The blinding sunlight hit me in the face.
Chu Yunfei narrowed his eyes, and the sound of gravel scraping against his feet came from beneath his feet.
When his vision cleared, he was standing on a barren, rocky ground.
Behind me stretched the gray-black peaks of the Black Wind Mountain Range, and in the distance, the mountain wind carried the scent of grass, trees, and dust.
Ling Xueyao stood beside him and took a deep breath.
The oppressive atmosphere that had been building up for days finally dissipated, and her tense shoulders relaxed a bit.
The next moment, the sound of shattering came from the remaining formation behind them.
The two looked back and saw that the temporary teleportation array on the ground was collapsing inch by inch, and several spirit crystals supporting the spatial passage had turned into powder.
After the white light dissipated, only a pile of ordinary rubble remained.
The way back is blocked.
Chu Yunfei glanced around.
"The eastern edge of the Black Wind Mountain Range is safe and there's no danger around. My luck isn't too bad."
Ling Xueyao took out a communication jade talisman, only to find that its light was dim.
"It seems the terrain of the Black Wind Mountain Range is affecting our ability to send messages. Let's leave this place first and then contact the Imperial City."
Chu Yunfei nodded.
The two had only walked a hundred feet or so forward when Little Purple suddenly lifted the snake's head from his wrist. The snake's tongue flickered rapidly, and its purple snake eyes stared at the dense forest ahead.
Chu Yunfei gripped the Abyss-Devouring Sword.
Ling Xueyao also raised her golden slender sword, and the aura of the Heavenly Origin Realm Ninth Layer slowly spread out. After breaking through, her injuries had been mostly healed. Now, if she encountered Heavenly Origin Realm assassin again, she would definitely not be as passive as before.
The sound of robes rustling in the dense forest could be heard.
A figure in a black robe stained with blood darted out from the forest, moving with incredible speed, but his breathing was clearly disordered.
When the person landed, the rocks beneath their feet exploded, and they swayed for a moment before regaining their balance.
Ling Xueyao's eyes widened in shock.
" Elder Shen!"
Shen Qianyue looked up and saw that Ling Xueyao was unharmed, and his extremely tense expression finally relaxed.
His face was haggard, his left sleeve was ripped open by a sharp weapon, and a large patch of his robe on his chest was stained red. Although the wound had been treated, it was still clear how fierce the previous battle had been.
Ignoring his own injuries, he knelt down on one knee, his voice hoarse.
"This old minister is incompetent, causing Your Highness to be in danger. I beg Your Highness to punish me."
Ling Xueyao quickly stepped forward and reached out to support him.
" Elder Shen, Cloud-Chasing Boat. Only because you were able to stop the Golden-Faced Assassin Chu Yunfei and I have a chance to escape."
As she said this, her expression suddenly changed.
Shen Qianyue's aura was weaker than when they parted on the Cloud-Chasing Boat.
Divine Sea Realm Sixth Layer.
He was originally at the Divine Sea Realm Seventh Level.
Ling Xueyao's fingertips trembled slightly, and she lowered her voice. " Elder Shen, what happened to your cultivation level?"
Shen Qianyue remained silent for a moment, then stood up and said, "That golden-masked man was extremely powerful and possessed several life-saving items. In order to get rid of him as quickly as possible, this old minister burned thirty percent of his life essence to activate a secret technique, ultimately severely injuring him, but failing to capture him. The loss of life essence damaged his foundation, and his cultivation level dropped by one level."
He spoke calmly, but Ling Xueyao's face turned pale as she listened.
Shen Qianyue watched her grow up. Within the royal family, he was both a revered figure and a protector. If it weren't for saving her, why would his foundation have been damaged?
Ling Xueyao gripped the golden slender sword tightly, her tone revealing an unusual stubbornness.
"After returning to the capital, I will personally go to the Pill Pavilion and find you pills to repair your foundation, no matter how many spirit stones are needed."
Shen Qianyue shook his head, a look of guilt still lingering in his eyes.
"Your Highness need not expend so much effort on this old minister. My only regret is that I was unable to kill that golden-masked man in the end, allowing him to escape wounded."
Chu Yunfei glanced at Shen Qianyue.
Pills for repairing one's foundation must be at least grade five, and ordinary Pill Pavilion may not have them in stock. However, the Imperial City Pill Pavilion Store has a special status, and Wen Jiao has a close relationship with Ling Xueyao, so this matter may not be unsolvable.
He wasn't surprised that the masked assassin escaped.
It would be truly strange if the Blood Baleful Intent Tower could remain hidden for so many years, and Golden Mask was a top-tier assassin, without any trump cards to protect him.
Only then did Shen Qianyue notice the change in Ling Xueyao's aura, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.
"Your Highness has entered the Eighth Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm?"
Chu Ling Xueyao nodded. "I encountered some fortuitous opportunities and managed to break through by chance."
She briefly explained the whole story to Shen Qianyue.
Of course, she glossed over the Earth Vein Spirit Spring, the demon soul, and Luo Wuxu, and also did not mention the details of when Chu Yunfei removed the blood evil for her.
Shen Qianyue's brows twitched slightly when he heard Chu Yunfei forcefully block a palm strike from the Divine Sea Realm expert.
He was at the Divine Sea Realm level, so he naturally knew how terrifying the power of the Divine Sea Realm was.
It's a miracle that Chu Yunfei survived.
This young man is no ordinary person.
Shen Qianyue's thoughts raced through his mind, but he didn't reveal much of it.
He solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute to Chu Yunfei.
"Young Master Chu risked his life to protect His Highness; I, Shen, will forever remember this kindness, and will never refuse any request in the future."
Chu Yunfei waved his hand.
" Elder Shen, you flatter me. Her Highness the Princess and I are on the same side; saving her is also saving myself."
When Ling Xueyao heard the words "a passerby," her eyelashes fluttered, but she did not refute them.
Shen Qianyue witnessed this scene and was slightly surprised.
Her Highness has never liked others using her name to get close to her.
If someone else had said those words, she would have already coldly distanced herself from them.
But when faced with Chu Yunfei, she remained silent.
It seems that quite a few things happened between the two of them after they fell into the Black Wind Mountain Range.
Ling Xueyao continued, "There's another corpse at the bottom of the cliff. After identification, we confirmed that it should be Lu Shaoyuan, who disappeared from the Heavenly Edict Sect thirty years ago."
When Shen Qianyue heard the name Lu Shaoyuan, his usually composed face finally showed obvious emotion.
" Lu Shaoyuan of the Heavenly Edict Sect? That genius at the Divine Sea Realm Ninth Level who disappeared thirty years ago?"
Ling Xueyao nodded.
"It was him. Lu Shaoyuan mentioned in his last words that the Blood Baleful Intent Tower had invited him to join, but after he refused, they sent three golden-masked assassins to kill him. He also left clues, such as the technique used by one of the golden-masked assassins, which was of the same origin as the Devil-Suppressing Hand the Heavenly Evil Devil Sect."
Shen Qianyue's eyes narrowed suddenly, a hint of killing intent flashing across them.
" Heavenly Evil Devil Sect..."
Having served the royal family for many years, he naturally knew the extent of the connection this name implied. The seven major sects and the royal family had maintained a superficial balance for a century. If the Blood Baleful Intent Tower was truly related to the Heavenly Evil Devil Sect, then it was not as simple as an assassination attempt on a princess.
This means someone is trying to undermine the very foundation of the Great Qian.
Shen Qianyue said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, this matter must not be made public after we return to the capital. The fact that the Blood Baleful Intent Tower was able to intercept and kill the Cloud-Chasing Boat means that there must be an inside agent within the capital. If the news leaks out, Lu Shaoyuan's last words will only become the cause of our own demise."
Ling Xueyao glanced at Chu Yunfei.
"I know."
Chu Yunfei did not expose how much of the content she had omitted.
Shen Qianyue was unaware of the Earth Vein Spirit Spring, nor of the letter left by Lu Shaoyuan and the Sea-Overturning Ninefold Sword.
Ling Xueyao chose to keep it a secret, both to protect Chu Yunfei and Shen Qianyue. The more she knew, the easier it would be to expose her weakness after returning to the capital.
Chu Yunfei spoke up, "Now that everyone is here, does Your Highness intend to rest or return directly to the capital?"
Ling Xueyao looked at Shen Qianyue.
Shen Qianyue understood her meaning and immediately said, "Your Highness, my injuries have been controlled. The longer we delay, the greater the danger to His Majesty. The Blood Baleful Intent Tower has suffered considerable losses this time, and it may not be able to organize an ambush of the same scale in a short time. This place is less than a day's journey from the capital. Let's set off directly."
Ling Xueyao nodded.
"Alright, let's return to the capital."
Shen Qianyue took to the air and cleared the way ahead.
Ling Xueyao followed closely behind.
Chu Yunfei has now entered the Heavenly Origin Realm, and his liquid spiritual power, which is ten times that of other cultivators of the same level, is enough to support him to fly to the imperial city.
Ling Xueyao was unaware of this.
After flying several feet, she stopped, took out a blue talisman, and handed it to him.
"This is Wind-Riding Talisman; sticking it on your body can reduce the consumption of spiritual energy."
Chu Yunfei did not refuse. There was always danger on the road, so it would be best to keep his spiritual energy abundant.
He took the talisman, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Her Highness the Princess is becoming more and more generous to me."
Ling Xueyao kept her eyes straight ahead.
"Enough with the nonsense. If you fall behind, I'll have to come back for you, which will be troublesome."
Chu Yunfei smiled and affixed the Wind-Riding Talisman to the inside of his sleeve.
Ling Xueyao watched his movements.
"It's your first time flying, don't overdo it."
"I have a talisman."
" The Wind-Riding Talisman can only save spiritual energy; it cannot control your direction."
"If Your Highness is worried, you can hold my hand."
Ling Xueyao turned around and sped up.
"I might as well kill you."
Shen Qianyue coughed lightly.
"Your Highness, has Young Master Chu just broken through to the Heavenly Origin Realm?"
Ling Xueyao paused for a moment.
"Um."
Shen Qianyue looked at Chu Yunfei, his expression becoming even more solemn.
Previously, Chu Yunfei was only at the Ninth Level of the Spirit Martial Realm, yet he managed to survive the pursuit of assassins at the Divine Sea Realm with Ling Xueyao.
Now that he has entered the Heavenly Origin Realm, his aura is surprisingly thick, unlike someone who has just broken through.
This young man is more complex than he had initially thought.
The three transformed into streaks of light and flew towards the imperial city.
The mountain breeze brushed past my ears.
After flying out of the edge of the Black Wind Mountain Range, Ling Xueyao suddenly slowed down by half a step and stood shoulder to shoulder with Chu Yunfei.
She lowered her voice and said, "Don't let anyone else know about the Spirit Spring and Lu Shaoyuan's belongings, including Elder Shen."
Chu Yunfei glanced at her.
"You didn't tell him either."
Ling Xueyao looked straight ahead, her tone calm.
"I don't want Elder Shen to worry too much. He has already damaged his foundation for me; there's no need to drag him into any more trouble."
Chu Yunfei chuckled.
Do you believe it yourself?
Ling Xueyao turned her head to look at him, a faint blush rising to her ears.
" Chu Yunfei, if you say another word, I will take back the Wind-Riding Talisman and let you fly back to the capital on your own."
Chu Yunfei wisely shut his mouth.
In his mind's eye, Xiaoxiao Dragon chuckled, "This girl may be stubborn, but she's really starting to protect you. She even hid it from the Divine Sea Realm elder. It seems you hold a more important place in her heart than you think."
Chu Yunfei did not respond.
The two continued flying forward. Shen Qianyue noticed the commotion behind him, glanced back, and seeing that Ling Xueyao was unharmed, he focused on continuing on his way.
And shortly after they left.
On a withered tree at the edge of the Black Wind Mountain Range, a completely black raven slowly opened its eyes.
It stared in the direction the three had left, and a strange, human-like light appeared in its eyes.
A moment later, the black crow flapped its wings and landed, carrying a dark red communication talisman out of the forest.
Blood-red patterns appeared on the surface of the talisman, and a chilling aura slowly spread.
The black crow lowered its head and spoke in human language into the communication talisman.
"Sir, the target is still alive. Also, the other party mentioned Lu Shaoyuan."