Chapter 716

Chapter 716: Crossing the River

"The water here runs deep, yet not a single fish or shrimp dwells within. This must be due to the Heavenly Immortal rules," Shui Lingling observed, effortlessly manipulating the surrounding currents with her true qi while submerged. Behind her, radiant stars materialized, illuminating the underwater realm.

"Though most sights here grow tedious." Emerging from the water, she spotted Ye Yun dispersing lakewater with his true qi. Mischief flashed in her eyes as she secretly channeled qi deep beneath the surface to ambush him.

"Must you never cease your antics?" Sensing the disturbance below, Ye Yun sighed. With a flick of his finger, a blade of Sword Energy pierced the water, erupting into a three-zhang-high Water Column that forced Shui Lingling to surface. "How cruel! I hid my presence meticulously!" she protested.

"Had you mastered the Starry Sky methods to utter silence, you might’ve succeeded. But masking ripples through water depth? Only a fool would miss that." Ye Yun chuckled at her pouting face.

"Even after grasping Starry Sky methods, battling you still feels lethal." Shui Lingling huffed while floating beside Shui Yingying. "Your Nascent Soul aura feels self-contained. Admit it—are you some Heavenly Immortal masquerading as weak?"

Shui Yingying nodded gravely. "Lingling speaks truth. With your resources and skills, claiming to be a wandering cultivator strains belief. Are you truly toying with us, Senior Immortal?"

"What fanciful tales! Were I a Heavenly Immortal, why waste time here? I’d have long ventured into the Broken Space." Ye Yun shook his head at their probing stares.

"Perhaps you covet our beauty and plot wicked schemes!" Shui Lingling declared, eyeing him warily.

"If so, Ling’er walks dangerous waters." Shui Yingying laughed, smoothing the girl’s damp black locks. "But you both fixate on the Wuding River’s Heavenly Immortal rules. Have you considered if lifeless beings linger here?" Ye Yun redirected. "This vast expanse lacks vitality—surely that’s peculiar."

"Our leader mentioned the Wuding River’s lifelessness without explicitly confirming it. Dead creatures harassing us seems unlikely," Shui Yingying replied thoughtfully.

"The benevolent Heavenly Immortal must’ve purged all corruption, leaving only purity." Shui Lingling gestured at the translucent riverbed. "Ah! You spotted my trick because the water’s clear!"

Ye Yun nearly choked. He’d mistaken her earlier epiphany for genuine insight.

"Next time, speak plainly instead of theatrics." Shui Yingying patted Lingling’s head. "With the Heavenly Immortal rules gone, let’s hasten to the Broken Space before our sect’s advantage expires."

"Advantage?"

"Major sects reap benefits. Our elder brother Pei Yunshan scouted the Broken Space first for our safety. We might encounter him there," Shui Yingying explained. When Pei Yunshan volunteered for the perilous mission, second-generation disciples had regarded him with gratitude—venturing into unknown realms bordered on suicide.

"Elder brother acts nobly, unlike certain opportunists who bully girls." Shui Lingling’s pointed mutter drew Ye Yun’s frown—not from comparison, but glaring inconsistencies.

Why would a sect risk its extraordinary genius in such hazards? Ordinary disciples were expendable, but a peerless talent? Unless they possessed absolute confidence in his power…

Ye Yun shelved his doubts as Shui Lingling extolled Pei Yunshan’s virtues. Titles like "elder brother" denoted supreme combat prowess, not mere seniority. Jun Ruolan of Moon Goddess Palace held the Senior Sister title at Third Level Nascent Soul by defeating Seventh Level experts.

"Enough conjecture." Ye Yun withdrew his true qi, producing twin Water Spirit Daggers. He plunged them into the river, their silver glow voraciously devouring aquatic spiritual energy.

"Using supreme Immortal artifacts to siphon the Wuding River’s power?" The Ancestor of the Sword Path’s voice echoed. "Feasible, given the faded Heavenly Immortal rules here."

"Without the Stagnation Stone, my reverse time array remains unusable. This Nascent Soul breakthrough left only insights." Ye Yun’s expression hardened as daggers blazed brighter.

Shui Lingling watched uneasily. "Aren’t those artifacts invaluable? What if they break?"

"Tools exist to be used." After burning seventy thousand top-tier Immortal Spirit Stones, the daggers’ violent silver light dimmed. Ye Yun nodded—success.

"Does this mean you’ve absorbed Heavenly Immortal rules?" Shui Lingling pressed.

"Barely contained. One usage will shatter them." Ye Yun summoned fire to dry his clothes.

"Had I known, I’d have tried with my Deceptive Array!"

"Without my Ice Spirit Qi and soul power tempering, you’d have exploded alongside your artifacts," Ye Yun retorted.

Shui Yingying intervened. "Celestial rules demand spiritual intelligence. Top-quality artifacts would’ve crumbled instantly."

"Let’s depart." Ye Yun eyed the shimmering horizon. "Resist the spatial laws, and we’ll linger here longer."

The girls ceased true qi expenditure, conserving energy. Shui Lingling wrung her soaked sleeves. "Being drenched’s unpleasant, but these moments matter. Don’t rush."

"Rest if needed," Shui Yingying urged Ye Yun, who turned with a spirit herb clamped in his teeth.

"Third heavenly material this trip!" Shui Lingling jabbed at his herb-stained mouth. "Each worth millions! Only sect leaders’ sons squander thus!"

As Ye Yun refined the energy, his Nascent Soul glowed, momentarily shaking the Wuding River.

"Perfection at last." He exhaled. Had his Nascent Soul not transcended ordinary limits after countless resources, this gamble would’ve ruined him.