Chapter 1597: Breaking Out of the Pass in Snow Lotus Valley, Urgently Evading Danger and Desiring to Ascend

"The weather is about to change."

In the depths of the snowy valley, the young woman sat with her eyes closed and legs crossed.

Stray holy power gathered from all directions, causing the folds of her white skirt to flutter, blending her aura seamlessly with the surrounding clusters of snow lotuses, making her seem ethereal and otherworldly.

After that low, hoarse murmur emerged from her, and the last wisp of stray holy power was absorbed into her dantian, Mo Mo slowly opened her eyes and said to herself:

"Feng Yu Jin, I'm ready."

"You don't need to tell me; this emperor can sense it." Another arrogant voice emerged from within her body.

"Using this Snow Lotus Valley to perfect my Taixu realm, I only need one Half-Sage essence now, and I can step into the Half-Sage realm. Then..." Mo Mo trailed off, a hint of sadness crossing her face.

"That's right. By then, you'll be able to fully unlock the sealed body and inherit all the power this emperor left for you... Or, to put it another way, this emperor will do as you wish and kill you completely, leaving only me, hee-hee-hee..." Feng Tian Sheng Di, Feng Yu Jin, laughed sinisterly.

Mo Mo lowered her head in silence.

Feng Yu Jin waited for a while, but seeing that his provocation wasn't working, he urged anxiously:

"If you still have the will to live, this emperor is willing to share this body with you. Once another sealed body appears, this emperor will leave, and you can be completely free."

"Of course, if you insist on keeping this emperor... heh-heh, that's not impossible either."

A long silence followed.

Flakes of snow fell gently in the quietude.

Mo Mo reached out to catch a few snowflakes, her gaze distant as she looked from Snow Lotus Valley toward the gray, hazy sky, murmuring softly:

"The next sealed body... is her life also destined?"

Whoosh!

The gray mist surged violently, condensing into a figure made of gray fog.

Compared to before, this gray fog figure had a stronger sense of form, with vague and simple facial features that clearly showed his emotions—agitation and anger:

"You know that's not what this emperor meant."

"Oh! No, what have you learned from Xu Xiao Shou? Changing the subject like that... This emperor's point isn't that! It's not that at all!"

The gray fog figure spread his hands and hunched over, shaking repeatedly: "What I mean is, you can be free, free! As in, completely escape this emperor's control!"

He turned toward the sky and delivered an impassioned speech:

"A wonderful, free, and passionate life is beckoning to you!"

"By then, you'll be a Half-Sage. You can do whatever you want, go wherever you please. If you run into trouble, just ask this emperor for help, ah-ha-ha..."

His tone turned serious as he continued:

"Given the twists and turns we've been through, this emperor certainly won't abandon you. I can lend a little hand."

"Why is your thinking so dark at your age? Why not learn from this emperor, venture out, and carve out your own world?"

My own world...

Mo Mo swept her gaze over Snow Lotus Valley, her face expressionless as she turned and headed deeper into the valley.

Soon, she arrived before a gray-white coffin standing against the mountain wall.

Opening the Sealed God Coffin, it revealed an elderly man in white robes with white hair and a bitter expression on his face.

"Mo Mo, senior." Bai Yu bowed respectfully, as if he hadn't noticed the gloomy, warning-faced gray fog figure following behind.

Bai Yu was from the Central Domain, originally from the Sheng Gong, but he had little connection with the five branches of the Sheng Gong.

Counting back, he had severed ties with the Sheng Gong over seventy years ago and had long since withdrawn from worldly affairs to cultivate in seclusion in the mountains.

However, as a lone cultivator who had reached Half-Sage, it was impossible for him to have true freedom.

This time, he was specifically invited by the Qing Sheng Order to enter the Shen Zhi Yi Ji, and Bai Yu had no intention of killing Xu Xiao Shou, nor did he dare.

He only wanted to find a place with good feng shui for secluded cultivation, living a reclusive life away from the outside world.

But after discovering this treasure land in Snow Lotus Valley and sensing the abundance of stray holy power here, Bai Yu realized he had encountered a great opportunity.

He had a slim chance to become a peak Half-Sage, like someone such as Yan Wu Se of the Refining Spirit lineage, rather than just an obscure figure in the Half-Sage circles.

However, before he could claim Snow Lotus Valley, he detected that it already had an owner—a Taixu cultivator.

Bai Yu simply spoke a bit harshly, saying: "I'll give you ten breaths to leave, or die."

This was perfectly normal!

In fact, one could say Bai Yu was being unusually merciful.

A mere Taixu occupying such a treasure land and wasting its resources— as a Half-Sage, not killing her immediately showed restraint on his part.

Little did he expect that upon hearing this, the female cultivator's expression changed from a white lotus to a furious asura.

In just ten breaths, Bai Yu was subdued and sealed into this coffin.

Heaven knows what reflections Bai Yu had during his days in the coffin.

First, he realized that this Taixu woman was no ordinary Taixu; she harbored a Saint Emperor-level ghost beast— what bad luck! How many Saint Emperors are there, and he had to run into one?

Second, while she was a good Taixu, that male ghost beast was no human. For days, it had mentally transmitted messages to him, ordering him to voluntarily hand over his Half-Sage essence for its daughter's cultivation.

If he didn't comply?

Soul refining, spirit scattering, intent binding...

In short, Bai Yu's remaining life would be worse than death, and of course, he wouldn't even get to die—he'd just suffer endlessly.

But the worst part, making life unbearable, was this very situation...

"Senior Bai Yu, there's no grudge between us. Now that my Taixu realm is perfected, I've achieved my goal, and I'll be leaving Snow Lotus Valley. You can decide what to do with this valley, whether to take it or leave it abandoned. And as for this soul blood..."

As Mo Mo spoke, she produced a drop of soul blood and gently placed it before Bai Yu. "Please take it back, senior."

Oh, how I wish I could take it back, foolishly dreaming... Bai Yu's lips twitched twice, not daring to glance at the female Taixu behind him, and said helplessly:

"Please, Senior Mo Mo, withdraw your order. It's better if you just destroy this soul blood."

"After I die, please make full use of me and use my Half-Sage essence to achieve Sainthood."

"As long as you become a Saint, I, Bai Yu, will die without regrets, considering it atonement for my earlier offense."

"Ahem!" The gray fog figure behind cleared his throat.

Bai Yu immediately dropped to one knee, his voice filled with passion: "Ah! Just thinking about how the Seal of the Five Absolute Bodies will one day shine brightly with my Half-Sage essence, I, Bai Yu... I, Bai Yu..."

"Ahem!"

"I, Bai Yu, will die content!"

Mo Mo took a deep breath, turned back, and glared at Feng Yu Jin: "I won't use your Half-Sage essence."

"Then please allow me to commit suicide as an apology." Bai Yu said sincerely.

"Still the same thing..." Mo Mo shook her head. "If you commit suicide, I'll do the same."

"Ahem-ahem!"

"Please, don't say such things anymore." Bai Yu was on the verge of tears; he didn't want to endure that inhuman imprisonment and torment in the coffin any longer.

He abruptly revealed his Half-Sage essence, as if trying to wrench it from his own body.

"If you do that, I'll commit suicide too."

Upon hearing this, Bai Yu collapsed to the ground in despair.

What on earth do you want from me? You two, father and daughter, if you're going to kill, just kill—stop toying with a Half-Sage's emotions!

A Saint cannot be humiliated!

"Ahem." The gray fog figure behind cleared his throat again.

Bai Yu shuddered and retreated back into the coffin, closing his eyes with a heart as dead as ashes: "Senior Mo Mo, please close the coffin lid. I don't like sunlight; I can only tolerate it for a moment each day."

Even with Mo Mo's temperament, hearing this made her grit her teeth in anger. She turned and glared furiously at the gray fog figure:

"Why are you keep coughing?"

Feng Yu Jin lifted his chin defiantly: "This emperor's throat is itchy!"

If your throat is itchy, just rip it out... Mo Mo muttered viciously to herself, then turned back to Bai Yu, who had "willingly" sealed himself in the coffin:

"Senior Bai Yu..."

"Ahem, ahem."

The gray fog figure behind started coughing again, head down, scratching his throat as he paced back and forth, muttering yin-yang-ly, "The weather's been so dry lately; hearing the word 'senior' just makes me want to cough. Who knows why."

Mo Mo clenched her fist tightly, then forced herself to relax, saying calmly: "Bai Yu, I'll take your soul blood. From now on, you'll be my... servant. How about that?"

Bai Yu was overjoyed. Daughter, have you finally come to your senses? If you'd done this earlier, your father wouldn't have tormented me for so long!

He was about to kneel and agree.

Bang!

The gray fog figure strode to a gray boulder and stomped down, shattering it. He laughed wildly, pointing at the rubble: "What a soft rock, born with a tough fate, but it never learned to speak its whole life—just gets bullied. What a waste!"

Bai Yu froze, sweat beading on his forehead as his mind raced.

What does that mean?

Mo Mo took a deep breath, absorbed Bai Yu's soul blood into her dantian, and said coldly: "Bai Yu, will you obey my order, or not?"

Bai Yu was ecstatic and immediately bowed: "Your subordinate obeys!"

"Are you satisfied now?" Mo Mo quickly walked past the gray fog figure, tossing the words over her shoulder without looking back.

"What do you mean, satisfied?" Feng Yu Jin exploded: "You're not killing him, and you're not taking his soul blood. He insulted a Saint Emperor, which is a capital offense, but now you've given him a chance. It's all consensual, so how is it my business?"

"If you want to take him as a servant and he's happy to be a dog, this emperor didn't say a word. Is it my scheme? Can I manipulate him over you?"

"Ha-ha-ha, Mo Mo, you're hilarious. You don't want this, you don't want that. Are you waiting for this emperor to die before you mourn? This emperor arranged a Half-Sage essence for you and had to go to all this trouble, right? You're the kind one, and I'm the villain? Without this emperor's help along the way, you'd have died more than ten thousand times! No, ten million times!"

Mo Mo's figure receded into the distance without a word.

The more Feng Yu Jin thought about it, the angrier he got. Turning back, he saw Bai Yu still trembling by the coffin, which made his head throb: "You servant, your master has gone far away. What are you still doing here?"

"If anything happens to her, this emperor will turn you into a corpse puppet. Believe it or not!"

I believe it, I totally believe it... Bai Yu hurriedly averted his gaze and soared into the air, flying to catch up with Mo Mo.

Feng Yu Jin glanced in the direction Mo Mo had gone and laughed loudly: "Ha-ha-ha, a mere Half-Sage daring to ignore a Saint Emperor, not even bothering to reply—you've got a death wish!"

With that, he manifested a massive gray fog hand, brimming with killing intent, and grabbed at Bai Yu's neck.

So be it...

Bai Yu was truly exhausted and gave up all resistance.

"Feng! Yu! Jin!"

Just then, a sharp cry echoed from the valley in the distance.

The gray fog hand brushed past Bai Yu's ear, and Feng Yu Jin sneered, striding over the frozen ant and transmitting mentally: "I'll spare your dog life for now. Serve that one well and nurture her will to live. Then find another Half-Sage essence to replace yours."

"And if you dare have any ill intentions, this emperor will ensure you can't reincarnate, your kin will all perish, and you'll suffer eternally without respite. This is the emperor's decree, sealed as a curse. Understand?"

Bai Yu prostrated on the ground, staring blankly as a blood-red curse mark formed and branded into his soul, leaving him almost laughing and crying at once.

Who did I offend? I just wanted to cultivate in peace...

"I understand."

"Who told you to speak? Shut up!"

Bai Yu struggled to lift his head, braving the heavy snow, and caught a distant glimpse of the valley peak where a white skirt fluttered like a snow lotus blooming in the dawn.

She was coldly watching Feng Tian Sheng Di beside her.

He racked his brains but couldn't fathom how one body could harbor two such extremes.

"Mo Mo, senior."

"Don't call me senior."

"Alright, Mo girl..."

"Ahem!"

"Uh, Senior Mo Mo, you've reached the peak of Taixu and truly need a Half-Sage essence to break through."

"There's no need to mention this; I won't use yours..."

"Not mine..."

"Ahem!"

"Uh, Senior Mo Mo, please continue. I shouldn't have interrupted."

How could Mo Mo continue?

The gray fog figure was floating behind the two of them, and she didn't even bother to glare anymore. She looked at Bai Yu and said: "If you have something to say, say it directly."

Bai Yu nodded, feeling a chill on the back of his neck, and said fearfully: "I know some Half-Sage friends. I could summon them and set a trap..." He made a slicing motion across his neck.

Mo Mo turned and walked away.

Feng Yu Jin bypassed Bai Yu and slapped him on the head, nearly knocking it off: "Idiot!"

Bai Yu was stunned and shouted: "That's not what I meant, Senior Mo Mo!"

"This 'friend' isn't that 'friend.' Half-Sages are all in the same circle, so we say 'friends'... ah, no!"

"In short, what I mean is, I know some utter villains. These people, for the Qing Sheng Order and to kill Xu Xiao Shou, would even throw away their lives. Their Half-Sage essences could be taken!"

Mo Mo paused.

Feng Yu Jin nodded slowly in mid-air.

Good, very good. This servant is quite capable, though foolish, his reactions are quick.

And some things that I can't say conveniently come out of his mouth, which is perfect for reining in Mo Mo.

A person with no desires, who wants to die, isn't hopeless. Just give her a little pet to care for—if she doesn't want it to starve, she'll have to keep living, right?

As long as she's alive, there's hope, and desires can grow!

Feng Yu Jin felt his understanding of the mortal world had deepened, bringing him closer to the level of the Ancestral God.

"The weather is about to change!"

But before Bai Yu could speak, he reiterated his earlier premonition once more.

Feng Yu Jin gazed at the gray sky and said gravely: "This emperor has a feeling that something big is coming."

"We should keep a low profile. Don't touch the Shen Zhi Ming Xing, or our position will be exposed."

"Don't form alliances, don't meet Xu Xiao Shou, or trouble will arise."

"Of course, don't mess with groups of Half-Sages—only target those who are alone."

So, I'm the one who's alone, huh...

Bai Yu felt bitter in his heart. He'd never seen a Saint Emperor so cautious— or rather, cowardly— but on the surface, he just nodded seriously: "Understood."

"Senior Mo Mo, I know a Half-Sage."

"He's from the Three-Color Hunting Order killers and used to hang around in the Dead Futu City. After becoming a Saint, he went to the Northern Domain and has now entered the Shen Zhi Yi Ji because of the Qing Sheng Order."

"He must have a strong desire to kill Xu Xiao Shou. If I can give him an opportunity... I should be able to contact him, assuming he's still alive."

Though Bai Yu lived in seclusion, he was aware of the world's affairs.

Things like the relationship between the Sheng Nu and the Sheng Shen Dian Tang, Xu Xiao Shou and Feng Tian Sheng Di, Feng Tian Sheng Di and the inner island of Void Island and the Eight Zun An...

Seclusion isn't about being ignorant; not knowing these things could lead to sudden disaster and death without understanding why.

Just like this time.

After becoming Mo Mo's—or rather, Feng Yu Jin's—person, Bai Yu knew a Sheng Nu mark had been imprinted on him.

In what position you stand, what words you say— even as a Half-Sage, you rely on that to live long.

"What's his name?" Mo Mo asked calmly. In her ideal, the Half-Sage essence would be unclaimed, but that was too idealistic.

She wasn't purely against killing; she just had her principles, like not wanting to take someone like Bai Yu.

If it were someone like Feng Yu Jin, who treated lives as grass and only cared about his host body and the essence's host, taking whatever he wanted from the world— was that still her?

Bai Yu said reverently: "His surname is Kong, name Tong. One of the Twelve Saint Sovereigns of the Northern Domain, with impressive combat strength."

"Hmph."

"Of course, in your hands, Senior Mo Mo, he's nothing. But his superior, the Grand Minister, named Ci, might be a bit tricky..."

"Heh."

"But that's about it. Under a Saint Emperor, all are ants."

Mo Mo pondered. Taking a life without reason— what was the difference from Feng Yu Jin?

Bai Yu hesitated, then chose his words carefully: "They're all running dogs of the Sheng Shen Dian Tang. If they see Xu Xiao Shou, they might not even care about their faces and choose to swarm him!"

Mo Mo nodded.

The two behind her immediately showed joy.

"Kong Tong isn't in this realm; he should be in the previous heavenly layer." Bai Yu seemed prepared, not even needing to search; he led the way directly to the side of the Lun Hui Tian Sheng Zhu.

After all this time, those who should have ascended the Lun Hui Tian Sheng Zhu had done so, but no news had come back.

"It should be safe up there."

Feng Yu Jin thought it over. Once they went up, as long as they found a place to hide and observe, with him there, Mo Mo wouldn't be in danger.

His conclusion came from the Ancestral God List— Xu Xiao Shou had gone up and come back down.

Feng Yu Jin didn't want to be in the same realm as Xu Xiao Shou at all.

Since he'd been there once, it meant the previous heavenly layer had been cleared by him, resetting the situation.

His return meant he was bringing danger down.

Going up now would be avoiding that danger— call it emergency evasion.

"Alright, let's ascend."

With Mo Mo's final decision, the three arrived at the side of the Lun Hui Tian Sheng Zhu.

Bai Yu reached out first to touch it; of course, he was the pathfinder— he knew his place.

But just as he was about to place his hand on the Lun Hui Tian Sheng Zhu...

Buzz!

The pillar lit up.

Before them appeared a person, a coffin, and a corpse.

A Half-Sage, alone, with his own coffin... Feng Yu Jin hadn't even fully seen the person before sensing the aura, and his eyes lit up:

"Good, no need to go up."

"Heaven's gift, if not taken, will bring disaster instead!"