# Chapter 2041: Open Conspiracy
"Brother Yun, those various elemental powers you possess—were they also taught to you by your master?"
"Of course."
"But my aunt says that cultivating multiple elemental powers is one of the taboos of cultivation. Not only does it slow down one's progress, it can easily cause one's profound energy to spiral out of control and damage one's profound veins. Those who can truly cultivate multiple elements simultaneously require both exceptional physical constitution and comprehension. One in a million profound practitioners can manage it."
"Your aunt is a remarkable person. Among the people she knows, the one with the strongest mastery of elemental forces could only cultivate three elements at once. Yet you cultivate five... no, six."
The person who cultivated three elemental powers she referred to was one of the Four Great Divine Officials. In the Abyss, that person stood second only to the Abyss Lord, above all other beings.
And the man before her eyes now surpassed even that Divine Official in this regard, exceeding the very limits of the Abyss's understanding.
Yun Che's reply was calm and without ripples: "It was only after I left my master and truly entered the world that I gradually came to understand just how extraordinary everything my master bestowed upon me truly is."
"Then your master..."
Hua Caili immediately stopped the words that had almost slipped out unconsciously and whispered to herself, "I mustn't ask too much."
Yun Che gave a warm smile, but the fleeting expression somehow stirred the maiden's beautiful eyes, causing her gaze to involuntarily freeze for a moment.
"Where did you go after leaving your master?" she continued asking.
"Many places," Yun Che replied, still calmly. "But what I saw, heard, and felt was mostly the same. Barrenness, decay, people eroded by Abyss Dust, eyes filled with pain and cruelty and deeply hidden malice... I believe you have already witnessed such things firsthand during your recent training, and have gradually grown accustomed to them."
Hua Caili lowered her head slightly and said softly, "The outside world is far more... terrifying than what others describe or what one imagines."
This "terrifying" had many dimensions.
The Divine Kingdom she belonged to was a sacred land that most beings in the Abyss would not dare dream of in their entire lives. The world outside that Divine Kingdom was a wasteland she had never been able to imagine before.
"Someone as powerful as you must have left a great reputation everywhere you went! For example, in Linyuan Realm, when you were at the Divine Sovereign Realm and defeated a group of Divine Lords, helping the declining Helian Imperial Clan rise above all the great sects again—I believe you'll be a legend there for a very long time."
Yun Che shook his head and said, "When I was by my master's side, I didn't notice anything unusual. After entering the world, I gradually realized that I have many traits that set me apart from others. For instance, my cultivation base far surpasses that of other profound practitioners at the same realm, and my mastery of elemental forces is considered unimaginable to others."
"But these differences arouse surprise, curiosity, and covetousness in others, which in turn invites unpredictable schemes and dangers. So later, I began to do my utmost to conceal my peculiarities. After that, every time I arrived at a new place, I would change my name and never stay too long. How could I have left any reputation?"
"Linyuan Realm was my most ostentatious display. After all, under a great debt of gratitude, I promised Princess Helian that I would help the Helian Imperial Clan enter the Lin Divine Realm, so naturally I couldn't hide as I had before. I simply let loose."
He explained plainly but in detail. His casual words made it impossible not to imagine what kind of brutal and cruel experiences must have forced someone with his temperament to hide his presence, drifting like duckweed through the outside world, leaving immediately upon arrival.
Even after bestowing a great favor upon an imperial clan, he quietly retreated, still walking alone.
"Then... is the name 'Yun Che' your real name?" the maiden asked very seriously.
"Of course!" Yun Che met her gaze, his dark eyes filled with sincerity devoid of any impurity. "Sister Qu is my lifesaver. My master taught me that even a drop of kindness should be repaid like a gushing spring. How could I deceive Sister Qu about my name?"
"Mm... okay." "Sister Qu" unconsciously lowered her head again, her gaze falling to her own toes.
Yes. He had even revealed such a huge secret as his Light Profound Force before her eyes, just so that no scar would remain between her brows. So why would he lie about his name?
As for life-saving grace—he had saved her far more times than she had saved him.
He was so sincere and open, while she...
A trace of shame and helplessness rose in her heart.
Yun Che seemed not to notice her unease and asked casually, "Sister Qu, the purpose of your training this time should be to achieve a breakthrough to the Divine Annihilation Realm, right?"
Hua Caili did not nod. "I do want to make that breakthrough—very much. But my fa... father taught me not to rush things. When he sent me out, he gave me two questions. He said that if I could find the answers to these two questions, it would already be a worthy journey, and could even be considered a greater breakthrough than a realm advancement."
She almost said "Father God" as she momentarily lost focus.
"Oh? What questions?" Yun Che grew interested. "Tell me. Perhaps I can help you find the answers."
Hua Caili's beautiful eyes brightened. "My aunt said that I must personally experience many things before I can find the answers to these two questions. Although you are very young, you have far more experience than I do. Perhaps you really do know the answers."
She recounted: "My father's questions are: In this world, what is the most precious thing, and what is the most worthless?"
She looked at Yun Che with anticipation, but found no trace of contemplation on his face—only a somewhat inscrutable smile.
"Could it be that someone has asked you the same question before?" Hua Caili asked.
"No. But I am very certain of their answers," he said with a smile. "And in fact, these two questions share the same answer."
"Ah?" The maiden was startled. "How could that be? These are two completely opposite questions. How could they have the same answer?"
At this moment, Yun Che suddenly stopped walking. "This answer—rather than me telling you directly, it would be better for you to comprehend it yourself. Besides, you might gain some insight very soon?"
The maiden's long lashes fluttered, but her star-bright eyes were filled with confusion.
Yun Che raised his hand, and a barrier of isolation unfolded around Hua Caili. "Sit down. Try to conceal your aura as much as possible, then release traces of injury. Just meditate and heal normally."
"Huh?" Hua Caili did not understand.
"You'll know soon enough."
Yun Che did not explain further. His face was calm but carried an air of clear understanding. Hua Caili thought for a moment, then did not press further. She sat down as instructed, drawing her aura back within the barrier, and a layer of pale, sickly pallor gradually rose on her snowy-white face.
These past few days, her injuries had been healing very slowly... clearly intentional.
Yun Che pushed his palm forward, and that huge Abyss Crystal once again floated gently down into the barrier.
To an outsider's eyes, it was obvious at a glance that the maiden within the barrier was using the power of the Abyss Crystal to aid her recovery.
Yun Che turned around. At the same time, the two auras in his perception suddenly accelerated. He had only moved forward two steps when two figures appeared in his line of sight.
Both were dressed in black robes suitable for training in the Mist Sea, carrying identical broadswords on their backs. Their auras were similar—clearly from the same sect.
Their gazes swept quickly over Yun Che, lingered briefly on Hua Caili, then fixed firmly on that Abyss Crystal.
Their pupils dilated simultaneously, bursting with blazing surprise and greed that seemed ready to ignite.
"Such a large Abyss Crystal, with such pure radiance..." The man on the right swallowed heavily. "Even our master has probably never seen one."
The man on the left seemed more composed. He tore his gaze away with difficulty and swept it over Yun Che and Hua Caili again. The former had the aura of a third-rank Divine Lord; the latter's aura was blocked by the barrier and could not be sensed. Although she wore a veil of light snow, the sickly pallor floating on her jade-like forehead was clearly the mark of a severe injury.
A third-rank Divine Lord was unharmed, while the maiden in the barrier was grievously wounded... There was no doubt that her cultivation was far inferior to the man's.
And they were both fifth-rank Divine Lords.
All caution vanished in an instant. The man's lips could no longer be restrained from curling upward, and his voice trembled with excitement as he spoke: "Junior Brother Liu, this heaven-sent opportunity has finally come to us."
With those words, he stepped forward slowly. Instead of grabbing directly for the Abyss Crystal in the barrier, he extended his hand toward Yun Che. "Boy, you know the rules of the Mist Sea. Hand it over obediently."
Although he was speaking to Yun Che, he only gave him half a sidelong glance. His movements were unhurried, but the corners of his mouth remained uncontrollably curled upward.
The posture of a hunter who was in complete control of the situation.
An Abyss Crystal of such size was something they had never seen before. In the Mist Sea, where there were no laws or order, anyone who obtained something valuable would do their utmost to conceal it. Yet these two had been so careless—one seriously injured, needing the power of the Abyss Crystal to heal, and then exposing it right before their eyes.
What else could this be but a heaven-sent opportunity?
Yun Che did not show the fear they had anticipated. Instead, he slanted his eyes and said seriously, "Why should I give you something that belongs to us?"
Inside the barrier, Hua Caili quietly opened her beautiful eyes a crack and curiously watched Yun Che's performance.
"Oh?" The unexpected response finally made the two shift their gaze and confirm Yun Che's profound energy aura once more. Their gazes became even more contemptuous and amused, as if mocking a clueless fool who had just entered the Mist Sea.
"So you're saying you don't want to hand over the Abyss Crystal—and you don't want your life either?"
The black-robed man stepped forward slowly, his casual tone carrying a chilling menace.
Yun Che's brows furrowed deeply. He flashed to stand protectively in front of the barrier and said in a low voice, "What do you intend to do? From your auras, you appear to be from some righteous great sect. When you meet someone in the Mist Sea, you should lend each other a helping hand. If you dare to rob and take lives... aren't you afraid of bringing shame upon your sect!"
Yun Che's righteous indignation almost made the two snort with laughter. The man on the right said, "Where did this idiot come from? This must be his first time entering the Mist Sea."
He pointed at Yun Che, his gaze contemptuous. "Boy, let Uncle Liu teach you a lesson today. No matter what kind of noble or royalty you are outside, once you're in this Mist Sea, if Uncle Liu says you die, then you die!"
"Enough with the chatter." The man on the left began circulating his energy. "The longer we delay, the more complications. You kill him quickly. Leave as few traces as possible."
To seize someone's Abyss Crystal, how could they not silence them!
As his words fell, his figure shot out like a venomous snake, reaching straight for the Abyss Crystal.
The other man reacted instantly, letting out a sinister laugh. The broadsword on his back exploded forth, stirring up a terrifying storm that blasted straight toward Yun Che's heart.
After all, their opponent was only a third-rank Divine Lord. Though he was contemptuous, he held nothing back, leaving no room for mercy.
High above, Hua Qingying let out a faint, disdainful snort.
With her wealth of experience, the moment Yun Che took out that Abyss Crystal, she knew exactly what he intended to do.
"Stirring up greed, then blaming the result. Such a childish trick."
"But..."
She murmured softly, "Perhaps such a simple trick is the most suitable one for Caili."