Competition begins
The light from the spatial gate gradually faded, and the five staggered back into the Li Yuan Secret Realm.
Beneath their feet lay warm, smooth Chaos Origin Stones, and pure Chaos Origin Qi flowed around them, a stark contrast to the three lifetimes they had just experienced.
"I'm back!" Ji Qianqiu was the first to shout, taking a deep breath. The abundant spiritual energy made him feel refreshed. "This place is the best! The spiritual energy is plentiful! I was so suffocated!"
Before they could even stand still, several anxious figures had already surrounded them.
Leading the group were Fang Qingyu and Yun Zhiruo, their faces filled with anxiety and anticipation. Behind them were many members of the Liyuan Clan, the Ancient Witch Clan, and core allies of the Ascended Alliance who had rushed to the scene upon hearing the news.
"How is it?!" Fang Qingyu's voice trembled as his gaze swept eagerly over the five people, finally settling on Xie Chen.
Although Xie Chen's face was somewhat pale, he smiled gently and slowly lifted his palm upwards.
Three illusory lotus seeds floated silently, radiating a chaotic vitality that illuminated the surprised faces of the crowd. "We have fulfilled our mission; the three lotus seeds have been collected."
"That's wonderful! Pear... my Pear is saved!" Yun Zhiruo burst into tears of joy, tightly gripping her husband's arm, tears streaming down her face.
The Chaos Crystal Heart, carefully placed and warmed at the center of the Chaos Source Eye, trembled slightly, and a small crystal sob emanated from within:
"They're home! They're home! Waaah... Host! They're finally home! I almost thought they were going to be wanderers forever! Huh? Why is it so noisy outside? The spiritual energy fluctuations are so intense!"
The five people briefly recounted their experiences across three lifetimes, omitting many details and only emphasizing that Fang Li remained safe and sound in each lifetime, ultimately achieving happiness and fulfillment in that world.
Fang Qingyu and Yun Zhiruo listened with complex and indescribable expressions.
As parents, we are naturally gratified to hear that our daughter is living a peaceful and happy life in another world; but when we think that her happiness has nothing to do with us, that she calls someone else's parents and marries someone else, we can't help but feel a pang of sadness and loss.
Finally, Fang Qingyu sighed and held his wife's hand tightly: "Peace and happiness...that's good...that's good..." As long as their daughter is well, they are content.
However, unlike their parents' bittersweet feelings, the four of them—Ye Wuyang, Shen Yunzhou, Ji Qianqiu, and Xie Chen—experienced an invisible spark crackling in the air the moment their eyes met!
Throughout the three lifetimes, the jealousy and anger he felt upon witnessing his various "love rivals" being affectionate and getting married to Fang Li did not dissipate upon his return. Instead, it became even more intense and piercing as he returned to reality and realized that the competition was about to truly begin!
Ye Wuyang's icy blue eyes swept coldly over the other three, and she sneered inwardly: "...If it weren't for you all dragging her down and distracting her, how could those outsiders have been allowed to get close to her! In this world, there is absolutely no possibility!" A chilling aura unconsciously spread from her body.
Shen Yunzhou's fingertips flashed with a hint of sword energy, his eyes sharp as knives: "...Three lifetimes of ill-fated destiny, all due to insufficient strength and the obstruction of time and space. In this life, we are so close, we absolutely cannot afford to lose again." His desire to win was stronger than ever before.
Ji Qianqiu glared at this person, then that person, and broke the silence in a muffled voice: "What are you looking at! What's so interesting! Getting to work and saving our junior sister is the most important thing!"
Xie Chen gently waved the virtual jade fan in his hand, a meaningful smile on his face, and his deep gaze swept over the three people: "Everyone, the three lifetimes of destiny have come to an end, and the lotus seed has returned to its place. Now, the true opportunity has arrived. From now on... it's up to each of you to rely on your own abilities."
He said no more, stepped forward, and pointed to the center of the Chaos Source Eye: "To reunite Li'er's soul, this Chaos Source Eye must serve as the supreme foundation, and the 'Three Lives Reincarnation Soul Gathering Array' must be laid out. This array requires the gathering of the gratitude and wishes of all living beings, the lifeblood of one's closest and dearest loved ones, and countless rare and precious materials to nourish the soul, in order to defy the heavens, nurture the lotus seed, and reunite the scattered soul..."
Little Liuli pricked up her ears and listened attentively inside the lotus heart: "The Three Lifetimes Reincarnation Soul Gathering Array? It sounds so complicated and powerful! Thank goodness! Finally, there's a clear and reliable plan! What are you all standing around for? Let's get moving! Time waits for no one!"
Ye Wuyang spoke first, her tone confident: "Yes. My Cold Essence can calm the soul and soothe the mind, making it the best choice for nurturing the spirit."
Shen Yunzhou immediately followed, his sword aura faintly visible: "My Annihilation Sword Intent returns to its original simplicity, which can cleanse the soul of impurities, temper the origin, and make it more pure and resilient."
Ji Qianqiu patted his chest and exclaimed, "I may not have much else, but I'm incredibly strong! I'll go and bring over the best, most nourishing and soul-replenishing herbs from the storeroom right now! You are what you eat! It's guaranteed to work!"
Xie Chen smiled slightly, confident: "I will do my best to deduce the best time for the flow of spiritual energy and regulate the energy balance of the great array, striving to achieve twice the result with half the effort."
However, a problem arises. There is only one core to the Soul Gathering Array, the point where spiritual energy is most concentrated!
Almost the instant Xie Chen finished speaking, Ye Wuyang and Shen Yunzhou's gazes collided violently in mid-air! The cold air and sword energy intertwined invisibly above the array's core, neither giving way to the other, causing the space itself to distort slightly!
"This position is crucial to the effectiveness of nurturing, and I should guard it to stabilize the cauldron with the cold essence." Ye Wuyang's voice was icy, filled with determination.
“This position requires the purest power. My sword intent is more suited to cleansing and nourishing, so I should take charge.” Shen Yunzhou stood firm, his sword aura chilling.
Ji Qianqiu, seeing this, refused to stand by and slammed his battle axe into the ground, causing it to tremble slightly: "I think I'm the strongest and have the most immortal energy! It's my turn to take charge! I guarantee the spiritual energy will flow endlessly!"
Little Liuli was jumping up and down in her heart with anxiety: "Oh dear! Stop fighting! What's the point of fighting! What's the point of fighting for a position! As long as you have enough spiritual energy, that's enough! If you keep fighting, the host's soul will be shattered by the aftershocks of your fighting before the formation is even activated!"
Seeing this, Xie Chen's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he stepped forward to smooth things over: "Gentlemen, gentlemen, please hear me out. Since everyone has their own opinions and the stalemate is only hindering important matters, how about we rotate according to the time? At midnight and noon, when Yin and Yang alternate, Brother Guiye will use cold energy to harmonize them; at dawn and dusk, when metal energy rises, Brother Guichen will use sword intent to temper it; at dawn and dusk, when blood and energy are at their peak, Brother Guiji will infuse it with abundant immortal energy; as for dusk... it is the time when all things return to stillness, a time for deduction and adjustment, so I will temporarily take charge of that, how about it?"
Xiao Liuli muttered, "Hmph! He's got a clever plan! He saw right through Xie Chen's intentions! But... at least there's a way to temporarily quell the conflict... let's get started!"
With the plan tentatively settled, everyone immediately joined forces to take action.
First, Fang Qingyu personally and solemnly placed the Chaos Glazed Heart, which contained the three fused lotus seeds, at the core of the Chaos Source Eye.
Immediately afterwards, Xie Chen guided everyone to cast a spell, slowly drawing down the dazzling sea of stars above the Li Yuan Heaven, formed from the collective wishes of all beings in the myriad realms. He then infused it with a continuous stream of vitality and spiritual power.
Then came the injection of heart blood.
Fang Qingyu, Yun Zhiruo, and Fang Yan stepped forward one by one, solemnly forcing out a drop of their heart's blood containing their own life essence.
Fresh blood dripped onto the surface of the lotus seed, where it was quickly absorbed, giving rise to a soft halo of kinship.
When it was Ye Wuyang, Shen Yunzhou, Ji Qianqiu, and Xie Chen's turn, the atmosphere instantly became tense again!
Almost simultaneously, the four of them forced out their purest drop of life essence blood!
Ye Wuyang's blood was a deep blue like ancient ice, Shen Yunzhou's blood was silvery white and sharp like a sword, Ji Qianqiu's blood was crimson and boundless like a furnace, and Xie Chen's blood was crystal clear and contained starlight!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
