Going Deeper

After the battle ended, beside the ruins.

Ling Ying looked at Xun'er, who stood still with her small hands clutching the hem of her clothes, and said helplessly, "Miss, we should go back."

He was still somewhat shaken. He had only looked away for a moment, yet Xun'er had nearly been hurt. If they stayed any longer, who knew what sudden situation might arise? And if the clan leader found out, he would be in serious trouble.

Suddenly struck by an idea, Xun'er raised her head and said to Ling Ying with a beaming smile, "Grandpa Ling~ I finally got to come out for once. Let me play... I mean, cultivate a little longer..."

Having finally "escaped" that stifling, rigid place and come to somewhere dangerous yet novel, little Xun'er naturally wanted to stay and play a while longer.

"No. It's time to go back," Ling Ying said sternly.

Seeing this, Xun'er said seriously, "I'll stay on the outskirts. I promise I won't go inside!"

"No. Come back with me."

"Old Ling~ I want to..."

"No, you don't."

"Grandpa Ling~~ I just want to train myself a little, okay~"

"..."

Faced with Xun'er's sugar-coated barrage, Ling Ying was beginning to falter.

He had watched this little girl grow up and regarded her as his own granddaughter. Now, on one side was the clan leader, and on the other was Xun'er. It put him in a difficult position.

"You can give me a Talisman Stone with your imprint on it. If I run into danger, I'll crush it, and then you can instantly come to my side and protect me. Okay?"

Clever as she was, Xun'er naturally saw Old Ling's dilemma. With a flash of inspiration, she came up with a solution.

Hearing the suggestion, Ling Ying smiled. His hand seals shifted, and a black Talisman Stone appeared in his hand.

After hesitating again and again, he still handed the Talisman Stone to Xun'er.

"Here, take it. It has my Soul Imprint on it. If you encounter danger, make sure to crush it. Also, I'll come pick you up by tomorrow morning at the latest. You must be careful." Looking at Xun'er's slightly delighted little face, Ling Ying spoke indulgently.

Nodding, Xun'er said excitedly, "I will, I will. All right, all right, Grandpa Ling, you should go first. I remember what you said."

"Ah, I really can't do anything with you."

With a soft sigh, wings of Dark Dou Qi emerged behind him. He bent his knees slightly, then shot into the clouds with a clear cry before flying into the distance.

Xun'er stared fixedly at Ling Ying's retreating figure, unable to hide the envy in her eyes.

She wanted to fly too!

At the same time, Yun Xi within her looked at Ling Ying's departing figure and murmured, "Spirit Energy Wing Transformation..."

On the continent where he had lived, there were no flying spells or martial skills of this kind. Even with his high cultivation, he could only rely on spiritual artifacts for Sword Flight. Transforming wings to fly was something he had rarely seen.

Only after Ling Ying's figure had completely vanished beyond the horizon did the two come back to their senses.

"Yun Xi! Can you take me flying?!" Xun'er asked expectantly.

"Uh, no..."

He was telling the truth. If he still had his physical body, he might have been able to give it a try. But now he was only a soul, willing but powerless.

A trace of disappointment appeared in Xun'er's eyes, but it was instantly replaced with confidence.

"Then I'll cultivate hard. Once I have Dou Qi Wings, I'll take you flying!"

Yun Xi's figure appeared. Looking at Xun'er, who patted her chest with one hand and looked full of lofty ambition, he did not have the heart to pour cold water on her again.

"All right, let's go. Let's see what good treasures this forest has." As he spoke, Yun Xi took the lead and floated into the distance.

Xun'er nodded and followed closely behind him like an obedient little kitten.

Along the way, Yun Xi quietly released the pressure of his strength. Every magical beast wandering within a hundred feet of them trembled in fear before fleeing one after another, as though they had encountered their natural predator.

As the two ventured deeper, the sky gradually darkened.

As moonlight descended, Yun Xi slowly closed his eyes and withdrew his pressure. Then, his immense spiritual power spread out, enveloping everything around them.

"Hmm?"

Letting out a soft sound of surprise, Yun Xi was somewhat shocked. His detection had found an acquaintance...

A figure concealing his aura in the distance suddenly tensed. Dark Dou Qi erupted from him, his eyes filled with coldness as he shouted, "Who?! How dare you cause trouble in my Gu Clan!"

The surroundings were utterly silent. Only distant beast roars and insect chirps could be heard.

He remained in battle stance for several minutes, yet still found nothing unusual.

Slowly withdrawing his Dou Qi, the figure's features gradually became clear... It was none other than the Eight Star Dou Huang, Ling Ying, whom they had parted with not long ago!

At that moment, Ling Ying muttered in confusion, "Strange. There was clearly a burst of spiritual power probing just now. Was it just my imagination?"

Watching this from afar, Yun Xi could not help but chuckle.

"Hey, what's wrong? Why did you suddenly start laughing?"

Seeing Yun Xi suddenly close his eyes and then suddenly smile, Xun'er was puzzled.

"Someone's following us from behind."

"Ah? Who is it?!"

Seeing that Yun Xi did not seem to be joking, Xun'er was startled.

"He... is... Old Ling..." Yun Xi said in a deliberately mysterious whisper.

Xun'er froze for a moment before realizing that she had foolishly fallen for it again.

"Fine, you're teasing me again..."

"I'm not. It really is Ling Ying. I noticed him as soon as he approached the forest. If nothing unexpected happens, he's probably still worried and came to protect you in secret." Yun Xi sounded somewhat comforted.

After all, he had never experienced the feeling of being cared about. Seeing someone like Ling Ying, who worried about Xun'er at every turn, by her side made him feel rather comforted.

"Hmm?" Xun'er blinked, then turned around suspiciously to look at the pitch-black forest behind them. Of course, she could not see anything...

Yun Xi gently patted Xun'er's little head and said softly, "Let's find a place up ahead to sleep."

It would have been fine if he had not said it, but the moment he did, a blush rose across Xun'er's little face again.

"Sleep..." Xun'er murmured quietly.

Though she was still young, she was mature for her age. Hearing Yun Xi say they were going to sleep together, her little mind could not help but imagine strange things.

"What's wrong with you? Why are you suddenly blushing?" Yun Xi asked in confusion.

He had not said anything, had he? He had merely said they should find a place up ahead to sleep... Sleep?

Realizing what she meant, Yun Xi did not know whether to laugh or cry. How had he forgotten that children in this world matured early? Those words had probably given Xun'er some strange ideas...

Supporting his forehead with one hand, Yun Xi said speechlessly, "You little girl, why do you have so many strange thoughts? I mean, we should find somewhere up ahead to rest!" He particularly emphasized the word "rest."

"Ah? Oh, oh... I wasn't thinking too much..." Though she said that, her little face remained flushed.