Last time she saw Taixu being annihilated through the water mirror, Su Su wanted to go to Taixu with Gongye Jiewu to see for herself.
Qu Xuanzi had been stuck at the bottleneck of the mid-tribulation crossing stage for nearly a century. This time, he had gained some enlightenment and needed to go into seclusion to make a breakthrough.
Upon learning that Su Su wanted to go to Taixu with Gongye Jiewu, Qu Xuanzi said: "Su Su, don't go to Taixu Mountain. Go to the Cangyuan Secret Realm instead."
"Why?"
"You've just begun cultivating the Ruthless Divine Path. Before achieving great mastery, try to avoid great demons. Su Su, personal growth is difficult - even for immortals. The ancient Gods have fallen too long; for ten thousand years, no one has ascended to divinity. The Three Realms need Gods, but you shouldn't take risks before you've fully grown. Instead, you should reverse the situation one day, achieve your own Path. Before protecting all living beings, first protect yourself well."
Su Su was stunned. It had been too long since anyone told her to take care of herself first.
"The Cangyuan Secret Realm can provide training opportunities, and you might even find destined encounters there. The Immortal Sword doesn't suit you well. When you were young, you were only particularly happy when learning the Light Swan Sword Art. The Path of Ruthlessness transcends the five elements to begin with. Father doesn't know where the curved jade that grew up with you has gone, but you need a new opportunity."
Hearing Qu Xuanzi mention the curved jade, Su Su fell silent.
Yes, she never liked merely practicing swordplay since childhood. When the curved jade was with her, it would always tell her about extraordinary techniques and the five elements, teaching her to use various novel things.
With the curved jade gone, holding a cold sword in her hand made her feel as if a part of her heart was empty.
"Father won't force you. If you don't want to go to the Cangyuan Secret Realm, you can also stay in Changze."
"I'll go to the Secret Realm," Su Su finally said. She knew Qu Xuanzi had her best interests at heart. Since childhood, she had grown accustomed to bearing the fate of all living beings, forgetting that she too could have opportunities for growth and training.
She had forgotten, but Qu Xuanzi remembered for her.
The world's Spiritual Energy is divided into five elements - only the corresponding Spiritual Root can absorb specific spiritual energy.
Su Su originally had a fire Spiritual Root. After nirvana cultivation of the Path of Ruthlessness, she discovered that no type of Spiritual Energy rejected her body.
The bloodline of the ancient phoenix was meant to be divine. After nirvana, her current cultivation speed increased by more than a hundredfold.
The Ruthless Divine Path on her Spiritual Platform was wrapped in faint red threads. Su Su didn't know what this was, but she vaguely felt that this thing required her to comprehend and break through.
She stayed in the Bamboo Flower Residence for half a month. When she went out, she saw chirping little spirit birds perched on a white-clothed youth's shoulder.
These spirit birds were close to Su Su, often keeping her company and helping guard her home.
Su Su called to him: "Fuyai."
Yue Fuyai turned: "Senior Sister, I've come to pick you up."
This time he was also entering the Cangyuan Secret Realm for training. Yue Fuyai joined the sect later - Qu Xuanzi personally brought him from an old friend's care and taught him meticulously.
Although he was Su Su's junior brother, his mentality was quite mature.
Su Su nodded: "I need to find Senior Brother first to bid him farewell."
Yue Fuyai: "I'll go with you, Senior Sister."
So Su Su walked ahead, with Yue Fuyai following her.
In the Bamboo Flower Residence, hundreds of flowers bloomed, with several butterflies dancing between them. Some landed on the ribbon in Su Su's hair - today she wasn't wearing mermaid gauze, revealing her beautiful features.
Yue Fuyai glanced at her, then lowered his gaze.
Gongye Jiewu didn't live far away. His cultivation focused on maintaining mental discipline, and like ordinary disciples, he still attended morning classes daily.
Qu Xuanzi personally taught him initially. Later, when he became capable enough to handle responsibilities independently, he occasionally taught Su Su and Fuyai too.
He had a gentle temperament. When Su Su was lazy as a child, he would be helpless but usually turned a blind eye.
When teaching Fuyai later, he was somewhat stricter.Su Su approached and saw a man in white robes speaking with a woman in green under the peach blossom tree, looking like a perfect pair.
The woman's every smile and frown was utterly captivating.
She lifted her gaze intently, looking at Gongye Jiewu with intense admiration in her eyes—it was Yaoguang.
Watching Senior Sister Yaoguang, Su Su felt a pang of emotion in her heart and chose not to disturb them.
In the world of the Demon God, Gongye Jiewu had died in battle, and Yaoguang had unhesitatingly followed him in death. Yaoguang was Uncle Qing Qian's disciple, and her affection for Gongye Jiewu was known throughout the Hengyang Sect. Unlike Ye Bingshang, she was like a brilliant flame—bold and passionate.
Until his death, Gongye Jiewu had never said he didn't like her.
Yet Senior Sister Yaoguang had still followed him without hesitation.
Su Su admired Yaoguang and hoped that the senior brother would respond to her feelings.
Yue Fuyai stood quietly beside Su Su, not approaching.
Though they remained silent, Gongye Jiewu was exceptionally perceptive and seemed to see right through the peach blossoms.
"Junior Brother, Junior Sister."
With no other choice, Su Su stepped forward, smiling as she called out, "Senior Brother, Senior Sister Yaoguang."
When Yaoguang saw her, she winked and grinned at Su Su.
Su Su said, "Father has begun his seclusion. I came to tell you, Senior Brother, that I plan to enter the Cangyuan Secret Realm for training. If you go to Taixu Mountain, please be careful and avoid taking risks."
Hearing this, Gongye Jiewu replied, "The Cangyuan Secret Realm is full of dangers. You've just emerged from seclusion and may not be fully prepared. If you need anything, tell me, and I will help you find it."
Yaoguang nodded repeatedly in agreement. "Exactly."
Su Su said, "Don't worry about me. I am capable of protecting myself in the Cangyuan Secret Realm. Father has always said that the Great Path requires fearlessness—we shouldn't be timid. Since this is training, how can others take my place? Senior Brother, trust me. I will return safely."
Gongye Jiewu looked into her eyes and, seeing Su Su's solemn expression without a hint of jest, nodded. "Alright. This time, I'm going to Taixu Mountain and won't be able to look after you. You and Fuyai must be very careful."
Su Su responded earnestly.
A total of thirty disciples from the Hengyang Sect were going. Elder Qingwu lit soul lamps for each disciple so that, in case of any mishap, the sect could promptly detect it and seek justice for them.
Gongye Jiewu pressed a pile of defensive artifacts into Su Su's hands. Had she not firmly refused, he would have even given her his life-bound Immortal Sword, 'Skyburner.'
Yaoguang watched with a smile. She wasn't going to the secret realm but would accompany Gongye Jiewu to Taixu.
Qingwu summoned an immortal ship from his sleeve dimension, and all the disciples boarded.
Qingwu said, "Everyone must remain vigilant when entering Cangyuan. Fuyai, take good care of your junior brothers and nephews."
Yue Fuyai clasped his hands and replied, "I understand, Master."
Cultivation required constant progress and continuous training. With a stern expression, Qingwu watched the disciples depart.
The immortal ship traveled a thousand miles a day, and three days later, they arrived at Zhaoxia City.
Su Su put on her mermaid gauze. Though it was autumn in the mortal world, Zhaoxia City was scorching under the blazing sun. The Cangyuan Secret Realm would open at noon the next day, and the city was now filled with cultivators waiting.
Fuyai stored the immortal ship, and their contact was already waiting for them.
"Immortal Masters of Hengyang Sect, please follow me."
Fuyai handed over a top-grade spirit stone, which delighted the man, making him beam. For mortals, a top-grade spirit stone could prolong life.
As everyone headed into the inn, Cen Mixuan spotted Su Su and Fuyai at once. Her willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed, and she was about to approach when Yingzhuang held her arm to stop her.Cen Mixuan could only pout and straighten her back.
Teng Zhuang knew he was in the wrong. After Cen Mixuan had attacked Su Su last time, he felt too embarrassed to bring up Junior Sister Cen's wish to study at Hengyang Sect to Qu Xuanzi.
Those trivial matters concerning Cen Mixuan didn't cause the slightest ripple in Su Su's heart. She paid no attention, and Yue Fuya only cast a brief glance before lowering his voice to speak with Su Su.
Their indifference instead made Cen Mixuan feel utterly miserable.
As if she were nothing but a clown performing for their amusement.
The night passed quickly.
By noon the next day, a blinding white light began to glow above Chaoxia City. Fuya carefully instructed each of his fellow disciples before finally returning to Su Su's side.
Yue Fuya said solemnly, "Senior Sister, I have this Guiding Thread. Although those entering the Cangyuan Secret Realm aren't highly cultivated, the Secret Realm itself is extremely dangerous. Let me tie this to your wrist. Once inside, with this Guiding Thread, we won't be separated. I will protect you."
Though he was her junior brother, he carried himself with the responsible demeanor of a senior brother.
Su Su didn't refuse his kindness, extending her wrist to let Yue Fuya tie the blue Guiding Thread around it.
No sooner had it been tied than the white light at the horizon reached an intensity that pained the eyes.
Not daring to delay, Yue Fuya immediately said, "Senior Sister, let's go!"
Even Cen Mixuan and Teng Zhuang not far away leaped into the light. At this moment, all grudges became unimportant—the Cangyuan Secret Realm would only open for an instant, and seizing the chance to enter was what mattered.
In a remote corner, Tantai Jin watched the young maiden's retreating figure without blinking.
Cang Hai urged, "Junior Brother, hurry!"
Tantai Jin acknowledged and followed Cang Hai forward slowly, but in that brief moment, his figure vanished from the spot without choosing to go with Cang Hai.
The moment Su Su entered, she felt a violent gust of astral wind strike her body.
The entrance to the Cangyuan Secret Realm was perilous. She spread her arms to stabilize herself when a sharp pain shot through her wrist—the Guiding Thread had snapped.
But the Guiding Thread shouldn't have broken. She looked back and indeed found herself separated from Fuya and the other Hengyang Sect disciples.
Su Su had no choice but to form a hand seal with one hand, steadily flying in through the entrance.
Though legends said the Cangyuan Secret Realm was dangerous, where she landed was a scene of birds singing and flowers blooming, with falling petals dancing in the air—like a paradise untouched by the world. Su Su looked at the sun above the Secret Realm to determine her direction and headed east.
She had agreed with Fuya that if anything unexpected happened, they would both head in the same direction to meet up.
She had taken only a few steps when a whooshing sound came from above. Su Su looked up to see a dark figure tumbling down awkwardly.
Recognizing it wasn't Fuya, she remained still.
The youth crashed beneath a peach blossom tree, stirring up thousands of petals.
The astral wind had torn his black fish-patterned robes into disarray. As he hit the ground, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Su Su felt no ripple of emotion and stepped over him.
A blood-stained hand weakly clutched at her white dress. "Esteemed Senior Sister, I encountered an accident entering Cangyuan and am severely injured. Could you possibly..."
Su Su turned to see the pale, frail Tantai Jin. She crouched before him, studying him for a long time before extending her slender, fair fingers.
"How pitiful," she murmured softly.
A faint trace of mockery flashed in Tantai Jin's eyes.
But the next moment, thirty-six small flaming swords materialized behind the white-clad maiden, each radiating killing intent and cold gleam as they shot toward him.
He heard her voice like the March wind, gentle yet carrying a faint, chilly laughter.
"I understand what you mean. Since you're severely injured and not long for this world anyway, let me give you a helping hand."Amidst such sounds, Tantai Jin was momentarily dazed.
Yet thirty-six swords, all cold and sharp, aimed at his vital points, jolted him back to alertness.
Tantai Jin’s eyes shifted, dark and icy as he glared at the young woman before him. To gain her trust, half the injuries on his body were real. Seeing the swords about to pierce him, he swiftly rose, spreading his arms as his domineering spiritual energy repelled all the Immortal Swords.
The Immortal Swords spun rapidly before vanishing into Su Su’s palm.
“I’ll say this only once—I have no kindness in me and will not save anyone. Get lost, stay far away from me, or I’ll kill you!”
She was not the Ye Xi Wu from five hundred years ago, who would feel sympathy, guilt, and in her most foolish moments, even wish him well.
The her of the past would protect him earnestly within the peach blossom cocoon for the sake of a promise, gently wipe the blood from the corner of his eye, and search for medicine to heal him.
But Tantai Jin was not pitiable; he always knew what he wanted. He could wear any guise that served his interests, beneath which lay venomous claws.
Su Su did not want to encounter him.
From the day she leaped from the city tower, she wished never to see this person again, not for all eternity.
Tantai Jin was no longer the evil God; she only hoped he would vanish completely into the nightmare of five hundred years ago. Five hundred years later, the two of them would have no further ties.
Pressing her lips together, she averted her gaze and turned to walk away.
Tantai Jin’s shoulder was grazed by the flames on the Immortal Sword. He let out a low groan, and when he looked up again, Li Susu had already disappeared beneath the peach blossom tree.
Petals dusted his shoulders, and some memories, like a relentless tide, made it hard for him to breathe. The moonlit town, the towering peach blossom tree demon, the young woman who had once clung to his back…
He knelt on the ground in agony, supporting himself with the spiritual sword in his hand. With a twist of the scabbard, his eyes turned fierce, and the nearby peach blossom tree crashed to the ground.
Whatever made him suffer—destroy it all, and it would be fine.
The corners of his eyes tinged red as he stared in the direction Su Su had gone. He must obtain this spiritual body.
Ye Xi Wu had no soul; he had scoured the Three Realms to summon her spirit. She had no body, so he would seize one for her.
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