Chapter 58 The Girl Riding a Gray Donkey Comes to Save You
A warm, cool sensation came from his palm, and Yu Tianxing's frighteningly cold body temperature seemed to rise slightly.
When Ji Mingran approached him, he discovered that the icy chill emanating from his body was not a psychological reaction, but a chemical one. His body was like an ice cube melting and turning cold under the scorching sun.
The originally cool-to-the-touch Spirit Ring appeared warm in his palm in stark contrast.
Ji Mingran was not one to pry, but seeing this, he couldn't help but ask, "How did you and Xiao Ji come to the Spirit Cultivation Realm?" The Heavenly Gate had only been open for a year, so they certainly didn't arrive here by ordinary means, and they ended up in this state.
Yu Tianxing said in a low, hoarse voice, "The Golden Roc Clan has the ability to traverse worlds. With the help of secret methods to connect with the spiritual cultivation world, they can arrive here."
He made it sound simple, but if it were really that easy, there wouldn't be countless cultivators from minor worlds scrambling to seize the chance to cross the Heavenly Gate.
The secret methods that connect spiritual practice with the inner world are firmly held by a few major sects or clans, and outsiders cannot know them.
Senior Brother Sanyang once told her that even if one mastered the secret technique, only blood relatives could use it.
So, does that mean "you have blood relatives in the spiritual community"?
“You could say that.” Seeing Ji Mingran listening intently with his head turned to the side, Yu Tianxing’s dark eyes revealed a hint of tenderness: “After all, no matter how close you are, you can’t be as close as your true self, can you?”
"What you saw in the small world was my primordial spirit that I accidentally scattered into the small world."
Ji Mingran pondered, "Did it just float out of the Spirit Ring?"
Yu Tianxing casually remarked, "A remnant soul that accidentally scattered into the ring."
Ji Mingran didn't believe it: How careless must one be to cause one's primordial spirit to scatter, with some of it even falling into a spiritual artifact that has the effect of securing and protecting the soul?
Moreover, it turns out she brought two souls with her when she crossed the Heavenly Gate? The jade ring around her neck held the remnant soul of Yu Tianxing, while the brocade pouch at her waist contained the primordial soul of her senior brother, Li Xiaosen.
They're so carefree; if anything were to happen to her, their souls would be beyond repair.
Ji Mingran had only heard about the dissipation of Yuan Soul from his senior brother Li Xiaosen's experience. It took Boss Jiang a hundred years of painstaking effort to gather his Yuan Soul back and return it to the spiritual cultivator. Now, it still needs to be nurtured with a stone to recover to normal.
Li Xiaosen had not yet learned from Senior Brother Sanyang why his primordial spirit had been completely scattered, and Yu Tianxing, seeing his expression, did not want to say more.
Regardless, after the remnant soul returns to the body, it needs thorough nurturing to fully recover. The Spirit Ring is very important to Yu Tianxing at this moment.
Ji Mingran originally intended to borrow the Spirit Ring from Yu Tianxing temporarily, as he needed to rely on it to stabilize the inherited power in his sea of consciousness before obtaining the sect's treasure stone.
But Yu Tianxing needs it even more.
Ji Mingran immediately abandoned the idea of borrowing the Spirit Ring.
It is truly rare to be able to reunite with an old friend who is still alive.
"In that case," Ji Mingran's smile widened, and he tightened his grip on the hand covering his own, shaking it vigorously. "Let's continue to cooperate well, partner."
Yu Tianxing looked at the hand that was being held and said, "Okay." He turned his palm over and the Spirit Ring fell into his hand.
The mournful howls of monsters echoed from the distant woods. Ji Mingran looked in the direction of the sound and thought, "That's the direction they're chasing after the monsters."
It seems the monster is about to be dealt with.
Just as Ji Mingran was about to discuss the next arrangements with Yu Tianxing, the light above them dimmed, and a black robe with cloud patterns blocked their view.
Sitting beside her, Yu Tianxing turned to her as she turned her head, leaned forward, and gazed into her eyes as she looked up. He slowly stroked the jade ring in his palm, raised both hands, and placed it around Ji Mingran's neck again.
Ji Mingran asked in confusion, "Hmm?"
The jet-black jade ring complemented her raised eyes, which were clear and bright.
Yu Tianxing: "No need to return the gift for our reunion."
"I'd rather not. You know I don't like owing people anything." Ji Mingran reached for the jade ring, about to take it off, but was stopped by a cold hand.
"It's also a thank you gift for helping my remnant soul return," Yu Tianxing said slowly. "In this way, we'll be even."
Since he didn't need it, but she did, Ji Mingran didn't stand on ceremony: "Okay."
A thank-you gift is acceptable, but a return gift is necessary upon reunion. What kind of gift should one give in return?
Its value should match that of the spirit ring, and its meaning should convey the idea of a reunion.
This is difficult.
Ji Mingran asked, perplexed, "What do you want?"
A smile flashed in Yu Tianxing's eyes: "No rush, think about it slowly."
Ji Mingran felt even more troubled. He glanced at the little horse digging in the dirt not far away and hesitated, "Could it be that you want it?"
Otherwise, why lure it here?
Yu Tianxing only looked at her: "You want it?"
His question suggested he genuinely wanted it. But Ji Mingran wasn't willing to back down: "In fact, I chased it first, I captured it first, so shouldn't it belong to me?"
After a moment's thought, Ji Mingran stood up, pointed at the pony, and asked again, "Yu Tianxing, do you really want it?"
Even if he truly wanted it as a reunion gift, she couldn't agree.
Ji Mingran stood up abruptly, not caring whether his head would bump into Yu Tianxing. Just as the two were about to collide, Yu Tianxing finally moved aside, and Ji Mingran's forehead barely grazed his clothes.
Yu Tianxing's gaze lingered on the front of his clothes for a moment before looking at the "horse" that Ji Mingran was pointing to, and he denied it in a low voice: "No."
It was Chongjue who wanted it, not him.
Moreover, I don't want it as a rare gift for a reunion.
Since she wanted it, Yu Tianxing beckoned, and the Qilin beast sauntered over, saying, "It is indeed yours, take it."
Upon receiving Yu Tianxing's instructions, the Qilin Beast hesitated, looking left and right. One had a cold, piercing gaze and unfathomable magic, while the other was wielding a hammer that struck with deadly force. Neither of them was easy to deal with.
A straightforward master is always better than one who is capricious and cold-hearted.
With Yu Tianxing's help, Ji Mingran happily and steadily mounted his horse and said in the direction from which the monster had made its noise, "Let's go! Let's go take a look over there!"
******
In the forest, the Golden Core Wolf King lay on the grass, barely alive. With just one final blow, it would be dead.
But the final blow was delayed.
The cultivators surrounding it formed a tripod-like formation.
To the upper left of the wolf's head are two disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, Ye Wentang, the young master of the Xiaosu Pavilion, and three disciples of the Shen family, including Chen Ningzhuang. To the upper right are Shen Qingluo and Zhu Shibai of the Dingsheng Sect, and four disciples of the Zhu family. At the wolf's tail are Fu Daolan and Shao Qingshang of the Xuwu Sect, Shi Jinle of the Hehuan Sect, a masculine strongman, a charming male cultivator, and Ji Xingyang of the Unnamed Sect.
The alliance between Yu Shou, Xiao Su, and the Shen family is already well-established and needs no further explanation. As the heir of the Zhu family, Zhu Shibai is naturally on the same side as the Zhu family. The latter three sects formed a bond due to the previous illusion. Although they are not familiar with each other, they are acquaintances and can temporarily team up.
The three parties are roughly equal, and whoever makes the first move will inevitably be stopped by the other two, thus the situation becomes deadlocked.
No one can take down the wolf head, which is likely the Achilles' heel of the illusion, unless the two sides can reach a consensus.
As Shen Qingluo's younger brother, Shen Ningzhuang was the first to jump out and persuade her: "Sister, we're all family, how can you not help us?"
Between the Dingsheng Sect and the Zhu family, only my sister and Zhu Shibai are strong enough. If my sister comes back and stands with the Shen family, it is obvious who will win and who will lose.
He bluntly stated, "Although you represent your respective sects, isn't the person next to you also helping their own?"
Despite being criticized to his face, Zhu Shibai remained composed and said calmly, "Brother, you are mistaken. Now the Zhu family is helping me to prosper. Why don't you also bring the Shen family to help me to prosper?"
"Who's your brother! I'm the only legitimate son in the Shen family." Shen Ningzhuang glanced at Zhu Shibai with displeasure, strode towards Shen Qingluo, grabbed her sleeve, and tried to pull her away from Zhu Shibai: "Sister, alright, you've always helped me before, haven't you? What I promised you, if it's my share, it will definitely be yours too. If I can lead the Shen family to win the top three in the competition, I can rightfully become the successor to the Shen family head. At that time, I can bring you back to the Shen family in glory, and you will become the eldest daughter of the Shen family again. No one will dare to say anything to you."
Shen Qingluo looked at him with a cold gaze.
Shen Ningzhuang looked back at him and said softly, "My brother and I will definitely be able to establish ourselves in the Shen family."
Shen Qingluo's expression showed a hint of emotion, but she lowered her eyes, raised her arm behind her, and her sleeve slipped from Shen Ningzhuang's hand.
As siblings who grew up together, Shen Qingluo's lips parted slightly, and Shen Ningzhuang already knew what she wanted to say. He subconsciously tightened his grip on the sleeve that had been pulled away, and interrupted her before she could finish speaking: "Listen to me, think about the Shen family, think about your current situation! In the whole world, what family member is not good to you? What does sect matter in the face of relatives and clans?"
Seeing that the other side was playing the family card to build ties, Shi Jinle, who was standing opposite, immediately retorted: "Look at what you're saying. Cultivators respect their masters, who are like second parents. How can a sect be compared to a clan? Those who betray their masters and destroy the Dao will not be tolerated in the cultivation world. Your instigation of her to abandon the sect is no different from instigating her to oppose the clan."
Moreover, when it comes to kinship, she glanced disdainfully at Ji Xingyang beside her. How come this person who claims to be the son of the little ancestor of the Dingsheng Sect has become mute now?
Fu Daolan and Shao Qingshang of the Void Sect were raised by the sect since childhood, and now they are on the same side as Shi Jinle, so they naturally support what she said.
"Little brother, don't put your sister in a difficult position!"
"Since each has its own stance, the best course of action is to remain uninvolved."
Shen Qingluo lifted her eyelids and looked quietly at Shen Ningzhuang without saying a word.
She was agreeing with what the person opposite her said. Shen Ningzhuang was anxious and spoke earnestly, wishing she could shake her confused sister awake: "Sister, they are all outsiders, just deliberately stirring up trouble for the sake of the competition." He turned to Ye Wentang, "I am your own brother, and Young Master Ye is your fiancé. We are your future support. How can you still not understand!"
Shen Qingluo's expression changed upon hearing this, and she turned to look at him: "It's him?"
The elder sister was curious about her fiancé, and there was a chance for things to turn around. Shen Ningzhuang said happily, "Yes, he is Ye Wentang of Xiaosu Pavilion, the good husband that Grandmother arranged for you."
Ye Wentang, who had been waiting for this moment, stepped forward, bowed and smiled: "I didn't have a proper opportunity to greet you while chasing the demon wolf. I am Ye Wentang from Xiaosu Pavilion. We met in haste and I haven't prepared a gift yet. I will make it up to you after the marriage."
However, another annoying voice came from the other end: "That's it? That's it? Is such a beautiful woman going to be ruined like this? Everyone in the spiritual cultivation world knows about Ye Wentang of Xiaosu Pavilion's dissolute reputation!"
Shi Jinle's complaints came from the heart and were sincere.
Seeing everyone looking at her, she feigned surprise and covered her mouth with her fan: "Oh dear, I accidentally blurted out what was on my mind."
Ye Wentang said coldly, "In terms of affection, how can I compare to the Hehuan Sect? Moreover, as the saying goes, a prodigal son who returns is more precious than gold. After we get married, I will definitely be devoted to him. Furthermore, although I am not talented, I am of decent appearance and have achieved Foundation Establishment at a young age. As the young master of Xiaosu Pavilion, my status and family background are a good match for Luo Luo."
Ye Wentang certainly had the confidence to back it up. He was born with a handsome appearance, was dashing and charming, and was skilled at winning the hearts of beautiful women. He had countless female confidantes and was a well-known playboy in the spiritual cultivation world. He originally thought he was too young to have a Daoist partner to control him, but ever since he fell in love with Shen Qingluo at first sight at the entrance of the Ten Thousand Mile Canyon, the idea of breaking off the engagement had long been forgotten.
Now, seeing her again, he is more and more satisfied with Shen Qingluo.
They couldn't wait to get married right now.
Shi Jinle chuckled and said, "We Hehuan are passionate, but we have three things we don't want: those who are ugly but don't know it, those who are stupid but don't know it, and those who are weak but don't know it. You have all three! Sister across from me, why don't you look at my fellow disciples? Aren't they all better than him?"
Upon hearing this, the masculine Hehuan disciple straightened his back and puffed out his chest, while the alluring disciple winked at Shen Qingluo.
Ye Wentang: "You!"
"No need." A clear, cold voice rang out. Shen Qingluo nodded slightly to Shi Jinle as if in response, but then turned to face Shen Ningzhuang: "I did not agree to this matter. Fellow Daoist Ye, please find another suitable match."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clearly audible throughout the room.
Hey! What did we just hear?
All eyes immediately turned to Shen Qingluo and the incredulous Ye Wentang beside her.
Ye Wentang's smile froze, and she immediately looked at Chen Ningzhuang.
Shen Ningzhuang was shocked and grabbed Shen Qingluo's arm in a panic: "Sister, sister, don't talk nonsense, Grandmother has already decided on this matter..."
But Ye Wentang interrupted her with a question: "You want to break off the engagement?"
“The basis for withdrawal is established.” Shen Qingluo remained expressionless, still facing Shen Ningzhuang, looking into his eyes and saying, “I never agreed, this matter was never established, so how can you talk about annulment?”
"I disagree!" Ye Wentang shouted angrily, "This is a marriage arranged by your Shen family, how can you just back out like that!"
Shen Qingluo turned to look at him, remaining silent.
"Sister." Disappointment flashed in Shen Ningzhuang's eyes as she leaned closer and whispered, "The family provides us with everything we eat, drink, and use. The Shen family has treated you well, and the cultivation resources they provide for you have never been lacking. As children of the Shen family, it is only right that we make sacrifices for the family's interests. We all do the same, don't we?"
“Sister, I know you’re not that kind of person. Even if you’re unwilling, you have to consider the bigger picture for the sake of the family.”
Consider the overall situation.
Shen Qingluo was somewhat lost in thought when she heard these four words.
Many people had said those four words to her before, and just like before, she felt suffocated. Even now, it seems she can never escape them.
Shen Qingluo's eyes darkened, her face lonely, her fingertips curled up inside her sleeve, and her nails dug into her palms.
The other sleeve was gently pulled up by another person.
It is Zhu Shibai.
Everyone at the scene had a variety of expressions, some surprised, some amused, some angry, and some resentful, but he remained calm and composed, gentle and elegant.
Zhu Shibai smiled slightly, his eyes pointing in a certain direction: "Look who's here."
As Shen Qingluo looked over, a girl riding a gray-blue four-legged beast slowly emerged from the woods where time and light intertwined.
Upon seeing the cultivators present, Ji Mingran was slightly startled at first, but quickly recovered and called out to the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, "Beast Taming Sect, do you want it?"
He spoke in a carefree and unrestrained manner, completely unaware of how abrupt his remarks were.
Mo Di, a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect who loved watching the drama unfold, was startled when he was called out. He saw the short-legged animal with a stupid look on its face that the strange girl was pointing at and said disdainfully, "Who are you? Do you think our Beast Taming Sect will take any animal? No, no, we want a demon wolf."
"Oh, then it's a deal." Ji Mingran seemed even happier after being rejected. She smiled and waved to Shen Qingluo, "Qingluo, come here quickly."
She tilted her head: "Or, shall I come over?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
