“What do you want from me?”
Qin Si dodged Chui Ming’s question, asking coldly.
Chui Ming ruffled his hair in frustration.
Forget it, why should she care so much!
He was her master’s dog, not her cub!
Chui Ming kept telling herself this, but the thought of Qin Si, whom she had watched grow up, appearing so lost and dejected, made her feel terrible.
“Seriously, Qin Si, if the girl saw you like this, she’d probably be heartbroken too.”
Qin Si forced a smile, “Let’s talk about business.”
He wished Ayi would be heartbroken. If she were, would she remember to come back?
Three years were but a blink of an eye for cultivators, but these three years had been the most agonizing of Qin Si’s life. From initial anxiety to panic, then despair, he had gradually sensed the fading traces of Ayi’s presence within the secret realm, as if she had vanished from this world entirely…
Qin Si didn’t know how he had gotten through it. Even when his master was critically ill and in seclusion, or when he was betrayed by loved ones and friends, left to face death, he had never felt so helpless and panicked.
He knew Chui Ming was right. Perhaps Ayi had encountered her own destiny and was trapped in some secret realm. But Chui Ming didn’t understand. Ayi wore the Lingxi bracelet; unless it was due to the intervention of universal laws, as long as Ayi was still on the Divine Revelation Continent, he should be able to sense her presence.
But now, he couldn’t.
Seeing that Qin Si clearly wasn’t listening, Chui Ming sighed and stopped trying to persuade him.
“You’ve spent so much time looking for someone that you’ve forgotten, the Divine Revelation Grand Gathering is about to begin, and it’s time to take those seeds to the outer continents. This year, the issue with divine artifacts has resurfaced, and the Wu Shang Sect has been making constant moves. Grand Venerable Qing Lan hasn’t returned from the banquet in Qunyu Mountain yet. Only when you lead the students there will everyone feel at ease.”
Chui Ming paused, then added, “Moreover, your appointment as Mountain Lord has likely spread throughout the outer continents.”
Qin Si nodded, “I understand.”
The time flow in the Sanghai Secret Realm was different from outside. Three years within the realm equated to just over half a month outside.
During this half-month, the King of Jin Que suddenly died, Emperor Ning Feng of Da Ning abdicated to the Crown Prince, and the new Crown Prince’s first act upon ascension was to mobilize his troops to attack Jin Que. Simultaneously, Qi Zhou Country also moved, dispatching troops to attack Jin Que.
With three countries at war, Jin Que Country suffered successive defeats. However, upon retreating to Jin Cheng, some soldiers became possessed due to the black light from a formation, causing widespread chaos among the three nations. But this was quickly stabilized after the Divine Revelation Academy intervened. Subsequently, Jin Que Country surrendered, exchanging a portion of its cities for an end to the war.
Elder Mo Shuxin of the Zhen Dan Peak of the Divine Revelation Academy guarded Jin Cheng. All ordinary citizens within were evacuated and relocated. Jin Cheng was now under strict martial law, with no entry or exit permitted.
However, today, a group of uninvited guests arrived in Jin Cheng.
“Get out of the way! We are from the Xi Le Sect. Where in the Divine Forsaken Continent can we not go? By what right do you block us?”
Three cultivators in light blue robes stood at the main gate of Jin Cheng. One of them shoved a student from the academy guarding the gate aggressively, his attitude extremely arrogant.
“Xi Le Sect? What kind of little vermin are you? Never heard of you,” a male cultivator emerged from the city, fanning himself. He then closed his fan and helped the student on the ground up.
“Senior Brother Feng, why are you here?” the student smiled gratefully at Feng Wuya.
Feng Wuya replied briefly, then looked at the three cultivators before him.
“Kid, don’t meddle in other people’s business!” the oldest cultivator threatened coldly. “You’re still young and don’t know that there are many people stronger than you in this world, and many sects with higher status than the Divine Revelation Academy.”
Feng Wuya’s casual smile vanished as he said coldly, “Even if there are, they don’t include the Xi Le Sect.”
Yesterday, he, Chu Tianle, Hua Xueji, and others had gone to Hua Ye to inquire about Shengyi’s whereabouts. They learned that Yun Youyue and Xia Lingling were arranged by the Wu Shang Sect and Xi Le Sect from the outer continents. This meant he could indirectly consider these two sects to be the culprits behind Shengyi’s disappearance!
“Why are you wasting so much time talking to them! Just drive them out!”
Luo Feihua had only been testing herself. Upon returning, she learned that her best friend had disappeared, and she was already furious.
As soon as she spoke, she summoned her contracted spirit beasts and attacked the cultivator who had just spoken, ganging up on him!
“You’ve gone too far!”
The other two cultivators rushed to help, but Feng Wuya waved his sleeve and shouted, “Chu Tianle, Ximen Hongchun, what are you waiting for? Avenge Shengyi!”
And so, a group of people swarmed forward.
“Hey, Ximen Hongchun, can’t you be a little slower and leave someone for me?” After receiving treatment from Zhen Dan Peak, Qin Sanxiang was as lively as ever. She complained to Ximen Hongchun, but she had already approached Hua Xueji. “Daoist Hua, let me help you!”
Hua Xueji’s hand paused. The target he had painstakingly snatched was had his arm chopped off by Qin Sanxiang. In a few moves, he was knocked unconscious.
A quarter of an hour later, the three bruised and swollen cultivators were dragged out of Jin Cheng by the academy students and thrown far away.
“Now these people won’t dare to come again,” Feng Wuya said, resting his chin on his hand. “It would be great if a few more blind fools like this came.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he received a slap from Luo Feihua.
“Feihua, what’s wrong?” Feng Wuya asked blankly.
Luo Feihua pinched his arm. “You’re asking me what’s wrong? Look for yourself!”
Feng Wuya looked up. First, he saw his companions looking at him with speechless expressions. Then, looking up a bit further, he saw a figure standing in the air ahead, surrounded by immense pressure.
As he tried to get a closer look, his eyes stung.
“Ah!” Feng Wuya quickly lowered his eyes.
“Your strength is too different from his. Don’t stare for too long, or you’ll be counter-attacked,” Mo Shuxin appeared on the city wall, threw a pill to Feng Wuya, and then ordered, “You all go back.”
Feng Wuya and the others didn’t push their luck and quickly retreated.
Mo Shuxin looked at the man standing high above, scoffing, “I never expected Sect Master Li to personally come to the Divine Revelation Continent. It seems this Hei Yao Jun Shi is truly a good thing.”
Li Tingyun said coldly, “Mo Shuxin, where is Qin Si?”
Mo Shuxin’s gaze turned cold. “It’s been fifty years since we last met. Sect Master Li wants to trouble my nephew as soon as we meet. Do you think I’ll tell you?”
“I don’t wish to fight you,” Li Tingyun’s gaze held a hint of nostalgia, but it quickly turned into impatience.
He was the only clone of Li Tingyun who retained feelings for Mo Shuxin. If his other clones weren’t tied up, Li Tingyun wouldn’t have sent him.
Perhaps no one knew that the now unattainable and renowned Daoist Ting Yun of the Wu Shang Sect, had also originated from the Divine Revelation Continent.
Moreover, he had once been Mo Shuxin’s fiancé.
However, Li Tingyun had abandoned everything in pursuit of the Great Dao.
Mo Shuxin was not a person with a good temper to begin with, especially when her research on medicinal pills was interrupted. Her temper would flare up even more.
She immediately exploded.