After I Died My Dao Companion Drowns in Endless Regret Chapter 35

Both had cultivated to the Cavern Heaven realm; they wouldn’t be unfamiliar with the sacred heart of a saint.
Anyone with a sacred heart of a saint, unless they died prematurely, had without exception ascended. As for whether the sacred heart of a saint was “native” or obtained elsewhere, that was hard to say.
At this moment, as Luo Lingfeng’s leisurely words fell, gazes of shock or inquiry fell upon the Luo family’s father and daughter. Luo Hengjun’s face was as grim as water, his fingers clenched at his side, and his eyes suddenly shot out a cold light at Luo Lingfeng.
“Lingfeng, I know you still resent me because of your mother’s matter. But this cannot be spoken so carelessly,” Luo Hengjun smiled faintly.
“Whether it’s nonsense or not, Father, you know in your heart,” Luo Lingfeng returned a fake smile.
“The appearance of a sacred heart of a saint must be accompanied by extraordinary phenomena. In the past few hundred years, has anyone witnessed any heavenly phenomena? Where is the sacred heart of a saint? And how could I obtain a sacred heart of a saint?” Luo Hengjun pressed on.
This question was difficult to answer. Once the truth of that year was revealed, Luo Lingfeng herself would be exposed to the scrutiny of Wen Xianren and the others. But if she couldn’t answer, it would be difficult to convince others.
“Indeed,” Tang Wentian casually interjected. He glanced at Luo Hengjun, not because they were close, but with a disdainful attitude. He looked down on Luo Hengjun. Although the other party had cultivated to this level by relying on Cloud Sand and the grace of his ancestors, he still looked down on him. If Luo Hengjun had obtained the sacred heart of a saint, would he still be so down and out?
Luo Lingfeng’s eyes subtly moved. She looked at the cultivator in front of her and smiled, “This matter must start with Mother.” She no longer looked at Luo Hengjun, whose face was grim as if he would erupt at any moment, but turned to Wen Xianren and said slowly, “Uncle, you should know what cultivation method Mother cultivated, right?”
Wen Xianren lowered his eyelids, his eyes filled with a dark gleam. His younger sister was truly remarkable. She not only cultivated “water techniques” but also the Way of Heavenly Divination. Hundreds of years ago, she had already entered the Cavern Heaven realm. However, during the time Luo Lingfeng was born, her aura suddenly declined, as if her essence had been burned out. When he asked her, she only made excuses about being injured while fighting evil cultivators. Later, when the scandal between Luo Hengjun and his other sister, Wen Danhua, broke out, he no longer had the heart to investigate so much. With a slight shift in his thoughts, he looked at Luo Lingfeng and said, “Before that incident happened, you often came to my Xiaohan Mountain. But later, Luo Hengjun said that you were heartbroken by your mother’s death, confined to your sickbed, and unwilling to go out. But even after you recovered, you didn’t come to my Xiaohan Mountain much. Luo Hengjun claimed it was ‘touching old wounds,’ but aren’t there more traces of your mother in the Luoshui Divine Palace?”
“I don’t remember many things,” Luo Lingfeng stroked her forehead. Following Wen Xianren’s words, she said with a smile, “I can only vaguely remember being confined in a pavilion, forced to drink medicine and give blood, my chest aching intensely.” With this, there was no need to continue. Both Wen Xianren and the other two understood where the “sacred heart of a saint” came from. No wonder Luo Lingfeng, who had married into Cloud City, secretly supported the three families and betrayed Luo Hengjun when the Luoshui Divine Palace was in chaos.
“What do you say, Fellow Daoist Luo?” Jiang Huangyu narrowed his eyes, his mind calculating. If he had a sacred heart of a saint, Luo Hengjun might actually succeed. But the vast spiritual vein of the Southern Continent might collapse because of his actions. However, on the other hand, if Luo Hengjun could do it, why couldn’t they? If they obtained this sacred heart of a saint— Jiang Huangyu’s heart burned with excitement. He caught sight of Luo Lingfeng’s smiling face from the corner of his eye, and then suddenly felt a chill. He almost forgot that the owner of the “sacred heart of a saint” was still alive, so there was karma involved. At present, she was only a Nascent Soul avatar and couldn’t compete with them, but her true body was still in Cloud City. This “future concern” was not easy to resolve.
Tang Wentian smiled and said, “Even a tiger does not eat its cubs. Fellow Daoist Luo is too ruthless.”
Luo Hengjun, seeing the situation, no longer bothered to maintain his pretense. He said coldly, “Aren’t you tempted? There has been no ascension in the Fu Li Immortal Realm for three thousand years. She is my daughter. Isn’t it only natural that she completes my Dao Fruit?” His gaze swept over Wen Xianren and the other two, and he sneered, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. You also want this sacred heart of a saint, don’t you? Then let’s fight!” As his words fell, Luo Hengjun’s aura surged, crashing like a stormy hurricane. He coldly glanced at everyone and leaped towards the highest heavens.
Jiang Huangyu and Tang Wentian immediately pursued him without hesitation. Wen Xianren, however, before leaving, turned to Luo Lingfeng and said gently, “Lingfeng, don’t listen to your father’s nonsense.”
Luo Lingfeng held her arms and met Wen Xianren’s gaze indifferently, then retracted her sight. Her good uncle valued profit and was also untrustworthy. Otherwise, why didn’t her mother contact him back then, but instead carried this burden alone? He was close to Wen Danhua and Luo Yuankun, always trying to downplay the past incident, but how could it be that easy?
“Cousin, Cousin?” Wen Yutang fell to the ground, her strength seemingly drained in an instant. As if she had had a bizarre and strange dream, her expression was a little dazed. She slowly raised her head, meeting Luo Lingfeng’s deep, eyes filled with sinister malice. A chill shot through her. Even though there was no pressure from a high-level cultivator, she still felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, unable to breathe.
“Don’t you think this is an opportunity?” Luo Lingfeng smiled at Wen Yutang. She lowered her eyelids and spoke slowly. Luo Hengjun certainly didn’t want to fight them, but he had no choice, did he? At the Cavern Heaven realm, if one achieved it through superior methods, it wouldn’t be difficult to suppress a group of peers. However, that person could not be Luo Hengjun. He probably wouldn’t be able to hold on for long before he had to call for reinforcements, would he? At that time, it would be a good show when the Cavern Heaven True Monarchs of the four families started fighting.
Wen Yutang was stunned, staring blankly at Luo Lingfeng, “What do you mean?”
Luo Lingfeng blinked, “The others who saw Luo Hengjun’s cruel actions haven’t come up yet. Only you know the truth of what’s beneath the spiritual vein. Why not take the initiative and spread the news? By doing so, your Wen family can lead the various families against the Luoshui Divine Palace, and ultimately gain the most benefits, right?”
“Do you want to sit here and wait for the result? What if the Luoshui Divine Palace elders come to silence you? Such a big oversight may not have been caused by Luo Hengjun alone.”
Wen Yutang’s expression was complex. She knew her father’s purpose. The four families of the Luoshui Divine Palace took turns in leadership, but everyone wanted to monopolize it. After all, the benefits were too numerous. Whichever family controlled the Luoshui Divine Palace, their disciples and followers would increase dramatically. After all, many resources were reserved for their own people. She steadied herself, looked at Luo Lingfeng, and said, “…You are a member of the Luo family.”
Luo Lingfeng’s fingers tapped on her arm. She only smiled, “I am from Cloud City.”
Wen Yutang’s mind churned. She seriously looked at Luo Lingfeng. She climbed up, her gaze sweeping over the ruined Hundred Slaughter Earth Abyss. She exhaled a breath of turbid air. She bowed to Luo Lingfeng and then flew outwards, her escape light wobbling. She could not refuse this suggestion. At this point, the Luoshui Divine Palace could no longer quell the storm.
It was not until Wen Yutang’s figure disappeared that the smile on Luo Lingfeng’s lips faded.
She looked ahead expressionlessly. The Abyssal Heavy Water roared like lightning and torrents, sweeping away the standing houses and stone pillars in front. The chaotic and surging spiritual energy broke through her meridians, rushing wildly through her body. But she didn’t care at all. She only wanted to vent the suppressed emotions in her heart.
The Luoshui Divine Palace had been severely weakened in the previous four-family struggle, and this time, it would be best for the Luoshui Divine Palace to completely disappear!
An unusual light flashed in her eyes. She opened her arms and laughed loudly, blood trickling down. With a flip of her hand, she took out an ancient zither. She sat cross-legged, placing the zither on her knees. Her slender fingers, like scallion roots, plucked a string, and a powerful zither sound echoed. Immediately, the zither sound became like a torrent, like thunder and lightning, reverberating in the dark Earth Abyss. The emerald green fluorescence reflected on Luo Lingfeng’s face, giving her a strange hue. The zither music was urgent, emitting the sound of collapsing cliffs and flying waterfalls. Under Luo Lingfeng’s fingers, the zither music had long lost its peaceful aura. In the Path of No Return, ambushed on all sides, countless sharp swords with chilling light mercilessly extended, pushing the killing intent to its limit. After reaching its peak, it should have become slow and deep, but she could not complete the melody. The outcome was already as she desired, so why couldn’t the zither music write a perfect ending?
If there’s no ending, does that mean it’s not time to sheath the sword?
Luo Lingfeng’s zither playing became more urgent. The booming sound pulsed her eardrums. The wave of sound swept across the land. In the blink of an eye, stones crumbled and fell into a mess. A mournful low hum seemed to emanate from the zither, as if it, too, had reached its breaking point. A pluck of the string, with power enough to shatter mountains and rivers, snapped the string in a harsh, sharp crack. One string, two strings… seven strings. On the Juexian Zither, all seven strings broke. This was Luo Lingfeng’s Natal Artifact, and the counteracting force surged upon her like a great wave. Luo Lingfeng instantly spat out a mouthful of blood.
After a long while, she raised her hand and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. Her face revealed a hint of sorrow and melancholy.
The Path of No Return… whose Path of No Return was it, after all? After the song ended, were there only broken swords and shattered zithers?
Luo Lingfeng looked at the Juexian Zither, lost in thought.
At this moment, a voice suddenly came from behind her: “You’ve finally made it up.”
The voice was very familiar. Luo Lingfeng turned her head and saw Xie Zhichao’s face, beaming with a relieved smile.
Earlier, they had encountered several of Luo Hengjun’s avatars in the spiritual vein. After jointly dealing with them, they “went their separate ways” without a word. She went to find Wen Yutang, while Xie Zhichao and the others looked for other scattered rogue cultivators in the spiritual vein. She was not in a hurry, knowing they would eventually meet somewhere.
Xie Zhichao was a little injured, but her eyes were sparkling, and her mood was extremely high. Of course, when she saw Luo Lingfeng covered in blood, her smile faded. After reluctantly bowing to Luo Lingfeng, she quietly stood in front of Wei Yunshu. She always felt that this person had ill intentions and couldn’t let her good Daoist friend end up like Yun Dan.
“Come back to Cloud City with me,” Luo Lingfeng said out of the blue. Luo Hengjun had already embarked on a dead end. Now, besides “Wei Yunshu,” there were no other worries.
This was definitely not said to herself. Xie Zhichao looked at Wei Yunshu, then glanced at Luo Lingfeng. She was a little puzzled. Why “return”? Had Fellow Daoist Bo been a Cloud City disciple before? Or was she actually one of those who were taken back to Cloud City by Luo Lingfeng because of her appearance, and then escaped? And now Luo Lingfeng was going to capture her again? But finding “substitutes” like this was very unfair to both Fellow Daoist Bo and the Cloud Sovereign. Regardless of whether Fellow Daoist Bo was related to the Cloud Sovereign, she could not let Luo Lingfeng succeed. Thinking this, Xie Zhichao held her saber and stood in front.
Wei Yunshu’s heart sank slightly. She guessed that Luo Lingfeng might have recognized her; otherwise, she wouldn’t have said such a thing. But the other party had no real evidence. As long as she didn’t admit it, she wasn’t the Cloud Sovereign. Her mind raced, but Wei Yunshu remained expressionless and said, “I am not an old acquaintance of Cloud City, so there’s no need to go.”
Luo Lingfeng gazed deeply at Wei Yunshu. She put away the Juexian Zither and took a step towards Wei Yunshu and the other person. She saw Xie Zhichao retreat nervously, shielding Wei Yunshu. She curled her lips and smiled silently. “Are you truly unrelated?” Luo Lingfeng asked.
Wei Yunshu’s expression remained unchanged, “Truly.” The Cloud Sovereign’s corpse was in Cloud City. What did it have to do with her?
Luo Lingfeng sneered, “You should know that this is not up to you.”
Xie Zhichao’s anger flared up instantly. She glared at Luo Lingfeng and said loudly, “I never knew True Monarch Luo was so overbearing! Are you going to forcefully take her against Fellow Daoist Bo’s wishes?”
Luo Lingfeng said blandly, “So what if I am? So what if I’m not?” The emerald fire reflected on her alluring face. Her robe, fluttering in the wind, seemed to envelop balls of black and red fire.
Xie Zhichao said, “You disregard others.”
Wei Yunshu nodded and gently agreed. The image of Luo Lingfeng in her heart collapsed and rebuilt, but the distance between them grew farther each time. Was she becoming increasingly unfamiliar? Or had she never truly understood her? They could not be fellow travelers, nor could they be strangers. Wei Yunshu sighed. She had never expected it to come to this. The weariness hidden by calmness surfaced, creeping into her eyebrows and eyes.
“Fellow Daoist Bo?” Xie Zhichao sensed Wei Yunshu’s low spirits. Her heart suddenly tightened, fearing that Wei Yunshu would give in for some reason.
“It’s nothing, just a little tired,” Wei Yunshu replied to Xie Zhichao with a smile. She looked up at Luo Lingfeng and said gently, “My coming and going, I’m afraid it’s not up to True Monarch Luo to decide.” Her nature was gentle and kind, and she rarely showed impatience. Even when facing those who betrayed her, her words were as warm as a spring breeze.
“Is that so?” Luo Lingfeng’s eyes were still. Her gaze swept over Wei Yunshu, mixed with an inexplicable pity and mockery. Her smile was like a flower, and her tone softened, “Are you truly unwilling to come with me?”
Becoming amiable after being rejected, does that mean there is room for negotiation? No. Xie Zhichao’s scalp tingled, as if a thunderbolt had exploded above her. Luo Lingfeng, standing in front of her, had an indescribable strangeness about her. “Fellow Daoist Bo, if something’s wrong, let’s run.” Xie Zhichao transmitted her thoughts in a low voice. Luo Lingfeng’s Nascent Soul avatar was seriously injured, but she still gave off a terrifying feeling, as if she would abandon her avatar at any moment and drag everyone into boundless hell with her. When meeting Luo Lingfeng’s gaze, she felt as if she had fallen into a deep abyss, filled with involuntary fear and panic.
Accompanying Wei Yunshu and Xie Zhichao’s movements were saber lights, water currents, and endless thunder. The vast Hundred Slaughter Earth Abyss had become dilapidated. The previously invisible exit was also torn open by the Cavern Heaven True Monarch’s spiritual energy, revealing a huge gap that let in the light of the sky. Wei Yunshu and the other person had made up their minds. While dealing with Luo Lingfeng’s attacks, they flew outwards.
Dark clouds covered the sky, like towering mountains, as if they would collapse with the sky in the next moment. However, this cloud mountain, resembling converging peaks, did not last long. It was torn apart by gusts of vital energy, transforming into strip-like flowing clouds as light as gauze. At the very top, the Cavern Heaven True Monarchs were fighting fiercely. Although they were already far from the ground, they still stirred up a terrifying momentum, causing the earth to tremble. Between heaven and earth, the three of them were like small boats spinning and drifting in a turbulent current.
The terrifying aura was like a whirlpool. Xie Zhichao’s scalp was subtly tingling.
The Spring and Autumn Saber hummed rapidly. Along with her soaring fighting spirit came the fatigue of her body.
In the long battle, her Golden Core was clearly overwhelmed.
Wei Yunshu transmitted her thoughts, “Fellow Daoist Xie, you go first.”
Xie Zhichao shook her head and said firmly, “I am a disciple of Buzhou. I have never abandoned a fellow Daoist and left first.”
Luo Lingfeng looked at Wei Yunshu. Vaguely, through those calm eyes, she saw scenes from the past. The Cloud Sovereign did not favor luxurious clothes. Her white robe was as pure as snow, and her face always carried a cheerful smile, as if the flowers and trees, flowing clouds and gentle breeze of the human world, everything was worth her joy. Did she not know the ridicule of those people in Cloud City? But she didn’t care. From beginning to end, she had a sincere heart. Wei Yunshu was born a beggar, wandered in the mortal world for many years, lived a precarious life every day, and even faced death several times. How could she still have such enthusiasm?
Why didn’t she hate?
“Blessings and misfortunes are intertwined. In childhood, at the brink of life and death, I did resent the unfairness of heaven and earth. But soon after, I met a strange young girl. She sacrificed herself to save me and even gave me a name. Later, I met my master and was able to glimpse the Dao. Every hardship was a test of my state of mind. Isn’t this a blessing?”
“You don’t need to punish those disciples who complain about me. Their love and hatred have nothing to do with me.”
Such a conversation also surfaced in Luo Lingfeng’s mind.
At that time, she was sitting under a tree playing the zither, while Wei Yunshu was lying on a stone, resting on her arms, speaking with a gentle smile. The breeze blew, and flowers fell on her shoulders, then gently rolled to the ground.
What was she thinking at the time?
Equally unfortunate, but Wei Yunshu was truly enviable, even a cause for jealousy.
How could there be someone like Wei Yunshu in the world? If everything was not a pretense, how could someone like Wei Yunshu control Cloud City? Her thoughts were focused on the Great Dao and the establishment of the Northern Continent defense line. She continued Yun Qingzi’s practice of placing chess pieces on the Northern Continent defense line. There was indeed an unspoken understanding of mutual non-interference with the noble families of Cloud City. But what if someone broke that balance?
A breeze gently brushed her face, as if something had fallen.
Luo Lingfeng regained her composure. She raised her hand and caught a wisp of white broken hair.
Her memories and obsessions were too deep. How could she free herself? She calmly gazed at Wei Yunshu, tilted her head, and chuckled. She slowly raised her hand.
Thunder rolled in the gathering and dispersing clouds, agitated by the turbulent vital energy above the sky, appearing even more violent.
Suddenly, Luo Lingfeng caught sight of a crystal falling from the clouds. Her expression changed abruptly, and she unhesitatingly unfurled her vast Dharma Manifestation! Boundless water currents surged, sounding like pounding drums. A vast profound energy instantly enveloped thousands of miles. The Tide-Calming Bead and the Universal True Form Map flew out from her sleeve, transforming into dragon shadows to stabilize the surging spiritual energy.
The sudden intense offensive startled Xie Zhichao. Looking at the surging black Abyssal Heavy Water, her face turned ashen, and cold sweat streamed down her forehead.
Wei Yunshu’s face darkened. She shouted, “Go!” and with a flick of her hand, unleashed several thunderbolts towards the surging heavy water. The Abyssal Heavy Water rolled, and when it entered the vast water-filled Dharma Manifestation, it was like a hidden dragon entering the abyss. Its momentum reached its peak, and the water-colored light, thousands of feet long, was like a rushing wave, instantly engulfing the thunder.
But under such a grand display, the killing intent gradually receded. Wei Yunshu stood still, holding her whisk. She frowned and looked at Luo Lingfeng. A streak of light, wrapped around something, suddenly shot out from the water current. Wei Yunshu instinctively flicked her whisk and struck it. The streak of light shattered, gradually revealing the true form of the item.
It was a heart, but no longer fresh and vibrant. Instead, it was encased in a layer of red crystal, tempered by fire, like a beautiful and mysterious magic artifact.
It was the sacred heart of a saint that Luo Hengjun wanted! Wei Yunshu’s eyelids twitched violently. She reached out and grabbed the “sacred heart of a saint,” stuffing it into her sleeve. Only then did she look at Luo Lingfeng with a half-smile that wasn’t a smile. This thing must not fall into Luo Lingfeng’s hands. Who knew what crazy things she would do if she got it? The surroundings were all water. Her options were only two: either stall until Luo Lingfeng’s Nascent Soul avatar completely collapsed from the Cavern Heaven Dharma Manifestation, or find a way to escape from the Cavern Heaven Dharma Manifestation that filled heaven and earth. Luo Lingfeng had likely already recognized her. There were no outsiders here now. Perhaps she could— A thought flashed in Wei Yunshu’s mind, and a dazzling light bloomed between her eyebrows. Before her sword was drawn, an overwhelming sword intent surged wildly.
But before Wei Yunshu could make a move, a brilliant sword energy suddenly appeared in the sky, tearing open the vital energy and water current. It instantly swept for a thousand miles, splitting the Cavern Heaven Dharma Manifestation in two. The flowing water current roared and surged, but under the residual sword energy, it could not mend and eventually dissipated completely.
Wei Yunshu silently retracted the Taiyi Sword into her aperture. She looked towards the source of the sword energy.
She saw an elegant and ethereal white-robed female cultivator arriving on sword light, a gentle smile always on her lips.
“Senior Sister?” A voice, mixed with surprise and a hint of joy, followed. It was Xie Zhichao.
The newcomer was none other than Shi Wufang, the Heavenly Forger of Buzhou Peak!
“Fellow Daoist Shi,” Wei Yunshu paid her respects to Shi Wufang.
Shi Wufang returned the bow. She smiled at Luo Lingfeng, who was standing on the waves, and said softly, “I heard that something happened in the Luoshui Divine Palace. I’m bringing my junior sisters back. True Monarch Luo should have no objection, right?”
There was only one Buzhou disciple here. Where did “junior sisters” come from? Was Wei Yunshu also included? Was Buzhou Peak going to protect her?
Luo Lingfeng stared intently at Shi Wufang, her eyes cold. Shi Wufang was the eldest of Buzhou Peak’s third-generation disciples. Her master, True Monarch Yuan Ying, was the Sect Master’s eldest disciple and did not concern herself with matters, leaving everything to Shi Wufang. Despite being entangled in worldly affairs, Shi Wufang had still cultivated to the perfected Nascent Soul realm. If nothing unexpected happened, this person would be the future Sect Master of Buzhou Peak. Among the Four Sects, Buzhou Peak was detached from the others. There was no hatred, only a facade of courtesy. Luo Lingfeng had no reason to offend Buzhou Peak. She could act recklessly if her true self was here, but with just an avatar, it would be difficult to achieve her goal.
After a long while, Luo Lingfeng finally smiled and replied, “Naturally not.”
Shi Wufang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She flicked her sleeve, enveloping Wei Yunshu and Xie Zhichao, and flew outwards with them.
Xie Zhichao asked candidly, “Senior Sister, why did you descend the mountain?” Ever since Master went into seclusion and left worldly affairs to Senior Sister, she rarely saw her traveling.
Shi Wufang said gently, “Junior Sister.”
Xie Zhichao stiffened. She slapped her forehead and her expression instantly changed, “Oh no, I forgot about junior sister!”
“She has already been brought out. It was she who sent the message about the Sunset Burial Mounds, which is why I rushed here,” Shi Wufang replied. She then subtly glanced at Wei Yunshu. “Above the highest heavens, Cavern Heaven True Monarchs are fighting. My Master and the others have also been alarmed. I don’t know when there will be a result. In any case, it’s not something we can intervene in. Let’s return to Buzhou first. Fellow Daoist, what about you? Do you want to come with us?”