Refining the Mountains and Rivers

When the giant half-rotten snake disappeared from his line of sight, Hu Fu finally regained control of his trembling body. He gasped for breath, shaking.

Just a bit, just a bit and he would have been buried in that snake's belly!

Just now, Hu Fu was able to see that the half-rotten snake had hesitated. It seemed that it had other things to worry about.

That damned Western Tomb Divine Church. They clearly knew that such terrifying beings existed in this mystic realm and yet they allowed them to come here to pick the resurrection lily.

Hu Fu took a deep breath and suppressed his roiling thoughts. He knew that he couldn't stay here any longer. First it was the collision of two Godfall Arts and then the appearance of that massive half-rotten snake. That was absolutely a Divine Dao level monster. This mystic realm has already become an asura battlefield. With just the smallest mistake he would die where he was, and his death would be completely worthless!

"Mister, I hope you can survive."

Hu Fu lifted a hand and slapped his forehead. The mark left there was activated. Space fluctuated in front of him and a portal quickly appeared.

But what happened afterwards caused Hu Fu's complexion to change. This was because the portal was blocked and he couldn't pass through.

Damned Western Tomb Divine Church!

…

Hu Fu's prayers were clearly ineffective. Not only was Qin Yu drawn into the shockwaves from the collision of Godfall Arts, but he was at the central point where it was most powerful. Annihilating strength flooded his field of vision, making it so that he couldn't see what was happening around him.

Fortunately, the layer of stone that the Ancient covered him with had unimaginable defensive abilities. Even though the shockwaves crashed into him, they weren't able to inflict any damage.

This caused Qin Yu to realize that the Ancient's consciousness possessed a strength far surpassing the Western Tomb Divine Church. But then, a question rose in his mind. If this Ancient had such strength, why didn't it leave this place? In fact, it could simply attach itself to a new body and complete its resurrection.

Although this seemed unthinkably difficult, Qin Yu believed that it would actually be easy for the Ancient.

Why did he stay in this mystic realm? Or did he have other difficulties? Was he waiting for some turning point?

Qin Yu couldn't figure out the answer. A coldness lingered around his heart, not dispersing.

"Eh?" The Ancient's consciousness sounded out in his mind. "Someone has used the Dao Monarch's strength to open up a transmission portal. It seems that some of your blood energy fluctuations are on their body."

Qin Yu immediately guessed that it was Hu Fu who opened up the portal. Hu Fu clearly felt the incoming threat and had to leave in advance.

"My lord, he came here with me."

The Ancient's consciousness said, "If so, then I shall help him leave alive."

…

Dragon City, Shadow Clan dwelling.

Ji Yun was standing next to Zhou Li, conversing with her and trying to ease her heart. But suddenly, he looked up towards the temple where he stayed.

Zhou Li subconsciously clenched her hands together, "What happened?"

Ji Yun's eyes shook before he calmed himself down. "The portal has opened. It seems they have returned."

Zhou Li let out a breath of relief. She immediately snorted, "According to what you said, the resurrection lily doesn't exist in the world of the living and will wither if touched. I want to see just what sort of strange and amazing thing it is."

Ji Yun forced a smile. Wasn't this sort of excuse a bit too forced? But since he had no intention of just standing here right now, he nodded and started walking over.

When he evaded Zhou Li's eyes, his eyebrows wrinkled together and surprise shined in his eyes.

The portal had actually been opened. How was this possible?

Soon, he arrived at the temple with Zhou Li. With a wave of his hand the array formation opened and he stepped inside.

Within the spacious hall, a distressed Hu Fu had a pale complexion. When he saw them he coldly said, "Young Master Ji Yun, the Western Tomb needs to give me an explanation for what happened in the mystic realm!"

Time rewinded a little.

Back in the Hell Mystic Realm, as Hu Fu stood by the transmission portal, he had been locked onto by a blood-eyed spider. Not only did it not fear Qin Yu's blood energy fluctuations left behind on the stone, but it was actually stimulated and became even crazier.

Just as Hu Fu couldn't fight it off any longer and was about to be torn to pieces, the stone in his hand shattered and he was sucked into the portal, ending up back here.

Ji Yun took a deep breath. He asked, "Sect Master Hu Fu, may I ask what happened? I have to know in order to give you an explanation."

Hu Fu's breathing paused for a moment. He really wanted to describe what he saw, but if he were to say that two Godfall Arts collided with each other, that was surely something that would shake the orthodoxy of the Western Tomb. If this came from his lips, it was bound to lead to endless troubles in the future. Moreover, there was also that terrifying half-rotten snake. There was absolutely some great secret hidden in the Western Tomb's mystic realm!

These were all sources of disaster!

As someone who had become the master of a sect, his temperament and wisdom were both high. After an almost imperceptible pause, Hu Fu coldly snorted, "Not long after I entered, I encountered a blood-eyed spider. It was incomparably strong and I wanted to summon the portal to leave, but I was actually forced to wait a long time before I could step through it. I was nearly buried in that spider's stomach!"

There were both truths and lies in his words. He wouldn't be easily seen through.

Ji Yun furrowed his eyebrows even further. But before he could say anything, Zhou Li anxiously said, "Sect Master Hu Fu, what about your companion who went into the mystic realm with you?"

Hu Fu had a heavy expression. He said with difficulty, "Not long after we entered the mystic realm, me and mister were forced apart. Until I returned, I received no news from him."

Although he had no evidence, it was likely that the terrifying events occurring in the mystic realm were related to mister.

If this was true, then he feared mister was already…it wasn't that he lacked confidence in Qin Yu, but the collision of those two Godfall Arts and the appearance of that half-rotten snake was enough to destroy anyone's confidence.

This was a level of strength where even Divine Dao beings would fall from the skies!

Zhou Li's legs softened and her heart twitched with pain. In truth, after her initial bout of anger passed, she began to feel regret.

She should have urged Qin Yu again. How could she have just let him go to die like this?

And now, with what Hu Fu said, it wasn't hard to judge how terrifying the Western Tomb's mystic realm was.

Even a Sect Master of one of the seven great sects could barely escape with their lives. What could an average person do? His fate was likely more unfortunate than fortunate!

No, this wasn't right. Qin Yu still had a slim chance of survival. The one controlling Qin Yu from behind was Ning Qin. This person had a mysterious origin and seemed to be all-knowing; there was no way he would allow Qin Yu to go in and just die. Perhaps Ning Qin had some other means of preserving Qin Yu's life. For instance, his avatar would descend, or his consciousness would take over Qin Yu's body, or some other methods.

But after asking, Ji Yun's reply shattered the final traces of hope in her heart. "I'm sorry Zhou Li. I don't want to deceive you. This mystic realm has an extremely important status in the Western Tomb. Without permission, no one is allowed to enter."

In other words, Qin Yu was alone. There was no way anyone could protect him.

Tears fell down Zhou Li's cheeks. She didn't know why she wanted to cry. Everything he did was his choice. It was Qin Yu who decided to follow the path to his own doom. She had done everything she could to change his mind.

But her heart still felt bitter. A tide of emotions flooded her mind. For the first time, Zhou Li hated herself for being so stubborn and prideful. She couldn't forgive herself for the fact that she watched Qin Yu walk to his death and did nothing.

Watching a woman he liked cry for another man wasn't a good experience. Ji Yun was silent for some time before he said, "Zhou Li, perhaps he will come back." Although he didn't want to acknowledge it, the truth was that he hoped Qin Yu had already died inside.

Zhou Li paled, clearly not hearing his words. Ji Yun smartly didn't say anything. At this moment, maintaining his silence was the best choice.

He looked at Hu Fu and said, "Before entering the mystic realm, I warned Sect Master that it was extremely dangerous. It was Sect Master who asked to go in to pick the resurrection lily. So, while the Western Tomb does express our apologies for what you have suffered, we cannot give you any further explanation."

You mother f*cker!

Hu Fu cursed in his heart. Even the Godfall Art appeared, so why are you still trying to pretend here? If I wasn't worried that this would cause trouble for the Hidden Fog Sect, I would have spread out news of this all over so that the Western Tomb could be praised!

On the surface, his complexion remained dark and cloudy. He nodded and said,"Young Master Ji Yun, I need to stay here and wait for mister to return."

Ji Yun nodded, "Of course. Until the 24 hour deadline arrives, Sect Master Hu Fu can stay here."

Hu Fu didn't say anything further. He glanced at the absentminded Zhou Li and sighed. Before entering the mystic realm, the Saintess had parted on bad terms with mister. And there was a high likelihood that would be the last time the two ever met.

His thoughts turned and he immediately suppressed them. Hu Fu wasn't in the mood to feel pity for anyone right now, because if something happened to mister, it meant that the Hidden Fog Sect's time in Dragon City would come to an end. Not only would he die for nothing, but his intent to resist would be exposed. The Hidden Fog Sect was bound to usher in a period of turmoil.

From the moment he inherited the position of Sect Master and learned the secrets of the sect, Hu Fu had already been preparing for this day. Just as his wish was about to be fulfilled, everything fell apart.

Was this destiny? Heavens, how could you be so unfair to the Hidden Fog Sect!

The hall fell silent. The gentle fluctuations coming from the portal illuminated every corner.

Suddenly, the silent and crying Zhou Li suddenly rushed forward.

Ji Yun's complexion changed, "Zhou Li, no!"

But she was very close and there was no previous warning. Before his voice fell, she had rushed to the portal. Qin Yu, in the end it was I who killed you. Today I will die with you. Consider this as paying back a life!

Bang -

A shaking strength sent Zhou Li flying backwards. Ji Yun's face was full of fear as he flicked his sleeves and grabbed hold of her.

"Zhou Li, what are you doing!?"

Fortunately, the portal was still in a closed state, otherwise she would have been sucked inside. As for what the consequences of that would be, just thinking about it left him scared.

"Ji Yun, open the portal, I want to go in!"

"Calm down, I won't let you kill yourself!" Ji Yun roared out loud. Sensing something, he quickly said, "The mystic realm is too dangerous. If you go in with your cultivation, you will never come out. And if you die inside, your death will be in vain. It is impossible for you to help him!

"Zhou Li, you have to know that you are not alone. Your grandmother and grandfather are still waiting for you to support them so they can live long and comfortable lives. If something happens to you, what will they do? Can you accept this reality?"

Zhou Li shoved him away. She looked at the sealed portal and tears flowed down once more.

Qin Yu, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry!