Chapter 24
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Chapter 24: The Emergence of the Cave Dwelling
Ming He observed Qin Chu Yi’s slight tremble but received no response. She circled around to face her directly, her gaze softening. “Sister Qin, I will help you retrieve that star-shaped spiritual artifact.”
Qin Chu Yi finally looked up, her eyes wide with disbelief at the earnest girl in blue before her. The girl stood tall, her eyes gleaming like hidden stars, yet her peach blossom eyes, though shimmering, held no warmth—only a steadfast promise and unwavering resolve.
But the cave dwelling is sealed; how could you possibly retrieve it?
She opened her mouth to voice the question but stopped short upon meeting Ming He’s solemn gaze. Instead, she remained silent, unsure of what to say.
It was strange. Despite herself, she found she believed Ming He’s words. If the cave dwelling hadn’t already closed and vanished into darkness, perhaps Ming He truly could retrieve it.
But how could that be?
The cave dwelling is sealed, and her path is cut off.
Her ancestors had expended their cultivation to sever the secrets of the heavens, granting her a sliver of hope to escape her fate. Without that hope, all was lost.
There was simply no way.
If it were otherwise, would she be in such despair?
Qin Chu Yi shook her head, saying nothing, but Ming He suddenly understood, realizing the foolishness of her earlier words.
She didn’t know what the star-shaped spiritual artifact was, but Qin Chu Yi’s expression made its importance clear. If it was so vital, Qin Chu Yi would naturally have done everything in her power to obtain it.
Thus, it wasn’t that Qin Chu Yi didn’t want it; it was that she couldn’t have it.
If even the Young Master of a prestigious family couldn’t achieve it, how could Ming He believe she could?
Indeed, becoming an inherited disciple and gaining slightly higher cultivation had made her arrogant!
Ming He let out a bitter laugh, feeling the absurdity of her earlier emotions. Now, calm and thinking clearly, she realized that even if the star-shaped spiritual artifact wasn’t in Qin Chu Yi’s possession, what did it matter?
Qin Chu Yi remained the Young Master of one of the world’s most prestigious families; that wouldn’t change.
Seeing Ming He’s misunderstanding, Qin Chu Yi almost spoke to explain when suddenly the clouds above began to churn. The world flickered between light and dark as the winds surged, and a distant, thunderous roar shook the mountains—not thunder itself, but something far more powerful.
Standing in the courtyard, Qin Chu Yi felt a tremor from deep within the earth, her heart racing with shock. A nearly impossible thought crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it.
Ming He noticed Qin Chu Yi’s shifting expression and followed her gaze upward. The once-clear sky was now shrouded in dark clouds, the sun that had hung high retreating as the light vanished. The world was filled with turbulent energy, and even the Liu Yun Sect couldn’t escape the phenomenon.
In her line of sight, a middle-aged man in wide sleeves rose from Qingyun Peak, standing atop the clouds as spiritual energy swirled around him, his expression obscured by the clouds.
That was… her Master, the Sect Master of Liu Yun Sect.
Ming He confirmed his identity, and the next moment, Qin Chu Yi soared into the sky beside him, stepping onto the clouds to stand at his side. The expression on her face as she ascended didn’t escape Ming He’s notice—shock, joy, disbelief, and impatience all mingled together.
Since Ming He had known Qin Chu Yi, she had always been calm and composed, rarely showing emotion. The only thing that had stirred her was the matter of the cave dwelling and the star-shaped spiritual artifact.
Could it be…?
Ming He silently speculated, her gaze fixed on the two figures standing atop the clouds.
“The cave dwelling has emerged!” the Sect Master declared to Qin Chu Yi, his tone firm and certain.
“It’s in the southeast of Liu Yun Sect, in Luoyin City of the Eastern Region’s ninth state. There’s no mistake,” he added when Qin Chu Yi remained silent.
“Luoyin City? That’s the territory of the Hehuan Sect?” Qin Chu Yi murmured, her brow furrowing. “I already sent Elder Lin to investigate when the disturbance began.”
“If the cave dwelling has truly emerged, the disturbance will be significant. Under such an anomaly, the secrets of heaven can no longer be concealed. This ancient cave dwelling cannot be controlled by Liu Yun Sect or myself alone,” Qin Chu Yi said carefully, her words laced with subtle inquiry.
“Are you suggesting we join forces to secure the greatest benefit, Young Master Qin?” the Sect Master asked. Having lived a long life, he was no fool who only knew cultivation; he grasped her meaning with a mere shift in thought.
“Correct.” Qin Chu Yi nodded. “The Liu Yun Sect is merely a small sect within Luoyin City, inferior to the Hehuan Sect and the great families, with limited strength. Given the current state of Liu Yun Sect and the Sect Master’s cultivation, there’s little chance of gaining any benefits from the ancient cave dwelling.”
Qin Chu Yi smiled confidently, certain he wouldn’t refuse. “If you join forces with me, I can stand behind Liu Yun.”
“Does Young Master Qin intend to reveal her identity?” the Sect Master asked, surprised. If her identity were exposed, no one in Luoyin City would dare challenge her, but it would also mean her movements would be completely exposed.
The Alien Race Hunting Hall was no mere threat; the head of the Qin Clan’s Young Master would be worth a great deal of merit on the battlefield of the heavens. Not only the Hunting Hall but also the Black Wind Alliance was watching closely.
At the mention of the Black Wind Alliance, a flicker of disgust crossed the Sect Master’s eyes. Traitors to the human race would eventually be dealt with.
“Of course not.” Qin Chu Yi understood the gravity of the situation and had no intention of risking her life. “I possess the disciple token of the true successor of the Floating Cloud Sect.”
Both sects share the word “cloud,” but the Floating Cloud Sect and Liu Yun Sect are worlds apart—one lofty, the other lowly.
“Oh.” The Sect Master paused at the mention of the Floating Cloud Sect, quickly masking his emotions. “In that case, why does Young Master Qin still wish to ally with Liu Yun?”
The disciple token of the Floating Cloud Sect’s true successor was enough to intimidate other sects. Moreover, Qin Chu Yi and her followers were formidable.
Even Elder Lin alone was enough to dominate the Eastern Region without rivals. Why involve Liu Yun Sect?
“Because Elder Lin just sent me a message,” Qin Chu Yi said, her smile tinged with bitterness. “That ancient cave dwelling has restrictions; only cultivators below the Xuan Wei realm can enter.”
Aside from Elder Lin, none of her followers were below the Xuan Wei realm. She herself, the weakest among them, had already reached the Dust Dispersal stage before coming to Liu Yun Sect.
Without anyone below the Xuan Wei realm to assist her and unable to enter the cave dwelling herself, she had no choice but to ally with Liu Yun Sect.
As Qin Chu Yi pondered this, her gaze fell on Ming He, who stood motionless in the courtyard below. Perhaps she could truly help her?
Below the Xuan Wei realm, the highest cultivation level was the Spirit Guiding stage at nine levels. Ming He was only at the fourth level—hope was slim.
“I see,” the Sect Master said, understanding her concerns. The situation was sudden; summoning suitable disciples from her clan would cause too much commotion and alert others, hence the need to ally with Liu Yun Sect.
Liu Yun Sect had stumbled upon a great opportunity this time.
“I will command the disciples capable of entering the cave dwelling to search for what Young Master Qin desires,” the Sect Master said solemnly. Noticing her lack of response, he followed her gaze to his newly accepted apprentice, who stood in the courtyard with a curious expression.
He glanced back at Qin Chu Yi, noticing the Woman in White staring intently at her little apprentice below, lost in thought. A plan began to form in his mind.
“If the cave dwelling requires my assistance, seek out Duan Wu,” Qin Chu Yi said, her voice now cold, devoid of the earlier emotional turmoil.
“Understood,” the Sect Master said, taking his leave.
Who in Liu Yun Sect could enter the ancient cave dwelling? Below the Xuan Wei realm, he would have to choose carefully.
His newly accepted apprentice, however, certainly qualified.
The Sect Master felt a surge of pride.
In Chang Ming courtyard, Qin Chu Yi descended from the clouds, landing on solid ground. She met Ming He’s questioning gaze with a faint smile. “Perhaps you truly can help me.”
“That cave dwelling…” Ming He hesitated.
“Yes, the cave dwelling has emerged,” Qin Chu Yi declared firmly. “But only cultivators below the Xuan Wei realm can enter.”
The Xuan Wei realm? Ming He’s eyes narrowed. As she had suspected, Qin Chu Yi’s cultivation far surpassed her own, at least reaching the Xuan Wei realm.
A twenty-year-old Xuan Wei cultivator would be considered an extraordinary genius within Liu Yun Sect. What status did she hold in her own clan?
Ming He was curious, eager to know how the true geniuses of her age had progressed in their cultivation.
She opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing. With her low cultivation, knowing would only breed insecurity. It was better to focus on improving her own strength before venturing out.
The Xuan Wei realm felt distant, yet not entirely out of reach.
“Then, when you told me all this, it was…” Did she affirm her willingness to help retrieve the spiritual artifact?
Ming He wanted to ask but was interrupted by Qin Chu Yi. “When I told you this, I wanted to know if you truly wish to help me retrieve that spiritual artifact.”
She raised a hand to stop Ming He from speaking. “This cave dwelling is ancient, filled with danger and mystery. Beyond the dangers within, its very emergence raises questions.”
“It should have remained hidden in darkness, unknown to the world, emerging only at a specific time to test cultivators. Its last appearance was artificially controlled.
Elder Lin is a true formation master. Using the natural forces of the world, he set up formations to conceal the secrets of heaven while forcibly drawing the cave dwelling from the ground. That was how we ventured into it last time.
Yet even Elder Lin could only manipulate it to appear for an hour; after that, its fate was beyond human control.
The current heavenly phenomena do not align with the cave dwelling’s natural emergence. I suspect someone is behind its appearance.”
Someone behind it? Ming He’s eyes narrowed. As Qin Chu Yi said, even the powerful and mysterious Elder Lin could only pull the cave dwelling from the ground for an hour. But the person behind it could command its emergence—how powerful were they?
Power equated to danger; the unknown was equally perilous. The combination of unknown power meant endless risks.
“So, Ming He, do you still wish to help me retrieve the spiritual artifact? Are you still willing to assist?” Qin Chu Yi asked seriously, knowing Ming He understood the grave dangers hidden behind this matter.
Are you still willing to assist?
Ming He met her gaze, which held sincerity. This time, Qin Chu Yi was serious, leaving the choice to her. Whatever decision she made, Qin Chu Yi would accept it calmly.
Did she still want to go?
Ming He thought of the endless darkness within the cave, the lurking dangers, the strange black cat, and the mysterious red shadow she had seen last. The girl, who usually deliberated carefully, no longer hesitated.
As the sun tilted westward, casting its light over the large stone in the courtyard, the eternally flowing white clouds and the sun breaking through the layers above seemed to watch over her.
Beneath the warm sunlight, the girl in blue stood among the verdant leaves.
She said, “I am willing.”
