This person was none other than Yun Wanshang, Chu Qingyi's mother and one of the few key figures stationed at the Celestial Master Manor. Not only was her cultivation profound, but she was also highly skilled in alchemy, with most of the high-grade elixirs in the Celestial Master Manor crafted by her hands.
However, she typically lived a secluded life, taking little interest in the affairs of the Celestial Master Manor and leaving them entirely to Chu Tiannan to manage.
Even when it came to the marriage between Li Ye and Chu Qingyi, she had not inquired much, simply brushing it off with the phrase, "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings."
Yet this did not mean she neglected her only daughter. On the contrary, it was precisely because she cared too deeply for Chu Qingyi, fearing that her own constraints might have a negative impact, that she allowed her daughter to make her own decisions in all matters.
There was another reason for her approach: given the influence of the Celestial Master Manor in the Mysterious Continent, even if Chu Qingyi were to cause a catastrophe, they had the means to mend it. Thus, over the years, Chu Qingyi's upbringing had been largely hands-off. As parents, they would quietly observe her actions without interfering excessively in her decisions.
But who would have thought that their daughter seemed to be born a quiet soul? From a young age, she kept to herself, with almost no friends by her side. This left the couple puzzled. They even hoped that Chu Qingyi would one day cause a major stir, allowing them to bustle about like other parents, cleaning up after their child.
However, their wish clearly went unfulfilled. Over the past twenty years, Chu Qingyi had not caused any trouble, big or small, making her worry-free to an extreme.
Yet, a year after her marriage to Li Ye, she stubbornly followed him away from the Celestial Master Manor to forge her own path in the outside world. This truly surprised Chu Tiannan and Yun Wanshang. But knowing her temperament—once she set her mind on something, she would not turn back until she achieved it—they could only let her go with Li Ye, albeit with worry.
Now, a year had passed since their departure, and there was still no news. Anxious, Yun Wanshang suddenly recalled the mystical technique known as Butterfly Shadow Sound, a method for transmitting images across great distances.
Butterfly Shadow Sound was a mystical technique used by cultivators for tracking and communication. There were two ways to obtain it: first, a cultivator could actively gather their own spiritual energy to form a mystical butterfly, allowing others to contact them; second, someone extremely close to the cultivator could use a personal item, such as clothing or an object carried by the cultivator, and employ a specific secret method to condense a mystical butterfly, achieving the purpose of tracking the cultivator.
Butterfly Shadow Sound also had a miraculous effect: once the user of this technique tracked the cultivator's whereabouts, they could transmit their own image and convey messages, even if separated by thousands of miles.
Yun Wanshang used a jade pendant left behind in Chu Qingyi's boudoir to refine several mystical butterflies, spending nearly three days and nights before finally locating Chu Qingyi's figure.
When the spiritual energy around the mystical butterfly surged, she, far away in the Celestial Master Manor, immediately sensed it. Overwhelmed with excitement, she quickly channeled her spiritual energy, using the image to communicate with Chu Qingyi from a thousand miles away.
"Mother, why have you suddenly used a mystical butterfly to find me?" Though inwardly delighted by her mother's sudden appearance, Chu Qingyi, who was not adept at expressing her emotions, still wore a calm and indifferent expression.
"My foolish Yi'er, how can you live in such a place? If you're suffering outside, just come back. Your father and I are waiting for you!" Yun Wanshang surveyed Chu Qingyi's living conditions—the cramped, dilapidated courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and even the roof tiles were broken in several places, posing a constant risk of collapse.
The side room meant for dwelling was even more cramped, its furnishings sparse and entirely visible at a glance—all old and shabby furniture.
It was no exaggeration to say that even the servants and laborers' quarters in the Celestial Master Manor were far superior to this humble abode.
Seeing her daughter living in such conditions, Yun Wanshang felt a pang of sorrow, her heart aching with distress. Tears welled in her beautiful eyes, glistening as they fell with every glance.
She dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief while trying to persuade Chu Qingyi.
"Mother, I'm fine. It's just a temporary stay, no need to worry. How have you and Father been at the Celestial Master Manor?" Chu Qingyi didn't see anything particularly wrong with the small courtyard and instead comforted her tearful mother, inquiring about her and her father's well-being.
"All is well, all is well. And Li Ye? How could he leave you here alone?" Yun Wanshang sniffled, her nose red, as she composed herself to ask.
"The city has been unsettled lately. He joined an organization and is helping them track down demonic beasts," Chu Qingyi replied calmly.
"I see. What level has his cultivation reached? Has he broken through the Yin-Yang Convergence?" Yun Wanshang had heard about Li Ye's original purpose for leaving and asked urgently, knowing that his cultivation level was closely tied to when Chu Qingyi would return to the Celestial Master Manor.
After a moment's hesitation, Chu Qingyi decided to answer truthfully: "Late stage of Three Flowers Gather at the Summit."
A flicker of disappointment passed through Yun Wanshang's eyes before she quickly regained her composure. She comforted, "Stabilizing his unstable immortal energy in such a short time and even making a breakthrough to the late stage of Three Flowers Gather at the Summit is quite remarkable among his peers. Breaking through the Yin-Yang Convergence is within reach, but there's a risk of qi deviation during the process. You must stay by his side and assist him wholeheartedly."
"Mm," Chu Qingyi nodded faintly, committing the words firmly to memory.
"In that case, I'll refine two Yin-Yang Pills for the two of you and have them delivered to you," Yun Wanshang said after a moment of contemplation.
The Yin-Yang Pill, as the name implies, aids cultivators in stepping into the Yin-Yang Convergence realm. It is an Earth-grade low-tier elixir, not only rare in formula but also extremely difficult to refine. The requirements for the quality and age of the medicinal ingredients are stringent, and it heavily tests the alchemist's experience and skill. Only those who have mastered alchemy to perfection dare attempt it.
In short, across the Mysterious Mechanism Continent, alchemists capable of successfully refining the Yin-Yang Pill are exceedingly few—one might even say as rare as phoenix feathers.
The hallmark of a cultivator breaking through the Yin-Yang Convergence realm is the successful condensation of a Qi Pill within the body, replacing the former source of immortal energy. Compared to the original immortal energy, the Qi Pill not only contains more robust and refined energy but also significantly accelerates the rate at which one can mobilize the surrounding immortal energy, providing a great advantage in future cultivation.
If the immortal energy possessed at the Three Flowers Gather at the Summit stage is likened to a lake, then the immortal energy of a cultivator in the Yin-Yang Convergence realm can be described as an ocean—the difference between them is as vast as that between clouds and mud.
This also makes breaking through from the Three Flowers Converging at the Summit to the Yin-Yang Convergence realm one of the thresholds for cultivators. Once this threshold is crossed, it signifies that the cultivator has successfully entered the ranks of high-level powerhouses in the Mysterious Continent. With such strength, they would be treated as honored guests in any sect across the continent, and countless precious resources would open their doors to them.
However, this threshold is like an insurmountable chasm. To successfully cross it, one must possess the three factors of favorable timing, advantageous location, and harmonious conditions—none of which can be lacking.
Favorable timing refers to when the cultivator's spiritual energy within their body reaches a certain level of purity, faint signs of a breakthrough will appear. When the spiritual energy peaks, it is the best time for a breakthrough.
During the breakthrough process, celestial phenomena will be triggered. Those with exceptional talent may trigger even more astonishing phenomena. To avoid being interrupted by outsiders or attracting fatal trouble, one must find a geomantically auspicious location to carry out the breakthrough—this is the advantageous location.
Harmonious conditions are even more critical. Every breakthrough in the journey of cultivation is a significant challenge, and the Yin-Yang Convergence realm is no exception. It tests the cultivator's talent, strength, and comprehension to the utmost. If one's mind wavers, the least consequence is losing all progress, while the worst is losing one's sanity and falling into demonic cultivation.
Moreover, the Mysterious Continent has never lacked dazzling geniuses, so why are there so few who successfully enter the Yin-Yang Convergence realm?
The factors are complex. While the cultivator's own formidable strength is key, very few succeed in breaking through relying solely on their spiritual energy. Only by taking auxiliary elixirs on top of their strength can they achieve a divinely assisted effect, greatly increasing their chances of success.
The Yin-Yang Elixir is the best choice. During the breakthrough, a continuous stream of pure spiritual energy is required to merge into the torrent of spiritual energy impacting the Yin-Yang Convergence barrier. If something goes wrong midway, the Yin-Yang Elixir can replenish the spiritual energy at the critical moment of depletion. Moreover, its effects are extremely gentle and will not harm the cultivator. It can be said to play a crucial role in providing timely assistance during the breakthrough.
Thus, what cultivators can do is to spare no effort in searching for the Yin-Yang Elixir before their breakthrough, even if it means spending a fortune without regret.
However, the Yin-Yang Elixir is inherently rare. Once it appears, it is enough to trigger fierce competition among cultivators at the Three Flowers Converging at the Summit realm, leading to violent clashes.
And now, Yun Wanshang casually produced two Yin-Yang Elixirs, which would be enough to stir up a storm of bloodshed in the outside world.
"Mother, isn't the Yin-Yang Elixir a bit premature for the two of us?" Chu Qingyi clearly understood the importance of the elixir. Even though her mother's alchemy skills were highly refined, the process of refining it was still quite cumbersome, with the preparation of medicinal ingredients alone taking considerable time.
"Given Li Ye's talent, he will likely break through in a few months. It's better to prepare early," Yun Wanshang said, her breathtakingly beautiful face filled with solemnity, clearly placing great importance on the matter.
Seeing that her mind was made up, Chu Qingyi felt it was best not to say more.
"Yi'er... your innate spiritual energy..." Yun Wanshang carefully examined her daughter, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, only to find that her innate spiritual energy was nearly depleted, with faint traces of it disappearing entirely. Instantly filled with worry, her delicate eyebrows furrowed tightly together.
"I've suffered some minor injuries, but it's nothing serious," Chu Qingyi said calmly. Although her internal injuries had fully healed, the near-depletion of her primordial immortal energy was like a thorn lodged deep in her heart. She constantly yearned for its restoration.
She had never intended to reveal this to her mother to avoid causing worry, and had been meticulously maintaining the facade of abundant immortal energy. However, it was clear she couldn't hide it from Yun Wanshang, whose power far surpassed her own.
Yun Wanshang's heart clenched painfully, tears welling up once more in her beautiful eyes as she nearly choked back a sob. Since childhood, Chu Qingyi had been cherished and protected by her family—when had she ever endured such hardship? Living in difficult circumstances was one thing, but now even her primordial immortal energy was nearly exhausted. It was heartbreaking to imagine what kind of life she must have led after leaving the Tian Shi Manor.
"Enough, you're married now, and as your mother, I shouldn't interfere too much in your decisions," Yun Wanshang said, taking a deep breath and struggling to suppress the ache in her heart. The depletion of Chu Qingyi's primordial immortal energy was clearly not a recent occurrence. Since she had chosen to keep it hidden, there must have been her own reasons.
"Mother, the Tian Shi Manor is too far from here. There's no need to go to such lengths," Chu Qingyi replied after a moment's thought.
The Mysterious Mechanism Continent was divided into five major regions: East, South, West, North, and Central. The Tian Shi Manor was located in the most prosperous and rapidly developing southern region, while Jinling City was merely a small, remote town at the northernmost edge of the continent. The two places were tens of thousands of miles apart—even flying at full speed would take several months to traverse the distance.
A round trip to deliver pills would take nearly half a year. Moreover, pills of the caliber of the Yin-Yang Elixir were treasures that could easily attract fatal envy if discovered. Thus, delivering them to Jinling City was clearly impractical.
"In that case, the Xuanji Pavilion has a branch in the northern part of the continent, only a few hundred kilometers from here," Yun Wanshang said, her eyes sparkling as she quickly devised a plan. A faint, strained smile graced her stunning features, captivating as a celestial blossom. "I will speak with your grandmother about this. Once I've prepared the pills, I'll use a teleportation array to send them to the branch. You can have Li Ye retrieve them when he has time."
The Xuanji Pavilion was Yun Wanshang's maternal family's domain, a cultivation sect founded by Chu Qingyi's grandmother, Gu Yishuang. Alongside the Tian Shi Manor and the Hundred Flowers Sect, it was one of the three major powers of the Mysterious Mechanism Continent, with profound heritage and influence. While its headquarters were also in the southern region, it maintained numerous branches across the continent, with several stationed in each territory.
Considering the distance, Yun Wanshang immediately thought of the Xuanji Pavilion's branches, each guarded by trusted aides of her mother, Gu Yishuang, and equipped with small teleportation arrays. This would not only ensure the pills' safety from outsiders but also provide a swift and convenient solution, saving considerable time.
Once the plan was settled, Yun Wanshang, her eyes brimming with tears, shared a few heartfelt words with her daughter before reluctantly bidding her farewell. Her nearly choked voice and tearful, exquisite beauty were truly heart-wrenching.
"Qingyi, take good care of yourself!"
With the final words of advice fading away, Yun Wanshang's stunning figure gradually dissipated into the air. Ripples shimmered briefly in the atmosphere before returning to normal, leaving no trace of any anomaly.
At the same time, far in the southern region of the Mysterious Continent, within the Heavenly Master Manor, a breathtakingly beautiful lady who had been meditating in her room suddenly opened her eyes. A sharp, cold golden light burst from her pupils, swirling briefly before settling back into calm.
Her exquisitely made-up face, though delicate, bore a trace of weariness. Her beautiful eyes were slightly reddened, glistening with unshed tears, making her appear like a stunning flower battered by wind and rain, evoking deep pity.
Footsteps echoed in the room just then, and a middle-aged man clad in a deep blue, luxurious robe strode in with steady steps. His noble aura was palpable, and his handsome, chiseled face commanded respect even without a hint of anger. His eyes, in particular, were exceptionally profound, shimmering with an unfathomable light. A single glance was enough to stir a sense of dread, making one afraid to meet his gaze again.
This man was none other than Chu Tiannan, the master of the Heavenly Master Manor and the father of Chu Qingyi.
"Any news of Yi'er?" His voice, though brief, boomed like a great bell, striking directly at the heart. Those with weak wills would tremble violently upon hearing it, their minds thrown into disarray.
Yun Wanshang's heart ached as she cast a weary glance at him before nodding slightly.
"How is she?" Chu Tiannan asked anxiously, his face full of concern.
"Ah…" Yun Wanshang parted her delicate lips and let out a sorrowful sigh. She then recounted everything she had just witnessed, including their daughter's injuries, in detail.
"What?! Her Primordial Immortal Qi is depleted?!" Chu Tiannan's pupils contracted sharply. This matter concerned her future potential in immortal cultivation—in the worst case, she might never advance another step. As her father, how could he not be alarmed?!
"What exactly is this Li Ye thinking?! I entrusted Yi'er to him, allowing her to train with him outside, and now she's been injured so severely?!" Chu Tiannan paced back and forth in the room, his heart in turmoil. "No, I must go to them immediately. If necessary, I'll bring Qingyi back myself!"
"You mustn't!" Yun Wanshang quickly rose to her feet, her exquisite face resolute as she stared directly at him. "Yi'er has her own thoughts. If we interfere, it will only provoke her displeasure. Moreover, I have already made thorough preparations for her injuries. There's no need to worry further."
Chu Tiannan wanted to say more, but seeing the unwavering determination in his wife's expression, he swallowed his words.
In his life, he cherished only two things: one was his daughter, Chu Qingyi, far away in Jinling City, and the other was Yun Wanshang, who stood gracefully before him. As long as both mother and daughter were safe and well, he would have no regrets in this lifetime.
Thus, whenever disagreements arose between him and Yun Wanshang, it was often he who took the initiative to reconcile and yield to her wishes.
This time was no different. With a heart full of tenderness, he pulled Yun Wanshang into a tight embrace.
Like an injured bird finding refuge, Yun Wanshang could no longer hold back her tears. They streamed from her beautiful eyes as she sobbed, clinging to the warmth of his arms.
…
Chu Qingyi was completely unaware of the events unfolding at the Celestial Master Manor. Her mind was preoccupied with the matter of the elixir her mother had mentioned earlier. Given Li Ye's current habit of not returning home for days on end, it was clear he had no time to retrieve the elixir from the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion's branch.
It seemed she would have to resolve this matter herself...
With this thought, Chu Qingyi quietly steeled her resolve.
She closed her eyes and used her spiritual sense to search for the location of the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion branch in the northern region of the Profound Continent. After about a quarter of an hour, she finally detected a place in the northwest where spiritual energy was densely concentrated. This, she surmised, must be the branch of the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion.
She slowly opened her beautiful eyes, silently committing the route to memory. The location was approximately two hundred kilometers from Jinling City. With her previous level of spiritual power, she could have made the round trip in less than three hours. But now, with her core spiritual energy depleted and only a small amount remaining in her body—reserved for critical moments—she would have to rely on her own two feet for this journey. Moreover, she needed to avoid direct encounters with demonic beasts as much as possible.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Chu Qingyi suddenly felt that something was amiss and remembered that Li Xuan was still trapped inside the barrier.
She hastily recited an incantation under her breath, and the barrier instantly materialized. After a brief tremor, it dissipated into nothingness, revealing Li Xuan curled up fast asleep inside.
Earlier, just as he was on the verge of climax, Li Xuan had seen Chu Qingyi frown deeply and wave her jade-like hand. In an instant, the scene before him vanished completely. When he regained his senses, he found himself in a vast, blank world. No matter how he ran or shouted, there was no response.
Panic set in. Li Xuan stumbled around like a headless fly, occasionally scratching his head frantically. The dandruff that flew off disappeared before it could even hit the ground.
"Mother! Where are you? Don't leave me alone! I'm so scared..." As he spoke, a wave of self-pity washed over him. His voice grew choked with sobs. He crouched on the ground, hugging himself tightly, staring blankly through tear-filled eyes at the empty world around him.
His previously erect manhood, now devoid of excitement due to fear, hung limply and wrinkled between his legs, swaying comically as he moved.
"Mother... I'm so scared... Waa..." After what felt like an eternity, Li Xuan could no longer bear the terror in his heart. He broke down and cried like a three-year-old child, tears streaming down his face. His eyes grew misty, blurring his vision.
As his crying intensified, snot and tears flowed freely. His mouth curved downward in a pitiful pout, as if he had suffered the greatest injustice imaginable.
After a long while, exhausted from crying, a drowsy Li Xuan could no longer fight off the overwhelming sleepiness. He slumped to the side and fell into a deep slumber, the clear traces of tears still visible on his face.
After the barrier dissipated, Chu Qingyi looked at Li Xuan curled up on the ground, lost in slumber. Amusement flickered in her eyes, but it was quickly followed by a tinge of regret. If not for the critical situation earlier—she couldn't let the newcomer witness such a debauched scene between her and Li Xuan—she wouldn't have hastily cast this barrier in desperation. Unlike ordinary barriers that merely isolate the existing environment, this one temporarily transported those within it to a third space, a world conjured from the caster's immediate imagination.
The moment she saw the Immortal Butterfly, she knew the newcomer's strength was extraordinary, likely far surpassing her own. An ordinary barrier would be easily detected by someone of such power, so she had no choice but to conceal Li Xuan's presence this way.
"Wake up," Chu Qingyi infused her voice with a trace of immortal energy, which to an ordinary person would sound like divine music, certain to rouse him instantly.
Sure enough, Li Xuan's body trembled slightly, and his eyes slowly fluttered open.
After a moment of dazed confusion, he recognized the familiar figure before him and immediately burst into pitiful sobs. Scrambling frantically to her feet, he clung to her calf without a second thought, weeping uncontrollably.
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