In a closed meditation room, Fairy Zi Li sits cross-legged, appearing to be without any abnormalities, but her aura is quite chaotic.
Since the incident with the Earth Veins, she has never experienced a peaceful practice! As soon as she enters a state of cultivation, it is always filled with nightmares.
However, she understands that there is fundamentally no problem with her Dao heart. The cultivation method she practices, the opportunities she has gained, and the heavenly materials and earthly treasures enhanced in the closed room all possess calming powers.
Yet these things have now become a joke.
The cause of the nightmare demonic obstruction is unknown, let alone any solution. But if Yu Mu were here, he would definitely see that at this moment, a faint yet pure force of heaven and earth surrounds Fairy Zi Li. This force is mixed with the power of time! To control the time of a realm… even Yu Mu at his peak in his past life could not achieve this; it can only be the handiwork of the spirit of the Heavenly Dao!
And this time, the nightmare obstruction occurs in Fairy Zi Li's subconscious, resembling a dream but not quite a dream, and it is not as vague as before.
In the nightmare, she finds herself at the familiar gate of the Yunhe Sect.
Yu Mu is still wearing the attire of her Ziyun Hall, but… the originally pristine white robe is stained with glaring crimson. His once clear and gentle eyes are now filled with a pervasive dead energy, and the feeling of deep sorrow truly pains Fairy Zi Li.
She does not know where this pain comes from, nor does she understand what has happened.
She sees Yu Mu kneeling on one knee.
"Since it is thus, Yu Mu… will not return. The grace of saving my life and the feelings of nurturing, Yu Mu has never dared to forget. I only hope that Master will one day seek the truth and come to find his disciple."
"Master… take care!"
"No… no!" Seeing Yu Mu's staggered and desolate back, Fairy Zi Li's Dao heart truly shows cracks; she feels… she has once again harmed Mu'er, and she… is in the wrong.
But as a master, she has given him a second life! She taught him the cultivation method and helped him succeed; how could that be wrong? As he turns, it seems he sees Liu He, Xiao Yu, the cold gazes of the disciples of Yunhe Sect, and… the proud smile of her little disciple Ye Tian.
Looking down, she sees the bloodied whip in her hand; the blood on Mu'er… was it caused by her own lashings?
"Mu'er!"
In the closed meditation room, Fairy Zi Li suddenly opens her eyes, large beads of cold sweat on her forehead. The calming incense still burns.
"Another dream…"
She looks at her slender fingers, which seem to still be stained with Yu Mu's blood; she can no longer distinguish whether it is a nightmare or reality.
Yu Mu has always been her most trusted and favored disciple; why has he come to this point just because of the Earth Veins? She even begins to doubt if she truly believes in Yu Mu. Remembering Elder Yun's words, it seems that for all these years, Yu Mu has indeed been silently contributing to the Ziyun Hall.
What… has she done for Yu Mu?
She clearly has the earth-level "Purple God Technique" but still passed on the "Heavenly River Profound Art" to Yu Mu; was it truly because it was suitable, or was there another motive? Why… since Ye Tian joined the sect, has she been able to favor him over the disciple she has nurtured for over ten years?
Fairy Zi Li bites her lip, wishing she could immediately go to the Xingyun Hall and snatch Yu Mu back from Elder Yun! But she cannot do that. The sect competition in the northwest is imminent; no disturbances can occur.
"Mu'er… those things, I will not let them happen! Wait for me… I will definitely treat you well."
With determination flowing in her beautiful eyes, Fairy Zi Li clenches her fist, not caring that her nails pierce her palm, causing drops of blood to flow.
...
"Since you came, my dishes have never been this good."
In the Xingyun Hall, Elder Yun looks speechlessly at the dishes on the table. He can understand the spirit fruits being brewed into wine, but those dishes, which are meant to cultivate one's temperament, are not meant to be eaten! Moreover… not to mention the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, even Golden Core cultivators should be completely abstaining from food!
He truly finds himself at a loss with this disciple.
"Master, not eating the vegetables is undoubtedly a waste; come, come, try my culinary skills." Yu Mu smiles.
Recently, that little sprout of the Heavenly Dao has indeed helped him quite a bit.
The rules do not allow it, and his body cannot withstand such a powerful soul force, so the overflow of soul power is inevitable. But with the little sprout of the Heavenly Dao, while it absorbs his overflowing soul power, it can also feedback this power to him. Although it does not significantly enhance his cultivation,
Yu Mu feels that his physical strength has already become comparable to that of demon beasts of the same realm! This is quite frightening.
Human cultivators primarily focus on cultivation methods, and their physical bodies are weak; this is an undeniable fact. But now… If he continues this way, he can completely surpass his achievements from his previous life! Is this the power of the Heavenly Dao? Even if it is a broken Heavenly Dao.
It can be seen how much benefit Ye Tian has gained on this path.
"I won't eat!"
Elder Yun pretends to be angry: "You have been slacking off in your cultivation lately; I know you have grievances against the sect, but you should not self-destruct and tarnish your own brilliance. You…"
As he speaks, Yu Mu's long fingers tap on the table, revealing his cultivation aura. Just a few days ago, he was still at the early Golden Core stage, and now he has already stepped into the mid-Golden Core stage!
"Master, is there a problem?"
Facing Yu Mu's half-smiling expression, Elder Yun awkwardly strokes his beard, appearing calm: "Hmm, it's acceptable. Since it is your filial piety, I shall taste your culinary skills."
Yu Mu: "…"
In truth, Elder Yun's heart is already in turmoil! How long has it been? Mid-Golden Core stage! It seems that this disciple of his is truly filled with opportunities.
"With him here, it is truly a blessing for Yunhe Sect!"
"Also, the dishes... are indeed quite delicious."
Seeing Elder Yun pick up his chopsticks and eat enthusiastically, Yu Mu pours him a cup of wine brewed from spirit fruits and says, "Master, your natural talent is actually above that of Elder Fairy Zi Li and the Sect Leader."
"That's true." Elder Yun laughs proudly.
"But why do you choose to stay in the northwest? With your cultivation and talent, you could easily break through to the Divinity Manifestation stage or even higher realms. If you went elsewhere, wouldn't it be better than here..."
"Hush! Little Mu, your words are mistaken." Hearing Yu Mu say this, Elder Yun puts down his chopsticks.
"The Yunhe Sect has bestowed grace upon me. If not for the previous Sect Leader, how could I have achieved today's status? After all these years, this place... is my home."
As he says this, he glances at Yu Mu and gently pats his shoulder, "Do not harbor resentment. No one is perfect, and the sect values you highly."
"The future of Yunhe lies in the hands of you young geniuses."
"Yes, Master." Yu Mu serves Elder Yun another dish, his heart darkening slightly.
He truly sees the Yunhe Sect as his home.
But later, Ye Tian, in order to have enough killing to raise his own limit, provokes a war across the entire continent, and the Yunhe Sect that Master considers his home is dragged into it, like a small boat in raging waves.
He... is also expelled, plotted against, and falls in the flames of war by the sect he considered family. At that time, how much pain and despair must he have felt in his heart?
Yu Mu looks at Elder Yun savoring the dishes he made himself, seeing the contentment on his face, and he remains silent, only resolute in his heart. The inevitable events, he... must change them, even if it means becoming an enemy of this world!
"Master, we... should really move a bit farther away from here." These words remain unspoken.
He also doesn't want to disappoint Elder Yun's heart so soon