The moment Yunxi appeared outside Kunmo Sect's mountain gate, Xun Kun sensed her. His figure flashed as he appeared before Yunxi and said, "Ran Xi, why did you come in person?"
Yunxi smiled and cupped her hands. "Xun Kun, it has been a while. It is not that I do not trust you. There are some things I need to verify myself, so I came over, and it is a good chance to catch up."
Right on cue, Dian Dian poked its head from Yunxi's sleeve and chirped twice at Xun Kun to announce its presence.
Xun Kun glanced at Dian Dian. "Dian Dian has advanced. That is worth celebrating. It seems you have a guess, which is why you came yourself."
Yunxi nodded. "I do have some guesses. Do you remember the message I sent you shortly after the Central Region war?"
"I remember. You said the Shanhe Scroll had fallen into the hands of the evil cultivators, but Long Ya was not inside. The evil cultivators were also searching for Long Ya's whereabouts.
Now that we have destroyed the obvious passages leading to the Weiyu Realm, the upper-realm evil cultivators cannot intervene for a while. We still have time to redeploy."
Here Xun Kun suddenly stopped. His dark eyes fixed on Yunxi and he said in a low voice, "Ran Xi, are you suspecting that the broken blade in Wei Yunqing's hand is Long Ya?"
"Yes, I have that suspicion."
Xun Kun rubbed his fingers thoughtfully. "If it is Long Ya, why would it allow Wei Yunqing to dismantle it?"
Yunxi shook her head. "I have not seen that broken blade, so I do not know the specifics. But my guess is no more than two possibilities.
First, Long Ya suffered grievous injury and cannot recover in the short term, so it needs a new shell. The best method is to preserve its core, discard the severely damaged parts, and merge into a magic weapon whose artifact spirit has not awakened.
Second, Long Ya's presence in the Weiyu Realm is already exposed. If it shows itself or exerts its power, it will draw attention and slip up sooner or later. Rather than be watched to death, it would shed its shell. Let the cultivators of the Weiyu Realm chase its old husk while it dons new skin to complete its goal.
What could be a better cover than becoming the natal treasure of a righteous cultivator? That is darkness under the lamp. Besides, it is the natal treasure of a Divine Transformation cultivator. How many would question it?"
Hearing Ran Xi's analysis, Xun Kun had to admire her keenness.
"But these are only my guesses. Whether I am right or not will be clear once I examine the leftover scraps from that broken blade. That is why I brought Dian Dian and came in person."
"I understand. Let us go to the Refiners' Association now. I have already informed the refiner."
Xun Kun had always been a man of action. Since Ran Xi had come herself, he did not waste time. He sent a transmission talisman to his master, then vanished with Yunxi from Kunmo Sect's gate.
When Lin Lang received Xun Kun's message, she was discussing Haoran Sect's proposed plan for the Weiyu Realm's ascension with Zhu Ye. After reading it, she said to Zhu Ye, "Ran Xi has come to the Southern Region. Xun Kun is accompanying her to handle some matter. When they are done, I want to ask Xun Kun to invite her to Kunmo Sect as a guest. Do you think that is feasible?"
Since the end of the Central Region war, the top experts of the Weiyu Realm all knew that the four of them had suppressed their cultivation and remained in the realm.
Moreover, the four were stationed in the East, West, South, and North, guarding the four directions and supporting the Central Region. Because of this, when the powers of the Central Region reshuffled, chaos did not erupt. Afterward, the four stayed within their respective sects and only moved for major events.
Zhu Ye frowned. "If Ran Xi has come to the Southern Region, she must have important business. Since Xun Kun is with her, they are handling a matter. We can have Xun Kun extend an invitation. If she is willing, that is best. If she is not, do not force him."
Lin Lang smiled slightly. "That is what I mean. We are in no position to insist."
Zhu Ye's lips curved, then he grew serious. "Senior Sister wants to ask about the Weiyu Realm's ascension."
Lin Lang's smile faded. "Yes. This is not child's play."
Having decided, the two sent a message to Xun Kun.
By then, Yunxi and Xun Kun had already stepped into the Refiners' Association. The fifth-rank refiner who had helped Wei Yunqing re-refine her natal sword, Yu Linlang, personally led them to his refining room.
Pointing at the materials on the floor and the residue in the furnace, Yu Linlang said, "Please look. These are the remnants after dismantling the broken blade. I left them exactly as they were. I have not even cleaned the furnace."
Xun Kun nodded. "Thank you for the trouble."
He turned to Yunxi.
Without needing a command, Dian Dian hopped from its master's sleeve, sniffed the misshapen piles twice, then scrambled up the refining furnace. It drew in two long sniffs over the residue before jumping down.
"Master, there is no mistake. This is the scent of the evil weapon Long Ya. The evil aura on these materials has already faded to a trace. If Master had come one day later, it would have dissipated completely.
Fortunately, Dian Dian is now fourth rank. My nose is sharper than before, or we really might have missed it."
A spark flashed in Yunxi's almond eyes and the corner of her lips lifted. It seemed her deduction was almost certainly correct.
She swept her sleeve to bring Dian Dian back and said to Yu Linlang, "It is best if you destroy all these scraps. If possible, burn your furnace with an exotic flame before you refine again."
Yu Linlang's heart gave a jolt at Ran Xi Zūnzhě's words. Some things did not need to be said outright for him to understand. He bowed. "Thank you for the reminder, Ran Xi Zūnzhě. I will remember."
Ran Xi Zūnzhě nodded, then left the Refiners' Association with Xun Kun.
Xun Kun released a flying boat, and the two headed toward Kunmo Sect. "Ran Xi, your guess should be very close to the truth. I still do not understand why it had to be Wei Yunqing."
Sitting cross-legged, Yunxi propped her chin on her hand. "I do not know why it is Wei Yunqing either. Perhaps because she is my elder sister. Do you not find her existence strange, as if she was created specifically to suppress me, only she has not succeeded?"
Xun Kun thought it over seriously. He had crossed paths with Ran Xi in the secret realm of Baohua Mountain and had truly grown familiar during the ten years they were trapped in the Shanhe Scroll after being pulled in during the Five Region Grand Tournament.
Wei Yunqing had been there too. As Ran Xi's elder sister, she had drawn his attention. Observing her, he felt Wei Yunqing carried some measure of fortune. Her combat strength was not the strongest, yet she possessed many odd treasures and always escaped danger. She was one of the five Nascent Soul cultivators who left the Shanhe Scroll alive.
"But she never once surpassed you. The fact that she lived was thanks to your presence."
"That is because I kept her suppressed and wore down a good portion of her luck. Otherwise, the outcome would be hard to say."
A glint flashed in Xun Kun's eyes. He rubbed the soul bell at his waist and suddenly said,"Ran Xi, have you considered that Wei Yunqing might be a chess piece the upper-realm evil cultivators planted in the Weiyu Realm long ago? Beyond stifling you, the cultivator who disrupts their plans, she could be meant to act at critical moments, like helping Long Ya shed its shell this time."