After I Died My Dao Companion Drowns in Endless Regret Chapter 110

The deliberately suppressed memories stirred up a great wave in her mind. Wei Yunshu struggled to maintain a calm expression. Her heart felt as if it had been split in two by an axe. One half remained in the past, trapped in an emotional vortex by the familiar cultivation technique and aura; the other half struggled to break free, focusing its thoughts on Gan Yuan. In the moments of Yuan Chu’s silence, Wei Yunshu felt like a drowning person. The emotions she had tried so hard to conceal surfaced, and she couldn’t help but wonder, If Luo Lingfeng were to come to the Shang Qing Divine Realm, what would she be like?
Under Wei Yunshu’s gaze, which was markedly different from usual, the smile on Yuan Chu’s face deepened. She had no fear of being seen through. Her red lips parted, and she answered Wei Yunshu’s question calmly, “I cultivate the Grand Pure True Water.”
Upon hearing “Grand Pure True Water,” Wei Yunshu inevitably thought of “Abyssal True Water,” which was Luo Lingfeng’s fundamental technique. She couldn’t tell if she felt more disappointment and vexation, or more relief. Her gaze lost focus. It seemed to be on Yuan Chu, but in reality, nothing registered in her eyes. The sea tide gradually calmed, and the boundless ocean no longer churned with great waves, but Wei Yunshu’s heart could not find its peace for some time.
Yuan Chu spoke gently, “Daoist Bo?”
Wei Yunshu came back to her senses. She forced herself to look away, squeezed out a strained smile, and said, “Your divine ability is truly sublime.”
“Not as good as yours, Daoist Bo,” Yuan Chu replied with a faint smile.
Wei Yunshu absentmindedly agreed, apologized to Yuan Chu, and then turned to return to her cabin. After she left, Yuan Chu stood alone at the ship’s prow. She was still smiling, but there was an indescribable chill and cold sharpness about her. She didn’t know when her fragmented memories would be restored. Only now did she realize that ten thousand years was truly a long time.
On the way to the Red Sea, Wei Yunshu and Yuan Chu encountered no more demon cultivator robbers. Half a month later, they arrived at an island on the edge of the Red Sea to rest and reorganize. As they disembarked, they brushed past other cultivators and overheard their complaints. They all said that the atmosphere in the Wu Shi Heaven Domain was terrible, that many had been attacked by unknown demon cultivators, and that some of their companions had been seriously injured or even killed. However, the demon cultivators from the boat company on the island wore icy expressions, openly and covertly mocking them for not hiring escorts. Wei Yunshu observed carefully and found that all the attacked dragon boats were ones that had not hired escorts from the boat company. She immediately understood.
“The boat company is secretly colluding with those cultivators.” An extraordinary certainty was hidden in Wei Yunshu’s calm voice. She even asked about it on her Merit Record and received a definite answer. The boat company and the great robbers were indeed in cahoots. In that case, would the path to the center of the Red Sea truly be peaceful? Or should they pretend nothing had happened and hire some cultivators from the boat company for escort?
“In the beginning, there were many boat companies of all sizes in the Wu Shi Heaven Domain. After a few periods of turmoil, only about ten remain. Among these ten, the boat companies named after the seas are the most powerful. They are more reliable than the smaller ones,” Yuan Chu said after a moment’s thought. “In any case, to get to the Red Sea, the ‘Red Character’ dragon boats are the best to use.”
Wei Yunshu thought for a moment and then said, “But they are all one group. We killed that demon cultivator. Won’t the boat company retaliate?”
Yuan Chu gave Wei Yunshu an amused look. “Daoist Bo, isn’t it a bit late to be thinking about this now?” After a pause, she added, “The demon cultivators of the Wu Shi Heaven Domain admire strength. If someone is defeated, they will only think the loser is useless and won’t avenge him. Losing a few useless people is no loss at all to a massive boat company.”
Wei Yunshu said thoughtfully, “Daoist Yuan knows a lot about the Wu Shi Heaven Domain as well.” She was an outsider and could only get information from books and the Merit Record. The former was too general, and as for the latter, although it had everything, no one would volunteer information if you didn’t ask. If there was something she hadn’t thought of, she would remain shrouded in ignorance.
Yuan Chu said composedly, “I need to retrieve something from the Red Sea, so naturally, I must understand all aspects of the Wu Shi Heaven Domain.”
Wei Yunshu watched Yuan Chu and said softly, “Is that so?” Starting from “Hengjue Mountain,” she had begun to doubt Yuan Chu’s identity. Sometimes she thought she was from the Gan Yuan lineage, other times she felt she wasn’t. What was her origin? Was the so-called “True Disciple of Jade Capital” just a fabricated title, like her own “Under the Black Lord”?
Yuan Chu guessed her meaning from her eyes. She had no intention of feigning ignorance and asked directly, “Is Daoist Bo suspicious of me?” Before Wei Yunshu could answer, she added with a smile, “If you discover something amiss, is Daoist Bo prepared to kill me out here? That way, it wouldn’t be a violation of the Academy’s rules, would it?”
Wei Yunshu averted her gaze and said impassively, “Daoist Yuan is overthinking things. I have no such intention.” She had indeed had the thought of killing Yuan Chu. The Fu Li Immortal Realm was behind her; she could not afford any mistakes. If any threat appeared, she would certainly do everything in her power to eliminate it.
Hearing this, Yuan Chu showed a faint smile. She looked ahead, where every dragon boat flew a “red” banner. Suddenly, three unusual dragon boats cut in from the side, flying a green flag with a “Soaring Serpent” pattern embroidered in gold thread. These three dragon boats clearly did not belong to the Red Character line. “Daoist Bo,” Yuan Chu said, drawing her attention.
In fact, even without Yuan Chu saying anything, Wei Yunshu had seen the Soaring Serpent flags rushing into the sea of red. The person in charge of the boat company was furious at the few reckless dragon boats. He released his immense aura, pressing forward like a tidal wave. The Soaring Serpent flagships swayed for a moment, and then a Soaring Serpent Dharma Manifestation appeared, baring its fangs and claws. Its aura was not as strong as the boat company head’s, but its eyes shone with a grim and savage light. For some reason, the head of the company quickly backed down. With a rumbling sound, the Red Character dragon boats scattered to the sides, immediately clearing a wide path.
Yuan Chu said, “Those Soaring Serpent flagships are no worse than the Red Character ones.”
Wei Yunshu knitted her brows. “What is the origin of this Soaring Serpent flag?” She had only caught a glimpse of the Soaring Serpent Dharma Manifestation in the rush, but she could still recognize a hint of a familiar aura from the remnants. If she were traveling alone, she would have already tried to track that aura.
“I don’t know.” Yuan Chu glanced at Wei Yunshu and said warmly, “It might be related to the Sect Master of the Wu Shi Sect. The Wu Shi Sect Master, Supreme Immortal Teng Luo, is a Soaring Serpent in her true form. The ones who appeared here are likely her descendants of the same bloodline. That is why the Red Character line chose to back down.”
Wei Yunshu nodded as if in sudden realization. “So that’s how it is.”
Yuan Chu suggested, “Besides the Red Character line, another dragon boat capable of crossing the Red Sea has appeared. Why don’t we go and ask about it?”
Wei Yunshu had been looking for a suitable reason to inquire, and now Yuan Chu’s suggestion was exactly what she wanted. She smiled. “Then let’s do as Daoist Yuan suggests.” Having made up her mind, Wei Yunshu was the first to fly toward the three Soaring Serpent flagships. She didn’t move too fast, and by the time she arrived, several eager demon cultivators had already gone over. In the Wu Shi Heaven Domain, the True Dragon was most revered, followed by the Soaring Serpent. If one could get on good terms with the Soaring Serpent bloodline, their future path in the Dao would surely be incredibly smooth.
On the Soaring Serpent boat, the person in charge was a young female cultivator. She wore a black martial-style outfit, and a green snake was coiled around her wrist. Her face was expressionless, and she exuded an air that kept strangers at bay. The attendants didn’t dare approach her easily, only asking from a distance, “True Monarch, should we let everyone who comes aboard?”
The female cultivator said coolly, “Of course.” She had only sent three dragon boats this time; the Red Character boat company wouldn’t fall out with her over this. She had no intention of personally meeting the guests who wanted to board. Suddenly, her expression sharpened. The space between her brows felt as if it had been pricked by a needle, and a strange premonition arose. Putting down the document in her hand, she had already taken a step forward. Her gaze swept into the distance, then slowly turned inward, finally settling on the tall, graceful figure of Wei Yunshu. In the next moment, a ripple of water spread before her eyes, and memories hidden in a depth even she didn’t know existed slowly surfaced. After a moment of daze, she suddenly understood her own origin and history.
On the other side, Wei Yunshu also saw the female cultivator’s face clearly. The sense of familiarity settled, and the person who met her eyes was indeed an old friend she hadn’t seen in years—the Dustless Sea demon cultivator, Yu Changfeng. A mix of melancholy and lighthearted joy rose from the depths of her heart. She smiled at the person before her and gave a Daoist salute. Yu Changfeng silently returned the salute. After a long moment, she finally asked, “Are you two here to rent a dragon boat?”
Wei Yunshu said warmly, “That is correct.”
Yu Changfeng said, “Follow me.” The attendants following Yu Changfeng, though somewhat confused, still stepped forward and made a gesture of invitation. Their figures quickly disappeared, leaving behind the other demon cultivators, each showing a look of envy, and even jealousy.
Reuniting with an old friend, Wei Yunshu naturally had many questions she wanted to ask, but with an outsider like Yuan Chu present, she mentioned nothing other than renting the boat. Yu Changfeng had initially thought Yuan Chu was a companion Wei Yunshu had found, but after a few words, she dismissed the idea and also refrained from speaking of old times, instead bringing up the Red Algae in the Red Sea.
“This Red Algae appeared ten thousand years ago. Rumor has it that a great power who cultivated a blood technique died here. His blood dyed the sea red, causing the originally ordinary algae to mutate. For you to come to the Red Sea at this time, it’s almost certainly for the Essence of Red Water. The Essence of Red Water is in the depths of the Red Sea. The dragon boats cannot submerge, so you must enter the water yourselves. How to avoid the Red Algae is a problem.”
Wei Yunshu asked warmly, “Does Daoist friend have any suggestions?” She had looked it up on the Merit Record. There were many ways to dive into the sea, either by using a protective artifact, by using one’s own divine abilities to push it away, or by taking pills.
“I have no other suggestions, just the usual pills and artifacts.” Yu Changfeng thought of something, and her brows furrowed slightly. She added, “I just want to remind you of one thing. The Essence of Red Water is a treasure that appears once every ten thousand years. Its spiritual energy radiates out, and the Red Algae has also been nourished by it. Within that vast algae cluster, a great demon may have been born. If so, the usual preparations may not be enough to deal with it. It’s not yet time for the Essence of Red Water to be born; there’s no need to rush into the Red Sea.”
Wei Yunshu said, “Thank you.” Fearing Yuan Chu would see through them, she didn’t linger. After taking her leave, she found a secluded spot on the island and turned to Yuan Chu. “What does Daoist Yuan think?”
Yuan Chu said, “Daoist Bo, your sword’s divine ability can sever yin and yang, but your sword’s level is insufficient. There are many hindrances in its operation, and it cannot shatter everything with a single strike. If the Red Algae is as that Daoist friend said and has given birth to a great demon, its level will certainly not be low, and the journey to the Red Sea will be even more dangerous.” After a pause, she added, “I can give you the Origin Stone first.”
Wei Yunshu was very tempted by the offer, but after a moment’s thought, she shook her head and refused. “I know your concerns. I will find a way to compensate for the sword’s shortcomings with other divine abilities. Daoist Yuan, if you give me the Origin Stone, have you considered what will happen if we fail to retrieve the Essence of Red Water?” She didn’t want to owe such a huge favor and bear such a great burden.
“Since I came, I naturally came prepared for failure. Does a failure in this endeavor mean that your help was not help at all?” Yuan Chu curled her lip and added, “Daoist Bo, according to the rules of the divine realm, when you invite someone to accompany you, you must pay them regardless of success or failure. Did you not know this?”
Wei Yunshu’s eyelids twitched. She felt that Yuan Chu’s words had a hidden meaning. Her mind sharpened, and she concealed the vigilance in her eyes. “The Origin Stone is not easy to come by. This humble one simply feels I cannot bear the weight of it.”
Yuan Chu smiled. “It is indeed not easy to come by, but it is only useful for swords. I do not cultivate the way of the sword. In my hands, it is nothing but a useless stone. To trade a useless stone for the Essence of Red Water, I am the one getting the better deal.”
Wei Yunshu was not convinced by Yuan Chu’s words. She said, “According to your words, the Essence of Red Water is useless to me. To trade a useless item for a precious material, I am the one profiting.”
Yuan Chu let out a derisive laugh. She stared at Wei Yunshu and said meaningfully, “Only today do I realize that Daoist Bo is so sharp-tongued.”
Wei Yunshu lowered her eyelashes, her expression unchanging.
Seeing that her words couldn’t persuade Wei Yunshu, Yuan Chu thought for a moment and said, “In a fight, a single flaw can decide life and death. Daoist Bo, if because your sword is not complete, you cause yourself, or even both of us, to be defeated and die, then it will be too late to say anything. If you feel you owe me something, then find a way to compensate me in some other way later. I am giving you the Origin Stone, not for you, but for the Essence of Red Water. Let me make myself clearer now: I do not wish for your shortcomings to cause our plan to fail and hinder my path to the Dao.”
“Daoist Bo’s attitude towards me is a bit strange. Did I offend you at some point without knowing? If that’s the case, you can completely treat me as a stranger you met by chance, just two people cooperating. Once the Essence of Red Water is obtained, we can go our separate ways.” Yuan Chu’s smile vanished, and her tone grew colder and harsher. “Since you have decided to accompany me, then please remember, my goal is your goal. There is nothing more important than obtaining the ‘Essence of Red Water.’”
Wei Yunshu was struck by Yuan Chu’s words, which exposed her evasive thoughts. A blush appeared on her face. She looked up and stared at Yuan Chu for a long moment before saying softly, “My apologies.”
Yuan Chu continued to wear a cold face. “Those two words are completely useless.” She took out the Origin Stone and handed it to Wei Yunshu. “Go and polish your life-bound sword. I will wait for you here.”
Wei Yunshu sighed inwardly and said to Yuan Chu, “Thank you.” She found a cave. Although Yuan Chu was guarding the Dao for her outside, she still set up a few array discs to shield against any unusual energy. After everything was done, she finally summoned the Taiyi Sword. With a thought, sword lights shot out from behind her like a sky full of stars, landing on the Origin Stone. The Taiyi Sword was one with her mind; it did not need to be refined by earthly fire or heavenly furnaces, but was tempered by her own divine will and spiritual energy. Endless sword lights fell on the Origin Stone, instantly stirring up silver ripples.
In a trance, it was as if one after another, phantoms came towards the sword. And the Taiyi Sword transformed into a stream of light, weaving back and forth among the phantoms, becoming more and more perfect, and the sword intent attached to it became more and more harmonious and free. After an unknown amount of time, Wei Yunshu sensed a shift in the aura. She inexplicably sensed a transformation was occurring. She immediately guided her will, and in an instant, a clear sword cry rang out, and a speck of light leaped to her side. It was no longer in the shape of a sword, but had transformed into a sword pellet suspended before her, brilliant and dazzling. Looking closely, its surface was coated in three colors—red, gold, and blue. At times it transformed into a blazing sun, at other times it appeared as a moon wheel, and streaks of sword light hung down from it like ten thousand stars, vast and profound. Wei Yunshu flicked her finger, and the sword hummed. But Wei Yunshu still felt that the Taiyi Sword had not reached its end; it seemed there was still a thin membrane ahead. But she had no way to break it now. After a moment of thought, Wei Yunshu retracted the Taiyi Sword, instantly gathering the scattered light. It was only when she left the cave that she sensed the passage of time. Two months had passed since she entered seclusion; there was not much time left.
“Has Daoist Bo succeeded?” Yuan Chu, who was sitting on the mountaintop, stood up and took a step forward.
“The refinement is complete,” Wei Yunshu replied. If she were to enter the Demon-Hiding Cave again at this time, she wouldn’t need heavenly thunder or the Heavenly Cycle Restriction technique. She would only need to summon the Taiyi Sword, and for any demon whose cultivation was not higher than hers, this one strike would be sure to hit. It was also because of this that she realized the Origin Stone was even more useful to her than she had imagined. If the Taiyi Sword had a flaw, the Origin Stone was the only treasure that could complete it. If she failed to obtain the Essence of Red Water, she would owe Yuan Chu a huge favor.
Yuan Chu said, “That Daoist friend was right. The Red Algae has indeed changed. Many cultivators have turned back one after another, their spiritual energy heavily corroded by the algae. If nothing unexpected happens, the great demon born within the Red Algae will also be after the Essence of Red Water.”
Wei Yunshu’s brow furrowed, and her heart sank. Things were taking a turn for the worse.
Yuan Chu was still optimistic, raising an eyebrow with a smile. “But there are benefits too. Those cultivators who came for wealth have decided to retreat, which means there will be fewer competitors for us.”
Wei Yunshu thought for a moment and asked, “What level is that great demon?”
Yuan Chu replied, “Probably around the Upper Immortal or Xuan Immortal realm.” Generally, cultivators of these two realms would be active outside. Once their cultivation was a bit higher, they would often be in the outer heavens gathering Jun Tian Purple Qi to cultivate and would not get involved in worldly affairs. Unless a “thief” of the same realm appeared. Since none of the Wu Shi Sect’s top masters had arrived, it meant that the newly born great demon had not yet reached the True Immortal realm. “By the way, the great demon in the Red Algae calls itself ‘Chi Xiao.’”
Wei Yunshu’s eyelids twitched, and she said in surprise, “Chi Xiao?” The name was somewhat familiar. Wei Yunshu thought for a moment and retrieved the related information from her memory. Back then, when Sang Que slayed the “Ten Evils,” one of them was a Daoist named “Chi Xiao”! Wei Yunshu did not mention the content she had read from the classics, but instead stared at Yuan Chu without moving and asked, “Is there something wrong with the name Chi Xiao?”
Yuan Chu glanced at Wei Yunshu in surprise and retorted, “Didn’t Daoist Bo borrow many classics to read? Did you not see the Daoist from ten thousand years ago? The book said a great immortal pursued him, but it never stated where Daoist Chi Xiao died. Perhaps it was right here in the Red Sea. The Soaring Serpent mentioned earlier that the Red Algae was mutated because of blood.”
Wei Yunshu said lightly, “I forgot.” She found it a bit strange. The Wu Xiang Academy had the “Flaw” character stone, which was related to Sang Que; Jinxin Lake was where Sang Que died; Hengjue Mountain was where Sang Que killed the evils; and even this Red Sea, so far away in the Wu Shi Heaven Domain, might also be related to Sang Que… Everything she had experienced since coming to the Shang Qing Divine Realm was inseparable from the person “Sang Que.” Is this a kind of destined fate? Or is someone pulling the strings from the shadows? But apart from coming to the Red Sea at Yuan Chu’s invitation, all the other decisions were her own.
Yuan Chu paid no mind to Wei Yunshu’s perfunctory reply. She said warmly, “We will only know what’s what after a fight.”
Wei Yunshu nodded, agreeing completely with Yuan Chu’s words. The Taiyi Sword had already been refined; there was no need to delay any longer. She and Yu Changfeng were old acquaintances, so she naturally boarded a Soaring Serpent flagship. After bidding farewell to Yu Changfeng, she activated the boat’s restrictive seals, and the great vessel immediately cleaved through the wind and waves, heading toward the center of the sea. In less than fifteen minutes, the dragon boat had entered the Red Sea. Here, the red and blue colors formed a distinct dividing line. Looking ahead, it was like a fiery cloud, a stretch of strange, blood-red.
A sizzling sound climbed up from below, dense and thick, almost drowning out the sound of the waves. Wei Yunshu looked down and saw an infinite number of red algae connecting with the restrictive light of the dragon boat, emitting a corrosive sound like grinding metal and dissolving iron. These red algae had no consciousness; they clung to whatever they saw, turning it into a part of the red tide. In less than half an hour, it had climbed from the bottom of the boat to cover its entire body. Separated by a layer of restrictive light, it couldn’t do anything to the cultivators, but it looked very strange and made one’s hair stand on end.
Wei Yunshu sighed. “This is still the edge; the concentration of Red Algae is not high.” As the dragon boat moved toward the center of the Red Sea, the squeezing force became even stronger, causing even the large boat to rock in the waves. The light from the dragon boat was clear and bright. It swept down, clearing away a large amount of Red Algae. Wei Yunshu stood at the prow with her hands behind her back, watching the blood-colored ocean, and a thought moved in her mind. The Taiyi Sword, guided by her will, let out a long cry and instantly transformed into thousands of starlights that shot out, annihilating the Red Algae in its path. After the Red Algae disappeared, the water rippled and the sea surface became clear. Because the sword qi still lingered within it, it looked like a jade belt of the Milky Way, stretching for several miles ahead.