Chapter Fifty-Four: Junyang, Startled

At this moment, You Xiyue was on her natal island, Xingruo Island. An impenetrable Misty Rain Formation separated Junyang from her, leaving him anxiously pacing outside the array. Every time it came to such a critical moment, this little ancestor would always use this formation to bar him from entering. The rain curtain completely concealed the situation inside; nothing could be seen, not a sound could be heard. Even if one tried to step into the downpour, it was as if they ended up back at the original spot, always outside the veil of rain.

"Little Ancestor! How are you?" Junyang called out, but no matter how anxious he was, there was never any response.

Within the Misty Rain Formation, You Xiyue sat cross-legged, absorbing the spiritual energy of Xingruo Island like a bottomless pit, yet even the fullness of such energy could not ease her suffering. Beads of sweat trickled endlessly from her pores, and her face was deathly pale. Just a day ago, after Feng Qinghe had forged a contract with the Phoenix Clan’s crest, the crimson ray among the seven lights entwined around You Xiyue’s nascent soul began to grow unstable. The light suddenly shattered around her nascent soul. Sensing imminent danger, she hurried back to Xingruo Island.

Now those fragmented crimson sparks radiated an ever-increasing heat, one that had reached a level almost unbearable for You Xiyue. She unleashed countless ice spells around herself, lowering the temperature as much as possible, but it barely made a difference. Faced with this ancient immortal curse, she could do nothing but endure.

At last, the crimson sparks reached their peak of activity and surged one after another into her nascent soul. You Xiyue clenched her eyes shut, gritting her teeth against the agony. As more and more sparks shattered, she lost track of how long she had been in the rain-shrouded formation. Only when the final crimson spark entered her nascent soul did she finally lose consciousness.

Junyang waited outside the Misty Rain Formation for seven days and nights until the array finally dissipated on its own, revealing You Xiyue, collapsed within. "Little Ancestor!" Junyang rushed over, scooping her into his arms. "Little Ancestor, wake up!" He called to her for a long time, but she didn’t stir; alarmed, Junyang placed his fingers to her nose. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. "She’s just sleeping?"

He glanced uncertainly at her dantian, counting again and again, only to confirm that where there were once seven rays of light, now there were only six.

Lowering his head, he noticed a new addition on You Xiyue’s left wrist: a red bracelet looped to her ring finger. Though riddled with questions, he could only wait for her to awaken; besides, You Xiyue didn’t seem to be in an ordinary sleep—normally she was easily roused, but this time nothing would wake her. Thankfully, the Misty Rain Formation would dissolve by itself after seven days, or Junyang feared he might die of worry outside.

He carried You Xiyue to a small wooden cabin on Xingruo Island and kept vigil for three more days before she finally awoke. As soon as You Xiyue sat up, Junyang burst into the cabin. "Little Ancestor, you’re finally awake."

"Mm... How many days has it been?"

"Ten days. Why did you suddenly collapse?" You Xiyue raised her left hand to massage her brow, and only then did she vaguely hear the tinkling sound at her wrist. She lifted her hand, blinking in surprise. "What’s this?"

"You don’t know?" Junyang asked, puzzled. "I thought you put it on yourself. When the rain curtain vanished and I saw you, it was already there."

You Xiyue peered at it closely, then glanced inward toward her nascent soul. The tiny nascent soul, looking exactly like her, also raised its left hand, making it easier for her to see. Sure enough, it wore an identical bracelet.

She examined her own bracelet once more, channeling spiritual energy into it, and the tinkling sound grew louder. You Xiyue unleashed an attack toward a distant table—a burst of ghostly fire erupted from the ground, and in the blink of an eye, not even ashes remained.

"This..." Junyang was dumbfounded. "Isn’t this the hellfire from the seventh heavenly tribulation?"

"Yes." You Xiyue watched as the hellfire appeared and vanished in an instant, confirming what Junyang suspected. "So after all the torment, in the end it’s mine to command?"

Junyang could hardly imagine how calm You Xiyue remained under such circumstances—after all, this was heavenly tribulation fire. With her cultivation, even he probably couldn’t withstand it for long. This was simply defying the heavens.

Since ancient times, countless cultivators had perished during tribulations, but to wield the power of heavenly tribulation at will—perhaps only You Xiyue could do such a thing. Junyang struggled to calm himself, but it was impossible.

"So each ray of light entwined around your nascent soul is a heavenly tribulation? When you fulfill the wish left behind by one, you gain the power of that tribulation?"

The wish of Feng Anlin from the Phoenix Clan had been granted, so the crimson ray disappeared, transforming into the red bracelet. From now on, the hellfire tribulation would serve You Xiyue.

"Perhaps," she replied, her expression unchanged. It was worth remembering that before this light vanished, it had tortured her nearly to death; she truly thought she would perish.

Junyang patted his chest, still uneasy. This was almost monstrous—was it a curse, or a divine gift?

You Xiyue seemed to read his thoughts. "Why don’t you try a curse yourself?"

Junyang froze for a moment, then quickly shook his head, regaining his composure. "No, thank you." Just thinking of the curse that tormented her every year was enough to deter him, especially since not every wish would be as easily fulfilled as Feng Anlin’s.

"So, are we returning to the Phoenix Clan?" They’d been gone for ten days; her disciples were probably frantic searching for You Xiyue.

She rose from bed, stretched her waist, and loosened her limbs. "No, let’s go check in on Yan Qingye quietly."

"You’ve agreed? To take Yan Qingye to the Immortal Realm?" Junyang was astonished.

"For now, there’s no one more suitable. We’ll try it out," You Xiyue said, pushing open the cabin door and gazing at the scenery of Xingruo Island.

Once this curse was lifted, she wished she could stay on this island forever, never leaving again. It was simply too beautiful.

All the spiritual beings on the island bowed respectfully toward You Xiyue. A deep, resonant voice spoke out, "Master, you’re awake?"

"Yes, Xingruo. It’s been a while."

"Congratulations, Master, on coming one step closer to breaking the curse." The voice gradually faded.

"This old fellow is getting more and more obsequious," Junyang muttered, unable to resist commenting on the spiritually-influenced creatures of the island.

But You Xiyue only smiled, clearly enjoying herself.

After his grumbling, Junyang couldn’t suppress a sly grin.

You Xiyue looked at him curiously. "What are you smirking at now?"

Junyang pressed a fist to his lips, coughed, and straightened his expression. "I was just thinking, after you form a contract with Yan Qingye and leave him here, he’ll never dare boast about his own home being a paradise again."

You Xiyue laughed as well. "Come, let’s fetch him."

"Alright."