Radiance fanned across the skies over Yunxiao Sea, and the waters shifted from glass-still to violently churning. Something long buried in the depths had begun to rise. It would not be long now before the estate of that mighty cultivator emerged.
More cultivators arrived by the moment. The earliest to reach the site were the top figures from each region, with others racing in after receiving the news. The Western Region lay closest to Yunxiao Sea, so its cultivators were first on the scene.
Thus, when Wei Yunqing was yanked into the flying boat by Ran Xi Zūnzhě, many Western Region cultivators saw it happen.
Having just steadied herself, Wei Yunqing looked at Yunxi with a mix of embarrassment and anger."Ran Xi Zūnzhě, why have you dragged me aboard your flying boat? What orders do you have?"
Though Wei Yunqing's expression and tone were poor, she dared not show true disrespect. She feared that if she provoked this grim deity of a woman again, Yunxi would toss her into some remote corner of the world like last time, making her miss this fortuitous chance. This estate was unsealed by Wei Yunqing, and Wei Yunqing was determined to claim a share.
Yunxi regarded the robust voice of Wei Yunqing with a cold gaze. Her divine sense swept through Wei Yunqing's entire body. Li Li poked its head out of the spirit beast pouch, black eyes gleaming as it stared for a moment, then sent a mental message. "Zūnzhě, this fool's body hasn't been invaded by an evil soul, but there is damage on her dantian. I don't know what she is so pleased about."
"I know," Yunxi replied.
Dian Dian squeezed out beside Li Li, twitched its little nose, then squeaked, "Master, did this woman fall into a pile of evil cultivators? Her body reeks of foul energy. How can she not feel it? She stinks a good three streets downwind."
Yunxi's eyes flashed. "Dian Dian, you're certain?"
"Certain. She hasn't been replaced by an evil soul, but she must have been around evil cultivators for a long time. Otherwise she wouldn't be marinated in baleful energy like this."
"Good. I understand."
The two little ones ducked back into the pouch to watch the show.
Grinding her teeth, Wei Yunqing endured the blatant divine sense probe. She knew exactly what Yunxi was doing, but Wei Yunqing was not Yunxi's match. She took a deep breath. "Ran Xi Zūnzhě, what do you want from me?"
Yunxi withdrew her divine sense and stared coldly. "This Lord simply wanted to know how I ended up sharing blood with a fool like you."
"You, what are you doing?"
Anger still simmered in Wei Yunqing, but the next instant a sharp pain lanced her fingertip. A bead of blood flew into Yunxi's palm. Now truly enraged, Wei Yunqing shouted, "Wei Yunxi, what are you doing? I haven't even offended you. I've stayed far away from you for forty years!"
Yunxi ignored the tirade. She flicked Wei Yunqing's blood into a formation, then added a drop of her own. She intended to verify whether the two of them were truly of the same bloodline.
Wei Yunqing was no idiot. She understood Yunxi's intention, staring at the formation in disbelief.
Five breaths later, Yunxi watched the bloodline-verification array absorb the two beads of blood and close into a ring. The result was clear. Yunxi and Wei Yunqing were indeed kin by blood. The conclusion left Yunxi just a tiny bit disappointed. She erased the formation and turned a regretful gaze on Wei Yunqing.
Wei Yunqing shuddered. She now understood what Yunxi had tried to do. Yunxi had wanted a way to deny their kinship, so she could act without restraint. Wei Yunqing's lips trembled, her words breaking up. "Wei Yunxi, what are you trying to do? Deny that we're sisters, then kill me without any burden… How can you be this vicious?"
Yunxi leaned back in her chair, voice cool. "Wei Yunqing, if this Lord wanted you dead, would I need to go to such trouble? You should be grateful there is blood tying us together. Without it, you would have died many times already. Besides, you are nearly courting death on your own."
Wei Yunqing clenched her fists. She could not deny the truth of Yunxi's words.
Yunxi continued, "Wei Yunqing, when you were gravely injured by a late fifth-rank Lingli in the Qinghua Mountain Range, where did you use the Ten-Thousand-Mile Teleportation Talisman to send yourself? Was it to the seafloor beneath Yunxiao Sea? Why could I not find you, even using a bloodline-tracing art?"
Shaking with fury one moment, Wei Yunqing blurted the next, "How do you know? You watched me get gravely injured and didn't even help—"
Yunxi cut Wei Yunqing off with a wave, amusement in her voice. "Wei Yunqing, are you truly stupid, or pretending? You bought the damaged 'Long Ya' at Zhenbao Pavilion, asked Yu Linlang to separate the pieces, then fused 'Yinshui Stone' into your natal sword to raise its grade to spirit treasure.
After that, you went on a killing spree in the Qinghua Mountain Range. You didn't look like someone who needed help. And didn't your natal sword's sword spirit awaken?
You basked in your own glory for quite a while. Without even investigating the background of Qinghua Mountain Range's overlord, Shi Lin, you barged in to pick a fight. If you provoke first, be ready to be counter-killed. Why should this Lord help you?"
Faced with Yunxi's rapid-fire questions and the precise recounting of Wei Yunqing's movements, Wei Yunqing was momentarily speechless. She felt a twinge of guilt. Cultivators across Weiyu Realm were searching for the unsealed Long Ya. Wei Yunqing had heard as much after leaving seclusion. But at a time like this, Wei Yunqing would never admit anything.
After a moment, Wei Yunqing retorted, "I don't know what you're talking about. I never saw Long Ya. I drew a downgraded azure saber while treasure-picking at Zhenbao Pavilion."
Yunxi almost rolled her eyes. Had she not been clear enough? "Wei Yunqing, do you truly believe Long Ya was completely ruined, its blade spirit extinguished? You should know why Weiyu Realm is seeking Long Ya. Think again. Who brought you to this sealed estate?
And why could this Lord not find you, even with bloodline-tracing? You know my strength. It made me suspect we weren't blood-related at all. Otherwise I should never have lost your trail."
This time the words sank in. Wei Yunqing froze for a long while, then reflexively touched her own dantian before looking up. "My dantian wound…"
Yunxi raised an eyebrow. "It has not healed."
"That's impossible. We clearly refined the 'Busi Tree'. My dantian was already repaired!"
Wei Yunqing's expression twisted as she roared.
"Busi Tree? No wonder something could lure you into undoing a sealing formation. You really… I don't even know what to say."
"No, no, no. That can't be true!"
Wei Yunqing's legs weakened and she staggered back two steps. The next instant, a sphere of lightning dropped onto Wei Yunqing. Yunxi's voice sounded in her ear, icy-cold. "Take a proper look at yourself. See what you have become."