Chapter 1594: Nearly Drowned
"Teacher, you say Yun Xiao he..."
Beside the Sky Passage River, to the right of the Stepping Heavenly Stone, a girl in a light red dress anxiously asked. She looked like Xu Hongzhuang, the genius girl of Demons Mountain.
Although Xu Hongzhuang had great confidence in Yun Xiao, with such a long time having passed and still no sign of Yun Xiao returning, an inexplicable worry arose within her.
As the saying goes, concern leads to chaos. Xu Hongzhuang was the girl in the field with the deepest affection for Yun Xiao. Even if some facts couldn’t be changed, her feelings for Yun Xiao had never wavered.
"I don’t know what’s on the other side of the Sky Passage River, so..."
But at this moment, how could the Mountain Master of Demons Mountain, Hou Tianlie, answer Xu Hongzhuang’s question? A look of perplexity passed over his face, and he could only sigh in the end.
There were similar questions and answers in various places around the Stepping Heavenly Stone, but no one could provide a definite answer. After all, the Sky Passage River was easy to enter and hard to return from, and no one knew what lay on the other side.
In the past, those powerful human cultivators who ventured deep into the Sky Passage River generally never returned to the Tenglong Continent. This had become an unbreakable rule on the Tenglong Continent.
Therefore, many people believed that Yun Xiao might take this opportunity to leave the Tenglong Continent and head to the higher plane of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud. With his strength, he indeed had that qualification.
However, the thought that Yun Xiao would leave the Tenglong Continent just after making such a mark left people like Qian Sanyuan and Qingmu Wu feeling a bit melancholic.
They naturally knew that with Yun Xiao’s talent, even if he went to the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, he would likely become renowned on the continent quickly. Unfortunately, these cultivators still struggling on the Tenglong Continent might not witness such a dazzling moment.
If Yun Xiao had told them in advance that he was leaving the Tenglong Continent, perhaps they wouldn’t have such complicated feelings. When something happens too suddenly, no one can remain calm.
Young cultivators like Ye Ku and Si Mo had even more mixed feelings. They would no longer regard Yun Xiao, much younger than themselves, as a competitor.
Defeating the Intermediate Holy Grade Heavenly Spirit You River, Yun Xiao might have already become the top on the Tenglong Continent. Such an achievement was beyond the reach of even Lu Yanji, who was ranked first on the Heavenly List.
"Teacher, do you think we need to revise the newly discussed Heavenly List rankings?"
Nie Xiaosheng, a young genius from the Shenxiao Sect, asked this question, making Sect Leader Ouyang Wuantong’s face reflect extreme conflict.
In fact, after Yun Xiao defeated the Holy Grade Heavenly Spirit You River, causing it to flee in defeat, Ouyang Wuantong had suggested placing Yun Xiao at the top of the Heavenly List.
Given Yun Xiao’s outstanding achievements, placing him at the top of the Heavenly List should be uncontroversial, even to someone like Lu Yanji. However, the situation had changed.
If Yun Xiao remained on the Tenglong Continent, ranking him on the Heavenly List would be justified. But he had followed You River into the depths of the Sky Passage River, possibly using this opportunity to leave the Tenglong Continent.
The Shenxiao Sect’s Heavenly List only recorded cultivators from the Tenglong Continent, thus removing individuals who died or left. The Heavenly List naturally altered with such changes.
"Let’s wait a little longer!"
Unable to think of a solution, Ouyang Wuantong could only respond helplessly. This was also a feasible approach, for if Yun Xiao didn’t return, he needn’t bother with it further.
Yun Xiao’s pursuit of You River left many feeling quite complex, torn between loss and gain. Unlike those with amicable ties to Yun Xiao, some felt decidedly more relieved.
"That demon has finally left!"
Duan Zixiao, the Valley Master of Sky Thunder Valley, had always feared Yun Xiao might remember their oppression and seek vengeance after growing stronger.
Joking aside, someone capable of defeating an Intermediate to Advanced Grade Saintly Heavenly Spirit might easily wipe out Sky Thunder Valley with a mere gesture.
This didn’t even require Lianyun Mountain’s backing; Yun Xiao alone could ruin Sky Thunder Valley several times over. Despite its might, Sky Thunder Valley was leagues behind entities like Wuyan Palace or Spirit Fighting Commerce.
But if Yun Xiao did leave the Tenglong Continent for good, Duan Zixiao and others could rest easy, as they only feared Yun Xiao himself.
"Look there, what is that?"
Just as Duan Zixiao and Zhao Gujin were feeling jubilant, an exclamation suddenly echoed from a certain place, drawing all eyes in the direction indicated.
"It’s Brother Yun Xiao!"
Though they hadn’t clearly seen the figure, Ling Wan was already cheering; he always believed that his Brother Yun Xiao would never leave without a word to the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud.
However, many could detect a sense of relief in Ling Wan’s cheers, suggesting he was not as serene as he appeared.
With Ling Wan’s cheer, some of the soul experts immediately recognized the figure’s profile, confirming it was the peerless genius they knew: Yun Xiao!
"Eh? Something seems off about his condition!"
Li Yunfan, the Island Master of Ling Kong Island, also had a strong Power of Soul. At this moment, like Lu Yanji and the others, he saw that silver-grey figure flying unsteadily, seemingly about to fall from the sky at any moment.
"Hey, hey, is there no one to help support me?"
Just as everyone was deep in thought, that simple-clothed boy in the sky let out a voice slightly lacking in vigor.
Whoosh...
And this voice seemed to drain the last bit of the boy’s strength. The previous unsteady flying ceased, replaced by a powerless fall from the sky.
Plonk!
A moment later, with a splash, the boy who had defeated an Intermediate Holy Grade Heavenly Spirit and pursued it deep into the Chongxiao River, successfully emerging again, now plunged headfirst into the Chongxiao River below.
"Ah!"
Only at this moment, as the splashes entered everyone’s eyes, realizing the boy’s extreme weakness, did many people come to their senses, exclaiming one after another.
That was a heaven-defying figure who had defeated You River, and if such a person drowned in the Chongxiao River, it would be a huge joke, even though Duan Zixiao, Zhao Gujin, and others were hoping for such an outcome in their hearts.
These guys were seasoned and astute, able to deduce from Yun Xiao’s fall into the river that something unknown had happened deep in the distant Chongxiao River earlier.
Otherwise, with Yun Xiao’s previous strength, just chasing a seriously injured You River wouldn’t have cost him much effort. Yet now, he appeared on the brink of death.
Plonk!
As everyone was lost in their thoughts, another sound of water breaking suddenly came. The Mountain Master of Demon Mountain saw it clearly, revealing a peculiar smile, knowing that it was his treasured disciple Xu Hongzhuang who had rushed into the river for a rescue.
Splash!
Xu Hongzhuang was a floating peak super genius and at her prime, so retrieving Yun Xiao from the water was effortless. So, once again, there was a splash, and two drenched figures leaped out from the Chongxiao River.
Xu Hongzhuang shook her Meridian Qi, causing countless water droplets to scatter, clearing the water drops on Yun Xiao as well. His eyes, somewhat helpless, gazed at the red-skirted girl holding him.
"Always trying to be strong!"
Being so close, Xu Hongzhuang could clearly sense the extreme weakness in Yun Xiao’s body, and although he hadn’t fainted yet, it was just sheer willpower keeping him awake.
"Ran into some trouble, had no choice but to fight!"
Yun Xiao knew that Xu Hongzhuang’s scolding came from concern, so he stated the fact directly, withholding specifics in the public setting.
With some Meridian Qi from Xu Hongzhuang, Yun Xiao finally regained some spirit, nonchalantly disengaging from her embrace and turning his gaze to Lu Yanji and others.
"President Lu, inform the cultivators of the Tenglong Continent, not to enter the depths of the Sky Passage River, it’s very dangerous there!"
Yun Xiao thought about the Jiangxiao Ladder Strange Spirit that had reached the half-step Holy Spirit, silently noting that anyone trying to reach the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud might become its plaything, just like the cultivators who had entered the Jiangxiao Ladder Space before.
"Perhaps we also need Master Ouyang’s help!"
Yun Xiao, without waiting for Lu Yanji’s reply, turned his head to the Shenxiao Sect Leader, causing him to salute hurriedly.
Even though the Shenxiao Sect was one of the thirteen first-class forces, its strongest was only Ouyang Wuantong at the Lingyun Realm Early Stage; now, how could they afford to offend the currently renowned Yun Xiao?
At this moment, Ouyang Wuantong was inwardly thankful that the Shenxiao Sect hadn’t suppressed Yun Xiao when he was weak, unlike Wuyan Palace or Spirit Fighting Commerce, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable.
Looking at Duan Zixiao, Zhao Gujin, and even the Destroyer Venerable, who despite Yun Xiao’s vulnerable state since coming out of the Chongxiao River, didn’t dare breathe loudly.
Moreover, considering Yun Xiao’s current status, he wouldn’t speak without reason. Since he said this, it meant there really was extreme danger in the depths of the Chongxiao River.
Otherwise, with Yun Xiao’s strength, he wouldn’t be in such a state, and everyone believed that an injured You River couldn’t possibly withstand Yun Xiao.
Many were extremely curious about what lay in the depths of the Chongxiao River since previously, none of those strong figures had made it out, and Yun Xiao could be said to be the only one.