#60: The Qilin

As dawn broke, the group moved against the tide of cultivators heading toward the grand competition, making their way to Wangdu Sea.

With Cangwu’s speed, they traveled swiftly. By nightfall, Shi Luoyi realized they had already crossed the borderlands.

At the same time, she noticed something was off with Bian Lingyu.

While resting in the woods, she accidentally brushed against something. In an instant, it coiled tightly around her wrist, startling her into a sharp gasp. She quickly turned her head.

She saw it being yanked back by Bian Lingyu.

The youth, dressed in silver-white robes, sat beneath a tree. He pressed his lips together and murmured, “Sorry.”

As he spoke, he raised his hand and snapped off a piece of bone spur. The spur trembled before retreating back into his sleeve.

Bian Lingyu did all this with almost no visible emotion, but for the first time, Shi Luoyi became aware of the existence of these bone spurs. She looked at his face and noticed that silvery-white scales had begun to form on the left side.

She vaguely understood what was happening and reached out to touch them.

Bian Lingyu instinctively flinched, his memory still lingering on that day three years ago when Shi Luoyi had drawn her blade and called him a monster.

But this time, Shi Luoyi didn’t let him pull away. Her hand gently touched the scales. “Does it hurt?”

Bian Lingyu met her gaze and shook his head.

Seeing that he wasn’t lying, Shi Luoyi exhaled in relief. She couldn’t bear the thought of him being in pain. Trying to lighten the mood during their escape, she glanced at the fine beads of sweat on his forehead. “Let’s rest here for the night. I’m tired.”

Bian Lingyu had initially wanted to say that Qingxuan might catch up to them, but hearing her words, he didn’t object.

“I’ll take a look… at that silvery-white bone?”

Cangwu transformed into its true form and tactfully moved aside. Watching the maiden cradle an ugly-looking bone spur and fiddle with it so casually, it felt a pang of envy mixed with bitterness.

That bone spur had once been part of Bian Lingyu’s wings.

If fully grown, it would have been extraordinarily beautiful—magnificent, radiant, and utterly divine. But now, it had degenerated into a bare, grotesque form.

Yet even in its current state, Shi Luoyi showed no aversion. She allowed the spur to coil around her wrist without treating it harshly, as Bian Lingyu often did. Instead, she indulged it. Cangwu envied her deeply; his master would criticize him for the missing piece of his ear, even though the injury had been sustained while protecting him.

Under such tender care, even if Bian Lingyu had initially been uncomfortable, he eventually stopped resisting. He no longer turned his scaled face away, especially after Shi Luoyi said, “It looks good like this.”

As they continued traveling, Shi Luoyi carefully masked their presence. She didn’t underestimate their enemies, even though Bian Lingyu had mentioned that Su Li was unlikely to come after them personally.

Displaying divine power in the mortal realm would attract suppression from the Heavenly Dao.

Su Li was cowardly by nature, and his true form was still weak. He would undoubtedly send Qingxuan to pursue them. However, anyone descending from the divine realm would surely possess powerful artifacts.

Before departing, Shi Luoyi had brought numerous concealment tools from Buye Mountain. Every so often, she would stop to erase their traces.

During breaks, Shi Luoyi didn’t sleep. She knew the divine pearl resided within her, and she focused on circulating her cultivation techniques, unwilling to waste the immense power it contained.

At the very least, she needed to protect Bian Lingyu as he grew increasingly fragile, even reverting to his true form.

On the third day, the group arrived at a town.

Bian Lingyu’s condition worsened, but he had long anticipated this moment. His heart remained calm, and he felt no surprise. After enduring a restless morning, Shi Luoyi finally decided to set the matter aside for now.

Because… this might be her chance.

They needed to rest. Cangwu was exhausted, and Shi Luoyi decided to let everyone take a break at a teahouse in the town.

She bought a wide-brimmed hat to cover the scaled side of Bian Lingyu’s face.

After looking at him for a while, she found that even with the scales, he was still handsome. His transcendent aura was rare and unmatched.

At the neighboring table, some outer disciples from a minor sect were chatting.

“Have you heard? Shengyang Sect has brought someone extraordinary this time. Normally, only young disciples participate in the sect competitions. But this time, upon arriving at Hengwu Sect, even the heads of major sects went to pay their respects.”

“That must be quite impressive. What kind of status does one need to command such attention?”

“They say this young master not only possesses a divine appearance but also has an excellent temperament and formidable powers. At such a young age, he’s already reached the late stage of the Great Ascension Realm.”

The late stage of the Great Ascension Realm meant one was ready to ascend. The young disciples were astonished. Since the fall of Master Shi Huan, no one in the cultivation world had reached this level—not even the head of Hengwu Sect, who hadn’t broken through in centuries.

Listening to their chatter, Cangwu muttered under its breath, “All show, no substance.”

Shi Luoyi glanced at Bian Lingyu, who calmly sipped his tea, showing no reaction. It was as if the person they discussed—the brother who had risen to prominence by plundering his strength—wasn’t related to him at all. His cold detachment only softened slightly when Shi Luoyi glanced at him.

Shi Luoyi curved her lips into a faint smile. She was glad Bian Lingyu didn’t mind, or else she might have been angry enough to turn back and slash Su Li a few times.

She thought to herself, Su Li could have conducted his search discreetly, but he chose to make a grand entrance, basking in glory. Clearly, he cared deeply about others’ opinions and craved admiration.

Shi Luoyi had heard that those who lack something often try hardest to conceal it. Today confirmed that saying. Su Li lacked legitimate divine blood and was even born with a congenital defect.

To spare his fragile ego, the Empress had harmed Bian Lingyu. The more Su Li fixated on his servant lineage, the more he craved universal reverence. His arrogance in the divine realm had only inflated further upon descending to the mortal world.

In contrast, Bian Lingyu, who had fallen to the mortal realm ten years ago, had never behaved like Su Li.

He was as ordinary as any blade of grass or tree, yet equally noble.

“Let’s go.”

After several more days of travel, Bian Lingyu sensed he was reaching his limit. His spiritual energy had been dwindling daily, and now it was nearly depleted.

Not far ahead lay the boundary of Wangdu Sea. He glanced at the maiden before him. Under his watchful gaze, she continued to thrive.

Shi Luoyi, with her sword strapped to her back, radiated like a spring sun, clearing the path for them.

Warmth flickered in Bian Lingyu’s otherwise cold eyes. This was good enough.

Addressing Cangwu beneath him, he said, “I can only go this far. Remember my words—find a way to lead me into Wangdu Sea. Don’t let me harm any lives in the mortal realm.”

By the time Shi Luoyi noticed something amiss and turned around, Bian Lingyu had already fallen from Cangwu’s back.

Cangwu worriedly remarked, “He’s gradually losing consciousness. He’s about to revert to his true form.”

Shi Luoyi had seen Bian Lingyu’s true form before—it was a silvery-white qilin.

Shi Luoyi carefully cradled Bian Lingyu in her arms. She had mentally prepared herself for this moment over the past few days, yet she still held him tightly, as if afraid he would slip away at any moment. Feeling somewhat at a loss, she asked Cangwu, “When he transforms into a qilin, will he no longer recognize me?”

Cangwu thought for a moment. “Probably not. After all, this is a forced reversion to his true form. Didn’t you say you wanted to save him? How do we proceed?”

Shi Luoyi pressed something at her waist—it was the magical artifact Elder Hanshu had given her that day. She said, “It should work. We’re not going to Wangdu Sea. Let’s find a place to settle down first.”

She could indeed hide, but she had already spent a lifetime wandering in her previous life. Shi Luoyi was unwilling to take that path again. She refused to watch Bian Lingyu die, and she wouldn’t allow someone like Su Li to dominate the six realms.

At Shi Luoyi’s signal, Cangwu carried Bian Lingyu and moved further away from Wangdu Sea. As they grew farther from the sea, Shi Luoyi sensed something amiss and quickly drew her sword to defend.

The wind swept through, scattering leaves. Another slender figure appeared in the air—a girl with a flute. The murderous intent of her flute struck directly in front of Cangwu’s path.

Cangwu hastily dodged and set Bian Lingyu down on the ground.

“Bian Qingxuan?”

Shi Luoyi stepped protectively in front of them, her heart sinking. Bian Qingxuan had found them after all.

Bian Qingxuan’s icy gaze fell on Shi Luoyi. With a mocking smile, she sneered, “What? After a few days apart, you’ve grown bold enough to fight me?”

Shi Luoyi had been oppressed by this person her entire life. She had often doubted whether she was truly useless. Now, having learned from Bian Lingyu that Bian Qingxuan was originally from the divine realm, the disparity between them became clear—Bian Qingxuan was a thousand years old, while Shi Luoyi was only a hundred!

And as a prodigy of the divine race, Shi Luoyi had never stood a chance against such an existence.

Forget about herself—Qingxuan at her peak could crush the sect leader with a single finger. So why did Shi Luoyi still care?

With biting sarcasm, Shi Luoyi retorted, “I may not be able to defeat you, but at least I’m not a dog serving a worthless master.”

Bian Qingxuan shot her a cold glance. “You know nothing.”

Shi Luoyi didn’t understand, but she noticed that Bian Qingxuan was angry. She was surprised that she could so easily provoke her. But if Bian Qingxuan was unhappy, then Shi Luoyi was pleased.

She raised her Divine Fall Sword and charged at Bian Qingxuan.

They exchanged several rapid blows. Bian Qingxuan realized that Shi Luoyi had made significant progress. A year and a half ago, when Shi Luoyi challenged her to a duel, Bian Qingxuan had deliberately provoked her, defeating her in the blink of an eye.

But now, Shi Luoyi could exchange so many moves with her.

Her growth was astonishing!

Cangwu also joined the fight. Having lived for thousands of years, though much of its cultivation had been transferred to another woman, it still possessed considerable strength. Moreover, Bian Qingxuan was injured and suppressed by the Heavenly Dao.

For the time being, the three were evenly matched.

Bian Qingxuan’s brows furrowed deeply as she recalled Su Li’s threats. She hardened her resolve, raising her divine flute horizontally. Shi Luoyi felt herself brutally knocked back.

A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Shi Luoyi’s lips. She coughed twice, feeling as though her internal organs had shifted.

Cangwu fared no better. Bian Qingxuan was even harsher with it. Her divine flute nearly pierced through its abdomen, but it narrowly dodged. However, its foot was still impaled.

Bian Qingxuan glanced at Shi Luoyi before turning her cold eyes toward Bian Lingyu. She transformed her flute into a sword, showing no hesitation as she swung it toward the unconscious Bian Lingyu.

But just as the blade was about to strike, it was blocked by a fiery red sword.

“Get out of the way,” Bian Qingxuan growled, her eyes lowered in anger.

Shi Luoyi glared back at her with equal intensity. “As long as I’m alive, I won’t let you.”

Bian Qingxuan tightened her grip on the sword hilt. Looking into those blazing, almost incendiary eyes, she mocked, “Didn’t you once despise him?”

Why now, when he was more pitiful than ever—bereft even of his divine power—was she willing to protect him, to love this broken version of Bian Lingyu?

Shi Luoyi found Bian Qingxuan’s words baffling. “What does that have to do with you?”

“It has nothing to do with me,” Bian Qingxuan replied coldly. Her attacks were swift and ruthless, pressing Shi Luoyi back relentlessly.

No matter how much pain she endured, Shi Luoyi refused to make a sound. It was as if she had eyes on the back of her head—whenever Bian Qingxuan tried to harm Bian Lingyu, she intercepted the fatal blow.

For the first time, Bian Qingxuan realized that if she wanted to kill Bian Lingyu, she would first have to deal with Shi Luoyi and Cangwu.

Bian Qingxuan’s eyes were cold, and so was her heart.

Those numb expressions replayed in her mind, eventually merging into the image of her mother’s lifeless corpse.

This time, her divine flute aimed directly at Shi Luoyi’s heart.

For the first time in her life, Shi Luoyi felt death looming so close. But why? Just because their starting points were inherently higher, did they have the right to forever control her life and fate?

And how dare they harm Bian Lingyu, who had always protected humanity!

Gritting her teeth, she charged forward like a moth drawn to flame. There was no way she would retreat!

Heat surged in her dantian. As her blade slashed downward, it sent Bian Qingxuan flying several zhang away. The sword in her hand seemed to come alive, carving a near-fatal wound across Bian Qingxuan’s shoulder.

Both Cangwu and Bian Qingxuan were stunned into silence.

At this critical moment, Shi Luoyi had comprehended the essence of her swordsmanship and broken through.

Panting heavily, Shi Luoyi felt something surging wildly through her body. She knelt halfway on the ground, raising her gaze. In that instant, she realized her cultivation had soared significantly. Moreover, the divine pearl within her began to resonate, nurturing her dantian.

It was an indescribable sensation, as if mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas unfolded before her eyes. The gentle sound of flowing water and even the chirping of birds from a distant mountaintop became crystal clear.

If she closed her eyes, she could become one with the world—its forests, winds, rain, and dew. She could grasp the vast universe itself.

Bian Qingxuan clutched her wounded shoulder, her expression complex. She intended to continue the fight but paused upon seeing something behind Shi Luoyi. Her gaze sharpened.

Shi Luoyi braced herself for Bian Qingxuan’s next attack, but to her surprise, the latter merely gave her a final glance before vanishing from sight.

Behind her, a warm presence lingered.

Cangwu shouted, “Miss Luoyi, get out of the way!”

Instinctively, Shi Luoyi dodged, only to see a massive silver-white beast appear behind her.

Its silver eyes were cold, exuding an aura of destruction.

“Bian Lingyu?”

But there was no recognition in those silver eyes. Shi Luoyi instinctively reached out. “It’s me! Don’t you remember?”

Cangwu let out a howl and rushed forward, grabbing Shi Luoyi and pulling her away. “Miss Luoyi, don’t do this! He’s reverted to a qilin. Without the divine pearl or soul, he’s no different from an unenlightened beast.”

Distracted by Cangwu’s intervention, Shi Luoyi looked up again to find that Bian Lingyu was gone.

She scrambled to her feet, anxiety gripping her. “Where did he go? Did you see? I thought he was supposed to be weak after reverting to his true form!”

Cangwu was equally confused. He had been focused on saving Shi Luoyi and hadn’t seen clearly. “I don’t know. In theory, he should be weak.”

But there was one thing left unsaid: even a dead camel is larger than a horse. After all, he was a qilin, an ancient divine race!

No wonder Bian Lingyu had instructed them to guide him into Wangdu Sea rather than forcibly dragging him in.

“What now?” Cangwu’s face was filled with worry. “Releasing him like this makes him a rampaging beast. Are we really going to lead him into Wangdu Sea?”

That was what Bian Lingyu had requested—to let the fierce winds tear him apart.

Before Cangwu’s words even faded, Shi Luoyi shot him a glare. “Forget leading him anywhere. First, we need to find him. I’ll try to return the divine pearl to him!”