Chapter 198: Success

Lan Xiaozhu didn’t mind and replied calmly, “He’s deep in the Mist.”

Everyone looked toward the depths of the Mist. Though the thick white fog hid all traces of him, an unsettling aura emanated from that direction.

“He wants to subdue the Immortal Soul? How delusional.”

The handsome Hong Tianbao snorted, his voice dripping with disdain for Cheng Lingyu.

Fang Ruohua shot back, “Who do _you_ think you are? Compared to my elder brother, you’re not worth his fingernail.”

Hong Tianbao’s face flushed. “What did you say? Repeat that if you dare!”

Fang Ruohua sneered, “Yelling won’t scare me. Try harder.”

Hong Xiu Tian Xiang stepped between them. “Calm down, Brother Hong. We’re all disciples of Lou Ri City—no need for hostility.”

Lan Xiaozhu tilted her head. “How… _familiar_ you two are.”

Hong Xiu Tian Xiang laughed lightly. “Brother Hong merely guides me as an elder brother should. Don’t read too much into it, Miss Lan.”

“Elder brother and junior sister. Right.”

Lan Xiaozhu’s tone left no doubt she saw through the lie.

Hong Tianbao crossed his arms. “Our relationship’s none of your business. Siblings, lovers—what does it matter to you?”

Lan Xiaozhu’s gaze sharpened. “It matters to Cheng Lingyu. Did she never mention their past? What they once were?”

Hong Xiu Tian Xiang’s smile tightened. “Are you jealous, Miss Lan?”

“What do _you_ think?”

Hong Tianbao whirled to his junior sister. “You and Cheng Lingyu—is there something between you?”

“We’re both from Yunyang City,” Hong Xiu Tian Xiang said quickly. “Old acquaintances, nothing more.”

Fang Ruohua narrowed her eyes. “That’s all?”

“What else could there be?”

Fang Ruohua turned to Lan Xiaozhu. “Is she telling the truth?”

Lan Xiaozhu hesitated. Some secrets, once spoken, couldn’t be taken back. After a long pause, she shook her head slightly but stayed silent.

“He wishes to be left alone,” Lan Xiaozhu finally said. “Will you enter or wait here?”

Hong Xiu Tian Xiang clenched her fists. If Lan Xiaozhu exposed everything now…

But Lan Xiaozhu said nothing more. Relief washed over Hong Xiu Tian Xiang.

“I’ll wait,” she declared.

“Junior sister!” Hong Tianbao protested.

“This is between Cheng Lingyu and me, Brother Hong. We can’t rush it.”

Fang Ruohua tugged Lan Xiaozhu’s sleeve. “Sister Lan—”

A sharp headshake silenced her. The questions died unspoken.

“Just because she isn’t going doesn’t mean we won’t. Let’s go check it out.”

Some male disciples, fueled by envy and resentment, deliberately opposed Cheng Lingyu.

Fang Ruohua grew annoyed and tried to block them, but Lan Xiaozhu stopped her.

“Let them go. Not everyone who enters can endure this place.”

Fang Ruohua realized this made sense. Even she, having merged two Immortal Souls, avoided that area. Ordinary disciples couldn’t withstand the oppressive aura from the Youchen Nine Domains Orchid.

Within the Mist, many disciples coveted the Youchen Nine Domains Orchid. Most didn’t know this Immortal Flower Soul’s origins or name, yet their arrogance knew no bounds.

Cheng Lingyu quietly analyzed the situation. After careful deliberation, he withdrew his true essence and closed his eyes.

He’d used this method twice before – first the Nine Ring Star Vortex, then the Five-Colored Three-Legged Crow. Both attempts succeeded.

Now came his third attempt.

His body began floating autonomously through the Mist, entering a Star Domain’s periphery. He drifted along peculiar trajectories like celestial driftwood.

This resembled cosmic exile – cold, solitary darkness stretching into eternity.

Unaware and undisturbed, Cheng Lingyu entered a dreamless state. Countless starlights seeped into his body, making his dormant form glow faintly.

“Look! What’s that guy doing?”

“Who cares? Looks like napping. Maybe we should try too.”

Dozens of disciples watched nearby. Having exhausted futile methods to claim the orchid, some imitated Cheng Lingyu’s actions despite understanding nothing.

All copycats failed. Achieving meditative emptiness while levitating proved impossible for them.

Cheng Lingyu moved slowly through the first Star Domain’s spiraling paths. Upon reaching specific coordinates, he abruptly shifted to the second Domain, continuing his unconscious journey.

Time flowed with his drifting form. When he entered the third Star Domain, his radiance had visibly intensified.

Over three hours later, when Cheng Lingyu reached the eighth Star Domain, his blazing brilliance showed no signs of awakening him. Dozens of spectators watched with mixed anticipation and spite.

“He’s entering the central area!”

Guided by mysterious forces, Cheng Lingyu entered the ninth Star Domain. His brilliance dimmed as he moved through the core region.

“Strange. His light fades. Is he dying?”

“Of course! Nobody’s subdued this Immortal Flower Soul in millennia. This brat’s no exception.”

The crowd buzzed with malicious hope. Cheng Lingyu’s glow weakened until both light and body vanished completely.

“He’s gone! The idiot’s dead!”

Cheers of schadenfreude echoed through the Mist.

Had Cheng Lingyu truly perished?

The result was naturally nothing.

The light around him had vanished, and his entire being shifted from brightness to darkness, becoming ethereal and illusionary. His figure concealed itself within the ninth Star Domain as he entered a peculiar space.

This was the Special Area where the Youchen Nine Domains Orchid resided, invisible to ordinary eyes.

Cheng Lingyu knew he couldn’t force the Immortal Flower Soul. Instead, he used his special physique to lure it into his body during a dreamless state, drawing it into his sea of consciousness before trapping it.

This was how he had captured the Nine Ring Star Vortex and Five-Colored Three-Legged Crow, confining them deep within his consciousness.

The Youchen Nine Domains Orchid, being unique and mysterious, possessed great Arrogance. Cheng Lingyu’s Physical Body was the perfect vessel for merging with the Immortal Soul. Despite its caution, the Orchid succumbed to Temptation and entered his sea of consciousness.

It sought to merge with his body, destroy his soul, and claim the Physical Body. Unbeknownst to it, Cheng Lingyu had turned his own form into a prison.

As the Youchen Nine Domains Orchid vanished, the nine Star Domains within the Mist faded one by one. When the Mist finally cleared, everyone stared in shock.

“What happened? Did that brat succeed?”

Disciples coveting the Immortal Flower Soul gaped, scanning their surroundings. Soon, someone spotted Cheng Lingyu’s body.

“Look! He’s still alive!”

“Take him down! Seize the Immortal Soul!”

The nearby disciples surged forward.

At that moment, light erupted from Cheng Lingyu’s floating form. His eyes opened slowly, flashing with a purple-red glow that unleashed a terrifying mental shockwave.

Those at the front clutched their heads, howling as they scrambled back. Those further behind fared slightly better but still screamed as his soul sword shattered their Mental Defenses, wounding their souls.

Cheng Lingyu rose, his eyes mirroring endless green bamboos. Each tear-like mark wove a tragic legend, ensnaring unwary gazes and drowning minds in sorrow.

This was the Dreamy Magic Eyes’ illusion art, trapping cultivators in fabricated despair.

With an enigmatic smile, Cheng Lingyu vanished, reappearing miles away beside Lan Xiaozhu and Fang Ruohua.

The moment the Mist dispersed, the two girls had known of his success. Their smiles made Hong Xiu Tian Xiang’s eyes narrow in surprise.

Though she’d shared intimacy with Cheng Lingyu, Hong Xiu Tian Xiang knew little of his true depths. Beside her, Hong Tianbao scowled, his fondness for her now tinged with suspicion.

“Elder brother! You returned!” Fang Ruohua’s unrestrained joy drew Hong Xiu Tian Xiang’s frown—was this girl also smitten?

“Let’s go.”

Cheng Lingyu glanced at Hong Xiu Tian Xiang, his smile accompanied by a mesmerizing purple-red glint. Soaring upward, he carried Lan Xiaozhu and Fang Ruohua over the pair without a word.

Hong Xiu Tian Xiang watched his retreating figure, puzzled. He’d changed profoundly—far more mature than during their Huoyun City days.