Chapter 123: Xunian Mountain
“He asked Jun Mo to send him to the Demon Realm, but I don’t know if he made it there safely.” Speaking of this, Qing Ru couldn’t help but feel a bit worried.
“After all, it was only supposed to be a short trip to see Little Friend A-Ke off; he should have returned much sooner. The fact that he hasn’t come back yet makes me wonder if something happened on the way.”
Hearing this, Lou Yunxiao’s brows furrowed tightly.
He turned to Qing Ru and asked, “Senior, do you possess the ability to travel through extra-dimensional space like Senior Jun?”
“I do, but my strength is lower than Jun Mo’s. Moreover, I lack the empowerment of Hùndùn power, which only deities possess. My ability to pinpoint spatial coordinates is much weaker. To reach other spaces, I’m afraid I would…”
“This Hùndùn power you speak of, Senior—is it this?” Lou Yunxiao interrupted him. As he raised his hand, a grey current of qi began to circulate between his fingers.
It was precisely the substance that had weakened the heavenly lightning just moments ago!
Qing Ru was filled with shock. “How… you’re only at the Dàchéng stage! How could you possess the Hùndùn power that only deities should have?!”
He rubbed his eyes several times, making sure he hadn’t seen wrong.
When he looked at Lou Yunxiao again, his gaze had completely changed.
Just what kind of monster was this?
Was he the chosen one of heaven?
He had never heard of a deity possessing Hùndùn power while still practicing in the lower planes.
He explained the source and function of Hùndùn power to Lou Yunxiao.
Lou Yunxiao lowered his eyes.
He understood now; as long as he refined more Hùndùn power, he would possess strength equal to that of a god.
Fusing with the Godhead had granted him many insights as well.
There was still more than half of the power within his body that remained untapped.
If he unearthed it all, he feared no one would be his match.
Including A-Ke…
He asked Qing Ru, “Senior, if I use my Hùndùn power to assist you in opening the entrance, will it be easier?”
“Yes.” Qing Ru snapped back to reality and told Lou Yunxiao, “Place your hand on my shoulder and transfer the Hùndùn qi to me. I will take you to the Demon Realm.”
Having said that, he tucked away all the dragon eggs and pulled Niao Niao close, telling the little girl to hold on tight so they wouldn’t get separated during the transition.
Niao Niao gripped the hem of Qing Ru’s robe while looking up at Lou Yunxiao.
She felt that the look in this big brother’s eyes was somewhat terrifying.
Especially when he heard that Brother A-Ke had left.
Thinking this, she secretly reached out and touched Lou Yunxiao’s body.
Her eyes widened instantly as she quickly retracted her hand, her expression changing.
She had heard it.
The thoughts within this big brother’s heart.
He actually wanted to… Brother A-Ke…
“What is it?” Feeling the touch, Lou Yunxiao looked down at Niao Niao.
Niao Niao felt a chill run down her spine.
Summoning her courage, she said, “Big Brother, Brother A-Ke didn’t mean to lie to you. He has his own difficulties.”
To Niao Niao’s surprise, Lou Yunxiao merely gave a thin smile and replied to her.
“I know he has his difficulties.”
Niao Niao clenched her small hands, momentarily speechless.
She heard Lou Yunxiao continue.
“I only resent him for telling me nothing.”
“I only resent that our relationship was never equal.”
Lou Yunxiao had already calmed down.
However, this calm was laced with a deep, dark obsession.
He was angry, he was resentful—resentful to the point where a sliver of hatred had even begun to sprout.
He hated his own incompetence; he hated that despite being lied to time and again, he still chose to believe the other person, leading to this total loss.
If he could find A-Ke, he might use the most extreme methods to keep him by his side, even stopping at nothing.
They opened the entrance three times before finally locating the Demon Realm.
However, Qing Ru and Lou Yunxiao searched the Demon Realm for ten days without sensing a trace of Ning Ke or Jun Mo’s aura.
They had no choice but to give up.
Furthermore, there was no sign of Wugou or Gao Ze in any of the extra-dimensional spaces they opened.
Qing Ru and Niao Niao were anxious, but there was nothing they could do.
Niao Niao comforted Qing Ru, “Little Father, Big Father is strong; he’ll be fine. They most likely returned to the continent where Big Brother is.”
At this moment, the three of them were in the Mòyuán.
Lou Yunxiao walked out of the wooden hut where he had once stayed with Sister, his gaze heavy.
Back then, he was blind and could only imagine everything through touch.
Now, he was finally seeing this place clearly.
The events of the past surfaced in his mind.
Thinking of how A-Ke was clearly a man yet dressed as a woman, he suspected that even back then, the man was simply making a fool out of him for amusement…
That person was just that casual and free-spirited.
The moment he took those lies as truth, he had lost.
It was a total, crushing defeat.
With that thought, he suppressed the emotions in his eyes and said to Qing Ru, “Senior, Niao Niao is right. They might have gone to the Qiányuán Continent. Let us return there.”
…
In the Wuji Space.
Wugou and Gao Ze finally comprehended their Domains under Feng Yu’s terrifying training.
Both of them had lost a significant amount of weight.
Wugou was trembling so much he could barely walk. Supported by Ning Ke, he wanted nothing more than to slump against him and have a good cry.
But for the sake of his image, he held it in.
Thinking of the Domain he had awakened, excitement surged in his heart.
It had truly been a long time since he had felt this kind of joy over an increase in his strength.
In the past, his temperament was somewhat indifferent, but after meeting Ning Ke, he had unconsciously begun to follow the other’s lead.
He hadn’t even realized that, bit by bit, he had come to view Ning Ke as his guiding star.
“Your Domain…” Ning Ke looked at Wugou and continued, “is very impressive.”
During this time in the Wuji Space, far removed from conflict, Ning Ke’s state of mind had also calmed somewhat.
Therefore, his conversations with Wugou had increased.
He was no longer as cold and distant as before.
Wugou noticed the change, and a smile touched his eyes.
“I practice the path of fate, so my Domain is naturally related to the principles of destiny.” He steadied his footing and withdrew his hand from Ning Ke, placing his palms together. “During this trip to Xùnián Mountain, I will work hard to temper my Domain, striving for the day when I can change Benefactor Ning’s fate.”
Ning Ke lowered his eyes and simply said, “Wait until you come out of Xùnián Mountain alive before saying such things.”
On this trip to Xùnián Mountain, the three of them would be locked into three separate small spaces by the mountain.
They could only emerge once they had cleared all the trials.
As for who would come out first and who would be trapped there for a lifetime, no one could predict.
With that thought, Ning Ke suddenly realized a key point.
The original plot mentioned that Gao Ze went missing.
Could it be because Gao Ze entered Xùnián Mountain without anyone else on the Qiányuán Continent knowing?
He turned to Gao Ze and asked, “Sect Leader Gao, I heard that the other Sect Leaders have all entered the Wuji Space. Are you not going to see them before entering Xùnián Mountain?”
“I searched for them while you were unconscious, Yao Venerable, but the Wuji Space is too vast. Finding them is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I dare not waste time. Therefore, I will temper my Domain first and reunite with them after we leave.”
Just as Gao Ze finished his honest reply, Feng Yu walked over.
“Let’s go. We’re heading to Xùnián Mountain.”
Seeing this, Ning Ke asked no more.
Upon arriving at Xùnián Mountain and gazing at the lush mountain range shrouded in thick mist.
Feng Yu said, “I will wait for you outside. I will wait for two years at most, which translates to twenty years inside. If anyone hasn’t come out by then, I won’t wait any longer. I will take those who have emerged and head to the Qiányuán Continent to crusade against the Sun God Lie Yang.”
The group voiced their agreement.
Before leaving, Wugou turned to Ning Ke and said, “Benefactor Ning, I will come out as soon as possible. If you emerge early, remember to wait for me.”
Ning Ke gave him no definitive answer.
Wugou didn’t press him further either.
During this time, he had discovered that what Ning Ke needed was a quiet, peaceful environment to digest the feelings and emotions that he himself did not understand.
Like a wounded animal, he would find a deserted place to lick his wounds in silence.
At such times, he would be unwilling to let anyone get too close.
So Wugou thought that perhaps by the time they left Xùnián Mountain, Ning Ke would have found his clarity.
He sincerely hoped so.
He stepped into Xùnián Mountain.
Gao Ze followed suit.
When it was Ning Ke’s turn, Feng Yu cautioned him.
“The Time Domain is known as the most mysterious of domains. If you practice it to the limit, you might even be able to overturn life and death, or reverse the universe.”
“But given your current physical state, it’s best not to push yourself too hard.”
Ning Ke nodded.
“Thank you for the advice, Senior.”
Then, he walked into Xùnián Mountain.
Left behind, Feng Yu toyed with his bandages and let out a long sigh. “Aiy, this kid always gives such an obedient answer, but in reality, he doesn’t listen to my warnings at all.”
“He’s carved from the exact same mold as old Jiang…”
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