Chapter 1115: Heavenly Secret Sealing the Boundary

Yun Che had merely asked a probing question, with no certainty. To his surprise, that single sentence instantly agitated the girl. "Nonsense! I'm not from the Heaven Origin Realm! Everyone in the Heaven Origin Realm is a bunch of old, ugly, and weird grandpas! How dare you say that a cute little loli like me is from the Heaven Origin Realm? That's too much! How hateful!!"

"..." Yun Che stared, his momentum instantly deflating. "I... I didn't mean that. I just said it offhand..."

"That's exactly what you meant!" Little Jasmine fumed, her face full of anger. "This is the greatest insult to a pretty girl! Hmph! I'm not talking to you anymore!"

After scolding him furiously, Little Jasmine truly turned and flew far away.

"Hey!" Yun Che instinctively reached out, but after a thought, he didn't try to stop her. He muttered to himself, "How inexplicable."

"You're not even going to chase after me and coax me?!" The girl's even angrier shout came from afar. "I'm really not talking to you this time!"

As her voice faded, the girl's speed increased, and she quickly vanished from Yun Che's sight.

Little Jasmine did not reappear after leaving, even when Yun Che returned to Black Soul City.

She appeared innocent, even childish and unreasonable, but upon closer inspection, she had been meticulously careful from beginning to end. Yet, her eyes were exceptionally pure and flawless, like crystals embedded with stars. She had never given him a sense of danger, and although she had nearly killed him twice, for some reason, Yun Che couldn't bring himself to dislike her at all. When she inexplicably left in a huff this time, he felt a sense of relief mixed with a slight reluctance.

"It's time to go to the Heaven Origin Realm. I hope I can gain something there." Thinking of the billions of profound stones he possessed, Yun Che felt quite confident. No matter how "upper" the Upper Star Realm was, he didn't believe that so many profound stones couldn't get him two "Heavenly Secrets"!

Arriving at the Black Feather Merchant Guild, Sir Ji had already returned. Seeing Yun Che, he immediately stood up and stepped forward, exclaiming with great excitement, "Young Master Lingyun, the Soul Sect is finished! The landscape of the Black Soul Realm is about to undergo a major change, and our Black Feather Merchant Guild has been reborn. All of this is thanks to you, Young Master. Your great kindness is beyond repayment... Please accept my bow, Ji."

After speaking excitedly, Sir Ji bowed deeply before Yun Che.

Although everything Yun Che did was not for the Black Feather Merchant Guild, the outcome was indeed a heaven-sent boon for them.

Yun Che stepped forward to help him up, saying, "Sir Ji, there's no need for this. I came here today because I have a request."

"Are you perhaps preparing to depart for the Heaven Origin Realm, Young Master?" Sir Ji asked, then smiled. "Ru Yan has already mentioned your matter to me. To find rare worldly treasures like the Nine-Star Buddha God Jade and the Emperor Immortal Grass in a short period, the Heaven Origin Realm is indeed an excellent choice, though the cost will be extremely high. However, since you have this intention, you must have already made preparations."

"As for traveling to the Heaven Origin Realm," Sir Ji's smile widened, "in fact, just half an hour ago, Ru Yan personally began arranging this matter. Please rest here for a short while, Young Master, and I believe it should be ready soon..."

"Young Master!"

Before Sir Ji could finish, Ji Ruyan's slightly hurried voice came from behind him. Sir Ji turned, frowning at Ruyan's appearance. "What happened?"

"Young Master, we just received news." Ji Ruyan looked at Yun Che. "A few hours ago, the Heaven Origin Realm suddenly announced its closure, refusing all visitors. All dimensional profound formations leading to the Heaven Origin Realm have also become inoperable."

"This..." Sir Ji's brows furrowed deeply. "How could something like this happen?"

"It's said to be for the upcoming Profound God Convention, but whether that's true or false, only the Heaven Origin Realm itself would know," Ji Ruyan said.

"..." Yun Che's chest heaved as he asked, "Did they say when the closure would end?"

"It will take more than two years; it's said the closure won't be lifted until after the Profound God Convention concludes," Ji Ruyan replied, her expression dim. No one could have foreseen such an unfortunate turn of events.

"..." Yun Che felt as if he had been doused with cold water from head to toe. After a long silence, he said, "Since I can't go to the Heaven Origin Realm, then any Upper Star Realm will do, as long as there's a chance to find the Emperor Immortal Grass."

"Young Master..." Ji Ruyan bit her lip lightly, then suddenly said with determined eyes, "How about you stay in the Black Soul Realm for now? Leave the task of finding the Nine-Star Buddha God Jade and Emperor Immortal Grass to us. You've shown us great kindness, and we will do everything in our power."

"No need, I can find them myself. I've already found the Nine-Star Buddha God Jade, and for the Emperor Immortal Grass... there's always hope," Yun Che shook his head. Although the Black Feather Merchant Guild had extensive influence and strong intelligence capabilities, this was, after all, a Lower Star Realm. To find the Emperor Immortal Grass, only the highest-tier Upper Star Realms offered a glimmer of possibility.

"Young Master!" Sir Ji said with utmost solemnity, "Ru Yan is right; it would be better to leave this matter to us. Your abilities and resolve are astounding, Young Master, unlike anything I've seen in my life. However, you are ultimately alone and have only recently arrived in the God Realm. While our Black Feather Merchant Guild is situated in the Lower Realm, we have a foundation of fifty thousand years. Our intelligence network covers countless Lower Star Realms and maintains regular contact with numerous Mid-tier, and even some Upper Star Realms. Therefore, in terms of searching capability, the Black Feather Merchant Guild is definitely far superior to you alone."

"..." Yun Che's expression wavered.

"I am a businessman, and I never wish to owe anyone anything, especially kindness. Your benevolence, Young Master, is as vast as the heavens, yet we couldn't even fulfill the small request of sending you to the Heaven Origin Realm. My heart is filled with shame beyond measure." Sir Ji extended a finger, his expression and voice deeply solemn. "One year, Young Master, please give us one year. Now that we've shaken off the Soul Sect's control, our operations are completely free. We will spare no effort and utilize every available intelligence channel to search for the Emperor Immortal Grass for you. If found, and within our capabilities, we will deliver it directly to you. If not, we will inform you immediately. Please trust us."

"If... after a year, we still find nothing, then we will no longer have the face to ask you to stay, Young Master."

Sir Ji spoke with immense sincerity and urgency, using a tone that was almost pleading, despite offering to help Yun Che.

Indeed, he was fundamentally a businessman, and the Black Feather Merchant Guild's current standing was also linked to their generational principles of conduct. He yearned to repay Yun Che, even at great cost.

Yun Che was deeply moved... It was true; he was, after all, alone. Apart from the Snow Song Realm and the Black Soul Realm, he knew nothing about other star realms and only had a very vague concept of the entire God Realm's structure.

As for searching for news of the Emperor Immortal Grass... how could he, alone, compare to the Black Feather Merchant Guild, which had been rooted in the God Realm for fifty thousand years, its branches and leaves extending to unknown places?

At once, Yun Che no longer hesitated. He nodded and said, "Alright, then I'll entrust this to Sir Ji and Miss Ruyan."

"Excellent!" Seeing Yun Che nod, Sir Ji smiled with relief. "Tomorrow, I will fully push this matter forward, Young Master, please rest assured. If you have no other place to go, please stay at Black Feather; I will arrange it immediately..."

"No, thank you," Yun Che shook his head. "Until the Emperor Immortal Grass is found, I will cultivate in the Black Soul Mountains. Oh, and there's one more thing I'd like to trouble Sir Ji with: the Soul Sect must have hidden many high-grade profound swords. If it's convenient, please procure some for me... the more, the better."

"Very well, I await good news then."

Forced to remain in the Black Soul Realm and having entrusted the matter of the Emperor Immortal Grass to the Black Feather Merchant Guild, Yun Che cast aside distracting thoughts and re-entered a state of cultivation.

The depths of the Black Soul Mountain Range were home to numerous high-level profound beasts, many of which posed a significant threat to Yun Che. There were even late-stage Divine Tribulation profound beasts that Yun Che couldn't handle, and possibly even Divine Spirit profound beasts.

Arriving in an area dense with profound beasts, Yun Che descended and summoned Hong'er. His mind quickly settled. With a low roar, profound energy burst from his body. Amidst the surging air currents, profound beasts within dozens of miles were startled, causing the ground to shake and roars to echo across the sky.

He swung his heavy sword, unleashing streaks of crimson-gold flames. After Hong'er consumed the Eternal Night Devil Sword, the Heaven Smiting Sword's power and weight had both surged, making it difficult for him to wield for a long time. Now, however, the Heaven Smiting Sword felt incredibly agile in his hands, yet its unleashed sword might was like a heaven-overturning tempest, shaking the entire mountain range.

"Roar—"

With a thunderous roar, a mountain-like colossal beast suddenly lunged down from a tall mountain behind him. As it descended, a massive shadow completely enveloped the space where Yun Che stood.

Without turning his body, Yun Che launched the Heaven Smiting Sword in reverse. As the air currents twisted, the fiery sword qi struck, shattering the colossal beast's body in mid-air. The exploding blood was instantly pushed away by the surging air, scattering more than ten miles away.

The spreading scent of blood immediately attracted more profound beasts, and a multitude of auras began to converge on Yun Che's location. This was exactly what Yun Che desired. Comfortable cultivation made him barely feel any progress in profound energy, and even his heart was gradually becoming restless.

He needed dangerous situations, even death-defying predicaments!

This was also what Jasmine had once taught him.

The Black Soul Mountains trembled faintly as roars, howls, and pained cries began to shake the heavens, incessant. Countless plants, flesh, and flames scattered across the sky.

For a long time, the chaos did not subside.

The profound beast corpses around him piled higher, and flames spread dozens of miles away. Yun Che's body began to feel a slight exhaustion and weakness, yet the power of each of his sword strikes grew fiercer, and his blood boiled even more intensely.

But he didn't know that, far above, a pair of eyes had been silently watching him the entire time.

Little Jasmine sat with her legs bent on a cloud, resting her chin in her hands, her eyes fixed on Yun Che without a single blink. She had maintained this posture for a long time, watching quietly and intently. She didn't even know why she had been watching such a seemingly boring thing for so long and with such focus, unwilling to avert her gaze.

Half an hour passed, and the profound beasts' roars finally ceased. Yun Che knelt, leaning on his sword, his body trembling violently from the exertion of his ragged breaths. Around him, the pulverized profound beasts were enough to form a small mountain, and the stench of blood was nauseatingly pungent.

Yun Che leaned against a shattered rock, beginning to heal his wounds, his expression terrifyingly calm... because at this point, such horrifying injuries were nothing more than common and routine for him.

"He really... is very similar," Little Jasmine murmured softly, her gaze still fixed on Yun Che, her eyes unconsciously drifting into a haze.