Xian Yao and Xian Feng exchanged a glance. They both knew this conversation was inevitable. Xian Yao was the first to speak.
"As for the disappearance of the Shanhe Scroll, Xian Feng and I know very little. We only left the sect to search for it after receiving a message from our master, Hua Tong Zūnzhě. Hua Yu Zūnzhě mentioned that the theft of the Shanhe Scroll was likely tied to evil cultivators from the Upper Realm."
Yunxi nodded, as this matched their own speculation. She waited for the rest of the story.
This time, Xian Feng spoke. "We don't know much about the teleportation array that links to the Upper Realm either. Because it's a cross-realm formation, each activation consumes a tremendous number of spirit stones, so it's rarely used.
Traditionally, after every Five Region Grand Tournament, our sect would send its most outstanding disciples—along with those recommended by the other four regions—to Huaxian Gate, then transmit them ahead of time to the Upper Realm. The Ancestors who ascended from Huaxian Gate would be there to receive them.
But this time, with all the chaos during the tournament, our sect lost many talented Nascent Soul disciples. In the end, the array was never activated.
We still don't know what method the evil cultivators used to forcibly open the formation from the other side, but that's how they invaded Huaxian Gate's territory. At that time, Xian Yao and I were in the Qinghua Mountain Range searching for the Shanhe Scroll. We were ambushed by evil cultivators there. Once we received an urgent transmission from the sect, we returned to the Central Region with several Zūnzhě from Mingjian Gate, Kunmo Sect, and Haoran Sect."
Yunxi frowned thoughtfully. "From what you've said, the other side of the channel is now in the hands of evil cultivators. That means you've completely lost contact with Huaxian Gate's Ancestors in the Upper Realm."
Xian Yao nodded heavily. "Yes. In fact, even before the Five Region Grand Tournament, we had stopped receiving any news from the Ancestors in the Upper Realm. But the Ancestors of our sect refused to give up hope. They insisted on keeping the teleportation array, believing that if anything ever happened, they could use it to send disciples away."
A glimmer of light flashed in Yunxi's apricot eyes. "So it seems your elders in Huaxian Gate foresaw that something would happen in Weiyu Realm. They made preparations, but in doing so, they left a dangerous opening—one that the evil cultivators exploited."
Xian Yao sighed deeply and finally nodded.
Yunxi suddenly asked, "Do you know what the real danger in Weiyu Realm is?"
Xian Yao and Xian Feng exchanged a wary look. Xian Yao hesitated before replying,
"The evil cultivators want to turn Weiyu Realm into their territory."
"Half right," Yunxi said. "But have you thought about why? Weiyu Realm is only a low-level cultivation world. Why are the evil cultivators so obsessed with it? Five hundred years ago, they started the war between good and evil, and even after their defeat, they've never stopped using underhanded means to target the elite cultivators of this realm. You both witnessed it firsthand. You should understand this better than I do."
Xian Yao's expression shifted dramatically, her heart sinking. Yunxi's words told her that the truth was something they wouldn't want to hear.
Beside her, Xian Feng also seemed to realize something. He cupped his hands. "Zūnzhě, since you returned from the Upper Realm, you must know the truth. Could you tell us, so that we may prepare ourselves?"
Yunxi didn't deny it. Her voice was calm.
"The body of the Evil God is sealed within Weiyu Realm. That's why the evil cultivators have attacked time and again. Their attempt to seize Long Ya was to locate the Evil God's sealed body. Unfortunately for them, my self-detonation of an immortal artifact severely damaged Long Ya, and it was sealed back into the Shanhe Scroll.
But now the Shanhe Scroll has been taken by the evil cultivators. Not long ago, I personally went to the Qinghua Mountain Range to search for its whereabouts, but I found nothing."
Xian Yao clenched her fists tightly. It was now clear why their Ancestors had been so stubborn about leaving contingency plans behind. Shanhe Scroll's loss meant Long Ya would inevitably fall into the hands of the evil cultivators, and finding the Evil God's sealed body would only be a matter of time.
Once that seal was broken, she dared not imagine the state Weiyu Realm would fall into. Even Xian Feng's deeply furrowed brows betrayed his unease.
Both of them understood that Huaxian Gate's current situation was not undeserved. But neither knew how to respond to Ran Xi Zūnzhě's words.
Yunxi had no intention of humiliating them. After all, they weren't the ones who had made these decisions. She only wanted them to deliver her message to Hua Yu Zūnzhě. Whether Hua Yu had been aware of these truths or not, they were all facing the same reality: the evil cultivators would never relent, especially now that they possessed the Shanhe Scroll.
"Take this message to Hua Yu Zūnzhě. He'll know what to do next."
"Yes."
Ashamed, the two dared not linger and quickly left. They finally understood why cultivators from the other four regions had been unwilling to commit fully to exterminating the remaining evil cultivators entrenched in Huaxian Gate.
After they departed, Yunxi spoke to the Snow Wolf King pair. "Tomorrow, I'll need the two of you to stretch your legs. Hunt down the remaining evil cultivators swiftly. Time is running out for Weiyu Realm."
She handed Xue Ying a vial of medicine she had long prepared: Su Sheng—"Tracing Life." This elixir could trace back to one's source and use vitality to heal and restore damaged bodies.
Xue Ying's cultivation had dropped because she had exhausted her source energy while carrying her cub. She had also been injured during the battle with the evil cultivators, leading to the cub's premature birth. To save it, she had sacrificed even more of her own essence, losing a full cultivation rank.
Xue Ying sniffed the vial, catching the thick fragrance of vitality. Beside her, Xue Li nodded at her reassuringly before turning to Yunxi.
"Zūnzhě, I'll guard Xue Ying while she recovers her strength. Once she's healed, we'll join the fight."
"Good. I'll send you both into the Misty Snow Domain. When Xue Ying has fully recovered, I'll release you. For now, stay close to me for a few days. Once we return to the sect, I'll have a proper reason to store you back in my space."
"Thank you for considering us, Zūnzhě."
The wolves were perceptive, and Yunxi got along with them easily. Since she had asked for their help, she would keep her word.
After sending them into her space, Yunxi sent messages to Han Lian and the others, telling them to relent and stop putting pressure on Huaxian Gate.
Upon receiving her message, Han Lian remembered that Bai Feng was still guarding the damaged teleportation channel inside Huaxian Gate. She sent him a voice transmission. "Bai Feng, how are things on your end? Have the evil cultivators from the Upper Realm tried to repair the teleportation array?"
Bai Feng's tone carried a trace of grievance. "Master, you finally remembered me. I thought you'd forgotten all about me."
Han Lian's face flushed with guilt. She had, in fact, forgotten him—but she would never admit it. She quickly explained.
"How could I forget you? I only just returned from Qinghua Mountain after handling some matters. Now that everything's settled, tomorrow we'll wipe out the remaining evil cultivators. I'll come for you personally. Just coordinate with our forces for now."
Bai Feng shook his ears in satisfaction but added through the transmission, "The evil cultivators from the Upper Realm aren't giving up. They're still trying to reconnect this passage."