As Ayun departed, Ye Ling waited for another two hours at the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring.
During this time, Ji Ning's aura steadily rose, and not a single issue arose with her.
Ye Ling also observed Ji Ning from the shore, failing to discover any harm from the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring.
The spiritual energy Ji Ning absorbed was the purest power, and her foundation was even consolidated by the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring. It could be said that the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring was entirely beneficial and harmless to her!
"Ji Ning has suffered no damage, and Heavenly Cloud Island has a long history, with quite a few supreme powerhouses emerging from it. I haven't heard of any supreme powerhouse encountering problems."
"Did the World-Suppressing Pearl misjudge, or is the damage from the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring something that I and the other supreme powerhouses cannot perceive?"
Ye Ling murmured to himself. Ji Ning had also completely finished her transformation and stood up from the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring.
A powerful aura erupted from Ji Ning's body, even causing Ye Ling on the shore to feel immense pressure!
"So strong!" Ye Ling exclaimed, sensing Ji Ning's current aura.
"Ye Ling, why did you sever the One-Life-One-Body Contract?" Ji Ning asked as she walked ashore, dressing herself.
"Your strength has far surpassed mine, and my cultivation cannot keep up. You can sever the One-Life-One-Body Contract at any time. This contract no longer holds much significance between us."
Ye Ling casually made up an excuse to gloss over the matter of severing the One-Life-One-Body Contract.
"Alright."
Ji Ning was no longer concerned about the contract. She turned to Ye Ling and asked, "Never mind the contract, but wasn't there a legacy for you in the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring? That was your chance to become the strongest in the world. Why didn't you go?"
"I have my own plans for that." Ye Ling smiled slightly, not offering Ji Ning much explanation.
"He doesn't even want a heavenly bestowed legacy. What a strange person," Ji Ning muttered, unable to understand why Ye Ling refused the legacy of the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring.
For anyone else, let alone a legacy, even a single bath in the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring would be an opportunity sought after only once in a lifetime.
If Elder Ayun hadn't said that the legacy in the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring was specifically for Ye Ling, Ji Ning would have wanted to claim it on his behalf.
Ye Ling chuckled and shook his head at Ji Ning's mumblings.
It wasn't just Ji Ning who couldn't understand his actions; even he himself couldn't fully comprehend his own behavior.
However, the World-Suppressing Pearl was a benevolent treasure, and Ye Ling had to heed its advice.
It was always better to be cautious.
Furthermore, he didn't believe that simply accepting a legacy would make him the strongest in the world.
"Esteemed guests, the Elder has prepared a banquet. Please proceed to the Heavenly Cloud Pavilion for the feast," at this moment, a pair of golden boy and jade girl arrived at the edge of the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring, bowed to Ye Ling and Ji Ning, and respectfully said.
"Good, we'll be right there," Ye Ling smiled at the golden boy and jade girl.
"The Elder awaits you both." The golden boy and jade girl bowed to Ye Ling and Ji Ning again, then vanished from their spots.
Ye Ling watched the golden boy and jade girl leave, then said to Ji Ning, "Let's go."
"You truly don't want the legacy of the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring?" Ji Ning confirmed again.
Ye Ling shook his head and said, "You don't need to worry about this. After the banquet, I'll ask the Elder about the method to return."
"Ji Ning, with your current strength, you should be able to defeat Zhou Wen by now, right?"
"Hmm... I should be able to defeat Zhou Wen." Ji Ning nodded slightly. "However, Heavenly Cloud Island has more than just the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring. There are many hidden treasures within, containing divine weapons, spirit pills, supreme cultivation techniques... everything. Do you really want to return so soon?"
Ji Ning wished she could stay on Heavenly Cloud Island forever. Ye Ling's sudden proposal to leave so soon made her somewhat reluctant.
In the Origin Upper Realm, it was not so easy to become stronger.
Ye Ling smiled and said, "When we leave, we'll ask the Elder about the method to land on the island. After dealing with Zhou Wen, you can come back."
"That's fine too." Ji Ning nodded slightly, agreeing with Ye Ling's suggestion, and then said, "The Elder must have been waiting for a long time. Let's go."
"Mm."
Ye Ling responded and headed towards the Heavenly Cloud Pavilion with Ji Ning.
The Heavenly Cloud Pavilion floated in the center of Heavenly Cloud Island, visible from anywhere on the island. Ye Ling and Ji Ning didn't need anyone to guide them; they could go directly.
Along the way, Ye Ling and Ji Ning encountered many young men and women, all with considerable cultivation. Many of them were supreme powerhouses.
Looking at the overall strength of Heavenly Cloud Island, Ye Ling gradually realized that no matter what, he absolutely could not afford to offend the island's residents.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to leave Heavenly Cloud Island alive, even with Ji Ning protecting him.
Moreover, without the constraint of the One-Life-One-Body Contract, Ji Ning might not necessarily be able to protect him.
"Ahead... is likely a dragon's den and a tiger's lair..." Ye Ling murmured, looking at the Heavenly Cloud Pavilion floating in mid-air, shrouded in ethereal mist, his mood extremely heavy.
"Ye Ling, you've seemed preoccupied all the way here. What's wrong? Could there be something wrong with Heavenly Cloud Island?" Ji Ning, noticing Ye Ling's expression, couldn't help but ask.
She found Ye Ling to be somewhat off since he emerged from the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring.
Although she couldn't see any problems with Heavenly Cloud Island and had gained immense fortune in the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring herself, based on her understanding of Ye Ling, he wouldn't show such an expression unless he had discovered something incredibly significant.
After all, Ye Ling hadn't shown this expression even when she fed him the Heavenly Gu Pill and imprisoned the World-Destroying Spirit Fire.
As Ye Ling's former mortal enemy, she knew very well that when Ye Ling showed this expression, it meant something major had happened.
"What could be wrong with Heavenly Cloud Island?" Ye Ling snapped back to attention, smiling at Ji Ning. "Our lives were saved by Heavenly Cloud Island, and you gained great fortune in the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring... How can this be seen as anything but our good fortune?"
"No... you're definitely hiding something from me." Ji Ning frowned and said solemnly.
"Perhaps... but some things I cannot clearly explain."
Ye Ling spread his hands, then said to Ji Ning, "If you trust me, then discard all the power you gained in the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring."
"Discard it all?" Ji Ning's expression changed slightly. "Are you joking?"
"Haha, I'm just joking with you. Don't mind it. Let's go in for the banquet first." Ye Ling chuckled, glossed over the matter, and flew towards the floating Heavenly Cloud Pavilion.
"Ye Ling... what exactly are you thinking?"
Ji Ning watched Ye Ling's departing back, her eyelids slightly lowered, and she began to seriously consider Ye Ling's words.
Although she found what Ye Ling had just said to be utterly absurd, and Ye Ling had also brushed it off as a joke, she felt that Ye Ling had been serious.
She had been Ye Ling's enemy and knew how terrifying the mind of this person, who was not a supreme powerhouse, could be.
The current Ye Ling was clearly guarding against Heavenly Cloud Island!
And this guard was definitely not unfounded!
"He must have discovered something... but the power of the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring..."
Ji Ning murmured, then looked inward at the surging pure power within her, becoming even more conflicted.
She hadn't fully absorbed all that power yet. Separating it would come at a considerable cost, but it wasn't impossible.
But... to make her give up this power based on Ye Ling's half-joking remark, she truly couldn't do it!
"No... he must be overthinking things! How could the pure energy in the Heavenly Cloud Sacred Spring be harmful to me?"
Ji Ning shook her head, casting aside her worries and conflicts, and flew towards the Heavenly Cloud Pavilion.