Xing Yuan's true form was immense, but she deliberately concealed it, appearing as an ordinary flying spirit beast. The mythical Ying Tian Beast, legendary in its own right, possessed the power to blot out the sun with its wings. Xing Yuan felt she shouldn't frighten her elder sister.
Xing Yue lay comfortably on Xing Yuan's soft back, hands behind her head, a picture of ease.
This was the advantage of having a spirit beast; she didn't have to laboriously fly her sword or worry about falling. Xing Yuan would protect her, ensuring that never happened.
As for the changes in Xing Yuan's true form, Xing Yue had noticed, but she didn't pay it much mind. It was merely a transformation from a soft, cute beast to something more majestic, adding a touch of handsomeness. In any case, Xing Yue found A Yuan beautiful no matter what.
Xing Yuan's speed was both swift and steady. Xing Yue closed her eyes in contentment. When she awoke again, they had arrived at the heart of the Myriad Races Realm.
"Why didn't A Yuan wake me?" Xing Yue hopped off nimbly, her voice carrying a hint of playful accusation.
"I wanted Eldest Sister to rest a little longer!" Xing Yuan chuckled softly and also transformed into human form.
"A Yuan is so thoughtful!" Xing Yue's gaze was gentle as she softly stroked Xing Yuan's fluffy hair.
She surveyed their surroundings. All she saw was desolation.
"This is the center of the Myriad Races Realm?" Xing Yue's eyes were filled with confusion. The information they had indicated otherwise!
"Not yet!" Xing Yuan shook her head. "The energy here is rather strange. More importantly, flight is forbidden in the center of the Myriad Races Realm, so I couldn't fly directly in."
"I see!" Xing Yue nodded, not particularly bothered. She took a few steps forward, and the world before her seemed to transform from a desert into an oasis, a stark reversal.
A city suspended in the air appeared before them. Despite the prohibition of flight, such a place existed. Legend had it that the method of entry changed each time, serving as the first trial of the Myriad Races Realm. It depended on whether others could obtain the pass.
Xing Yue knew this and was well-prepared. She directly produced a disguised mortal flying artifact. The artifact was wing-shaped and completely devoid of spiritual energy.
This method was discovered by a cultivator who had entered the Myriad Races Realm many years ago. Flight was forbidden in the center, but if a person didn't use any spiritual energy, how could the barrier judge it as a violation?
Although this loophole had never been repaired by the Heavenly Dao, it had set up a threshold outside the gate to assess the cultivation and combat power of those entering. Those who met the criteria could enter, while those who didn't would be expelled from the center of the Myriad Races Realm by the barrier.
Upon entering the city, Xing Yue curiously observed the bustling streets. The Myriad Races Realm only opened once every few years; why was it so lively here?
Noticing the gazes cast her way, Xing Yue instinctively turned to Xing Yuan, who stood beside her with a smile, looking quite eager.
At a small stall, Xing Yue bought two wide-brimmed hats that could obscure others' prying eyes. She handed one to Xing Yuan and said seriously, "Wear this!"
"Why? I don't like wearing this, it's so ugly." Xing Yuan looked displeased, gently tugging at Xing Yue's sleeve and acting spoiled as she used to.
"Be good~" Xing Yue gently stroked Xing Yuan's head, her voice barely audible.
She didn't want A Yuan to be subjected to casual scrutiny. A Yuan's peerless beauty now captivated even her, a woman, so how much more so those men with impure intentions!
A Yuan was still young and easily deceived. Besides, she had plenty of patience to wait for A Yuan to grow up. If, by then, her feelings for her remained, she would guide her slowly. The person she desired would naturally not be allowed to leave.
"Fine!" Xing Yuan pouted a little reluctantly but still yielded to her elder sister's authority.
"Mhm." Xing Yue chuckled, her eyes filled with tenderness. Catching sight of a junior disciple from their sect out of the corner of her eye, she immediately approached him to inquire about the situation.
"Eldest Senior Sister is asking about this place? When we arrived, these shops were brand new. As long as you place some spirit stones on a formation inside, you can use them. We all trade things we don't need here," the junior disciple said with a simple, honest smile.
"Is that so!" Xing Yue mused.
She asked again, "But I heard from the Sect Master that there's a secret realm for training here. Does Junior Disciple know where it is?"
He shook his head. "I've been here for some time, and the secret realm won't open anytime soon. Based on the current time, it should be about half a year away. If Senior Sister is looking for a place to train, you could go to the Sea of Elements."
"I know this place." Xing Yuan's eyes lit up, her eagerness showing.
"The existence of the Sea of Elements is specifically to help cultivators better understand the elements within them. This is related to everyone's spiritual roots, and the spiritual energy there is the most abundant."
Xing Yuan looked somewhat excited. She hadn't fully assimilated the power of her previous form as the Ying Tian Beast, and now she could use the Sea of Elements to cultivate properly.
Xing Yue nodded calmly, indicating she understood. After bidding farewell to the fellow disciple they had met by chance, they headed directly towards the Sea of Elements.
"Have you been here before?" Xing Yue asked, somewhat puzzled. Earlier, she had been distracted by Xing Yuan's sudden changes and hadn't paid much attention. A Yuan seemed different from before, as if she were unusually familiar with this place, as if she had lived here for many years.
"No!" Xing Yuan shook her head. "Didn't I tell Eldest Sister? I received an inheritance, which contained that person's memories, so I have some understanding of the situation here."
Xing Yuan felt she wasn't exactly lying. She did know these things because of someone else's memories, but what she didn't say was that she had already experienced a long period in those memories.
"Is that so?" Xing Yue didn't quite believe her. She had received inheritances before, but she had never heard of anyone receiving another person's memories.
The realization that A Yuan was keeping something from her made Xing Yue's chest feel heavy. Before coming here, they had never had secrets between them.
"Yes! That's how it is," Xing Yuan affirmed, but her small hands were nervously twisting together.
What to do? This was the first time she had lied to Eldest Sister, and it felt quite thrilling! Eldest Sister probably wouldn't find out, right? Otherwise, if Eldest Sister knew she suddenly had many of someone else's memories, she might suspect she had become a different beast!