A glint of determination flashed in Yun Qingxue’s eyes.
Having waited so long without her master’s arrival, it seemed she had no choice but to find a way to save herself.
The only way out now was to jump off this Endless Cliff.
Though the chances of landing in enemy territory were high, there was still a possibility of safely returning to Luoyun Mountain.
Staring at the dark abyss, a voice inside her grew louder, urging her—*Take the gamble!*
“Phantom Spirit,” she called out.
The Phantom Spirit, who had been idly drifting around, immediately floated over at her summons.
“Master, what are your orders?”
“Enter my storage bracelet. We’re leaving this place!” Yun Qingxue commanded.
“But didn’t Master say escaping from here is too risky?” The Phantom Spirit blinked innocently before suddenly exclaiming, “Ah! M-Master, look!”
Following the Phantom Spirit’s pointing finger, Yun Qingxue saw a swirling vortex, resembling a cosmic black hole, emerge from the dark cliff beneath her feet.
The vortex gradually shrank, and the dark cliff slowly faded into flat ground.
“The Mirage of Yunhuang is about to close!” the Phantom Spirit cried urgently.
“Get in!”
Without another word, Yun Qingxue swiftly stored the Phantom Spirit in her bracelet. Taking a deep breath, she mustered her courage and leaped toward the vanishing Endless Cliff.
The vortex on the cliff shrank smaller and smaller. Soon, the spot where the cliff had been turned into a flat stretch of land.
Just as the cliff disappeared completely, a beam of white light shot in from the entrance Yun Qingxue had been guarding for so long.
Before the light even touched the ground, a hurried voice called out, “Qingxue, my disciple! This place is about to close—come with me at once!”
Purple Melody Sage amplified his voice with magic, but when he landed, he found the area deserted.
*This can’t be right!* He frowned.
To find his disciple, he had expended a great deal of his cultivation to activate the Earth Net Search Technique—anyone standing on the ground would have been detected!
The technique had pinpointed this exact location in the Mirage of Yunhuang. Why, then, had he arrived only to find his disciple gone?
Frowning, Purple Melody Sage scanned the surroundings, channeling his magic to sense any lingering traces.
A faint trace of Qingxue’s aura remained—she must have left not long ago.
Expanding his spiritual awareness further, he found no other clues.
With the Mirage of Yunhuang on the verge of complete closure, even he would be trapped until its next opening if he lingered.
Gritting his teeth, Purple Melody Sage crouched and swiftly drew a magic formation identical to the one he had used earlier on Luoyun Mountain.
The Earth Net Search Technique activated once more. Receiving the prompt, he quickly stood and dashed through the last sliver of the closing entrance, escaping the Mirage of Yunhuang.
*Ah! Taking on a disciple is just inviting trouble upon oneself!!!*
—
**Aquatic Realm**
Jin Lin, the Dragon King, glared coldly at the ministers gathered before his throne. “Useless! Our vast Aquatic Realm has spent so much time searching for one person, yet you still can’t find her?!”
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger!” The ministers knelt in unison, begging for mercy.
Jin Lin’s furious gaze swept over them. “If anything happens to Xuexue because of your incompetence, I will hold every single one of you accountable! Hmph!”
With a flick of his sleeve, he stormed away.
Shui Liu glanced at the chastised ministers before quickly following.
Outside the Dragon King’s palace, colorful fish swam freely among the coral, and aquatic plants swayed with the currents.
Jin Lin swiftly ascended to the surface, heading straight for Luoyun Mountain.
“My King!” Shui Liu intercepted him, his expression grave.
“What is it?” Jin Lin frowned.
“My King, I have urgent news!” Shui Liu bowed respectfully.
“Unless it’s critical, save it for later!” Jin Lin snapped impatiently.
“My King, this *is* critical!” Shui Liu’s face darkened. Without waiting for further inquiry, he continued, “You are the ruler of our Aquatic Realm, the sovereign of our people! I have witnessed your devotion to the Flower Queen all this time…
But have you ever considered *her* feelings for you? Has she ever once said she loves you?
Have you ever wondered if your sacrifices will ever be rewarded? Our realm has so many noble maidens who adore you—”
“Enough!” Before Shui Liu could finish, Jin Lin struck him aside with a single palm strike, his eyes icy with fury. “Shui Liu, I know exactly how you feel about Qingxue. The only reason I’ve tolerated it is because you’ve never crossed the line—until now!
Qingxue is missing, and I am beside myself with worry! If I discover you’re hindering my search for her, don’t expect me to spare you out of past camaraderie!”
“Countless people are already searching for Yun Qingxue, but our Aquatic Realm has only *one* king! Our people need you far more than she does!”
Shui Liu, unwilling to relent, shouted at Jin Lin’s retreating figure.
He had never understood—what kind of spell had the Flower Queen cast on his king?
To make him care more for beauty than his own kingdom!
*Yun Qingxue…!*
He could no longer allow that woman to bewitch his king any further!
With a grim expression, Shui Liu took flight, chasing after Jin Lin.
—
Jin Lin wasn’t the only one in a frenzy—the Demon Realm was equally unsettled.
Though most of its citizens remained unaware that Yun Qingxue was the true princess of the Demon Realm, those loyal to Yun Ye and Mo Changxing knew the truth.
Yun Qingxue was the only child of the Demon King and the Flower Queen.
Back then, the two had sacrificed the Flower Queen’s life to protect her.
Now, the princess’s disappearance was nothing short of a fatal blow to the Demon King.
All trusted subordinates had been discreetly dispatched to search for her.
Even the Demon King and Prince Mo had joined the hunt personally!
Yet despite their efforts, the princess seemed to have vanished without a trace.
Meanwhile, the very person they were searching for—Yun Qingxue—was currently hanging from the branches of a massive poplar tree.
This time, after jumping from the Endless Cliff in the Mirage of Yunhuang, she hadn’t lost consciousness.
Reflecting on how different it was to leap voluntarily rather than being pushed, she remained fully aware as she descended from darkness into light—
And landed, quite fortuitously, in this very tree.
She was rather pleased with her landing spot.
Standing atop the tree, she surveyed her surroundings: a dense grove of phoenix trees stretched out around her.
At its center stood an enormous phoenix tree, its canopy vast as the roof of a palace.
Judging by its size, Yun Qingxue estimated it had grown for over a thousand years.
A tree that ancient must have developed spiritual cultivation!
The question was—whose side was it on? Hers and Tongyun’s?
Or, like Daisè before, would it remain neutral?
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage