Around Song Zining, a myriad of sceneries emerged—city ramparts and bustling streets, tiered buildings, and people from all walks of life. Countless fluttering leaves densely wove themselves into a rain curtain, falling softly like the arrival of an abundant autumn. Amid this resplendent panorama, Song Zining stood, with a peculiar expression, as if about to transcend and merge into the scenery.
A thin, crimson line appeared in the distance, meandering its way, and in an instant, it reached Song Zining, ready to strike him down!
As soon as the bloodline emerged, the grandeur of the floating world was immediately disrupted, as if struck by a natural calamity. The ground trembled, the heavens seemed to tilt, and people and vehicles scattered in panic. Countless leaves, like a fierce wind and heavy rain, shifted towards one spot, blocking the path of the bloodline.
However, the bloodline snaked its way forward, cutting through countless leaves as it advanced. It was as if someone was using this illusory city as a real battlefield, charging through, bringing destruction.
Despite the numerous leaves, they only slightly delayed the bloodline. It passed through the city, rose, and once again aimed to strike Song Zining down.
Qian Ye had no time to reach him; he hastily activated Void Blink and just managed to pass through the illusory city, only to see the tip of the bloodline still ten meters ahead. Gritting his teeth, he reached out and grabbed the bloodline!
Though his body was robust, the bloodline easily sliced through his flesh, deeply embedding itself. In a moment, Qian Ye’s hand gushed with blood. Fortunately, dark golden runes suddenly appeared on his hand, stopping the bloodline from cutting deeper. Otherwise, his palm might have been severed.
The bloodline felt both resilient and heavy, like gripping a powerful force weapon. Qian Ye decided to act boldly, unleashing his blood energy and pulling back with all his might, disregarding whether the bloodline would sever his hand.
Qian Ye’s pull caused the bloodline to recoil, and its strike at Song Zining missed.
“Yeting!” Qian Ye roared. How could he not recognize that this bloodline came from Yeting?
The bloodline traveled from a thousand meters away, striking with such speed that it almost cleaved through the ethereal image as if it were real. Her skills had grown even more formidable. He wondered if it was because she had awakened further or due to the Soul Restoring Lotus’s effects.
After a brief standoff, the bloodline slowly retracted, accompanied by a faint hum in the air. Song Zining, pale and drenched in cold sweat, narrowly escaped death.
Qian Ye’s hand continued to bleed profusely. Yeting’s blood energy, both profound and suppressive, prevented Qian Ye’s rapid recovery.
Pressing his left hand against the wound, Qian Ye watched the direction from which the bloodline had come, wary of another attack. If he hadn’t reacted quickly, Song Zining might be dead now.
Finally, Yeting’s voice echoed from afar: “Come here.”
“And what about him?” Qian Ye asked in a low voice.
“He was lucky this time.”
Slightly reassured, Qian Ye gestured to Song Zining to move away, then headed toward the stormy edge of the landmass.
As he walked, there was no sign of Yeting. The vast wilderness around him filled Qian Ye with a sense of desolation, until the battleship where Yeting resided came into view.
The stone hut where Gali’nan lived was empty, and there was no trace of him.
Continuing toward the battleship, Qian Ye suddenly froze, staring dumbfounded ahead.
On top of the battleship stood the figure forever etched in his heart.
This time, Yeting did not avoid him, seemingly ready for a face-to-face conversation. Qian Ye wasn’t sure whether to feel joy or sorrow, but a deep chill settled in his heart.
Taking a deep breath, Qian Ye leaped up, standing behind Yeting, following her gaze.
In front of Yeting, a terrifying void storm was forming. The sky turned dark, obscuring the distant view, and through the darkness, glimpses of true void could be seen. Numerous spatial rifts were intertwining, tearing at the fragile space.
Fortunately, such void storms generally ascended, either breaking through the land’s protective layer and merging into the void, or gradually dissipating. If it descended during its initial formation, it would bring disaster.
Looking down at the battleship, Qian Ye felt a bit relieved. Though the void storm was powerful, the duke-class battleship should withstand it. Besides, with Yeting’s current capabilities, traversing the void storm alone was not impossible.
“Where is Zhuzhu?” Yeting asked first.
“I’m going to the Song family, and it might get rough. It’s inconvenient to take her, so I put her to sleep in the Ancestral Hall.”
“Going alone into the Empire’s heartland, are you brave, or just fearless?”
Her words carried a tinge of mockery. Qian Ye heard it but didn’t know how to respond, saying with a bitter smile, “I have no choice…”
“Oh, no choice. Did you help Song Zining secure the family leadership?”
“…No.”
Yeting finally turned, looking into Qian Ye’s eyes, and said, “Do you truly believe no one in the Empire can kill you, or do you know someone will protect you, making you fearless?”
This question puzzled Qian Ye even more. “Someone will protect me? The Zhao family?”
He thought the Zhao family was the most likely. But with the floating continent’s war intensifying, the Zhao family was fully engaged, with key figures absent. They had no means to rescue him. Qian Ye never expected to rely on the Zhao family.
“You know more than just the Zhao family.”
Stunned, Qian Ye realized he had a few friends among the Empire’s young generation, but individual ties couldn’t influence family decisions. The Wei family in the far east, Li Kuanglan, and Ji Tianqing’s families might have some influence, but he didn’t think their relationships were that close.
Since Yeting kept asking, Qian Ye answered earnestly, “With Void Blink and Primordial Spear, I can use a hit-and-run tactic. No one below a general can stop me. Even a general, if forced, I can take them down. These generals have high positions and important tasks, so they won’t risk their lives for me. In the worst case, I can escape. The Ancestral Hall is waiting in the void. Unless the Empire deploys a major fleet, they can’t stop me.”
Yeting’s eyes remained cold and indifferent, “I don’t know if you’re genuinely unaware or just pretending. But it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s over between us.”
“What… What do you mean?” A deepening chill gripped Qian Ye’s heart. Yeting’s tone grew increasingly distant.
“Why don’t you ask why I wanted to kill Song Zining?”
“You didn’t really want to kill him. If you did, my hand would be gone, and so would he. As for the reason… was it because he advised me to leave you?”
Yeting smiled faintly, “Have we been together since I awakened?”
“No, but it was only a matter of time. I always believed so. You want to ascend the Holy Mountain, and I need time.”
The ice in Yeting’s eyes slightly thawed, “You’ve done well. Your promise wasn’t just empty words. In terms of combat advancement, maybe no one in Evernight surpasses you. Given time, perhaps… perhaps you could return to the Holy Mountain with me.”
Silence enveloped Qian Ye as he gazed at Yeting, fearing the next words. But if it was already implied, what difference did it make?
Considering Yeting’s sudden change, Qian Ye asked, “Does your decision involve Song Zining?”
“Partly, but not entirely. Do you remember the Sea-Born Lotus I gave you? It helped me fully awaken, restoring all my memories. This isn’t good for you. The past feels like a dream, and now the dream has ended.”
“The Sea-Born Lotus…” Qian Ye sighed, “But I had no choice but to give it to you.”
“I know. So, you’re very naive.”
Forcing a smile, Qian Ye asked, “What did Song Zining do? Can you tell me?”
“It’s in the past. Nothing can change it, and you don’t need to know. If you must know, ask him. But the answer might not be pleasant.”
A hint of bitterness crept into Qian Ye’s eyes, “I need to know what led to our separation.”
“Time.”
“Time?”
“Time.”
This reason made Qian Ye both understand and not. It was the only one that left him without any recourse.
After a long silence, Qian Ye said, “You know, to eventually take you to the Holy Mountain, I can’t go any faster. I could break through to a noble rank in the short term, but advancing beyond that is difficult. For the Holy Mountain, a noble is just a pebble. So, I need time, and I think it won’t be too long. Among our peers, including enchantresses, there are only a few I can’t defeat. Isn’t that enough? Doesn’t it give you hope to wait a little longer?”
Qian Ye’s tone was calm, but his quivering voice betrayed his emotions.
Yeting sighed, “Normally, it would be enough. But my full awakening changes things. Time has run out, and I can’t wait any longer.”
“What time?”
After a long pause, Yeting said, “The time for the new world to open, and a new era to begin.”
“A new world, a door?” Qian Ye was stunned. He had never heard of a new world.
“You wouldn’t know. It’s only known to a select few. But you’ll know soon.”
“What does the new era have to do with us?” Qian Ye’s voice rose, all caution cast aside.
“The new era isn’t about you, but it involves me. It’s an irresistible call. When I step through the new world’s door, I’ll… become someone else. I don’t know what will happen.”
“Like…”
“Like this awakening.”
Though puzzled, Qian Ye saw the hidden hesitation and pain in Yeting’s eyes. Stepping forward, he stood in front of her, “Can’t you… not go?”
“No.” Yeting refused. Taking a deep breath, she placed her hand on Qian Ye’s chest, feeling the intense pulse of his blood core, and said, “So, go. It’s time for me to go too. From now on, we will… never see each other again.”
The icy cold shock left Qian Ye numb, unable to say goodbye. His past flashed before his eyes.
His thoughts froze, his heart encased in ice. Looking up, the storm, peaks, and void vanished. He had left the land’s edge, unsure how he got there.
At the Eastern Sea, Yeting stood motionless until Qian Ye disappeared, lost in thought, as if standing until the end of the world.
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