Chapter 2034: Meeting Again
To find a person within the vast Mist Sea, even with the spiritual perception of a demigod, is undoubtedly extremely difficult.
Unless one can, like Yun Che, attach their spiritual sense to the Abyss Dust.
Arriving at the location where he had "encountered" Hua Caili in Meng Jianzhou a few days earlier, Yun Che's spiritual sense, relying on the Abyss Dust, slowly spread outward like ripples.
Using the Abyss Dust as cover, this form of spiritual sense search by Yun Che was difficult to detect. However, the one secretly guarding Hua Caili was none other than the Sword Immortal Hua Qingying.
Peak of the Divine Extreme Realm — a realm Yun Che had never encountered nor even understood. Thus, he had to be extremely cautious.
To provide complete protection, one must always be in control of the overall situation, and the best position was undoubtedly high in the sky. Therefore, the Abyss Dust that carried Yun Che's spiritual sense only floated within ten feet of the low altitude, and its movement speed was especially slow.
One day...
Two days...
Three days...
Finally, on the fifth day, a grain of Abyss Dust touched the aura of that woman — one he had only been close to once, but which was firmly engraved in his heart.
Yun Che's eyes opened, emitting a terrifying, strange light.
Like a demon that had just awakened, it had found the prey it urgently desired to devour!
…………
Shii!
A sword beam shone like a rainbow, carving a piercing flash of might through the dim Mist Sea.
Then, that sword beam burst like a star, etching dozens of sword scars into the space ahead, and instantly shredding four Xuan beasts that had pounced from the darkness into hundreds of pieces.
The sword shadow flew back behind the young woman. The blade was like jade, the clothes white as snow, untouched by a single drop of blood.
"Forty-three swords..."
The young woman murmured. A single sword intent that transformed into forty-three sword scars — a sight stunning enough to amaze the world — yet on her lips, it was filled with disappointment.
Six months ago, she could transform a single sword intent into thirty-nine sword scars. This progress over six months was enough to please even Hua Qingying, but she herself was not satisfied.
Her Xuan path cultivation still remained at the Half-step Divine Annihilation Realm.
The Mist Sea training during this period, countless dangerous situations and life-threatening crises, and the various human natures and hearts she had personally experienced had caused her aura and gaze to undergo obvious changes without her realizing it.
But that too-solid barrier of the Divine Annihilation Realm showed no signs of loosening.
Although her father often said that even for a genius, breaking through the Divine Annihilation bottleneck would take hundreds or even thousands of years. For divine sons and divine maidens with divine ranks, being blocked by a bottleneck for a century was perfectly normal.
However, as the only one with a Perfect Divine Rank among the current Four Divine Sons and Two Divine Maidens, she was also the only one who had not yet entered the Divine Annihilation Realm.
If she were purely nineteen years old, she naturally wouldn't be anxious. But...
"Aunt, I think I can continue deeper."
Hua Caili spoke softly. Although she said "aunt," she was actually talking to herself.
Because since she had stepped into the Mist Sea, Hua Qingying had never responded to her.
Even when she was besieged by violent Abyss Beasts many times and covered in wounds, even when she was ambushed by people, Hua Qingying never appeared.
It was as if she had long left her side, leaving her alone to face the vast Mist Sea. As a divine maiden of a divine kingdom, raised with care since childhood, she undoubtedly found it hard to adapt to loneliness. But as a divine maiden of a divine kingdom, she also had an inherent nobility and pride in her bones. During the Mist Sea journey, many had wanted to accompany her, but she had rejected them all.
In her solitude, she would tell her aunt about all her thoughts — joys, disappointments, next goals, or various whims. She knew her aunt was right beside her, listening to every word she said.
She moved, heading deeper into the Mist Sea.
Completely unaware... that she had been targeted by a demon about to bring calamity to this world.
The Abyss Dust gradually thickened, and the light slowly dimmed. The ubiquitous danger left the mind and soul with hardly a moment's relaxation. So no one could stay in the Mist Sea for too long; no matter how resilient the mind and soul, there would always come a time of collapse.
Similarly, the tempering of the mind and soul in the Mist Sea often far exceeded its promotion of the Xuan path.
Hua Caili's footsteps were silent, her breathing light. Although her aura and the Glazed Cloud Sword had not yet reached perfect fusion, they were far beyond what they had been before entering the Mist Sea.
Far above the layers of Abyss Dust, Hua Qingying suddenly shifted her gaze.
A figure was slowly approaching, heading directly toward Hua Caili's location.
Him?
A slight surprise, then the name of that person surfaced in her mind...
That Yun Che from the Linyuan Realm?
Yun Che, with his Divine Sovereign Realm cultivation, had brutalized a group of Divine Lords — a scene so shocking that even someone as powerful as Hua Qingying could not help but be stunned, leaving her with a strong impression of him.
And this person, whom she had only glimpsed by chance and thought would never cross paths with again, had actually entered the Mist Sea — and so deep into it.
Cultivation... Divine Lord Realm, Level 2, and nearing a breakthrough?
Hua Qingying's brow moved slightly.
It seemed only about half a year had passed, yet he had crossed an entire major realm and nearly two minor realms?
Unless through a special inheritance or external force, such progress in such a short time was almost impossible even in a divine kingdom.
However... she did not know that because Yun Che's profound vein level was so high, breaking through the Divine Sovereign Realm was comparable to others breaking through the Divine Lord Realm, and breaking through the Divine Lord Realm was comparable to others breaking through the Divine Annihilation Realm. Otherwise, even as a Sword Immortal, she would certainly not be able to remain calm.
In her line of sight, Yun Che's posture was similar to Hua Caili's: footsteps light, aura completely concealed — a normal state of vigilance in the Mist Sea.
She withdrew her attention from him, and at this moment, her icy eyes suddenly focused.
In the area where Hua Caili was, the wandering Abyss Beasts all converged... approaching Hua Caili's location, as if drawn by some aura.
Her spiritual sense swept over — nearly thirty of them!
And their destruction aura was all at the late-stage or even peak Divine Lord Realm.
Abyss Beasts had no consciousness beyond destruction; this was the most basic common sense of the Abyss. The direction these Abyss Beasts roamed could only be a dangerous coincidence.
As they continued to wander, one by one... they gradually approached the danger range.
Any one of them, Hua Caili could handle with ease.
But at such a distance, if Hua Caili alarmed even one of them, during the battle, she would surely attract all the other Abyss Beasts. Then...
Hua Qingying did not warn Hua Caili, nor did she make any move.
If it really happened like that, it would be a true death situation for Hua Caili!
She wanted to witness how far Hua Caili could struggle when facing a death situation.
This coincidence might be the most painful and profound lesson of her Mist Sea journey!
Hua Caili clearly sensed the approaching danger and stopped her steps. The Glazed Cloud Sword also silently shifted into her hand.
Suddenly, she thrust out a sword. A sword beam tore through the dark curtain, shooting a hundred feet away, piercing through a lurking Abyss Beast.
Rooar!
The Abyss Beast let out an angry howl, and a black shadow burst out, rushing straight toward Hua Caili, covered in dark blood.
Hua Caili concentrated her mind to respond, but as her sword momentum just rose, more than a dozen howls from different Abyss Beasts echoed around her simultaneously.
The Xuan Qi she had released had alarmed all the nearby Abyss Beasts.
Driven by the desire for destruction, more than a dozen violent auras also pounced toward her.
Hua Caili's eyes suddenly focused. Reason made her instantly retract her sword momentum and prepare to flee with all her might.
But the positions from which these dozen-plus Abyss Beasts pounced perfectly sealed off all her escape routes.
The young woman no longer retreated. The Glazed Cloud Sword lightly swept, carving a long-lasting sword scar in front of her... then instantly exploded into a sword beam like a blazing star in the night sky.
Shii! The Abyss Beast closest to her was again pierced through by the sword beam. Its body faltered slightly, but its movements became even more violent, charging straight into the layers of sword beams like a star curtain. Its powerful body was also sliced layer by layer, finally, when it approached within ten feet, all its aura was extinguished.
It also extinguished thirty percent of Hua Caili's sword beams.
And at this moment, the auras of Abyss Beasts from behind, left, right, sides... and even above, all pounced close.
Rip!
Besieged by so many Abyss Beasts of similar realm, in the very first instant, Hua Caili's white clothes were already stained with blood. She did not panic or lose composure. Her body danced with the Glazed Cloud Sword, and in a flash, she poured out seven layers of sword curtains, covering the seven Abyss Beasts closing in.
The Glazed Cloud Sword was slender and elegant, yet it possessed terrifying sharpness. The jade-like sword light, in an instant, sent a rain of filthy blood flying through the air.
If these were early-stage Divine Lord Abyss Beasts, they would surely have been shattered by the sword curtain. But under the rain of blood and sword light, the knocked-back Abyss Beasts bore shocking gashes on their bodies, yet could not be severed.
Fighting Abyss Beasts in the Mist Sea inherently placed one at a disadvantage due to the suppression of Abyss Dust. To heavily injure and knock back seven peak Divine Lord Abyss Beasts with a single sword... this scene was stunning enough to dazzle the world.
But behind, new Abyss Beasts had already pounced again, preventing her from delivering a sufficiently fatal follow-up. Her sword momentum changed accordingly, and the sword shadows swirling around her, overlapping, bloomed into an exceptionally gorgeous white jade sword lotus.
Three Abyss Beasts had their heads twisted off cleanly; filthy blood stained the young woman's body.
The Abyss Beasts, knowing no fear, surged crazily together. Their violent destruction force annihilated the sword lotus, whose sword intent had greatly waned. Four residual forces struck Hua Caili at the same instant.
Hua Caili's face paled slightly. She forcibly borrowed the force and, lightning-fast, tilted her sword to retreat.
But as she barely managed to escape, the seven Abyss Beasts she had knocked back with a single sword had all pounced again. Seven brutal, cold destruction forces pressed down solely on her. Her thought of desperately fleeing was finally completely extinguished at this moment. The Abyss Beasts' destruction desire followed pure instinct — they would not stop until death. When speed did not have a sufficiently great advantage, forcibly fleeing was an impossible delusion that would only attract more Abyss Beasts.
Hua Caili's gaze turned icy cold, her sword intent focused on her heart. Her five senses instantly became clear, and it seemed as if the world only existed for the Glazed Cloud Sword.
The Glazed Cloud Sword shot out. The sword beam was no longer hesitant — cold and resolute.
Above in the distant sky, Hua Qingying silently watched the changes in Hua Caili's state of mind and sword momentum, watching as her white clothes were slowly stained with blood.
Shii!
The sound of sword beams tearing through the air became unusually sharp. An Abyss Beast covered with sword scars was finally severed by a single sword, exploding into a rain of blood.
At the same time, three destruction forces simultaneously struck Hua Caili's back heavily.
Hua Caili's body shook violently, but as she turned, she still moved as gracefully as a white butterfly. The Glazed Cloud Sword cut a heavy white beam across the air.
Crack!!
The throats of three Abyss Beasts were severed halfway at once. The lingering sword might bent their heads sharply.
Yun Che approached unhurriedly.
In the Abyss cores of the Abyss Beasts besieging Hua Caili, a bit of his consciousness resided. Although he was not at the scene, the battle situation was fully presented in his soul sea.
"What impressive sword forms and intent. Elegant and graceful, yet containing such astonishing sword might. No wonder the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom specializes in the sword path."
"The jade sword in her hand... is it the 'Glazed Cloud Sword' from the Pure Land, as Meng Jingzhe described to Meng Jianzhou in his memory?"
"Glazed... Cloud..."
...
One by one, Abyss Beasts were slain by the Glazed Cloud Sword. The dim space and ground were engraved with long-lasting white sword scars.
Filthy blood covered the ground. Under the constantly shining sword beams, the broken limbs of twenty-one Abyss Beasts were reflected.
Boom!
The sword intent was clearly disordered. Even her star-moon-like eyes had a slight glaze. Blood splattered simultaneously on Hua Caili and on an Abyss Beast in front of her.
The Abyss Beast was cut in half at the waist. The young woman's figure plummeted straight down. The color on her face quickly faded as her body fell.
Twenty-two... she silently counted in her heart. Her arm raised horizontally, and the hand gripping the Glazed Cloud Sword trembled slightly.
From the right and behind, three more violent Abyss Beasts pounced straight at her.
This time, Hua Caili's reaction was noticeably slower. She simply ignored them. The Glazed Cloud Sword emitted a harsh, mournful sword cry.
Hua Caili's protective Xuan Qi was torn open in an instant. Three destruction forces overlapped and struck her body. At the same time, the sword might of the Glazed Cloud Sword also bloomed on the three Abyss Beasts.
Boom!
Hua Caili's consciousness went blank in an instant. She was sent flying far away. The Glazed Cloud Sword also flew out of her hand, falling far away.
Her body crashed heavily onto a large rock, but she could not immediately stand up.
Intense pain assaulted her from all over. She tried to awaken her consciousness. In her blurry vision, the three Abyss Beasts, marked with terrifying scars, were already charging at her with strange howls, carrying the rapidly approaching aura of death.
She raised her hand. Without any thought, the Glazed Cloud Sword returned to her hand on its own.
Sensing the presence of the Glazed Cloud Sword, in Hua Caili's chaotic soul sea, a vague sword intent suddenly caught her attention.
She did not get up, but the arm holding the sword traced a strange sword arc... In an instant, infinite sword intent surged like a sudden angry sea wave, spreading across heaven and earth in a single moment.
Hua Qingying, who was about to intervene, halted her movement.
Heaven-Breaking...
First Sword...!
No sword beam. No sword scar.
Three Abyss Beasts were bizarrely severed in mid-air.
Even the destruction force they carried did not trigger any disastrous explosion; instead, it dissipated almost silently.
"..." Yun Che's steps had a momentary pause.
Hua Caili's arm slowly dropped. Although her whole body was already drained of strength, the Glazed Cloud Sword was still firmly held in her hand.
I succeeded... Her lips curved upward, revealing the most satisfied and joyful smile since stepping into the Mist Sea. Though the smile was stained with filthy blood and paleness, it was still breathtakingly beautiful.
Hua Qingying looked at her. In her cyan eyes, there was a rare glimmer of color.
Caili, you are truly the most perfect divine successor in the history of the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom. It took me seventy-seven years to gain the Heaven-Breaking sword intent. Your father took four hundred years. And you... only nine years.
Your future will surely... far surpass mine.
The young woman's joy was soon interrupted by the roars of Abyss Beasts.
Ahead of her, the gray shadows of two more Abyss Beasts appeared.
She held the Glazed Cloud Sword crosswise, but could no longer gather enough Xuan Qi. Biting her lip, the pain covering her body finally caused tears of grievance to fill her beautiful eyes: "Aunt... save me quickly, wuwu... I really... can't anymore..."
As she murmured, the two Abyss Beasts, their destruction desire ignited, howled and pounced.
A wisp of formless sword might gathered between Hua Qingying's fingers, but it did not shoot down... because a hasty aura was rushing in at great speed.
Boom!!
A violent surge of energy shot straight in, colliding with the two Abyss Beasts charging at Hua Caili. The abruptly erupted Xuan Qi knocked them over in mid-air, sending them flying sideways with screams. A giant sword glowing with a peculiar vermilion radiance appeared in his hand. In an instant, he was beside them, and the vermilion giant sword slammed heavily onto the Abyss Beast... With a booming sound, the body of the Abyss Beast, which even her Glazed Cloud Sword had to struggle to sever, shattered in mid-air, its internal organs spraying into a mist of fragments.
His figure flickered again, appearing beside the other Abyss Beast. One sword strike crashed down.
Another sound like thunder. Its body was directly smashed into four pieces, flying off in different directions.
Quickly dispatching the two Abyss Beasts, Yun Che let out a light breath, fully retracted his Xuan Qi, and then lightly landed in front of Hua Caili.
"Are you alright... Hmm?"
He looked at Hua Caili, and Hua Caili looked at him. They both spoke at the same time: "You?"
Her aunt did not appear, as if she were truly no longer by her side. Free from danger, Hua Caili's mind relaxed. The immense fatigue and weakness prevented her from standing up, but she still gave a grateful, faint smile: "You're actually in the Mist Sea too... Thank you for saving me."
"No need." Yun Che shook his head. "Since it's you, perhaps I was meddling again."
"Huh?" Hua Caili showed obvious surprise.
Yun Che looked around and said, "With such a big commotion, the Abyss Beasts in the surrounding area are definitely all drawn over. So this place should be temporarily safe. You can heal more safely here. Farewell."
With that, Yun Che turned and left directly.
"Ah?" His actions clearly deviated far from Hua Caili's expectations. Almost subconsciously, she spoke out: "Wait! You..."
But Yun Che acted as if he hadn't heard and soon disappeared into the Mist Sea.
Hua Caili was momentarily stunned, then murmured softly, "What a strange person."
"I actually met him again. And his aura just now..."
Yun Che's steps showed no hesitation or pause. Instead, they grew faster, until he was very, very far away... far enough to escape Hua Qingying's spiritual perception.
"You went through so much trouble, using such underhanded methods to save her, why are you leaving in such a hurry?" Li Suo asked, puzzled.
"Because what I want is not to 'save her,'" Yun Che said slowly. "It's for her to 'save me.'"
"...What do you mean?" Li Suo again encountered words she could not understand.
Yun Che did not explain. "You'll know soon enough."
He turned and raised his eyes, looking at the grayish sky above.
The one who made him expend so much effort was not Hua Caili, but Hua Qingying.
The height at which she stood, the scenery she had seen in her life, were all beyond his imagination. He hoped that everything he did next would successfully deceive her eyes, and... her understanding.