Ye Chenyan cut Ren Jiangliu off and cupped his hands toward the tall, elegant white dragon before them. “Miss Li Ji, I’ve come to undergo the trial.”
Li Ji gave him a long look, making no attempt to hide the fact that she was sizing him up.
Yu Qingtang was secretly sizing her up too.
He couldn’t help glancing back at the pitch-black Feiyan. They were both dragons, yet some dragons looked dusty and dull like mud loaches, while others had every single scale gleaming, even their dragon faces somehow looking refined and beautiful.
Feiyan had no idea why he was staring. “What?”
“Your Clan Head’s scales are pearlescent!” Yu Qingtang exclaimed, then remembered to console him. “But Brother Feiyan, you also... uh, have your own rustic charm.”
A black dragon ought to look imposing. It was just that Feiyan’s scales had very little shine, and combined with his simple, goofy personality, he mostly looked dumb.
“Huh?” Feiyan failed entirely to appreciate Yu Qingtang’s kindness and boomed, “Of course! Our Clan Head is the greatest beauty among the sea folk! She’s not only beautiful when she takes human form—she’s even prettier as a dragon!”
He glanced at Ren Jiangliu. “Most of you humans only like humanoid forms. Once sea folk reveal our true forms, people tend to get a bit scared...”
“You’re talking nonsense—” Ren Jiangliu instinctively objected.
Then he suddenly remembered Li Ji was right there.
He cleared his throat and, in a remarkably gentle and refined voice, said, “Since I admire Miss Li Ji, naturally I admire her in both her transformed form and her true form.”
As he spoke, a faint blush even rose to his cheeks.
“Really?” Feiyan looked skeptical. “But you’re such a tiny little thing. Can you truly appreciate the majestic beauty of our dragon lineage?”
“Of course!” Ren Jiangliu’s eyes shone. “In my eyes, she’s naturally different from every other dragon...”
“She really is different,” Yu Qingtang agreed slowly. “She actually glows at the bottom of the sea.”
Like she had a soft-focus beauty filter turned on.
Ren Jiangliu whipped his head around. “And you said you weren’t interested in her—”
Yu Qingtang widened his eyes innocently.
Ren Jiangliu quickly cleared his throat, then gave a low laugh. “Haha. Brother Yu certainly has excellent taste.”
By the end, the words were coming through somewhat gritted teeth.
Li Ji: “...”
She sighed softly, then suddenly transformed into human form and descended before them.
She was strikingly beautiful and poised, with long phoenix eyes. Perhaps because she had occupied a position of authority for so long, every movement carried the natural presence of someone accustomed to command. Though dressed in plain-colored robes, she somehow looked all the more elegant and regal.
Feiyan looked puzzled. “Hm? Clan Head, why did you transform?”
Li Ji glanced at Ren Jiangliu. “I thought remaining in dragon form might prevent unnecessary trouble, but he...”
Ren Jiangliu smiled, utterly shameless and proud of himself. “But I like both.”
Li Ji silently looked away.
Ren Jiangliu’s smile faded. He nodded lightly. “Don’t worry, Miss Li Ji. I understand what matters.”
“I didn’t come this time merely to make trouble. As a representative of Stillwater Sect, I naturally ought to witness the future master of this realm undergo the trial.”
Li Ji nodded slightly, her expression easing. Her gaze fell on Ye Chenyan. “Ordinarily, to become master of this realm, you would at least need to wait until you became an immortal.”
“But the Heavenly Dao no longer permits anyone to ascend.”
Ye Chenyan frowned. “Why?”
“As everyone knows, only one true immortal remains in this world: Bu Yetian.” Li Ji’s expression remained calm. “His cultivation method is unusual and merged with the Heavenly Dao. Anyone who wishes to ascend cannot avoid him.”
Yu Qingtang immediately looked up warily, terrified that the man who was supposedly half the Heavenly Dao might hear them discussing him behind his back.
“Relax.” Li Ji laughed softly. “Other than Tianji Zi setting up a scheme to deceive Heaven, the only place beneath Heaven Bu Yetian’s reach likely cannot extend is this Sea of Returning Ruins.”
“Even the Heavenly Dao cannot influence the Realm Gate.”
She turned toward the darkness ahead.
Only then did everyone realize how unnaturally black the sea before them was. Not a trace of light penetrated it. It was like the deepest, thickest ink.
Yu Qingtang grew a little nervous. “Is that the Realm Gate?”
“That is the Sea of Returning Ruins,” Li Ji said, her voice carrying a strange power that naturally calmed the listener. “The Realm Gate lies within it.”
“However, once a person approaches that area, they lose all spiritual power and become no different from an ordinary mortal. A mortal at such depths would drown in an instant.”
Ye Chenyan raised an eyebrow. “Then isn’t that certain death? Is that the trial?”
Li Ji chuckled. “Of course not.”
“As long as you possess the Realm Stone, you can approach the Realm Gate unharmed.”
Ye Chenyan’s eyes shifted slightly. “I’m not trying to approach the Realm Gate. I only want the Realm Stone.”
“I’m merely reminding you.” Li Ji looked back. “Only the person who obtains the Realm Stone and becomes master of this realm can safely pass through the Realm Gate.”
Her gaze swept toward Yu Qingtang.
“In other words, if someone else takes it, then no one else will be able to pass through the Realm Gate.”
“An accident like an otherworldly wandering soul may not occur even once in tens of millions of years.”
Ye Chenyan froze and instinctively looked at Yu Qingtang.
“Huh?” Yu Qingtang wore the expression of someone who had heard the words without comprehending their significance.
“You should think this through carefully.” Li Ji smiled. “I don’t particularly care about Tianji Zi and Bu Yetian competing against one another.”
“As I see it, each of them has chosen a different path, and no one knows which gamble is correct. I don’t care who obtains the Realm Stone and becomes master of this realm. As long as they can stop this calamity and prevent the destruction of this world, that is enough.”
Ye Chenyan stared deeply at Yu Qingtang. “You...”
Yu Qingtang stepped forward, spread his hands, cupped Ye Chenyan’s chin, and declared with utmost seriousness, “He’ll do it.”
Li Ji clearly hadn’t expected such a decisive answer. She raised an eyebrow. “Truly?”
“Of course.” Yu Qingtang pointed at himself with complete confidence. “Do I look like someone capable of shouldering that much responsibility?”
Li Ji: “...”
Yu Qingtang patted Ye Chenyan’s shoulder with grave sincerity. “I’m leaving it to you.”
Ye Chenyan’s eyes flickered. “But... then you won’t be able to go back.”
“I couldn’t go back in the first place.” Yu Qingtang was remarkably accepting. He pointed at himself. “I’ve been here this long and never heard of any method for crossing between worlds. My chances of returning were tiny to begin with.”
“I couldn’t go back before, and I still can’t go back now. So nothing’s changed, right?”
“Besides—”
He tilted his head toward the Sea of Returning Ruins before them.
“Once you become master of this realm, maybe the Realm Gate will start listening to you.”
“We can study all that later.”
Ye Chenyan’s expression shifted, then he nodded solemnly. “All right.”
“If... if you want to go back someday, I’ll find a way.”
“But...”
He took Yu Qingtang’s hand.
“If you go, you still have to come back.”
“This is your home too. Even if not for me, you still have Biehe Sect. Didn’t you say you were going to take care of your master in his old age?”
“Of course.” Yu Qingtang nodded seriously. “I promised.”
His eyes curved with a smile. “My master’s so dumb. Without me, his Great General of Finding Time to Slack Off and Enjoy Life, to support him in his old age, what if he starves to death?”
Ye Chenyan laughed. “He is still a cultivator...”
“Ahem.” Ren Jiangliu cleared his throat. His smile had deteriorated from refined politeness into a smile that did not reach his eyes. “Are you two finished?”
“Are we doing this or not?”
“What’s the rush?” Ye Chenyan raised an eyebrow. “What’s the trial? Please enlighten me.”
“Since you’ve settled it among yourselves, then come.” Li Ji raised one hand and drew a circle.
The seawater trembled.
A strange water mirror appeared before them.
“I already said these are unusual circumstances, so I won’t test your cultivation. I’ll only test your state of mind.”
Yu Qingtang guiltily looked away.
Good thing they weren’t testing him. With someone as weak-willed as him, he would probably get thrown straight back out the moment he entered.
Ye Chenyan remained calm. “I just go inside?”
“Yes.” Li Ji warned him, “Don’t underestimate the Three-Lives Water Mirror. It will force you to confront your inner demons. Whatever you fear will appear before you.”
Ye Chenyan gave a dismissive laugh. “What if I’m afraid of nothing?”
Li Ji smiled. “Then you’ll walk in and immediately walk back out.”
“Fine.”
Ye Chenyan was about to enter when he suddenly remembered something. He turned to Li Ji.
“Can you pass this trial?”
Li Ji seemed slightly surprised.
Then she smiled.
“Of course... not.”
Ye Chenyan: “...”
Li Ji looked at him with amusement. “You humans should know that our dragon lineage has always lived however we please. There are even rumors among the people that dragons are inherently lustful...”
“Ahem!” Ye Chenyan cleared his throat, his expression strange. “You can’t even pass it yourself, and you’re using it to test me?”
Li Ji remained perfectly composed. “I’m not trying to become master of this realm.”
Ye Chenyan: “...Fine.”
“Please.” Li Ji gestured toward the mirror. “Be careful. If you lose yourself inside and cannot escape, your inner demons may become even worse when you face future breakthroughs.”
“Do not underestimate it.”
Ye Chenyan merely nodded.
He reached out and touched the illusory water mirror, then glanced back at Yu Qingtang and smiled.
“Wait for me.”
Yu Qingtang anxiously clenched his hands.
Only after Ye Chenyan’s figure disappeared into the mirror did Li Ji slowly turn toward Yu Qingtang. She descended beside him, apparently intending to speak.
Ren Jiangliu immediately went on high alert.
He took a quick step forward, inserted himself between them, and smiled politely at Li Ji.
Li Ji: “...”
She leaned slightly to one side to look around him at Yu Qingtang.
“You’re worried about him?”
“Mm.” Yu Qingtang stared anxiously at the water mirror.
An image of Ye Chenyan had already appeared within it.
He seemed to be walking step by step toward the Dragon Palace, visibly alert.
Li Ji seemed far less interested in the scene inside the mirror than she was in Yu Qingtang.
“Of the seven emotions and six desires, which one are you worried about?”
Yu Qingtang let out a long sigh. “Obviously I’m worried he won’t be able to resist temptation. Lust is dangerous, after all.”
After all, in the original novel, Li Ji herself had personally entered the trial, dancing in translucent gauze to seduce Long Aotian.
Long Aotian had turned their own scheme against them, pretending to be completely bewitched and taking quite a few liberties with her. Then, just when Li Ji thought he could no longer break free of the water mirror’s illusion, he abruptly restrained her instead and threatened her into opening the water mirror so he could break the formation.
After all, Li Ji herself was the formation eye.
“I see.” Li Ji nodded lightly. “In that case, let us directly test him against the temptation of lust.”
Yu Qingtang’s eyes flew wide. “Huh?”
Li Ji waved a hand.
The scene inside the water mirror changed instantly.
Ye Chenyan, who had been outside the Dragon Palace, was suddenly dropped into a bustling banquet.
Men and women surrounded him, all exceptionally beautiful.
And wearing very little.
The moment Ye Chenyan landed, someone pulled him into an embrace. He pushed that one away, only for another to rush forward, then another, coquettish laughter ringing endlessly around him.
Yu Qingtang: “...”
Li Ji smiled at him.
Yu Qingtang cleared his throat. “It’s fine. I know this is only a trial. I trust Comrade Little Ye...”
Li Ji raised a hand and stuffed a piece of clothing into his arms.
Yu Qingtang instinctively squeezed the fabric.
Then he realized it seemed to be that merfolk silk Feiyan had mentioned earlier.
Li Ji smiled at him.
“You go in too.”
Yu Qingtang: “Huh?”
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