When Ling Yunhe reached the word "her," he paused, his gaze fixed directly on Qin Xi, a faint smile playing on his lips as if waiting for Qin Xi's retort.
To his disappointment, Qin Xi showed no other reaction, simply continuing to look at him.
After a long while, Ling Yunhe sighed. "Are you just too confident, or do you not care?" Seeing that Qin Xi still didn't answer, he said seriously, "Don't pretend you don't understand."
He was determined to get an answer. Qin Xi finally spoke, but only shook his head. "This is a matter between us, so I have nothing to say." He had no interest in discussing personal affairs with others, nor did he need to.
Ling Yunhe froze. After a long time, he let out a bitter laugh. "Forget it. Why should I trouble myself?" His gaze cleared as he said, "I will tell you about this matter, but now is not the time."
"Then when is the time?" Qin Xi had no intention of being brushed off.
"...When I've calmed down." Ling Yunhe tossed out a statement that was anything but calm and turned to leave.
But then he heard Mo Tiange's voice from behind. "Do you also know the reason for the destruction of heaven and earth in the Primordial and Ancient eras?"
Ling Yunhe halted abruptly and turned back.
Mo Tiange stared at him, not blinking.
Their earlier conversation had been cryptic, and she hadn't fully grasped it, but she had picked up on something from Ling Yunhe's previous words. 'Everything will be destroyed'—aside from what they already knew, what else could possibly be described as 'everything will be destroyed'? Ling Yunhe must know something.
After a long pause, Ling Yunhe asked, "How do you know?"
"So you do know." Mo Tiange didn't answer, instead just looked at him.
Ling Yunhe sighed again—he had been sighing a lot lately. He said, "Let's go find Fellow Daoist Tian Can first. Every day we delay makes it harder to find him."
Mo Tiange considered for only a few breaths before agreeing. "Alright." Compared to this matter, she valued Nie Wushang's safety more.
As if nothing had happened, the three of them resumed their flight deeper into the North Sea.
The further north they flew, the stronger the sea winds became, until they carried a force that seemed capable of tearing everything apart. As they swept past, the surrounding space became extremely unstable.
Ling Yunhe warned, "This is the Gale-Rending Wind. We'll soon enter the Arctic Circle. Under the Aurora, the Gale-Rending Wind will be even more violent. If we encounter a wind eye, there's no choice but to avoid it."
The sky grew darker, but the northern horizon gradually lit up with a layer of fluorescent light. This light was multicolored, misty yet electric, breathtakingly beautiful, like a bold, sweeping stroke from an Immortal's brush.
Yet this supremely beautiful scenery carried a palpable killing intent. The moment the three of them entered the range of the Aurora, the protective spiritual light around Mo Tiange and Qin Xi hissed and began to emit smoke.
Ling Yunhe stopped and said, "The Aurora carries magnetic force. It would be best if you two had some special means of protection."
Mo Tiange and Qin Xi exchanged a glance. Between the two of them, Qin Xi specialized in fire techniques, which seemed of little use here. As for Mo Tiange, her studies were varied, but unfortunately, her strongest defensive Magical Treasure, the White Silk Handkerchief, was destroyed, and her protective robe offered only close defense. After a moment's thought, Mo Tiange summoned the Taiji Bagua Diagram, while Qin Xi produced an Immortal robe as fine as silk. With a wave of his hand, he unfurled it into a flowing streamer, shielding them both.
This Immortal robe was one of the rewards from the Immortal Alliance, originating from the treasury in Wind Sand City. For their significant merit in completely resolving the East Sea demonic cultivator incident, the Immortal Alliance had bestowed a considerable reward. Since they lacked neither Spirit Stones nor pills, they selected a few useful Magical Treasures, leaving the rest in their cave abode to fill their collection.
Ling Yunhe's gaze lingered on the Immortal robe for a moment before shifting away. It was certainly a fine Magical Treasure, but it held little value for him.
The further north the three flew, the stronger the magnetic force carried by the Aurora became, and it was utterly unavoidable. Moreover, the Gale-Rending Wind frequently swept through, its power surpassing even that of the Aurora.
This flight lasted three days. Within the North Sea territory, the informants Ling Yunhe had stationed dared not venture in lightly, only watching from the North Sea's edge. They had seen no trace of Demon Lord Yueying or Nie Wushang in recent days, so it was inferred they were still somewhere in the North Sea. Exactly where, they would have to find themselves. Fortunately, Nie Wushang had left Ling Yunhe a soul token, allowing a rough sense of distance. They could be sure Nie Wushang was still safe.
A sharp sound rang in their ears as the spatial destabilizing force brought by the Gale-Rending Wind suddenly intensified. Ling Yunhe's expression changed. "Not good, a wind eye is coming!"
The three looked up. Not far away, massive gray vortices were forming, sucking down towards the sea surface. Wherever they passed, seawater churned, floating ice shattered, and fierce winds and huge waves erupted without exception.
"We need to take cover," Ling Yunhe said urgently. "The power of a wind eye is absolutely not something we can withstand. Even a Late-Nascent Soul Cultivator couldn't endure it."
Mo Tiange glanced around, frowning. "There's nothing here but seawater and floating ice. Where can we take cover? The seabed?"
Ling Yunhe nodded. "Exactly, the seabed." After a pause, he added, "Most of the North Sea's Demon Beasts hide in the seabed. We must be careful when we enter the water."
The wind eye was moving and would soon reach their location. Without hesitation, Ling Yunhe dove headfirst into the sea after speaking.
Qin Xi didn't delay either. He tossed the Immortal robe to Mo Tiange, summoned his sword array with a sweep of his arm, and followed down.
"..." Mo Tiange didn't get a word out. She could only drape the Immortal robe over herself and follow.
Under the influence of the Gale-Rending Wind, the seawater was equally turbulent. Fortunately, they were all Nascent Soul cultivators and paid little mind to such disturbances. By the time the wind eye swept over the sea above them, they had already descended into the deep sea, beyond its reach.
For days, they had seen no signs of life on the sea surface. Only now, in the water, did they glimpse dark shadows swimming past.
Mo Tiange watched a shadow glide by, not disappearing for a long time, feeling a chill. Such a massive sea creature, yet its aura was so faint... She wouldn't assume that a lack of aura meant low strength. Ling Yunhe had said that any sea creature surviving in the North Sea possessed strength at the Nascent Soul level.
Ling Yunhe was prepared. Upon reaching the seabed, he took out a palm-sized, boat-shaped Magical Treasure. Once released, it rapidly enlarged into a proper ship capable of holding dozens of people.
"Get in," he said, opening the hatch first.
After they followed him in, the hatch closed, sealing the entire ship. "The wind eye may take several days to disperse. We'll wait here," Ling Yunhe said, then found a spot at the bow to sit down, facing away from them as he assumed a cross-legged meditation posture.
Seeing his demeanor, he clearly had no intention of speaking further. Mo Tiange, ever tactful, pulled Qin Xi to sit in the stern, facing Ling Yunhe from a distance.
"Are you alright?" she asked with concern.
"I'm fine," Qin Xi knew what she was asking. Earlier, he had left the Immortal robe for her, protecting himself only with his sword array, whose power was greatly diminished under the Aurora and Gale-Rending Wind. "I just consumed more Spiritual Qi, but it's not unmanageable."
After a while, Qin Xi said, "In this environment, our strength will be somewhat reduced. For me, aside from my lifebound Magical Treasure, there's the Vermilion Bird Bow, both fire-based. For you, the Heaven and Earth Fan encompasses all five elements, the Fusheng Sword and Heavenly Thunder Technique are thunder-based... That Demon Lord Yueying is not only at the Late-Nascent Soul stage but also has Corpse Refinements by his side. If demonic cultivators are less affected..."
They were both at the Mid-Nascent Soul stage now. Relying on their divine beast auras, they stood a chance against a Late-Nascent Soul opponent two against one, but if they were weakened too much...
"It shouldn't be," Mo Tiange thought of her experience in Carefree Valley. "Demonic Qi opposes Spiritual Qi, but it still falls within the Five Elements and Yin-Yang. Filthy Qi, death Qi—these are unique existences that can affect Demonic Qi. I imagine the Aurora and Gale-Rending Wind are the same; there should be no exception."
Ultimately, the Aurora was magnetic force, and the Gale-Rending Wind was spatial tearing force. These two powers didn't discriminate between Spiritual Qi or Demonic Qi.
Qin Xi thought it over and found it reasonable. "Let's hope so."
After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, "That day, what Ling Yunhe said... do you know what he meant?"
"...I do."
Qin Xi smiled. "I thought you might not understand."
"I didn't at first, but after thinking about it later, I understood," Mo Tiange answered honestly. After waiting a while with no further question from Qin Xi, she couldn't help but ask, "You... aren't going to ask why?"
Qin Xi looked down at her, a smile still playing on his lips. "What is there to ask? I've never thought you lacked charm."
His reaction was too calm. Jealous storms seemed never to occur with him. Even now, his response was so matter-of-fact. Mo Tiange said, "...No wonder he asked that day whether you were too confident or didn't care."
Qin Xi said, "What he thinks is his business. Matters between us have nothing to do with others. If I didn't even have this much confidence now, how could we accompany each other for a thousand, ten thousand years? Feelings are never something that can bear fruit from momentary impulse. Suspicion and doubt only wear them away. If one day they're worn away completely, that would be reaping what you sow."
Seeing Mo Tiange just staring fixedly at him, he smiled. "What is it?"
She sighed. "I understand now. Actually, I'm the one who lost."
"Hmm?" Qin Xi raised an eyebrow, indicating he didn't understand.
But Mo Tiange only smiled without answering.
The Gale-Rending Wind blew for a full two days. After two days, Ling Yunhe stood up.
Mo Tiange and Qin Xi also rose. They heard Ling Yunhe say, "The wind eye should be gone. Let's go up."
Just as they were about to agree, the ship suddenly rocked. Ling Yunhe paused and turned to look outside.
A massive eye swept past above the ship, followed by a gaping maw revealing sharp teeth.
"Is this... a North Sea Demon Beast?" Mo Tiange's heart pounded. The size of this sea creature was the largest she had ever seen in her life. It carried not the slightest aura, which made it all the more terrifying.
Ling Yunhe's expression turned extremely grim. "What rotten luck."