Chapter 30: 030 Part 1

Wei Mingyi only believed thirty percent of Wu Chongyun’s words.

Her Shizun was always a woman of few words, burying everything deep in her heart. Since she was to accompany her and detoxify her body, she needed to exercise one hundred percent patience, and only when Shizun was willing, slowly unlock the stories of her past.

After saying those words, Wu Chongyun lowered her eyes and fell silent. Her expression was silent and lonely, her eyes becoming vacant and lost once more.

Wei Mingyi gazed at her, her heart inevitably filled with pity. Following Wu Chongyun’s words, she soothed gently, “Alright, alright, Shizun isn’t in pain. Shizun has no enemies.”

This tone, as if coaxing a child, drew a glare of dissatisfaction from Wu Chongyun. Yet this slight annoyance made that empty gaze come alive again, and a cheerful smile once again curved Wei Mingyi’s lips.

Outside Yangchun Terrace, the world was bleak and miserable. After the Lifeless Bell stopped, the entire Wild Domain seemed like a ferocious beast awakened, bringing forth mournful howls. The sky was like a block of lead, sinking heavily downwards, as if about to collapse entirely. The scene of bleak clouds and howling hurricanes was incomparable to the artificially created minor evil tide.

From the Daoist rite grounds, one could look out and see the wraiths shifting outside. At first, the outlines of the wraiths were still distinguishable, but gradually, all the wraiths drew closer to each other, piling up like a grotesque, monstrous beast of bizarre shape. As the horde of wraiths stampeded, the earth trembled violently. A continuous, rumbling explosion echoed, as if the path of the wraiths would leave behind a massive trench.

The Daoists of Chongyuan Sect and Hidden Moon Sect didn’t stay at Yangchun Terrace. The wraiths at this moment seemed fused into a single mass, utterly impossible to isolate a patch for cultivation. The spirit incense used to disperse the wraiths, facing the vast evil tide, was now completely ineffective. Anyone in the Wild Domain had to avoid the wraiths’ sharp edge.

Wei Mingyi and Wu Chongyun also didn’t linger long in the Wild Domain. Returning to Chongyuan Sect, the air immediately felt fresh and wonderful. Firstly, there was no oppressive Primordial Chaos Qi, and secondly, the Spirit Vein, raised to Profound-Rank, was purer and finer than before. While their fellow sect members immersed themselves in diligent cultivation, Wei Mingyi did not sit down to meditate and cultivate. She remembered Hua Xiaozhu’s words and fed Wu Chongyun the spirit pills.

The first three days were all primers. On the fourth day, they could finally take the actual Spirit-Restoring Pill. The Nine-Revolution Soul-Returning Elixir could counteract the “Wither and Flourish” poison. Although the Spirit-Restoring Pill wasn’t that powerful, it could at least help Wu Chongyun walk out of her agony. It was more targeted than the previous pills, meaning the full outbreak of “Wither and Flourish” would be delayed.

In the courtyard, pear blossoms that bloomed year-round were lifted by the mountain wind.

Wu Chongyun took a spirit pill handed to her by Wei Mingyi. Her expression was calm, as if carrying no expectations. Over the years she had been in Chongyuan Sect, Hua Xiaozhu had been continuously trying to cure her. Prescription after prescription changed. Initially, Hua Xiaozhu was full of hope, but after repeated failures, she grew more composed.

However—

Wu Chongyun discreetly glanced at Wei Mingyi, whose face, from brow to eyes, hid a blooming anticipation.

This cheap apprentice of hers had taken the role Hua Xiaozhu once held.

But what if the pill wasn’t as effective as they imagined?

Wu Chongyun thought to herself. Her lips parted slightly, wanting to pour cold water on Wei Mingyi’s expectations, but before she could speak, she listlessly closed her eyes again. After spending every day and night together, she had come to understand Wei Mingyi somewhat.

She wouldn’t feel disappointment or despair just because of a small setback. She had her own grand principles.

If she started talking, what might follow would be incessant nagging. Just thinking about it made a buzzing sound echo in her ears.

Wu Chongyun’s thoughts drifted. She unconsciously made a gesture of covering her ears.

Wei Mingyi had been observing Wu Chongyun since she took the pill. Seeing her suddenly raise her hand, her heart stirred. She quickly stepped forward, lowering her gaze to look at Wu Chongyun. Her concerned voice held a touch of urgency: “Shizun, how is it? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Wu Chongyun only then came back from her daze. She stared at Wei Mingyi for a moment, then, as if nothing had happened, calmly lowered her hand.

“The Assistant Master didn’t say when this pill would take effect,” Wei Mingyi muttered to herself. After a moment, she gazed intensely at Wu Chongyun again. “Shizun, how do you feel? Do you still ache all over? Is your Nascent Soul still entangled by deathly aura?”

The questions came one after another, like a string of beads. Wu Chongyun began rubbing her ear again. “You’re so noisy,” she snorted softly.

Wei Mingyi refused to accept this. How was she noisy? But seeing Wu Chongyun’s expression, she softened again. Smiling sweetly, she said, “Then I’ll have to trouble Shizun to bear with it.”

Her eyes were full of hope and urgency. Wu Chongyun had originally not wanted to pay her any mind, but now, a sigh welled up deep within her heart. She still chose to introspect her Nascent Soul. The fellow Daoists of Chongyuan Sect had always been very attentive, but Wu Chongyun knew those efforts were essentially useless. If not for Hua Xiaozhu solemnly asking her, she would have been too lazy to check her own condition, her answers always perfunctory.

It’s useless.

Those four words seemed deeply branded into the depths of her soul.

However, at this moment of introspection, Wu Chongyun’s eyes suddenly froze. The Nascent Soul, previously riddled with holes from the erosion of “Wither and Flourish,” now had a faint wisp of cyan aura floating upon it. Compared to the poison, it seemed insignificant, but it contained an intensely powerful life force, slowly advancing inch by inch, repairing the countless scars on the Nascent Soul.

Wu Chongyun subconsciously wanted to circulate her spiritual energy. However, the “lock” left by Hua Xiaozhu before was still nailed onto her body. Stirring magical power was futile. After thinking for a moment, Wu Chongyun offered her right hand to Wei Mingyi. On her wrist appeared a circle of a red chain, precisely the form the flying shuttle that sealed her power had transformed into. “Unfasten it,” she said to Wei Mingyi.

Wei Mingyi grasped the right hand Wu Chongyun offered, her fingertip gently brushing over the chain. A person couldn’t stumble twice in the same pit. Wei Mingyi thought to herself. She pretended not to hear Wu Chongyun’s words and looked at her, saying, “Does Shizun want to stand up?”

Wu Chongyun pursed her lips.

She gazed deeply at Wei Mingyi, then brushed her hand away.

She didn’t insist on undoing the restriction. Instead, as Wei Mingyi had hoped, she stood up.

She usually stayed in the wheelchair, rarely walking on her own. When her feet touched the solid ground, her body inevitably swayed slightly. Before she could even take a step, Wu Chongyun was embraced by Wei Mingyi. She tilted her head up. Wei Mingyi’s hair, falling onto the hollow of her shoulder, brushed against her face and neck, bringing a slight ticklish sensation.

“What are you doing?” Wu Chongyun shook her head slightly. Both hands supporting herself on Wei Mingyi, she couldn’t be bothered to lift her hand and brush the hair away.

“Afraid Shizun would fall,” Wei Mingyi answered honestly. The moment she saw Wu Chongyun’s body totter, she couldn’t help but reach out and catch her in her arms.

Wu Chongyun said flatly, “I’m not a toddler learning to walk.”

Wei Mingyi blinked. “Then shall I let go?”

But Wu Chongyun didn’t respond. Her hands stayed resting on Wei Mingyi’s waist, motionless. She tilted her head slightly and quietly leaned against her embrace. Perhaps when she stood up, she had wanted to take a few steps, but now she was immersed in a warm hug. Wei Mingyi lowered her eyelashes, letting Wu Chongyun lean on her.

Shizun was always cold and aloof, but from her actions, one could see her longing for intimate embraces.

If Shizun truly came from a major clan, as she suspected, it was likely that clan hadn’t given her the corresponding care, right?

Wu Chongyun held on for a while, then let go.

She didn’t mention walking. She sat back in the wheelchair. A faint blush graced her face, her expression restrained and reserved.

“Not going to walk?” Wei Mingyi smoothed the wrinkles on her clothes and asked softly.

Wu Chongyun also pretended to be deaf. She asked, “How is your cultivation? Have you learned Six Classics Unrolled yet?”

Wei Mingyi: “…” It wasn’t that she didn’t want to work hard; she just had no affinity with Six Classics Unrolled. It seemed she’d have to forcibly acquire it when she had enough Talent Points. Speaking of which, why was it called Six Classics Unrolled? Could it be a fake book?

Wu Chongyun chuckled softly. “There’s no need to rush. Cultivating Daoist scriptures also depends on affinity.”

Wei Mingyi nodded in agreement.

Inside Chongyuan Sect, everything was improving, a scene of harmony and joy.

But in the Wild Domain, it was a scene of gloom and melancholy.

The evil tide surged. Dense masses of wraiths swarmed, an endless sea as far as the eye could see. Their movements were immense, like thunderbolts crashing down. Wherever they passed, the Primordial Chaos Qi grew thicker, making the cultivators who couldn’t leave in time feel as if they were carrying a great mountain on their backs, even their breathing growing difficult.

Inside the Fire Element Dwelling.

Lang Fengya’s expression was rather grim.

This location was on the path of the raging evil tide. Even in the center, she could hear the vibrations from the restriction array in the distance, wave after wave. The surging wraiths didn’t know how to avoid obstacles. They pressed forward relentlessly, sweeping everything before them until the obstacle in their path was completely obliterated. In the past, encampments, even with treasured tools protecting them, couldn’t hold out for long, trampled flat under the wraiths’ tireless assault. The Fire Element Dwelling’s Mountain Protection Array had already held for three days and three nights. She didn’t know how long it could last. She only clung to Wei Mingyi’s words like a lifesaving straw, gripping them tightly.

After all, besides hiding in the Fire Element Dwelling, they had absolutely no other choice.

In the past, when she survived, it wasn’t due to her own prowess but rather the will of heaven, a gift of fate.

Lang Fengya could still sit steadily in the Fire Element Dwelling, but some people within the restriction array were terrified by the continuous waves of wraiths outside. Those bizarre wraiths magnified infinitely in their pupils, breeding immense fear. Heart devils entangled them. When the surge of wraiths lessened slightly, some people would go mad, desperately rushing out, wanting to use the opportunity to leave the seemingly precarious Fire Element Dwelling and find a safe place to avoid the evil tide.

Upon learning this, Lang Fengya could only sigh.

She could let people in, but she couldn’t stop those determined to leave.

“Senior Sister Lang, can this grand array really hold?” Fellow Daoists close to Lang Fengya were also on tenterhooks, fearing the wraiths would breach the mountain gate, and they would all perish in the evil tide.

Lang Fengya’s gaze was deep. “At least there’s a barrier. At least there’s a sliver of hope.”

The Daoist forced a laugh, compelling herself to think positively. She then said, “If it holds…” Her words stopped abruptly mid-sentence. After the evil tide ended, the Heavenly Dao Alliance Daoists would come out to patrol and collect the remains scattered outside. If the Heavenly Dao Alliance learned of a place like the Fire Element Dwelling, would they let it go?

“If even the evil tide can’t breach it, then if I forbid the Heavenly Dao Alliance and its followers from entering, what can they do?” Lang Fengya gave a slight smile.