“A true dragon has appeared in the world. This era, I’m afraid, is about to change.” It murmured softly to itself, then slowly withdrew into the ice cave. The cold mist once more enveloped the entrance, as though nothing had ever happened.
Emerging from the grand formation, Chen Ping immediately released the Golden Dragon Form.
The golden light faded, and he returned to human shape, but his face was pale as paper. His body swayed, and he could barely stand steady.
Forcing the forbidden technique and sustaining the true dragon pressure had taken too much out of him.
If not for his robust physique and the support of chaotic immortal power, he would probably have collapsed already.
“Chen Ping!” The Red Cloud Demon Lord hurried forward to support him.
Ling Shuang also rushed over, her eyes full of concern.
The palace master gazed deeply at Chen Ping for a moment, then waved her hand to dismiss the grand formation. She took out an icy blue pill and handed it to him. “Take this. It will quickly restore your vital energy.”
Chen Ping did not stand on ceremony. He accepted the pill and swallowed it.
The pill melted in his mouth, and a gentle yet immense medicinal power swiftly spread through his limbs and bones, repairing damaged meridians and soul, replenishing depleted vital energy.
The pallor on his face soon regained a trace of colour.
“Thank you, Palace Master.” Chen Ping cupped his fists in gratitude.
The palace master waved it off, her gaze falling on the cold jade box in Chen Ping’s hand. “Since the blood lotus is obtained, return to the palace to rest and recover.”
The palace master led Chen Ping and the others back to the North Underworld Palace.
After the palace master departed, the three returned to a side hall for a brief rest.
The Red Cloud Demon Lord clutched the cold jade box containing the Ice Soul Blood Lotus tightly, his hands trembling slightly with excitement.
With the blood lotus, there was hope at last. They had finally glimpsed the first ray of dawn.
“Chen Ping, great kindness needs no words of thanks.”
The Red Cloud Demon Lord solemnly bowed deeply to Chen Ping. “If Ling Yue can be saved, it will be entirely due to your efforts today. I, Red Cloud, will remember this for life. In future, whatever you need, I will not hesitate even if it costs my life.”
Chen Ping quickly helped him up. “Senior, you speak too seriously. Senior Ling Yue’s matter is my matter too. Now that the blood lotus is in hand, it is only the first step. For the subsequent Earth Core Jade Marrow Milk and Nine Apertures Divine Soul Grass, we must continue our efforts.”
The Red Cloud Demon Lord nodded. “The Earth Core Jade Marrow Milk is in the Eleventh Heaven, and the Nine Apertures Divine Soul Grass is in the Twelfth Heaven. These two items will probably be even harder to obtain than the blood lotus. Chen Ping, your next plan…”
“Naturally, head to the Eleventh Heaven first.”
Chen Ping answered without hesitation. “Not only for the Earth Core Jade Marrow Milk, but I also have some personal grudges to settle.”
He thought of the Soul Devourer Venerable.
There was also the Evil Dao Hall. He still needed to demand the souls of Hu Mazi’s clansmen from them.
Ling Shuang listened from the side, a trace of reluctance in her eyes, but she knew Chen Ping’s path lay ahead. With her current strength, she was not yet able to follow him into the higher worlds.
“Senior…”
Ling Shuang spoke softly. “You… take care.”
Chen Ping looked at her and smiled faintly. “Miss Ling Shuang, you take care too. The Profound Heaven Sword Sect needs you, and Sect Master Ling needs your assistance.”
“Cultivate well. After I finish matters in the Eleventh Heaven, I may return to the Tenth Heaven.”
“Yes.” Ling Shuang nodded firmly, though tears glistened in her eyes.
The Red Cloud Demon Lord glanced at the pair, tactfully stepped aside, and pretended to study the blood lotus.
Chen Ping then embraced Ling Shuang and began dual cultivation.
After this time, who knew how long it would be before they met again.
Ling Shuang knew that this might be her last chance.
So she was especially proactive.
A day and a night later, Ling Shuang had long since fallen into exhausted sleep.
Chen Ping took out the North Underworld Token given by the palace master and examined it carefully.
The token felt cool in his hand, made of a material neither gold nor jade. On the front, the character “Underworld” was written with bold, flowing strokes, containing a hint of icy law dao rhyme.
On the back, intricate snowflake divine patterns formed a special identification array.
“With this token, I will at least have a foothold in the Eleventh Heaven.” Chen Ping put the token away.
Half a day later, Ling Shuang had recovered seven or eight tenths.
Chen Ping stood up. “No time to delay. Let us set off now. First, escort Miss Ling Shuang back to the Profound Heaven Sword Sect, then open a void passage to the Eleventh Heaven.”
The Red Cloud Demon Lord naturally had no objections.
The three bid farewell to the palace master.
The palace master said little, only giving Chen Ping several more bottles of healing pills and a jade slip recording information about parts of the Eleventh Heaven, along with the location of a North Underworld Palace outpost there.
“Remember, come back alive.”
Those were the palace master’s final words, her gaze lingering on Chen Ping for a moment. “Sword Star… is still waiting for you.”
Chen Ping cupped his fists solemnly. “This junior will bear it in mind.”
Leaving the North Underworld Palace, the three flew through the air toward the Profound Heaven Sword Sect.
The heavy obstructions they had faced on the way in were gone, perhaps by the palace master’s order. Along the route, no North Underworld divine clan warriors blocked them.
Several days later, the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain Range came into distant view.
When Chen Ping and the others landed at the Profound Heaven Sword Sect’s mountain gate, the guarding disciples immediately recognised them, saluted respectfully, and sent word inside.
Soon, Ling Yunzi personally came out to welcome them. Seeing his daughter return safely, he was moved to tears.
“Senior Chen’s great kindness, the Profound Heaven Sword Sect will never forget!”
Learning that Chen Ping was heading to the Eleventh Heaven, Ling Yunzi bowed deeply.
Chen Ping helped him up. “Sect Master Ling, there is no need for this. I have ties with the Sword Sect; these things are only right and proper. Now that the blood lotus is obtained, I must go to the Eleventh Heaven to seek the next herb. I take my leave now.”
Ling Yunzi knew he could not keep him, so he said, “Senior, take care on your journey. The Sword Sect’s gates will always be open to you.”
Chen Ping nodded, then said to Ling Shuang, “Cultivate well and look after your father.”
Ling Shuang bit her lip and nodded heavily. “Senior, take care. I… I will always wait for your return.”
Chen Ping smiled faintly, said no more, and rose into the sky with the Red Cloud Demon Lord, vanishing into the clouds.
Ling Yunzi gazed at the horizon and sighed. “This young man is no ordinary talent. The Eleventh Heaven will probably see storms stirred by him once more.”
“Shuang’er, have you and Senior Chen shared intimacy?”
“Father, Senior Chen’s essence blood is already within me, but even so, I fear it will be hard to bear his child.” Ling Shuang said.
“Why?” Ling Yunzi frowned.
“Senior Chen possesses the golden dragon bloodline. With such a bloodline, I fear my body cannot withstand it and conceive.” Ling Shuang replied.
“Alas, all is fate. Let it be as fate decides.”
Ling Yunzi sighed, turned, and departed.
