Chapter 1364: Unintentional Moon Chan (Part 2)

Feng Xian'er flew back to the center of the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range with Yun Che. She only retracted the fiery glow covering Yun Che when Ling Jie's aura had completely vanished from her divine perception.

Yun Che's expression remained indifferent.

"It's alright," Feng Xian'er said with a comforting smile. "My father once secretly told me that Benefactor Brother might not be willing to leave here for many years, but it's only been a little over a month. As expected of Benefactor Brother, you're truly amazing."

Yun Che tilted his head slightly, exhaling a long, turbid breath from his chest. "Was that what you called the 'Profound Beast Rebellion' just now?"

"Yes," Feng Xian'er nodded. "The Profound Beast Rebellion hasn't been happening for long, less than a year. It first started in the east, then gradually spread westward, and it's spreading faster and faster."

"It's said that similar situations have appeared not only in the Azure Wind Nation but also in the eastern part of the Illusory Demon Realm."

Yun Che was silent.

"But don't worry," Feng Xian'er said. "The Azure Wind Nation is protected by the Phoenix Divine Sect, and every Profound Beast Rebellion has been quickly suppressed. It's not considered a major disaster."

Profound Beast Rebellion... started in the east... spreading west...

Feng Xian'er's words echoed in his mind, but he couldn't focus on them and quickly pushed them aside.

Otherwise, he would have surely realized something.

"The 'Phoenix Goddess' you mentioned earlier, that's Xue'er... isn't it?" Yun Che asked. Before his eyes appeared the image of that woman with a captivating beauty, extraordinary background, and immense talent, whose devotion to him surpassed everything else. The fleeting glimpse he had of her before passing out beneath Phoenix Perching Cliff had left an indelible mark deep within his soul, one he could never forget.

"Yes," Feng Xian'er nodded, her phoenix eyes showing deep admiration and longing. "Goddess Sister achieved the legendary Divine Profound Realm three years ago. On the Profound Sky Continent, she is another legend besides Benefactor Brother."

"That day, my brother and I saw Goddess Sister. She was so beautiful, more beautiful than all the stars in the sky. And my brother and I also know that she is Benefactor Brother's fiancée... isn't she?"

Yun Che's gaze was lost in a hazy melancholy. Xue'er had successfully stepped into the Divine Dao, and she had done so three years ago. Xuanyuan Wentian's power back then was indeed that of the Divine Dao, but it was a twisted Divine Dao achieved through evil means, incapable of further progress and constantly consuming his lifespan. His own Divine Dao, however, was formed in the Snow Song Realm.

On the Profound Sky Continent, on the Blue Pole Star, Feng Xue'er was undoubtedly the first person to truly enter the Divine Dao realm.

With her presence, the Profound Beast Rebellion, or any more serious disaster, she could easily suppress.

In the Illusory Demon Realm, there was Caiyi, and his parents guarding it...

And me...

Without receiving Yun Che's answer, Feng Xian'er looked ahead, a haze appearing in her beautiful eyes. She murmured, as if to herself or confessing, "Only a fairy like Goddess Sister is truly worthy of Benefactor Brother..."

Yun Che's heart felt as if it had been sharply pierced by something.

She was an ancient myth of the Profound Sky Continent, the Phoenix Goddess, and her beauty was undeniably the greatest on the Profound Sky Continent. But now, he was merely a cripple, completely unqualified to stand by her side, let alone protect her or be someone she could rely on.

Now, with his mortal body and inability to cultivate profound energy, even with piles of spiritual medicine, he would only live for a little over a hundred years...

Should the continent's foremost goddess marry a cripple?

A cold wind swept over him, and Yun Che coughed painfully.

"Ah?" Feng Xian'er hastily turned around, slowing her speed. "Was I flying too fast? I'll go slower."

Yun Che shook his head.

In his life, he had patronizingly advised and mocked many, coldly observed and ignored countless moments of darkness and despair. He had firmly believed then that a person unafraid of death would never experience such a day. He never imagined that, when it befell him, he would realize that sometimes, living was heavier than dying.

If one lived an ordinary life, one would grow accustomed to it, even enjoy it.

But after a grand dream spanning thirteen years, to suddenly return to an ordinary existence proved to be unbearably cruel.

"Oh, right," Feng Xian'er's voice returned to his ears. "Goddess Sister is now the Sect Master of the Phoenix Divine Sect. The previous Sect Master, Feng Hengkong, focused on the imperial politics of the Divine Phoenix Empire after abdicating. The Phoenix Divine Sect is now among the Four Sacred Grounds of the Profound Sky Continent, but it's not in the top spot. Can Benefactor Brother guess which Sacred Ground holds the first position?"

Yun Che was silent.

"It's the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace," Feng Xian'er said with a smile. "Although the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace's overall strength isn't as great as the other three Sacred Grounds, Benefactor Brother was once its Palace Master. Because of this one reason, no one would question its top position. That's the extent of Benefactor Brother's influence."

The Ice Cloud Immortal Palace had actually become one of the new Four Sacred Grounds of the Profound Sky Continent, and it held the top position.

But if the world knew he was a cripple, this honor... would surely vanish like smoke.

At this moment, Yun Che's thoughts were entirely negative.

He was well aware of his current bleak state of mind; he wanted to escape it, but was powerless to do so.

In just thirteen years, he had reached a height that others wouldn't dare to dream of in a hundred lifetimes... yet in an instant, he had fallen to rock bottom.

No one could imagine or understand the crushing blow he had received.

The Phoenix barrier appeared in their sight. As Feng Xian'er approached, the barrier automatically opened a gap again.

Through the gap, the two returned to the land of the Phoenix remnants.

As soon as they entered the barrier, it was as if the turmoil of the outside world had been sealed off. Yun Che's chaotic state of mind calmed considerably, and then a hint of bitter, self-mocking laughter appeared at the corner of his lips.

Feng Xian'er had been secretly watching him. Seeing his expression, her heart ached, and she softly said, "Benefactor Brother, I don't know how to help you. But... no matter what happens in the future, I will... always stay by your side... until you no longer wish to see me..."

The warmth that occasionally spread through his soul these past few days mostly came from Feng Xian'er.

In his life, he had received countless gazes of admiration, worship, adoration, and flattery, so many that he had grown numb to them, and his heart could no longer be stirred by them.

Yet now he was down-and-out, and permanently so. This girl, who was merely one of countless passersby in his life, still directed all her gaze and heart toward him without reservation.

During this time, her presence and companionship had dispelled countless shadows from Yun Che's heart. Otherwise, Yun Che might have fallen into despair for much longer, and more thoroughly.

However, at this moment, he didn't know how to respond to or repay such a precious sentiment.

Feng Xian'er flew very, very slowly, either fearing the cold wind might harm Yun Che, or perhaps she enjoyed the feeling of being able to protect him and stay close.

The scenery below passed by slowly. Due to their encounter with the Azure Scale Beast, their return route was different from when they left. Below them was an area Yun Che had never set foot in. Crossing a small forest where withered leaves drifted, he saw a bamboo grove that was still verdant.

In the center of the bamboo grove, he faintly spotted a small bamboo hut.

A bamboo hut...

Yun Che's gaze fell upon it and remained fixed there for a long time.

In his previous life on the Profound Cloud Continent, after Su Ling'er died in his arms, every time he saw a bamboo hut, it felt as if countless arrows pierced his heart.

Even after he found Su Ling'er again, the bamboo hut remained an extremely special presence in his heart. Every time he saw one, his soul was deeply moved.

Ling'er, are you doing well in the Illusory Demon Realm...?

You are so intelligent; by now, you must have become a formidable divine doctor.

After all, that was your dream back then.

"I want to see that bamboo hut," he said, unable to stop himself as longing for Su Ling'er surged in his heart.

"A bamboo... hut?" Feng Xian'er was slightly startled. When she understood what Yun Che meant, she immediately opened her mouth to say something. But her gaze met Yun Che's clearly dazed eyes, and she withdrew the words she was about to speak, instead gently nodding her head. "Alright."

She gently floated down with Yun Che, but she landed not in the direction of the bamboo hut itself, but in front of the bamboo grove where the hut was located.

Feng Xian'er's actions caused Yun Che's brows to furrow slightly, revealing his confusion.

The verdant bamboos formed a serene grove, swaying gently and stirring cool, fresh breezes. Standing before the bamboo grove, Feng Xian'er didn't lead Yun Che inside. Instead, she held onto him, her grip seeming a little tight.

"What's wrong?" Yun Che asked, sensing Feng Xian'er's obvious nervousness.

Feng Xian'er said, "Someone lives in that bamboo hut, but they are not our clansmen."

"Oh?" Yun Che said thoughtfully. "Have they been here for a long time too? But I don't recall you mentioning them before."

"No," Feng Xian'er shook her head. "They only arrived here after Benefactor Brother left that year."

"After that?" Yun Che was astonished. "You said before that the Phoenix barrier was set up after I left, and only those with Phoenix bloodline could pass through. Why would they... Are they from the Divine Phoenix Empire's Phoenix Divine Sect?"

"I... don't know," Feng Xian'er continued to shake her head. "Because they never communicate with us. Back then, we tried to approach and help them, but they refused us completely. Both my father and mother said that they must have suffered greatly, which is why they're afraid of contact with people. So, we stopped disturbing them. And all these years, they haven't left this place, nor do they often leave this bamboo grove."

"But since they could come here, they must have the Phoenix bloodline, right?" Feng Xian'er said, somewhat uncertainly.

Yun Che frowned. On this continent, besides the Phoenix remnants here, only the Phoenix Divine Sect possessed the Phoenix bloodline. But why would people from the Phoenix Divine Sect come here? And from Feng Xian'er's description, it sounded like an extreme state of reclusiveness.

Yun Che pondered deeply and said, "In that case, let's not disturb them. We should go."

After speaking, he glanced at Feng Xian'er's hand, which was gripping his arm noticeably too tightly, and semi-jokingly said, "Are the recluses here very scary-looking? You seem quite nervous."

Feng Xian'er then seemed to realize something. Her hands, gripping Yun Che's arm, quickly loosened slightly. "No, it's just... there's a very scary 'little monster' inside. I'm afraid she might accidentally hurt you."

"Little monster?"

Just as Yun Che voiced his question, an exceptionally childish yet remarkably sharp voice suddenly rang out from within the bamboo grove: "Leave immediately! Don't come near here!"

As the voice spoke, a small girl emerged from the swaying bamboo grove.

The little girl appeared to be around ten years old, dressed in a simple yet neat small cloth dress. Despite her young age, her starlit hair reached her lower back, dancing gently in the wind. Her face was sculpted like a jade carving, exceedingly cute, but her bright eyes were striving to flash fierce light, conveying both warning and vigilance.

However, she was simply too adorable. Standing there, she was like an intricately carved jade porcelain doll. The fierce light in her eyes and the imposing aura she exuded held virtually no deterrent power, even against Yun Che, who had lost his cultivation.

Yet, the appearance of this little girl caused Feng Xian'er's hands, which had just loosened slightly, to suddenly tighten again. Even her body noticeably stiffened, gripping Yun Che so hard that it caused him deep pain.

Yun Che glanced sideways and said in surprise, "This wouldn't happen to be the... 'little monster' you mentioned, would it?"