Chapter 674

Chapter 674: Departure

After using teleportation twice, Ye Yun returned to the green area where Jin An and Golden Ling’er waited. Emerging from the black forest, Golden Ling’er exclaimed, "Senior! When that fiery pillar shot up earlier, I knew you’d encountered enemies!"

"Did you resolve it, Senior?" Jin An asked with concern.

"If I hadn’t, Ling’er would’ve burst into tears seeing it," Ye Yun chuckled, eyeing the girl’s smug expression.

"Hmph! I don’t cry that easily!" Golden Ling’er huffed, crossing her arms.

"Let’s depart. I’ve expended too much Fire Spirit Qi—we’d be vulnerable if danger strikes now." Scanning the surroundings with spirit perception, Ye Yun retrieved a top-tier Immortal Spirit Stone to replenish his energy. As warmth flooded his body, he added, "This dreary place tires me. Better move on."

Golden Ling’er twirled her supreme Immortal artifact playfully. "This blade slices through trees like paper! Meanwhile, Senior Brother needed multiple true qi strikes just to fell one." She gestured at the fallen withered trees behind them.

"Boredom breeds mischief, it seems." Ye Yun’s gaze lingered on the unusual trees that had withstood his Nascent Soul stage second layer power—their resilience suggested they were once heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Their lifeless state hinted at deeper mysteries within this forest.

Activating spatial laws, Ye Yun transported them back to the lake’s center in two incense sticks’ time. The giant python’s pale belly still floated upward. Golden Ling’er gleefully stomped the carcass twice before leaving.

Outside the cave, blizzards raged fiercer than before. While Ye Yun could barely navigate the storm, his companions couldn’t venture out. "We’ll shelter here until the weather calms." He sealed the opening with Fire Spirit Qi, transforming invasive cold into warm drafts.

At the black lake’s edge, Golden Ling’er eyed the murky depths. After prolonged hesitation, she approached Jin An, who was drilling swordplay with his wooden sword. "Brother! I dropped something in the lake! Help me retrieve it?"

"Ling’er, I watched you the whole time. You lost nothing." Jin An frowned, sword planted in earth.

"You were spying? So much for my plan!" She pouted, storming off. "Never mind! Keep practicing!"

Shaking his head at her antics, Jin An resumed training.

Golden Ling’er then bounded toward meditating Ye Yun. "Senior! I spotted soul-type heavenly materials in the lake! Shouldn’t we investigate?"

Ye Yun saw through her lie but played along. "Excellent work, Ling’er. Lead the way."

Heart pounding, she guided him to the lake center. Ye Yun condensed Fire Spirit Qi and hurled it into the dark waters. Flames vaporized the entire lake within moments, revealing bare black stones below.

"No treasure? Where’s the adventure in burning everything?!" Golden Ling’er kicked a pebble, sulking.

"My foolish junior…" Ye Yun sighed. Most fled danger—she courted it despite her timidity.

Later, observing Jin An’s swordplay, Ye Yun corrected his stance. Taking the wooden sword, he executed a slow arc that rippled spatial laws—a vivid demonstration.

"Is this your sword intent? Magnificent!" Jin An marveled.

"True sword path influences surroundings without brute force," Ye Yun explained. "I walk nature’s way, embracing all laws. Find your own path if this doesn’t suit."

"Nature’s way?"

"It contains all existence—as does my Sword Path." Pride tinged his calm tone. A true sword cultivator’s resolve never wavers—lesser practitioners merely toy with blades.

Laughter echoed in Ye Yun’s mind. "Once I regain form at equal cultivation, my two extremes of Sword Path shall shatter your Born as a Sword!" declared the Ancestor of the Sword Path.

"You’ll taste defeat then," Ye Yun countered. Their rivalry held no malice—only mutual respect forged through life-and-death trials. True mastery demanded such crucibles.

As Ye Yun and the two stepped outside, they saw the frost and snow had mostly melted. With the fire poison cured and both companions having obtained Immortal artifacts, debts were settled. Their partnership could now end.

"Senior, are you leaving?" Golden Ling’er asked softly, eyes reddened.

"All tasks are done. Is something lacking?" Ye Yun smiled.

"Nothing. But Ling’er will miss you." She rubbed her eyes, knowing this farewell might be permanent.

"Safe journey, Senior. We’ll wait here until Xumi Treasure’s space closes," Jin An said cheerfully, accepting they couldn’t rely on Ye Yun anymore.

"Wait—I just remembered something." Ye Yun recalled fragments from his spatial dragon egg. The Xumi Treasure required ascending layer by layer. Those lingering on a layer during the first treasure’s awakening would face Xumi’s nine great tribulations—disasters rivaling the black tornado he’d once endured.

"It seems you two should stay with me longer." Ye Yun patted Golden Ling’er’s bowed head.

"Truly?" Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"If Senior wishes, we’ll follow," Jin An agreed.

Ye Yun didn’t mention the tribulations. With his request, they’d obey without question. Other Nascent Soul cultivators’ fates concerned him not.

Surveying the snow scenery, Ye Yun exhaled. He’d achieved his goal in the first layer’s treasure zone, gaining rewards from all directions except the Extreme East Thunder Realm’s lightning treasures—now likely beyond reach.

"To the first layer’s main zone." White light surged from within him, enveloping the pair before they vanished into swirling snow.

"Ah, warmer at last!" Golden Ling’er exclaimed after teleporting to a flower-filled landscape.

"This fur robe’s useless now." Jin An removed his heavy garment, replacing it with a green robe.

"Father said the first treasure holds ninety percent of the first layer’s wealth. Most rush there immediately." Golden Ling’er tilted her head. "Why does Senior wander elsewhere?"

"Treasure abundance shouldn’t blind us to other opportunities. The first treasure won’t open yet—exploring first is a cultivator’s duty." Ye Yun smiled at her confusion.

"Like Father’s saying: ‘Claim all valuables within your power’?" She nodded thoughtfully. "But Senior taught Brother swordplay so long—is his Sword Path understanding passable?"

"Better than most." Ye Yun watched Jin An practicing diligently during rest. The youth’s dedication pleased him, though true Sword Path mastery required abandoning all else—something few besides extraordinary geniuses achieved.

Jin An valued the swordplay teachings, showing decent patience and talent. Given time, he might attain moderate skill. But true swordsmanship’s door remained closed to those clinging to sect cultivation techniques. The Sword Path demanded complete devotion—a price Jin An, long-trained in his sect’s ways, likely wouldn’t pay. Even Ye Yun would hesitate to choose between established skills and sword dao’s uncertain rewards.

Worldly peaks weren’t claimed without sacrifice. Gain required loss. Wanting everything? Mere delusion.

Ye Yun kept silent. Cultivation paths were personal choices. Jin An would confront his crossroads upon reaching bottlenecks.

"Senior, how’s this Sword Technique?" Jin An demonstrated moves, heart lifting when Ye Yun nodded approval. He hoped for more lessons—to better protect his trouble-prone junior sister.

Though yet undefeated, Jin An knew stronger foes awaited. Experts devoured the weak, even in righteous sects. For his sect and Ling’er, he must grow stronger.

The future sect leader role awaited him. With his wandering Master leaving responsibilities, Jin An used every moment to improve. When Ling’er matured, perhaps she could lead instead, freeing him to roam.

Gazing across opportunity-rich Xumi Treasure, Ye Yun pondered. Why had Xumi Daoist amassed such wealth here, granting even lowliest visitors fortune? Were his disciples beyond needing treasures? If so, nothing more needed saying.