Yun Qingxue’s gaze immediately turned to the side of the Purple Melody Saint. Not a single human figure could be seen—not even a ghostly shadow!
“Ouch!” At that moment, the person who had just fallen from the sky and landed on the ground groaned in pain as they stood up.
Before Yun Qingxue could even get a clear look at the newcomer’s face, she heard the Purple Melody Saint say, “Disciple, catch your other teammate!”
As his words fell, a slender object flew toward Yun Qingxue.
Since it was thrown by her master, Yun Qingxue instinctively reached out and caught it.
The object felt cold and smooth in her hand. She looked down and saw A’Dai, whose body had turned black-purple after absorbing Yun Sisi’s dark mist the night before, now coiled up on her palm.
When A’Dai noticed Yun Qingxue looking at him, he instinctively flicked his tongue in a friendly gesture. “Hiss~”
“Master, why are we here?”
While A’Dai greeted Yun Qingxue, the person who had nearly face-planted earlier finally stood up.
The familiar voice made Yun Qingxue realize—it was her maid, Daise!
Daise and A’Dai—were these the teammates her master had assigned because he didn’t trust her to go alone?
A’Dai was at least somewhat useful—he was fast, venomous, and could serve as a hidden weapon in emergencies. But Daise?
Her magical abilities and combat skills seemed rather weak!
Yun Qingxue shot a questioning look at the Purple Melody Saint. Wouldn’t bringing someone as weak as Daise along just slow her down?
“Qingxue!” The Purple Melody Saint completely ignored her doubts and simply instructed, “I will now open the gate to the Mirage of Yunhuang for you. You have six months—on the first day of the ninth month, I will return to open the gate again. If you’re still alive, you must return by that day!”
“Do not miss your chance to leave, or you’ll be trapped in the Mirage of Yunhuang for another thirty to fifty years!”
“Master! I will definitely return…” Yun Qingxue’s eyes burned with determination, though she couldn’t help but grimace at his phrasing—*if you’re still alive*.
Shouldn’t farewells before a dangerous journey include words like, *”Make sure you come back alive!”*?
Why did her master have to say *if you’re still alive*? It made it sound like she was doomed! How irritating!
“Ah—!”
The space around them suddenly twisted. Yun Qingxue barely had time to let out a startled cry before an unseen force yanked her backward.
Her master not only had terrible phrasing—he hadn’t even warned her before opening the gate to the Mirage of Yunhuang!
Yun Qingxue cursed inwardly. Her master was becoming more and more unreliable! She had no idea where those rumors about the Purple Melody Saint’s elegance and wisdom came from!
Sure, his looks were undeniably dashing, but *wise and majestic*?
How should she put it? A *wise and majestic jester*, perhaps?
As soon as Yun Qingxue and the others vanished, the distorted space quickly returned to normal. A gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of morning flowers and grass.
The Purple Melody Saint gazed at the empty surroundings and sighed deeply.
If not for his fear that Mo Changxing and Jin Lin’s overprotectiveness would hinder Yun Qingxue’s growth—if not for the news he’d received last night that *the one in the heavens* seemed to have caught wind of something—he wouldn’t have sent her into the Mirage of Yunhuang so soon.
The Mirage of Yunhuang… was far too unpredictable!
But if *the one in the heavens* discovered the carefully crafted lie from years ago, Yun Qingxue would be in grave danger. No one could protect her at all times—she had to grow stronger, and fast.
Though the Mirage of Yunhuang was fraught with uncertainty, it was also a blind spot even *he* couldn’t penetrate.
Xue Chen…
Don’t blame me for being harsh on your daughter. If I don’t push her to grow quickly, the sacrifices you made—twice at the cost of your life—will all be in vain!
The Purple Melody Saint took a deep breath, his expression more solemn than ever before. With measured steps, he slowly walked away.
Yun Qingxue, pulled by the mysterious force, felt herself falling endlessly. The world around her was shrouded in mist—so thick she couldn’t even see her own hand. Only the cool sensation in her palm reminded her that A’Dai was still with her. But where was Daise? Was she alright?
Fortunately, the fall didn’t last long. Soon, the force dragging her vanished, and she landed on something soft.
“Ah!”
The moment Yun Qingxue landed, a scream followed.
The surroundings were pitch black. After the scream, a trembling female voice called out, “M-Master?”
“Daise,” Yun Qingxue responded calmly in the darkness.
“Master, where are we? It’s so dark!” Daise’s voice quivered slightly.
Yun Qingxue retrieved a luminous pearl from her storage bracelet. Its soft glow illuminated their surroundings.
Her eyes scanned the area—there was no sky above them. They seemed to be in a cave, its walls lined with countless holes of varying sizes, leading into pitch-black tunnels.
And beneath their feet…
Yun Qingxue looked down and met a pair of pitch-black eyes, large as bronze bells.
“M-M-Master… what *is* that?!” Daise’s voice trembled with terror.
Clearly, she had noticed the creature beneath them first but had been too shocked to speak until now.
Despite her fear, Daise still inched closer to Yun Qingxue, her protective intent unmistakable.
A cold glint flashed in Yun Qingxue’s eyes as she pulled the trembling Daise behind her, facing the monstrous creature with its enormous eyes and grotesque face.
Now she understood why the landing had felt so soft—they had fallen straight from the entrance of the Mirage of Yunhuang into this cave, landing right on the belly of some unknown giant beast!
The creature stared at them with malice, its massive eyes gleaming.
“ROAR—!”
A deafening bellow erupted from its maw, filling the air with a nauseating stench.
The beast lurched violently. Yun Qingxue quickly summoned a gust of wind to carry herself and Daise to the cave floor.
The monster rose swiftly, its eyes blazing with fury. Yun Qingxue grabbed Daise’s hand and shouted—
“RUN!”
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