The elder sister was gratified to hear Minghe's words and asked, "What's your name? Where are you from?" Minghe replied, "I'm Minghe..." He hesitated for a while before continuing. "I'm from Nether Blood Sea." For normal creatures in Untainted Land, Blood Sea was a forbidden land and those from that place were not good people.
Minghe was stunned to find that the two sisters were not frightened at all but even curious. "Nether Blood Sea? Where is it? We haven't heard about it. Is it fun?"
"Eh..." Ming He did not know how to answer them. "Where on earth did these two beauties come from? How could they have not even the slightest idea about Nether Blood Sea?" So he gave them an explanation. "After Pangu separated the heaven and earth, he converted into Untainted Land. His grimy blood was collected in the immense Blood Sea, namely Nether Blood Sea. It's a forbidden land for those in Untainted Land. It's also where I was born."
Minghe was frank about his birthplace because he found it unnecessary to hide. Even though he liked the ladies, he did not want to lie to them. The younger sister said, "Oh! I once heard someone say that Nether Blood Sea is a sea of death. Those who go there never return. Is it really that dreadful?"
Minghe nodded. "Normal Golden Immortals would definitely die if they went there. Even Primordial Unity Golden Immortal and Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal can't escape from Blood Sea unscathed." Indeed, anyone below the level of Sage-to-be would be dead if Minghe desired it so.
The two sisters became silent. Minghe was unwilling to continue this topic with the two beauties. It felt inappropriate to discuss the horrors of Blood Sea. "May I ask what your names are? Where are you from?"
The elder sister said, "I'm Chang Xi and this is my sister Wangshu. We're from the Lunar Star. We sneaked out while our eldest sister is meditating behind closed doors to play around in Untainted Land. You know, it's too boring on the Lunar Star."
"Chang Xi? Wangshu? That means they're the goddesses of the Lunar Star; their eldest sister should be Xihe." Ming He vaguely recalled the three sisters from ancient Chinese mythology, but their stories came with many variations. Some believed that there were only Xihe and Chang Xi while others argued Wangshu existed. He did not expect all three goddesses to exist on the Lunar Star.
Minghe smiled. "I see, the Lunar Star and the Solar Star are the top stars in this universe with outstanding people. Since you want to travel around this land, why don't I be your guide? This way, I can show you the great Untainted Land and protect you as well. Although you're both Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, there are plenty of Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals in this land."
The two sisters agreed with his suggestion. Minghe was naturally pleased as he showed them around Untainted Land. He told them about the local customs, practices, and political divisions to bring them up to speed about the land.
What disappointed Minghe a little was that no one had the good taste to disturb these two beautiful ladies. Even though a hero saving a damsel in distress was a pretty stale tactic, it was still effective. Sadly, they never came across any troublemakers throughout their nearly 100-year tour.
Was the reason not obvious? The two beauties and the Blood Jade Kylin from Minghe's Map of Heaven and Earth they were riding on totaled three Primordial Unity Golden Immortals. Moreover, the ladies were in the company of a super master who was a mystery even to Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals. Which death-defying fool dared to seek trouble?
As the old saying went that all good things must come to an end. After traveling together in Untainted Land for nearly 100 years, they had developed inexplicable, unfathomable feelings for one another. Minghe did not rush to express his feelings as time was, after all, abundant for an immortal. But when it came to the final farewell, he was reluctant to see them go.
When Xihe found her two younger sisters had gone to Untainted Land after completing her meditation, she naturally got worried and sent them a message, summoning them to come home. Chang Xi and Wangshu had no choice but to go home to Lunar Star.
Before their departure, Minghe gifted each of them a nine-grade Red Lotuses of Fire. He knew the two sisters did not have any Spiritual Treasures after traveling together for so long, so he took the opportunity to give them the treasures as a way of protection.
Minghe had cultivated three nine-grade Red Lotuses of Fire in total. Each of them was a Top Grade Primordial Spiritual Treasure with strong defensive ability. They were able to release Fire of Red Lotus to attack enemies and were also suitable for Separation in the future.
After the two ladies left, Minghe was once again on his own. It was a good thing he was not too concerned about romantic relationships. He was confident that he would meet them again in the future, so it was not necessary to be hasty now.
Minghe once again continued his tour in Untainted Land after the ladies left. Even though his cultivation was interrupted for nearly 100 years, he found that his state of mind continued to escalate. That was because the emotion was also a part of his cultivation.
...
Inside a palace made of ice on the Lunar Star, Chang Xi and Wangshu were looking down, not daring to look at the lady in front of them. This lady had similar looks with the sisters. From a distance, she resembled an iceberg. She was a cold beauty through and through. She was their eldest sister, Xihe.
Xihe rebuked them in anger. "How dare you slip out to Untainted Land when I was in my Closed Door Meditation? Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?" "Even I, a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, can't guarantee my safety in that land. How dare you do so as mere Primordial Unity Golden Immortals?"
Chang Xi softly said, "Didn't we make it home safe and sound?" But it only irritated Xihe further and she said, "Danger lurks in every corner!" Chang Xi dared not say anything else. Despite her seeming fearlessness, she was very afraid of Xihe.
Wangshu said fearfully, "Sister, we know we're in the wrong. We promise not to do it again! Don't be mad anymore." Xihe was mollified upon hearing her words. Her two sisters were not familiar with the outside world. It was incredibly lucky for them to make it home safely from the hazardous Untainted Land. Xihe was doing this for their own good.
Chang Xi was finally at ease when her sister calmed and grinned. "Sister, we won't go to Untainted Land without your permission again. But we didn't come back empty-handed from our tour. We became friends with an interesting person and he gave us each a lotus before we left."
Looking at the treasure-like red lotus on Chang Xi's palms, Xihe's expression turned grim and she asked, "What's this?" Chang Xi said, "This is his present. Wangshu has one as well. I think it's called Nine Grade Red Lotus of Fire or something like that." Xihe's face turned darker when Wangshu revealed another Red Lotus of Fire.
Xihe said sternly, "Do you have any idea how precious these lotuses are? They're Top Grade Primordial Spiritual Treasures. The person who can give them to you as gifts can't be anyone ordinary. Explain to me properly how you met this person."
They had no choice but obediently tell Xihe the whole story. She became furious and said, "What? That guy was born in Nether Blood Sea? Do you know how scary that place is? You're not to see the guy from now on. For him to gift you two these priceless treasures, he must not have any good intentions."
Chang Xi pursed her lips. "Why?" Xihe rebuked her and said, "What do you know? In the last Cultivation Tribulation, not even the Three Clans of Dragon, Phoenix and Kylin and the Demon Clan can get insight into the secrets of Blood Sea. So many Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals died there. Do you think a person born in that place can be a kind person?"
Minghe, far away in Untainted Land, naturally had no idea about this conversation. Had he known, he would have scolded this lady. He had not made any trouble for her. Was she not trying to break up the lovebirds? Either way, Xihe's prejudice against Minghe did lead to some troubles for him in the future.