Chapter 1995: If Only We Had Met at First Sight

Stranger than his silver attire were his eyes. They seemed veiled by a thin mist, and behind it, a mysterious, perhaps even countless, enigmatic worlds seemed to reside. They drew one's gaze, stirring an irresistible urge to explore, until reason itself succumbed.

Yun Che's gaze shifted away. This person primarily cultivated soul power! His identity was, without a doubt, extraordinary.

Unfortunately, Yun Che's searching gaze soon turned to a dismissive glance. He was all too familiar with this person's posture and gaze. His steps were slow and unhurried, his eyes half-closed, as if he were still caught in a light slumber. Figures, strange rocks, and buildings blurred past his vision, yet none seemed to register in his eyes. It was as if nothing here, living or inanimate, was worthy of his attention. A faint, unreadable smile played on his lips, and his occasionally twitching brows betrayed undisguised contempt and disgust.

His demeanor was like that of a celestial being descending to the mortal realm, looking down upon its lowly inhabitants. His eyes and face proclaimed: his condescending arrival was the supreme glory of this humble world, and every person, object, brick, and tile within it invisibly tarnished his supreme nobility.

“Hmph! Another arrogant fool of noble birth, incapable of true greatness,” Yun Che assessed, then averted his gaze, simultaneously feeling relieved.

It is human nature that the more one lacks something, the more one craves and flaunts it. This silver-clad man must have felt discontent in his place of origin, which is why he so wantonly displayed his nobility and arrogance in this lower realm, showing how he viewed everything here as utterly insignificant. Conversely, those who are truly gifted or hold high positions, never lacking praise and admiration, would never—or would disdain to—display arrogance before lesser beings. Such individuals existed across all realms. Yun Che had encountered too many of them; best to simply keep a distance, as they were not worth worrying about. Presumably, someone of his status wouldn't be interested in the Qilin Divine Realm.

Withdrawing his attention, Yun Che continued his unhurried steps, gradually moving away. Yet, in just a dozen breaths, his steps faltered once more, and his gaze momentarily froze. He had encountered a gaze—one that seemed to belong in a dream. They were eyes seemingly born from the most brilliant starlight and moonlight, shimmering with a dazzling splendor that even the wildest fantasies and crimson dreams could not hope to conjure. He saw the world's only true sapphire, the night sky's sole radiant star.

The girl's full appearance slowly came into focus. She wore a snow-white gossamer veil, her peerless elegance immediately apparent. Yet, the luminous, jade-like skin it covered made the luxurious veil seem privileged to adorn her. She walked alone through the faded imperial city, her simple steps nonetheless graceful as a dancing butterfly. Her long hair swayed with her movements, like strands of obsidian starlight. She appeared to be a young girl, not yet fully grown. A gossamer veil covered half her face, but the exposed areas were as white as fresh snow, glowing like immortal lychee. Even her delicate eyebrows exuded a spiritual aura. Though her full face was not revealed, the instantaneous awe she inspired was no less than that of Shen Xi in her prime. Her soul-piercing grace was akin to the first sight of the goddess Qianye.

“...” Yun Che forcefully pulled his gaze away.

After receiving all of Chi Wuyao’s memories, Yun Che’s method of discerning others gradually mirrored hers: peering into their eyes to understand their very soul. He firmly remembered Chi Wuyao’s warnings and never dared to forget the purpose—or rather, the mission—of his arrival in the Abyss. Thus, he sealed his heart and emotions. No matter how his outward demeanor changed, others’ gazes could only reach his eyes, never his heart. Yet, the moment her gaze touched him, a starlit lake instantly appeared within his heart. Thus, the instant he averted his gaze, he forced his will to become a ruthless blade, resolutely carving out that starlit lake etched into his very soul. Anything that could stir his emotions or interfere with his will absolutely could not be allowed to exist!

Soon, he passed the girl, and her figure vanished from his sight. However, Yun Che’s steps suddenly slowed. The girl was heading directly toward the silver-clad man. A storm brewed in his mind. The girl appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen, yet her aura had already surpassed the peak of the Divine Master Realm, reaching the half-step Divine Extinction Realm. Between the Divine Master Realm and the Divine Extinction Realm lay a chasm separating mortals from demigods. Countless profound practitioners of the Abyss would forever be halted at this precipice, unable to break through in their entire lives. Yet, this realm manifesting in a seemingly not-yet-fully-grown girl was utterly terrifying. Such talent, such cultivation, such grace, and such eyes... Her entire being was utterly pristine and flawless, without any trace of the Abyss’s corrosive dust, or even a hint of mortal defilement. “First descent into the mortal world”—these four words clearly appeared in Yun Che’s mind. What kind of background, what degree of pampering, and what level of extreme protection could possibly nurture such a woman? Could it be…?

His steps slowed even further, and his previously restrained spiritual perception silently unfurled. That silver-clad man reminded him of someone: Xiao Kuangyun from the Xiao Sect, back in Flowing Cloud City, when his profound veins were crippled. Though from different realms and disparate backgrounds, considering his and Chi Wuyao’s experiences, they were cut from the same cloth. When one of noble status descends to a lower realm, unbound by rules or constraints, and free to unleash arrogance and insolence, their judgment naturally plummets. After all, how could a lower realm be worthy of careful thought or caution from someone of his noble standing? So, what would his reaction be upon encountering this girl…?

However, the silver-clad man’s background was certainly of the highest echelon, and he was secretly protected by someone even more terrifying than Mo Beichen, an individual Yun Che absolutely could not contend with. Furthermore, the Qilin Divine Realm was already within reach. Rationally, he absolutely should not create any unnecessary complications. The weighing of safety against potential benefits and drawbacks churned violently in his mind.

Predictably, the silver-clad man spotted the approaching girl. The silver-clad man, who had been leisurely surveying the mortal world like an emperor from a celestial palace, abruptly froze. His features seemed to suddenly stiffen, only his eyeballs uncontrollably bulging—almost leaping from their sockets. Given his background, he had seen countless beauties capable of toppling cities, and his harem numbered in the thousands. In this Qilin Abyss Realm, the women he had encountered had only warranted his scorn and disgust. Yet, the moment he saw the gossamer-veiled girl, he instantly lost his composure.

A fleeting glance from the girl’s eyes swept past him. She had already witnessed such a dumbfounded expression too many times during her brief period of worldly trials. It was also during this period that she gained a clearer understanding of her own appearance. The sandstorm and the as-yet-unadapted Abyss dust partially interfered with her spiritual perception, and her aunt was unwilling to offer her any guidance. As if in a fit of pique, she deliberately chose not to rush out of the sandstorm, instead remaining within it until her spiritual perception was no longer disturbed. Only then did she step out, contentedly entering this Qilin Abyss Realm and then proceeding into this mortal imperial city. Due to her physical condition, she had always been protected to the utmost, spending most of her time in a pure land. Now, truly experiencing the world, she was filled with profound curiosity about everything.

The silver-clad man’s wide-eyed gaze remained fixed on the girl, completely oblivious to the grotesque display he was making of himself. It wasn’t until the girl’s figure was far out of sight that he finally snapped back to reality. Only then did he realize that, in his attempt to follow her, his body had twisted into an utterly comical shape.

“This wretched place actually holds... such a woman…”

Four parts excitement, four parts surprise, and two parts bewilderment. His voice trembled slightly, and the fingers on his outstretched hand unconsciously flexed and extended. It truly was good to venture out for experience. This small, remote place actually held such a treasure.

“Little sister, you aren’t from this Qilin Abyss Realm, are you?”

A remarkably refined voice came from behind the girl, and before the words were finished, its owner had already moved to stand before her. The silver-clad man had positioned himself in front of the girl. He was tall and upright, his eyes veiled with mist, the curve of his lips flawless. His demeanor was elegant yet dangerous and mysterious, and his features were handsome enough to be unforgettable to women. In his hand, he held a folded fan, from which dangled a silver tassel. What a dashing young nobleman. Compared to his noble birth, his handsome appearance was his proudest asset.

The girl stopped, yet didn’t examine him closely. She replied quite naturally, “I am indeed not from here.” A faint, almost emotionless sentence, yet it sounded like ethereal music from beyond the clouds, endlessly sweet and refreshing.

The silver-clad man smiled. “What a coincidence, so am I. Since both of us are alone, why don’t we... travel together?”

“No need.” The girl refused, said nothing further, and prepared to leave.

“Little sister, don’t be so quick to refuse.” The silver-clad man moved again, now within ten steps of the girl. The folded fan in his hand opened at that moment, swaying and reflecting the barely suppressed lechery and agitation in his eyes. “This world is full of malice; it’s very dangerous to be alone.”

The girl chose to ignore him, but just as she prepared to instantly teleport away, her slender, crescent-moon eyebrows furrowed slightly. From the swaying fan, insidious soul ripples emanated, silently permeating her soul sea. And this type of soul penetration... she recognized. The warm moon in her eyes instantly transformed into cold stars. She uttered a grave warning, a type of statement rarely heard from her: “You’d better move aside. Otherwise…” Otherwise, he would face severe consequences.

“Otherwise what?” The silver-clad man laughed, a hearty, delighted sound. This woman before him, beautiful enough to eclipse even celestial maidens, surely had an extraordinary background. But no matter how extraordinary, it could not possibly surpass his own. He swayed his fan, leisurely stepping forward, drawing closer and closer to the girl. The space before him rippled visibly with the agitation of his soul. “A chance encounter, yet it feels like glimpsing a celestial star. I fear I would regret it for a lifetime if I missed this opportunity. I merely wish to make your acquaintance, nothing more.” His words, too, carried soul ripples. Every gesture and movement subtly sought to capture one’s will. Even against someone of the same cultivation realm, he was entirely confident in disturbing their mind and soul. Because the soul cultivation technique he practiced was unparalleled and unrivaled in the Abyss.

As he spoke, he had already extended his hand, quite naturally intending to touch the girl’s fair wrist. Just then, a not-so-strong yet undeniably brash aura suddenly surged from a distance, crashing down between the two and erupting in a scorching, dazzling burst of flames toward the silver-clad man.

“Get lost!” Yun Che stood before the girl, the flames emanating from his body blocking the silver-clad man’s gaze and aura from reaching her. “Didn’t you hear her tell you to ‘move aside’?!”

The silver-clad man narrowed his eyes, scrutinized Yun Che, and a faint smile curved his lips. There was no trace of annoyance or irritation at being disturbed, but rather a look of pity and amusement, as if he were watching an ignorant clown.

Yun Che remained fully on guard, not forgetting to glance sideways at the girl behind him. “Esteemed Immortal Sister, this man is a lecher with clearly ill intentions towards you. Please leave quickly; I will hold him off.”

The girl remained still, her lips slightly parted. This person... he actually called me ‘sister’?