Beguiled and Entranced

Chu Xiangxiang walked over, feeling a little dejected. *I thought he tricked me into coming here to draw Heavenly Dao runes on my body, but it turns out he just found a tear on Father God...* Xu Ying rose into the air, flying around the corpse of Great Emperor Cangwu and looking outward with immense excitement. "Look! I think this sealed rift leads straight to the Immortal Realm!" Treading on the river water, Chu Xiangxiang glided across the ripples and flew up to Xu Ying's side. "Father God said that a rift truly exists in the Immortal Realm as well. But that rift has already been sealed by the Immortal Realm. He also said that back when it wasn't sealed, He could set foot into the Immortal Realm too." Xu Ying looked up, examining the sealed spatio-temporal rift. Golden radiance flowed within it, and immortal light swirled through the glow, forming Immortal Dao runes. These Immortal Dao runes sealed the rift to the Immortal Realm shut. He tried flying toward the rift. Yet no matter how fast he flew or how far he traveled, a stretch of distance always remained between him and the tear to the Immortal Realm. This sight inevitably reminded him of when he seized the enshrined demon-suppressing talisman. Back then, he had also tried flying across Beichenzi's God Bridge to reach the Jade Capital directly, yet he could never fly into the city. Beichenzi had said that only an immortal's Primordial Spirit could set foot in the Jade Capital. Without becoming an immortal, one could never approach it. And Great Emperor Cangwu's rift to the Immortal Realm was the very same. Unless one became an immortal, one could likely never draw near this tear. *On Mount Kunlun, there is also a cave-heaven leading to the Immortal Realm, and that cave-heaven was also sealed by the Immortal Realm.* Xu Ying suddenly remembered what the Queen Mother of the West had once told him: during Kunlun's peak of divine power, there were ten cave-heavens thrusting straight into the Immortal Realm like ten deep wells, siphoning the Immortal Realm's energy and transforming it into Jade Pool immortal water. Kunlun's cave-heavens were just like Cangwu's rift—without becoming an immortal, one could neither approach nor cross them. *Yet strangely enough, the Nether Sea's other shore—the place that produces the immortal herbs of the soul—is very similar to Kunlun's cave-heavens and Cangwu's rift to the Immortal Realm,* Xu Ying pondered. *Why is that?* Seeing him suddenly space out, Chu Xiangxiang quickly waved her arm in front of him. Xu Ying muttered to himself, "The Great Emperor Beiyin told me that He journeyed across the sea toward the Nether Sea's other shore, yet He could never reach it. Xiangxiang, if the Nether Sea's other shore is so similar to the Immortal Realm, could that mean..." Chu Xiangxiang cast aside her other thoughts and asked, "Mean what?" "Mean that the Immortal Realm is actually the other shore of our mortal world?" Xu Ying turned his head, gazing straight into her eyes. "If the Immortal Realm is the mortal world's other shore, could it mean that we can open a cave-heaven to the Immortal Realm just like opening the other shore cave-heavens of the Six Secret Depositories of the Human Body?" Stared at like that by him, Chu Xiangxiang felt butterflies fluttering in her chest, her cheeks burning hot. Composing herself with an effort, she said, "The human body has six secret depositories, but there is no secret depository for the Immortal Realm!" Xu Ying suddenly saw the light and smiled. "Xiangxiang, that makes sense." He looked up at the rift to the Immortal Realm and suddenly laughed. "Still, even if I cannot find an Immortal Realm secret depository in the human body, I understand the Immortal Dao runes on this seal. Unraveling the runes and stealing immortal qi won't be that difficult." Having looked upon the Immortal Dao runes sealing the rift, Xu Ying understood their meaning. These few runes were far inferior to the ones sealing him, so breaking them would not be troublesome. He was entirely confident he could undo the seal. Chu Xiangxiang felt both surprised and delighted, but then her expression darkened, and she shook her head. "Even if we can unravel the seal, we cannot approach the rift. If we cannot approach it, we cannot unravel it." Xu Ying took out a jade bottle and walked over to Great Emperor Cangwu's corpse. "If your esteemed father is revived, He will be able to undo the seal." Chu Xiangxiang was stunned. "You..." Xu Ying poured the Jade Pool immortal water into the lips of Great Emperor Cangwu's corpse, quietly waiting for it to take effect. Chu Xiangxiang remained dazed. *He... he doesn't want my body?* She felt bewildered. According to what Great Emperor Cangwu had said, Xu Ying would surely demand an exorbitant price: not only would he insist on marrying her, but he would also extort a massive dowry before handing over the Jade Pool immortal water. Furthermore, Great Emperor Cangwu had ventured out this time precisely to curry favor with his future son-in-law, risking his own Primordial Spirit in a fight to the death against a Nuo ancestor. Yet now, Xu Ying seemed to have made no demands whatsoever, fetching the Jade Pool immortal water and giving it directly to Great Emperor Cangwu! Within Great Emperor Cangwu's physical body, a boundless surge of vitality suddenly erupted, spreading in an instant to every part of his form and coursing through abyss after abyss across the heavens and myriad worlds! Inside those abysses, firelight surged, colossal forms tumbled through the rock strata, and an ancient, slumbering divine power was slowly awakening! Meanwhile, far away in the Yellow Dragon World, Cangwu's Primordial Spirit also sensed the awakening of his own divine power and the resurrection of his physical body! *Xiangxiang, my good daughter.* He felt inexplicably moved, his heart full of mixed emotions, and murmured softly, *Xiangxiang must have sacrificed a great deal for this over the past two days...* His body had revived, but his Primordial Spirit was still locked in battle with Nuo Di, unable to rush back to the Cangwu Secret Realm for the time being. In the secret realm, Xu Ying had brought Great Emperor Cangwu back to life, yet He showed no signs of waking. Chu Xiangxiang smiled. "My father's Primordial Spirit is outside and cannot return right away. Since you call me Xiangxiang, I'll call you Ah Ying. Let me take you out for a stroll!" Taking Xu Ying's hand, she dashed forward a few steps and suddenly leapt into the air, pulling him along with her. Beneath their feet, the waters of the Xiang River flowed playfully. Surging waves carried the two through the air, and in the blink of an eye, they slipped through a rift beside Great Emperor Cangwu. The Xiang River bore them along as they flew through the spatio-temporal rift, weaving through the towering abyss before gradually rising out of it. Outside the abyss lay another world, flanked by fields on both sides. A divine dragon burst forth from the muddy rice paddies, shaking its massive head to fling off the muck, gathering clouds and summoning rain to plow and till the land. Beside the farmland, villagers were burning incense, praying, and offering sacrifices. The Xiang River drifted through the air with Xu Ying and Chu Xiangxiang, slowly descending as it crossed the crisscrossing footpaths between the fields. In this world's countryside, villagers made offerings to various deities, and those gods would perform tasks according to the villagers' prayers. Xu Ying had never seen such a wondrous spectacle before; it was truly an exotic marvel. The Xiang River carried them back into the Cangwu Secret Realm and slipped through another spatio-temporal rift. The two entered a vast sea, where the Cangwu Abyss appeared at the bottom of this unknown world's ocean. A fish as colossal as a mountain swam past them, its massive eyes deep and azure. Chu Xiangxiang led Xu Ying onto the great fish's forehead, and it carried them swimming through the abyss as if flying through the sky. *Whoosh!* The great fish surged out of the abyss, swimming upward with all its might, and abruptly leapt out of the sea surface, transforming into a silvery-white hornless dragon soaring through the sky on auspicious clouds. Atop the dragon's head, Chu Xiangxiang excitedly spread her arms to welcome the salty sea breeze. The hornless dragon plunged back into the sea, turning into a giant fish once more and diving deep into the abyss. A moment later, Chu Xiangxiang and Xu Ying appeared atop a towering peak. Overhead, an enormous celestial body was slowly passing above this world. A moment later, they arrived at an ocean of magma. On both sides of the abyss, billowing molten rock plunged down like a great waterfall, churning into the depths with a deafening roar. Her playful spirit fully awakened, Chu Xiangxiang guided Xu Ying across world after world, taking in all manner of magnificent, breathtaking sights. She enjoyed herself immensely until she finally grew tired and lay down on a patch of grass with Xu Ying. Lying with their heads close together, Chu Xiangxiang stretched out her arms and spread her hands as if trying to pluck the stars from the sky. "My Father God wanted to betroth me to you. He wanted to be resurrected so badly He nearly went mad. I wasn't willing, so I ran out to see you myself. You're very nice—not annoying at all." Chu Xiangxiang suddenly rolled over and looked down at Xu Ying's face, chuckling softly. "When you came back with Father God this time, I felt both shy and scared. But after spending these two days together, I think you're quite likable after all." Lying head-to-head in opposite directions, Xu Ying felt the girl drawing closer and found himself growing a little beguiled and entranced. He hurriedly said, "Xiangxiang, I'm well-versed in Heavenly Dao runes. I can help add a few that suit you..." Chu Xiangxiang closed her eyes, lowering her head further and further. Just then, a woman's voice called from outside: "Ah Ying! Ah Ying!" Snapping out of her daze, Chu Xiangxiang scrambled up in a panic. Xu Ying also regained his senses and quickly said, "It's Zhu Chanchan and the others. Xiangxiang, go bring them in." Chu Xiangxiang murmured an assent, blushing all the way down to her neck. Filled with embarrassment, she hurried outside like a streak of smoke. Out in the Cangwu Abyss, an enormous bronze peak had appeared, and a great serpent was slithering down from its heights. The great serpent bore one black horn and one white horn, with Yin and Yang qi swirling between them. A young girl stood between the two horns. Her skin was snow-white and her figure slightly plump; though she wore very loose garments, they looked somewhat tight around her chest. Chu Xiangxiang stepped forward and saw a purple immortal plant clinging to the girl's shoulder, as well as an ancient bronze bell behind her. "Are you Zhu Chanchan? Young Master Xu sent me to welcome you," Chu Xiangxiang asked. Having never seen such a handsome girl before, Zhu Chanchan quickly came forward with a smile. "That's me, Zhu Chanchan. And what should I call you, elder sister?" Chu Xiangxiang gave a brief introduction and invited them into the Cangwu Secret Realm. She stole a glance at Xu Ying. His expression was calm and composed, as though he hadn't noticed that she had nearly kissed him just moments ago. Yuan Qi and the bronze bell rushed over eagerly upon seeing Xu Ying. The bronze bell crowed in triumph, shouting, "Ah Ying, Ah Ying! Ancestor Chanchan reforged my body using immortal gold from Kunlun! Can you tell what's different about me now?" Xu Ying examined it closely for a good while, hesitated, and shook his head. "I can't tell what's..." "Ancestor Chanchan's craftsmanship is truly remarkable—she restored the old to look just as old!" The bronze bell praised with a resounding *dang*, its lingering hum echoing endlessly. "Now, my power can rival an immortal artifact!" Its might erupted, surrounded by resonant Dao sounds and displaying extraordinary phenomena; even Immortal Dao runes lit up along the bell's walls. Its power had indeed multiplied many times over, possessing a sense of effortless mastery and flawless control. However, when it came to whether it could genuinely contend with an immortal artifact, Xu Ying was still not quite convinced. One end of an immortal artifact remained concealed in the Immortal Realm while the other rested in the mortal realm. Wielding the majestic Dao power of the Immortal Realm to strike mortals, it was naturally invincible. An immortal artifact represented a fundamental qualitative leap. Claiming that incorporating a few types of immortal gold into the bell would allow it to match an immortal artifact was a bit of a stretch—not to mention whether it even had real immortal gold. Yuan Qi also slithered forward and said delightedly, "Ah Ying, Ancestor Chanchan reforged me too! Can you see the difference?" Xu Ying studied him for a long time before asking dubiously, "Has Seventh Master grown a little bigger than before?" Yuan Qi said excitedly, "Ancestor Chanchan unclogged my sinews and bones and purged my impurities, making me smarter and enhancing my natural aptitude and comprehension!" Xu Ying felt skeptical, sensing that neither of these two had really changed much. Yet strangely enough, they truly had grown considerably stronger, their cultivation and power doubling, which was peculiar indeed. The purple immortal plant hopped onto Xu Ying's shoulder, looking upon the pair with utter disdain. Suddenly, the immortal plant caught sight of Great Emperor Cangwu lying motionless nearby. Its eyes lit up, and it quietly slipped over. A moment later, the purple immortal plant took root in Great Emperor Cangwu's body as a matter of course, siphoning nutrients. Zhu Chanchan grinned. "Ah Ying, can you see what's different about my Feilai Peak?" Xu Ying looked toward Feilai Peak outside the Cangwu Secret Realm and gasped in marvel, "It's taller and bigger than before! Chanchan, where did you get so many materials?" Zhu Chanchan stammered, "Well... naturally, obtained by fair and honorable means..." Xu Ying gave her a meaningful look and chuckled. "Chanchan, how did that Divine Boat of the Other Shore you forged manage to reach the other shore directly? Could you teach me?"