Whoosh
The howling wind was so loud it resembled the roar of an abyssal beast. In an instant, a sea of sand surged upward, blotting out the sky.
Sand stretched as far as the eye could see. This was a desert where terrible sandstorms raged without end, and in the midst of one such storm, four figures could be seen zipping through the sky.
At the front were a handsome young man and a beautiful woman. Behind them followed two men, one wearing a blank expression while the other looked as if he could not believe what he was seeing.
Along the way, Helian Lingzhu's eyes had been fixed on Yun Wuji's side profile the entire time. The way she looked at him was enough for even the densest beta Japanese protagonist to realize how deeply she had fallen.
She tried again and again to strike up a conversation, but each time she opened her mouth, no words came out, a crushing sense of shame and inferiority overwhelming her heart and filling her with panic. Yun Wuji's very being exuded an air of superiority that he could not conceal even if he wished to.
His presence seemed to flow from the depths of his marrow, as if he had been destined since birth to rule over the nine heavens and all living things.
For someone like her, who, despite being born a princess, had spent most of her life living cautiously, never able to lift her head when facing other powers, Yun Wuji's strength, appearance, and temperament gave rise to an overwhelming sense of inferiority within her.
On the other hand, Mo Cangying was flying on autopilot, as if his soul had long since departed. He could not believe that his Goddess, the woman he had been simping for since the days of puberty, had fallen in love with another man.
Watching this scene, a quote suddenly came to mind, one that described the situation all too perfectly. 'A lifetime of love… could not compare to one heartfelt moment.'
'Poor guy, perhaps this experience will finally wake him up and make him understand that simping never works?' Yun Wuji pitied the man behind him.
As they passed through another sandstorm, they suddenly sensed a powerful aura streaking toward them from the east. The light returned to Mo Cangying's eyes as he exclaimed, "It's Senior Mo Beichen!"
The figure of a man appeared in their vision, his body enveloped in a yellow profound aura as he flew toward them at incredible speed. He radiated a power far beyond that of the guards Yun Wuji had slaughtered earlier. It was the aura of a Half-Step Divine Extinction Realm expert.
'Mo Beichen? Is this not the man who nearly conquered the entire Primal Chaos with his power alone?' Yun Wuji's eyes shone with interest as they locked onto the figure rushing their way.
Back in the novel, with only the power of the 2nd Level Divine Extinction Realm, he had pushed Yun Che to the brink of death. If not for the sacrifices of He Ling, Huo Poyun, and Cang Shitian, the Primal Chaos might very well have fallen into his hands.
"Your Highness, forgive me for being late." Upon reaching them, Mo Beichen bowed his head respectfully, his expression grave. His features were plain, yet his eyes carried a stern weight, and he wore a yellow earth robe.
Back when Helian Lingzhu had been extorted by Zhai Liancheng's group, Mo Cangying had reached out to Mo Beichen for help.
Mo Beichen was the most talented person to be born in the Qilin Abyss Realm in over ten thousand years. Everyone believed that if anyone could step into the Divine Extinction Realm, it would be him. He enjoyed the full support of the Helian Dynasty, and even other sects approached him and his potential with caution.
He was serious, rigid, and loyal, dedicating his life to becoming an abyssal knight, bringing glory to the Helian Dynasty, and ultimately taking his wife to the Pure Land. A place free of the Abyssal Dust.
Mo Beichen's eyes shifted to the unfamiliar figure flying alongside the princess, and his expression suddenly froze. He was taken aback, not only by the man's appearance but, more importantly, by the aura Yun Wuji radiated.
"Uncle Mo Beichen, thank you for coming," Helian Lingzhu quickly introduced Yun Wuji. "This is Senior Yun Wuji. We were fortunate enough to be saved by him."
Mo Beichen's brows twitched, but he said nothing. He was far too smart to antagonize someone so powerful merely because he suspected their motives. Clasping his hands, he expressed his gratitude. "Thank you for helping Her Highness. I would like to formally invite you to the imperial palace to express our thanks."
"We were already on the way," Yun Wuji replied casually, showing little interest in the man. Glancing at Helian Lingzhu, he added, "Let's go."
"Yes!" Helian Lingzhu blushed at the two words and responded immediately. The group of five continued their flight.
It did not take long before Yun Wuji began picking up human auras nearby. Another half hour later, a massive city rose on the horizon.
"I will go inform His Majesty about what happened. Your Highness, please arrange accommodations for the esteemed guest," Mo Beichen said upon entering the city. Bidding farewell to Yun Wuji, he flew off in the direction of the royal palace.
Helian Lingzhu readily agreed. She was more than happy to spend even a little more time with Yun Wuji. Even if they barely spoke, just being near him made her heart light with happiness. Meanwhile, Mo Cangying's face was growing paler by the second. In the end, he said, "I will go with Senior Mo Beichen." Without waiting for her response, he followed his senior clansman.
The place assigned to Yun Wuji was a luxurious palace, made from divine jade and crystals. It looked grand and opulent, yet to him it still fell far short of the palaces in the Primal Chaos. What caught his attention most, however, was the barrier surrounding the palace.
After telling Helian Lingzhu that he wished to be alone, he watched her leave with reluctant glances.
Yun Wuji slowly raised his hand, feeling the abyssal dust in the air. It was at least a dozen times thinner than in the raging storms outside, so thin that the natives probably couldn't sense it since they were born here. But for a newcomer like Yun Wuji, the abyssal dust felt so distinct and clear that he could almost believe it was tangible.
The resources and space in this world were extremely limited. Normally, anyone deemed untalented or useless would be thrown away, sent to the outside world to fend for themselves. For example, the rule in the Helian Dynasty stated that anyone who failed to reach the Divine Tribulation Realm by the age of fifteen would be expelled.
There were, of course, some exceptions. In the novel, for instance, Mo Beichen's daughters were clearly talentless, yet they remained within the dynasty thanks to their father's talent and power. That privilege, however, lasted only until the 'wise and talented' Helian Jue ordered their banishment shortly after rumors spread that Mo Beichen had died.
Yun Wuji waved his hand casually, setting up a barrier around the room. He then sat on a chair and stretched his hands. The abyssal dust, now very thin, slowly gathered into his palm, forming a small lump.
Back then, when he first came to this world, he felt like an air-breathing mortal who was tossed into a world that was full of poisonous swamps. The so-called air he breathed in was utterly toxic, and it was silently invading his body and devouring his flesh, his blood, his bones, his energies and even his soul all the time.
Now, the abyssal dust had absolutely no effect on him. On the contrary, he could control it, though the degree of control was still far below what he desired.
Closing his eyes, Yun Wuji's mind sank into the world of his profound veins. The world stretched out like a starry universe, shining with silver light, the seven gigantic elemental stars radiating multiple colors, and the seventy-eight spinning vortexes resembling wormholes.
His Heretic Body sat cross-legged amidst this silent yet beautiful world, motionless like a corpse. Since he did not need it at the moment, Yun Wuji had severed his senses from it.
At that moment, something new appeared in this inner world. The lump of abyssal dust, hovering in his hand, appeared within the space.
"What are you doing?" Li Suo's image appeared inside the world of his profound veins, exclaiming in horror. She had seen before just how deadly the abyssal dust could be.
Technically, abyssal dust wasn't a poison and definitely not a living thing. In essence, it was a higher power that was beyond the control of all entities who were beneath it, which was to say, everyone. That was why the so-called "erosion" was really much, much worse than it sounded. It was also far deadlier than any poison that the Abyss was aware of.
Allowing abyssal dust to enter one's own profound veins was a death sentence.
"Getting closer to the abyssal dust, or rather, the power of extinction," Yun Wuji replied casually. Compared to using his senses to explore it, placing it inside the world of his profound veins, where everything was completely under his control, made it far easier and faster for him to understand.
Of course, not just anyone could do that. Heck, if even a tiny bit of abyssal dust touched their profound veins, they would be forced to sever that section. But Yun Wuji could control the abyssal dust, so he was not worried at all.
...
"Mo Beichen, Cangying, you've returned."
Helian Jue was currently standing at the center of the main hall. As was only natural, his imperial robe and crown were brownish yellow in color. His gaze was sharp and dignified, but it was missing the natural arrogance a ruler of an entire realm should possess.
He shot a glance at the door and saw his daughter's figure, Helian Lingzhu, entering. "Royal Father." After being 'chased' by Yun Wuji, she had decided to meet her father and speak to him about Yun Wuji.
"You came as well," Helian Jue said calmly. If anyone did not know of his 'impressive' reputation, they might genuinely believe he was a real emperor.
"I've made you worry, Royal Father," Helian Lingzhu stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"As long as you are safe," Helian Jue sighed. "If anything, it is my fault that you had to endure such a thing."
Well, at least he was conscious enough to recognize that it was his own incompetence that had caused his daughter to suffer such a disgrace.
"Mo Beichen, you did a good job. Sorry for troubling you again," Helian Jue said, glancing at the dynasty's only hope and speaking with genuine gratitude.
"I do not deserve your praise, Your Majesty. I was not the one who helped Her Highness this time," Mo Beichen said calmly, shaking his head as he glanced at the princess.
"Oh, really?" Helian Jue's brows rose in surprise. He followed Mo Beichen's gaze and looked at his daughter.
"Royal Father, the person who helped us was Yun Wuji," Helian Lingzhu explained, her eyes shining with admiration and infatuation, much to Mo Cangying's pain.
...
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