After I Died My Dao Companion Drowns in Endless Regret Chapter 61

The peaks where each family had settled were shielded by formations, so no one knew what was happening inside. However, if anyone flew out from them, they would be discovered. At first, when there was movement from the peak where Cloud City was located, everyone thought Cloud City was about to make a move to seize the sword token. But after seeing Luo Lingfeng’s figure clearly, many people frowned, afraid that Luo Lingfeng would break the rules. Only when Luo Lingfeng’s figure disappeared into the vast marshland below did they secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
“She left? She’s not guarding Youluo Mountain anymore?” Xie Zhichao asked with a curious expression.
Wei Yunshu’s brows furrowed slightly. She found Luo Lingfeng’s behavior rather peculiar, but she didn’t have the leisure to chase after Luo Lingfeng as the sword token needed to be seized next. After gazing at the quiet marshland below for a while, Wei Yunshu withdrew her gaze and said softly, “Someone from Cloud City has come out.”
After learning of Chi Fengchao’s identity and background, Yue Chengyuan treated her as an enemy and volunteered to seize the sword token. Luo Lingfeng’s words had somewhat dampened his spirits, and his anger churned within him. After Luo Lingfeng left, he could no longer bear it. He formed a hand seal, transforming into a stream of light that shot towards the center of the arena. He was several feet away from Chi Fengchao, sizing her up with a hint of disdain. He casually cupped his hands and said loudly, “I am Yue Chengyuan, a disciple of True Monarch Yue Yao. I have come to learn your high skills.”
Chi Fengchao’s expression remained normal. She raised her sleeve and returned the bow, saying indifferently, “I am Chi Fengchao, the true disciple of Yan Danwo from Dan Yang Cavern Heaven.” Her statement confirmed the suspicions of the Cloud City cultivators regarding her identity.
Yue Chengyuan’s face tightened, and a hint of killing intent flickered in his eyes. He was determined to fight for his master and himself. Immediately, his voice boomed like thunder. He formed a hand seal and summoned a dark, fierce wind. The wind grew larger as it spun, its aura cold and oppressive, with faint rumbling sounds within. He also intended to show off his skills in front of the other cultivators. He immediately pushed his “Nine Nether Sorrowful Return Wind” to its extreme. The momentum was so fierce that it spread for several miles in an instant.
Seeing the surge of spiritual energy, Chi Fengchao let out a sneer. She reached out and took out a long-necked jade bottle. She poured its contents into the “Nine Nether Sorrowful Return Wind.” A dense mass of green seeds fell into the wind, rapidly absorbing its spiritual energy. In less than a breath, these seeds had grown into several-foot-tall green thorns, firmly rooted in the wind. These tree seeds were called “Calming the Wind,” and they grew with the wind. They were specifically refined by her master to counter the Nine Nether Sorrowful Return Wind.
The wind’s momentum was curbed, and a green wall seemed to appear before Yue Chengyuan’s eyes. Yue Chengyuan’s expression turned grim, and he angrily shouted, “You’re using external objects!” He urged his spiritual power and roared, “Suppress!” He unleashed his divine ability, the Jade Resonance Heavenly Sound. Golden light flickered in the air, and the character “Suppress” gradually formed, striking towards Chi Fengchao.
Chi Fengchao calmly summoned a magic sword, preventing the “Suppress” character from getting close. She said indifferently, “Fellow Daoist Yue, why are you so naive? Isn’t it natural to use all means to defeat an opponent?” Her eyes held a hint of disdain. She knew that those who grew up in noble families, relying on the spiritual energy of their blessed residences to improve their cultivation, had no combat experience whatsoever. A cold glint flashed in her eyes. After shattering the “Suppress” character, a burst of sword light illuminated the surroundings, striking towards Yue Chengyuan, who appeared flustered after his initial setback! The sword light was sharp and brilliant, emanating a cold aura as it broke through the air. Yue Chengyuan was startled and urged his protective spiritual light, throwing out a defensive talisman that barely blocked the sword light’s momentum.
Yue Chengyuan was shaken. He looked up and saw Chi Fengchao’s playful expression, which made him even more enraged. He shouted and summoned a sword disk, angrily saying, “Do you think you’re the only one with magic artifacts?” As he spoke, he circulated his spiritual energy, summoning thousands of sword beams to attack the green thorns within the “Nine Nether Sorrowful Return Wind.” Although he was not a member of the Yue family, his master was the direct niece of the current Yue family head. After he reached the Nascent Soul stage, he could obtain even more. He looked at Chi Fengchao with hostility, his eyes gradually bloodshot. After summoning the sword beams, he threw more than a dozen thunder pearls towards Chi Fengchao.
Chi Fengchao neither dodged nor avoided the attacks, remaining composed. The thunder pearls exploded before reaching her, being swept up by a green whirlwind. Muffled explosions could be heard continuously. Chi Fengchao naturally would not allow Yue Chengyuan to easily deal with the green thorns. Her gaze shifted, and she scattered a mass of pale white “Primal Magnetic Sand,” which could attract sword energy. The sword beams that shot out from the sword disk were indeed drawn by the Primal Magnetic Sand and deviated under its extremely strong suction.
Seeing his sword energy being drawn away by the Primal Magnetic Sand, Yue Chengyuan became inexplicably anxious. A person expelled from a noble family, even if they achieved the status of a Cavern Heaven, could not possibly have many good items to give to their disciples. But seeing Chi Fengchao’s demeanor, it seemed she still had other magic artifacts. Yue Chengyuan became nervous. He watched the dazzling light outside, his mind in a state of confusion.
Chi Fengchao had been observing Yue Chengyuan. Seeing his distracted state, she showed a smile and unleashed the Jade Resonance Heavenly Sound divine ability. She also pushed her magic sword to its limit, sweeping towards Yue Chengyuan like a storm. Yue Chengyuan fumbled to respond, and before he knew it, a sword energy struck his face. He hastily parried the attack, and the sound of “Suppress” like thunder striking his ears! His body instantly froze, and the sword light passed directly through him. Yue Chengyuan’s vital energy leaked out, his spiritual energy went berserk, and with a howl, he was about to fall from the sky. However, below him was the Nine Nether Sorrowful Return Wind, which had spread for several miles without him noticing. Once touched by it, he would lose a layer of flesh and blood.
The cultivators of Cloud City observed the battle. Seeing this, their brows furrowed tightly. Although they were constantly blaming Yue Chengyuan for his incompetence, they couldn’t just watch him get seriously injured and lose combat power. Yun Kuan, who had the highest cultivation among them, stepped forward, sighed, and pointed a finger. A thin wisp of cloud smoke shot out like a thread, wrapping around Yue Chengyuan’s waist and pulling him back. Although he had acted, he did not step onto the arena to contend with Chi Fengchao.
Xun Huan slowly said, “This sword token is not easy to fight for.” She paused and added, “This person’s profound cultivation comes from the orthodox lineage of immortal sects, unlike ordinary Nascent Soul rogue cultivators.” There were few people from Buzhou here. If they were injured at the beginning, they would have no hope of competing later on. To win the championship, they needed to win more than eight sword tokens.
Xie Zhichao let out a surprised sound. “The Luoshui Divine Palace also has no intention of making a move?”
Wei Yunshu smiled and said gently, “The other party has also seen the power of that fellow Daoist. They must be thinking that if there are more people like Yue Chengyuan, they can conserve their strength and exert themselves later.” One sword token fell every hour, but there was not much time to rest. If they expended too much energy in the early stages, they could only watch from the sidelines later. The person currently in the arena was unlikely to compete for the second sword token.
Cloud City, Buzhou, Dustless Sea, and Luoshui Divine Palace made no moves, but the Nascent Soul rogue cultivators did not want to miss this opportunity. They were not aiming for first place; obtaining a sword token was already a success. Thinking that Chi Fengchao had already fought with several disciples from major sects, her spiritual energy and vitality must have been greatly depleted. Coming forward at this time was very likely to pick up a bargain. Therefore, before Chi Fengchao turned back, three Nascent Soul Daoists came from different directions.
Xie Zhichao’s eyes flickered. She said softly, “Such a scene is unavoidable. At this time, the more friends and fellow Daoists there are, the greater the benefit to oneself.” The four great sects might be proud of their status and not engage in “picking up scraps.” As long as they achieved victory openly, rogue cultivators were different. They needed “profit,” not “fame.”
Wei Yunshu said, “Although they are all in the Nascent Soul realm, the gap between the two sides is still not small. However, with three people attacking, that fellow Daoist will have to suffer some injuries.” As soon as she finished speaking, Chi Fengchao was hit by several sword energies, and her protective spiritual light shattered. However, it was not that easy for those people to seize the sword token from Chi Fengchao.
“Third Senior Sister, when are you going on the stage?” Ying Yue watched with great interest. She looked up at Xie Zhichao, her eyes full of anticipation. Her cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, so she had no right to participate in the battle. She had come here to observe the divine abilities and magic techniques of cultivators from other sects to broaden her horizons.
Xie Zhichao let out a hum. “The first match is usually when rogue cultivators steal the spotlight. When the second sword token falls, I will go and retrieve it.”
“Hooray!” Ying Yue clapped her hands and laughed.
Beside her sat the demon cultivator Yu Changfeng. She had been very silent all the way. At this moment, she suddenly said, “The elites from all the sects have come. For Buzhou to win the championship, is it enough for just a few of us?” Buzhou was determined to obtain the Daoist scriptures, but their current strategy could not guarantee success.
Ying Yue blinked her eyes. She had blind faith in Master Wu Fang. She was certain that “Eldest Senior Sister’s arrangements will not be wrong.”
Yu Changfeng was not convinced by Ying Yue’s words. She sighed. “Let’s not even mention Cloud City and Luoshui Divine Palace. As for Dustless Sea, Xiang Jun and Chao Ya are both at the Great Perfection of Nascent Soul. As long as they break through that barrier, they can enter the Cavern Heaven.” Even within the same Nascent Soul realm, different people were different. Neither she nor Xun Huan had reached the Great Perfection of Nascent Soul. However, Fellow Daoist Bo Fengliu’s cultivation was illusory, making her difficult to discern. Even if she had reached the Great Perfection of Nascent Soul, what good would it do? Could she single-handedly challenge the Great Perfection Nascent Soul cultivators of the three families? “Buzhou also has Daoists stationed at the border. Will they come here?” Yu Changfeng asked again. Her intuition told her that something was unusual, and there was a sense of impending storm.
Xun Huan’s eyes flickered. She said softly, “They won’t come.”
More than half an hour later, the sword cries and wind sounds suddenly stopped, and the surging spiritual energy gradually subsided. The few cultivators who had entered the arena were all repelled by Chi Fengchao. At this moment, she held the sword token and landed on the stone where she had been meditating. She took several pills to adjust her spiritual energy. There was still a quarter of an hour before the next sword token fell.
“Congratulations, Fellow Daoist. You have truly gained much fame this time.”
“Your performance must have caught the attention of the major sects, right? Once you are recruited, you will have endless blessings in the future!”
The cultivators spoke with a hint of envy in their eyes.
Amidst the chatter of the rogue cultivators, a young Daoist boy with a sword on his back walked through the crowd with a stern face. He cupped his hands towards Chi Fengchao and said loudly, “True Monarch Chi, our Cloud City’s resting place is over there. Several True Monarchs are waiting for you to return.”
His words revealed quite a bit of information. Cloud City, return… Could she be a disciple of Cloud City? Then why did she previously injure another True Monarch of Cloud City? The rogue cultivators fell silent, but their ears perked up, clearly wanting to join in the excitement.
Chi Fengchao suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze as sharp as a sword. She looked at the young Daoist and said, “I, Chi, have no connection with Cloud City, nor do I intend to join Cloud City.”
The young Daoist looked at Chi Fengchao with surprise, puzzled. “True Monarch Chi claims to be a disciple of True Monarch Yan, but True Monarch Yan is a Cavern Heaven of our Cloud City. Since you are her disciple, aren’t you a cultivator of our Cloud City?”
Chi Fengchao smiled slightly. “Although I am a disciple of my master, my name is not registered in Cloud City.” Seeing the young Daoist’s displeased expression, she raised her eyebrows again and continued, “I know you are here for the sword token, but this item cannot be given to Cloud City. Please forgive me, young Daoist.”
Seeing Chi Fengchao’s firm refusal, the young Daoist’s face turned somewhat pale. He looked at Chi Fengchao unhappily and said, “The sword token itself is useless. Why not give it away, True Monarch? You have already gained fame, why do you still need to possess the sword token?”
Chi Fengchao was impatient and sneered, “Can’t I strive for first place? Even if I were to give away the sword token, it wouldn’t necessarily be to Cloud City.”
Her master never spoke of past events, but she had recently heard from cultivators from Cloud City. Her master was born a commoner. Due to her exceptional talent, she was noticed by the Yue family and brought back to the clan to become a son-in-law to the Yue family. They never treated her as a human, often scolding and beating her. Now, everyone said her master was “ungrateful,” yet they never mentioned how they treated her in the past. The Yue family, no, not just the Yue family, but the entire Cloud City, displayed a short-sighted demeanor. Most of the clan disciples were extravagant and pushed the duty of guarding the Northern Continent onto others, each of them being greedy and afraid of death! Although the two Cloud Sovereigns had secretly planned for a change, how could thousands of years of stagnation be resolved by only two generations? Even if she could not avenge her master, she would not choose to collude with her enemies!
The young Daoist mumbled his lips, unable to utter a word. After a moment, he bowed to Chi Fengchao and left silently.
The rogue cultivators gathered around watched Chi Fengchao in astonishment, as if they were looking at something rare. A disciple of the Cloud City Cavern Heaven, yet not a disciple of Cloud City. The intricacies involved were such that a single misstep could lead to utter destruction. Thinking this, many quietly retreated, preparing to distance themselves from Chi Fengchao. There were also those who couldn’t control their mouths, worrying, “Fellow Daoist Chi, you have offended Cloud City!”
Chi Fengchao glanced at the person and said indifferently, “So what if I offended them?”
A quarter of an hour passed quickly. The clouds in the sky churned, and after a thunderous clap, the second sword token descended with flickering points of light like fireflies. Xie Zhichao’s eyes were clear and bright. She smiled and drew her saber, rushing towards the sword token.
“Since Zhichao has made a move, Buzhou is determined to obtain this sword token,” Xun Huan’s eyes flickered. She suddenly turned to Wei Yunshu, changing the topic abruptly. “With Daoist Changfeng and me here, Fellow Daoist Bo, you don’t need to worry. Do whatever you want to do now.”
Wei Yunshu showed a hint of hesitation. After thinking for a moment, she bowed to Xun Huan and said softly, “Be careful. I’ll be back soon.” Luo Lingfeng had not returned since she left, and a sense of unease lingered in her heart, fearing that something unexpected might happen. After greeting them, she no longer looked at the battle in the sky but transformed into a stream of light and flew towards the narrow, line-like exit.
The cold moon shone faintly, and the colorful lights in Youluo Mountain were left behind, leaving only a calm river that rippled under the moonlight.
The cold moon and tranquil river wind blew, gently caressing the white robes. Wei Yunshu suppressed her stream of light and released her divine sense to scan in all directions, searching for Luo Lingfeng’s trace. Suddenly, her eyelids twitched, and a sense of alarm surged from the depths of her heart. She moved her feet and spun to the left. Where she had just stood, a mass of hazy water vapor floated, and within a breath, a person in white with red clothes emerged from it.
Luo Lingfeng hugged her arms and tilted her head, smiling at Wei Yunshu as she asked, “Are you looking for me?”
Wei Yunshu did not deny it. She asked, “Where did you go?” Luo Lingfeng’s expression was not unusual, but there was a faint smell of blood on her. However, there were no signs of spiritual energy surges nearby, nor any traces of fighting. Where did the smell of blood on her come from?
A cold smile played on Luo Lingfeng’s lips. She retorted, “Does it have anything to do with you?” She slowly approached Wei Yunshu and reached out to lift the long hair that fell on her shoulder. However, before she could touch it, her wrist was firmly grasped. The force was so great that a patch of dark red bloomed around the indentation. Seeing this, Luo Lingfeng laughed heartily. She cast a mock scolding glance at Wei Yunshu and then said softly, “Fellow Daoist Bo, what are you worried about? Why, does your Buzhou still want to manage so many things? Do you need to know where I went?”
Wei Yunshu said, “The scent of blood.”
Luo Lingfeng looked at Wei Yunshu for a moment. Her smile suddenly became brilliant, as if she were overjoyed. She shook off Wei Yunshu’s hand, gently touched her wrist where the finger mark remained, and then wiped her hand. She took out half a grilled fish with pepper fragrance from her storage pouch. She dangled the grilled fish in front of Wei Yunshu and said slowly, “What’s wrong with a little bloody smell from killing fish? Are you going to police my appetite now, too?”
Wei Yunshu did not believe a single word of this. However, she couldn’t arrest Luo Lingfeng and interrogate her. She frowned, her face stern and cold. Her eyes were fixed on the grilled fish stuck with a twig. Suddenly, she thought of a possibility! Seeing Luo Lingfeng stride towards Youluo Mountain with a flick of her sleeve, she hurriedly followed and asked, “Is it a fish from Dustless Sea?”
Luo Lingfeng’s smile had just been brilliant, but at this moment, all the expression on her face was withdrawn. Her gaze was icy, like the cold moonlight reflected on the water. She casually threw the grilled fish into the water and revealed a playful smile, sneering, “Wei Yunshu, didn’t you want to sever ties with me? Why are you chasing me and asking questions now?”
Wei Yunshu: “……” She really couldn’t handle Luo Lingfeng! After slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air, she said seriously, “It’s not just my own matter.”
Luo Lingfeng said with a smile, “Oh? Does it involve the life and death of the Immortal Realm?”
Wei Yunshu’s brow relaxed, and she said indifferently, “Naturally. You already knew quite a bit when we were at Buzhou.”
“Yes.” Luo Lingfeng nodded. She smiled and said, “Is this why you judged that I care about this matter? Can’t I join just because I find things interesting?”
Wei Yunshu didn’t know how to answer.
Luo Lingfeng showed no mercy when killing evil cultivators. On the issue of dealing with the Corridor of Sins, her stance should be the same as the major sects. Wei Yunshu thought, and Luo Lingfeng’s frenzied laughter suddenly appeared in her mind, making her uncertain again. Did she want revenge? Or destruction? “True Monarch Luo, you–”
“Wei Yunshu–”
The subsequent call interrupted Wei Yunshu’s words. She looked at Luo Lingfeng, trying to discern her true emotions from those deep eyes.
But Luo Lingfeng just smiled. Her face in the moonlight was so stunningly beautiful that it clearly divided the past from the present.
Wei Yunshu preferred to believe that the present sight was a disguise, but unfortunately, the current one was Luo Lingfeng’s true face. The ice layer gradually melted, revealing more turbulent and terrifying currents.
“Wei Yunshu, come here, I’ll tell you a secret.” Luo Lingfeng beckoned to Wei Yunshu.
Wei Yunshu did not move. She looked at Luo Lingfeng with suspicion, her body tensing even more.
Seeing this, Luo Lingfeng laughed heartily. She raised her hand and wiped the corner of her eye, her lips parting slightly. “Can I kill you again here? Even if I have this thought, will you give me the chance?”
She didn’t mention returning to Cloud City, as if that past had been lightly brushed aside.
But Wei Yunshu knew this was impossible.
Seeing the calm Luo Lingfeng made her even more worried.
“If you don’t come, then don’t,” Luo Lingfeng said, not forcing her, and turned to leave.
Wei Yunshu’s brow furrowed even tighter. She looked at Luo Lingfeng’s back. The sleeves fluttered by the river wind seemed to be blood and fire, casting a strange shadow under the moonlight. Wei Yunshu steadied herself and finally made a decision. She took a few steps forward and grabbed the mass of blood and fire. With her other hand, she gently placed it on Luo Lingfeng’s shoulder. She lowered her gaze, and a strand of white hair slowly slipped through her fingertips. She opened her mouth and said, “Say it, I’ll listen.”
Luo Lingfeng did not brush Wei Yunshu’s hand away. She did not look back at Wei Yunshu’s complex gaze, but said strangely, “Do you all think that by destroying a Nascent Soul avatar, suppressing the Chaos Tree, and cutting off a battle line, I intended to deal with the Corridor of Sins?”
Wei Yunshu pursed her lips. She heard a mix of sarcasm and pity in Luo Lingfeng’s tone.
Luo Lingfeng said mockingly, “Seeing my avatar pass by, can it prove that the vast spiritual energy that fed the Blood Thorns came from me?”
“If the Luoshui Divine Palace disciples have the spare capacity to clear the Blood Thorns today, then when they are no longer able to, where will the Blood Thorns occupying the Sunset Burial Mounds go?”
Wei Yunshu’s mind was in a mess. She opened her mouth and said, “Blood Thorns need to be nourished by blood and flesh, and they are fixed in place. They are at least easier to deal with than the Corridor of Sins.”
Luo Lingfeng laughed, “Wei Yunshu, tell me, is the vast spiritual vein of Southern Continent enough to nourish it?”
Wei Yunshu was stunned for a moment, then anger surged. She raised her voice and said, “Are you crazy?” The strength in her palm suddenly tightened, as if she were about to crush her shoulder bone.
Luo Lingfeng seemed not to feel the pain and laughed again. “Let me tell you another secret. The Dao artifact of the Luoshui Divine Palace is now jointly managed by those three families. But they don’t know that the Dao artifact cannot be controlled simply by having sufficient cultivation; it also requires a Heavenly Mandate Talisman. And the Luoshui Divine Palace itself is a talisman. Therefore, the Luoshui Divine Palace is equivalent to having no Guardian Dao Artifact.” She suddenly turned and stared at Wei Yunshu, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze.
“Go, Wei Yunshu. You can go and report me, and vent the grievances in your heart for these three years.”
Wei Yunshu’s expression softened. She gently loosened her hand, letting it fall to her side.
What grievances did she have? All her love had turned into unspeakable sorrow.
Luo Lingfeng had fallen into obsession. Nothing she said would be useful.
She looked up at the moonlight. The world is imperfect, and even perfection is not eternal.
“I am not sure if there are any hidden traps on that heart. I will have to go through the Earth Fire Heavenly Furnace again. After it is completely purified, I will return it to you.”
“After that, whatever you want to do with it is your business.”
As the words fell, Wei Yunshu no longer looked at Luo Lingfeng’s expression. She transformed into a stream of light, piercing through the sky like a sharp sword, leaving only a faint sword mark.
Luo Lingfeng looked up, her smile slowly fading. With a flick of her sleeve, she walked on the river as if strolling, while behind her, the surging tide was a kind of restless upheaval and chaos.