Chapter 238: A Dream of Clouds Like a Bewildered Butterfly

Everyone had thought the return journey would be more comfortable, but it was still a suffocating, world-spinning ordeal; looking at it now, it was no different from the trip there, and one could even say it was more unbearable.

When they broke into Yunmeng Marsh, although it was difficult, they lost consciousness before long, so they were oblivious to it all. But on the way back, they had been conscious the entire time.

The water surface looked calm and waveless, but in reality, there were surging undercurrents; the pool water rushed into their ears and noses, which was extremely uncomfortable.

Right now, Long Qi and the others were lying on the bank panting heavily, all of them soaked through. Xin Yi was slightly better off, but still in a sorry state, having completely lost his usual dashing and handsome appearance.

By comparison, Lingxiang was very composed, and not even a drop of water had touched her clothes.

Seeing her look of ease, Zhao Wuyang and Banxia were greatly puzzled—they had all come out of the water, so why was Lingxiang like this? But the two of them only had the strength to gasp for air, and even if they wanted to ask, they couldn't utter a single word.

However, being men, they recovered from that discomfort a bit faster, and before long, Long Qi and the others were able to speak in broken sentences.

"Ling... Lingxiang, how are you... like nothing happened?" Looking at the relaxed Lingxiang, Liu Xia hurriedly asked.

"Oh my!" Lingxiang feigned surprise at these words, her manner very much like a performer singing on stage, though her smugness was undisguised and even quite flamboyant. "I've been training in the mountains for so long, don't you even know how to use a Water-Avoidance Art? Oh my, oh my! That really is a whole winter of hard work wasted!"

It must be said, among those present, besides Banxia, none of them actually knew the Water-Avoidance Art.

Although Long Qi understood a little about the method of circulating Spirit Qi, he only knew how to fly a sword, and he really knew very little about other arts. Previously, while cultivating at Xianyun Abode, he had mostly put effort into his family's sword techniques; as for Mysterious Arts, he only knew a thing or two but had never deliberately practiced them, let alone heard of what a Water-Avoidance Art was.

Xin Yi was even more so; he had already stepped into the Golden Core stage in Martial Dao, and if he wanted to make progress, he had to put more effort into Dao Theory. Moreover, the Lu family naturally had strange arts to rely on, mostly methods of concealment, which had their own system. Because of this, the "Dao Theory" and similar texts that Lingxiang had force-fed him all winter had not led him to delve too much into Mysterious Arts.

Zhao Wuyang had indeed been taught some Mysterious Arts by Qianyuan Zhenren, but they were mostly methods for subduing demons and exorcism. Furthermore, Qianyuan Zhenren believed that cultivation should follow the natural course and not be rushed; Wuyang was still young, and forcing growth would be counterproductive. Therefore, in those days, Qianyuan Zhenren only gave him slight pointers, leaving the rest for Zhao Wuyang to comprehend on his own, without interfering much.

Chengxin Zhenren had indeed taught some arts, but Liu Xia was more adept at Sword Formulas, and he found using arts a bit strenuous. Chengxin Zhenren believed that if he could understand the method of circulating Spirit Qi for Weapon Formulas and harmonize his spirit with the Huasheng Sword, then Mysterious Arts would come easily in the future. So, in those days, Liu Xia only focused his mind on weapon cultivation.

As for Banxia, she had a dual Spirit Root of Metal and Wood; even if her aptitude was slightly lacking, she had a good memory, and her Spirit Root was compatible with art cultivation. She was also obsessed with talisman arts, and she had made progress in the Five Elements Path. Therefore, Donghui Zhenren told her to read more, not expecting her to master everything, but hoping she would be well-read.

However, Banxia had indeed learned many arts, but she was like a rabbit in the grass; with that panicked nature of hers, whenever she encountered anything, she would forget that she was a cultivator.

And so, she had completely forgotten about any Water-Avoidance Art...

Moreover, they had all been pushed down by Yunzhongjun from a distance in one go, and that suddenness made her forget everything; she lost all composure and only remembered to hold her breath.

Previously, Hanyang had said that on the day of the Yuanqing Sect's great disaster, Tumi Xianzi had performed three arts. The last two were the method of transferring cultivation to Lingxiang and the life-swapping Hanging Thread Art. But Lingxiang still did not understand what the first art performed that day was.

According to her birth date and time, she was indeed a daughter of pure Yang, so she believed the theory that her mother had used her as a sacrifice to perform the Cuyan Zhi Shu on the Demon Lord. But Yaoji Xianzi was certain that her mother did not know any harmful arts; if that was the case, what was the first art that day?

Although Lingxiang was deeply puzzled, she was also open-minded.

Forget it, forget it; after all, the purpose of this trip had been achieved, she knew the efficacy of the Huitian Pill, and there had even been an unexpected joy.

Lingxiang was very good at letting things be!

Even if she didn't understand it now, there would eventually be clues, and it wouldn't be too late to explore it slowly in the future; after all, she had plenty of time now.

However, there was one thing that troubled her: where was she supposed to get the Millennial Fleeceflower Root?

Just as Lingxiang was deep in thought, a wind suddenly rose from the flat ground, followed by a series of tinkling sounds, crisp and pleasant, like celestial music. Pieces of crystalline light fell from the sky, and everyone stood up to look; it was actually the Divine Tree transformed from the Penglai Jade Branch. And those crystalline pieces were none other than the leaves and petals of the Divine Tree.

The leaves were lush green, the petals translucent, each shaped like glaze, moving with the wind just like the flowers and leaves of ordinary trees in the mortal world. When they hit the ground, they shattered, but after shattering, they transformed into splashes of water, either disappearing into the earth or vanishing into the deep pool.

Such a scene, such a sight—it was breathtakingly beautiful, leaving one unable to do anything but marvel!

And just as everyone was intoxicated by this wondrous sight, a series of "creaking" sounds came, as if from wooden tables and chairs colliding and rubbing against each other.

"Look! The Divine Tree!" Zhao Wuyang exclaimed.

Following Zhao Wuyang's finger, the Divine Tree was withering rapidly at a visible speed; before long, it turned into a withered branch, standing lonely on the stone seat.

The ground beneath their feet suddenly began to shake, as if they had fallen into a turbulent, surging sea, spinning and trembling incessantly.

Everyone looked around; the deep pool had formed a huge whirlpool, and the stone seat beneath their feet was sinking continuously with the rotation of the whirlpool.

"This place is not to be lingered in, hurry to the opposite bank!" Lingxiang said hurriedly.

The group flew up one after another, leaping and maneuvering over the churning pool. Long Qi hurriedly hoisted Lingxiang up, took a light leap, and walked across the waves; in a few steps, he brought her away from that place of trouble, but...

"You! Why are you so impatient!"

As soon as she stood steady, Lingxiang began to complain. Long Qi was greatly puzzled upon hearing this—wasn't she the one who said to be fast just a moment ago...

Seeing Long Qi's confused expression, Lingxiang was caught between laughter and tears: "I was just about to retrieve the Penglai Jade Branch, and you carried me off without rhyme or reason. Now it's done for; the Jade Branch has fallen onto that stone seat."

With this, she could forget about stepping into Yunmeng for another hundred years.

"Your life was almost gone, yet you're still thinking about that damn withered branch, as if Yunmeng is some good place. Don't tell me you want to go back again?" Long Qi said, curling his lip while wringing out his wet robe.

They had nearly lost their lives in there, yet she was still thinking about such trivial things; he really didn't know what was going on in Lingxiang's little head all day.

Hearing this, Lingxiang couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Yunmeng Marsh was naturally a good place, filled with Spirit Qi and countless rare plants and herbs; if there was a chance, she would naturally want to go back again.

Forget it, forget it; what was the use of saying all this now.

Watching the stone seat sink gradually until it disappeared, Lingxiang sighed with great heartache.

Following the disappearance of the stone seat, the pool turned pitch black again, and a glowing blue dot slowly floated up from the bottom of the pool, drifting in the center of the deep pool.

It was the Water Spirit Pearl!