The so-called true dragons actually have three origins: first, the offspring of two true dragons; second, dragon-blooded descendants who cultivate to the highest dragon arts, also known as dragonkin; and third, people like Ji Yutang, humans who become true dragons through cultivation.
True dragon offspring are rare, and most humans follow the path of qi cultivation, rarely switching to the dragon path.
In fact, a large portion of true dragons are promoted from dragonkin, but this process is extremely difficult—most dragonkin get stuck at the “Dragon Transformation Gate” and can’t break through.
The Chi Dragon in front of them had a dragon’s body and shape, but lacked dragon horns.
Clearly, it was one of those who failed to become a true dragon.
If he didn’t get lucky, he’d spend his whole life as a dragonkin or dragon-blooded, never a true dragon.
Actually, life for dragonkin in the North Sea wasn’t bad—they had the Dragon Palace as their backing, and almost no one would dare mess with them.
But once you have one thing, you want another, and a group of dragonkin, egged on by outsiders, decided to use true dragon flesh and blood to further their cultivation.
“Perfect timing, I was just short of an Immortal Sect cultivator for a blood sacrifice.” The Chi Dragon let out a strange “heh heh” sound.
After advancing to the Golden Core stage, he wasn’t afraid of the Foundation Establishment cultivator in front of him at all.
As soon as he finished speaking, he reached out, his hand turning into a dragon claw, grabbing at the sword-wielding Qin Ruoshui.
Qin Ruoshui’s expression changed.
His robe rippled, and a golden canopy of light spread out in the water, with tassel-like rays hanging down.
The dragon claw collided with the tassels, sparking a fierce noise and creating several whirlpools.
As a true disciple of Taiyuan Dao Palace, Qin Ruoshui naturally carried magical artifacts, which gave him the confidence to face off against a Golden Core cultivator.
On the other side, Lin Heng’s expression turned serious when he saw Qin Ruoshui make a move.
He cultivated the “Mountains and Rivers Painting Path,” where all mountains and waters could be drawn into his artistic intent.
At this moment, with a wave of his hand, the winding water turned into a dragon that flew out of the painting, swinging its tail fiercely at the Chi Dragon.
Both of them were true disciples of the Eight Great Immortal Sects, protected by magical artifacts, making them hard to break through in a short time.
The Chi Dragon’s thoughts turned, and he set his sights on Li Jingyu and Ji Yutang.
One was at the Foundation Establishment stage, the other seemed like a mortal with no magic power.
Maybe she was using some artifact to hide her aura, so out of caution, the Chi Dragon didn’t attack Ji Yutang, but chose Li Jingyu as his breakthrough point.
Li Jingyu let out a soft snort.
Her core technique was water-based, and with the “Taiyin Fiend,” her power in Dragon Palace City could increase by thirty or forty percent.
The light on her Robe of Calamity and Moon flowed, and the Blue Sea Tide drove the seawater, layer upon layer, forming countless trenches.
The Chi Dragon’s attacks twisted through those trenches, and by the time they reached Li Jingyu, there was little power left—she just brushed them aside.
After the first exchange, the Chi Dragon realized how tricky his opponents were, while Li Jingyu and the others understood something: although the Chi Dragon’s cultivation had reached the Golden Core stage, his magical abilities might not have kept up.
If they could damage his dragon body, they’d have a chance to kill him.
The three exchanged glances, their magic power surging, and attacked the Chi Dragon together.
The Chi Dragon’s expression changed slightly.
His pressure wasn’t enough to shake his enemies, and their magical abilities were hard to deal with.
His face twitched, and he formed a hand seal, sending out several Dragon Thunders.
Then, a talisman glowing with golden light floated out from his sleeve—he’d gotten it by accident, and at first, it could even suppress Nascent Soul cultivators.
But after several uses, it was almost spent, so now was the perfect time to use it on these three juniors.
If he needed more people for the blood sacrifice, he could go catch some on the snowfields, but if he let them break into the depths of the Dragon Palace and ruin the ritual, that would be a huge problem.
The moment the talisman floated from the Chi Dragon’s sleeve, it expanded, its dazzling golden light blinding, and mysterious Dao runes appeared in the air.
“Taishi Qingyi Sealing Talisman?” Qin Ruoshui’s face was full of shock when he saw the talisman.
As soon as he spoke, a huge whirlpool suddenly formed in the sea, like a bloody mouth lunging at them! The spiritual light on his robe flickered, but was instantly shattered in the darkness of the vortex.
Under that overwhelming force, they had no strength to resist! Li Jingyu’s eyelids twitched violently.
Using the water flow, she moved in a flash to Ji Yutang’s side.
As the whirlpool swallowed them, she grabbed Ji Yutang’s wrist tightly, refusing to let go.
The whirlpool swept away the coral and jade bridges from the seabed, leaving only a huge pit nearly a hundred feet wide.
The Chi Dragon frowned, not understanding how things had changed like this.
At least those pests were gone.
After staring for a while, the Chi Dragon flicked his sleeve indifferently and turned to walk back into the Dragon Palace.
“Is it done?” a booming voice called out.
“It’s done, just a bunch of little pests,” the Chi Dragon replied, his tone especially respectful.
The questioner grunted, then said, “Once we get the Taiyin Fiend from over there, the ‘True Dragon Transformation Array’ will be complete.”
* In the Sea Abyss.
A huge crack appeared, and several figures were thrown down, slamming hard onto the seabed.
When the golden light enveloped their bodies, all their magic power was sealed.
Now, falling to the bottom of the sea, if their bodies hadn’t reached the Foundation Establishment level, they’d have been crushed to pieces by the force.
Luckily, they still had water-repelling pearls, or the terrifying pressure of the seawater would have killed them instantly.
“Hiss—” Lin Heng sucked in a breath, feeling his magic power sealed, his face extremely grim.
Li Jingyu had no mind for anything else at the moment.
Her chest was compressed, pain surging through her as if a force was trying to tear her apart.
She lay flat on the ground, eyes dull, and after a long while, she rasped, “Can you get up now?” When the talisman’s power hit, Ji Yutang instinctively manifested her dragon form to resist the pressure, making her body incredibly heavy.
But when they landed, Li Jingyu cushioned her, taking the brunt of the force.
Ji Yutang snapped back to herself, quickly got up, looking a bit awkward as she reached out to help Li Jingyu up, biting her lip, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Li Jingyu shook her head, forcing an ugly smile onto her pale face, then coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Ji Yutang was startled by how bad she looked, guilt deepening in her eyes.
Li Jingyu met Ji Yutang’s gaze, stunned for a moment by the confusion in her eyes.
She covered her mouth and coughed lightly, then changed the subject on purpose, “Our magic is sealed.
We’re at the bottom of the sea.
If we can’t find a way out, we’ll all die here.”
“That’s the Taishi Qingyi Sealing Talisman, a Taishi Lineage technique.
I can’t break it.” Qin Ruoshui frowned deeply.
Of the Three Supreme Palaces, only the Taishi Lineage’s heirs were elusive, almost impossible to find.
He never expected the Chi Dragon to have a Taishi Lineage talisman.
“There’s no other way?” Lin Heng asked, unwilling to give up.
“Not exactly.” Qin Ruoshui shook his head, thought for a moment, and said, “The talisman’s power will fade over time.
We just have to wait it out.” If they were in the Dao Palace, they wouldn’t have to worry, but now they were at the bottom of the sea—could they really last that long? Qin Ruoshui’s brows furrowed, deep worry in his eyes.
“Let’s find a cave to hide in first.” Lin Heng sighed, looking dejected.
Li Jingyu glanced at Ji Yutang but said nothing.
Their magic was sealed, but Ji Yutang never had any magic to begin with, so the talisman didn’t affect her much.
She could fight, but with only Mortal Shedding stage cultivation, she might not be able to do much.
Li Jingyu thought for a while, then gave up on the idea.
Suddenly, Li Jingyu spoke, “Has anyone from the Taishi Lineage come to the North Sea?” Qin Ruoshui thought for a moment, then replied, “Their movements are unpredictable.
The only recorded visitor here was the former Taishi Dao Palace heir.” As soon as he finished, Qin Ruoshui regretted it a bit.
He glanced at Li Jingyu, saw her expression was calm, and relaxed a little.
“Taishi heir?” Lin Heng looked at Qin Ruoshui in confusion.
He wasn’t from the Three Supreme Palaces, so he didn’t know that story.
Li Jingyu lowered her eyes and said quietly, “That was my mother.
Back then, she caused a huge commotion in the North Sea, drawing the pursuit of six or seven true dragons.
If any Taishi Lineage talismans were left behind, they probably came from her.”
Lin Heng just said “oh” and didn’t ask further.
After entering the Dao, he didn’t care about such things, so he didn’t connect the “mother” Li Jingyu mentioned with the Taishi Dao Palace’s fallen demon.
“If the talisman ended up with the Chi Dragon, maybe he doesn’t know how to use it? Or is someone guiding him from behind?” Ji Yutang said softly.
Li Jingyu’s eyelid twitched.
Many things from the past had been deliberately suppressed by the Three Supreme Palaces and the Ran Family, so almost no one knew.
But as her daughter, Li Jingyu knew quite a bit, including things even Ran Jingri didn’t know.
The Chi Dragon’s goal was probably to destroy them, right? She still remembered the Chi Dragon’s shocked look when they were caught in the whirlpool.
Was it the Chi Dragon who threw them here, or was it the talisman’s doing? Li Jingyu’s mind turned.
She tried to activate her magic, and could sense her power slowly returning, but still couldn’t use it.
Maybe in another quarter of an hour, things would change.
As Li Jingyu frowned in thought, the moon phase in her Mind Palace suddenly changed, and a mysterious force urged her to go somewhere.
“Where are you going?” Ji Yutang’s voice sounded, and Li Jingyu realized she’d unconsciously taken a few steps in another direction.
Li Jingyu pressed her lips together and didn’t answer.
Ji Yutang looked suspiciously at the dazed Li Jingyu, opened her mouth, but didn’t know what to say.
After a while, she blurted out, “Let me try.”
“What?” Li Jingyu was stunned, looking at Ji Yutang in confusion.
Ji Yutang ignored her.
The heavenly book in her Mind Palace flipped open, and a Dao book glowing with golden light slowly appeared behind her.
After a few experiments, Ji Yutang understood: reciting the scriptures from the Daode Heavenly Book was actually using a divine power called “Dao De Heavenly Words.” But every time she used it, her own strength was completely drained, leaving her unable to fight.
This power was lofty as the Dao itself, but not suitable for regular combat.
“Hold to the ancient Dao, to rule the present.” As the Dao words fell, the restriction from the talisman on Li Jingyu slowly dissolved.
The Daode Heavenly Book was the Tai Shang’s core scripture, the “ancient,” the “one,” the “ancestor of heaven and earth.” Unfortunately, Ji Yutang’s own level wasn’t high, so she could only remove the restriction from Li Jingyu.
“Tai Shang Dao?” Qin Ruoshui looked at Ji Yutang in shock and doubt.
He didn’t recognize the Daode Heavenly Book, but he could sense the Tai Shang scripture’s aura.
Ji Yutang was clearly using a direct Tai Shang technique, but wasn’t everyone’s magic sealed here? And wasn’t she a Scattered Spirit Body? How could she still use Dao arts? Had she already found a solution? Ji Yutang had no interest or obligation to answer Qin Ruoshui’s questions.
As the Daode Heavenly Book behind her faded, her strength was drained, and exhaustion swept over her.
If Li Jingyu hadn’t caught her, she would have collapsed on the spot.
Li Jingyu lowered her eyes, looking at Ji Yutang, half-leaning in her arms, face deathly pale, her expression complicated.
She didn’t know what Dao Mother had left in the talisman, but she could feel her magic returning, and it was coming back much faster than the others.
If Ji Yutang hadn’t done this, she could have broken free of the restriction herself.
“I—” A ripple suddenly rose in Li Jingyu’s heart.
She leaned close to Ji Yutang’s ear and whispered, “I thought you didn’t like me.”
Ji Yutang was stunned.
She hadn’t expected Li Jingyu to say that.
Did she hate Li Jingyu? If she was just Li Jingyu, there’d be no talk of hate, but her real identity was Ran Guzhu, the one who had humiliated her.
She couldn’t tell if the face Li Jingyu showed now was real or fake.
As for helping her break the restriction, it was just to repay a previous favor.
She was silent for a long time, and when she finally had the strength, she pulled away from Li Jingyu’s arms, forced a smile, and replied softly, “How could I?” With her back to Li Jingyu, she didn’t know what expression the other had.
Li Jingyu’s expression softened.
She brushed aside a stray lock of hair, a hint of a smile in her eyes.
She looked at the dazed Qin Ruoshui and Lin Heng and said, “Senior brothers, let’s find a place to hide first.”
Qin Ruoshui nodded, “Alright.” He had a lot of questions, but those were Ji Yutang’s private matters, so he couldn’t ask and just pushed the thoughts aside.
The Sea Abyss was full of ravines and peaks like mountains on land.
Once Li Jingyu’s magic returned, she could use talismans and array tools to set up a safe illusion for Qin Ruoshui and Lin Heng.
As for herself, after sensing the movement of the moon phase in her Mind Palace, she had to go out and look for something related to the Taiyin.
Qin Ruoshui sat cross-legged on a rock, and suddenly saw Li Jingyu heading out.
He frowned, “Junior Sister Ran, where are you going?” His voice was calm, but it drew Lin Heng and Ji Yutang’s attention to Li Jingyu.
A dark light flashed in Li Jingyu’s eyes.
She turned to Qin Ruoshui and smiled, “I’m going to look around, just in case there’s any danger hiding nearby.”
Qin Ruoshui nodded at her words and didn’t ask further, “Be careful, Junior Sister.” This trip to the North Sea, Sister Zhao had already had an accident.
If something happened to Junior Sister Ran too, he wouldn’t know how to explain it to the elders of Taiyuan Dao Palace.
After Li Jingyu left, the cave suddenly fell silent.
Ji Yutang closed her eyes, quietly visualizing the divine dragon, using the surrounding Primordial Qi to cultivate.
As her cultivation progressed, a large patch of scales formed on her arm.
She could now transform her arm into a dragon claw, but fully transforming her body into a dragon was still a long way off.
Originally, she could have used external medicines to speed up her progress, but in this dangerous situation, that simply wasn’t an option.
The three of them meditated separately.
After an hour passed and there was still no sign of Li Jingyu returning, Ji Yutang grew increasingly anxious.
She suddenly stood up and looked toward the cave entrance.
At that moment, Qin Ruoshui spoke up, “Why isn’t Junior Sister Ran back yet?” His brows were tightly furrowed, his face full of worry.
“I’ll go take a look.” Ji Yutang spoke decisively.
“Daoist Friend Ji, you—” Lin Heng looked at her with concern, hating that the power of the talisman hadn’t faded yet, leaving him unable to help his companion.
“Let her go.” Qin Ruoshui said, his gaze deep and unreadable.
Ji Yutang didn’t care what Qin Ruoshui was thinking.
She quickly left their hiding place, but faced with the vast sea, she was momentarily lost.
She didn’t know which direction Li Jingyu had gone, nor what her intentions were.
Her cultivation wasn’t enough to travel freely through the sea, so she could only search cautiously along the outskirts.
After circling around with no results, Ji Yutang was about to return to the cave when she suddenly sensed spiritual energy surging to the north, the seawater being compressed by some force, waves rolling out in all directions.
Ji Yutang’s expression grew serious.
After a moment’s hesitation, she still flew toward that direction.
A battle in the sea was stirring up huge waves and whirlpools, churning up seaweed and coral from the seabed, spinning them rapidly in the water and breaking them into a riot of colors.
Before Ji Yutang even got close, she saw a bloody shadow fleeing through the water, her expression instantly sharpening—this was clearly a technique of the Demon Sect.
Above, nine green pearls formed a formation, firing beams of light.
Under the control of the Jewel of the Rising Tides, the currents of the sea made it impossible for those bloody shadows to escape.
Li Jingyu was indeed here.
Ji Yutang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but worry quickly followed.
As the bloody shadow approached, a piercing, ghostly wail came from within.
Without thinking, Ji Yutang unleashed a Dragon Thunder.
Thunder magic is a sign of heaven’s punishment, and the Five Thunders are especially effective against such evil things.
After the thunder rolled, the bloody shadow only had time to let out a final shriek before being completely obliterated.
Li Jingyu was fighting a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Tianhai Demon Sect.
He was no match for Li Jingyu and had little will to fight, but with all escape routes blocked, he had no way out.
He glared at Li Jingyu in frustration and shouted, “Saintess Ji Yue, what are you doing? Is Huoxin Palace trying to stop my Tianhai Demon Sect?” Li Jingyu had heard this kind of shouting many times and didn’t intend to respond.
But when she heard the Dragon Thunder just now, she realized Ji Yutang was nearby, so she sneered, “Ji Yue? I’m Ran Guzhu, true disciple of Taiyuan Palace!”
The demon cultivator stared at Li Jingyu, his pupils shrinking.
He wasn’t anyone important in the Demon Sect and didn’t know about the Ran Family’s affairs.
Hearing Li Jingyu’s words, he felt a bit uncertain.
Ran Guzhu had no intention of letting him keep chattering.
Lightning flickered in the waves, and suddenly a net of thunder spread out—the Lunar Heavenly Heart Thunder rolled through the water, and anything caught in the net was instantly destroyed, body and soul!
Li Jingyu flicked her sleeve, sweeping away the thick blood aura with a wave, then turned and landed beside Ji Yutang, asking, “Why did you come out here?”
Ji Yutang said, “You’ve been gone for a while.
Everyone was worried.”
“Everyone?” Li Jingyu raised an eyebrow, her tone teasing.
She looked at Ji Yutang with a smile.
“And what about you?”
Ji Yutang looked away, avoiding Li Jingyu’s smiling eyes, and changed the subject.
“Why are Tianhai Demon Sect cultivators here? Do they have some plan?”
Li Jingyu shook her head.
“No idea.”
Ji Yutang glanced at Li Jingyu and couldn’t help but ask, “Why didn’t you leave one alive to question?”
Li Jingyu didn’t answer.
Ji Yutang took a deep breath and softened her tone.
“Sorry, I wasn’t blaming you.”
Li Jingyu tilted her head, looking unconcerned.
“Let’s go back.
Since a Demon Sect disciple showed up here, there’s no way he was alone.
Once Senior Brother Qin and Senior Brother Lin recover their strength, we’ll act again.”
Ji Yutang nodded lightly.
Li Jingyu had actually already gotten the other side’s purpose out of the demon cultivator.
They were here to collect the “Taiyin Fiend.” But it was doomed to fail—the “Taiyin Fiend” of the North Sea had already been collected by her mother long ago and planted entirely in her own body.
Not even her “good father” knew this secret.
The “Taiyin Fiend” had given her the Taiyin Physique, making her twice as effective when cultivating the “Taiyin” arts, but it also meant she couldn’t master any other Daoist techniques.
Not long after Li Jingyu and Ji Yutang left, a black-clad demon cultivator flew over, looked around, found no trace, shook his head, and left.
Somewhere in the Sea Abyss, inside a stone cave.
A young man in black stood with his hands behind his back, thick baleful energy swirling around him, his eyes sharp as blades.
“Senior Brother Zhang, Junior Brother Wu is dead, but there’s no trace.” The demon cultivator who had gone to investigate returned and saluted the young man.
“Forget about him for now.” The black-clad cultivator frowned, then said, “Finding the Taiyin Fiend is more important.
Gao Cang has already brought the Shebi Corpse back, so I can’t afford any mistakes here, or I’ll lose to him.” This black-clad cultivator was a true disciple of the Tianhai Demon Sect, named Zhang Ren, from the same sect as Gao Cang.
In the Demon Sect, fellow disciples often fought each other ruthlessly.
To get more resources from the sect, he had to make greater contributions and outdo Gao Cang.
The demon cultivator replied, “Yes.” After a pause, he scratched his head and said, “But it’s been half a month with no results.
The Dragon Palace City side probably can’t wait any longer.
Senior Brother Zhang, is the Taiyin Fiend really around here?”
Zhang Ren glanced at him coolly.
“Are you doubting the information from our master?”
The demon cultivator shuddered at his words, quickly bowed to Zhang Ren, and left to continue searching for the Taiyin Fiend.
Not far away, in an underwater cave.
The power of the Taishi Qingyi Sealing Talisman was gradually fading.
Sensing a trace of spiritual power returning, Qin Ruoshui and Lin Heng began to actively wear down the remaining restraints left by the talisman.
Ji Yutang sat to the side, occasionally glancing at Li Jingyu a few feet away, her brows slightly furrowed, a look of confusion in her eyes.
“Is there something you want to ask me?” Of course Li Jingyu noticed Ji Yutang’s gaze.
After a silent sigh, she got up, walked over, and sat down facing Ji Yutang.
She crossed her legs, rested her elbows on her knees, and propped her chin in her hands, looking very relaxed.
Ji Yutang frowned.
The words “nothing” reached her lips, but she swallowed them back.
She looked at Li Jingyu and said, “There is.”
Li Jingyu smiled.
“Ask away.
I’ll answer anything.”
Ji Yutang didn’t really believe those words, but her confusion was interfering with her cultivation.
After thinking for a moment, she said, “I heard that demon cultivator call you Ji Yue? And Huoxin Palace, that’s one of the Demon Sect branches, right?”
Li Jingyu squinted, speaking carelessly, “Yeah, one of the four major Demon Sects.”
Ji Yutang looked at Li Jingyu, a bit dissatisfied.
Even a three-year-old knew Huoxin Palace was a Demon Sect; that wasn’t what she was asking.
Li Jingyu had been watching Ji Yutang’s expression, and seeing her displeased, she stopped teasing and half-truthfully said, “They mistook me for someone else.”
Ji Yutang asked suspiciously, “Mistook you?”
Li Jingyu’s eyes glimmered.
“Don’t you know about my family?”
Ji Yutang: “……” Well, she really didn’t know much.
There were some things her father wouldn’t tell her.
Li Jingyu said, “My mother’s surname is Li, you know that, right?”
Ji Yutang nodded.
The name “Li Jingyu” was just her mother’s surname plus her Daoist name, right?
Li Jingyu glanced at Qin Ruoshui and Lin Heng, saw that they were deep in meditation and wouldn’t hear them, then turned her gaze back.
She began, “My mother’s name was Li Qingxun, a descendant of Taishi Dao Palace.
She went astray while cultivating the Tai Shang Dao Scripture, fell into the demonic path, just like those from Wangqing Sect.”
Ji Yutang was stunned.
The two families had always avoided talking about Ran Guzhu’s mother—so this was the reason.
Was it because she resembled her mother that the Demon Sect mistook her? But earlier, that demon cultivator mentioned Huoxin Palace, not Wangqing Sect.
Her thoughts were in turmoil, and Li Jingyu calmly dropped a bombshell.
“It wasn’t a small matter for a Taishi descendant to fall into the demonic path, so my father joined forces with the Three Supreme Palaces to suppress and kill my mother.”
“What?” Ji Yutang’s expression changed, unable to control her emotions.
When Sister Shen from Bailu Academy learned a fellow disciple had fallen to the demonic path, she still tried everything to save her, but the Three Supreme Palaces and Senior Ran had chosen to kill directly? In the past, when imagining such a situation, she too had chosen “righteousness over family,” but that was easy to say when it didn’t concern herself.
Now, putting herself in that senior’s place, she felt a bit of reluctance.
“No need to be surprised.
She fell to the demonic path, didn’t she?” Li Jingyu said with a smile, her face showing no extra emotion.
Ji Yutang pressed her lips together and said nothing.
Li Jingyu shifted her posture and continued, “Let’s go on.
I wasn’t there the day my mother was killed, but my older sister saw it with her own eyes.
The shock drove her into the demonic path as well.
I don’t know how my father planned to deal with her.
Anyway, later she was rescued by the palace master of Huoxin Palace and became a demon cultivator.
Over time, our Ran Family just didn’t have those two people anymore.”
“See? Without them, the Ran Family is just fine.
I got a new mother and never lacked for love.”
Ji Yutang: “……” Li Jingyu’s calmness gave her a strange sense of unease.
Ji Yutang rubbed her forehead, trying to sort out her thoughts, when she suddenly realized something was off.
She looked at Li Jingyu, frowning, “Wait, where did you get an older sister?”
Li Jingyu smiled, “I do.
Her name is Ran Gutong.
We’re twins.
But after she fell to the demonic path, she became a taboo, and no one mentions her anymore.” Staring at the dazed Ji Yutang, she added, “Now you should understand why they mistook me, right?”
Ji Yutang said, “Is… is that so?”
Li Jingyu reached out and fiddled with the grass braid hanging at Ji Yutang’s waist, lazily saying, “If you don’t believe me, just ask when you get home.”
Ji Yutang shook her head.
This secret, hidden for more than ten years, had just been dropped on her, and she couldn’t process it all at once.
Her engagement to Ran Guzhu had been arranged before she was even born—if they were twins, which one was it for? The thought suddenly popped into Ji Yutang’s mind, and she stared at Li Jingyu, feeling that things were getting stranger and stranger.
“Any more questions?” Li Jingyu’s face was suddenly very close.
Immersed in her own thoughts, Ji Yutang was startled and instinctively leaned back.
Li Jingyu was quick, grabbing her and pulling her into her arms, almost pressing against the back of her head, and said softly, “If you have more questions, why not go back to Tianshui for a bit? There are some things I can’t answer, like why our families arranged a marriage.
In the storybooks, it’s always a man and a woman joining two families, but if it’s two girls, then it’s just a sworn sisterhood.”
“I—” Ji Yutang buried her face in Li Jingyu’s embrace.
The soft warmth made her cheeks burn, and it felt like all her strength had been drained away.
She just leaned stiffly against Li Jingyu, unable to say a word for a long time.
“Daoist Friend Ji, what are you two—” Lin Heng’s slightly confused voice suddenly came from nearby.
Li Jingyu blinked and let go of Ji Yutang.
Ji Yutang jolted, hurriedly got up, but realizing her face must be bright red, she sat back down and covered her cheeks with her hands.
Li Jingyu turned to Lin Heng and asked, “Senior Brother Lin, is your spiritual power back to normal?”
Lin Heng’s thoughts were pulled away by Li Jingyu’s words.
He stood up, stretched, and nodded.
“I’ve recovered.” After a pause, he added, “Losing my spiritual power was really tough.
I just wonder when Senior Brother Qin will recover?”
Li Jingyu said, “Should be soon, right?”
Lin Heng nodded.
With Demon Sect cultivators nearby, being without spiritual power was truly dangerous.
They didn’t have to wait long.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Qin Ruoshui’s robes suddenly glowed with spiritual light.
He stood up calmly and nodded to Lin Heng and the others.
He had already learned about the Tianhai Demon Sect from Li Jingyu earlier.
As a true disciple of Taiyuan Dao Palace, he couldn’t ignore this matter.
Qin Ruoshui said, “I suspect the Chi Dragon has colluded with the demon cultivators.
We’ll have to put off dealing with Sister Zhao for now.”
Thinking of their captured companion, Lin Heng felt a bit heavy-hearted and hesitated for a moment before nodding.
Just as they were about to go out and search for the demon cultivators, the formation outside the cave was suddenly triggered, sending out ripples.
“Senior Brother Zhang, there’s a formation here.
Could it be that the Taiyin Fiend is hiding in this place?” The demonic cultivator shouted at the top of his lungs.
Even though they had Water Avoidance Pearls, they were still people from the land, and after being underwater for so long, it was hard not to feel a bit stifled.
When Zhang Ren heard this, he flew over.
With just one glance, he suddenly realized what was going on.
He took a step back and raised his voice, “The aura of Immortal Sect cultivators!” At this point, it was too late to escape.
The demonic cultivator closest to the formation was struck by a continuous sword light and died instantly.
“Taiyuan Golden Fire Life Sword? Qin Ruoshui?” Zhang Ren’s face turned extremely grim.
He glared at the person flying out of the cave, his whole body tense.
Among the current generation of disciples in Taiyuan Dao Palace, Qin Ruoshui was the most outstanding, with a real chance to lead Taiyuan Dao Palace in the future.
The Taiyuan Golden Fire Life Sword he cultivated was the supreme sword art of the palace.
But now, underwater, the power of golden fire might not be fully unleashed.
Zhang Ren’s mind raced, and he started thinking about killing him.
They were both at the Foundation Establishment Stage now, but once Qin Ruoshui obtained the Human Immortal Dao Fruit and became a Golden Core cultivator, he’d be much harder to deal with.
“So it really is people from Tianhai Demon Sect.” Lin Heng stared at Zhang Ren’s group and spoke angrily.
“Tianhai Demon Sect disciples commit evil, so killing them is justified.” Li Jingyu chuckled, not at all afraid of Zhang Ren recognizing him, and walked out openly.
When Zhang Ren saw Qin Ruoshui, his expression was serious, but when he got a clear look at Li Jingyu’s face, his eyes filled with shock.
However, that shock faded when Qin Ruoshui called Li Jingyu “Junior Sister Ran.” Zhang Ren quickly thought of the Ran Family, his eyes flickered, and he sneered, “So, it’s you lot ruining my Demon Sect’s plans.
You’re not leaving alive today!” This mission wasn’t easy.
Along with Zhang Ren, besides the cultivators at the Mortal Shedding Stage, there were three at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
They all stared at Ji Yutang’s group with greedy eyes.
The bodies of Immortal Sect cultivators were much tastier than ordinary people.
“Do it!” Zhang Ren barked, his spiritual power surging as he released a thick cloud of black mist.
The black mist spread through the water, quickly turning the whole area pitch black.
You couldn’t see your hand in front of your face, and even divine sense was blocked.
In just a few breaths, Qin Ruoshui, Lin Heng, and the others were scattered.
Ji Yutang stood calmly in place.
Maybe because she wasn’t a disciple of a major sect and didn’t have the aura of Foundation Establishment, they didn’t pay her any mind, only sending a Mortal Shedding Stage demonic cultivator to block her.
His weapon was a pitch-black blade, almost blending into the sea, its light hidden in the darkness, ready to strike from another direction at any moment.
With divine sense blocked, ordinary cultivators would have a hard time sensing danger unless they could break through this trick.
But Ji Yutang cultivated dragon arts, and controlling water was second nature.
Even the water tainted by the black mist could serve as her feelers, transmitting the flow of spiritual power.
Strange noises echoed from all directions, but Ji Yutang stayed calm, suddenly reaching back and grabbing.
The blade light crashed into her dragon claw and shattered instantly.
Ji Yutang immediately counterattacked, sending a “Divine Firmament Pure Dragon Thunder” at the demonic cultivator’s position.
Thunder rumbled, scattering the evil wails and clearing away a patch of black mist.
Ji Yutang kept her eyes forward and simply arranged Dragon Thunder all around her—anyone who got close would be struck by her lightning technique.
Amid the surging tides, Heavenly Heart Thunder and Dragon Thunder intertwined, lightning flickering and outlining a domain of thunder.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator could withstand a strike from Dragon Thunder, but touching it in the water would still leave their limbs a bit numb.
Zhang Ren’s opponent was Qin Ruoshui, who only cultivated the sword.
In his moment of distraction, several sword lights struck before he could block them, slicing off his left arm!
Author’s note: ① “Dao De Jing”
