Chapter 2120: Broken (Part 2)

The Pure Land is vast and empty, pure and serene, as if eternally free of dust and defilement. It feels like an independent world completely separated from the Abyss.

Anyone visiting here would undoubtedly be cautious and apprehensive, but Hua Cairi was clearly an exception. She smiled brightly, her figure graceful, and she seemed intimately familiar with every part of this place. She even called out the names and titles of most of the Abyssal Knights and Pure Land Divine Guards she encountered.

The Abyssal Knights and Pure Land Divine Guards greeted her respectfully, some even smiling, showing no intention of blocking her path or questioning her.

After passing through an open expanse, the world before them suddenly became vibrant and colorful. Lush trees and blooming flowers filled their sight, like encountering another paradise within a fairyland.

The elemental aura of the Pure Land was already incredibly dense, but here, it was several times more concentrated, predominantly consisting of fire, lightning, and wind... Simultaneously, an unusual and somewhat out-of-place chill permeated the air.

Amidst the dense foliage were a few small, quaint houses, resembling the secluded dwellings of hermits.

However, there were no birds, beasts, or insects, which one might expect.

"Is this perhaps the residence of the Spirit Immortal Divine Official?" Yun Che asked, looking ahead.

Hua Cairi exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Yun, you're amazing! You guessed it right away, even though this is your first time in the Pure Land."

Just then, the space ahead rippled like water, and a female figure emerged from among the flowers and trees, smiling as she looked at them. "Little Cairi has arrived," she said.

The woman wore a plain white long gown, sparsely adorned with a few light pink autumn plum blossoms. Her skin was fair, her age indiscernible. Her long hair was tied up with a simple ribbon, and her gaze was gentle and unwavering. A faint smile played on her lips, making her resemble a serene hermit who had long resided in the mountains, detached from worldly affairs.

That is, if one ignored the terrifying and unparalleled invisible spiritual pressure emanating from her...

"Auntie Sushang!"

With an affectionate cry, Hua Cairi quickly strode forward to meet her. As she drew near, she sensed the presence of the chill and her eyes narrowed. "This chill... has Granny Spirit Immortal's condition..."

"Yes," the woman gently nodded. "My master knew you would be coming soon and has been talking about you, but unfortunately, her 'old ailment' suddenly recurred."

At this point, her gaze shifted to Yun Che. "And this is?"

Yun Che stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Yun Che from the Dreamweaver Divine Realm greets Senior Sushang."

The four words, "Auntie Sushang," that Hua Cairi had uttered, sent a tremor through his heart.

This was the name of Sushang, one of the four strongest Divine Guards of the Pure Land, a personal attendant to the Spirit Immortal Divine Official, and a being at the pinnacle of power beneath the Abyssal God.

With such plain attire and elegant demeanor, no one would ever imagine her to be such a formidable presence.

"Yun Che?" Divine Attendant Sushang showed a faint surprise, then understanding dawned on her. "So you are Meng Jianyuan, the former Divine Son recovered by the Dreamweaver Divine Realm. You are indeed as distinguished and exceptional in appearance as the rumors suggest. Aside from your perfect divine personality, which is akin to Cairi's, your appearance alone surpasses Meng Jianxi's by far."

Her words were remarkably blunt and direct, even when speaking about a Divine Son of a Divine Realm.

Yun Che's expression remained impassive. "Senior exaggerates. I have come this time hoping to be introduced by Divine Daughter Cairi, and to have the honor of seeing the Spirit Immortal Divine Official."

Sushang maintained her faint smile. "Young Master Yuan, your wish cannot be granted this time. My master is currently indisposed and cannot receive visitors."

"It's fine, it's fine," Hua Cairi quickly interjected. "Then we won't disturb her. We'll come back to see Granny Spirit Immortal later."

Yun Che, however, did not move. Instead, he presented a small jade box. "In that case... this is a greeting gift I specially prepared for the Spirit Immortal Divine Official before coming to the Pure Land. Please trouble Senior Sushang to accept it on her behalf."

Oh? Hua Cairi's face showed surprise; she hadn't expected Yun Che to prepare a gift.

"There's no need," Sushang said faintly. "My master does not involve herself with worldly affairs or mundane courtesies. I will convey Young Master Yuan's kind intentions to her myself."

Hua Cairi, however, reached out, took the jade box from Yun Che's hand, and then playfully placed it directly into Divine Attendant Sushang's hand. "Auntie Sushang, this is a special gift Brother Yun prepared for Granny Spirit Immortal. He must have put a lot of thought into it. Granny Spirit Immortal is so gentle, she surely wouldn't have the heart to refuse. Please just accept it for her."

"..." Looking at the jade box she had been compelled to accept, Sushang shook her head and smiled, half-helpless, half-indulgent. "Alright, then I will accept it on my master's behalf. Cairi, if you have some free time, you may take Young Master Yuan to view the area near the Spirit Immortal Rainbow Cloud Realm, but remember not to get too close to this place."

"No, that wouldn't be good if we disturbed Granny Spirit Immortal," Hua Cairi said, curtsying gracefully. "Auntie Sushang, we won't disturb you further. After we've seen Uncle Emperor Yuan, we'll come back to visit Granny Spirit Immortal."

Yun Che and Hua Cairi departed. Watching their retreating figures, and recalling Hua Cairi's words and her clearly unusual gaze, Divine Attendant Sushang became pensive.

Picking up the jade box in her hand, she opened it quite casually.

As spiritual energy overflowed, her usually serene expression suddenly froze. The jade box in her fingers was immediately lifted to her eyes. Instantly, a profound red glow reflected in her rapidly dilating pupils, widened by excitement and disbelief.

"This... this is..."

She quickly turned and rushed directly into the icy barrier she had just been guarding...

"I heard from Divine Venerable Wumeng that the Spirit Immortal Divine Official, due to her unique innate constitution, often suffers from elemental erosion. Just now, Divine Attendant Sushang mentioned her 'old ailment' recurring... could that be elemental erosion?"

"Yes," Hua Cairi nodded, her expression clearly showing worry. "And it seems Granny Spirit Immortal's attacks are becoming more frequent. The last time it flared up was over four years ago, just when I was leaving the Pure Land."

She turned her head, her beautiful eyes filled with concern as she glanced back. She said softly, "I once saw Granny Spirit Immortal when the affliction flared up. It was truly terrifying. Even someone as powerful as Granny Spirit Immortal showed such a pained expression."

"She once told me something. She said... that a long life, though desired by countless beings, is a great torment for her."

"But she cannot die, because someone needs her."

Yun Che remained silent.

Hua Cairi sighed softly. "Granny Spirit Immortal almost never leaves the Pure Land unless absolutely necessary. She even said that while she is seen as a noble and powerful Divine Official in the eyes of the world, in truth, she is merely a caged bird afflicted by illness."

"Despite being so gentle and kind, Granny Spirit Immortal has always suffered so much pain."

Yun Che pondered, "She cannot easily leave the Pure Land because... is her true nature that of a beast?"

Abyssal Dust's erosion affects beast races far more severely than humans. The Spirit Immortal Divine Official is a descendant of the Vermilion Bird, and thus belongs to the beast race, naturally fearing Abyssal Dust greatly.

"Eh?" Hua Cairi's face showed surprise. "Brother Yun, you already knew? But..."

She moved closer to Yun Che, lowering her voice. "You absolutely must not mention this to anyone outside, especially not in front of Granny Spirit Immortal. She is actually very sensitive about it."

"Hmm? Why?" Yun Che was puzzled.

As a descendant of an ancient divine race, pride in one's origins should be ingrained in their very being. As a Pure Land Divine Official, a being above all spirits and second only to the Abyssal Emperor, she should naturally be arrogant and disdainful of all worldly matters. Why would she be sensitive about her race?

Unless...

Hua Cairi looked around, hesitating for a moment, but still did not speak. Instead, she whispered, "I'll tell you quietly after we leave the Pure Land."

"I see... Alright."

At this moment, Yun Che suddenly stopped.

Hua Cairi stopped as well. As she looked at him in confusion, Yun Che suddenly stepped forward, instantly closing the distance they had intentionally kept between them until he was close enough to clearly feel her warm breath.

"Brother Yun..." Hua Cairi's breathing became erratic, yet she didn't rationally pull away.

Yun Che lowered his gaze, his tender eyes meeting her beautiful ones. "Everything else can wait until we leave the Pure Land. But I have a gift that I've prepared for three years, and I'm very eager... impatient to give it to you."

"What... what is it?" The close proximity, along with his gaze and voice directed only at her, undoubtedly stirred the emotions and longing that Hua Cairi had suppressed for three years, making her heart pound faster, her thoughts more chaotic, and her awareness slowly fade.

"You... close your eyes first," Yun Che said, his expression mysterious and tinged with just the right amount of nervousness.

Hua Cairi slowly closed her eyes as instructed, her snow-white face filled with anticipation.

"Hmm... still not enough. You need to withdraw all your spiritual senses too. No peeking with your senses," Yun Che's voice held a little more mystery and nervousness.

"I wasn't!" She pouted slightly, but immediately obediently withdrew all her spiritual senses, tilting her face slightly. "Is this alright now?"

Mystery always breeds greater anticipation. Even without withdrawing her spiritual senses, Hua Cairi could only perceive her own rapid heartbeat and Yun Che's aura, oblivious to everything else.

She felt Yun Che's breath growing closer, warmth spreading from her forehead across her cheek, then gently touching her lips.

She secretly opened her eyes, looking at Yun Che, who was now inches away, his face mischievous.

"Did you receive it?" Yun Che tilted the corner of his mouth, a triumphant smile playing on his lips. "All the longing I've accumulated for three full years."

The girl's beautiful eyes opened fully, but instead of disappointment or annoyance, she suddenly took a small step forward, wrapped her arms tightly around Yun Che's neck, and kissed him back passionately. Her pearly teeth, like glistening snow, gently nipped his lower lip, preventing him from easily pulling away.

After a while, her teeth released his lip. Her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue, but she stubbornly declared, "See? My longing is clearly greater."

The girl was immersed in an incredibly beautiful world, completely oblivious to two vague figures approaching from a distance within the Pure Land's space.

"Brother Jiuzhi, you didn't go to visit the Folding Heaven Divine Realm, but came directly here instead. Were you so certain Divine Daughter Cairi would be here?"

Dian Sansi asked enthusiastically, while observing the surrounding Pure Land.

He was the most outstanding Imperial Son of the Senluo Divine Realm among the younger generation, second only to Dian Jiuzhi. Though not yet three centuries old, he had already reached the third level of the Divine Extinction Realm, surpassing Dian Jiuzhi at that age. His Myriad Phenomena Art had also begun to take shape.

Still young, he had not experienced Dian Jiuzhi's most humiliating past, and held him in utmost respect and admiration.

Dian Jiuzhi smiled, clearly in excellent spirits. "Every time Cairi comes to the Pure Land, she always visits the Spirit Immortal Divine Official first. This time should be no exception."

Dian Sansi sighed, "Even though Brother Jiuzhi and Divine Daughter Cairi meet infrequently, you know everything about her so thoroughly. Divine Daughter Cairi is truly fortunate to have your affection."

"No, you've got it backward," Dian Jiuzhi said, shaking his head with a smile. "I've always been the fortunate one. Without Cairi, I wouldn't be where I am today. Furthermore... being admired isn't true fortune. The greatest fortune in life is to find someone you are willing to give everything for, someone you truly adore."

"Yes!" Dian Sansi nodded. "I've remembered all your words, Brother Jiuzhi. However, I don't believe there's a woman in this world who could make me willing to treat her as you treat Divine Daughter Cairi."

"Hahahahaha!" Dian Jiuzhi burst into laughter. "You're still young. When I was your age, I would never have believed such a person existed in this world either."

Dian Sansi's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Although I've never had the honor of meeting Divine Daughter Cairi, I've seen countless portraits and projections of her from you, Brother Jiuzhi. She truly possesses unparalleled grace. I wonder what the real Divine Daughter Cairi is like..."

"Portraits and projections can scarcely capture a fraction of Cairi's splendor," Dian Jiuzhi interrupted with a smile. "When you meet her, you will truly understand what... it... means... to..."

His voice suddenly slowed, then choked in his throat, and his footsteps faltered, coming to a halt.

Dian Sansi stopped as well, and just as he was about to ask a question, he suddenly saw two figures in his line of sight.

They were embracing, utterly lost in their entanglement, as if overcome by passion, completely oblivious to the fact that they were in the supreme Pure Land.

The man was handsome and distinguished; in terms of appearance alone, he even surpassed Dian Jiuzhi by a few points. And the woman... her beauty and grace made even this Pure Land fairyland seem like a mere backdrop to her divine presence.

Her beautiful eyes were fixed in a daze on the man before her, as if his figure was the only thing left in the entire world, with no room for anything else.

Dian Sansi's eyes widened, filled with shock. Because the woman's face and appearance were clearly... it was...

No, it couldn't be!

He quickly looked at Dian Jiuzhi, only to find his face deathly pale with shock.

His hands were trembling, his entire body shaking violently. His eyes, which had just been full of gentle light, were now quivering almost to the point of shattering, and his rapidly dilating pupils seemed to fill his entire eyeballs.

"Jiu... Brother Jiuzhi?" Dian Sansi's throat suddenly felt dry.

That soft call seemed to pull Dian Jiuzhi out of a sudden nightmare. His gaze slowly shifted, then he closed his eyes... When he opened them, they were still painfully trembling, and even his tightly clenched hands could not suppress the tremor originating from the depths of his soul.

"Let's... go." He spoke, but his voice was dry and grating. His gaze, forcefully pulled away, dared not look in that direction again.

"Brother Jiuzhi!" Dian Sansi stepped forward and grabbed his trembling arm. "That person, she... could it be... could it really be..."

"...Go!" Dian Jiuzhi's voice was even hoarser as he blurted it out, yet still very soft, as if fearing to disturb the figures in the distance... even though his heart and soul were aching to shatter.

By this point, Dian Sansi could no longer even try to deceive himself. His brow furrowed, and anger flared within him. "This is outrageous... absolutely outrageous! For Brother Jiuzhi to have such deep affection for her, and for the Abyssal Emperor himself to have granted the marriage contract, how dare she... how dare she treat Brother Jiuzhi like this!"

"No! We must..."

A hand pressed down on his shoulder, firmly suppressing his anger and overflowing aura.

"Are you disobeying me!?"

His voice and expression were frighteningly unfamiliar to Dian Sansi.

"Forget what you just saw. Don't speak of it to anyone... especially not Father God, do you hear me!"

Dian Sansi stared intently at Dian Jiuzhi's features, which, despite his strenuous efforts to control them, continued to contort. After a long moment, he nodded numbly. "I understand... Brother Jiuzhi, don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

Dian Jiuzhi's chest heaved as he let out a long, shaky breath. Then he pulled Dian Sansi, suppressing his aura, and silently moved away.

His steps had never felt so heavy, not even when he was mired in disgrace years ago.

It wasn't until they were far away that Yun Che gently released Hua Cairi, whom he had been holding in his arms.

For a fleeting moment, his gaze flickered to the spot where Dian Jiuzhi had just been, a gentle, shallow smile still on his lips.

"Cairi, what would happen if someone from the Pure Land accidentally saw us just now?"

"Hmph, you would ask."

Hua Cairi's delicate fingers drew several circles on Yun Che's palm before she reluctantly let go, then stepped back to a three-pace distance. "Granny Spirit Immortal's immortal realm is the most serene, and there are no Divine Guards stationed there, so we don't have to worry about being seen. However, it's best not to be reckless in other areas; otherwise, I fear we might truly disrupt Father God and Divine Venerable Wumeng's arrangements."

"Understood," Yun Che quickly replied with a serious expression. "I promise to stay at least three paces away from you."

"Come, I'll take you to another place. That person will surely like you very much."

Hua Cairi's lips curved slightly, and she chuckled mysteriously, as if she had thought of something.