Chapter 328

Chapter 328: Leaving the Valley to Search for Someone

The man stared at the pile of fruits You You had pulled out, stunned for a long moment before thinking, *With this many, surely some could be planted successfully.*

“What did you want to ask earlier?” His attitude shifted suddenly, turning amiable.

“I’ve been separated from my companion, Yu Hao. Do you know him, Divine Lord?” You You asked. Since Yu Hao’s clone had returned to his main body, reuniting with him was her priority.

“Yu Hao?” The man blurted out, “The Yu Hao from the Hall of Truce? That brute! You know him?!”

“…Yes?” Unless there was another Yu Hao in the Divine Realm. But *brute*? Was that his reputation here? “Do you know where he is?”

“I do.” He nodded. “But you should give up. You can’t leave anyway!”

“Can’t leave?” You You frowned.

He sighed, gesturing upward. “See that Sword Formation above? The Flower Goddess herself created it. Breaking through is impossible.”

“Sword Formation?!” You You looked up, extending her divine sense.

They stood in a valley encircled by towering stone walls. Mist swirled above, but at the very top lay a thin layer of sword energy sealing the valley completely. The Nether Path’s exit had been mid-slope, bypassing the energy barrier.

“This formation has existed for hundreds of years. Only a swordsmanship master could enter—” He paused, eyeing her. “Wait—how did *you* get in?”

“A teleportation spell dropped me halfway down the valley. I fell here without touching the sword energy.” The energy above didn’t seem strong—could it really trap a god?

“Mid-valley?” His eyes widened. “Are you… a newly ascended deity? Then you must know swordsmanship!”

“A little,” she admitted cautiously.

“Perfect!” His demeanor transformed into eager hospitality. “Why didn’t you say so? I’m Xiuyuan, the Medicine God. And you are?”

“You You.”

“Friend You You! Tea? Pastries? I’ve got excellent wine!”

“……” His sudden warmth unnerved her.

“My earlier rudeness was unwarranted!” He smiled brightly. “Being trapped here for centuries soured my temper. I’m usually quite pleasant!”

“……” *Sure you are.*

“You can break that Sword Formation, right?” He leaned forward hopefully.

“That sword energy?” She glanced up. It looked feeble—how had it confined a god for centuries?

“Exactly!” He nodded. “Help me destroy it, and I’ll guide you to Yu Hao!”

“Really?” A guide would be useful.

“We can formalize it with a Contract!”

“No need.” She eyed the sky. “Is the energy truly formidable?”

“Extremely!” He grew solemn. “The Flower Goddess’s formation merges with the cliffs. I’ve tried countless times but—”

—*Clear your heart of men, and your sword becomes divine!*

Before Xiuyuan finished, You You shouted and unleashed a colossal blade energy. It tore through the valley’s peak like autumn wind scattering leaves, shattering the sword energy instantly. The subsequent shockwave sheared feet of stone from the walls, widening the entire valley as easily as slicing tofu.

Xiuyuan froze, "…".

You You withdrew her Spirit Sword, looking confused. Strange, there was no hidden Sword Formation—just regular sword energy!

After a while…

"You… friend!"

"Huh?"

"Your divine title… it’s actually the Sword God, right?"

"…" No, I’m the Demon God!

——————

With the sword energy destroyed, You You wanted Xiuyuan to take her to find Yu Hao immediately. But though the valley’s sealing sword energy was gone, Xiuyuan had a sword talisman inside him.

This meant that whenever he tried to leave the valley, the sword talisman would trigger the surrounding sword energy to attack him indiscriminately. You You finally understood why the weak sword energy at the valley’s peak had trapped him so long—it was the sword talisman, likely of divine rank.

"Who trapped you here?" You You couldn’t help asking.

Xiuyuan suddenly blushed, fidgeting as if recalling something. "It… it was the Flower Goddess Luan Si… she did it herself."

"Flower Goddess?" You You blinked. "How’d you anger her?"

"It’s… not much…" His face reddened further as he stared at his hands. "I’ve admired Flower Goddess Luan Si for ages, so… I gave her gifts. Maybe she disliked them… so she struck me down into this valley."

Ah. Chasing a girl led to this, but…

"What’d you give her? Why get angry?"

"Nothing bad!" He looked innocent. "Just flowers, plants, accessories, jewelry, pills…"

That sounds harmless. Wait—

"How many gifts?"

"Not many." Xiuyuan said earnestly. "I liked her, so I gave her all nice things—about thirty times daily, five or six items each time. Just once every half-hour."

"…Day and night?"

"Of course! Otherwise, how to show sincerity?"

"…" You You patted his shoulder. "You deserved getting sealed."

Xiuyuan: "…".

If a pest like you bothered Shui Yan, you’d have been dead ten times over.