Chapter 397 - You Better Not Do That!

"Got it!" The War Princess nodded.

Just a stone's throw behind, the likes of the Sword Warden, the Netherworld Emperor, and the Siren Empress dared not depart.

"The Three True Immortals from the Primordial Ruins are keeping the Nian in check. We should be fine now," the War Princess declared. "Yun Xiao has ordered everyone to head back and maintain stability."

"Did Yun Xiao say that?" Mu Dalong was still around, having been caught off guard by Yun Xiao's hasty departure. Worry still knotted her stomach.

"Yes," the War Princess affirmed with a nod.

"Is he safe, then?" Mu Dalong inquired.

"He's tough as nails, what could possibly go wrong..." the War Princess cursed Yun Xiao under her breath for not sparing even the aunts, but outwardly reassured, "Don't worry."

"Right," Mu Dalong nodded, falling silent for a moment before finally asking, "So, will he come back?"

"Of course, he will!" the War Princess exclaimed.

She hadn't even left herself!

Mu Dalong remembered Yun Xiao's words... The Nine Hells was his home, inseparable from him, and with that thought, she found peace.

They dispersed one after the other.

"Say, didn't Yun Xiao leave? How can you relay his message?" the Netherworld Emperor whispered to his daughter before leaving.

The War Princess shot him a glare, too lazy to respond.

"Cough, cough!" The Netherworld Emperor could only leave in embarrassment.

Now, she was the only one left in the open near the Immortal Asylum.

But there was still one more, hidden in the shadows. A barefoot girl! Clad in tattered robes, she sat cross-legged on a branch, her eyes empty, as if frozen in time.

"Pale Revenant?" the War Princess called out to her.

Pale Revenant looked up at her.

"Don't worry," the War Princess reassured. "He said once he's settled in the Primordial Ruins, he'll take us up there to mingle."

Pale Revenant nodded, whispering, "Thank you."

"Just can't figure out what those three immortals are up to..." The War Princess gazed at the butterfly formation, her worries deepening.

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Inside the Immortal Asylum, where the crack once teemed with life, it now lay deserted. As the three divine steles descended, the Nian, sensing a threat, retreated back into its prison. The Immortal Asylum, it seemed, had become its protector.

In the dark depths, a beast without skin slithered, its dull yellow eyes fixating on the faint light at the crack, filled with depth. Silver butterflies clung to the edge of the crack, fluttering their wings in a scene that bordered on the eerie.

Suddenly, a figure peeked in, his face expressionless, yet bizarrely, his belly sported a grin, as if mocking the Nian.

"The New Year's almost here," he taunted, "Sure you don't want to join the revelry up top? Everyone would love to have you." His voice, unsettling to the core, sent shivers down one's spine.

Unable to contain its annoyance, the Nian spat out in disdain, "Beat it, fool!"

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Meanwhile, back at the Primordial Academy, under the shadow of the Divine Dawn Pavilion, Yun Xiao, Lian Xi, and Liu Yingying made their way back in silence. Their protectors melted into the shadows as they approached.

Liu Yingying, trailing behind, struggled with her emotions at the sight of the couple ahead. In a secluded spot, unable to hold back any longer, she called out, "Yun Xiao!"

Yun Xiao and Lian Xi turned, their expressions in unison, a mirror of marital harmony, which only deepened Liu Yingying's despair, her eyes brimming with tears.

"What's the matter, Yingying?" Lian Xi inquired.

"I just... I need to ask him something," Liu Yingying managed, her gaze fixed on Yun Xiao.

"Shoot," Yun Xiao prompted.

"Do you find pleasure in toying with others?" Liu Yingying asked, biting her lip.

"Making a mockery? Is that what I did?" Yun Xiao pondered aloud.

"You could absorb the Genesis Spirit Essence and claim the Calamity Bone, yet you feigned ignorance, isn't that making fools out of others? And then, you smack them right in the face. Do you find amusement in this? Basking in self-glory now, aren't you?" Liu Yingying accused.

"If that's what you call making a mockery, then yes, I confess, I do take a certain pleasure in it," Yun Xiao admitted, his gaze landing on her. "But how does that concern you? You're Lian Xi's dear sister; you ought to be happy for us."

"You..." Liu Yingying was at a loss for words, fuming.

"I know why you're upset; like everyone else, you wanted to see me fail," Yun Xiao stated, pulling Lian Xi closer. "That's not right! So, let me give you a piece of advice: think about who truly matters to you. Trust her, don't make her life difficult or sad, got it?"

Liu Yingying clenched her fists, her chest heaving with emotion.

After a long moment, when she finally looked at Lian Xi, her heart softened, and she conceded, "Alright, I'll admit, you've got some skills, and you're pretty sly... But Lian Xi, she's on a whole other level of nobility compared to you. You're not worthy of her with your current antics. If you truly care for her, please, show her the respect she deserves, and don't you dare..."

"Don't dare what?" Yun Xiao was taken aback.

"Don't do that!"

With those words, Liu Yingying, a mix of embarrassment and anger, turned and fled.

Yun Xiao was left speechless.

She sure had a vivid imagination!

Before he could even respond, Liu Yingying was back.

"Now what?" Yun Xiao inquired.

"Just a heads-up, you've made some formidable enemies, the Mysterious Sword Manor and the entire lineage of the Human Zenith Immortal might come after you. You better be smart about this and not drag Lian Xi into your mess!" Liu Yingying warned earnestly.

"Got it, now off you go." Yun Xiao dismissed her as if she'd just let off steam, and with Lian Xi by his side, he headed towards the Divine Dawn Pavilion.

"Lian Xi, you should get some rest," he suggested.

Lian Xi, smiling at their squabble, bid Liu Yingying goodnight. Deep down, she could tell Liu Yingying had been swayed by Yun Xiao, despite her tough exterior. Otherwise, she wouldn't have pleaded with Yun Xiao not to do

that

!

What was once an outright

ban

had turned into a

request

.

Tonight, Liu Yingying found herself struck by a sudden revelation, standing alone outside, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts, struggling to grasp the turn of events.

She thought of Song Bomei.

"Sigh, I thought leveraging my connection with Lian Xi would secure a favorable outcome, but now I see, men are nothing but playboys, every last one of them!"

All that effort spent acting youthful and amiable, wasted... She might as well have spent the day in meditation.

Lifting her gaze to the Divine Dawn Pavilion, Liu Yingying pondered over Yun Xiao's demeanor throughout the day.

His smile was ever serene.

Such a smile, such a presence, if one could set aside their biases, was indeed unforgettable.

"Sigh, with looks like his, not just Lian Xi, but even a three-hundred-year-old granny would be stirred... I have to admit." Her emotions were in turmoil, undergoing a seismic shift. In the end, she mused, "With a face like that, even if Lian Xi's just in it for the eye candy, it's still worth it."

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Inside the Divine Dawn Pavilion, Yun Xiao found himself in a pavilion with an ancient zither.

"Do you play?" Yun Xiao asked with a smile, turning to Lian Xi.

"Not a bit!" Lian Xi chuckled sheepishly, her hands clasped behind her. "I'm only good with hammers and axes."

"Then why keep a zither here?" Yun Xiao inquired.

"It's Yingying's," Lian Xi paused, "Despite her constant teasing, to others, she's a virtuoso in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, a true Immortal fairy."

"Heh..." Yun Xiao couldn't help but laugh.

"Interested in my big sis and best friend, huh? That'd be quite the thrill," Lian Xi teased in a whisper, pouting.

"You don't say." Yun Xiao was taken aback. "Haha!"

Her teasing sent Yun Xiao into a fit of laughter, bending over with mirth, her playful nature shining through her bright, tigerish teeth.

"Naughty," Yun Xiao chided, casting her a glance before settling down before the zither.

"Do you know how?" Lian Xi inquired, curiosity lighting up her eyes.

"Me? I'm self-taught," Yun Xiao boasted with a casual shrug. His fingers danced across the strings, and after a moment's contemplation, a melodious tune filled the air.

"That's

Dream Falling Through the Mortal World

. You play it even better than Yingying," Lian Xi marveled.

She recognized the piece because the score was right there beside them, and Yun Xiao was playing it note for note.

With a soft chuckle, Yun Xiao kept the music flowing. The gentle breeze, his white robe fluttering, turned the moment into a scene straight out of a painting.

"Your fingers are quite the sight," Lian Xi said, propping her chin in her hands, her eyes wide with fascination as she watched, spellbound.

No sooner had she spoken than the melody shifted, becoming fierce and tumultuous, evoking images of clashing swords and charging steeds on the battlefield.

"These are the hands of a killer," Yun Xiao murmured, his tone light yet carrying an undercurrent of solemnity.

Lian Xi paused, taken aback.

The gap between their strengths was vast, with her usually playing the protector. Yet, why did it often feel like they were equals, or that she was even overshadowed by his presence?

Silence fell as Yun Xiao concluded the piece. The quiet of the courtyard enveloped them.

He stood and asked, "So, we're enrolling in the Primordial Academy tomorrow?"

"Right. You have to pass the entrance exam to officially become a member of the Academy," Lian Xi confirmed with a nod.

"And what's the point?" Yun Xiao queried.

"Being a disciple of the Primordial Academy grants you the right to openly learn its swordsmanship and daoist spells, not to mention access to the resources of the Immortal Dao," Lian Xi explained.

Yun Xiao's thoughts weren't far off the mark.

So, he asked, "How are the resources doled out?"

"Disciples are ranked across ten levels. The higher your level, the greater your bounty," Lian Xi explained.

"And where do you stand?"

"At the very top, the tenth level," Lian Xi boasted, hands on her hips, "And I'm the only one, freshly minted too."

"Is that 'cause you tackled the eighth floor of the Primordial Pagoda?" Yun Xiao probed.

"Exactly," Lian Xi paused, "Not every disciple who takes on the eighth floor makes it to the tenth level, but cracking it at 14? That's top tier."

Yun Xiao got the picture.

In essence, disciple rankings hinged on two things—age and prowess in the Primordial Pagoda. The younger, the better for the former, and the higher, the better for the latter.

At 16, Yun Xiao would need to aim even higher to match Lian Xi's standing.

"The Academy's backing makes things smoother, helps you rise."

Hence, enrollment tomorrow was pivotal.

"With the might you showed defeating Huyan Luo, getting in should be a breeze, merely a formality," Lian Xi said with a light chuckle.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Suppose so."

Breaking through five stages in a single day, Yun Xiao was already a cut above at the Academy.

"Then let me congratulate you in advance, 'Level 1 Gui Disciple'," Lian Xi teased with a wink.

"Level 1 Gui disciple? So, the ten disciple levels are named after the Heavenly Stems?" Yun Xiao clarified.

"Right. They go from Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, all the way to Xin, Ren, and Gui," Lian Xi listed.

"Primordial, Heavenly Stems... It's all cosmically aligned, quite profound," Yun Xiao mused.

Looking down at Lian Xi, he couldn't help but chuckle, "So, you're the esteemed Level 10 Jia disciple then."

Lian Xi pinched his arm in mock frustration, "And here I am, at your mercy, a mere Level 1 Gui junior..."