In the beginning of Hongmeng, chaos first emerged. Under the Great Dao, three thousand boundless worlds were scattered like stars in the vast firmament.
If anyone could count the stars in the firmament, they would discover that some stars shone brightly like the morning star, such as the Chongyuan World.
There were also many worlds that were extremely unstable, either newly born or perishing, becoming a dangerous yet magnificent spectacle of the universe. These worlds were called minor worlds, and Shenqi World was one of them.
"Bang!"
In the very center of Yingwu Continent in the Chongyuan World, a deafening explosion suddenly erupted, followed immediately by an enraged roar heard throughout the entire Yingwu Continent.
"Who? Who injured my son's soul!"
All cultivators in Yingwu Continent were shaken, almost falling into demonic possession.
What a profound and oppressive aura!
In the mountains not far from the center of Yingwu Continent, a speeding beast carriage suddenly stopped.
"Why did we stop?" a young male cultivator poked his head out of the carriage, "Tang Qiao, what are you up to again?"
Outside the carriage, a charming girl dressed in pink, but not at all gaudy, looked even more spirited, like a ripe peach.
"Oh, didn't you hear the Master's outburst?" Tang Qiao pouted. "Something must have happened. If we rush back now, we'll just get reprimanded. It's better to go back later. Chu Tianle, don't you think so?"
Chu Tianle, suddenly mentioned by Tang Qiao, stared at her expressionlessly.
Tang Qiao dejectedly pursed her lips.
Ever since he was knocked unconscious and taken away from the芥子层 (Jie Zi Ceng - Mustard Seed Layer) that day, he had maintained this expression.
"Hey! I'm talking to you, didn't you hear me?" The young male cultivator slapped Chu Tianle, fuming, "Who are you putting on this act for? If Tang Qiao hadn't been kind enough to bring you along, do you think you'd ever have the chance to come here on your own?"
Chu Tianle's gaze shifted slightly.
Tang Qiao frowned, "Miss Tang Qiao, you jest. Chu Tianle is a guest I invited, so please don't be rude."
Chu Tianle scoffed internally. A guest forced upon her?
"Miss Tang Qiao is too kind," Chu Tianle said without joy or sorrow, his expression as calm as stagnant water. "When will Miss Tang Qiao allow me to return to Shenqi?"
Upon hearing this, Yue Jun couldn't help but get angry again.
How could this person be so ungrateful!
Just as he was about to erupt, Tang Qiao pushed him aside and sat down next to Chu Tianle.
A faint scent of peach blossoms wafted from the girl. Chu Tianle frowned slightly and retreated, but Tang Qiao followed him.
"Heh..." Tang Qiao let out a light laugh, a clear and pure laugh that was both righteous and evil, her voice seeming to trail off like a hook.
"Chu Tianle, I have cultivation, beauty, and even countless followers. In your heart, am I not even comparable to that Bai Shengyi you talk about?"
Her voice suddenly turned cold.
Chu Tianle's heart sank.
Yue Jun scoffed, "Tang Qiao, you're not demeaning yourself by comparing yourself to a female cultivator from a minor world! What's so great about this pretty boy? If you like this type, when we get back to Qinglong City, I can find you ten or eight, can't I? Don't waste your effort on this kid, I think he's just an ungrateful whelp."
It was truly strange. He had partnered with Tang Qiao on so many missions, and Tang Qiao had never been infatuated with handsome men.
It was only this time, after being separated for a short while, that Tang Qiao seemed possessed, insisting on bringing this man along.
"He's different," Tang Qiao gripped Chu Tianle's collar, her nostrils flaring as if she were sniffing lightly, and then emphasized, "He's different."
"What's different?"
Yue Jun asked.
Then he saw his partner reveal that naive and innocent expression, like a pure lake, and shake her head, "I can't say."
Bah!
Yue Jun opened his mouth, swallowed the curse, and said irritably, "I think your eyes are clouded by his good looks!"
Chu Tianle watched expressionlessly, not uttering a word.
This scene had happened more than once during their journey.
Yue Jun was like a fiery little lion, always picking a fight with Tang Qiao for no reason, yet unable to do anything about her.
Tang Qiao was even more mysterious. Chu Tianle still hadn't figured out if Tang Qiao was a spiritual cultivator or an evil cultivator.
Judging by her appearance, she was innocent and childlike, pure as a lake where one could see to the bottom. However, in her actions and demeanor, she possessed a kind of evil cruelty.
Take for instance, now. The spiritual beast, disturbed by the recent roar, was restlessly agitated. Tang Qiao, without batting an eyelid, simply slew the spiritual beast.
She did it all with such composure, as if it were an everyday occurrence. Yet, Chu Tianle clearly saw that even Yue Jun was startled.
"Tang Qiao, what madness are you up to now?"
Tang Qiao looked up, "It was too noisy. I'll get a new one, can't I?"
Yue Jun was momentarily speechless, "Forget it, whatever you want!"
It wasn't his contracted spiritual beast anyway!
Tang Qiao replaced the driving spiritual beast and looked towards the central city not far away, saying boredly, "I wonder if the Master has calmed down yet? I want to hurry back to the cave abode and rest."
"I want to too," Yue Jun lowered his voice. "Who on earth is so bold to act against the Master—"
Before he could finish, Yue Jun and Tang Qiao both stood up stiffly. A command echoed in their minds:
"Proceed to the Red Maple Mountain Range and thoroughly investigate the cause of my son's soul's death!"
The voice quickly faded, but Yue Jun and Tang Qiao took a long time to recover.
"Young Master Mo's reincarnated soul is dead?" Yue Jun exclaimed softly, "No wonder the Master is so furious. If Young Master Mo were to be reborn..."
Catching sight of Chu Tianle in the beast carriage out of the corner of his eye, he immediately shut his mouth.
Tang Qiao frowned tightly, "The Red Maple Mountain Range is in the Shenqi World. We just came back... I don't want to move."
"That's easy, watch me."
Yue Jun said, taking out a lotus lamp from his hand and lighting it dimly.
"For this kind of matter, let Liu Tianyun handle it. Hmph, hasn't he always wanted to gain the Master's recognition? Now that the Heavenly Dao consciousness of the Shenqi World is gradually perfecting, and he didn't complete his previous mission, he probably wants to do this more than we do now."
After Yue Jun finished, he turned around and said, "Let's go. Let me drive. We'll head into the city and get some good rest for two days."
"Mhm." Tang Qiao entered the carriage and sat beside Chu Tianle, her eyes half-closed, looking drowsy.
Chu Tianle's gaze deepened, and he silently reached for his sword... slender, fair fingers lightly rested on his hand.
"What are you trying to do?"
He looked up to see Tang Qiao's eyes open, staring intently at him.
"You weren't sleeping?" Chu Tianle frowned deeply.
Tang Qiao yawned, then slumped onto the low table inside the carriage, mumbling, "No more next time."
Chu Tianle's expression immediately turned cold.
Damn it!
...
In the Divine Enlightenment Continent, in the Far West, a fire lotus suddenly ignited.
"Liu Tianyun, remember to tell me when you find out the reason."
As soon as the lotus burned out, the tribulation clouds in the sky, like sharks smelling blood, rumbled and descended one after another, soon shattering the entire mountain peak.
"Huh? Where did he go? Wasn't there a cultivator undergoing tribulation here just now?"
"Are you mistaken? The demonic energy here is as dense as a living hell, even ghost cultivators are unwilling to come. Who else would dare undergo tribulation here?"
"Then that thunder just now..."
"It was probably striking the demonic energy. Let's leave quickly, lest we be mistakenly struck by the Heavenly Dao later."
For some reason, in the past half year, the Far West had suddenly been like a place bathed in the light of righteousness. Heavenly lightning struck down occasionally, making life for the cultivators living there quite exhilarating.
After the two left, a black figure appeared at the original spot. From within a black robe adorned with blooming blood-red lotuses, a beautiful, pale face was revealed.
Compared to before, Liu Tianyun had a slightly sickly air about him.