Yaoguang Fairy Path

As the crowd from Yaochi Palace gradually drifted away, Nan Lichen quietly stepped out from the crowd, his brow furrowed in a look of deep worry. He bowed respectfully, his voice trembling slightly, "Miss Ye, I have something to ask you. Do you know anything about my junior brother Baili Lingfeng's recent situation?"

Ye Shuyao heard the voice and looked over, her eyes fell on Nan Lichen, then she bowed in return.

She noticed his face, which seemed to have been carefully sculpted, with distinct features and strong lines. His angular face was exceptionally handsome, and his eyes were deep, like the brightest stars in the night sky. He was dressed in a blue suit, elegant yet majestic.

Ye Shuyao's worry deepened with Nan Lichen's words. It seemed Baili Lingfeng hadn't left with them. Frowning, her thoughts racing, she couldn't help but ask, "Lingfeng...didn't he come with you?" Then, remembering her good friend Li Yuru, she added, "What about Yuru? Is she with you?"

Her words were filled with confusion and helplessness, and Nan Lichen felt a pang of pain in his heart. He shook his head, his voice low and hoarse, "We... don't know either. Miss Ye, if you have any news about Ling Feng in the future, please be sure to let me know."

Ye Shuyao nodded. She understood Nan Lichen's worry and anxiety. She whispered to him, "Don't worry. If I hear any news about Ling Feng, I will inform you immediately."

On a moonlit night, Buddhist disciple Xuan Chen gently patted Helian Yun's shoulder. Their eyes met and they nodded in tacit understanding.

Xuan Chen then gracefully turned and slowly entered his tent, which was simply decorated yet imposing. Helian Yun silently watched Xuan Chen's departure. The unresolved issue in his heart finally settled a little, but it also flickered like a candle in the wind. Suddenly, his gaze fell on a figure sitting quietly beneath a tree—it was Long Wuji, sitting in a zen-like state, as if cut off from the world.

Helian Yun tried to spy on Long Wuji's cultivation, but that profound cultivation was like a bottomless abyss, beyond his reach. When he was caught in Long Wuji's deep eyes, he felt a chill rising from the bottom of his heart. Those eyes seemed to be able to freeze everything, making people shudder.

Helian Yun quickly withdrew his gaze, fearing that he would continue to be stared at by that cold gaze, and turned to look at Ye Shuyao, his face quickly replaced by an expression of concern and tenderness.

"Junior Sister Ye, I'm glad you returned safely. Let's go back to the tent and sit down to talk slowly." Helian Yun said gently.

Inside the tent, the three of them sat around an antique square table. Ye Shuyao opened her red lips and began to slowly recount her thrilling experiences during this period, but she chose to omit the details about the peach forest.

"This is what happened." Ye Shuyao finished her narration and her eyes fell on Helian Yun.

Helian Yun's brow furrowed, his expression growing increasingly serious. He spoke in a deep voice, "This journey to the secret realm is filled with the unknown and the strange. According to Junior Sister Ye's description, the one who injured you was indeed a disciple of the Yaochi Palace. But what confuses me even more is that you didn't touch the legendary guqin. So where did those monsters come from?" He rubbed his temple, as if trying to process the mystery.

The atmosphere in the tent became tense as Helian Yun asked questions, and the three of them fell into deep thought.

Ye Shuyao fell into a brief silence, then she gently shook her head and replied, "I don't know either. After I was injured, I fell into a coma and was taken away from that mysterious temple."

Mo Feibai crossed his arms, lost in thought. After a moment, he raised his head and said sharply, "There's someone very suspicious." Their eyes simultaneously focused on Mo Feibai, and the three of them almost simultaneously thought of one person: "Ling Hua."

Mo Feibai continued, "Only four people woke up from the coma at that time. Junior Sister Li fell into a coma again because she was injured by Junior Sister Ye's spiritual power. Yue Ran from Yao Chi Fairy Palace also died after hurting Junior Sister Ye at the hands of the person who came to save her...whose name I don't know yet." He looked at Ye Shuyao, waiting for her response.

Ye Shuyao took a deep breath and slowly uttered a name: "Long Wuji." She didn't hide it, but spoke it frankly. Mo Feibai nodded: "Then, the last possibility left is most likely Ling Hua. Perhaps she was the one who finally touched the magic weapon that suppressed the monster."

However, Ye Shuyao scoffed at this and said firmly, "If she really was the one who released those monsters, then she has most likely died at their hands. After all, those monsters are no joke with their cruelty. She is courting her own death."

Helian Yun agreed, then sighed softly, a trace of worry flashing across his brow. He lowered his head slightly, his voice heavy, "If we want to leave this secret realm, I'm afraid it will be extremely difficult. We must not let these monsters escape from here, otherwise we will become sinners in the world of immortal cultivation, and the ferocity of these monsters will bring disaster to the entire world of immortal cultivation."

The three of them fell into a brief silence, the atmosphere heavy and tense. Then, a faint smile crossed Ye Shuyao's face. She spoke softly, "Perhaps, we're not completely helpless." She gently raised her left hand, and an icy blue lotus flame blossomed in her palm. The flame was pure and cold, as if it could purify all filth.

Mo Feibai's expression suddenly changed upon seeing this. His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. He suddenly stood up, his hands on the table. His movement was so violent that the stool behind him was knocked over with a dull thud.

Even someone as calm as Helian Yun's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but gasp. He exclaimed in amazement, "Junior Sister Ye, your good fortune is truly enviable! This strange fire... this strange fire..." He said "this strange fire" twice, but couldn't seem to find the right words to describe his shock and surprise.

Although the two were shocked that Ye Shuyao possessed such a rare spiritual object as the strange fire, they both knew that everyone has their own opportunities, and with their pure hearts, they naturally would not have any improper thoughts.

Mo Feibai gradually recovered from his shock. He smiled and exclaimed, "This really was effortless."

Helian Yun also laughed and said, "Junior Sister Ye, you are really our lucky star! If it weren't for this strange fire, it would be extremely difficult for us to deal with these monsters..." His laughter was full of gratitude and admiration for Ye Shuyao.

Ye Shuyao wasn't surprised by the two's shock. As the atmosphere around her gradually relaxed, she smiled like the spring sunshine. Then, as if remembering something, she gently took out two fourth-grade pure lotus flowers from her personal space.

The moment these two pure lotuses appeared, they immediately captured everyone's attention. They hovered in the air, emitting an incomparably holy light. Each petal was as white as jade, crystal clear, as if meticulously carved from ice and snow. Each petal trembled slightly, as if alive, emitting a delicate fragrance that captivated and captivated everyone.

Helian Yun and Mo Feibai exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with surprise and confusion. They both tentatively asked, "Junior Sister Ye, what is this...?"

Ye Shuyao gently lifted the two pure lotus flowers and explained to her two senior brothers, "These pure lotus flowers have a purifying effect and can also restrain the influence of demons. I am giving them to you two senior brothers for self-defense." Upon hearing this, Helian Yun quickly waved his hand and refused, "No, Junior Sister Ye, no reward without merit. Besides, as senior brothers, how can we accept things from a junior sister?"

Ye Shuyao shook her head slightly, her red lips parted. "Brother, there's no need to be so modest. Our primary task now is to deal with those monsters together. Treasures are only external to us, and with this Pure Lotus, we have a better chance of victory. Besides, we fellow disciples should support each other, right?"

Seeing Ye Shuyao's insistence, Helian Yun stopped refusing and nodded with a wry smile. He looked at the pure lotus in front of him, which radiated a holy light, and understood its preciousness.

So, he thought for a moment, took out a small treasure-hunting rat from his arms, and handed it to Ye Shuyao: "Since Junior Sister is so generous, I can't take your Pure Lotus for nothing. Although this treasure-hunting rat is not as valuable as the Pure Lotus, it is a small token of my appreciation. Please don't blame me, Junior Sister."