Chapter 446 - 222: Not as Wished (Part 2)
Finally, it was the Shadow-following Abyss Devourer Dragon. After learning of the news, it went back to the Li’an Demon Sect on its own, to report to Sect Leader Yao Yufei.
Though technically the position of Sect Leader had been passed to Duanmu Qing, everyone knew this lady was the true master of Li’an Demon Sect.
...
Ji Mingyu was rather gloomy along the way, which little Snow noticed, offering comforting words: "Master, you don’t need to worry."
"Since Chu Xuan headed north, he’s probably aiming for the Ancient Battlefield or perhaps Langhuan Grotto Heaven. We’ll soon see him again."
Ming Yu grew more despondent, muttering, "You know my headache isn’t about that..."
Little Snow pondered, "How did you two split up anyway? I’m still confused up till now."
Thus Ji Mingyu explained it all from the beginning, with little Snow frowning slightly at the end, "Indeed, it was a sudden occurrence, nobody expected the Shangguan family to be so insidious, and to strike precisely during your discord."
"It’s just..."
Little Snow felt the master lacked a bit of "dominating power" expected from a Ninth Realm powerhouse.
Primarily evident in failing to swiftly subdue Su Mengqing and in the range of divine sense and the speed of sensing the situation wrong, seemingly not pulling ahead of her by much.
Before, there was nobody to compare to, and little Snow certainly deemed its master invincible, but now compared to Su Mengqing’s performance, it seemed not much better.
Ji Mingyu mused, "Have you ever considered this question?"
"The world has always rumored that I might have already broken into the Ninth Realm, but I have never admitted it myself."
Little Snow was taken aback, "Master, you mean..."
Ji Mingyu continued, "Three hundred years ago, I battled with the South Sea [Kuinui Demon King], forcing him to kneel and beg for mercy, already showing the pinnacle power of the Eighth Realm."
"Outsiders naturally assumed that with my rapid cultivation, there’s no way I haven’t progressed in three hundred years, they compared me to figures like Tianxie and Shangguan Yu."
"Later, in a couple of rare moves, I even exhibited techniques beyond the Eighth Realm, thus fueling the rumors to become increasingly credible."
"But in reality, I haven’t managed to cross that hurdle, feeling exceptionally close, veiled by a thin, elusive curtain that would break with a poke."
"Yet, I always feel that something’s missing, creating a small gap that leaves me distant from the [Realm of Approaching Immortality]."
"I can indeed exert Ninth Realm power temporarily now, but it requires that strand of immortal qi to be compatible with the cultivation technique, which is the fundamental reason outsiders misjudge."
Little Snow listened, mouth agape, surprised by such a secret behind it.
"After Chu Xuan broke into the fourth realm, he might have guessed that the Qianming Immortal Qi is crucial for practitioners of the ’Jade Capital Secrets’, making a qualitative difference hence his risky endeavor at the Ancient Battlefield upon obtaining clues."
Ji Mingyu’s tone was exceedingly calm, as if narrating something irrelevant to herself.
Snow pondered for a while, hesitantly asked: "What’s the reason? I feel a master as uniquely gifted as you wouldn’t have limitations in aptitude or talent?"
Ji Mingyu showed some nostalgia, "Once, Master said I’m an excellent seed for cultivation, with a pure heart, bound to progress swiftly in cultivation."
"But Master also said, it’s because I hadn’t encountered something that truly moved me yet, once entangled, my obsession would become the greatest obstacle along my path."
"Is it Chu Xuan?" Snow asked, "But weren’t you together back then?"
"Even if your relationship fell out, that was only over these past decades."
Ji Mingyu shook her head, "You don’t understand, I never got what I desired, nor did he ever truly fulfill his wish."
"One of us will need to take a step back eventually, otherwise our relationship will be stuck at this stalemate, never becoming true soulmates."
"Of course, if one day I can truly sever mortal ties, breaking into Ninth Realm won’t be impossible, even undergoing tribulation ascension would certainly be achievable."
Snow started to grasp the sentiment, nodding slowly.
It suddenly had an intriguing idea, "Since you have a slight knot in your heart because of Chu Xuan, what if one day, Chu Xuan isn’t there anymore?"
Ji Mingyu frowned, "What do you mean by ’isn’t there anymore’?"
Snow quickly corrected itself, "I mean ascending or something like that."
"Then I’ll go up to find him too, he’ll never shake me off this lifetime." Ming Yu said stubbornly.
Snow nodded, then changed the topic, "What are your plans then, Master?"
"I’ll look for Chu Xuan, and..." Ji Mingyu gently stroked Snow’s fur, her tone soft, "I’ll have to send you to Chu Xuan, right? You should know what to do, I suppose?"
The tone made Snow’s scalp tingle, it groaned, "Again?"
"Of course, you must ensure they don’t form any substantive relationship!" Ji Mingyu issued a firm command.
She had a vague intuition, after experiencing these ordeals and reconciling, Chu Xuan might not reject Qingqing again.
And this Duanmu Qing, having the fate of "Rising with the Sun at Fusang, entering Xianchi; radiant and flamboyant, with boundless passion", was simply a sensual libertine destined to seduce Chu Xuan!
Besides, Ji Mingyu was very hurt now, needing Chu Xuan’s touch, hug, and preferably kisses to heal.
Yet Chu Xuan was unwilling to give her this comfort now, so Ming Yu could only rely on her own pet to share perceptions, achieving this indirectly.
Realizing this, Ming Yu increased her pace further, even sparing no effort to activate immortal qi to assist, fearing they might do something during this interval.
...
As for Chu Xuan, he was naturally unaware that Ming Yu was devising her schemes again.
The beauty’s head bit onto the flying sword, with him and Qingqing aboard the sword light, traveling swiftly and comfortably.
This made Chu Xuan lament increasingly, feeling this low-cost labor far more comfortable than that wretched spirit.
The beauty’s head not only didn’t complain but enjoyed staying outside, silently observing this strange world.
Instead, heading to the Ancient Battlefield annoyed her somewhat, equating to returning to prison for her.
Chu Xuan had no choice but to promise the beauty’s head not to stay there for too long, and while cultivating, he’d allow her to guard in the outside world.
"Right, Qingqing," Chu Xuan suddenly recalled, "Don’t you need to inform your mother?"
Qingqing had been cosily laying in the heart’s embrace, under the warm sun and breeze, enjoying his gentle caress on her hair, stirring feelings of desire.
If not for the beauty’s head obstructing, she would have done something with Chu Xuan already, kissing just being the least of it...
Upon hearing this, Qingqing sat up abruptly, a bit upset:
"Why suddenly mention her? After controlling me for so long, she finally lets me enjoy some freedom. What’s there to be dissatisfied about?"
"Besides, since the Dragon followed you to the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace, it’ll eventually return to report to that woman, so she won’t worry excessively."
"Enough about that. Let’s discuss some real matters~"
Qingqing’s cheeks suddenly turned rosy, "When should we have a child?"
"Now I possess a Chaos-type physique too. If you really want that ’Innate Chaos Dao Embryo’, you can have it with me, no need for Gu Haitang."
Chu Xuan chuckled, "Didn’t you just say your physique can’t compare with Haitang’s?"
"And aren’t you two on good terms? Isn’t this a bit of a backstab to your friend?"
Qingqing said pitifully, "Nonsense, I’m just trying to fulfill a wish of yours. We must at least attempt, right?"
"Besides, who knows, our child might be born with the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart, considering I’m half-of this physique, and you possess the complete Seven-Aperture Heart."