“Senior Sister Xu, the sect has already dispatched two elders to meet us. For these past two days, we will have to trouble you and... Senior Brother Ji,” Long Haotian said to Xu Yi and Ji Buwang after receiving the sect’s reply, informing them of the arrangements.
Hearing that the Xuanqing Sect had made arrangements as she had predicted, the tense corners of Xu Yi’s lips relaxed slightly. “There’s no need for formalities between us.”
Having seen the more disheveled state of Long Haotian and his companions, Xu Yi felt no sense of distance towards them. After all, the recording stones depicting the three of them mining were still quietly resting within her storage ring. It was a delightful memory, at least for Xu Yi.
Long Haotian was pleased to notice that Xu Yi’s attitude towards him remained unchanged. However, his smile, which hadn’t been fully concealed in his eyes, quickly faded. This was because he saw Ji Buwang standing beside Xu Yi, appraising him with a peculiar gaze. Based on a cultivator’s intuition, he keenly sensed that something was amiss between Xu Yi and Ji Buwang. They weren’t standing particularly close, yet there was an atmosphere between them that no one else could penetrate. Long Haotian had a vague premonition but dared not seek confirmation, choosing instead to bury his head in the sand and pretend he knew nothing.
Xu Yi had initially planned to travel with the four Xuanqing Sect disciples until the sect elders arrived, and then part ways. However, the unexpected happened too quickly. On that very night, under the cloak of darkness, the sky was filled with brilliant streaks of auspicious light, as if it were daytime. Everyone was startled by the spectacle. The descent of the auspicious light meant that the Soul Unraveling Bell was about to emerge! Cultivators scattered throughout the West Water Domain’s secret realm grew restless. Within moments, most transformed into streaks of light and sped towards the exit. The experience from five hundred years ago cautioned them against losing their lives in pursuit of profit. Thus, despite their reluctance, they were unwilling to linger.
“Long Haotian, you must leave here now,” Xu Yi turned to Long Haotian and the others, speaking with a deep, irrefutable tone. The emergence of the Soul Unraveling Bell this time was earlier than the previous occasion, and she was unsure if other changes would occur. To ensure the safety of the four Xuanqing Sect disciples, it was imperative to escort them out as soon as possible.
“Senior Sister Xu, what about you? Aren’t you planning to leave?” Long Haotian, hearing the unspoken meaning in Xu Yi’s words, frowned deeply. He didn’t want to leave. Or rather, he didn’t want to leave only with the junior disciples of the Xuanqing Sect. Firstly, Jin Biao and Hong Shengyi’s whereabouts had yet to be discovered, and secondly, Xu Yi and Ji Buwang showed no intention of leaving. Long Haotian’s brief contemplation led him to understand that Xu Yi and Ji Buwang’s presence here wasn’t for the spirit herbs and medicinal plants within the secret realm, but for the extraordinary treasure, the Soul Unraveling Bell. If Xu Yi failed to subdue the Soul Unraveling Bell, she might meet the same fate as the cultivators who perished in the secret realm five hundred years ago.
“Ji Buwang and I have something to do. You all go first.” Xu Yi glanced at the sky and noticed the auspicious light growing deeper in color. After exchanging a look with Ji Buwang, they jointly used their spiritual energy to lift the four disciples and head towards the exit. There was no more time to waste.
“Xu Yi!” Long Haotian, enveloped by the heavy spiritual energy, struggled in vain. His eyes seemed ready to spew fire. The familiar yet foreign feeling of powerlessness made his heart pound violently in his chest. It was happening again! Always like this! It seemed that every time he encountered Xu Yi, the situation devolved into this. For over a hundred years, he had dared not relax, and even his father had changed his past attitude, praising him greatly. Yet, upon meeting Xu Yi, everything had gone awry. Unwillingness, anger, disappointment, and impulse intertwined in Long Haotian’s heart, and a flush of red involuntarily bloomed at the corners of his eyes, his body temperature subtly rising.
“Senior Brother Long.” At a crucial moment, an arm suddenly and tightly clasped Long Haotian’s arm. Long Haotian snapped back from his daze to see Wang Yi looking at him with a grave expression, shaking his head. His eyes clearly conveyed disapproval and entreaty. Long Haotian closed his eyes, took a deep breath, suppressed the restlessness in his heart, broke free from Wang Yi’s arm, and stopped trying to change things. Wang Yi withdrew his hand, sighing inwardly. He believed he was the one among those present who understood Long Haotian’s feelings the most. After all, they shared similar experiences and had spent years together day and night, making it easy for him to notice the unusual signs Long Haotian often displayed. However, he also knew that a relationship between Long Haotian and Xu Yi was almost impossible. Setting aside Lu Zaiye, who was by Xu Yi’s side with impeccable tacit understanding, Xu Yi had shown no superfluous feelings towards them in the past. In the beginning, Xu Yi likely regarded the three of them as mere amusement, and only after they became acquainted did the situation improve. Although Xu Yi appeared amiable, her strength and character indicated that she needed partners who could fight alongside her, not drinking buddies who could provide entertainment. And for Long Haotian to become the former, he would need to exert much more effort. At least, Long Haotian had not yet reached that level. Therefore, what Long Haotian needed to do now was to restrain himself, to control his emotions and avoid doing anything that would be perceived as obnoxious. Long Haotian clearly understood the meaning in Wang Yi’s gaze and chose to remain silent. Wang Yi watched this with a sigh. The word "love" was truly detrimental. Both Long Haotian and Chen Tao were tormented by love, and he hoped he would not end up in such a predicament. Qu Xiaoxiao, standing behind Long Haotian and Wang Yi, watched their interaction with a bewildered look, finding it strange. However, due to past lessons, she dared not speak casually now and could only bury her doubts in her heart. Xu Yi and Ji Buwang intended to escort the four disciples out of the secret realm in the shortest possible time, without suppressing their speed, overtaking one cultivator after another. In this situation, no one was fighting each other anymore; everyone was focused on escaping for their lives. However, when Xu Yi and Ji Buwang reached the exit, they realized something was terribly wrong. Dozens of cultivators had gathered at the exit, their faces displaying unhidden panic and helplessness, mixed with frustration. Some had even slumped to the ground in despair. “The exit is gone?” Qu Xiaoxiao stared blankly at the empty sky where a water curtain, the passage through which they had entered and the exit, should have been. But now the exit had vanished, meaning they could not leave through it. Everyone was trapped within the secret realm. This news was undoubtedly devastating. Many cultivators who had rushed to this place with great effort stood stunned in place upon discovering the disappearance of the entrance. Long Haotian had not anticipated such a situation. After his initial bewilderment, a hint of secret joy arose in his heart. With the entrance gone, he wouldn’t have to leave and would not be separated from Xu Yi. However, this hint of joy vanished as quickly as it appeared. He realized that he was currently unable to mobilize his spiritual energy, meaning he was a useless invalid. Even if he could stay by Xu Yi’s side, he would be of no help; instead, he would be a burden. Long Haotian’s mood, which had soared abruptly, plummeted to the depths in an instant.