Chapter 914: A Narrow Encounter, Ready to Trigger at a Touch

Chapter 914: Meeting on a Narrow Path, Imminent Clash

Ye Jiuyou might never have experienced what it felt like to "descend into a secret realm"; throughout history, the places she inhabited were always the secret realms of others.

Only when her perspective shifted to the outer cosmos did she realize that everywhere in the universe could be their secret realm.

Though Ye Wuming's cultivation could no longer overpower her, everyone, including Ye Jiuyou herself, still acknowledged Ye Wuming as the strongest, simply because she had started earlier and seen more than anyone else. The black hole that now stirred Ye Jiuyou's heart and mind, along with countless other phenomena, Ye Wuming had likely already explored, or at least sensed from the periphery.

Thus, Ye Wuming had the right to lay plans against those at the Other Shore even before she herself had reached it.

If the Celestial Book World were considered a planet, then the entire world would seem like a speck of dust before such a cosmic black hole, destined only for annihilation and extinction. Yet the complete Celestial Book World was not merely a planet; it had starry skies and three realms. Confronting a black hole with the power of such a world, though insufficient, would not be utterly crushed.

Zhao Changhe and Ye Jiuyou's power now matched that of the Celestial Book. Hand in hand, with the Celestial Book's protection, they were qualified to venture toward the core.

They held hands, lending each other strength, carefully standing at the core, feeling the force of being devoured and annihilated, gazing upward in silence.

For Ye Jiuyou, the insights were especially abundant; her eyes remained in a trance throughout... Zhao Changhe could not replace Ye Jiuyou's understanding, not knowing what his wife was thinking. For himself, the most obvious realization was the pull of power.

No law could compare to this most direct confrontation of force; the slightest misstep meant utter destruction of body and soul, leaving no room for injury.

In truth, martial artists from the Celestial Book World all preferred this sensation of absolute power, and Zhao Changhe was a prime example. Those myriad laws, the five elements, yin and yang—like a mage—he had encountered them more than anyone but rarely used them. What he employed most were the Rejuvenation Art and the Way of Time and Space; he simply loved drawing his broadsword and hacking wildly, a true berserker.

Now the Ye sisters were leaning more toward being spellcasters, and Zhao Changhe felt he had no need for that; berserking to the end was just fine.

Zhao Changhe stood in a daze for a while, then suddenly reached out and beckoned.

Space folded, and from who knew how far away, a small planet was drawn into the black hole's domain. The couple watched as the planet was swallowed by the black hole, ground to nothing, not even a speck left. The impact was so visceral, the silent violence so aesthetic, that their eyes sparkled with wonder.

Within the Celestial Book World in his arms, the women were also watching. At that moment, countless insights flooded their hearts, and several directly entered a state of meditation.

Zhao Changhe suddenly drew his blade and slashed into the distance.

No trace of blade light was seen, but a distant star silently burst into dust.

Longque cried out in joy, more exhilarating than cutting through past and present.

Ling Ruoyu tugged at Ye Wuming's sleeve: "I want to play too..."

What insights from the Night Palace's Star Observation Terrace could compare to this fun...

"You can't go alone." Ye Wuming hesitated for a moment. "If you really want to go, hide in the Galaxy Sword, and I'll take the sword. Just like Longque now."

Ling Ruoyu felt a little regretful. Hiding in the Galaxy Sword—was there much difference from hiding in the Celestial Book?

But it should be a bit more direct... Ling Ruoyu obediently slipped into the sword. Ye Wuming held the sword and emerged, quickly appearing beside Zhao Changhe.

Zhao Changhe hadn't expected anyone to pop out of the Celestial Book World. His nerves were taut, and thinking it was an ambush, he instinctively slashed horizontally.

Ye Wuming blocked with the Galaxy Sword, but the force sent her drifting slightly toward the black hole. Zhao Changhe quickly realized and reached out his left hand, pulling her waist.

The feel of this embrace was so familiar that Ye Wuming didn't even break free at first, naturally leaning against him.

Ye Wuming: "..."

They stared at each other for a moment, then Ye Wuming quickly raised her sword to Zhao Changhe's neck: "Let go!"

Zhao Changhe rolled his eyes and kept holding on.

Threatening with a sword? If you have the guts, cut off my head.

Not to mention whether you could bring yourself to do it, the Galaxy Sword would rebel first.

Ye Wuming was both angry and anxious, quickly glancing at Ye Jiuyou, who was in meditation, then struggled again: "Let go!"

The sword indeed didn't cut. The "sword spirit" inside remained motionless, sitting with hands tucked, pretending nothing was happening, absorbed in contemplating the black hole.

Zhao Changhe didn't let go: "Don't move recklessly. All our strength is focused on resisting the black hole; any sudden move might suck us in. Don't make us die here together—that would be ridiculous."

Ye Wuming was almost laughing in anger: "You know reckless moves can kill? Are you always able to be lecherous and grope?"

"No, I just wanted to hold you. I didn't touch anywhere else. Where's the groping?"

"Get lost."

Zhao Changhe didn't get lost: "Since you're out, care to explain?"

Ye Wuming said irritably, "What's there to explain? That slash of yours just now was quite sharp, wasn't it?"

Zhao Changhe was just making conversation: "I'm asking what you think of Emperor Withered Wood."

Ye Wuming replied, "What do I think? Cooperation is inevitable, but whether he'll betray us afterward is anyone's guess."

Zhao Changhe said, "Before, you didn't want to bring in outsiders because you feared losing control. But now they have three forbidden lands and three Other Shores, and our family has so many Other Shores too—why should we fear them? As long as the Luochuan matter is resolved, we could even sweep their star domain ourselves later."

Ye Wuming sneered, "How do you know those three forbidden lands only have three Other Shores? How much do you know about their power structure?"

Zhao Changhe said, "You refute that, but you didn't refute the part about 'our family'?"

Ling Ruoyu, listening from within the sword, found it amusing. She felt her mother was no match for her father, like an Other Shore crushing a Profound Gate.

Ye Wuming stiffened her neck and said, "Because their power structure is a serious matter. What's there to say about pointless bickering?"

"Is that so?"

"Otherwise what!"

Zhao Changhe said with a grin, "Alright, alright... But you must know their power structure anyway. You can tell me."

Ye Wuming: "..."

She did know. She had explored this star domain countless times over the years, even finding cave worlds others hadn't, let alone other things.

But she really didn't want to continue this discussion while being held around the waist, pressed so close. She turned her head away with a hint of pride, refusing to answer.

How had their posture become like this? Why did they always end up so intimate? Were they supposed to be intimate?

Zhao Changhe leaned close to her ear: "Why aren't you talking?"

With his lips so close to her ear, it tingled. Ye Wuming couldn't hold back: "Let go, and I'll talk. Otherwise, we might as well die together."

Zhao Changhe didn't push too hard and actually let go.

One always had to give the other a way out...

Ye Wuming let out a long sigh, her face stiff and expressionless: "Excluding the rogue cultivators of Luochuan, the three forbidden lands indeed only have three Other Shores. This realm itself signifies the Way of a world; each world has only one. Not everyone can achieve it. Here, it's already a lot..."

Zhao Changhe laughed, "Our world has three."

Ye Wuming said coldly, "In theory, our world also has only one. You're an outsider, so you don't count. And I and Jiuyou were originally one; separated, we shouldn't be able to each reach the Other Shore... The reason we did is somewhat special..."

The reason was that a two-headed dragon had acted as a medium, completing both sisters. Ye Wuming found it hard to say this, as it would imply she had already been... when she hadn't.

Yet even without that, the transfer succeeded—it was absurd. Ye Wuming crossed her legs, her thoughts scattering to who knows where.

She feared Zhao Changhe would take the opportunity to climb, so she quickly changed the subject: "How did you know that world we visited earlier was the cave they were looking for?"

"Simple. I could sense that world was a small plane, its overall rank slightly inferior to the Celestial Book World. If it had a Way, it might be weaker than you sisters. The feeling was distinctly different from being in the vast cosmic star domain. And everything in that world matched Emperor Withered Wood's description—it must be a secondary plane within this star domain. When Emperor Withered Wood mentioned a lost Other Shore cave, that was likely it."

Ye Wuming nodded silently. This annoying man had always been sharp at solving mysteries.

Zhao Changhe also admired this annoying blind woman: "Speaking of which, how did you find it when even Emperor Withered Wood and the locals couldn't?"

"Being a secondary plane myself, I have a bit more resonance with similar ones." Ye Wuming said, "More importantly, I've always been traveling between planes, exploring myriad worlds, not roaming the cosmos. That cave plane is one of the myriad worlds closest to us. They searched from within the cosmos, a different direction... That it's become an advantage for us is unexpected."

Zhao Changhe nodded as well.

Ye Wuming added, "This plane isn't very useful to us, but it might have some purpose... Are you sure you want to give it away?"

Zhao Changhe said, "Because we were intercepted then, and the cave's location was almost exposed. Others might trace it and find it soon—it can't be hidden."

Night Nameless nodded. "Since it's been left to you, you decide."

Star River and Dragon Sparrow lightly clashed blades; the two little companions sat side by side, chins in hands.

It always seemed those two were a good match—if you added Zhao Cuo dialect, they matched better than anyone... If they had discussed matters like this early on, they might have become a couple long ago, and not ended up with such a strange relationship now.

Ling Ruoyu hoped her parents would reconcile and become a happy family. As for what Dragon Sparrow wanted to see, no one knew...

As they discussed, Night Nine Serenity, who had been in deep meditation beside them, suddenly opened her eyes and transmitted her voice directly into their minds: "The Abyss of Annihilation connects to the Beginning of Birth. In its deepest depths lies another chaotic firmament... If I am not mistaken, Luo Chuan is most likely there, and most likely has already recovered..."

Zhao Changhe turned back in shock, suddenly drenched in cold sweat.

If Luo Chuan was actually lurking in those depths, his scarlet eyes glaring savagely from the darkness, watching their every move, ready to launch a fatal attack at any moment... the thought alone made one shudder.

Good thing he had wanted to guard Nine Serenity and hadn't entered meditation himself. Otherwise, if he had assumed no enemy ambush here and joined in, a single sneak attack would have finished them.

There were countless wonders in the universe. Had Withered Tree Emperor brought them to this black hole precisely because he sensed Nine Serenity's cultivation matched it—a coincidence? Or did he already know this place was connected to Luo Chuan's location?

Zhao Changhe remained expressionless, pretending not to know, and asked, "How was your insight?"

Night Nine Serenity smiled faintly. "I gained quite a bit."

Zhao Changhe took her hand and laughed. "Here we have to constantly resist the black hole; staying too long is truly unbearable. Shall we go back first?"

Night Nine Serenity's eyes shimmered. "Back to Withered Tree Emperor's place?"

Zhao Changhe said, "That place isn't convenient for intimacy... Let's go back to the Heavenly Book and find him tomorrow."

Night Nine Serenity laughed, kissed his cheek, and murmured, "I've been thinking about it since last night..."

Zhao Changhe wrapped his arm around her waist. "Share a bit of your insight through dual cultivation?"

"Pah! Disgusting." Night Nameless, who had just been seriously discussing matters, couldn't stand the lovers' sudden flirtation and angrily grabbed her sword, diving back into the book.

The shameless pair couldn't care less about her; they both casually retreated from the black hole's gravitational pull. As if impatient, Zhao Changhe immediately pulled out the Heavenly Book the moment they were outside the edge, used a space-folding technique to hide it in another dimension, and then, pulling Night Nine Serenity, slipped back into the book with a whoosh.

The Heavenly Book floated silently in the void. A pair of demonic eyes quietly emerged from the black hole, glaring at the book's location with a savage gaze.

Within the Heavenly Book world, all remnants related to him had been thoroughly cleansed; outside, the dark void separated them, and the three realms were indistinct and nameless. He could no longer observe the book's interior. From the lovers' conversation just now, they were most likely hiding inside, dual cultivating and sharing insights.

Don't be fooled by Night Nameless's disgusted scolding—who knew if she wasn't half-heartedly joining in? Luo Chuan always felt that Night Nameless and Zhao Changhe had something going on; last time he had seen her face full of spring passion, and from that waist-holding, ear-whispering dialogue pattern, who the hell would believe they weren't involved?

If this bunch of shameless people were messing around inside, wasn't this a perfect opportunity to attack the Heavenly Book?

Whether it was an opportunity or not, just being able to clearly see where the Heavenly Book was was already extremely rare. Last time it had taken him a full thirty years to find the book hidden by Night Nameless; now it suddenly appeared before his eyes, floating in the void without any concealment... For Luo Chuan, it was like a starving lecher seeing a naked young girl—he could hardly contain his surging heart.

This was the right time.

And the location was significant... It was precisely at the edge of the black hole's influence; with a simple push, he could send the book into that domain. Once inside, he could perform other operations—this was his home ground.

This was the right place.

In terms of forces, Zhao Changhe should be negotiating cooperation with Withered Tree Emperor; from their earlier conversation, they hadn't discussed details yet and would talk tomorrow. If he launched a sudden attack now, wouldn't Withered Tree Emperor's faction be excluded and unable to provide timely support? Meanwhile, he had gathered some demonic cultivators on his side who could assist.

This was the right people.

Luo Chuan stared at the Heavenly Book with bloodshot eyes, feeling that these shameless people's lust might create the best opportunity in a million years for him to seize the book—if he missed it, there would never be such a good chance again.

A dark demonic hand appeared silently near the Heavenly Book, creeping closer, intending to slap the book into the black hole's range.

At that moment, inside the Heavenly Book, Zhao Changhe and Night Nine Serenity, who had seemed to be rolling in while kissing wildly, had already separated the instant they entered.

Withered Tree Emperor was on the immortal mountain repairing the damaged mountain-protecting formation when a short-haired, closed-eyed woman's phantom suddenly appeared before him. It was Night Nameless, whose divided soul roamed the outer realms, omnipresent.

"Who are you, sir?" Withered Tree Emperor's heart pounded—another Paragon had appeared... and her appearance was so similar to that previous Lady Zhao.

Night Nameless spoke calmly. "Luo Chuan's trace has been found. Changhe sent me to inform you, Emperor: the net is to be cast now."

"...Do not blame me for being suspicious. What is your relationship with Fellow Daoist Zhao? Do you have any token?"

"As if you know him well enough to have witnessed a token... Can you not see my resemblance to Nine Serenity, Emperor?"

"Appearance is but a facade, easily changed, and not reliable. Moreover, even twin sisters can be enemies—what does that prove?"

Night Nameless pursed her lips, stalled for several seconds, then helplessly released a fluctuation of her aura. "Can you not sense, Emperor, the intense... scent of him on me?"

Withered Tree Emperor's expression twitched. "So you are also one of Fellow Daoist Zhao's wives?"

Night Nameless held back for several more seconds; though only a phantom of her divided soul, her pretty face flushed red. That single word seemed to drain all her strength: "Yes."