Finally, Zhu Tao told Yun Qingxue that in the Illusory Realm of Yunhuang, once you miss a place, finding it again isn’t easy. Everything there constantly shifts its position.
Yun Qingxue frowned.
If what Zhu Tao said was true, wouldn’t it be quite difficult for them to locate the entrance they came from?
If they were lucky, they might stumble upon the entrance shortly after leaving the bamboo forest.
But if luck wasn’t on their side, they might end up playing hide-and-seek with the entrance indefinitely. A month and a half might not even be enough time!
With that in mind, there was no time to waste.
Yun Qingxue immediately bid farewell to the Green Bamboo Clan. “Until we meet again,” she said simply, keeping her words brief.
After months of companionship, parting now inevitably stirred a sense of reluctance in her heart. She feared that saying too much would only deepen everyone’s sorrow.
“Your Majesty, wait!”
Just as Yun Qingxue was about to leave decisively, Zhu Tao called out to stop her.
“Is there something else?” Yun Qingxue asked.
Zhu Tao knelt on one knee before her, hands raised above his head.
A green, leaf-shaped crystal appeared in his palm.
The crystal then flew straight toward Yun Qingxue.
Instinctively, she reached out to catch it, but the crystal vanished into her hand instead.
“What is this?” she asked, frowning.
Zhu Tao replied, “This is a token of loyalty from our Green Bamboo Clan to Your Majesty.”
“What kind of token?” Yun Qingxue pressed, puzzled.
Zhu Tao answered promptly, “Among the Flora Tribe, each subclan possesses a unique token representing their allegiance.
These tokens are traditionally held by the Flower King. When necessary, the Flower King can use them to command the respective clan’s forces.
Originally, these tokens, along with the Flower King’s Seal, were passed down through successive Flower Kings.
However, after the previous Flower King’s death, the Seal was lost, and the tokens of each clan unexpectedly returned to their respective clans.
If Your Majesty wishes to restore our Flora Tribe, retrieving these tokens is essential!
Moreover, with this token, no matter where we are, a single summons from the Flower King will bring us to your side immediately!”
“I understand,” Yun Qingxue smiled, unable to resist adding, “Take good care of your clan and focus on recovery.”
“This subordinate will swiftly restore our clan’s strength, ready to serve Your Majesty at any time!”
Yun Qingxue nodded and decisively led A’Dai, Daise, and Liu Li out of the bamboo forest.
Behind her, a unified voice echoed, “We bid farewell to the Flower King! May Your Majesty enjoy eternal peace and health.”
Once they left the forest, Yun Qingxue surveyed the surroundings, momentarily unsure which direction to take.
She remembered that when they arrived, a small stream lay to the east of the bamboo forest.
But now, the eastern stream had transformed into a lake.
“Your Majesty, which way should we go?” Daise asked with a frown.
Yun Qingxue pointed in the direction they had come from. “Let’s retrace our steps from four months ago. Perhaps that place hasn’t moved.”
“Understood,” Daise, Liu Li, and A’Dai responded in unison, and the group took to the skies with wind-riding techniques.
They flew for about ten days.
By Yun Qingxue’s estimation, at their current speed, they should have already spotted the mountain marking the entrance.
Unfortunately, the mountain remained nowhere in sight. Instead, on the tenth day, they came across a vast field of peonies.
In the field, several elegantly dressed women looked up at them.
Though surprised, Yun Qingxue hesitated to descend recklessly, fearing further delays that might prevent them from reaching the entrance by the agreed-upon date with her master. She decided to bypass the peony field and search in another direction.
“Is that the Flower King above?” a clear, melodious voice called out just as Yun Qingxue turned to leave.
After a brief hesitation, Yun Qingxue halted and gracefully landed, addressing the women in the field. “I am Yun Qingxue—also the nominal Flower King of the Flora Tribe.
May I ask why you’ve stopped me, esteemed elders?”
The women exchanged glances before kneeling in unison. “We pay our respects to the Flower King.”
“Please rise,” Yun Qingxue said, subtly studying them.
Each of the women possessed dignified beauty, exuding an air of noble grace.
Given the peony field before them, it was likely they belonged to the Peony Clan.
She recalled Zhu Tao mentioning that the Peony Clan was the Flower King’s direct lineage.
Because of this, the Peony Clan had suffered the harshest suppression under Tong Yun’s rule after her own ascension as the “foolish” Flower King.
Zhu Tao had said the Peony Clan vanished overnight—had they also hidden in the Illusory Realm of Yunhuang?
“May I ask who you are…?” Yun Qingxue ventured cautiously.
“Your Majesty, this subordinate is Mo Su, leader of the Peony Clan. Sensing Your Majesty’s aura, I brought several elders to investigate.
We happened to see Your Majesty riding the wind and thus called out to you,” the woman in the crimson-purple dress replied respectfully.
“I see,” Yun Qingxue smiled faintly, maintaining a polite yet guarded demeanor.
The Illusory Realm was fraught with traps and dangers, and she couldn’t help but remain wary of these sudden appearances.
“How did Your Majesty come to be in the Illusory Realm of Yunhuang?” the woman at the front asked, seemingly unbothered by Yun Qingxue’s reserve.
“That’s a long story,” Yun Qingxue replied vaguely before countering, “A thousand years ago, the Peony Clan disappeared overnight. How did you end up here?”
Mo Su sighed. “After the death of Her Majesty Lan Xuechen, Tong Yun relentlessly persecuted our clan.
The once-glorious Peony Clan was left trembling on the brink of destruction.
Just as our clan faced annihilation, we were all brought to this Illusory Realm in a single night.
As for how we arrived or who brought us here… to our shame, we know nothing!
For a millennium, our clan has longed for our young ruler, stranded outside. We’ve tried countless methods to leave but found no way.
Until today, when I unexpectedly sensed Your Majesty’s faint aura!”
“But I deliberately concealed my aura!” Yun Qingxue’s eyes turned cold as she suddenly struck, seizing Mo Su by the throat.
“Your Majesty!”
The women behind Mo Su paled and dropped to their knees.
Yet Yun Qingxue’s expression shifted to confusion.
While restraining Mo Su, she had probed the woman with her magic—only to confirm that she was indeed of the Flora Tribe, a peony spirit who had attained cultivation.
Could it truly be such a coincidence? Failing to find the entrance, had she instead stumbled upon the long-lost Peony Clan of the Profound Spirit Continent?
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