Chapter 1653: Finding the Spatial Node

Half an hour later, Li Yan personally arranged for Su Hong and her two companions to rest within his own cave residence. Afterward, he left again, heading to Mu Guyue’s cave residence. He had a few things to say to her.

However, his mind was currently echoing with words spoken to him by Elder Lian after he had settled the three of them.

‘Little friend Li, when our Manager Su first learned that you and a Spirit Transformation cultivator had vanished during a great battle, she spent several centuries searching for news of you. The first news she got wasn’t from the Immortal Spirit Realm, but from the lower realm! Afterward, Manager Su braved the dangers of teleportation to return to the upper realm and spent a great deal of time before finally locating the Broken Army Sect!’

Elder Lian had stopped there, ignoring Li Yan and turning to leave.

As Li Yan walked silently out of the cave residence, he did not look back at the room where Su Hong was resting. He was no longer the ignorant youth he had once been. He had long felt the depth of Su Hong’s actions, but he didn’t dare to touch upon them.

He had once sworn to Zhao Min and Gong Chenying that there would only be the two of them in this life. Thus, he had always treated Su Hong as a dear friend. He would never show a trace of romantic affection in front of her.

Especially with the appearance of Mu Guyue, Li Yan had been troubled. He didn’t know how he would face Zhao Min and Gong Chenying in the future. But since he knew of Mu Sha’s existence, he couldn’t simply cast Mu Guyue aside; that would make him the problem.

He understood Su Hong’s heart. He wasn’t a block of wood, nor was he a mere puppet. Thus, when Su Hong asked about Mu Guyue, Li Yan had uncharacteristically explained the situation to her. Strictly speaking, she was just a friend, and his private affairs were none of her business. But he knew that if he didn’t explain, he might lose even the friendship.

However, he hadn’t expected Elder Lian to say those words. The content was beyond shocking. He realized those two protectors could no longer stand by and watch; Su Hong had been searching for news of him for centuries. It wasn’t as she had said—that she came after receiving his jade slip message in the upper realm. She had come to the upper realm specifically to find him.

This realization left a bitter taste in Li Yan’s mouth, but he still couldn’t speak of it. ‘After this lower realm business is done, I’ll stop with the cross-realm travel. I shouldn’t ask for her help again in the future,’ Li Yan thought.

He had decided to distance himself from Su Hong and the Return-Home Trade House that had helped him so many times. He couldn’t bear the weight of so much emotion, and Mu Guyue was already a unique existence in his life. Although he had made his decision, his state of mind was not easily calmed.

When Mu Guyue opened the door to her cave residence, she didn’t walk out as she usually did. When Li Yan entered, she was sitting in the parlor, holding a tea cup, her head unmoving. Li Yan was likely there to discuss their departure in the coming days; she just needed to listen.

Li Yan stood still. Seeing her staring at the rising steam from her tea, he thought for a moment before speaking. “About… that… Su Hong, she is just…”

“When do we set out? What will we tell Senior Brother Shangguan and the others?” Mu Guyue interrupted him, looking up slightly, her phoenix eyes meeting his.

Li Yan took a deep breath. Since he intended to stop seeing Su Hong, there was no need to explain. “As for Senior Brother Shangguan, we’ll say we’ve found a possible way to the lower realm and want to investigate. He shouldn’t object.”

Mu Guyue looked at him. Li Yan always liked to obscure his true goals from everyone but himself. She wondered how much of what he said to her was false.

“As for the spirit stones… we should withdraw as many as possible as a reserve,” Mu Guyue said after a pause. She had wanted to suggest that Li Yan lend her some supreme-grade spirit stones so she could use the Return-Home Trade House to cross the realms on her own. Once in the Sacrificial Nether Realm, she could search for her clan herself.

But the words died in her throat. Li Yan had been helping her all this time. Regardless of whether he was true or false to others, he was genuinely helping her. When he had kindly offered to escort her, she hadn’t refused; to do so now would feel like casting aside the person who had helped her. She also wanted to save him some stones, as traveling alone would cost half as much.

Li Yan shook his head. “If we follow my plan, the spirit stones we have are currently enough. My mention of the lower realm wasn’t a pretext; I truly intend to go down and look. I came to tell you that Su… Su Hong said she can help us descend. She can trade us the location of a spatial node. I must go down first. You know how my ascension went. Those related to me in the lower realm are still searching for me, refusing to believe I’m dead.”

He continued, “There are two choices. First, you stay here and wait for my return. Even with the trade house’s help, once you reach the Sacrificial Nether Realm, the cross-realm arrays there will likely be at the four edges of the realm, similar to here. Where are the Black Demon Clan? I asked you, and you weren’t sure of the exact location. We both know how vast the Immortal Spirit Realm is now. It’s vast enough to make even a Body Integration stage cultivator feel despair if they relied solely on flight. Furthermore, what if you encounter a peril like the Heaven-Slaying Prairie? How would you cross it? The Spirit Transformation stage sounds strong, but it’s only the threshold of the mid-tier. You understand this well.”

“I am not comfortable letting you go alone to find your clan with your current cultivation. If something like the Earth-Truth Realm happens again, it will be too late for regrets! So, you need to listen to my suggestion. Either stay here and wait for me, or choose the second option, which is what I hope for. You come with me to the lower realm. You find Mu Sha and then meet up with me. We’ll bring him to the Immortal Spirit Realm and give him better resources so he doesn’t have to suffer the twists and turns we did! While cultivators need experience, we can provide him with a smoother path—consider it my compensation for not watching him grow up. Otherwise, if he ascends on his own, who can guarantee where he’ll end up? Besides, I want to see him!”

Li Yan paused. “However… Su Hong said the passage to the lower realm is very dangerous, and the chance of perishing is high. From that perspective, I’d rather you stay here. I cannot decide this for you. I’m presenting the situation, and the choice is yours.”

Li Yan had spoken a great deal, which was rare for him. Mu Guyue shifted from shock to calm. She hadn’t expected his words about the lower realm to be genuine. Especially hearing about her going to the Sacrificial Nether Realm alone, she fell even more silent.

She felt as if she had returned to the past, to the calm young man who said he would lead her out of the Earth-Truth Realm, help her reach the Spirit Transformation stage, and accompany her to the Sacrificial Nether Realm. Each of those things was incredibly difficult—impossible, even, from her current perspective—but Li Yan had fulfilled his word every time.

When he mentioned Mu Sha, her phoenix eyes grew slightly red. Li Yan said he wanted to see Mu Sha, and why wouldn’t she want the same? Moreover, when he spoke of the uncertainty of Mu Sha’s solo ascension, her heart, no longer cold, didn’t want her child to fall into the same plight she had. To live in poverty and danger just to repay spirit stones, eventually falling into a place of certain death.

She and Li Yan had similar personalities; they rarely spoke much, often understanding each other with just a few words. Hearing Li Yan say so much allowed her to feel the complexity of his inner state. She was certain of his promise, just as she had been when he said he would help her reach Spirit Transformation. He truly wanted to help her return to her people.

“I will go to the lower realm with you!” Mu Guyue’s voice was still aloof and cold, but there was no hesitation. She had no worries; this was just another long journey with Li Yan.

If they lived, they would reach the lower realm! If they died, they would turn into nothingness together!

Li Yan didn’t show much emotion upon hearing her choice. He just nodded, as if he had known she would choose this. They had faced enough dangers together; they weren’t afraid of one more.

Then, Mu Guyue asked, “Did Su Hong say where the node leads in the lower realm?”

“To identify the node, they performed tests. It’s a very small Mortal Realm. In terms of continents, it should be closer to the Verdant Continent. I think this is actually better. The Verdant Continent has a cross-continental teleportation array; you can teleport directly back to the Forsaken Continent. With my current cultivation, returning to the Barren Moon Continent won’t be too difficult.”

Li Yan answered quickly. He had confirmed these things with Su Hong. Knowing the result made him even happier. Otherwise, if they appeared elsewhere in the lower realm, only one might be near their destination, while the other would take a long time to return. Given the state of the lower realm, Mu Guyue certainly couldn’t appear on the Barren Moon Continent. From the Verdant Continent, Li Yan might even be faster than her if things hadn’t changed with the Hellsoul Clan.

However, it was better if Mu Guyue didn’t know about the Hellsoul Clan. Even now, she still harbored a deep hatred for the Soul Suppression Palace.

Shortly after, Li Yan and Mu Guyue flew to Shangguan Tianque’s cave residence. When Shangguan Tianque learned they had found a possible way to the lower realm and wanted to check it out, he readily agreed. He understood Li Yan’s feelings; after all, the man had been stranded in the upper realm by accident.

Two days later, Li Yan, Mu Guyue, Su Hong, and the others quietly left the Broken Army Sect and headed north.

They were now in a space of chaotic flow. Five figures were flying through the raging astral winds. They didn’t fly fast and occasionally stopped. Each time they stopped, a snow-skinned, alluring woman would take out a bamboo-shaped artifact and perform incantations on it. The other four would wait behind her. This was Li Yan’s group.

Su Hong led them through a series of teleports. Li Yan felt they had traveled countless millions of miles. Many of the arrays they used weren’t open to the public but seemed connected to the Return-Home Trade House. Usually, after some negotiation and a payment of spirit stones, they were allowed through. For a smaller portion of the time, they relied on their own flight, bypassing the Heaven-Slaying Prairie to the north. Their primary goal was to head east and then further east.