Chapter 1390: The Starting Place

"Isn't she at the Joyful Union Sect?" Jiang Fan asked back. He had always thought that after Yue Mingzhu arrived on the mainland, she hadn't returned, having been influenced by Gong Caiyi and gone back to her sect as well.

Gong Caiyi hurriedly said, "After she delivered the Skyreach Marrow and resources that day, she said she would first go to the Joyful Union Sect, and then to the place where you first met."

"From what she said, she just wanted to clear her head and wouldn't stay at the Joyful Union Sect."

Jiang Fan's expression finally changed. He said, "Did something happen to her?"

He immediately moved to leave for the Joyful Union Sect but hesitated when he looked at Gong Caiyi before him. He had just promised to stay with her for a few more days, and now he was turning to leave again.

Gong Caiyi urged, "Why are you just standing there? Go find her quickly!"

"If something happened to her, you would never have peace of mind, and it would become a lifelong regret."

Jiang Fan apologized, "I'll make it up to you later." It was extremely urgent; he didn't have time to think and left swiftly.

Gong Caiyi watched him go, disappearing from sight. Only then did she retrieve the Skyreach Marrow from her spatial storage device, her eyes filled with tenderness.

"I originally wanted to forget you and live separate lives, but my heart softened, and I was tricked into coming back," she murmured. "Then I'll use your sincerity to improve my strength as much as possible, so you worry less about me."

With that, she drank the Skyreach Marrow and immediately began her breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage.

***

The Joyful Union Sect.

All the Grand Elders, Elders, and disciples of the sect had gathered in the plaza. Under everyone's gaze, an unparalleled beauty in a peach-colored palace dress was intensely sparring with the chief disciple, Xie Liushu. After the clash of longswords, Xie Liushu was sent flying backward and fell off the platform.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said with a bitter smile, "I lost." Looking at the beauty on the stage, he sighed, "They say one should look at a scholar with new eyes after three days' absence."

"Junior Sister Ji, I'd have to scratch out my eyeballs to see you now!"

The disciples and elders below the stage were also astounded. Who could believe that Ji Ruyue, who was only at the Foundation Establishment stage back then, had now reached the mid-Core Formation stage, and had even suppressed the chief disciple, Xie Liushu, becoming the foremost figure of the Joyful Union Sect in this generation?

The Grand Elder overseeing the sparring match stepped forward and consoled Xie Liushu: "You are actually very excellent; after undergoing the trials of Boundary Mountain, you are no longer the same as before."

"It's just that your luck wasn't as good as Ji Ruyue's. She facilitated the connection between our Sect Leader and Venerable Jiang, so the Sect Leader has always taken special care of her. All sorts of resources have been continuously sent to her from Taicang Great State. It would be strange if you could defeat her."

Back then, it was Ji Ruyue who revealed the news of the Nascent Soul cave dwelling at the bottom of the snowy mountain cliff to Jiang Fan. It was then that Jiang Fan encountered Yue Mingzhu, who was severely injured and on the verge of death, at the foot of the snowy mountain. And that Nascent Soul cave dwelling became the place where their fates intertwined. Because of this, Yue Mingzhu had always shown exceptional care for Ji Ruyue. Among the resources sent back to the sect, there was undoubtedly a portion specifically prepared for Ji Ruyue. As a result, her cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds.

It would have been better without the consolation; with it, Xie Liushu felt even worse. Because he was present when Ji Ruyue revealed the news of the Nascent Soul cave dwelling!

"This must be fate!" Xie Liushu smiled bitterly, helpless.

Elder Ling then stepped onto the stage and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Ji Ruyue, on successfully winning the match."

"Since that's the case, you will assume the position of the Tenth Elder of the Joyful Union Sect."

During the battle at Boundary Mountain, the elders of the Joyful Union Sect suffered heavy casualties. The vacant elder positions were gradually filled by selecting from deacons and disciples. Ji Ruyue, having surpassed everyone in the sect, deservedly became the Tenth Elder.

Elder Ling took out a token and a set of elder robes. Ji Ruyue only accepted the token, saying, "The robes aren't necessary; what I'm wearing is fine."

Elder Ling looked at Ji Ruyue's peach-colored, round-necked palace dress. It was dignified and elegant, fitting perfectly. It seemed out of place compared to the Joyful Union Sect's typically revealing attire. She was puzzled and asked, "Why do you always wear similar clothing?"

Ji Ruyue smiled calmly and said, "Because Senior Jiang said this outfit was beautiful and suited me well."

Elder Ling understood: another foolish woman with unrequited feelings. She also consoled her, "Ruyue, look forward."

"Don't let an amazing person you met in your youth ruin your entire life. You'll be hard-pressed to meet this person again in your lifetime."

The current Jiang Fan was already a soaring figure in Taicang Great State, walking in the high heavens, residing among the clouds. He was no longer the young man Ji Ruyue could hope to encounter again.

Ji Ruyue's eyes dimmed, and she said, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder Ling." In truth, she hadn't hoped for anything grand; she just wanted to hear that person's voice again.

Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind swept through, and the clouds in the sky shifted dramatically. The forests surrounding the Joyful Union Sect undulated like waves. Everyone's expressions changed slightly as they struggled against the strong winds, looking towards the source of the hurricane. A black speck rapidly approached from the horizon. He strode through the air, his extremely fast movements pushing the atmosphere, creating a powerful hurricane.

"A Nascent Soul Venerable?" Everyone was astonished, their faces filled with awe. Such a soaring presence, like a master, made everyone revere him like a deity. It wasn't until they clearly saw the newcomer's face that they were collectively shocked.

"Jiang Fan... no, Senior Jiang?" The newcomer was, naturally, Jiang Fan, who had arrived with lightning speed. He leaped onto the sparring platform, his gaze sweeping over it until he saw the familiar figure in the peach-colored palace dress before him.

"Ji Ruyue, where is your Sect Leader?"

Ji Ruyue was stunned, wondering if she was dreaming. She actually saw Jiang Fan! And he even initiated a conversation with her. She was flattered and quickly said, "Our Sect Leader returned about half a month ago, and then she left again."

Jiang Fan's expression darkened slightly. She truly hadn't stayed at the Joyful Union Sect. Then where did she go? Gong Caiyi had said that Yue Mingzhu was going to visit the place where they first met. Jiang Fan couldn't help but ponder where that "first place" was. As he noticed Ji Ruyue in front of him, the image of the Nascent Soul cave dwelling appeared in his mind. That was where he and Yue Mingzhu had first met.

People only reminisce about past warmth when they are not doing well. How lonely must Yue Mingzhu have been to return alone to the place where they met? A wave of self-reproach surged in his heart.

He nodded to Ji Ruyue and said, "Thank you." Immediately, he ascended into the sky, soaring into the firmament and disappearing from view.

Ji Ruyue was left gazing upward for a long time, before a smile of relief slowly appeared on her lips. "I finally saw him after all. I should be content."

***

The borderland between the Joyful Union Sect and the Spirit Beast Sect.

A mountain range, towering into the sky, stretched across the land. The mountains were covered in thick snow, making every step difficult.

On a peak of the snowy mountain, a group of strange people were enveloped by a swirl of purple mist. The shortest among them were two Zhang tall, while the tallest exceeded four Zhang. All of them were bare-chested, exuding a savage aura.

A three-Zhang-tall giant, carrying Xue Wanzhong's corpse on his shoulder, said: "General Blood, are we just going back like this?"

"We didn't get the Evil Crow Imperial Seal from the Great Yin Sect, nor did we capture the small spirit beast that took away the merit."

"How will we report back to the City Lord?"