Soul-Attracting Lotus

Of all that had happened in the North Sea, what drew the most attention was the handful of young powerhouses who had distinguished themselves.

Among them were Sea God Island's heir, the Sea God Descendant Mo Shang, the Flamefish Tribe's heir Han Tian, the pure-blooded creatures of the Primordial Sacred Mountain, and one unexpected youth: the Heaven Mending Pavilion's Bear Child.

"They say Heavenly God Mountain's second young lady swept through all the heroes in the North Sea single-handedly. Unrivaled with both zither and sword, she had no equal. If she didn't kill a hundred thousand creatures, she killed at least fifty thousand."

"I heard the same from people who returned from the North Sea. Fairy Yun Ying played her zither alone, manifesting the killing arts of the sword Dao and sweeping through armies. All the heroes paled, and not one dared make a clamor before her again-not even those venerables' Spirit Avatars."

"There was also an incident before the Kunpeng Nest split open. The sea races joined forces to target Fairy Yun Ying, but with a single thought, she froze the sea for dozens of miles around. Ten thousand swords struck at once, burying countless members of the sea races and crushing their scheme outright. Truly peerless."

"Heavenly God Mountain's second young lady doesn't just have a face like a flower and beauty that could topple cities and kingdoms. Her talent is outstanding too. She's a jewel of our Desolate Region, someone you can't help but admire."

Many young people wore looks of adoration.

"Wasn't there also that Bear Child? What happened to him?" someone asked.

"Alas, they say the assembled heroes drove him into the Demon Transformation Cave. Certain death, with no hope of survival," answered someone familiar with the matter.

At this, many were shocked. Would Bear Child fall just like that, vanishing from the world forever? He had even survived the destruction of the Heaven Mending Pavilion. Could he really fail to survive this time?

At Heavenly God Mountain, beneath the Purple Bamboo Forest, Yun Ying sat alone. Steam rose from the cup on the table, and the fragrance of tea filled the air.

Before long, footsteps sounded. They were so familiar that Yun Ying knew who had come without looking.

"Little Ying." It was Yun Xi.

She walked straight over and sat down before Yun Ying, deftly pouring herself a cup of tea. "You're so good at brewing tea too, Little Ying."

"Sister, it seems rather lively outside. What happened?" Yun Ying asked with a faint smile.

Yun Xi took a sip of the fragrant tea before answering, "People have come to propose marriage, and not just one family. It's so annoying."

"If you don't like them, just ignore them," Yun Ying said.

The Celestial Clan had always been known for its handsome men and beautiful women, and its women were especially sought after. Yun Ying and Yun Xi were the finest of their generation. Now that both sisters had come of age, people naturally came to ask for their hands in marriage.

"Easy for you to say, Little Ying. They don't dare bother you, but they love bothering me," Yun Xi said, pouting.

Yun Ying's face blossomed into a smile, like ice and snow melting away. "Then you really have had a hard time. What does Grandfather think?"

"Grandfather neither agreed nor refused. He said all that matters is that we like them." Yun Xi smiled.

At this point, Yun Xi looked at her younger sister. "Little Ying, is there anyone you like?"

"Why do you ask? Have you already found someone you like, Sister?" Yun Ying blinked and turned the question back on her.

Yun Xi immediately waved her hands. "Of course not! Oh, I'm the one asking you. Answer my question first, Little Ying."

"I'm afraid it would be very difficult for me to fall for anyone," Yun Ying said calmly.

Hearing this, Yun Xi immediately realized something. Her younger sister was far too outstanding, and she was wholly devoted to the Dao. Of all the men beneath the heavens, probably not one could catch her eye.

"You're too outstanding, Little Ying," was all Yun Xi could say. "Oh, right, Little Ying. I heard that Bear Child died. Do you think it's true?"

Yun Ying was a little surprised to hear Yun Xi bring up Bear Child. Didn't she dislike him? Why had she brought him up on her own?

"He doesn't look like someone destined to die young," Yun Ying said.

Yun Xi nodded. "I think so too. He didn't die when the Heaven Mending Pavilion was destroyed, so he must have survived this time as well. He's definitely hiding somewhere, and he'll pop out when the time comes."

"You seem to know him quite well. Honestly, Sister, have you fallen for him?" Yun Ying teased.

Yun Xi immediately blushed and denied it. "Nothing of the sort! Don't talk nonsense, Little Ying, or I'll hit you."

"The fact that you're embarrassed means I'm not entirely wrong. He may be a little imp with a grown-up's cunning, and his character leaves something to be desired, but there really isn't anything wrong with him otherwise."

"There's one other thing. He looks like the sort who's always tangled up in trouble. Loving someone like that won't be easy. If possible, it's best not to fall for such a person," Yun Ying analyzed patiently.

"Oh, stop talking, Little Ying. I haven't!" Yun Xi was thoroughly embarrassed.

Seeing that Yun Xi refused to admit it, Yun Ying let the matter drop and said no more.

"Little Ying, play the zither for me," Yun Xi said, her tone carrying a hint of coaxing.

Without a word, Yun Ying took out the Purple Bamboo Zither. Her slender, jade-like fingers plucked the strings, and in an instant, snowy-white pear blossoms drifted through the Purple Bamboo Forest like falling snow. An artistic conception that stirred all things back to life arose naturally.

Listening to Yun Ying's music, Yun Xi closed her eyes in enjoyment. It was as though all the dust upon her soul had been swept away.

No matter when she played, Yun Ying's music always refreshed the heart and soul. It held none of that so-called refined detachment, none of that dazzling splendor, nor any earth-shaking grandeur. All it held was a moving beauty that reached deep into the heart.

Yet Yun Xi alone in the world could hear it. This was a privilege hers alone.

Heavenly God Mountain's innermost grounds were shrouded by a Heavenly God Formation and isolated within a separate dimension. Without the permission of Heavenly God Mountain's master, no one could enter.

Spiritual springs burbled here, lush vegetation flourished, flowers bloomed, and unusual rocks lay scattered about. Wisps of rosy light descended from the void, condensing into droplets that became spiritual liquid.

Several miles farther in, a lake formed entirely of spiritual liquid came into view. Spiritual energy rose from it, much like the lake in the Hundred Broken Mountains.

Upon the lake, a purple-gold lotus gave off a rich, delicate fragrance. His entire body was enveloped in a luminous purple glow, with waves of violet radiance rising into a haze. He had eight leaves in all, and his purple-gold flower likewise had eight petals, shedding auspicious light.

This purple-gold lotus was Heavenly God Mountain's Sacred Medicine, the Soul-Attracting Lotus.

Runes flickered at the bottom of the spiritual liquid lake, where heaven and earth divine stones had been arranged. They released an aura of primal essence to nourish the Sacred Medicine's growth.

The Soul-Attracting Lotus had heaven-defying medicinal effects, capable of bringing the dead back to life and regrowing flesh upon bare bones. Adding even a little of him when refining pills could increase their potency dozens of times over.

It was said that in primordial times, Heavenly God Mountain's Soul-Attracting Lotus had been tended by a Heavenly God. He had possessed nine leaves and nine petals, and had been extraordinarily miraculous. His medicinal potency had far surpassed what it was now, making him worthy of being called a divine medicine.

Sadly, the Soul-Attracting Lotus had later been wounded and his true spirit severed. He had degenerated into his current form, falling from a divine medicine to a Sacred Medicine.

Beside the lake, a slender figure sat cross-legged, her whole body radiating purple divine light, with runes glittering like stars. It was Yun Ying.