The struggle

Seeing their attitude, Yun Ying remained expressionless. "Yes. That is the final trial. Whoever can see through it will obtain the complete Kun Peng Precious Technique."

At this, Qing Ming and the others' eyes immediately burned with eagerness.

"Fairy Yun Ying, then why did you..."

The people from the Primordial Sacred Mountain were puzzled. Of everyone present, Yun Ying was the most likely to obtain the complete Kun Peng Precious Technique, yet she had chosen to withdraw after obtaining only an incomplete version.

"It is not destined for me. Sister," Yun Ying replied coolly, then called Yun Xi over and left.

Yun Xi looked at the others from the Primordial Sacred Mountain, then at Yun Ying, and finally decided to listen to her. She gave the order outright. "Everyone from Heavenly God Mountain, leave with Little Ying and me."

"First young miss, second young miss... alas. Everyone, we shall take our leave first."

The people from Heavenly God Mountain all looked helpless. After bidding farewell to those from the other sacred mountains, they followed Yun Ying and Yun Xi away.

Seeing the people from Heavenly God Mountain leave, those from the other sacred mountains all looked displeased. Without Heavenly God Mountain's people-or, more precisely, without Yun Ying-it would be far too difficult for them to contend for the complete Kun Peng Precious Technique.

"Forget about them. Let's go. We must obtain the complete Kun Peng Precious Technique!"

The people from the other sacred mountains immediately rushed toward the altar, joining the struggle for the Kun Peng Talisman Bone.

Before long, Yun Ying and her group returned outside and reached the reef.

"First young miss, second young miss, should we go and join our master?"

A Divine Servant from Heavenly God Mountain asked. Since Yun Ying had already obtained part of the Kun Peng Precious Technique, they could consider their mission accomplished.

"It is not time yet. I will demonstrate the Kun Peng runes for you. How much you comprehend will depend on your own aptitude," Yun Ying said to everyone, shaking her head.

At her words, the Divine Servants from Heavenly God Mountain paled in alarm. "You must not, second young miss. The Kun Peng Precious Technique is of tremendous importance. Even if it is incomplete, you must not casually allow old servants like us to view it."

"Say no more. All the myriad arts in this world may be learned. What you achieve depends entirely on yourselves," Yun Ying interrupted them. Then she raised her hand, her crystalline, jade-like fingers tracing through the air as brilliant runes sprang into being.

Kun Peng runes unfolded one after another, dazzling and resplendent. An indescribable might spread outward, and visions immediately arose in the air-a great peng spreading its wings and a kun fish churning the seas-revealing the profound mysteries of the Kun Peng Precious Technique.

Seeing this, Yun Xi and everyone from Heavenly God Mountain immediately sat cross-legged and began studying the Kun Peng runes.

Nearly an hour later, everyone from Heavenly God Mountain awoke from their contemplation. The Kun Peng runes were far too profound; with their aptitude, they simply could not delve deeply into them.

Still, even grasping the tiniest trace of their surface, without understanding the true meaning of the Kun Peng Precious Technique, had benefited them immensely.

"Thank you, second young miss," the Divine Servants and the others from Heavenly God Mountain said, bowing to Yun Ying in gratitude.

Without Yun Ying, they might never have had the opportunity to contemplate the Kun Peng runes. Once she returned to Heavenly God Mountain, the Kun Peng Precious Technique in her possession would inevitably be placed under the control of its leaders, who would not readily allow those beneath them to study it.

"Do you not understand why I did this?"

Yun Ying's expression was calm. Looking at Yun Xi, who was still contemplating the Kun Peng Precious Technique within the Dao Realm, she spoke softly.

Everyone from Heavenly God Mountain froze for a moment at her words and exchanged glances. Though they did not answer, they all nodded.

Seeing their reaction, Yun Ying withdrew her gaze, turned, and walked to the edge of the reef. She stood tall, gazing toward the horizon.

At that moment, everyone sensed a change in Yun Ying's bearing. She became even more otherworldly, even more ethereal, the immortal aura about her growing ever stronger, as though she might ascend on immortal wings at any moment.

Yet what drew their attention even more was the proud, peerless aloofness she exuded, which somehow carried a trace of loneliness.

"The Great Dao stretches endlessly. At its heights, the cold is hard to bear."

Her words rang like a clear spring, yet also resounded like the clang of a sword. They echoed in everyone's ears, sending a tremor through them.

At that moment, they felt Yun Ying was so far away, as though an entire world lay between them, as though immortals and mortals stood on opposite shores.

Then Yun Ying turned around, and that feeling slowly faded. Everyone from Heavenly God Mountain broke into a cold sweat. For an instant, they had almost believed their second young miss was an immortal reincarnated.

"The second young miss possesses peerless talent and beauty that could topple cities and kingdoms. Who in this world could ever be worthy of her?"

A Divine Servant from Heavenly God Mountain sighed softly, filled with pride, but also concern.

"Take everyone to Grandfather. Tell him what happened here and have him prepare. The people inside will not obtain that complete portion of the Kun Peng Precious Technique."

Yun Ying addressed the Divine Servants.

Hearing her words, the Divine Servants shuddered. They all understood what she meant: the people inside would never sit down together and share the Kun Peng Talisman Bone.

In other words, they would not even be able to obtain that entire portion of the Kun Peng Precious Technique. If so, Yun Ying might well become the target of every arrow, because she possessed that portion of the technique.

"Second young miss, we will escort you to our master at once. He will never allow such a thing to happen."

The Divine Servants offered their suggestion.

Yun Ying shook her head. "Before the Kun Peng Talisman Bone appears, doing that would make us the target of every arrow. Listen to me. Go and tell him about the situation here first. Do not worry about me. Here, no one can harm me."

After some thought, the Divine Servants obeyed Yun Ying's decision. They then led the others away, returning to the world outside.

Meanwhile, on the altar in the underground cavern dwelling, the various factions fought fiercely for the Kun Peng Talisman Bone, their eyes red with bloodlust.

The battle lasted several full days before finally ending. The Kun Peng Talisman Bone had already been cracked, making it easy for the factions to divide it among themselves. The six major factions each obtained a fragment.

Sea God Island, the Primordial Sacred Mountain, and the others each seized a fragment of the Kun Peng Talisman Bone.

This meant that the already incomplete Kun Peng Precious Technique became even more fragmented. Yet those people did not care, nor did they show any intention of bringing the pieces of the Kun Peng Talisman Bone together to obtain a more complete technique.

It seemed that Yun Ying's words had drifted away like clouds and mist. No one remembered what she had said.

On the reef, Yun Xi spent several days before finally committing all the Kun Peng runes to memory.

"As expected of a precious technique of the Ten Fiends. It took me so long just to memorize it all. Little Ying, you truly are a monster," Yun Xi could not help remarking.

Only after studying the Kun Peng runes herself did she understand just how profound the Kun Peng Precious Technique was.

For Yun Ying to have memorized every Kun Peng rune in such a short time was truly incredible.

After a pause, she asked, "Little Ying, why did you give up on the complete Kun Peng Precious Technique?"

She knew Yun Ying understood how to obtain the complete Kun Peng Precious Technique.