Chapter 806: Soul Departs

The night sky was profound, with shattered stars like dust.

Outside the cave dwelling’s stone chamber stood two graceful figures: one a pure and elegant beauty with a cold demeanor, the other a lively and radiant sprite. Upon closer inspection, they were none other than Shangguan Yuer and Shangguan Han Yue.

“Sister, are you really going back to the family?” Shangguan Yuer plucked a spirit flower from the roadside and said casually, “Isn’t it nice here in Heng Yue? Most importantly, you can see your heart’s desire.”

“My Dao Ling Xue Mai has reached its critical point,” Shangguan Han Yue replied with a light smile. “I need the family’s Dao Ling Pool to fully awaken my bloodline.”

“Fully awaken?” Shangguan Yuer’s eyes sparkled. “Your Dao Ling Xue Mai is going to fully awaken?”

“It’s about time for it to fully awaken,” Shangguan Han Yue smiled again. “This gift from the heavens, I must cherish it well.”

“After your bloodline fully awakens, will you be able to defeat Ji Ning Shuang?” Shangguan Yuer blinked her big eyes at Shangguan Han Yue.

“No,” Shangguan Han Yue answered without hesitation, her tone quite certain. “The Xuan Ling Zhi Ti is an undefeated legend, not just empty words. In her current state, few among her peers can rival her.”

“What undefeated legend?” Shangguan Yuer pouted. “During the Three Sects Grand Competition, she lost to Ye Chen, who was a whole major realm below her; plus, the holy son of the Assassin Divine Dynasty and Heng Yue Sect’s former host Yin Zhi Ping have both defeated her. I think that undefeated legend is a bit exaggerated.”

“The so-called undefeated legend of the Xuan Ling Zhi Ti is based on the condition that the bloodline has fully awakened,” Shangguan Han Yue chuckled. “You and I both know that in the Three Sects Grand Competition, the true winner wasn’t Ye Chen. Yes, he was a major realm below her, but even if they had been at the same level, Ye Chen would have struggled against her innate divine weapon and soul attacks. Moreover, Ji Ning Shuang’s bloodline hadn’t fully awakened back then. As for the holy son of the Assassin Divine Dynasty, he and Ji Ning Shuang aren’t from the same era, so they’re not in the same generation. And as for Yin Zhi Ping, his victory over Ji Ning Shuang came not from his own abilities, but from the power of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Soul.”

“Sister, your evaluation of her is surprisingly high,” Shangguan Yuer puffed out her cheeks slightly. “But I never believe in anyone truly being invincible. Ye Chen’s combat strength is above hers now, so the undefeated legend of the Xuan Ling Zhi Ti has ultimately been broken.”

“I won’t deny that,” Shangguan Han Yue gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled faintly. “He is an anomaly, and fate has destined their paths to intertwine endlessly. They are the two strongest among the current generation in Da Chu. Fighting side by side, they make the perfect pair—no one can match Ji Ning Shuang in that regard.”

“I do believe that,” Shangguan Yuer sniffed the spirit flower in her hand lightly. “But I still understand Ye Chen—they won’t have a future together.”

“Matters of romance—who can say for sure?” Shangguan Han Yue replied with a soft smile.

“I’m not thinking about anything that complicated,” Shangguan Yuer rested her chin in her hands, her gaze dreamy as she looked toward the cave dwelling’s stone chamber, as if she could see through the stone door to Ye Chen sitting in meditation inside. “I only know that I want to be his bride.”

As she spoke, she lifted her little head and blinked her big eyes at Shangguan Han Yue, giggling. “And you too, Sister! It’s all destined by the heavens.”

Shangguan Han Yue smiled faintly but said nothing. She gazed dreamily at the cave dwelling’s stone chamber for a moment before silently turning and vanishing into the night.

“I’ll come see you tomorrow,” Shangguan Yuer gave the stone door one last look, then jumped up and followed Shangguan Han Yue’s footsteps, hopping away like a little sprite.

After the two left, a gentle breeze brushed the area in front of the cave dwelling’s stone chamber, and a graceful figure materialized. Dressed in black clothing, black boots, and a black cloak, she resembled a cold assassin. Disguised in men’s attire, her face was one of absolute beauty.

“How is your injury recovering?” Ji Ning Shuang stood quietly, gazing at the stone chamber as if she could see through the door to Ye Chen sitting in meditation inside.

“I need your Xuan Ling Zhi blood.” A ethereal voice drifted out from the cave dwelling.

Ji Ning Shuang didn’t respond. She simply placed her jade-like hand gently on the stone door, a blood mark appearing on her palm. Her Xuan Ling Zhi blood seemed to ignore the stone door entirely, seeping through in strands and flying toward Ye Chen.

Ye Chen remained still, allowing the strands of Xuan Ling Zhi blood to surround him. Under the pull of his sacred body origin, it transformed into pure blood essence, flowing into his body through his pores and acupuncture points.

Immediately after, his sacred body trembled slightly. The blood of the Huang Gu Sheng Ti and the Xuan Ling Zhi Ti intertwined, creating wondrous hues that gradually eroded the mysterious force lingering within him.

This was exactly as he had anticipated.

He knew better than anyone that his severe injuries were due to that sword, which had a profound connection to Emperor Xuanyuan. And Emperor Xuanyuan was born from the union of the Huang Gu Sheng Ti and Xuan Ling Zhi Ti bloodlines. By mimicking that bloodline, the mysterious force in his body would no longer torment him.

As expected, his guess proved correct. As Ji Ning Shuang’s Xuan Ling Zhi blood continued to flow into him and weave with the Huang Gu Sheng Ti blood, it steadily wore away that mysterious force.

“That’s enough!” After some time, Ye Chen finally spoke.

Upon hearing this, Ji Ning Shuang withdrew her hand, her cheeks slightly pale. It seemed she had transferred a bit too much Xuan Ling Zhi essence blood—even her abundant vitality felt strained.

The night grew deeper, and silence enveloped the cave dwelling’s stone chamber inside and out.

Inside the cave dwelling, Ye Chen focused all his efforts on recovering his injuries. Outside, Ji Ning Shuang stood like a statue.

“Hmm?” Sometime later, the tranquility was broken by a soft exclamation.

Four graceful figures arrived one after another: Xi Yan, Bi You, Xuan Nu, and Luo Xi—wait, actually five, because a chubby little toddler sat on Xi Yan’s shoulder.

“How is he doing?” Bi You glanced at the stone chamber first, then at Ji Ning Shuang, her expression a bit uneasy, as they had once been bitter enemies.

“He should be fine,” Ji Ning Shuang murmured softly, then suddenly turned and disappeared into the night.

“The pressure she gives me is no less than Ye Chen’s,” Xuan Nu took a deep breath as she watched the direction Ji Ning Shuang had left.

“With her bloodline fully awakened, among the current generation in Da Chu, no one can rival her except Ye Chen,” Bi You parted her lips slightly, a flash of self-mockery in her beautiful eyes.

“She really is ridiculously strong,” Luo Xi nodded firmly.

“I heard from my master that experts of the same level fighting together can have an unexpectedly good synergy,” Xi Yan scratched her head. “Hmm, that must be why he brought her back—they really do work well as a team.”

“Whoa!” While they were discussing, the little spirit child on Xi Yan’s shoulder suddenly shouted, “What’s that?”

Hearing this, the four women looked in the direction the little spirit child was pointing.

There, above the cave dwelling’s stone chamber, a illusory figure floated out, sitting cross-legged with golden light swirling around it, exuding a majestic aura like a deity. Who else could it be but Ye Chen?

“Soul out of body?” Bi You’s delicate brows furrowed immediately.

“His physical body is withering,” the little spirit child pointed at Ye Chen’s body, still sitting in the cave dwelling’s stone chamber. Without its soul, it was like a dead tree, decaying at a rapid pace.

“Why would his soul leave his body?” Xuan Nu’s face turned pale.

“Master won’t be in danger, right?” Xi Yan asked anxiously, looking at Xuan Nu.