Chapter Eighty-Four: The Illusory Realm of Flowing Fire

"Second Brother Mofei gave me those spirit stones; I used more than half in the Nether Emperor’s Ancient Castle. Even when killing the Alliance Leader, he was blasted into spitting blood and forced to flee. No matter how strong Ye Jiuyou is, he’s nothing but a remnant soul. Do you really think he can survive an explosion?" Yu Youwei remarked offhandedly.

“Girl, you’re ruthless. Blasting that shameless brat from the Killing Alliance can’t have left you unscathed, right?” Ancestor Shui asked with concern.

“It was alright. His strength was high, so the formation suppressed him harshly. I was weaker, so I could move freely. I threw the spirit stones after getting some distance. Luckily, I only coughed up a few mouthfuls of blood,” Yu Youwei replied casually, knowing no one could contradict her. Back then, only she and Ning Mofei were the weakest among those who entered the Nether Emperor’s Castle, and neither of them was much affected. Aside from their low cultivation, no one could find a better explanation. They didn’t know she had Little White Bear and the Red-Green Twin Swords, which shielded her from the suppression, nor that Ning Mofei was immune due to the connection between his Soul-Devouring Sword and hilt.

Ancestor Ye sighed, “Had I known, we should have brought more disciples at the Qi Refining stage. I checked on Little Pockmark and the others; this time, their cultivation rose by at least three major realms. They didn’t covet the power of this external force and suppressed their cultivation in time. Their condition is excellent, and after seclusion, their strength will soar with no hidden dangers.”

“I’ve decided—the Library Pavilion needs a new keeper. I’ll be Little Simpleton’s bodyguard. Wherever he goes, I’ll go,” Ancestor Shui declared grandly.

“If that’s the case, I won’t guard the Artifact Refining Hall anymore. Whoever wants it can have it,” Ancestor Hong threw in his lot as well.

“You two have bickered half your lives, and now you finally agree on something. Why not go have a drink to celebrate?” Ancestor Ye teased.

“Can we get back to the point?” Yu Youwei asked helplessly, a trace of impatience flickering in her deep eyes.

Ning Baixia couldn’t help but laugh. To cover it, he looked down at his toes.

“Letting these two youngsters watch you make fools of yourselves, aren’t you ashamed? Enough chatter, or tomorrow I’ll face him on the Debate Platform,” Elder Ma said grimly, immediately silencing the others. He continued, “In the Flowing Fire Illusory Realm, the Dragon Blood Pool has great attraction for remnant souls. It should lure Ye Jiuyou’s remnant soul out of Mofei’s body. Then we’ll use the Seven-Treasure Exquisite Pagoda to protect Mofei. Once we refine Ye Jiuyou’s remnant soul, Mofei’s problem will be solved.”

Ancestor Shui suggested, “Why not make the girl’s reward entry to the Dragon Blood Pool in the Flowing Fire Illusory Realm as well? The Flowing Cloud Illusory Realm is better for wood-element cultivation, but with her there, the chance of coaxing Ye Jiuyou’s remnant soul out is higher. Her fire arts are much stronger than her wood arts. There’s no need to push both at once.”

“That depends on what the girl wants,” Ancestor Ye said, smiling at Yu Youwei. “Girl, you can choose between the Flowing Fire or Flowing Cloud Illusory Realms. If you join the Celestial Dawn Sect, you can cultivate wherever you like in the future.”

“My cultivation speed is already decent. Advancing too quickly may make my foundation unstable. I have no intention of progressing both elements equally,” Yu Youwei declined Ye Qingyun’s invitation to join the Celestial Dawn Sect tactfully. She added, “If possible, I’d like to accompany Mofei to the Dragon Blood Pool.” Gazing toward where the clouds met the mountains, Yu Youwei’s thoughts drifted afar.

The situation in the Celestial Dawn Sect was far better than she had expected. That blockhead was the apple of everyone’s eye; his twin brother had already become a Golden Core cultivator, yet he was still dawdling at the Qi Refining stage. His family and elders hadn’t given up on him. She truly felt a mixture of envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Once that blockhead woke up naturally, they would enter the Dragon Blood Pool of the Flowing Fire Illusory Realm. If they could resolve the deadly hidden danger in his body in one move, she could finally sleep peacefully.

“Sister-in-law.”

A slightly hoarse male voice sounded beside her ear. Yu Youwei returned to herself and turned her head. In the morning light, Ning Baixia stood in black robes against the sun, the wind whipping his sleeves. He was truly handsome, full of presence, and the intense, repressed emotion in him made it impossible for her to remain unaffected, especially in such a dawn and such a setting.

In the tranquil morning light, their gazes met in the air, and in that instant, their hearts were laid bare to each other.

A moment that felt eternal—at least, so it seemed to Ning Baixia. He would not think of this as a betrayal of his brother, nor dare to imagine what future this feeling might have. He simply laid his heart bare before her, with no attempt to conceal it.

With a gentle, indifferent look, Yu Youwei shifted the conversation. “Are the Celestial Dawn Sect disciples’ robes assigned by attribute or something else? Why do some wear purple, some blue, and one arrogant fellow struts around in gold?”

There was a sense of desolation and hopelessness, as if sentenced to death, yet Ning Baixia laughed. “Ever wanted to beat up that arrogant, clueless fellow?”

Yu Youwei grinned, feigning arrogance. “If we weren’t in the Celestial Dawn Sect, I’d have blasted that crab with a handful of spirit stones till he couldn’t tell east from west. What is he anyway? For all his years, he’s only at Golden Core. How dare he look down on others? Damn, anyone below Nascent Soul is just a rookie.”

“Only a Golden Core? That kind of arrogance is absurd,” Ancestor Hong grumbled.

“Hmph, the girl showed no fear before the Alliance Leader of the Killing Alliance. Little Pockmark could only escape thanks to her. Even if she hasn’t reached Golden Core, your little crab isn’t qualified to be arrogant before her,” Ancestor Shui chimed in, laughing uproariously.

“He already gave that little crab a good thrashing last night, so let’s not kick him while he’s down,” Ancestor Ye arrived with a hearty laugh. With him was Elder Ma, his face as grim as a coffin lid.

These four really were idle, coming together like this. Didn’t they realize they might alert Ye Jiuyou’s remnant soul? Yu Youwei frowned slightly and gave Ning Baixia a meaningful glance.

The ancestors were all shrewd as foxes. Ancestor Ye couldn’t help but try to recruit Yu Youwei, saying with a laugh, “Girl, today we’ll show you all the territories guarded by us four old fellows. Whichever you like best, you’ll become that one’s disciple. Even Baixia never enjoyed such a privilege back in the day!”

“No need to choose, just come to my Library Pavilion. Half the annual slots for training in the Illusory Realms are yours. As for the Realms guarded by the other three, you can enter them all,” Ancestor Shui joked.

“Let her see them all first, then choose,” Elder Ma said, uncharacteristically cooperative. Having spoken, he turned and flew off.

Ning Baixia had already brought out his still half-asleep fourth brother and followed suit.

Ning Mofei drooped his head, mumbling, “Third Brother, I want to sleep.”

A heavy sense of betrayal pressed on Ning Baixia’s heart, but he managed a calm reply. “Sister-in-law is going into the Illusory Realm. Aren’t you going?”

“I want to go.” Ning Mofei lifted his eyelids, and, seeing Ancestor Shui whisking Yu Youwei away into the distance, suddenly became wide awake. “Youwei’s gone! Quick, after her!”