Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Immortal Radiance Sect

“Yes, yes, I have plenty.” In his fluster, Ning Mofei hurriedly pulled out a bottle of pills from his storage ring, but fumbled and dropped it. He burst into tears in his panic. “Oh no, I dropped all the pills!”

A fellow disciple, who had just barely avoided a meltdown, nearly fell but was caught and hauled back up by one of the elders below. Calming himself, he passed over a bottle of pills. “I still have some here.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother. I’ll have Third Brother return them to you,” Ning Mofei said, breaking into a grateful smile as he took the bottle and poured its contents into Yu Youwei’s mouth. The disciple was so shocked he cried out, his voice trembling, “Not so many at once!”

The moment the pills touched her lips, they dissolved, and their energy was swiftly channelled by Yu Youwei into the Scarlet Flame Sword. Not wanting to appear abnormal, she quickly reassured them, “Don’t worry, I only took one.”

With the medicine coursing through her, her stamina returned and her ascent sped up. When she finally broke free from the swirling gray light, her body felt suddenly weightless. She carried Ning Mofei with her in a graceful midair twist, landing softly beside the stone steps behind the Jiangmen Inn.

“At last, we’re out!” Yu Youwei’s legs gave way, and she collapsed into a bed of purple lotus flowers, tumbling together with Ning Mofei.

Disciples of the Immortal Chen Sect soon joined them, casting odd glances their way.

Yu Youwei got to her feet and bowed in a circle. In a low voice, she said, “I ask a favor of you all. Today, the hero here is Ning Bai. I did nothing. On our return, you simply happened to run into us on the road and brought us back. Do you all understand?”

“We understand. We won’t say a word out of place.” Elder Ma, finally able to speak, swept his stern gaze over the disciples, then nodded gently to Yu Youwei before sending out a transmission talisman. With a flash of white light, a spindle-shaped flying vessel swiftly skimmed low to the ground.

Cultivators from other sects emerged from the abyss, most of them looking far more bedraggled than the Immortal Chen disciples. Those from rival sects quickly made themselves scarce, while those on friendly terms tried to approach, but the Immortal Chen disciples had already boarded the vessel. Elder Ma, lingering only to say, “Friends, we’ll take our leave first,” was the last to step aboard. The flying vessel soared into the clouds.

Ning Mofei, taking initiative, claimed the seat at the right front by the porthole for himself and his wife—a place with the best view and the highest honor. The other disciples had no objections, but Yu Youwei felt uneasy and whispered, “Mofei, let’s sit further back.”

“I like sitting at the front,” Ning Mofei replied, shaking his head emphatically.

“You two stay in the front,” Elder Ma called, expertly maneuvering the vessel from the central pilot’s seat. “Judging by how you look, you don’t need to cultivate for now. Just keep an eye on things outside and report any unusual happenings. As for everyone else—make the most of this opportunity to steady your cultivation. If possible, suppress your current level for a while. I will—”

“Let me fly the vessel, Elder Ma. You’re still injured,” offered the disciple who had carried Elder Ma up.

“Enough chatter!” Elder Ma barked, popping a glowing jade-green pill into his mouth before turning to Yu Youwei. “If you two need to cultivate, that’s fine as well.”

Yu Youwei smiled. “Both Mofei and I have low cultivation. Whatever gains we made have already faded—we don’t need to cultivate right now.” Before boarding, the Scarlet Flame Sword had suddenly demanded to absorb her spiritual power for its restoration, and she’d agreed without hesitation. She’d meant to send some energy to Qing Shuang as well, but the Scarlet Flame Sword had immediately shot her down.

“With your meager power, you still want to supply both of us? Even calling it a drop in the ocean is overstating it. If I hadn’t absorbed some of that primordial energy at the Nether Emperor’s ancient castle, I wouldn’t bother even if I were dying of thirst.”

“Must you be so harsh? Will you die if you don’t belittle me?”

Even the kindest soul has their limits. The little white bear liked to tease her for no reason, and the Scarlet Flame Sword, despite needing her, was still so arrogant. Had she really invited these ancestors into her life? Yu Youwei fumed, but the Scarlet Flame Sword ignored her, silently devouring her spiritual energy. At this point, she didn’t have to worry about consolidating her cultivation—her core was completely drained.

“I’m going to sleep,” Ning Mofei declared, laying his head boldly on his wife’s shoulder and swiftly drifting into a dream. Even in sleep, he mumbled, “Youwei, let’s play fairies fighting, shall we?”

Yu Youwei flicked his forehead with her finger and, feeling a bit guilty, glanced around. Apart from Elder Ma, who was focused on piloting, everyone had entered meditation. The spiritual energy they’d absorbed was immense, and while they’d suppressed it fiercely before, now that they were meditating, the unabsorbed spiritual energy swirled around them in a radiant cocoon, filling the vessel with prismatic light.

She also noticed that every seat was separated by an array formation, so no one’s cultivation would disturb another’s. Testing it, she found when she reached toward a seat behind her, she was blocked by a transparent energy shield. Touching the sleeping Ning Mofei, though, met no resistance.

Sitting quietly, Yu Youwei, physically and mentally exhausted, drifted off herself. She woke with a start when Elder Ma called, “Mofei, we’re here.” Startled, she instinctively looked out the porthole.

Immortal Chen Mountain stretched down from the clouds like a celestial realm. The grand Immortal Chen Hall at the summit was half-shrouded in mist, towering and magnificent. Palaces and pavilions lined the mountainside in perfect order and subtle harmony, embodying the unity of heaven and man. The great mountain-protecting array shimmered with gentle light, making the palace even more breathtaking.

“Oh, yay! We’re here, Youwei, let’s go!” Ning Mofei leapt up, dragging Yu Youwei out of the vessel.

Standing at the mountain’s base, Yu Youwei was enveloped by a profound, ancient natural aura. Gazing up at the grand hall at the top of the endless stone steps, she felt an irrepressible urge to bow in reverence.

Understanding her feelings, Elder Ma laughed. “The first time I saw the Immortal Chen Hall, I was speechless. I knelt and bowed three times until my forehead bled.”

Ning Mofei grinned smugly. “Uncle Ma, you’re such a coward. I’m not scared at all.”

Yu Youwei and Elder Ma exchanged a smile, not bothering to explain.

A group of cultivators descended from the mountain gate, clad mainly in blue and purple. The leading disciple in purple landed first and saluted Elder Ma. “Uncle Ma, the sect leader awaits in the Immortal Chen Hall.”

Before Elder Ma could reply, Ning Mofei tugged Yu Youwei and dashed off, calling, “I’m going to find my master!”

It seemed this fool’s master was the sect leader. The Immortal Chen Sect was surely a place of strict discipline. Yu Youwei hurried to pull him back. “Don’t run off—listen to Uncle Ma’s arrangements.”

Ning Mofei protested, “Master is the highest authority here. I don’t have to listen to Uncle Ma!”

Yu Youwei could only sweat in exasperation. This boy had no sense of propriety. She could only hope Elder Ma, who seemed so amiable, wouldn’t hold it against him.