Chapter 1112: Tianji Realm Sealed Off
Yun Che had only asked on a whim, with no real expectation. To his surprise, his single sentence made the girl bristle instantly: "Nonsense! I'm definitely not someone from the Tianji Realm! The Tianji Realm is full of old, ugly, and weird grandpas! A cute little girl like me... and you actually said I'm from the Tianji Realm—that's too much! How infuriating!!"
"..." Yun Che's eyes went wide, and his momentum instantly weakened: "I... didn't mean it that way... I was just speaking offhandedly..."
"That's exactly what you meant!" Little Jasmine's face was full of anger. "This is the greatest harm you can do to a pretty girl. Hmph! I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Having said that fiercely, she actually turned around and flew far away.
"Hey!" Yun Che subconsciously reached out, but after thinking about it, he didn't stop her, muttering under his breath, "What the heck."
"You're not even chasing after me to appease me!!" Her even angrier voice came from afar. "I'm really not talking to you this time!"
As her voice faded, the girl sped away and soon vanished from Yun Che's sight.
Little Jasmine left and didn't reappear even after Yun Che returned to Heiya City.
She seemed innocent, naive, and even childish and unreasonable, but upon closer thought, she had actually been watertight from start to finish. Yet her eyes were exceptionally pure and flawless, like crystals embedded with stars, and she had never given him a sense of danger. Although she had nearly caused his death twice, for some reason, Yun Che couldn't bring himself to dislike her at all. When she left in a huff this time, even as he breathed a sigh of relief, he also felt a slight pang of reluctance.
"It's time to go to the Tianji Realm. I hope I can get something out of it." Thinking of the several billion Profound Stones on him, Yun Che felt quite confident. No matter how "upper-level" an upper-level star realm was, he refused to believe that so many Profound Stones couldn't buy him two pieces of "Heavenly Fate"!
Arriving at the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Ji had already returned. Seeing Yun Che, he instantly rose and stepped forward, speaking with immense excitement, "Young Master Ling Yun, the Soul Sect is finished. The structure of Heiya Realm is about to undergo a great change, and our Black Feather Chamber of Commerce has been reborn. All of this is thanks to you, young master. Your great kindness and virtue are beyond repayment... Please accept my bow!"
Mr. Ji finished excitedly and bowed deeply before Yun Che.
Although Yun Che had done nothing for the sake of the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce, in terms of the outcome, it was indeed a heaven-sent grace that gave them a new lease on life.
Yun Che stepped forward and helped him up, saying, "Mr. Ji, there's no need for this. I've come today to ask for a favor."
"Is the young master perhaps preparing to set off for the Tianji Realm?" Mr. Ji asked, then smiled and said, "Ruyan has mentioned your matter to me. If you want to find rare worldly treasures like the Nine-Star Buddha God Jade and the Royal Immortal Herb in a short time, the Tianji Realm is indeed an excellent choice, but the cost will be enormous. However, since you have this intention, you must have prepared well."
"As for going to the Tianji Realm," Mr. Ji's smile grew even warmer, "in fact, just half an hour ago, Ruyan personally began making arrangements for this matter. If you rest here for a short while, it should be ready soon..."
"Young master!"
Before Mr. Ji could finish, Ji Ruyan's slightly hurried voice came from behind. Mr. Ji turned around and frowned at her expression: "What happened?"
"Young master, I just received news." Ji Ruyan looked at Yun Che. "Just a few hours ago, the Tianji Realm suddenly announced that it was sealing its borders, refusing any visitors. All dimensional profound formations leading to the Tianji Realm have also become completely unusable."
"This..." Mr. Ji frowned deeply. "How could this happen?"
"It's said to be because of this time's Profound God Convention. Whether that's true or false, only the Tianji Realm itself knows." Ji Ruyan said.
"..." Yun Che's chest heaved as he asked, "Did they say when the seal will be lifted?"
"It will take about two years. It's said that the seal won't be lifted until after the Profound God Convention ends." Ji Ruyan's expression darkened. No one could have predicted such an untimely occurrence.
"..." Yun Che felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him from head to toe. He was silent for a long time before saying, "Since I can't go to the Tianji Realm, then any upper-level star realm will do, as long as there's a chance to find the Royal Immortal Herb."
"Young master..." Ji Ruyan bit her lip, then suddenly said with firm determination, "Why don't you stay in Heiya Realm for now? Leave the search for the Nine-Star Buddha God Jade and the Royal Immortal Herb to us. You have shown us great kindness, and we will give it our all."
"No need. I can search on my own. The Nine-Star Buddha God Jade is already found. As for the Royal Immortal Herb... there's always hope." Yun Che shook his head. Although the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce had an extensive influence and powerful intelligence network, this was still a lower-level star realm. To find the Royal Immortal Herb, only the highest-level upper-level star realms held even a glimmer of possibility.
"Young master!" Mr. Ji said with extreme solemnity, "Ruyan is right. It would be better for us to handle this matter. Young master, your ability and boldness are astonishing—unmatched in my lifelong experience. But after all, you are alone and have only been in the God Realm for a short time. Our Black Feather Chamber of Commerce, though based in a lower realm, has a heritage of fifty thousand years. Our intelligence network covers countless lower-level star realms and frequently interacts with many middle-level and even some upper-level star realms. So, in terms of searching ability, the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce is certainly far superior to you alone."
"..." Yun Che's expression wavered.
"I am a businessman and never want to owe anyone anything, especially debts of gratitude. Your kindness is as vast as the heavens, yet we cannot even fulfill such a small request as sending you to the Tianji Realm. I cannot overstate my shame." Mr. Ji raised one finger, his expression and voice profoundly serious. "One year. Please give us one year. Now that we are free from the Soul Sect's constraints, our actions are completely unrestricted. We will exhaust all our efforts and use every available intelligence line to find the Royal Immortal Herb for you. If we find it and it is within our ability, we will deliver it directly to your hands. If it is beyond our reach, we will inform you immediately. Please trust us."
"If... after a year, we still have found nothing, we will have no face to keep you here any longer."
Mr. Ji spoke with utmost sincerity and urgency. Though he was offering to help Yun Che, his tone was almost pleading.
Indeed, he was essentially a businessman. The Black Feather Chamber of Commerce had reached its current state also because of their family's generations-old principles of conduct. He longed to repay Yun Che, even at any cost.
Yun Che was deeply moved... That's right, in the end, he was just one person. Aside from the Yin Xue Realm, Flame God Realm, and Heiya Realm, he knew nothing about other star realms. He had only a vague concept of the overall structure of the God Realm.
Searching for news of the Royal Immortal Herb... how could he, alone, compare to the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce, which had been rooted in the God Realm for fifty thousand years, its branches extending to who knows where?
Thus, Yun Che no longer hesitated and nodded, "Alright, I'll leave it to Mr. Ji and Miss Ruyan."
"Excellent." Seeing Yun Che nod, Mr. Ji smiled with relief. "Tomorrow, I will push forward with this matter with full force. Please rest assured, young master. If you have nowhere else to go, please stay at the Black Feather Chamber. I will immediately arrange..."
"No need." Yun Che shook his head. "Before the Royal Immortal Herb is found, I will train at Black Soul Mountain. Oh, and there's one more thing I'd like to trouble you with, Mr. Ji: The Soul Sect must have hidden quite a few high-level profound swords. If it's convenient, could you obtain some for me? The more, the better."
"Very well. I await good news."
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Forced to remain in Heiya Realm, Yun Che entrusted the matter of the Royal Immortal Herb to the Black Feather Chamber of Commerce, set aside his distractions, and began to re-enter a state of training.
Deep within the Black Soul Mountain Range roamed large numbers of high-level profound beasts, many of which could pose a great threat to Yun Che. There were even late-stage Divine Tribulation Realm profound beasts that he could not handle, and possibly even Divine Spirit Realm profound beasts.
Arriving in an area dense with profound beasts, Yun Che descended, summoned Hong'er, and soon calmed his mind like still water. With a low roar, his profound energy exploded outward. Amidst the surging waves of air, he alarmed all the profound beasts within dozens of miles. In an instant, the earth shook, the mountains trembled, and the roars of beasts filled the sky.
He swung his heavy sword, sending out trails of crimson-golden flames. After Hong'er devoured the Eternal Night Demonic Sword, the Heaven-Defying Sword had more than doubled in both power and weight, making it difficult for Yun Che to control for a long time. Now, the Heaven-Defying Sword felt light and agile in his hands, but the sword momentum it unleashed was like a sky-covering storm, shaking the entire mountain range.
"ROAR——"
With a thunderous roar, a mountain-sized beast suddenly pounced from atop a tall mountain behind him. As it leapt, a massive shadow enveloped the space where Yun Che stood.
Without turning his body, Yun Che swung the Heaven-Defying Sword in reverse. As the air twisted, the flames and sword energy struck, shattering the massive beast's body in midair. The exploding blood was instantly dispersed by the air waves, splashing dozens of miles away.
The drifting scent of blood attracted even more profound beasts. Numerous auras began converging toward Yun Che's location, and that was exactly what he wanted. Peaceful training made him feel almost no progression in his profound power, and even his heart was gradually becoming hard to calm.
He needed danger—even a deathly peril that pushed him to the brink!
This was what Mo Li had taught him.
Black Soul Mountain trembled faintly. The sounds of rumbling, roaring, and screaming began to shake the heavens, never ceasing. Countless trees, plants, flesh, and blood, and flames flew in all directions.
For a long time, it did not subside.
The corpses of profound beasts around him grew more numerous, and flames spread for dozens of miles. Yun Che's body began to feel slightly fatigued and drained, but the power of each sword strike grew fiercer, and his blood burned even hotter.
But he did not know that high above, a pair of eyes had been silently watching him.
Little Jasmine sat with her legs folded on a cloud, her hands propping up her cheeks, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Yun Che. She had maintained this pose for a long time. She watched quietly and seriously, and even she herself did not know why she had watched such a boring scene for so long, so intently, unwilling to look away.
Half an hour passed, and the roars of the profound beasts finally ceased. Yun Che knelt on the ground, leaning on his sword, his body nearly breaking from the intense panting. Around him, the shattered remains of profound beasts could have piled into a high mountain. The stench of blood was so pungent it was nauseating.
Yun Che leaned against a piece of broken rock and began to heal his wounds. His expression was eerily calm... because the horrific injuries covering his body were, to him, the most ordinary and familiar thing in the world.
"Really... so alike." Her gaze still fixed on Yun Che, Little Jasmine murmured softly, her eyes unconsciously growing distant and hazy.