AUOF - 99

Big Eyes flew swiftly, and it wasn’t long before they reached Phoenix Pavilion.

This once-abandoned divine land still retained its original vitality. The moon’s reflection shimmered in the distance, red leaves covered the phoenix trees, and the massive sacred tree stretched toward the night sky. The mountain retreat was filled with tranquility; even the wind passing through the leaves made no sound.

Along the way, Ji Hengyu had expended a tremendous amount of spiritual energy. If not for his formidable cultivation, he would have collapsed by the roadside long ago.

Worried that Big Eyes might frighten the timid Spirit Clan, he commanded it to shrink and hide. Then, cradling Sang Li in his arms, he approached the trunk of the tree and knocked on the hollow of the Chaohuang Tree. His lips were pale as he spoke softly into the night: ‘I am Ji Hengyu, here to request an audience with the leader of the Spirit Clan.’

The Guantian Mirror suspended above the celestial cave clearly reflected all the scenes outside the cave.

Ji Hengyu was stained with blotches of blood, his hair slightly disheveled, and his handsome face rendered exceptionally pale by the night.

—The Heavenly Balance Lord.

Even the Spirit Clan had heard of his reputation.

For five hundred years, the Spirit Clan had hidden here, living quietly and peacefully. This was the first time a celestial being of such high status had visited.

Inside the celestial cave, chaos erupted. Everyone assumed their hiding place had been exposed. The younger members of the Spirit Clan fled into their parents’ arms, trembling with fear as they huddled together.

Until a rabbit spirit stared at the mirror for a long while, pointing at the woman in Ji Hengyu’s arms and saying hesitantly: ‘That… that looks like Ali?’

‘Ali?’

‘Where’s Ali?’

‘Is it really Ali?’

That single sentence immediately piqued everyone’s curiosity, and heads popped up to peer upward.

The woman was held in someone’s arms, her head buried firmly against the man’s chest. Her full face couldn’t be seen—only a pale, pointed chin and strikingly red lips were visible.

She did bear some resemblance to Sang Li.

But they couldn’t be certain. A flower spirit hesitated and suggested: ‘Maybe… we should go fetch the clan leader first?’

If it truly was Sang Li, as her clansmen, they couldn’t possibly ignore her plight.

Outside Phoenix Pavilion, a light drizzle began to fall. Ji Hengyu used his spiritual energy to shield them from the rain, but there was still no response from inside. He had grown impatient waiting, yet he didn’t act rashly, maintaining a humble posture as he waited respectfully outside.

Soon, a response came from within the cave. Qu You ordered the gate to be opened.

Some of the Spirit Clan members agreed, while others opposed the idea. Still, others hesitated, unsure what to do.

The two sides argued fiercely, their voices rising in disagreement.

‘Even if it is Sang Li, so what? That’s the Lord of Gui Xu, the Warden of Sinners. If we let him in recklessly, what will become of our clan?’

The speaker was a deer spirit, who stood firmly in front of the gate with his family, refusing to budge.

Dissatisfied with this stance, the flower spirits who had often been cared for by Sang Li voiced their discontent. ‘When we first arrived at Phoenix Pavilion, our clan lacked food. It was Sang Li who ventured out to find seeds and soil for us. Now that she is in danger, if we close our doors, how are we any different from ungrateful wretches?’

‘That’s right! It was Sang Li who tirelessly worked for us out there. Let her in!’

‘No! That’s the Lord of Gui Xu, the Heavenly Balance Lord! His methods are cruel. What if Sang Li is already dead, and this is just a ruse to wipe us out?!!’

At these words, silence fell over the crowd.

The flower and grass spirits exchanged glances, then broke into quiet sobs.

‘What if… what if she’s neither alive nor dead?’ One spirit reluctantly spoke up. ‘That Heavenly Balance Lord hasn’t shown any murderous intent, and he isn’t carrying weapons. If he truly intended to wipe us out, why hasn’t the protective seal outside Phoenix Pavilion responded? What if he really is here to save Sang Li?’

No one answered.

They looked up at the sky. The rain grew heavier, and the lofty Heavenly Balance Lord carefully shielded the young woman in his arms, ensuring not a drop of cold touched her.

Perhaps sensing the argument inside the cave, Ji Hengyu raised his eyes and glanced over. His lashes fluttered slowly, and a trace of killing intent leaked out.

After a few moments of contemplation, he seemed to make a decision. Tightening his hold on Sang Li, he bent his knees and slowly knelt, his aura and all his oppressive energy bowing low with him.

A collective gasp erupted from within the cave.

‘I am fully aware that the Divine Realm has wronged your kind deeply, and I cannot expect your trust. However, Sang Li holds my heart. She is gravely injured, her life hanging by a thread. Zi Heng humbly begs you to grant us passage. I swear here and now—if I harbor ill intentions, may my desires remain unfulfilled, my thoughts turn to suffering, and may I be condemned to eternal torment through countless lifetimes.’

Ji Hengyu pressed his forehead to the ground. His rain-soaked hair slid down his shoulders, his posture low and humble, but his hands, concealed in his sleeves, were already prepared to force their way in if necessary.

The previously dazed Sang Li seemed to sense something in her haze. With great effort, she cracked open her eyes slightly and saw the man bowing his head. A faint crimson hue spread across her eyelids.

Cold raindrops rolled down his cheek, resembling tears.

Sang Li’s throat burned, and a shattered wound opened in her heart. Summoning all her strength, she reached up to touch his face, managing only to murmur a few words after a long pause:

‘Ji Hengyu… don’t be sad…’

‘I’m not sad.’ He leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose, his long lashes brushing against her icy cheek. ‘I’m just… afraid.’

Sang Li found this amusing.

If her body had allowed it, she would have laughed. ‘You… afraid of something?’

‘In the past, I wasn’t. But now, I am.’

Love breeds fear.

Since ancient times, love and fear have coexisted. He hadn’t understood it before, but now he felt it deeply.

The tension inside the cave remained unresolved.

Suddenly, a young deer spirit, held in his father’s arms, looked left and right, his eyes welling with委屈 as he tugged gently on his father’s sleeve. ‘Father, Sister Sang Li moved just now. She went out alone for our clan. Why can’t we open the door for her?’

The little deer spirit didn’t understand his father’s worries. All he knew was that every time Sang Li returned, she bore injuries, yet she always smiled as she handed out the things she brought back before leaving again.

The child’s words plunged the crowd into silence.

Finally, the father sighed deeply, picked up the little deer spirit, and stepped aside.

When the tree trunk glowed softly and a seal appeared, Ji Hengyu exhaled in relief. He rose with Sang Li in his arms, staggering slightly as he realized his limbs had gone numb from exhaustion, his earlier panic now clear to him.

Ji Hengyu carried Sang Li inside.

The Rock Dwelling Cave was a place of breathtaking beauty—mountains and waters blending harmoniously, mist swirling warmly. It was truly a forgotten paradise beyond the mortal world.

The spiritual energy here was abundant, nurturing everything like spring rain, filling the air between the trees, beneath the green shade, and flowing through the streams. Even Ji Hengyu, accustomed to immense power, was momentarily stunned by the overflowing spiritual energy. Looking at the Spirit Clan members, he saw spirits of all kinds—flower spirits, grass spirits, rabbit spirits, but most were plant spirits. Unlike Sang Li, who had fully transformed into human form, most retained characteristics of their original forms.

At a glance, they were a colorful, bizarre assortment.

Perhaps due to their long seclusion, the eyes of the Spirit Clan were clear and pure, revealing all their thoughts at a glance.

They were curious about him, but fear outweighed curiosity.

At this moment, a small grass spirit mustered the courage to approach Ji Hengyu.

Most grass spirits never grew up; they retained the appearance of their initial transformation, looking about six or seven years old, barefoot with tender sprouts atop their heads, swaying in the wind. The little one first glanced timidly at Ji Hengyu, then tiptoed to peek into his arms. Upon recognizing the face within, they exclaimed excitedly—

‘It’s Sang Li! It’s Sang Li!!’

‘Really Sang Li?!’ Three ant spirits who had been hiding in the cave suddenly flew out, circling around Ji Hengyu. ‘Sang Li is badly hurt! She looks like she’s about to die!’

‘Sang Li is dead!’

‘What?! Sang Li is already dead?’

The little ones chattered noisily, creating quite a commotion.

Ji Hengyu took a deep breath, struggling to maintain his composure. He approached the oldest ginseng elder and asked respectfully: ‘Please…’

‘The clan leader asks you to follow me.’

A sudden voice interrupted him—it was a rabbit spirit.

The rabbit spirit’s face was expressionless. Compared to her adorable fluffy white ears, her personality was much colder. ‘This way.’

Ji Hengyu followed her steps.

A path led straight to the Spirit Hut. Qu You lounged lazily in her warm canopy, with a gray wolf lying behind her as a cushion. Hearing footsteps, she lifted an eyelid briefly before letting it fall again.

Ji Hengyu didn’t underestimate her because of her youthful appearance. Holding Sang Li tightly, he bowed his head humbly: ‘Sang Li was forcibly fed a Restorative Pill, causing her spiritual energy to scatter uncontrollably. I beg the clan leader to save her life.’

His posture was humble, and considering his actions, Qu You couldn’t help but scrutinize him more closely.

‘Put her down first.’

Ji Hengyu carefully placed Sang Li on a nearby bed.

She was already unconscious. If not for the Fan Sha Flower and the Star-Shifting Life-Saving Spell desperately maintaining her spiritual consciousness, her spirit platform would have collapsed, and her soul would have been consumed.

Qu You sent a wisp of spiritual energy into her, frowned slightly, then turned to the rabbit spirit: ‘Amo, take her to the Celestial Pool first.’

The Celestial Pool was a sacred pool within the Chaohuang Tree.

Five hundred years ago, when the sacred land collapsed, the ginseng elder managed to preserve a single dewdrop. Over time, the droplet grew into water, which formed a lake. After more than three hundred years of evolution, it became the healing Celestial Pool it was today.

The water was crystal clear, resembling a piece of jade, translucent and free of impurities. It rested on a large lotus flower, beneath which floated clouds. Upon closer inspection, one could see clear dew circulating within the clouds. Amo carefully placed Sang Li into the Celestial Pool, and the three of them stood by, observing silently.

Fine threads of water wrapped around her like ribbons, enveloping her completely. Sang Li’s tightly closed eyelashes flickered slightly, but she remained unconscious. Her dispersing spiritual energy could no longer sustain her human form. She reverted to her original state, her ninth tail flickering and on the verge of vanishing.

‘I’ll summon the True Lord of Wushan to come. He should return by early morning tomorrow.’ Noticing Ji Hengyu’s concern, Qu You added, ‘Heavenly Balance Lord, rest assured—the Celestial Pool will protect Sang Li’s soul.’

As Qu You prepared to leave, Ji Hengyu called out: ‘I’ll go find him.’

‘Hmm?’

‘This place is near Huashan City, home to the Spirit Clan. It’s best to proceed cautiously.’ Noticing her surprised expression, Ji Hengyu offered no further explanation. In the past, he would never have spoken such words of concern.

Qu You smiled: ‘It’s fine. I have my ways. Besides, Master doesn’t see outsiders. Even if you go, it might be a wasted trip.’

With that, Qu You rode off on the gray wolf.

Ji Hengyu summoned Ji Wu to secretly follow her, leaving only himself and Amo by the Celestial Pool.

Amo wasn’t talkative. She stood at a distance, acting like a silent guardian.

Ji Hengyu drifted to the edge of the clear pool, bending down to touch her brow with his fingertip. Closing his eyes, he connected his spiritual consciousness to hers. Fearing he might disturb the severely injured Sang Li, his soul carefully explored her inner world.

Sang Li seemed to be immersed in a dream.

Her dream was chaotic, like all sorts of jumbled content stuffed into a book. There was her past life as Luo Wanwan and her current life as Sang Li. In her dream, Ji Hengyu also saw himself.

He saw himself transform into a giant snake, blooming flowers from his dragon horns.

She was delighted, laughing as she nestled into the snake’s body.

Ji Hengyu’s fingertip paused, and the wisp of his soul that had entered her dream completely enveloped it, scattering the haze until only he remained.

—In her dream, he created a grand rain of flowers for her.

When he opened his eyes, Ji Hengyu saw her brow smooth, her breathing steady.

Amo, who had been silently watching from behind, observed everything. Her rabbit ears twitched, shaking slightly, until the tips turned red. Clearing her throat softly, she turned away.

She hadn’t expected the Heavenly Balance Lord… to be quite so romantic.

**

The night of waiting was agonizing. By the time dawn broke faintly, Qu You returned smoothly with the True Lord of Wushan.

This True Lord, like Ji Hengyu’s master, was a wandering immortal who lived freely among the clouds.

Unlike him, however, she was young, her brows radiating divinity, her eyes filled with compassion. At first glance, one might overlook her overly radiant appearance.

Ji Hengyu bowed respectfully and stepped aside, allowing the Wushan True Lord to examine Sang Li.

After a night, one of her tails had already disappeared, leaving eight trembling precariously.

The Wushan True Lord took out her whisk and flicked it over Sang Li’s brow, glancing back: ‘Both of you may leave for now.’

‘Yes.’

Qu You didn’t inquire further. Riding the large wolf, she led Amo away.

Once the outsiders had left, the Wushan True Lord finally turned to face Ji Hengyu. This former War God, who once struck fear into the six realms, bore the appearance of a sage—humble, reserved, and exuding an aura of cold detachment. Beneath it all lay a history steeped in slaughter, making it hard to imagine him capable of such tenderness.

‘There are traces of your soul within her body.’

‘Yes.’ Ji Hengyu didn’t hide it, instead asking, ‘Is there a problem?’

The Wushan True Lord shook her head. ‘On the contrary, it saved her life.’ She explained, ‘Her three souls and seven spirits are scattered. Though the Spirit Pill was a fake, it had genuinely grown alongside her spirit platform and flesh for five hundred years, meaning…’

Ji Hengyu’s eyes flickered, calmly completing her sentence: ‘The Spirit Pill compensated for her fragmented soul.’

‘Now that the Spirit Pill has shattered, her fragmented soul cannot gather. If not for the strand of your soul left within her, she would have perished on the spot.’

Ji Hengyu was startled.

In his youthful infatuation, fearing that something might happen to Sang Li beyond his sight, he impulsively extracted a strand of his soul and placed it within her body—not only to protect her but also to ensure she wouldn’t leave and never return. He hadn’t expected… that this strand of soul would prove so useful.

He smiled bitterly in his heart.

Ji Hengyu was always accustomed to preparing for the worst. Yet when it came to Sang Li, he couldn’t bear the thought of any mishap.

‘Can she be saved?’

‘Of course,’ the Wushan True Lord replied with a faint smile, her words layered with meaning. ‘But, Heavenly Balance Lord, are you willing to offer your soul?’