Chapter 137: Senior Sister Leaves
Chapter 137: Senior Sister Leaves
Previously, Cheng Lingyu had been in the True Martial Realm and couldn’t practice Skywing Escape. After advancing his Realm, though still somewhat weak, he now met the basic cultivation requirements.
Caiyun devoted herself to merging the Five-Color Celestial Cloud—a rare Strange Flame she’d exerted immense effort to obtain the previous night. Even the initial merging remained incomplete.
Free of distractions, Caiyun’s body blazed with flames that coalesced into a Firebird outside her form. It bore five-colored plumage resembling a Fire Crane, balanced on one leg with a crown of five-colored flame.
Lan Xiaozhu gasped upon seeing the creature, whispering, “That’s…” Though she didn’t finish, her recognition was clear.
As the Five-Color Firebird manifested, Caiyun’s aura intensified. The Five-Color Celestial Cloud within her seemed to sense this presence, accelerating its merging process.
At dusk, the Sky Boat approached a colossal stone door—the renowned Xitian Gate of Tianyang Empire. Formed by two massive peaks resembling celestial gates, it loomed imposingly with awe-inspiring majesty.
The thousand-foot-tall Xitian Gate drew gasps from first-time visiting cultivators, its sheer scale testifying to nature’s wonders.
Halting the Sky Boat, Lan Xiaozhu gazed upward with longing.
“Body like heaven’s gate piercing clouds,
Watching mortal lives through fleeting years,
Wealth and death traverse this path,
Past and present fates intertwined.”
Her whispered verse hung in the air as Cheng Lingyu opened his eyes to behold the spectacle.
“This…”
Lan Xiaozhu turned. “The famed Xitian Gate. Beyond lies the western frontier. Four thousand miles further brings us to Xiyun Divine Mountain.”
Rising, Cheng Lingyu stared at the cloud-piercing structure. “A true miracle! Its majesty feels almost… intimidating.”
“Legends abound here. Some claim Xitian Gate itself is a divine weapon guarding this land.”
Cheng Lingyu frowned. “Divine weapon? It does feel… alive.”
Though appearing as two unusually shaped peaks to most, Cheng Lingyu sensed latent energy—like two ferocious beasts waiting to awaken.
Caiyun opened her eyes, flames dissipating to reveal Ruyun’s mist-like aura swirling about her.
Studying Xitian Gate, she murmured,
“Xiyun’s gates pierce thousand-fold heights,
Gods and demons bow before their might.
This marks Lou Ri City’s outer gate.
Three thousand miles more brings the inner mountain gate—true threshold of Xiyun Divine Mountain.”
“Senior Sister! Your aura’s transformed—you’re even more radiant.”
Caiyun chuckled. “Smooth talker.”
“Any reward for compliments?”
Glancing at the gate, Caiyun took Cheng Lingyu’s hands and kissed his cheek. “Your reward.” Her tender tone carried unspoken melancholy.
Cheng Lingyu pulled her close, arms encircling her waist as mesmerizing eyes met hers. “And yours.”
Cheng Lingyu kissed Caiyun on the cheek, then slid his lips down to capture her tempting red ones.
Caiyun glared at him – she had plenty of time to dodge, but didn’t.
After their lingering kiss, Cheng Lingyu grinned happily.
“Senior Sister is so beautiful.”
Caiyun gently touched his face with complicated tenderness.
“I must leave now. Let Xiaozhu accompany you from now on.”
Her reluctant whisper hung in the air.
Cheng Lingyu’s joyful expression froze. He clutched her tightly as if she might vanish.
“Where are you going?”
Caiyun stroked his cheek. “I’ve started merging with the Five-Color Celestial Cloud and learned many secrets. Now I must seek my own path – I can’t go to Lou Ri City with you anymore.”
“I’ll come with you instead!”
“Don’t be silly, Junior Brother.” Caiyun laughed. “This is my journey. You have your own path. Focus on your cultivation in Lou Ri City.”
Cheng Lingyu shook his head stubbornly. “I don’t want to be apart!”
“You’re grown man, stop acting spoiled! Life’s meetings and partings are unpredictable. This is temporary.” Though comforting him, her voice betrayed equal reluctance.
“But-”
Caiyun pressed fingers to his lips. “If you cultivate seriously and surpass my cultivation level next time we meet, I’ll grant your deepest wish.”
“Really?” His eyes lit up.
Nodding, she confirmed: “Really.”
Cheng Lingyu squeezed her excitedly. “Then I’ll make Senior Sister marry me! Stay with me forever!”
Caiyun’s cheeks flushed prettily. “Work hard then. If your cultivation doesn’t catch up, you’ll keep waiting.”
“I’ll train twice as hard! It won’t take long!”
Rolling her eyes, Caiyun pushed him away. “Time to go. Xiaozhu will accompany you to Lou Ri City.”
After whispering instructions to Lan Xiaozhu, she vanished.
Cheng Lingyu watched her departure with aching heart, worry creasing his brow.
Lan Xiaozhu patted his arm. “She’ll be fine. We should worry about ourselves now.”
Without Caiyun’s protection, their journey grew perilous.
Staring at Xitian Gate, Cheng Lingyu muttered, “She’ll make huge cultivation leaps. I must work harder to catch up.”
“Where there’s effort, there’s hope,” Lan Xiaozhu encouraged.
Under nightfall’s cloak, they passed through Xitian Gate and continued westward.
After passing through the Xitian Gate, more cultivators appeared along the route, forcing the Sky Boat to reduce its flying speed considerably.
Cheng Lingyu felt puzzled and inquired about the reason.
Lan Xiaozhu explained, “Xiyun Divine Mountain is a unique place. The spatial magnetic fields grow increasingly chaotic the closer we approach. We’ve only crossed the outer gate and can still maneuver treasure artifacts. If we enter the inner gate, all teleportation arrays would fail under severe disruption.”
“At this pace, when will we reach Lou Ri City?”
“We should arrive tomorrow night or the following morning. There’s still enough time.”
Under the night sky, Lan Xiaozhu concentrated on steering the Sky Boat while Cheng Lingyu practiced cultivation on the deck.
The western empire remained desolate after dark, with roaring winds raising desert tornadoes that raced across the barren land.
Noticing anomalies, Lan Xiaozhu urgently roused Cheng Lingyu. Twelve colossal wind pillars now loomed ahead, coiling like great dragons to bar their path.
Unlucky cultivators caught in the vortexes screamed horribly. Most fled immediately, scrambling for shelter.
Magical artifacts became vital refuges here, especially treasure-grade flying artifacts whose robust protective barriers could resist the wind pillars’ assault.
Lan Xiaozhu swiftly elevated the Sky Boat, attempting to pass overhead – the safest approach.
Nearby cultivators spotted their vessel and raced toward it. The twelve wind pillars exerted tremendous suction, dragging slower flyers into their spirals until only three cultivators reached the Sky Boat.
With the protective barrier already activated, the stranded trio desperately shouted for help outside.
Cheng Lingyu observed them briefly – two young men and a woman, all mid-stage Soul Martial Realm cultivators.
“Let them board.”
Lan Xiaozhu wavered. “Mercy could cost us dearly.”
Though saving lives seemed noble, rescued cultivators might betray them later.
“These three pose minimal threat.”
At Cheng Lingyu’s calm assurance, Lan Xiaozhu reluctantly opened the barrier.
The grateful cultivators introduced themselves.
“So you’re Cheng Lingyu from Yunyang City – the one who defeated Ji Family’s divine dragon Ji Yaozu in same-realm combat?”
The twenty-year-old female cultivator Fang Cuiyu, from a million-population city’s great family, possessed Soul Martial Fourth Realm strength. Her companions Li Xiang and Qi Wei were promising youths from other prominent clans.
“My youthful brashness must’ve amused you all,” Cheng Lingyu replied evenly.
Li Xiang praised, “Victory without arrogance commands respect.”
Qi Wei added, “With tens of thousands heading to Lou Ri City, your talents should shine brightly.”
As Lan Xiaozhu focused on navigation, Cheng Lingyu conversed with the trio.
“How many disciples will Lou Ri City recruit this time?”
Fang Cuiyu answered, “Unknown, but requirements seem lenient – under twenty-five, above Soul Martial Realm, excluding Three Saints and Four Peerless disciples.”
Cheng Lingyu pressed, “So Heavenly Palace and Tianlei Sacred Church followers can’t join?”
“Exactly. Equivalent-status factions don’t poach disciples – that’d be absurd!”
“Couldn’t other major Forces’ members infiltrate?”