Chapter 6: Lovers Are Finally United

"Right, it must be a cry for help." Dong Mu's expression turned serious. "Returning to the Heavenly Cang Palace might be somewhat troublesome."

"Trouble?" Ji Ning looked at Dong Mu.

"What trouble?" Dan Bao asked.

"The Pure Breeze Sacred Hall and our Heavenly Cang Palace have old grudges, accumulated over endless years—countless enmities. They are mortal enemies. Their strength is not inferior to ours," Dong Mu said. "The Pure Breeze Sacred Hall has four Dao Lords: one is a Four-Step Dao Lord, two are Three-Step Dao Lords, and one is a One-Step Dao Lord who only broke through thanks to a Heaven-Stealing Life-and-Death Pill. Just now, when Brother Beiming acted, those five World-level cultivators all crushed their jade talismans to call for help... The Pure Breeze Sacred Hall, seeing so many World-level cultivators calling for help simultaneously, will at least send a Three-Step Dao Lord, or perhaps even the Four-Step Dao Lord 'Pure Breeze Sacred Lord' himself."

Ji Ning nodded.

"A Four-Step Dao Lord," Dan Bao murmured softly, while Su Youji also looked solemn.

"No need to worry," Ji Ning said with a smile. "We'll deal with whatever comes."

He had this confidence.

He had five puppets at his disposal, and generally didn't take Three-Step Dao Lords seriously. Moreover, the star maps of the Mangya Kingdom were extremely detailed, including introductions to the strength of the Pure Breeze Sacred Hall's Dao Lords.

Among the Pure Breeze Sacred Hall, only one posed a threat to Ji Ning.

That was the 'Pure Breeze Sacred Lord,' founder of the Pure Breeze Sacred Hall, whose strength was formidable, on par with Dao Lord Tianyi—extremely powerful even among Four-Step Dao Lords.

"If I'm really unlucky enough to encounter that Pure Breeze Sacred Lord, I'll have to use one talisman," Ji Ning thought. "If that happens, it will also eliminate a mortal enemy for our Heavenly Cang Palace."

The talisman left by the deceased overlord possessed immense and unfathomable power, easily capable of killing a Four-Step Dao Lord. But Ji Ning only had two such talismans, and he was unwilling to use them unless absolutely necessary.

They were simply not available for purchase anywhere.

...

The flying boat sped forward rapidly.

On the flying boat, Dong Mu said worriedly, "The Pure Breeze Sacred Hall's Dao Lords travel faster than we do. It will take us half a year to return to the Heavenly Cang Palace, and within that half year, they can catch up."

"Mm," Ji Ning nodded.

His own speed was only comparable to an ordinary Three-Step Dao Lord.

If the Pure Breeze Sacred Hall wanted to pursue, they would definitely send Dao Lords skilled in escape techniques or space.

"How about we take a detour?" Ji Ning said.

"A detour is good," Dan Bao quickly said. "We're not far from the Heavenly Cang Palace anyway. It's fine to take a much longer route, even if it costs us an extra year or two. That way, we can avoid trouble."

"Mm." Dong Mu showed a hint of embarrassment. "There's something I need to mention."

"What is it? Speak freely," Ji Ning said.

Dong Mu waved his hand, and another figure appeared on the deck of the flying boat—a rather sturdy young man with reddish skin, faint flames flickering in his eyes, and a bald head, like a demon god amidst flames.

"Greetings, Master," the young man immediately knelt.

"This is your Uncle-Master Beiming," Dong Mu introduced Ji Ning beside him.

"Greetings, Uncle-Master," the young man said respectfully.

Dong Mu said, "This is the little disciple I mentioned earlier. His name is Kan Que, and he has quite good talent."

"In over twenty thousand years, he has cultivated to the Ancestral God level. That talent is indeed impressive," Ji Ning praised.

"This disciple of mine got into trouble with the Pure Breeze Sacred Hall this time because he was picking a rare treasure to save his Dao companion," Dong Mu said.

"Save his Dao companion?" Ji Ning's heart suddenly trembled.

He looked at the young man surrounded by fiery aura, and his gaze softened.

"He just begged me to take him back to his homeland to save his Dao companion," Dong Mu said, somewhat embarrassed, looking at Ji Ning. "But my disciple's homeland is also adjacent to a territory of the Pure Breeze Sacred Hall... It's still easy to encounter their Dao Lords."

Ji Ning laughed. "Haha, the Pure Breeze Sacred Hall probably never expected us to dare to turn back! And as far as I know, none of the four Dao Lords of the Pure Breeze Sacred Hall are skilled in the art of deduction... Since we're taking a detour anyway, let's first go to this disciple Kan Que's homeland."

"Thank you, Uncle-Master Beiming," Kan Que said, extremely moved. In truth, he knew he was being somewhat presumptuous. This matter had started as a small affair but had escalated, drawing in World-level cultivators from both sides. Yet he was truly worried about his Dao companion, afraid that if too much time passed, her true spirit would dissipate.

...

A silver flying shuttle, with faint flowing light, was speeding through the void.

Inside the shuttle.

A Dao Lord in magnificent silver robes sat there, with two World-level disciples attending him. The rules of the Pure Breeze Sacred Hall were very strict.

"Heavenly Cang Palace's Beiming?" the silver-robed Dao Lord murmured softly. "Quite audacious."

"This Beiming dares to act near our Pure Breeze Sacred Hall—he's courting death," one of the World-level disciples below said.

"Don't underestimate him."

The silver-robed Dao Lord said calmly, "From the scene after rewinding time, this Beiming defeated five World-level cultivators with just his sword intent, and even has two One-Step Dao Lords following him. He must have extremely high attainments in the sword, perhaps even comprehending a Supreme Dao."

"But no matter what, he's just a World-level cultivator. Before me, he will surely die," the silver-robed Dao Lord said confidently.

He was a Three-Step Dao Lord.

Even Beta Leo and Dong Xiu only became comparable to Three-Step Dao Lords after stepping into the One-Step Dao Lord realm.

"With such a high level of insight, he must have had some encounters," the silver-robed Dao Lord thought to himself. "I'll capture him alive first, and then his treasures will be mine."

...

Whoosh.

A flying boat descended onto a completely frozen ice surface. A group of cultivators flew down from the boat: Ji Ning, Dan Bao, Su Youji, Dong Mu, and the Ancestral God Kan Que.

"This is a dangerous place in my homeland," Kan Que said. "The surrounding eighty million miles are all frozen, and below is the source of cold... I sent my Dao companion deep into the cold source, using its power to freeze her and slow the progression of the strange poison in her body."

Ji Ning swept his divine sense.

He discovered a hidden cave deep below, where a woman was frozen in ice.

"Go ahead, quickly save your Dao companion," Ji Ning said with a smile.

"You foolish boy, why didn't you come to me directly to save your Dao companion? Instead, you risked yourself to gather the antidote," Dong Mu shook his head.

"I couldn't find you, Master," Kan Que said quietly.

Dong Mu was speechless.

Although he secretly guided and watched over his disciple, in reality, over twenty thousand years, he had mostly been in secluded meditation, occasionally checking on his disciple. As his disciple grew stronger, he paid less attention. When Kan Que's Dao companion was on the verge of death, Kan Que wanted to seek his master but simply couldn't find him.

"Go on, go on," Dong Mu scolded.

"Yes," Kan Que dared not say more, immediately using an escape technique to dive deep into the frozen earth.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Two figures appeared on the ice surface—one tall and one petite. The tall one was naturally Kan Que, and the petite one was a woman in green clothes. The two were clearly deeply in love, and having survived a disaster, their feelings were even deeper.

"Thank you, Master, thank you, Uncle-Master, for saving our lives," Kan Que said, kneeling first, and the woman in green also knelt and kowtowed.

"Hmph," Dong Mu accepted it calmly; after all, he had nearly lost his life this time.

Ji Ning smiled and nodded, but his eyes were somewhat complex.

This Dao couple had reunited, but when could he and his senior sister be together?

Su Youji glanced at Ji Ning, a hint of happiness in her smile: "Although I'm not the one in my master's heart, at least I'm the only woman by his side, and we spend every day together. That's enough."

"Because of your matter, the Pure Breeze Sacred Hall's World-level cultivators fought with me, and it may even have drawn out their Dao Lords," Dong Mu said. "Disciple Kan Que, the Pure Breeze Sacred Hall won't let you off in the future. Right now they're chasing me and your Uncle-Master, but afterward, they'll likely come to retaliate against you. So it's best you come with me to the Heavenly Cang Palace. As for your homeland, take what you can. The Heavenly Cang Domain is vast."

"Yes," Kan Que and the woman understood.

That same day.

Kan Que and his companion directly teleported some mountains and rivers, then followed Ji Ning, Dong Mu, and the others, leaving their homeland and embarking on the journey to the Heavenly Cang Palace.

...

In the blink of an eye, nearly four months had passed since the conflict between Ji Ning and the Pure Breeze Sacred Hall.

A silver flying shuttle was suspended in the void.

"Master, if we go further, we'll enter the Heavenly Cang Domain," the two World-level disciples said uneasily.

"The Heavenly Cang Domain." The silver-robed Dao Lord 'Lord Youfeng' gazed into the void ahead. Indeed, the territory ahead was the Heavenly Cang Domain!

...