Tongtian Riverbank (Part 1)

A bone-chilling cold enveloped my consciousness, like sinking into an abyss of ten thousand years of profound ice. The biting chill pierced through flesh and bone, reaching the marrow. Every attempt to awaken brought only deeper numbness and stinging pain.

Cheng Xi felt like a stubborn rock abandoned in a cold current, his consciousness floating on the edge of chaos. The Moon Goddess's icy starlight eyes, shattered illusions, the whisper of "The Sect Master wishes to see you," and the fleeting glimpse of Biyou Palace's phantom in the depths of his consciousness... these fragments flashed and intertwined repeatedly in the cold darkness, like a chaotic nightmare.

It was unclear how much time had passed before a faint warmth, like the first spark ignited in the darkness, struggled to penetrate the heavy ice and cold.

It was a Jianmu Fragment.

That gentle life force, though as weak as a candle in the wind, flowed tenaciously through Cheng Xi's depleted meridians. Like a trickling stream, it melted the frozen layers bit by bit, awakening dormant vitality. At the Ghost Gate Acupoint on his back, the wound "baptized" by the Sky-Severing Sword Intent sent waves of itching and dull pain, signals of new flesh stubbornly growing. The lingering ghost energy had been completely purified. What shocked him even more was that the nascent Sword Intent, stimulated at the brink of life and death to tear through the Moon Goddess's illusion, had actually settled within him like a brand! It was weak, but possessed a peculiar "Break Delusion" attribute, lurking in the depths of his sea of consciousness, forming a subtle balance with the Jianmu's vitality and the Breathing Soil's density.

[System energy restored to 2%... Core functions limited... Passive scan activated... Environment analysis: High concentration of Water Spiritual Energy... Unknown high-dimensional energy field present...]

The System's prompt, like rusty gears, turned with difficulty, relaying information from the outside world.

Water Spiritual Energy?

Cheng Xi suddenly forced open his heavy eyelids.

The blinding sunlight made him instinctively squint. After a moment of adjustment, the scene before him gradually cleared.

No dense forest of Mount Li, no icy killing intent.

He and Yan Lingji were lying on an incredibly vast riverbank!

The riverbank was covered in smooth, rounded five-colored pebbles polished by the water flow, shimmering with a warm luster under the sun. The air was filled with a thick, almost tangible moisture, fresh, pure, and imbued with an indescribable spirituality. Every breath felt like it was cleansing his lungs and nourishing his parched meridians.

And before them lay a river.

No, it could no longer simply be called a river!

It was as wide as an ocean, stretching beyond the horizon! The river water was not murky yellow, but a deep, pure, flowing azure blue! Like melted sapphire, it refracted countless specks of brilliant shattered gold under the sun. The current appeared calm, yet deep within it surged a heart-stopping, immense power, rushing forward silently, creating deep whirlpools before quietly subsiding. The river's surface was shrouded in a faint mist of auspicious light, with faint glimpses of soaring cranes and leaping spirit fish, a scene of peaceful celestial beauty.

On the opposite bank, clouds and mist swirled, the outlines of mountains appearing and disappearing. Their height and distance were beyond imagination, as if connecting to the edge of the sky. An ancient, vast, and boundless aura emanated from that expanse of clouds and mountains, blanketing the surroundings.

[Environment confirmed: Unknown giant body of water... Water Spiritual Energy concentration: Primordial level... Energy field strength on opposite bank: Exceeds scan limit... Related information retrieval: Highest match - Tongtian River (Ancient Legend)...]

Tongtian River?!

Cheng Xi's heart trembled violently! The boundless water that legend said separated the primordial land from the immortal mountains overseas? How did they end up here? Was it the Moon Goddess? No, if the Moon Goddess had such means, why would she have gone to such lengths to intercept them? Was it the spatial energy triggered by the final burst of the Qingping Sword Sheath? Or... was it the power of Lord Tongtian?

He abruptly turned his head to look beside him.

Yan Lingji was still unconscious, her face pale, but her breathing had stabilized considerably. The Qingping Sword Sheath was held unconsciously in her embrace, its surface dull and lusterless, the cloud patterns retracted, as if it had exhausted all its spiritual essence and become a piece of ordinary jade. However, Cheng Xi keenly sensed that the imprint of Lord Tongtian's Sky-Severing Sword Intent within the sheath had not disappeared, but was like a slumbering dragon, lying dormant even deeper. Where the sheath touched her body, an extremely faint, dark golden pattern with a wild, scorching aura flashed and vanished beneath her pale skin, too quickly to be sure.

Zhurong Bloodline? That dark golden pattern... Cheng Xi recalled the dark golden claw that tore through space in the stone cave, his heart filled with even more doubt.

"Mmm..." A faint groan escaped Yan Lingji's lips. Her long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes. Her flame-like eyes were initially a little confused, but were instantly filled with vigilance as she abruptly sat up!

"Where... is this?" She looked around, seeing the vast Tongtian River and the immortal mountains and clouds on the opposite bank, her eyes filled with shock and confusion. "Did we... escape? Where is that woman in white?" She instinctively tightened her grip on the sword sheath in her arms.

"I don't know." Cheng Xi's voice was still a little hoarse. He struggled to sit up, feeling the slowly recovering strength within him and that settled Break Delusion Sword Intent. "Perhaps it was the sword sheath's final power that sent us here. This place... the Water Spiritual Energy is terrifyingly dense. The other side is likely the legendary immortal mountains overseas."

"Immortal mountains overseas?" Yan Lingji murmured, repeating the words. In the fragmented memories of the Witch Clan's inheritance, there seemed to be vague records about this isolated land, filled with mystery and unknown dangers. She looked down at the Qingping Sword Sheath, her fingers unconsciously stroking its cold surface. "It... seems to have completely gone dormant." There was a hint of imperceptible loss and unease in her tone. This sword sheath had saved their lives several times in the Secluded Valley and at Mount Li.

"Dormant doesn't mean useless." Cheng Xi's gaze was deep as he looked at the sword sheath. "Lord Tongtian wishes to see me, and this place is near the immortal mountains... Perhaps it was always a signpost pointing here." He remembered the words "The Sect Master wishes to see you" and the phantom of Biyou Palace before his consciousness had faded.

Just then!

Rumble--!

The calm and vast surface of the Tongtian River ahead, without any warning, erupted with colossal waves!

It wasn't wind-driven waves; the river water itself seemed to come alive, surging upwards! Forming a colossal water peak a hundred zhang high and tens of miles in diameter! At the apex of the water peak, the azure river water spun wildly, condensing, and instantly transformed into a sky-reaching--Water Giant!

This giant was composed entirely of flowing, incomparably pure azure river water. Its features were indistinct, yet it exuded a vast, majestic, and ancient aura that was suffocating! It was as if it were the embodiment of the Tongtian River's will! Beneath the giant's feet, the previously surging river water instantly became docile and calm, like a subject prostrating itself.

An indescribable, terrifying pressure, like the entire sky collapsing, descended with a roar! Enveloping the entire riverbank! The air became as thick as mercury, and the heavy pressure made Cheng Xi and Yan Lingji gasp for air, their bones groaning under the unbearable strain. The little strength they had just regained was forcefully pressed back into their bodies!

[Alert! Detected ultra-high-dimensional energy lifeform! Energy level: ??? (Beyond cognition)! Attribute: Pure Primordial Law of Water!... Classification: Innate Water God/River God (Projection/Avatar)!... Extremely dangerous!...]

The River God! An ancient, innate Water God! The supreme being who commanded the Tongtian River! Even if it was just a projection, its power was enough to scatter the souls of mortals!

"Mortal beings!" A grand, cold voice, devoid of any emotion, like ten thousand waves crashing simultaneously, directly reverberated in the depths of Cheng Xi and Yan Lingji's minds, shaking their seas of consciousness and making their souls tremble! The Water Giant's indistinct "gaze," like tangible streams of water, swept over the tiny figures of the two.

"This is the Tongtian River, the chasm separating the mortal world from the immortal realm. Without immortal destiny or decree, one must not trespass!" The voice was like a heavenly edict, containing irresistible power of rules.

"You are tainted with the turbid energy of the mortal world, and furthermore carry... an exotic fire source (gaze swept over Yan Lingji) and... Sky-Severing Edge (gaze fell upon the Qingping Sword Sheath), disturbing the tranquility of my river domain!" The River God's voice carried a trace of extremely subtle fluctuation, seemingly expressing surprise and... instinctive repulsion at the sword sheath's presence. Water and fire are incompatible, a fundamental principle of heaven and earth.

"To cross this river, you must endure my 'Three Tribulations'!" The Water Giant slowly raised a colossal hand, entirely composed of flowing river water, and pointed towards the sky.

"First Tribulation: Weak Water Soul Sinking!"

Before the words even fell, the River God's giant hand pressed downwards!

Whoosh--!

From the Tongtian River, a visible stream of water, exhibiting a bizarre dark gray color, separated from the azure river water like a malevolent dragon breaking free from its restraints! This dark gray current exuded a terrifying aura that withered and dragged down the very soul! It ignored spatial distance, instantly appearing above the riverbank, transforming into a dark gray "rain cloud" covering an area of several miles!

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!

Countless fine dark gray rain threads, carrying soul-devouring, sinking power, like billions of invisible poisoned needles, rained down upon Cheng Xi and Yan Lingji! This rain was not physical, but directly acted upon the spirit and soul! Once touched, it would lead to mental dullness at best, and soul sinking into the abyss of Weak Water at worst!

"Guard your minds!" Cheng Xi roared hoarsely! He forcefully activated the nascent Break Delusion Sword Intent in his sea of consciousness! Though weak, the Sword Intent carried the characteristic of cutting through illusion and revealing the true nature. At this moment, it transformed into an extremely thin yet incredibly tenacious light film of pale gold, covering their bodies!

Yan Lingji also felt the soul-penetrating, sinking power. An unyielding will blazed in her flame-like eyes! She forcibly activated the remaining Witch Fire within her body. Brilliant white flames rose around her body, attempting to burn away the sinking chill with the heat of fire! However, the Zhurong Bloodline within her seemed to be stimulated by the Weak Water aura. That hidden dark golden pattern reappeared and fluctuated violently. An ancient and even more ferocious scorching aura, far surpassing her own Witch Fire, was faintly revealed!

Pfft, pfft, pfft!

The dark gray rain of Weak Water landed on the pale gold light barrier formed by the Break Delusion Sword Intent, emitting dense dissolving sounds! The light barrier fluctuated violently, flickering unstably. Cheng Xi's face instantly turned ashen, his sea of consciousness struck as if by a heavy hammer. The newly born strand of Sword Intent let out a mournful cry, unable to bear the burden! Meanwhile, the blazing white Witch Fire on Yan Lingji's body rapidly dimmed under the erosion of the Weak Water. Her own power was utterly incapable of resisting this primordial water tribulation! Even worse, the restless, scorching heat deep within her bloodline, which had been stirred, was accelerating its uncontrolled surge, as if it would break free at any moment!

"Ugh!" Yan Lingji let out a pained groan, her body trembling violently. Dark gold patterns writhed like living things beneath her skin, her eyes sometimes clear, sometimes covered by a frenzied, golden-red flame!

Trapped between internal and external threats! The Weak Water Soul Sinking Tribulation had yet to be overcome, and the Zhurong power hidden within Yan Lingji (or rather, some force related to Zhurong, polluted or intensified) was on the verge of an uncontrolled outbreak, stimulated by the River God's Water Tribulation!

Cheng Xi was burning with anxiety! The Break Delusion Sword Intent was on the verge of collapse, and Yan Lingji was about to lose control! At this critical juncture—

Hum!

The silent Jianmu Fragment in his embrace seemed to sense his master's extreme danger and the violent heat within Yan Lingji, and it suddenly erupted with an unprecedented emerald green brilliance! It was no longer a gentle life aura, but a majestic, world-suppressing vitality filled with primordial authority!

The emerald green light instantly merged into Cheng Xi's Break Delusion Sword Intent light barrier! The thin light barrier suddenly became solid and heavy, its pale gold hue now infused with resilient emerald green. It temporarily stabilized the erosion of the Weak Water! At the same time, a cool, majestic vitality, passing through the Sword Intent light barrier, forcefully poured into Yan Lingji's body!

This life force, imbued with the origin of Jianmu, was like sweet rain falling upon a volcano on the verge of eruption! It did not forcefully suppress the violent heat, but instead, with a wondrous power of harmony and comfort, it rapidly permeated, enveloped, and soothed the frenzied power deep within Yan Lingji's bloodline! The surging dark gold patterns were as if injected with a clear stream; their restless frequency noticeably decreased. The frenzied golden-red flames slowly receded from her eyes, returning to their natural fiery hue, though tinged with deep exhaustion and lingering fear.

The Weak Water rain continued to erode, but with the strong support of Jianmu Vitality, the Break Delusion Sword Intent light barrier, though precarious, tenaciously held on!

On the indistinct face of the River God projection, formed from azure river water, a subtle hint of surprise seemed to flicker. Clearly, these two insignificant mortal beings, especially the sword sheath containing the Sky-Severing Sword Intent and the Jianmu Vitality that had just erupted, had exceeded his expectations.