Chapter 709: Jumping In?

"Is that the source?"

Liu Xi muttered softly. Before Qing Yanjing could even react, he swept her into his arms, bent his knees slightly, and pushed off the ground with a burst of terrifying strength.

The ground remained perfectly still—no cracks, no shockwave. Only a gentle gust stirred the fallen leaves as Liu Xi's figure shot skyward, carrying Qing Yanjing with him.

Before she even realized it, they were soaring through the air, landing upon a massive boulder several dozen feet away. Qing Yanjing's heart skipped a beat as she looked up at Liu Xi's flawless side profile, her bright eyes flickering with subtle infatuation.

Holding her close, Liu Xi landed lightly on the rock, then bent his knees once more and leapt again—straight toward another enormous stone higher above.

With their Spiritual Energy completely suppressed, flight was impossible. The only way forward was through raw strength. Normally, a single step would have taken them across the sky; now, they could only rely on this "primitive" method of climbing upward, one leap at a time.

Fortunately, Liu Xi's physical strength and endurance were monstrous. Even carrying Qing Yanjing in his arms, he moved with ease and precision, each jump perfectly calculated.

His eyes gleamed with focus, mind swiftly analyzing the layout of the rocks. While still midair, he had already plotted the fourth, fifth, and sixth stones he'd use to ascend.

Wind howled past his ears. Despite the absence of Spiritual Energy, his speed remained astonishing. In mere moments, they had ascended several hundred meters.

The roar of the waterfall grew louder, its mist spraying across them like fine rain. The cool droplets mingled with the rising steam, bringing with them a refreshing vitality that soothed the senses.

Before long, Liu Xi and Qing Yanjing had climbed nearly six thousand meters upward. With one final push, he leapt onto a colossal boulder jutting out from the cliff face—positioned directly before the waterfall itself.

He gently set her down and looked ahead. His expression was calm, yet his eyes reflected unfathomable depth.

Standing upon the rock, he faced the roaring cascade that poured from the heavens like a celestial river, the endless peaks stretching behind him. Against that breathtaking backdrop, Liu Xi's tall and resolute figure seemed almost godlike.

Qing Yanjing couldn't help but stare, momentarily entranced.

Noticing her dazed expression, Liu Xi smiled and waved his hand in front of her face. "You can stare all you want once we're back," he teased. "For now, help me check this waterfall. I have a feeling something's hidden behind it."

Qing Yanjing blinked back to her senses, then gave him a reproachful glare, her beauty laced with teasing charm. "Such a beautiful place, and that's the first thing you say? You really don't understand romance."

Liu Xi paused, then chuckled softly. Stepping closer, he cupped her delicate face and planted a quick kiss on her fair forehead.

For a moment, the noble and gentle Qing Yanjing was lost in the warmth of that touch—until Liu Xi spoke again.

"Alright, now help me see if there's anything strange here."

Her expression froze. Just like that, the spell broke.

Glaring at him with mock anger, she huffed but still obeyed, shifting her focus to study the waterfall seriously.

Liu Xi did the same, narrowing his eyes. With his perception, he could tell there was no cave behind the cascading waters—yet every thread of that strange, suppressive energy seemed to originate there.

He frowned deeply. There had to be some mechanism—some key to unlocking this mystery. A place capable of suppressing even a Heavenly Sovereign's power could not be ordinary.

Unfortunately, without his full strength, brute-forcing his way through wasn't an option. If he carelessly destroyed something precious—or triggered a hidden danger—the consequences could be disastrous.

After a long while of silent observation, he still hadn't found an answer. Surprisingly, it was Qing Yanjing who suddenly gasped, pointing toward the waterfall.

"There's a Spiritual Array here! And not just any array—this is a naturally formed one, born directly from the laws of heaven and earth. No wonder I didn't recognize it right away."

Her eyes sparkled with awe as she continued, "Ordinary arrays use Spiritual Imprints to connect with the world, drawing upon its energy. But this—this array is the world itself. The mountains and water around us are its foundation. It forms a world of its own... though it's far too profound for me to control."

She sighed softly, a hint of regret flickering in her tone. As a cultivator of Spiritual Arrays, being unable to comprehend such a masterpiece was a bitter pill to swallow.

"Spiritual Array, huh…" Liu Xi murmured, frowning. Alchemy was his domain, but arrays were not his strong suit.

"Is there no other way?" he asked, unwilling to simply give up.

Qing Yanjing pondered for a moment, her brows furrowing. "Not entirely," she said slowly. "Even a natural array must follow its own laws of operation. If we can find the right method, we should be able to open it."

Liu Xi stared at her blankly for a moment. That… was technically true but utterly unhelpful. If they knew the right method, they wouldn't still be standing here.

Still, he couldn't fault her logic. Both of them were unwilling to give up so easily. This natural Spiritual Array was too mysterious to walk away from. Even a glimpse of its secrets could help Qing Yanjing's breakthrough to the Heavenly Sovereign realm.

Liu Xi clasped his hands behind his back and studied the towering waterfall once more. A nagging sense of familiarity tugged at him.

'Should I try it?' he wondered. 'If I'm right… the reward could be immense.'

He clenched his jaw. Enough thinking. Time to act.

Turning toward Qing Yanjing, his eyes gleamed with daring. "I have an idea. Since this is a waterfall… how about we jump in?"

Qing Yanjing blinked at him, then looked at the waterfall again. After a moment of silence, she smiled softly. "I'm willing."

"Good." Liu Xi grinned, determination flashing in his gaze. "Then let's see what's inside."

He scooped her into his arms once more. She clung to him tightly, her heartbeat echoing against his chest. If they could enter, they would go together; if not… then they'd fall together.

Bending his knees, Liu Xi gathered every ounce of strength within his body. When his muscles tensed to their peak, he launched upward with explosive force.

The moment his feet left the stone, something unseen stirred.

His expression changed instantly.

A terrifying gravitational force surged from below, dragging them downward like an invisible hand. The pressure crushed against his body, nearly forcing him back.

Yet the resistance confirmed his suspicion—he had triggered the array correctly. The method to activate it was indeed… to leap straight through!

The suffocating weight pressed upon him like a mountain, but Liu Xi's body was strong enough to endure. Step by step, he forced his way forward through the unseen current, each heartbeat stretching into eternity.

Finally, as he reached the cascading veil of water, the pressure suddenly vanished.

A ripple of space shimmered across the waterfall's surface, forming a faint doorway.

Without hesitation, Liu Xi tightened his grip around Qing Yanjing and dove through.

Together, they disappeared into the swirling gateway.

(End of Chapter)

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