Chapter 123: Don’t Be Afraid, Hit Me Again

“The Border Between the Underworld and the Mortal Realm?”

Miss Priestess raised an eyebrow, not feeling afraid but actually becoming a bit curious.

“What do you mean? Is it a metaphor or exaggeration? Or is it really true?”

Even though Miss Vilyric kept asking questions, Murong Yun could only smile bitterly and shake his head once more.

“I’ve only heard my elders mention it; I don’t know if the rumor is true, but the Endless Ruins Sea is indeed a dangerous place. Of course, with Miss Vilyric’s strength, if you’re really interested, I wouldn’t mind taking you there.”

“After all, the Open Heaven Gate has long been extinct for over a hundred years, and in my generation, it has practically lost its existence, so there’s nothing to lose. But if we can find opportunities in the ruins, maybe there’s a chance to fulfill my parents’ wishes and restore the sect.”

“Hmm…”

Hearing this seemingly carefree and profound statement and feeling the transformative aura around Murong Yun, Miss Priestess was secretly astonished.

This guy’s mindset seems to have undergone quite a change.

Previously, in the Six Lines Formation Palace of the Chaotic Secret Realm, he had entered the Gate of Humanity together with Vilyric, but considering issues like strength and avoiding suspicion, Miss Xiao Kong had not brought Murong Yun out with her, leaving him there to take the assessment instead.

That assessment lasted a long time, only to have him come out covered in dirt the next day after everything settled.

But he truly passed all the tests related to the “Seven Emotions.”

And it was from that moment on that Murong Yun began his solitary cultivation retreat on Peach Blossom Peak until now.

It seems that during that trial of humanity, Murong Yun gained far more than Vilyric did.

“You’ve broken through to the “Seeking Immortal Realm,” right? Congratulations.”

Seeing the black-haired girl bluntly state the truth, Murong Yun was slightly taken aback and awkwardly scratched his head with a smile.

“Just lucky, really. I’ve been stuck at this threshold for several years, and thanks to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I’ve sorted some things out… Of course, compared to someone like Miss Vilyric, a true powerhouse, I’m still far behind.”

Vilyric remained noncommittal.

What level Murong Yun had specifically reached was basically irrelevant to her; whether it was “Seeking Immortal” or “Same Longevity,” even “Brilliant Cloud” or “Transformation,” which are realms nearly impossible for humans to reach, she saw no difference.

What she really cared about was the sect Murong Yun came from and the legacy he bore.

To put it bluntly, she was truly curious about how the “Open Heaven Palm,” a skill that even caused Vilyric to be surprised upon first seeing it, would change after the user reached the Seeking Immortal Realm. The reason why Hen insisted that she must visit the Open Heaven Gate ruins was what Miss Priestess was genuinely concerned and curious about.

Thus, she decided to test it personally.

The girl took a few steps back and pointed at her seemingly delicate and frail shoulder.

“Alright, come on, hit me again like you did back in Yangyuan City. Remember to use your full strength.”

“Huh? Uh…”

Recalling some intolerable past shadows, even though the white-clad middle-aged man who had already resolved many of his inner anxieties couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of his eye, he still instinctively resisted, even knowing the other party just wanted to test his strength.

“Um, isn’t this a bit too much? The Open Heaven Palm is incredibly powerful, and since I’ve broken through, I’ve never used my full strength. What if I hurt Miss Vilyric? Even if it’s just ruining your clothes… After all, you’re a girl…”

“Why are you being such a coward? Just say you’re afraid of being knocked away! Stop with these fancy excuses… This outfit can’t be damaged. Just go ahead and use your full strength!”

Seeing the other person hesitating, the black-haired girl rolled her eyes and confidently stated.

“Hmph! Last time I was surprised and didn’t control my power well. I’ve already raised the threshold for counterattacking very high, so don’t worry at all! There’s absolutely no problem!”

“Uh… this…”

“Come on! If you don’t hit me, I’ll hit you!”

“Fine, fine, I’ll… offend you.”

A moment later.

“Boom!!!!!!!”

The sound of an explosive impact, like thunder, echoed from the mountains of Peach Blossom Peak and soared into the sky.

In an instant, birds took flight, and the Peach Blossom Guards on duty were startled and rushed over to check. Even in the end, figures like Saint Peach Blossom and other big names soon learned of this and made it a topic of jokes during their tea breaks.

Of course, that’s a story for later.

…

About ten days later, in a segment of the official road bordering Xinchuan County in the western region of Dongyuanzhi Kingdom and Cangyun Mountain.

Several weary travelers stepped into a bustling tea shop one after another, casually found a free table on the second floor, and took off their veiled hats, placing them beside the table.

This provoked an abrupt silence around them.

The group consisted of three women and one man. While not many in number, their demeanor was particularly eye-catching in this part of Dongyuanzhi Kingdom.

Unlike the local populace, which typically had bluish hair, it was obvious that aside from the one man with standard gray hair from the Spirit Kingdom, the other three women did not share the same features.

Among them, two had pure, flawless black hair, while the last woman sported a magnificent silver hair, almost unheard of among the races from the Ancient Spirit Realm, cascading like the Milky Way into the shadows, shimmering brilliantly.

Not to mention their strange attire, along with their outstanding beauty and aura, especially the adorable white cat one of them was holding, made them impossible to ignore.

In that moment of unusual quiet, a waiter hurried over, quickly wiped the table from the dust lifted by the wind, and bowed.

“Good day, esteemed guests! What would you like to order?”

The three women, each with differing appearances, seemed uninterested in speaking, but the gray-haired middle-aged man in white, exuding a martial arts master vibe, slightly nodded.

“Just bring us a few signature dishes and a pot of clear wine… No, let’s make it clear tea.”

“Understood, please wait a moment!”

The hustle and bustle resumed as the other guests in the tea shop finally put down their focus on the unusually beautiful quartet and returned to their earlier discussions as if they hadn’t arrived.

Unbothered by the previous moment of attention, the four sat quietly by the table, occasionally gesturing toward the scenery outside the window while whispering a few sentences. It wasn’t long before the waiter quickly approached with a tray holding several small dishes and a large teapot, setting them on the table expertly.

These were standard bar snacks found everywhere in Dongyuanzhi Kingdom; although not particularly luxurious or exquisite, they were decent enough, suitable for passing the time over tea and filling their stomachs.

“The dishes are ready. Enjoy your meal, esteemed guests. If you need anything, just let me know!”

After serving the dishes, the waiter was just turning to leave when the previously outspoken white-clad man suddenly called out to him.

“Wait a minute, young brother. I wanted to ask you something.”

“Oh… Please go ahead, esteemed guest.”

The man glanced out the window, where the rolling hills beyond the official road were densely intertwined. While they didn’t qualify as high peaks, their sheer number made them impressive. Contemplating for a moment, he purposely raised his voice slightly and spoke gently.

“May I ask how far this area is from the Endless Ruins Sea?”

“The Endless Ruins Sea…?”

The waiter pondered for a moment, scratching his head, and then looked puzzled.

“Esteemed guest, there’s no place called the Endless Ruins Sea around here. After all, isn’t it said that the sea only exists very far to the east? How could it appear in a place like Xinchuan County, which is inland? Did you perhaps get the name wrong?”

Upon receiving such a response, the middle-aged man did not express much surprise or disappointment; he simply nodded contemplatively and soon smiled.

“Maybe I remembered the name wrong. I won’t take up your time. Please go ahead.”

   

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