Chapter 724

Chapter 724: The Ancestor’s Sigh

In this place, Ye Yun’s spatial laws were heavily suppressed. It felt like whenever he attempted to use spatial laws within this vast space, an oppressive force immediately clamped down. Ye Yun could only rely on his Illusory Thunderlight Escape or channel true qi to fly, as using a supreme Immortal artifact for travel was too extravagant for him. Activating such a treasure would drain his true qi in under an hour. Though the Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique could replenish his energy, timing mattered—especially here.

The Celestial-Demon battlefield brimmed with dead air that bred Mental Demons, while spiritual power remained alarmingly scarce. This scarcity made top-tier Immortal Spirit Stones exorbitantly priced. Even extraordinary geniuses from major sects, carrying tens of thousands of these stones, found them insufficient during prolonged battles.

Upon reaching the Earth Immortal realm, tens of thousands of top-tier Immortal Spirit Stones could sustain only half one’s combat power for ten hours at most. Full exertion would deplete them in five. Yet this scarcity became Ye Yun’s advantage—his near-limitless supply of Immortal Spirit Stones served as his greatest trump card. Unless one possessed an innate spiritual body to resist the dead air permeating the battlefield, combat capabilities would dwindle drastically.

Shielded by the Ancestor of the Sword Path’s Soul Power and enveloped in abundant spiritual energy, Ye Yun ignored concerns plaguing ordinary cultivators. He deliberately exposed his Fourth Level Nascent Soul body to the dead air, only asking the Ancestor to disperse it once he’d adapted.

"Yingying, let’s rest here. Ling’er’s true qi has dropped below half," Shui Lingling said as starlight dissolved around her, revealing her delicate features. She shot a glare at the black thunderclouds above. "This cursed place even has lethal thunderbolts—worse than heavenly tribulation!"

Ye Yun smiled faintly, sensing his Thunder Spirit Qi circulating faster than usual. "You’re both being too cautious. Those thunderclouds hover too high to reach us."

"Easy for you to say with your spatial laws," Shui Yingying retorted, though her tone softened. "But even you must struggle here. This Broken Space teems with powerful laws."

"Truly the Nine Yin Body—your sensitivity to natural laws surpasses ordinary folk," the Ancestor of the Sword Path chuckled approvingly.

"I could’ve deduced the innate spiritual body’s advantages without your commentary," Ye Yun grumbled.

"Why not praise excellence when seen?" The Ancestor shrugged. "Had I come here at my peak, I’d have forced the Slaying Immortal Butterfly into submission during its weakness. What a weapon that’d make!"

"How would such an immortal beast fare against a heavenly dragon from the texts?" Ye Yun mused aloud.

"Against a true heavenly dragon? Not well. But among lesser dragons, only those with potent bloodlines might rival it," the Ancestor replied. Though he’d never seen the Slaying Immortal Butterfly, ancient records suggested its agility and unpredictability paled before a dragon’s innate dominance over all beasts.

Ye Yun returned his focus to the present. Shui Lingling and Shui Yingying sat meditating nearby, their rhythmic breaths carrying a faint orchid scent. Despite their beauty, Ye Yun quashed any fleeting distraction.

Shui Lingling’s eyes fluttered open, meeting Ye Yun’s gaze. She blushed. "Don’t stare! I was just cultivating nearby—it doesn’t mean anything!"

"What’s your current cultivation level?" Ye Yun asked, avoiding argument.

"Mid-stage of the First Level Earth Immortal realm. I’ll reach its peak soon!" Pride tinged her voice. At that stage, she’d match her elder brother’s cultivation, complicating the sect leadership race.

Ye Yun glanced at Shui Yingying, whose body flickered between chills and fever. He frowned. Despite her pain, she insisted on pushing Shui Lingling to master Starry Sky methods, neglecting her own Divine Arts. Why endure this for another’s sake?

"Sister’s always protected me," Shui Lingling murmured, watching Shui Yingying’s strained expression. "Even now, she claims it’s nothing… but I see."

"Living well is her wish for you. Honor that," Ye Yun said gently.

Shui Lingling sighed. "We’d have been sold to pleasure houses if not for our cultivation gifts. This path is hard, but better than the alternative." Her gaze hardened. "I’ll never regret it. As long as we’re together, even the collapsing sky won’t frighten me." She paused, voice wavering. "But without me… Sister could’ve…"

"If it weren’t for Ling’er, your sister would’ve long followed our departed parents, silly girl." As Shui Lingling hung her head apologetically, gentle hands unexpectedly began stroking her cascading hair.

Feeling the comforting touch, Shui Lingling giggled and threw herself into Shui Yingying’s embrace. "You woke up ages ago and didn’t tell Ling’er! How cruel!"

"Your sister will always stand behind you." Shui Yingying caressed the girl’s cheek with a soft smile. "But since you’re finally showing concern for me, you should focus on cultivation first."

"Ling’er’s been working hard too!" The girl pouted at Ye Yun before burying her face in her sister’s robes again.

"Now comes the real effort. Let’s hope those troublemakers don’t interfere." After resting, Shui Lingling grew uneasy about the Nascent Soul cultivators they’d forced into cooperation earlier, imagining ambushes during their Demon Abyss expedition.

Within the Broken Space, she resolved to eliminate threats preemptively. She still regretted Ye Yun stopping her from killing those cultivators – such crucial matters shouldn’t tolerate hesitation.

"Don’t worry. If they dare show up, we might not need to act at all." Ye Yun patted her head, understanding her concerns but preferring mercy. The innate One Sword energy he’d planted in them would become beneficial true qi after a peaceful month… or lethal poison if they betrayed him.

Unborn threats weren’t real dangers – just required vigilance.

"Imagine if we find a Demon God’s Remnant Soul in the Demon Abyss! This old man would strike gold!" The Ancestor of the Sword Path chuckled as three streaks of light raced toward coordinates on the jade tablet.

"But shouldn’t Heavenly Immortals and Demon Gods perish together in mutual destruction?" Ye Yun frowned.

"The Devil Race differs from humans." The Ancestor’s tone turned serious. "Their demonic energy suppresses our cultivation techniques’ spiritual energy. Though loath to admit, demonic energy outperforms human true qi and spiritual power in raw potency."

Seeing Ye Yun’s darkening expression, he added, "But our sages created Divine Arts converting high-grade spiritual energy into specialized forms to counter them. The human race’s answer to demonic superiority."

"Could my three spiritual powers counter them?" Ye Yun pressed. If reaching pinnacle strength, he intended to battle the Devil Race invaders.

"Hard to say. Ordinary spiritual energy barely matches demonic energy. Only unique variants like…" The Ancestor paused meaningfully. "Consider Sun Goddess power versus Fire Spirit Qi – both fire attributes. Which ranks higher?"

"Sun Goddess power, obviously." Ye Yun sighed. "So mine’s the weakest."

"Wrong!" The Ancestor snapped. "More comprehended laws strengthen spiritual power. At peak mastery, Fire Spirit Qi could surpass Sun Goddess power! Why else could you challenge higher-realm opponents?"

Ye Yun’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Even Jun Ruolan’s Moon Goddess power wouldn’t withstand his Sword Path mastery. All powers ultimately returned to primal origins – his true pursuit. Temporary advantages meant nothing in eternity’s flow.

"Just don’t provoke top sects. Their elders pamper extraordinary geniuses." The Ancestor jerked his chin toward the two girls streaking alongside them. "Speaking of which…"

"But Shui Lingling said her sect persecutes them!" Ye Yun objected. An innate spiritual body wielder reaching Earth Immortal realm at eighteen being ordinary? Preposterous!

"That girl exaggerates." The Ancestor snorted. "No major sect would waste Stellar Body talents. Those three supreme Immortal artifacts in her Deceptive Array prove her faction’s investment. They’d only risk geniuses here for supreme Heavenly Immortal inheritances."

Ye Yun grimaced, recalling how her "Ancient City" illusion had deceived him. "She played me well."

"Sects nurture useful talents." The Ancestor’s voice turned icy. "Had I such disciples, I’d never risk them here! What’s some inheritance compared to my Sword Path legacy?"

"Resources limit even top sects." Ye Yun reasoned. "Three or four extraordinary geniuses per generation can’t all receive full attention."

"Wasting natural gifts!" The Ancestor spat. "Trials forge blades, but many break first. Still…" His gruff tone softened. "You’ve surpassed Moon Goddess Palace’s coddled disciples. Proves this old man’s teaching works."

"My own efforts and luck, you mean." Ye Yun smirked. Without his caution and fortune, countless dangers would’ve consumed him.

"The Ancestor’s guidance opened your path!" The old voice faded as Ye Yun’s consciousness returned to reality, leaving only echoing laughter in the void. "Youthful arrogance… reminds me of my early days…"