Nine Heavens

九霄

nine-heavens

Chapter 53

Zhou Yin leisurely took a bath, changed his clothes, and then sat in meditation to consolidate his cultivation. He placed a prohibition on the door, so when Mu Jie came to ask him some questions about cultivation a few times, she couldn't enter.
Bamboo Shadow Inn was used to the eccentric temperaments of cultivators who often stayed there, so they wouldn't disturb him either. It wasn't until five days later, the day Lianyin Immortal Residence opened, that he finally pushed open the door and walked out.
Yun Zong and the other two were waiting outside. Seeing this, Mu Jie breathed a sigh of relief, "You finally came out. I thought you forgot and was wondering if I should break in!"
Only she was anxious. Yun Zong had no reaction and still looked calm as usual, "There's still an hour left. Let's go to the seaside first and then set off separately."
These past few days, many cultivators had come to Haisha City. As the time for the Immortal Residence's opening drew near, they all rushed to the seaside, leaving Haisha City looking much quieter, no longer as lively and bustling as before.
Mu Jie sighed, "An Immortal Residence has such great allure. These people clearly know that if they enter, they may never come out again, yet they still rush forward one after another, just to find treasures, increase their cultivation, and look down on others."
Yun Zong poured cold water on her, "You're one of these people too."
Mu Jie shook her head, "I'm different. I know my cultivation is low and I don't have such grand ambitions. I just feel a bit unwilling, so I want to go in and take a look to fight for some dignity."
Yun Zong glanced at her, "Unwilling about what?"
Mu Jie smiled self-deprecatingly, "Unwilling that just because I'm not from the main bloodline, I have to be born inferior to others. This time, the main line disciples of the Mu family will also go in to try their luck. I want to compete with them and see who can come out alive in the end."
Zhou Yin commented, "Risking your life for the sake of competing, very foolish."
Mu Jie sighed, "It is very foolish, but if not for this bit of obsession in my heart, I probably wouldn't have persisted until today."
She was stronger than three years ago. This soft exterior yet firm interior temperament naturally emerged, making it so that when she walked together with Yun Zong and the others in men's clothing, people almost couldn't tell she was a female cultivator. In this way, there were both advantages and disadvantages.
Since Yun Zong and Zhou Yin were practically immune to feminine charms, after spending a long time with them, Mu Jie couldn't help but start doubting her own attractiveness.
Haisha Island was surrounded by sea on all sides, and Haisha City had city gates in four directions for entering and exiting. Many people couldn't wait for the appointed time and flew out early to wait above the sea. In fact, since the location where the lotus bloomed was not fixed, being early or late made no difference.
The three each exited the city from a different direction. When they reached the seaside, it was just the right time. The lotus bloomed and instantly, multicolored lights flashed across the sea, dyeing the clouds in shades of cyan, purple, red and blue.
Cultivators were showing off their magic tools and spiritual powers. For a time, it was extremely lively. Occasionally, there were even sounds of weapons clashing and angry shouts. Those must be people with past grudges encountering each other. Unable to bear seeing the other find the Immortal Residence's entrance first, they started fighting.
Zhou Yin rode his Lingyin Sword and circled the nearby sea but gained nothing. Just as he was about to go look in another direction, he heard Mu Jie's scream from the Transmission Talisman at his waist, "Come quickly...!"
Her voice abruptly cut off without continuing. The Lingyin Sword immediately turned around and flew towards the location Mu Jie left.
By the time he arrived, he saw Mu Jie being struck down from midair, her body falling straight into the sea.
The one who injured her was none other than Yang Qing.
Not far away on the sea's surface, a huge ice lotus was slowly blooming.
It was an extremely beautiful scene.
Seeing that lotus, Zhou Yin realized Mu Jie's earlier description was not accurate.
The ice lotus did not bloom on the sea's surface, but beneath it.
The azure seawater could not conceal the ice lotus's radiance. Instead, it was like transparent ice, reflecting the underwater ice lotus in a clear blue. The sea waves rose and fell, causing the petals below the water to also sway gently. A gentle white light emanated from the ice lotus, going from faint to rich.
Looking down from midair, it was as if a passageway emitted from the ice lotus, projecting onto the water's surface.
That Benyun Island young master saw the ice lotus and was overjoyed. Without a second word, he activated his flying magic tool and headed straight for the ice lotus in the sea.
Seeing him, Yang Qing revealed a smile of unknown meaning at the corner of his mouth, seemingly mocking and disdainful. Then he lightly flicked his sleeve.
A streak of white light flew out from his sleeve, rushing straight towards Zhou Yin's face.
Zhou Yin took out the Heaven Washing Brush to block it and discovered it was a snow-white little snake. The snake's fangs took the opportunity to bite the Heaven Washing Brush and refused to let go. Its tail curled, trying to wrap around his wrist.
While Zhou Yin had to deal with this snake, he also wanted to reach out and grab Mu Jie, inevitably delaying the time he entered the water.
Yang Qing no longer paid him any attention and turned to leap into the water.
After a while, several more people discovered the ice lotus's whereabouts and rushed into the water one after another, following the white light.
The ice lotus only bloomed for a moment. In the blink of an eye, the bud began to slowly close again and the white light gradually faded.
Mu Jie's wrist was grabbed by Zhou Yin, slightly slowing her falling momentum. At this time, Yun Zong, who was a bit farther away, had also arrived. With one move, he killed the little snake, then helped pull Mu Jie up.
Mu Jie was injured but not severely. The other party had not used lethal force.
"Hurry... the flower is disappearing!" Not caring about her injuries, she hastily shouted.
Yun Zong and Zhou Yin each grabbed one of Mu Jie's wrists, set up a protective barrier, and crashed into the sea.
Upon entering the water, the barrier seemed to lose effect. Their bodies were involuntarily sucked towards the depths of the flower bud by the white light.
The whirlpool grew larger and larger, the water currents surging violently, enveloping their entire bodies. They could not distinguish direction or day and night.
To avoid getting separated, Zhou Yin and Yun Zong both tightly grasped Mu Jie's wrists on either side. Mu Jie's bones ached from being grabbed, causing her to involuntarily cry out loudly. But no matter how loud, all sounds were drowned out by this overwhelming whirlpool.
After all, her cultivation was insufficient and her willpower not firm enough. She quickly fell into a semi-unconscious state.
She could faint, but Yun Zong and the others could not. The two men gritted their teeth and persevered, painstakingly guarding that shred of clarity in their spiritual consciousness, not letting go.
No matter how much stronger cultivators were compared to ordinary people, in the face of the power of heaven, earth and mountains, they were still like ants, unable to resist.
Who knows how long passed, the whirlpool gradually shrank and the surroundings slowly calmed down. Their bodies went from drifting with the current to finally being able to control themselves.
The three only felt their limbs go numb. Even lifting a wrist felt extremely sore and swollen, incomparably difficult. Mu Jie's cultivation was inferior to the other two, so naturally, it took her longer to regain consciousness. Looking at the scene before her, she couldn't help but feel a little confused. "Did we enter the Lianyin Immortal Residence?"
It was no wonder she asked such a question. The situation before their eyes could in no way be associated with an immortal's abode.

Nine Heavens

Nine Heavens

Chapter 53 - Chapter 53

Echo