masterpiece of divine workmanship. Three tiers of cabins overlapped, equipped with every conceivable hall and facility. Wherever its oars parted the air, brilliant rays of treasure light surged forth in a dazzling display.
Ordinary disciples could only stay on the second floor, while the top floor housed the luxurious cabins reserved for the elders. Immortal Venerable Lingyue’s room sat directly adjacent to Daoist Venerable Xuanming’s.
Su Li stood on the second-deck railing, the gentle wind rustling his robes as he looked down at the vast landscape below. Even someone like Su Li couldn’t help but feel a surge of grand ambition.
It was the first time the disciples had ever ridden an airship, and they were chatting excitedly:
“How magnificent!”
“With such a vast world, can I not roam as I please?!”
“We are so lucky this time to enter the Qingpeng Secret Realm! The senior brothers were green with envy before we left!”
“Hahaha, is it really that incredible?”
“Of course! Legend has it that the Qingpeng Secret Realm is the fall site of a grandmaster from Supreme Will Valley. After he was forced to dismantle his physical body, the plant and wood spiritual energy throughout his body turned into spring wind and drizzle, nourishing the entire mountain and lake. Driven by this spiritual energy, spiritual veins and Lingzhi mushrooms sprouted one after another, creating this treasure-filled Qingpeng Secret Realm.
However, for centuries, Supreme Will Valley guarded it like a prized secret, keeping it hidden away. This time, they probably lost all face during the Sect Tournament among the three major sects, which is why they were willing to offer it up as the venue for the final trial…”
“Then shouldn’t you all practice your arts well and strive for a great performance in the secret realm to claim the tournament championship?” A magnetic male voice sounded from behind them.
The disciples turned to look—it was Su Li!
The young man in fish-white robes was brimming with vitality and exceptionally handsome, showing no sign that he had recently taken a blow from a Luan bird to shield another.
The disciples bowed one after another with respect and excitement: “Senior Brother!”
Su Li’s face bore a gentle smile. When standing still, he looked like fine jade, yet his movements naturally carried an air of effortless elegance due to the Nine-Dragon Golden Core. Many disciples felt their hearts pounding.
Among them, a strikingly pretty female disciple called out to him with shy, blushing cheeks: “Senior Brother Su Li…”
Her name was Meng Xuan, the closed-door disciple of another elder equal in cultivation to Immortal Venerable Lingyue. Feeling a sense of kinship as a fellow elder’s disciple, she had always acted somewhat familiar, addressing Su Li by his full name. “Once inside the secret realm, I hope you’ll take good care of me…”
Her voice was sweet and charming, enough to make one’s heart melt.
Su Li, however, frowned slightly, his expression instantly turning stern: “The Qingpeng Secret Realm is a rare opportunity encountered once in a millennium. ‘With great fortune comes great challenge.’ When a hundred vessels race downstream, who will have the chance to look after whom?”
His words spared no feelings whatsoever. “Besides, your Master took great pains to secure this chance for you to enter the secret realm, yet you seek help from others. How can you be worthy of your Master’s teachings?! This is completely disregarding your Master’s dignity!”
Meng Xuan’s face turned pale at his scolding. Stomping her foot in frustration, she turned and ran away.
Seeing this, the other disciples realized Senior Brother Su Li was as strict as ever. They quickly excused themselves and scattered in all directions.
Rumble!
A crack of thunder echoed. Su Li looked up to find that the airship had driven into a bank of rain clouds.
The protective array lit up, blocking the thunder and directing the lightning into its core, allowing only a fine drizzle to seep through the barrier.
Usually, one watched the snow and rain from the mountain peak; today, on the airship, it offered a unique, distinct flavor.
I should tell Master and invite him to enjoy it together!
With that thought, Su Li walked to the side of the ship. Just as he raised his head, he noticed that the wooden window to Immortal Venerable Lingyue’s room had actually been pushed open!
“Master!” Su Li’s face broke into a bright smile.
He actually shares such tacit understanding with me!
But quickly, Su Li sensed something amiss: Why was Master, who had just raised his hand to open the window, wearing such a flushed expression?
His posture was also strange… and behind his back, was that the shadow of another person standing there?!