“So she’s a princess of an ancient imperial dynasty, no wonder she possesses such bearing,” Ye Yunfei mused to himself.
“Alright, Young Master Ye, you should leave now. I am prepared to enter the Samsara cycle as well. Believe me, the Reincarnation Cave is not a place for living beings to linger long.” Jiang Xiaojie said to Ye Yunfei.
“Esteemed Princess, the truth is, we very much want to leave, but the boat that carried us here is utterly beyond our control. Even if we wished to return, I doubt that vessel would be willing to ferry us back to shore,” the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm couldn’t help but appear beside Ye Yunfei and address Princess Jiang.
“Ah, it’s a member of the Golden Horn Dragon Silkworm Clan. Your race has managed to persist in the Chaotic Void Sea until now?” Princess Jiang recognized the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm’s origin at a glance, sounding somewhat surprised.
“Princess, from your words, do you know the origins of our Golden Horn Dragon Silkworm Clan? Did our race exist in the ancient Chaotic Void Sea? And, do you happen to know where the members of our clan are now? Over all these years, I’ve always wanted to search for traces of my kin, but I’ve never found any clues,” the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm asked eagerly, a flicker of hope in its voice upon hearing Jiang Xiaojie’s words. Ye Yunfei had originally found the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm within a rock long ago, and it had never encountered its own kind since.
“Indeed, during my era, the Golden Horn Dragon Silkworm Clan did exist, though their numbers were quite scarce. I’ve only ever seen two of your kind, and even that was but a fleeting encounter without further association, so my understanding of your clan is limited. However, I once heard that your Golden Horn Dragon Silkworm Clan originated from the Outer Void. Rumor has it that long ago, a powerful monk was the one who first brought your clan to our void,” Jiang Xiaojie explained.
“Can it be? Our clan actually came from the Outer Void? If I want to find my people, wouldn’t that mean I’d have to leave the Chaotic Void Sea and search outside?” the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm said dejectedly.
“The specifics are unclear to me as well, because all I know about your Golden Horn Dragon Silkworm Clan is hearsay. If you wish to learn more about your race, I suggest you seek out a highly accomplished monk in the future. Perhaps you may find clues about your clan,” Jiang Xiaojie advised.
“Find a highly accomplished monk? Very well, thank you for the guidance,” the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm said gratefully.
“Young Master Ye, the white boat that carried you here is called a Spirit Ferry. The Spirit Ferry is a specialized vessel exclusive to the Reincarnation Cave, and it is a one-way journey. That is to say, these Spirit Ferries are only responsible for transporting souls onto the Wangling Island within this Wangling Sea; they do not return them to the shore. So, indeed, it would be extremely difficult for you to return to the shores of this sea. However, I prepared in advance before I entered. I once fabricated a replica of a Spirit Ferry, originally intending it as a means of return if I regretted my decision after entering. But now I have decided to enter Samsara. I shall gift this replica Spirit Ferry to you as a token of our predestined meeting,” Jiang Xiaojie said.
A small white boat then appeared beside her, roughly the size of an adult's palm.
“Excellent! We can finally get back to shore!” Seeing the white boat, the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm was the first to exclaim in excitement.
“Many thanks, Miss Jiang,” Ye Yunfei promptly expressed his gratitude as well.
Hearing her words, Ye Yunfei felt a trace of lingering fear. So those white Spirit Ferries were one-way. After delivering the souls into this Wangling Sea, they would not turn back. Previously, Ye Yunfei had thought that if he wanted to return later, he could find a way to make the white boat turn around. But now, after hearing Jiang Xiaojie's explanation, it was likely that white boat would not take him back. Fortunately, they had met Miss Jiang here; otherwise, they might have truly been stranded.
“Young Master Ye, our Golden Wheel Imperial Dynasty was once a rather powerful nation. At its peak, it possessed at least hundreds of Deities. The ruler of our dynasty was even a Heavenly God. But after such a vast expanse of time, who knows what has become of the Golden Wheel Imperial Dynasty, or even if it still exists in the world. After all, even an ancient force like Lunhui Palace has declined to such a state. The world is ever-changing; given enough time, anything is possible.
“And now I am about to re-enter Samsara. I have no idea what the future holds, and I likely will no longer be in a position to concern myself with the affairs of the Golden Wheel Imperial Dynasty.
“So, here is my proposal: I will impart to you a legacy of our Golden Wheel Imperial Dynasty. Once you cultivate this legacy, you can be considered half a member of our dynasty. In the future, if you ever encounter the Golden Wheel Imperial Dynasty or hear of its current state, I hope you will make the effort to inquire about it. If needed and within your capabilities, please lend whatever assistance you can. Would that be acceptable?” Jiang Xiaojie looked at Ye Yunfei and asked slowly.
“Miss Jiang, given the connection we have formed through this meeting, if I ever have the opportunity in the future, I will certainly do as you say, and I require no compensation,” Ye Yunfei quickly replied.
“Young Master Ye, you truly are one who values sentiment. Our Golden Wheel Imperial Dynasty once ruled over several powerful world-clusters and was a superpower of considerable strength. Our dynasty's legacy is considered a top-tier inheritance even within the entire Void Sea. I believe that after cultivating it, your strength will be significantly enhanced. As the princess of the dynasty, I have the authority to pass on this imperial legacy to you. There is no need to decline, Young Master Ye,” Jiang Xiaojie said.
Then, with a pointing gesture, she sent a stream of energy and information imbued with Soul Power into Ye Yunfei’s sea of consciousness.
“Cultivating this legacy requires an Imperial Aura. I will now impart a wisp of Imperial Aura to you. You can nourish and expand it slowly on your own from now on. With this wisp of aura, if you ever encounter a core member of our Golden Wheel Imperial Dynasty in the future, they will immediately recognize that this legacy you cultivate was passed down by me and will not question or pursue the matter,” Jiang Xiaojie explained.
She pointed again. Boom! A grand and righteous golden aura descended from above and surged into Ye Yunfei’s body.
Ye Yunfei instantly felt his entire being filled with a mighty, righteous energy. Unbidden, he exuded an authoritative presence that seemed capable of suppressing all directions. Even his gaze carried a sense of intimidation.
“So this is the Imperial Aura? It truly can drastically alter one's aura,” Ye Yunfei thought, both astonished and delighted as he sensed the change within himself.
“As long as you diligently cultivate the legacy I've imparted to you, this wisp of Imperial Aura within you will continuously grow stronger. In future battles, you can utilize the Imperial Aura to form an Imperial Domain, which will possess a powerful suppressing and intimidating effect on your enemies,” Jiang Xiaojie said.
“I am deeply grateful for Miss Jiang's great kindness in passing down this technique,” Ye Yunfei said with sincere thanks.
“I also have a spatial ring here containing some of my collections from my lifetime, though not much remains. I will give the rest to you now, as they are of no more use to me. These worldly possessions cannot accompany me into Samsara,” Jiang Xiaojie flicked her finger, sending a spatial ring to float before Ye Yunfei.
“Very well, Young Master Ye. I am ready to enter Samsara. I have one final request to ask of you,” Jiang Xiaojie said.
“Please speak, Miss Jiang. If it's within my power, I will certainly do my utmost,” Ye Yunfei promptly replied.
“If you ever encounter or hear news of a person named Mo Kang in the future, please inquire thoroughly about him. Then, burn this talisman and tell me. When burning the talisman, silently chant my name, and I may possibly receive your message. Especially if you learn of his whereabouts, please be sure to inform me. My name is Jiang Tingting. Thank you.” After saying this, a large yellow bird appeared in front of Ye Yunfei, gently flapping its wings.
It was a yellow crane. The crane circled Ye Yunfei once before transforming into a yellow talisman scroll that hovered lightly before him. So the yellow crane had been conjured from this talisman.
“Miss Jiang, rest assured, I will definitely do as you ask,” Ye Yunfei said, storing the yellow talisman away.
“Young Master Ye, I believe in you,” Jiang Xiaojie nodded. After handing the talisman to Ye Yunfei, she seemed much more at ease, as if she had settled a matter weighing on her heart.
“Xiao Ying, we can enter Samsara now,” Jiang Xiaojie looked at Xiao Ying.
“Yes, Miss,” Xiao Ying nodded, seeming to instantly find peace as well.
“Young Master Ye, farewell,” Jiang Xiaojie said to Ye Yunfei.
Then, she and Xiao Ying walked together toward one side of the island.
Boom…
When Jiang Xiaojie and Xiao Ying reached the shore at that side of the island, the seawater there suddenly began to churn violently, forming a black whirlpool.
“Young Master Ye, goodbye,” Jiang Xiaojie turned her head once more to bid Ye Yunfei farewell.
Then, holding Xiao Ying's hand, she stepped away from the shore and walked into the seawater toward the black whirlpool. Gradually, their figures disappeared bit by bit into that swirling darkness. Once she had made her decision, she acted upon it without hesitation.
“So this is how souls proceed to be reincarnated,” Ye Yunfei sighed as he watched Jiang Xiaojie and Xiao Ying vanish into the black whirlpool.
“If souls step onto the Samsara path and are reincarnated via these black whirlpools beside the Wangling Island, then it means this Wangling Sea is the end of the Reincarnation Cave. For souls, arriving here means they've reached the end of their journey. I imagine every soul that enters this Wangling Sea eventually lands on an island, and finally, next to that island, passes through one of these black whirlpools to enter true Samsara,” Hun Lao offered his thoughts.
“That should be the case. But then, why did the Spirit Ferry we were on happen to stop precisely at this island?” the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm wondered aloud.
“I think it’s highly likely that Miss Jiang was the one controlling the Spirit Ferry we boarded, deliberately guiding it here,” Hun Lao suggested.
“It’s truly remarkable that Miss Jiang and Xiao Ying, as souls, retained consciousness, memory, and even possess a treasure capable of returning them to shore within this Wangling Sea. Their methods are extraordinary. So it’s not surprising at all that they could steer the Spirit Ferry we were on to this specific island,” Ye Yunfei chimed in.
At that moment, Ye Yunfei saw the black whirlpool slowly dissipating as the sea surface gradually calmed.
“Alright, we’ve reached the end of the Reincarnation Cave and it seems we haven’t discovered anything particularly useful. There’s no need to linger further. Let’s return the way we came,” Ye Yunfei announced.
“Excellent! I’ve been waiting for you to say that. These places are simply not for the living. Ever since we entered, I’ve felt uncomfortable all over, especially inside this Wangling Sea. I constantly have this eerie, hair-raising sensation, as if danger lurks everywhere around us. We should hurry and get out,” the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm said immediately upon hearing Ye Yunfei’s words.
Ye Yunfei walked to the small pier where they had disembarked and discovered that the Spirit Ferry which had carried them to the island had completely vanished.
He took out the boat Jiang Xiaojie had gifted him earlier. *Buzz!* The originally palm-sized white boat began to enlarge continuously before settling onto the surface of the black sea.
Ye Yunfei stepped onto the small boat. It gave a slight tremble and then swiftly began sailing back in the direction from which they had come.
“Indeed! The honorable princess did not deceive us. This boat really can carry us back along the original route!” The Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm, watching the white boat swiftly retrace its path across the black sea, finally let out a sigh of relief.
Not long after, the white boat carried Ye Yunfei back to the shore where they had originally boarded.
Ye Yunfei disembarked and carefully stored the white boat away. This vessel, capable of making the return journey across the Wangling Sea, was far too precious to simply discard.
Next, Ye Yunfei began retracing his steps along the original path of his entry.
Throughout the return journey, Ye Yunfei sensed, on multiple occasions, the presence of extremely eerie and powerful auras lurking in the darkness. Several horrifyingly strong auras even locked onto him at times. He proceeded with great caution. In the end, after some nerve-wracking moments, he successfully exited the Reincarnation Cave and returned to the area before the six cave entrances.
As Ye Yunfei emerged from one of the cave mouths, the High Priest of Lunhui Palace and the six Demigods simultaneously stood up, expressions of pleasant surprise on their faces.
“Young Master Ye, you’ve finally returned!” The High Priest of Lunhui Palace came before Ye Yunfei, visibly moved.
Ever since Ye Yunfei had entered the Reincarnation Cave, the High Priest and the six Demigods had been waiting anxiously. According to legends, the Reincarnation Cave was a place only souls could enter. Living beings who ventured in faced inexplicable dangers; it was said that even deities in ancient times dared not casually intrude. And Ye Yunfei was only a Demigod—entering the cave had been an immense risk. Only now, seeing Ye Yunfei return unharmed, did the High Priest and the six Demigods finally feel at ease.
“Young Master Ye is truly extraordinary, to enter the Reincarnation Cave and return safe and sound!” the High Priest and the six Demigods inwardly marveled in admiration.
“Young Master Ye, did you find any trace of Lunhui Laozu or Palace Lord Su?” the High Priest inquired. The whereabouts of Lunhui Laozu and Su Qingluo were what these members of Lunhui Palace most wished to know.
“No,” Ye Yunfei shook his head and replied.
“Let’s leave. Although the seal on these six Reincarnation Caves has been broken, it shouldn’t have any impact on Lunhui Realm or your Lunhui Palace. Furthermore, there exist many terrifying entities within the Reincarnation Caves. After you return, issue an order immediately to seal off the entrances and exits of the reincarnation passageways and strictly forbid anyone from entering,” Ye Yunfei instructed.
“Understood. After I return, I will immediately have the Grand Elder issue the order,” the High Priest nodded in affirmation.