Chapter 219: Having Gained Insight

Next.

Yunhe spent several days adapting, and finally completely mastered this physical body capable of matching an early-stage third-rank demon beast.

"The burst of physical strength, plus the heavenly thunder power of the Five Elements Thunder Sword and the 'Cloud Escape Talisman', in a short time my escape speed can be increased to an extremely exaggerated degree."

Yunhe silently left Cloud Island, flying in midair, carefully sensing his own changes, and he still felt somewhat pleased in his heart.

Having a rough understanding of his own abilities, Yunhe did a quick finger calculation.

"Looking at it this way, the time is about right."

He flew toward the direction of Jade Balance Island.

That day.

While Yunhe was rushing along with his head down, suddenly the sound of fighting came from ahead, accompanied by faint explosive sounds and dazzling light flashing; without looking, he knew that cultivators were fighting ahead.

Yunhe frowned, and his divine sense spread out without hesitation, focusing his gaze from afar.

He discovered that three cultivators—two men and one woman—were fighting against five cultivators exuding an evil aura and wearing black brocade robes.

However, their cultivation base seemed indeed low to Yunhe; among the two groups, only two were early Foundation Establishment cultivators, while the rest were all Qi Refining stage cultivators.

But upon reflection, who hasn't cultivated up from a low realm step by step?

"'Think about it from another perspective: when I fought fiercely with cultivators of the same rank, to a Golden Core cultivator it would look no different from children playing house.'"

As this thought arose, Yunhe couldn't help but feel a bit dazed.

It is said that cultivation knows no years, but because of his powerful divine sense, his memory is exceptionally clear; not only has he not forgotten the scenes of the past, they seem as vivid as yesterday.

This gave Yunhe a feeling.

"'Unbeknownst to me, over a hundred years have passed.'"

Since he knew these people would pose no influence or threat, he naturally wouldn't detour for a few juniors, flying straight past them.

With that thought, Yunhe not only did not reduce his speed, but suddenly increased it, transforming into a five-colored brilliant light that rushed forward, arriving before the few people in an instant.

The few people engaged in the fight were greatly startled.

"Golden Core cultivator!"

In unison they halted and retreated, each withdrawing their own magical and spiritual artifacts.

Yunhe naturally paid no heed, transforming into a flowing light and speeding past.

In the entire world of cultivation, the daily occurrences of banditry, fights, and seizures number at least hundreds, if not thousands or more—could he possibly attend to them all?

In fact, his appearance already counts as giving those two men and one woman a slim chance of survival.

And after he left, those two men and one woman indeed seized the opportunity to flee far away; whether they could escape calamity depends on their luck.

To Yunhe, this was merely a trivial matter; aside from making him sigh slightly at how hard cultivation is, there was nothing else.

Continue on the journey.

Several days later.

Jade Balance Island.

This Cloud Island is one of the seven major star islands of the Cloud Upper Palace, its status equal to that of the Four Directions Island, and its area and spiritual energy are still quite abundant.

On the island exist several notable cultivation families; the strongest and most renowned are the Fee Clan, the Shen Clan, and the Zhu Clan.

These three clans all have cultivators at the Late Jie Dan Stage, and their relations are good; they have intermarried extensively, with deep entanglements.

The Shen Clan is relatively the weakest, but the Shen Clan has close ties with the Azure Wood Sect, and the other two clans actually also have deep ties with some powerful sects.

Ding—dong—

A clear bell rang out from a small pavilion by a mountain stream.

Hearing this familiar sound, Yunhe, who was flying in midair, smiled slightly and flew toward the pavilion on the lake.

In the pavilion stood a graceful woman in a light gauze long dress, standing tall and elegant, her face still veiled, and at her waist hung a string of what appeared to be an ordinary ancient bell.

Seeing the descending flow of light, the lovely figure gave a graceful salute, her voice soft and ethereal, saying:

"Yun Daoist, long time no see, I didn't expect your cultivation base to have already reached the Middle Golden Core stage."

"Lady Qingling, Yun has disturbed you."

Yunhe, having landed in the pavilion, returned the salute with a smile.

His reason for coming to Jade Balance Island was to meet this woman and see if he could obtain some information from her.

Yunhe looked around.

On all sides mountains encircled; a snow-white waterfall cascaded down like a silken ribbon, sending out a clear 'Ding—dong' sound, stirring up large splashes of white water in the river, raising misty vapor; the gentle flow of water trickled past beside the pavilion, accompanied by soft chirping, giving it quite the flavor of a scenic painting.

"This place is truly not bad—birdsong and floral fragrance, clear mountains and beautiful water."

Hearing that, Lady Qingling Wan'er gave a light smile and said: "Daoist Yun, you overpraise me."

After saying that, she gestured with her hand, "Daoist Yun, since you've come from afar, why not sit down and try the 'White Bell Tea' personally made by Lady Qingling."

"Oh?"

Yunhe raised his eyebrows, not being polite either, and sat down.

"Well then, I, Yun, will give it a try."

Since there were no servants or maids, Lady Qingling personally poured him a cup of tea.

Neither of them spoke further.

They simply gazed at the tranquil scenery of green mountains and clear waters, savoring the fragrant tea in the cup.

For a moment.

Yunhe only felt that the world was this tranquil, the times so peaceful.

"Huh?"

Lady Qingling, sitting opposite Yunhe, at first also admired the scenery, but gradually she noticed that Yunhe seemed a bit off.

Soon after, a hint of astonishment and surprise appeared in her almond eyes.

Any insight?

Afterward she saw Yunhe rise leisurely from the stool, his hand moving like a pen or sword, lightly tracing gestures in the air toward the outside of the pavilion.

At first glance it seemed like random scribbles, but after staring closely for a moment, Qingling Xianzi suddenly felt dizzy and blurred vision, her heart filled with astonishment.

"What are you drawing, Daoist Friend Yun? Just a few seemingly simple gestures, yet they give me the feeling that I cannot even look at them?"

To tell the truth.

Actually, Yunhe himself didn't know what was wrong with him.

He merely felt that his mind was extremely calm at the moment, his thoughts unusually clear; if he had to describe it, it was like when he first ate the Three Tribulations Bodhi Seed—his thoughts were many yet extraordinarily orderly.

He couldn't say why he had entered this state.

It might be because after his flesh attained Golden Core he began to have insights, or because the Myriad Insects and Thousand Gu Technique cultivation broke through, or perhaps a sudden feeling from the past few days, or maybe this tranquil environment, or more likely this is the so‑called opportunity and fate.

And amidst Yunhe's unusually many thoughts at this moment, a strange and mysterious pattern suddenly appeared; places he previously could not understand suddenly became clear.

Dragon Scale Pattern!

It was also the pattern that made Qingling Xianzi feel dizzy and blurred vision at a glance, daring not to look longer.

Such a state, no one knew how long it lasted.

When Yunhe came out of his immersion and sudden realization, he saw the dawn light faintly glowing, a red sun perched playfully on the mountain peak, quietly gazing at him; the misty morning haze gradually dispersed, and the cool air refreshed his spirit.

In what felt like an instant to him, it was already morning.

Yunhe stood in the pavilion, gazing at that red sun, casually wiping the dew from his collar, and exhaled a mouthful of turbid air.

"Good, good."

He had never ceased his contemplation and exploration of the Dragon Scale Pattern; although his cultivation made it intermittent, his decades of study were still not as good as this morning's insight.

Although he hadn't fully mastered the entire Dragon Scale Pattern, he still gained a considerable harvest.

"Now, the effect of the Cloud Escape Talisman will probably exceed my imagination."

Yunhe's eyes sparkled.

Having seen the Cloud Escape Talisman, he clearly knew its function; now that he had a deeper understanding and cognition of the Dragon Scale Pattern, the talisman's effect would surely increase greatly.

"His life‑saving ability has increased again."

"Congratulations, Daoist Friend Yun, on comprehending an extraordinary spiritual pattern."

A clear, bell‑like voice suddenly came from beside him.

"Qingling Xianzi."

Yunhe only then realized, somewhat surprised.

He saw her rise leisurely from the ground beside him, brushing dust and dew from her robes, and she said with a smile, 'Yesterday I saw Daoist Friend Yun seemed to have an insight; Qingling worried this good opportunity might be interrupted, so I stood guard here.'

She paused, then continued:

"The spiritual pattern you have comprehended, Daoist Friend Yun, is truly profound to the extreme; I merely glanced at it and felt dizzy and blurred vision."

Upon hearing this, Yunhe couldn't help but be speechless.

Thinking back, when he first came into contact with the Dragon Scale Pattern it was the same; without relying on his strong divine sense to stubbornly study the pattern despite daily drowsiness, he could not have produced the Cloud Escape Talisman.

At the same time he understood that Qingling Xianzi's words meant that, although she was standing guard, because the Dragon Scale Pattern was too profound, she had not secretly learned it.

Yunhe then waved his hand and said with a smile:

"Qingling Xianzi, you overpraise me. Still, I must thank Daoist Friend for your protection; if I ever turn this pattern into a talisman, I will certainly give you one."

Upon hearing these words, Qingling Xianzi's eyes brightened slightly.

Only those who have seen the marvel of that spiritual pattern can understand that a talisman made from it will surely be formidable.

"Then Qingling will first thank Daoist Friend."

The two sat down again in the pavilion, not delving too deeply into yesterday's matter.

"It's just a shame about this fine tea." Yunhe showed a hint of regret.

Qingling Xianzi chuckled, 'Qingling will just brew another pot.'

Saying this, she rose to clean the tea utensils and water, using not a trace of spiritual power, as if she were merely an ordinary person brewing tea.

At the same time she asked, 'But I still don't know what matter Daoist Friend Yun has sought me for this time.'

This should have been asked yesterday, but it was delayed.

Yet this delay, in their view, was still worthwhile.

Yunhe originally wanted to indirectly obtain some information he desired, but since Qingling Xianzi had now asked directly, after a slight hesitation he stopped beating around the bush and asked:

"Fairy, do you know of the Heavenly Net Secret Realm?"

"Heavenly Net Secret Realm?!" Qingling Xianzi's hand motion suddenly paused, she looked at Yunhe with astonishment, "Daoist Friend Yun, where did you hear of it?"

"As expected, being a Golden Core cultivator of the Greenwood Sect, she knows something."

He gave a light cough, shook his head, and said, 'A few days ago I learned of it from a ruin; upon reflecting that I have spent a hundred years in the Cloud Upper Realm, I have actually never heard of this secret realm, and I am quite curious.'

This statement was not false, and he also had not prepared to mention that he held a Heavenly Net Token in his hand; he merely put on an appearance of seeking above and below.

As for his words, Qingling Xianzi gave it no further thought; she merely pondered her response while brewing Yunhe another cup of tea, then after sitting down she said slowly:

"Regarding this matter, Qingling actually does know a bit; although it is not exactly a secret, many cultivators indeed keep a certain tacit understanding. But since Daoist Friend Yun has asked, Qingling will certainly hold nothing back."

Speaking, the two sipped tea while casually chatting about the Heavenly Net Secret Realm.

However, from some of Qingling Xianzi's words, Yunhe gathered that the version she knew differed somewhat from the one he knew.

For example, she was unaware that the Cloud Upper Realm had once been the domain of the Demon Court.

But she also knew some things that Yunhe did not.

Among these, the point that astonished Yunhe the most was

"The Heavenly Net Gourd Vine has been destroyed?!" Yunhe stared, eyes wide, utterly incredulous.

(End of Chapter)