Chapter 380: Secrets Revealed, Threads Unraveled
“– I take that back.”
‘Yang Chanzhen’ lay on her back on the gradually calming lake surface, her clothes damp from the spray, her voluptuous and graceful figure faintly visible, her alluring curves breathtaking.
She lowered her eyes slightly, a hint of admiration appearing on her usually cold face.
“You… are worthy.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Miss.”
Lin Tianlu smiled gently, releasing his hold and helping her up as he stood up.
‘Yang Chanzhen’s’ eyes flickered, but she didn’t resist.
But as she stood up, the silk veil covering her face slipped off and fell into the lake.
Lin Tianlu instinctively glanced at her face and froze.
—Truly… a beauty that could topple nations.
Her face was like jade, her lips red and her teeth white, her features perfect and flawless, her skin like a rare treasure, like a plum blossom blooming in the snow, an enchanting allure emanating from her elegant face.
A peerless beauty, like no other. Even celestial beings couldn’t compare to her breathtaking beauty.
Lin Tianlu quickly came back to his senses and picked up the fallen veil, handing it to her: “Miss, you should put your veil back on.”
“…You are… too kind and merciful.”
‘Yang Chanzhen’ put the veil back on, concealing her captivating beauty, and glanced at him indifferently: “If I had counterattacked just now, you would have been injured.”
“I didn’t sense any killing intent in your sword, Miss, you were clearly holding back.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and cupped his hands: “Now that our spar is over, do you have any other tests for me, Miss?”
“This body can no longer use any stronger sword techniques. If I push it, it will damage its foundation.”
‘Yang Chanzhen’ stood with her sword in hand, her voice calm and indifferent: “But if you want to continue sparring, Master Lin, I will naturally accompany you.”
Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but chuckle awkwardly.
This Lord of the Heavenly Sea was truly… battle-hungry.
Although she didn’t seem hostile, her cold and intense fighting spirit hadn’t diminished… she still seemed eager for a fight.
“Please take care of Miss Yang’s body and don’t injure her.”
He mused and then asked: “But after our spar just now, I still don’t know your name, Miss.”
“My name?”
‘Yang Chanzhen’ pondered for a moment.
Then, she said calmly and indifferently: “My name is Yu Xuanling.”
The smile on Lin Tianlu’s face froze, his eyes widening in astonishment.
Yu… Xuanling?!
…
Inside Min Village.
‘Mao Ruoyu’s’ sudden change in demeanor startled Hua Shuya and Cheng Yishi, who were sitting beside her.
Yun Yue, hearing the commotion, immediately looked over, her brows furrowing slightly, and asked tentatively: “Ruoyu, are you still conscious?”
“She’s currently asleep.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’s’ cold blue eyes swept over their faces, and she stepped out of the bamboo house, looking up at the peak of Mount Min, shrouded in clouds and mist.
She touched her chest lightly, her eyes flickering, and murmured: “He’s… on the mountain now…?”
Hua Shuya hurriedly followed her out of the house, but she didn’t dare to approach, only whispering: “Madam, what happened just now? Why did Sister Ruoyu suddenly fall asleep, and you—”
“I have a deep connection with this place.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’ turned her head slightly and said indifferently: “Although I don’t want to disturb you, the timing is perfect now, I might as well have a chat with you.”
Then, she raised her hand slightly, her wrist twisting, and a strange ripple spread out from beneath her feet, enveloping the area within ten zhang.
A gentle breeze blew, as if a strange and powerful force was brewing beneath the earth.
Cheng Yishi, who had just walked out of the house, paled, and she quickly summoned her battle-axe, shielding Hua Shuya, her gaze fixed warily on ‘Mao Ruoyu.’
“What are you trying to—”
“You… are too weak.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’s’ expression was indifferent as she casually pointed with her finger.
The next moment, the surrounding ripples erupted with a blinding light!
Cheng Yishi and Hua Shuya felt an incredibly powerful pressure crushing them, and they couldn’t help but groan, almost collapsing to the ground.
Yun Yue quickly appeared in front of them, waving her sleeve to dispel the pressure, and she glared at ‘Mao Ruoyu,’ her expression serious: “You… cannot harm my family!”
“Since when… are you my family?”
A cold voice echoed, and the surrounding light intensified, as if turning the world into pure white.
…
As the light gradually faded.
Yun Yue, shielding the two women behind her, looked around cautiously. The surroundings had changed drastically.
It was no longer the quiet and peaceful bamboo forest, but a moonlit lake with a jade platform, surrounded by countless lotus flowers and floating duckweed, the scenery beautiful and dreamlike, the lingering mist creating an ethereal atmosphere, like the legendary Yaochi (Jade Pool).
“Where is this…?”
“The secret realm within Mount Min.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’s’ indifferent voice echoed from afar.
“It’s a fragmented remnant of the Soul Origin Heart Realm, its soul power still lingering, after thousands of years, it has formed its own realm, this Heavenly Pond and Lotus Platform.”
“Ha… ha…”
Hua Shuya and Cheng Yishi helped each other up, gasping for breath. Although the scenery was breathtaking, they were even more confused.
How could this woman casually summon the hidden secret realm within Mount Min and even drag them here?
Yun Yue’s eyes flickered, and she mused: “I’ve never heard of a Soul Origin Heart Realm being controlled by others. Even if its master is gone, it’s not something that can be easily manipulated.
Unless, the manipulator has a deep connection with this Soul Origin Heart Realm, or—”
She paused slightly, her voice lowering: “You are its master.”
“…”
‘Mao Ruoyu’ didn’t respond, only closing her eyes, her head slightly raised, as if enjoying the gentle breeze by the lake.
And as light swirled around her, her simple and dignified robe and skirt transformed into a beautiful, water-colored dress, silk gauze draping over her arms and waist, embroidered sashes and ribbons adorning her shoulders, her previously neatly styled silver hair now flowing freely, like fluttering butterflies, tied with a ribbon.
Her skirt rippled like water, her long and shapely legs wrapped in thin, shimmering stockings, adorned with delicate and seductive floral patterns.
In the blink of an eye, ‘Mao Ruoyu’ had transformed into her former, breathtakingly beautiful self, like a goddess emerging from the mist, her figure as ethereal and untouchable as the moon reflecting on water.
Hua Shuya blinked her beautiful eyes and murmured in amazement:
“So beautiful…”
But at this moment, Yun Yue’s expression changed drastically, and she quickly pushed the two women behind her: “Get back!”
“Eh?”
As they were stunned, Yun Yue quickly formed hand seals with a serious expression.
The next moment, a powerful impact erupted from the lotus platform!
“Ugh!”
Yun Yue was sent flying backward more than ten zhang, exhaling softly, her eyes flickering.
‘Mao Ruoyu’ then looked back at her indifferently: “To be defeated by a junior like you was truly humiliating. I’ll naturally have to regain my honor today.”
Yun Yue waved her sleeve and stood gracefully, a cold smile on her face: “If you’re still holding a grudge from our encounter in the Netherworld, you could have just told me, and I would have let you have your way, without any resistance. There was no need to wait until Mount Min.”
“I don’t need your pity.” ‘Mao Ruoyu’s’ gaze was cold, her lips moving slightly: “Defeating you personally is more satisfying.”
“You’re more childish than I thought.”
“Childish?”
‘Mao Ruoyu’ raised an eyebrow slightly.
But she wasn’t angered by this taunt, instead clenching her jade-like hand, wrapped in silver threads, and murmuring: “Perhaps… being trapped in this place for tens of thousands of years, filled with ‘resentment,’ has… affected me somewhat. I just want a good fight.”
“Resentment?” Yun Yue’s heart skipped a beat, as if grasping a clue. She realized that this strange woman sharing Ruoyu’s body was truly different from before.
Judging by her previous state, when she and Ruoyu’s souls were merged, she wouldn’t have acted so strangely and inexplicably.
But before she could ask further, ‘Mao Ruoyu’ suddenly pointed her finger.
“Wh-What is this?!”
Hua Shuya suddenly cried out in alarm.
Yun Yue quickly looked over and saw Hua Shuya enveloped in a cage of light, lifting her into the air and carrying her towards the lake.
Not only Hua Shuya, but Cheng Yishi was also trapped in a similar cage.
“How could there be such a…”
Cheng Yishi’s body was shrouded in black energy, her crimson eyes gleaming as she gritted her teeth and swung her battle-axe fiercely.
Clang—!
The axe blade struck the seemingly fragile bars of the cage, but it didn’t leave a mark, even sending a strange force back that almost numbed her hands. She stumbled and hit the back of the cage with a muffled groan.
So hard!
Boom, boom—
With two sudden and deafening roars, two azure dragons, their scales shimmering, emerged from the lake, their majestic figures coiling and twisting. They grabbed the cages holding Hua Shuya and Cheng Yishi and lifted them into the air, suspending them above the lake.
This incredible and shocking sight stunned Hua Shuya and Cheng Yishi, momentarily speechless.
Dragons…
There were truly dragons in this world?
“Ruoyu!”
Yun Yue shouted urgently: “Stop! Don’t hurt them!”
“I have no intention of harming them right now, there’s no need to panic.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’ withdrew her gaze and said indifferently: “Now… I just want to make you suffer a bit.”
“You—”
Yun Yue was momentarily speechless, but her heart eased slightly.
It seemed that this strange woman still had some compassion and didn’t truly want to be their enemy.
“So you trapped them to fight me alone?”
“Naturally.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’ waved her sleeve, and a guqin, as clear and translucent as jade, materialized, several silk ribbons extending from it and wrapping around the carved stone pillars at the four corners of the platform, suspending it in mid-air before her.
She raised her hand and placed it on the strings, her long eyelashes lowered slightly, and said calmly: “Cang Hu Yun Yue, show me your true abilities.”
“Alright.”
Yun Yue took a deep breath, calming herself, and smiled faintly, spreading her arms, countless moon-like discs appearing around her.
“Since being rescued by Tianlu, I haven’t truly fought seriously. It’s a good opportunity to spar with you, Miss.”
Zhing—
A string was plucked, a clear, melodious, and lingering note echoing.
But Yun Yue’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she waved her sleeve, the moon discs swirling around her, blocking the incoming invisible ripples, sparks of light exploding between them.
—She was truly different from before.
Just a single move, and Yun Yue was inwardly amazed.
Not only had Ruoyu’s cultivation improved drastically, but the techniques she used in this Soul Origin Heart Realm were even more profound and powerful!
“I’m attacking!”
Yun Yue shouted softly, her expression turning serious. The hundreds of moon discs swirling around her instantly transformed into streaks of light, attacking from all directions. At the same time, her hands moved, a slender, ice-like sword materializing in her hand, her figure flickering as she stepped forward, appearing before ‘Mao Ruoyu’ in an instant— “Foolish.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’ didn’t even raise her eyes, just casually plucking a string.
Clang!
A crisp, metallic sound echoed as the two of them exchanged several incredibly fast blows. Moon shadows intertwined and collided, turning into a dazzling light that almost enveloped the lotus platform, a chilling wind blowing as ice crystals shattered and scattered.
In an instant, the graceful figure of the Cang Hu flickered and darted, her sword light flashing as she attacked relentlessly.
But ‘Mao Ruoyu,’ sitting in the center of the platform, didn’t even move, only lowering her eyes and plucking the strings, the clear and gentle melody creating invisible ripples that effortlessly blocked all the attacks, a seemingly flawless defense.
Even the seemingly delicate ribbons couldn’t be cut by the moon discs.
“Such cultivation…” Yun Yue leaped back, her brows furrowed, and she slashed at the ribbons wrapped around the pillars.
But the moment her blade cut the ribbons, they exploded into countless silver threads, quickly wrapping around her arm and body.
“Damn it—”
Her body pulled and yanked, Yun Yue was caught off guard and slammed against a stone pillar, a muffled groan escaping her lips as she fell to the ground.
She tried to pull at the threads wrapped around her body, but they wouldn’t break.
“Don’t waste your energy, these are Transformation Threads, they can’t be broken with brute force.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’ calmly smoothed the trembling strings and said slowly: “Using ordinary Yin energy will only make them stronger.”
“Such a wondrous artifact, truly an eye-opener.”
Yun Yue’s moon-white hair was disheveled, her long dress like blooming flowers, a forced smile on her lips.
‘Mao Ruoyu’ looked at her calmly: “You’re only using twenty percent of your strength.”
“You’re still Ruoyu, how could I truly attack you with all my might…”
“Since you’re holding back, you should be punished.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’ plucked a string.
Yun Yue’s face changed slightly, and she was about to dodge when the Transformation Threads around her body suddenly tightened, making her tremble.
In that moment of distraction, several streaks of water-colored light struck her limbs and neck, slamming her against a stone pillar, sending dust and debris flying.
“Ugh!”
The fox woman groaned, a pained expression on her face.
As she was about to struggle, she realized that her limbs were now bound by water-colored silver threads, her body suspended in mid-air, unable to move.
The silver threads tightened, pulling Yun Yue closer.
‘Mao Ruoyu’ calmly plucked the strings of her guqin, and several jade-like swords, seemingly formed from condensed soul power, materialized beside her. Their sharp edges turned towards the helpless Yun Yue.
“Such a pathetic sight in defeat.”
“After your antics in the Netherworld, Ruoyu deserves some payback.”
Yun Yue coughed lightly, a gentle smile appearing on her face.
‘Mao Ruoyu’ pointed with her finger, and a streak of light instantly pierced Yun Yue’s arm.
“Ugh!”
Yun Yue’s body trembled, the color draining from her face.
Although her right arm wasn’t severed, it felt numb and limp, an excruciating pain spreading through it.
This was… a sword of consciousness?
“Still not resisting?”
A cold voice echoed in her ears, and Yun Yue bit her lip, forcing a smile: “I admit defeat… further resistance is pointless.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’ lowered her eyes slightly, her gaze indifferent: “Disappointing.”
She picked up a sword and pointed it at Yun Yue’s heart. As the ribbons pulled her closer, Yun Yue trembled, feeling a cold sensation against her chest.
The sharp sword tip was pressed against her heart, slightly denting the skin over her full bosom, making Yun Yue’s lips tremble, her eyebrows furrowed in discomfort, as if she could already feel the chill of death.
But even so, she didn’t resist or struggle, instead trying to relax her body, seemingly trying to appease her.
“…You truly are a foolish fox.”
A flicker of emotion appeared on ‘Mao Ruoyu’s’ face, and she frowned: “Aren’t you afraid that I’ll truly kill you?”
“I still… trust you, Ruoyu…” Yun Yue’s face turned pale, and she whispered: “But if I truly die here, please… take good care of Tianlu.”
“…”
A displeased look appeared on ‘Mao Ruoyu’s’ face, and she pushed forward with her wrist, the sword seemingly piercing Yun Yue’s body.
Yun Yue’s lips parted slightly, a pained moan almost escaping her lips, but her expression suddenly changed.
The sword instantly shattered into countless silver threads, wrapping around her body and limbs, pulling her up by the waist, her back arching, her legs spread wide, her buttocks raised high, her ample bosom squeezed tightly, almost bursting out of her clothes.
Yun Yue blinked her eyes repeatedly, looking up in surprise: “Ruoyu, you…”
“Although I’m dissatisfied and eager to fight, I won’t truly kill you.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’ had calmed down, her expression indifferent as she looked away: “Just stay there quietly in that… position.”
Yun Yue exclaimed softly, her mind stirring, as she suddenly realized—
That this was the same position she had put Mao Ruoyu in back in the Netherworld, when she had tied her up with her fox tails and even “teased and tormented” her.
Thinking about her past actions, Yun Yue couldn’t help but chuckle awkwardly and shamefully: “I-I was indeed a bit too rough with you back then, Ruoyu.”
It seemed that the other being within Ruoyu still remembered.
“Reflect on your actions.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’s’ voice returned to its cold and ethereal tone, and with a wave of her gauze sleeve, Yun Yue, suspended in the air, was moved to the side, like a pet hanging beside her.
“Mmm…” Yun Yue pursed her lips slightly, a shy and embarrassed look on her face, lowering her head.
It was one thing to be in that position in the privacy of the bedroom, but now, hanging here with her buttocks and breasts exposed, her clothes disheveled, was truly embarrassing.
‘Mao Ruoyu’ didn’t pay any attention to her, she just dispersed the guqin and waved her gauze sleeve. The cage trapped on the other side of the lake suddenly flew towards them.
Crack!
As it landed on the lotus platform, the cage shattered, and Cheng Yishi stumbled and fell to her knees, green smoke rising from her body, but she looked up with a furious expression and shouted: “Yun Yue, are you injured?!”
But before Yun Yue could respond, ‘Mao Ruoyu’ waved her hand, silver threads quickly wrapping around Cheng Yishi’s mouth and forcing her head down.
“She won’t die yet.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’s’ gaze was indifferent, and she said calmly: “As for you, you managed to injure yourself even while trapped in a cage.”
“…”
Cheng Yishi struggled to her feet, coughed twice, and slammed her battle-axe onto the ground, her gaze cold as she wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.
“Seeing Yun Yue severely injured and seemingly on the verge of death, you frantically attacked the cage, disregarding your own injuries, trying to break free, truly loyal and devoted.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’s’ eyes glanced over her body.
Although she was covered in black gauze for protection, the impact from the cage had still left numerous small wounds on her body, bleeding slightly. Her hands, gripping the axe, were covered in even deeper cuts, blood dripping, her bones seemingly bruised and fractured.
“It’s a pity that it’s just blind rage, even more foolish than that fox, you’re nothing but a wild beast.”
“Better than being heartless and uncaring.”
Cheng Yishi casually tore off the black gauze from her shoulder, wrapped it around her wrists and palms, and picked up her battle-axe again.
Then, her crimson eyes seemed to be burning with blood-red flames, her fury erupting into a surge of killing intent.
“Mao Ruoyu, if you still have a conscience, wake up! How can you let an outsider control your body?! If you don’t wake up, I’ll bash your head in, even if it takes all my strength!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Cheng Yishi lunged forward, swirling with crimson energy, her eyes wide with fury, and swung her battle-axe down fiercely!
—Clang!
A sword blade blocked the attack, effortlessly withstanding the powerful blow, a wave of crimson energy rippling outwards.
“A pity.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’, her sword raised, looked up at Cheng Yishi with indifferent eyes and said calmly: “To see the once renowned Solitary Star of the Southern Region reduced to such a state, truly lamentable.”
“What… did you say?”
Cheng Yishi’s expression darkened, and she pulled on her battle-axe, sparks flying as she was pushed back.
But after landing back on the ground, she raised her axe and assumed a fighting stance, her voice hoarse and low: “What do you mean by that?!”
She had heard Yang Chanzhen mention that strange title before, seemingly referring to her own ancestor, but now, hearing it from this woman— “Thousands of years have passed, and you’ve forgotten everything.”
‘Mao Ruoyu’s’ lips moved slightly, and she said slowly and deliberately: “Should I call you Cheng Yishi, or… the Solitary Emperor of the Six Heavenly Realms, Nan Lishang?”
