Chapter 428 - 233: Heaven-Reaching River (Part 2)

Chapter 428: Chapter 233: Heaven-Reaching River (Part 2)

"When will you enter seclusion, my love?"

Li Changfeng said, "Time waits for no one. I will enter seclusion today."

You Jin’Er nodded lightly and replied, "After you enter seclusion, I will return to my sect."

Li Changfeng’s grip tightened. You Jin’Er was a true disciple of the Taixuan Sect, and even though she was his cultivation partner, she frequently traveled between her home and his.

But things were different now. This departure would likely be the last time they ever saw each other.

Still, as You Jin’Er had said, it was a blessing to have walked the path of the Great Dao together. Two thousand years was a long time to spend with one another, and even if fate denied them that, the two hundred years they did have were filled with joy.

In the preceding days, they had both made their preparations. A thousand words remained unspoken, yet everything was understood.

"Very well." Li Changfeng nodded slowly, not seeing the resolute look that flashed in You Jin’Er’s eyes.

—

"Though of one substance, their qi is shared while their bodies are separate. They crane their necks and cry in parting, yet can join their wings to become whole. With one wing and one eye each, only together can they fly."

By now, Xuzhuang was already tens of thousands of miles away. As he flew, he was surprised to suddenly see a pair of Biyi Divine Birds—one blue, one red, resembling wild ducks—soar past.

The Yingying Bird was an ancient spirit beast that had not been seen in the Profound Yellow Realm for a very long time. ’Could they have come from the Nanzhan Treasure Continent?’

Xuzhuang didn’t dwell on it. The thought merely crossed his mind, and he smiled faintly. ’Paired divine birds are a sign of good fortune. It seems this journey will be smooth.’ With a flick of his sleeves, his traveling speed increased.

Before long, he heard a tremendous ROARING sound coming from high in the sky. Intrigued, Xuzhuang descended from the clouds to take a look. He saw an incredibly vast river with powerful, surging currents, flowing from east to west in a torrent.

This was the Heaven-Reaching River, which separated the Beiming Continent from the Dongsheng Continent. Even with his powerful vision, he could only faintly make out the opposite bank, a testament to the river’s immense breadth.

With such currents, it was like a celestial moat, making it nearly impossible for mortals—and even low-level cultivators—to cross. Combined with its bitter cold and barren lands, it was no wonder the Beiming Continent was considered a wasteland.

Xuzhuang had traveled beyond the heavens, journeying as far as Guangyuan, and had explored the Profound Yellow Realm from east to west. The only place he had yet to visit was the Beiming Continent.

Seeing such a magnificent sight, Xuzhuang felt no need to rush. He took a moment to simply admire it, feeling the view wash away the lingering weariness from his long seclusion.

Just as he was about to set off for North Ming, Xuzhuang suddenly sensed something and looked up. A Sword Rainbow appeared downstream on the Heaven-Reaching River, speeding along its course. Seeing Xuzhuang hovering in mid-air, a transmitted voice shouted, "Daoist ahead, leave this place quickly!"

Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow. He could tell the person meant no harm; in fact, they were trying to protect him. Looking further into the distance, he saw a roiling Demon Cloud approaching, moving much faster than the Sword Rainbow and threatening to overtake it. In the blink of an eye, both of them were near him.

Seeing that Xuzhuang remained motionless, the one in the Sword Rainbow urged him again, "Daoist, are you being fearless out of ignorance? This demon is Sui Ji of the Demon Intent Sect—"

Halfway through his sentence, he seemed to realize it was too late and changed his plea. "He is one of the Liu Zhuo of the Demon Sect! His Divine Techniques are formidable. Join forces with me to drive him back!"

Xuzhuang stood there, exuding the transcendent aura of an immortal, looking nothing like someone of the Demon Dao. This was why the figure within the Sword Rainbow had thought to ask for his help.

’Sui Ji?’ Xuzhuang’s gaze shifted slightly. He hadn’t expected to encounter one of the Demon Sect’s Liu Zhuo here, and his interest was piqued.

Unexpectedly, the Demon Cloud—or rather, Sui Ji of the Demon Intent Sect—suddenly halted. A shocked and disbelieving voice cried out, "Xuzhuang!"

Xuzhuang! The person in the Sword Rainbow froze, then his face lit up with joy. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the Demon Cloud begin to retreat, rolling back downstream along the Heaven-Reaching River. After a single glance at Xuzhuang, Sui Ji had fled without a word.

Xuzhuang frowned. Seeing the man flee as if he’d seen a ghost, he lost all interest in pursuing him. The Sword Rainbow, however, circled once in the air before descending gracefully.

A Sword-Carrying Cultivator materialized. His hair wasn’t in a Daoist topknot; instead, it was bound at the end with a silver ring. He studied Xuzhuang intently for a moment, as if confirming his identity, before clasping his hands in a formal bow. "I never imagined it was truly Dao Miaozhi in person," he said. "I am Su Xinghe of the Beiming Sword Sect. Please forgive me for my earlier discourtesy."

"Oh? A fine disciple of the Beiming Sword Sect," Xuzhuang said, returning the bow. "You are too polite, fellow Daoist. May I ask why you were fighting with a Demon Cultivator here?"

Su Xinghe shook his head. "You may not know this, fellow Daoist, but the Demon Intent Sect has been very active in my sect’s territory lately, causing a lot of trouble."

"I was ordered to track down Demon Cultivators, and I’ve been on their trail for a long time. It was only by chance that I uncovered their plot..."

Su Xinghe didn’t go into detail, but Xuzhuang noted that while his expression remained placid, his injuries were clearly not light. To be chased this far by Sui Ji meant the dangers he had faced were anything but simple.

"If you hadn’t scared Sui Ji away, I fear I would not have survived," Su Xinghe said, bowing again. "I must return to my sect as quickly as possible. Might I have the honor of inviting you to be a guest? It would give me a chance to properly express my thanks."

In truth, Xuzhuang hadn’t actually done anything, but he felt no need to refuse Su Xinghe’s gratitude. "Please, feel free to continue on your journey, fellow Daoist," he said. "I have important business of my own. We can speak of me being a guest another time, if fate allows."

Su Xinghe hesitated before saying, "Forgive my forwardness, but may I ask what your business is? I am very familiar with North Ming and might be able to offer some help."

Xuzhuang knew the man was simply looking for a way to repay him, and since there was no harm in telling him, he replied, "I plan to visit the Arctic Profound Ice Pavilion."

"Oh?" Su Xinghe thought for a moment. "Are you aware, fellow Daoist, that the entrance to the Profound Ice Pavilion is notoriously difficult to find?"

Xuzhuang was on an important mission, so he was already aware of this. However, he considered it a minor detail; he was confident he would find a way once he arrived in the region.

Su Xinghe, however, flipped his hand over to reveal a bag. "This bag contains a Spiritual Sparrow that my Beiming Sword Sect uses for communication with the Profound Ice Pavilion," he said. "It should spare you some trouble."

"It’s just a small token of gratitude. Please don’t refuse it, fellow Daoist."

It was indeed not an extravagant gift. After a moment’s thought, Xuzhuang thanked Su Xinghe and accepted the Spirit Beast Bag.

Su Xinghe seemed to relax a little upon seeing him accept. Just as he was about to cup his fist in farewell, he heard Xuzhuang say, "Wait a moment, fellow Daoist."

Su Xinghe watched as Xuzhuang slipped a hand into his sleeve. His Spiritual Sense suddenly flared, and he tensed up. But when Xuzhuang drew his hand out again, he was merely holding a perfectly round bead between his fingers. It resembled a pill but was as transparent as colored glass, with black and white wisps of qi swirling faintly within it.

"A gift for you, fellow Daoist. Do not refuse it."

Xuzhuang’s words were nearly identical to his own. Su Xinghe hesitated for a moment before taking it. Examining it closely, he thought, ’Yin Yang Essence? And yet, it seems a little different.’

But Xuzhuang didn’t explain further. He just smiled, bowed, and said, "I still need to get to the North Pole, so I will be on my way."

Without putting the Yin Yang Essence away, Su Xinghe hastily returned the bow. He looked up to see Xuzhuang’s figure ascend, transforming into a flying cloud and speeding toward the opposite bank of the Heaven-Reaching River.

’The First Venerable of the Orthodox Path?’ Su Xinghe toyed with the Yin Yang Essence bead, a puzzled look in his eyes. "How strange," he muttered to himself.

For some reason, this Dao Miaozhi felt completely inscrutable, as if he were in the presence of one of his sect’s own patriarchs. Yet Xuzhuang had not concealed his aura, and he was unmistakably a Nascent Soul Cultivator.

’Never mind. I need to get back to the sect,’ Su Xinghe thought, pushing aside his distracting thoughts. He summoned his sword light and continued his journey upriver.

The further upstream he traveled along the Heaven-Reaching River, the more turbulent the current became. After several thousand miles, it was a torrent, rushing by like a ceaseless flood.

This also meant he was much closer to the gates of the Beiming Sword Sect. But before he could let out a sigh of relief, his gaze suddenly hardened.

He saw a piece of ebony wood floating on the river’s surface. Standing atop it was a young man with disheveled hair, who sneered, "Su Xinghe, I’ve been waiting a long time for you. Hand over the Primordial Spirit of the Six-Eyed Demon Lord, or you won’t leave here alive."

Su Xinghe’s brow furrowed deeply. It wasn’t that he was afraid; the man before him had a cultivation level comparable to his own. In fact, it was from this very man that he had stolen the object of the Demon Intent Sect’s plot.

But the situation was different now. Foiling the Demon Intent Sect’s plot had drawn out Yuanzhuo Suiji, who had left him severely wounded. Even though Sui Ji had been frightened away by Xuzhuang, Su Xinghe was still injured. If he fought this man now, the outcome was uncertain; it could be a matter of life and death.

Su Xinghe’s mind raced as he desperately sought a way to escape. Then, he froze, his eyes falling upon the object between his fingers.

As if guided by some unseen force, he hadn’t put the Yin Yang Essence away. And at this moment, he suddenly had an epiphany.

’So that’s how it is...’ he thought. ’Dao Miaozhi is truly unfathomable. Could he have already reached the Primordial Spirit realm? Does he possess the ability to see the future?’

Su Xinghe rolled the Yin Yang Essence bead between his fingers one last time, then suddenly flicked it forward.

The yin and yang qi inside it instantly underwent a violent transformation, coalescing into a bolt of black lightning that struck down upon the Heaven-Reaching River. In that instant, everything in its path—including the very water of the river—seemed to shatter as cracks spread through space itself.

In the next instant, it was all annihilated!