novel ATTG - Chapter 2037
Chapter 2037
As the yellow luminous jade gradually dissipated, the profound energy around Yun Che finally ceased its turbulence and began to flow slowly. His expression noticeably relaxed. However, on the contrary, the heart and soul of Hua Caili were agitated and couldn’t calm down for a long time. For a profound practitioner, every breakthrough is a growth and rebirth of profound energy. Breaking through to a higher realm is even more of a qualitative change. Breaking through in a heavily injured state, the loss of control and overflow of profound energy is quite normal.
However, his out-of-control profound energy was clearly bursting with the power of five different elements. Right before her eyes, within this short distance, aside from the Bright Profound Energy that only exists in ancient records, there are six elemental profound energies in the world – Water, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Darkness. He actually cultivated all five of them?! This completely contradicted the profound knowledge her aunt, the supreme supreme-ruler, and the supreme priests had taught her. Even the most skilled elemental experts among the four supreme priests, the supreme priests with special profound veins and supreme inheritances, could only control three elemental energies simultaneously. She wanted to make a sound and ask her aunt, who was hidden somewhere, but she was afraid of disturbing Yun Che. She could only watch him in a daze, completely lost in thought. The swirling profound energy on Yun Che’s body had become slower and seemed to be fully under control.
Just when the profound energy seemed to be completely calming down, a sudden change occurred. The surrounding misty sea world suddenly became turbulent, and before Hua Caili could react, a storm erupted, and countless streams of air rushed toward Yun Che’s body. Yun Che’s outer robe and long hair were lifted by these streams of air. The momentum of these streams was already extremely astonishing, but with each breath, they became even more violent. The spiritual energy of the entire space seemed to have gone completely insane, surging toward Yun Che, and even Yuanchen could not stop it.
Even Hua Qingying, who was far away, could sense the intense turbulence of the surrounding air currents. She looked at Yun Che, and her eyes were filled with shock, as if the level of aura disturbance didn’t belong to the breakthrough of a Divine Master but rather resembled the breakthrough of a Divine Extinction level! The rush of the world’s spiritual energy continued without any sign of slowing down. Hua Caili’s long hair was lifted, and the veil covering her face was almost blown away. Her gaze at Yun Che became even more astonished, as if she was staring at a creature that had never existed in her knowledge.
She had a vague feeling as if the entire Misty Sea, the entire world, was shaking because of the man’s breakthrough before her eyes. At this moment, Hua Qingying suddenly turned her azure eyes. She was shocked to realize that her consciousness had completely left Hua Caili for a full seven breaths of time.
Yun Che… In the Lin Yuan Realm, he tortured the Divine Masters with the power of a Divine Sovereign. The breakthrough of a Divine Master level was causing the aura to react as if it were a Demi-God level breakthrough. The power on his body clearly exceeded the common understanding of the world. Who exactly is this young man?
The surge of air currents lasted for a full hundred breaths before it finally gradually stopped. Yun Che’s black hair fell, and his expression was calm, as if he were in a peaceful slumber. Even the scars on his face had faded significantly. Everything returned to calm, but the heart of the girl guarding him still fluctuated with an unusual turmoil.
Li Sha watched Yun Che’s actions and Hua Caili’s reaction in silence. She suddenly didn’t understand what Yun Che was thinking. He should have hidden the secrets on his body with all his might until he grew strong enough. But at this moment, he was clearly trying to display them deliberately, which was completely contrary to what he had done before and what the Demon Empress had advised. However, he must have his reasons for doing so.
At this moment, Hua Caili suddenly turned to look behind, and her gaze gradually became more serious.
Five auras were rapidly approaching this area, and among them, four were at the half-step Divine Extinction level, which was close to Hua Caili’s cultivation level. The aura in the center, with a clear sense of oppression, was clearly at the Divine Extinction level. Such an astonishing group of individuals was the first time she encountered in this area of the Misty Sea.
As they got closer, their voices faintly reached her ears. “The commotion we heard earlier was definitely in this direction.” “The intense smell of blood indicates that there was a fierce battle here not long ago.”
Soon, five figures appeared in Hua Caili’s line of sight. The four individuals behind were all dressed in gray, their eyes sharp. At the half-step Divine Extinction cultivation level, they were considered strong individuals even in any territory beneath the Divine Realm, bordering on being overlords. However, at this moment, these four were in a half-moon formation, respectfully following the person in front.
During the Misty Sea trials, to facilitate concealment, people usually chose dark-colored attire. But the person in front was dressed in silver robes. A faint radiance shifted across them, not concealing the defensive supreme patterns engraved on them, making their presence even more conspicuous. Their aura at the Divine Extinction level allowed them to hold their heads high, even in the Misty Sea.
Looking at the corpses of Abyssal Beasts scattered around, all five individuals had serious expressions. However, after an Abyssal Beast dies, its residual energy dissipates quickly, making it difficult to accurately assess its strength before death. The gaze of the individuals quickly turned to Hua Caili and Yun Che.
One was at the half-step Divine Extinction level and had a fluctuating aura, indicating significant depletion of profound energy. The other was at the peak of the Divine Master realm, with clear signs of profound energy gathering, indicating a breakthrough. The caution in their eyes disappeared in an instant.
Hua Caili swept her snow-white hand, and a small-scale barrier enveloped the area where Yun Che was located. The Linyun Sword followed the trajectory of her jade-like fingers and released an immaculate sword aura. Her eyes were like stars, her skin like snow, and her sword like luminous jade. Even with her face veiled, her charm still astounded them and resonated with their hearts.
She shouldn’t exist in the Misty Sea, and she wasn’t even worthy of this turbid world. The man in silver robes quickly realized his lapse in manners and revealed a friendly smile. “Fair lady, there’s no need to be nervous. We were just drawn here by the commotion, concerned that someone might be in danger, and wanted to offer assistance. Since you both are safe, we won’t trouble you any longer.”
This astonishing woman was a rare sight in his lifetime. However, being in the Misty Sea and having important matters to attend to, it was the most inopportune time to get involved. But before leaving, he couldn’t help but inquire, “Nevertheless, it’s quite a fateful encounter in the Misty Sea. I am Fan Qingzhou. Might the fair lady share her name?”
As he spoke his name, his expression carried a hint of pride because he believed that it wouldn’t be long before his name became known throughout the world.
Hua Caili didn’t respond and remained vigilant. She had experienced too many similar situations in the Misty Sea. The man in front of her was still one of the more reserved and polite ones.
Feeling regret in his heart, Fan Qingzhou didn’t insist further. He smiled faintly and said, “Since that’s the case, I won’t disturb your training.”
“Let’s go.”
With a somewhat covetous glance at Hua Caili, Fan Qingzhou reluctantly averted his gaze. He was just about to turn around when he heard a sudden cry, “Abyssal Crystal!”
While Abyssal Crystals were rare, there was no reason for a profound practitioner at the half-step Divine Extinction level to be so shocked. Fan Qingzhou was about to reprimand when his words got caught in his throat. His gaze suddenly fixed on something, and his pupils trembled for an instant.
Just less than twenty yards to the left of Hua Caili, amid the two severed Abyssal Beast corpses, an Abyssal Crystal emitted a unique radiance. While the radiance of the Abyssal Crystal was conspicuous in the dim Misty Sea, Hua Caili’s radiance was too dazzling and captivating, which was why they had only noticed it just now. However, the gray radiance that reflected in their eyes was massive, almost half a foot in size!
They had never seen such a massive Abyssal Crystal in the Misty Sea before.
“This must weigh at least thirty or forty pounds, right?” one of the individuals in gray clothes exclaimed with a dry throat.
Another person remarked, “Abyssal Crystals of this size may not be measured by ordinary weight.”
Fan Qingzhou glanced at Hua Caili and said, “It still belongs to someone else.”
“No, this is the Misty Sea, so it is ownerless,” the person on Fan Qingzhou’s right reminded him in a low voice. “Big brother, don’t forget your mission. Once you obtain this Abyssal Crystal, your mission can be directly completed. There’s nothing more important for you than this.”
In a moment of hesitation, Fan Qingzhou took a step forward, just about to speak when an invisible sword aura suddenly cut through the dark space.
Chirp!
The Abyssal Crystal was lifted by the sword aura and moved behind Hua Caili, falling into the barrier. Given Hua Caili’s background, even if it weighed hundreds of pounds, it would not have been of interest to her. However, since the Abyssal Beasts were hunted by Yun Che, the Abyssal Crystal rightfully belonged to him. She had promised to stay by Yun Che’s side, so she shouldn’t let what belonged to him fall into someone else’s hands.
Fan Qingzhou narrowed his eyes, and his smile was no longer as gentle and harmless as before. “Fair lady, you should be under a hundred decades old, and yet your cultivation is so advanced, and your temperament is out of this world. I believe you have an extraordinary background.”
Hua Caili remained silent.
“But you should also be aware of the rules of survival in the Misty Sea,” he continued.
He moved slowly, gradually approaching, and his half-closed eyes began to radiate a more dangerous light. “This Abyssal Crystal fell in the Misty Sea, which means it belongs to the capable. Those who take from the weak will only bring trouble upon themselves. I’m sure a fair lady like you understands this simple principle.”
Hua Caili showed no fear and spoke slowly, “A would-be Abyss Knight, should undergo nine trials. One of them is the Misty Sea Trial.”
Her voice was cold, each word as clear and refreshing as a jade dropped into a cold spring, soothing the heart and delighting the soul. It left Fan Qingzhou completely stiff, and he came to a sudden halt in his tracks.
Hua Caili continued, “To become a true Abyss Knight, one must pass through nine rigorous trials. Among them, the Misty Sea Trial is one of the steps.”
“To become an Abyss Knight, one must hold a pure soul. If you pass the Misty Sea Trial with such actions and ultimately become an Abyss Knight, then the name Fan Qingzhou will certainly tarnish the reputation of Abyss Knights!” Hua Caili had spent more than 99% of her life in the Pure Land. Prospective Knights undergoing trials would be marked with a unique Pure Land seal, which she could easily recognize.
Fan Qingzhou’s face immediately darkened. He didn’t understand how the woman in front of him knew he was a prospective Knight undergoing trials, and he deeply regretted revealing his name earlier. The four individuals behind him were also left dumbfounded and remained silent for a long time.
“Hehe, fair lady, you have misunderstood,” Fan Qingzhou changed his tone. “My earlier words were just a warning to the fair lady to put away this Abyssal Crystal as soon as possible. After all, in the Misty Sea, showing vulnerability is the greatest sin.”
“As for me, as someone who has sworn to become an Abyss Knight, I have long considered safeguarding the order of the Abyss and protecting the Abyss’s myriad creatures as my highest duty. How could I stoop to seizing from the weak?”
After making these declarations, he didn’t even glance at the Abyssal Crystal again, turned around, and waved his hand, “We are no longer needed here, let’s go.”
Gazes filled with either greed or dissatisfaction surreptitiously swept over the Abyssal Crystal, but since Fan Qingzhou had spoken, no one dared to say anything, and they all quickly left.
Hua Caili let out a sigh of relief, and the Linyun Sword’s radiance subsided, returning to calm. At that moment, the usually quiet Yun Che suddenly spoke, “You should leave quickly.”
Hua Caili was taken aback, “Have you completed the breakthrough?”
“Not yet,” Yun Che still had his eyes closed, and his voice didn’t come from his lips. “You better leave as soon as possible, or it’ll be too late.”
“Why?” Hua Caili was puzzled.
The profound energy around Yun Che’s body was continuously converging and expanding, clearly in the final stage of a breakthrough. “Just now, the most sensible thing for you to do was to hand over the Abyssal Crystal to them to keep the peace. Fundamentally, what he said was not wrong. Once an Abyssal Crystal is seen, it can only belong to the strong. But you didn’t, and you exposed his identity as a Pure Land prospective Knight and potentially endangered his life.”
“The ‘pure soul’ is the mark of an Abyss Knight. And once his actions become known, it will undoubtedly become a stain hindering him from becoming an Abyss Knight. Moreover, you know his name, and what he is most likely to do next is to find an opportunity to kill you to silence you.”
Hua Caili parted her lips and said softly, “But… there hasn’t even been any conflict between him and me; it shouldn’t be that severe, right?”
“It’s that severe,” Yun Che said. “Your noble background makes it difficult for you to understand what the four words ‘Abyss Knight’ mean to a relatively ordinary practitioner. It’s most likely the highest pursuit that consumes their entire life’s effort, a status and the ultimate glory that brings honor to the entire clan and future generations. As for Fan Qingzhou, he’s just one step away from becoming an Abyss Knight, and he would never allow any accidents, even the slightest possibility.”
When Fan Qingzhou turned around, the deeply concealed killing intent was not perceptible to the inexperienced Hua Caili, but Yun Che sensed it clearly.
During her solo experience this time, Hua Caili had already experienced various treacherous aspects of human nature. However, for a moment, she found it hard to accept what Yun Che had said because this was not an ordinary practitioner but a prospective Abyss Knight, someone qualified to undergo the trials. Going from a prospective Knight to an Abyss Knight required nine rigorous trials, and the first of these was the trial of the heart. Being able to enter the Misty Sea for the trial meant he had already passed the trial of the heart. He shouldn’t be an evil person.
“Don’t worry; that person won’t do it,” Hua Caili reassured in a comforting tone. “Abyss Knights are all exceptionally upright individuals. Although he is only a prospective Knight, having the qualification to participate in the trials means he is not inherently a bad person.”
Hua Caili had a great deal of respect for the Abyss Sovereign, and she had a deeper fondness for everything in the Pure Land than anyone else.
Yun Che was ultimately a supreme-ruler-child who had grown up under strict guidance and had a shallow and childish understanding of good and evil.
He softened his tone and said, “What gives Abyss Knights their integrity is not their inherent nature but their identity as Abyss Knights. It’s the title that bestows them with righteousness.”
The man who had just turned thirty but spoke with the wisdom of an older individual continued, “The four words ‘Abyss Knight’ represent both honor and constraint. However, for those who desire to become Abyss Knights, the former greatly outweighs the latter. They are more than willing to conform to the purity of the soul for the sake of this title and the honor it bestows.”
“But these external changes don’t necessarily mean their inherent nature has changed,” he continued, his tone deepening. “In the eyes of the public, Abyss Knights are righteous upholders of order and stern judges. But in unnoticed corners, such as this fog-covered sea that can easily conceal and devour all, they have no need to uphold any ‘purity of the soul’ and can reveal their true nature to the fullest.”
“Besides, he’s not an Abyss Knight yet; he’s at the most critical juncture of becoming one.”
Hua Caili argued in disbelief, “But I haven’t done anything to harm him, would someone really want to silence me for this? And if he really wanted to silence me, he would have done it just now.”
“You overestimate the lower limits of human nature,” Yun Che sighed with a slightly melancholic tone. “He didn’t act just now because there were others present, and if he acted, it would have given those four more evidence against him. To silence you, he must do it alone.”
“The Misty Sea is the easiest place to conceal oneself and the most challenging to pursue. So, he will undoubtedly separate from those four in the shortest time and then return… at the latest, within a hundred breaths.”
Hua Caili was about to respond, but a low chuckle came from behind. “Since you all know, why are you waiting here to die? I don’t know if I should call you clever or foolish.”
Hua Caili turned around and saw the returning figure of Fan Qingzhou. His face was no longer as mild, and his voice carried a sharp, chilling intent. In his hand, a purple longsword was wreathed in stormy lightning and a blatant aura of killing intent.
All her arguments, ready to be spoken, dissolved into silence on her lips. Yun Che’s words had come true right before her eyes. Her beautiful eyes showed a mix of astonishment and confusion. She couldn’t understand why a powerful cultivator who had already reached the Divine Tribulation Realm would consider killing someone to avoid a potential blemish. And the fact that this person was likely on the path to becoming an Abyss Knight, a role that embodied the pure spirit of the Deep Abyss, made it even more perplexing.
As someone who had grown up in the embrace of the Pure Lands and had a deep connection to it, the shock of this scene had a much greater impact on Hua Caili than on Yun Che, who was used to such harsh realities.
End of chapter 2037.