Chapter 162 - Never Abandoning you in Life and in Death
Qin Yun was instantly confounded by the raging white array formation.
"Yi Xiao, Yi Xiao… She's…"
Qin Yun looked at the array formation in disbelief. He then turned to Sixteenth Prince, Eighth Zhu, and Lunatic Zhu.
"Yi Fenggu triggered an array formation, ensnaring both him and Yi Xiao. If not for us being a little further away, we would have been caught in it as well," explained Eighth Zhu. "This array formation is extremely powerful. The moment my brother touched it with his palms, they were pulverized. Even His Highness's fifth-grade Dharma treasure was cut in half when he inserted it in the array’s blast."
"Go."
Qin Yun instantly released a flying sword, the second-grade Heavy Sand Sword.
The moment the Heavy Sand Sword entered the array formation, the endless whiteness attacked. The Heavy Sand Sword immediately went into Cyclic Sword Flash, forming a spherical barrier that allowed it to barely withstand the white force.
Phew.
The Heavy Sand Sword flew deeper into the array formation.
"I can't see anything." Qin Yun's expression changed.
He could only barely see twenty to thirty feet into the array formation with his naked eyes. And he could not produce his psyche perception through the Heavy Sand Sword. Although the Heavy Sand Sword was flying in it, it was flying blind.
"Return." Qin Yun issued the command with his mind, calling the Heavy Sand Sword back.
"Phew." The flying sword returned into his sleeve.
Eighth Zhu and Lunatic Zhu looked at Qin Yun with astonishment. Lunatic Zhu could not help but murmur, "What an impressive flying sword. It managed to withstand the array formation."
"Senior Ji Lie," Qin Yun looked at Ji Lie. "Please help save Yi Xiao."
"You are begging for my help?" Ji Lie was surprised before he broke into laughter.
"Yes, I'm begging you. Senior Ji Lie, please save Yi Xiao." Qin Yun looked at the bald elder.
"Elder Lie, Elder Lie. Please help save Miss Yi Xiao," Sixteenth Prince immediately joined in.
"If you want me to save her, it will be easy. But when I successfully save her, give me the transcendent-grade Golden Core Cauldon." Ji Lie stared at Qin Yun. Beside them, Eighth Zhu, Lunatic Zhu, Bai Junyue, Bai Junyu, and Fang Yu were muttering secretly.
"What a greedy person. To make such a demanding request when others are begging him to save someone. And all that for a transcendent-grade Dharma treasure," Bai Junyu whispered to her sister, Bai Junyue.
Bai Junyue attempted to use her stars, but even they failed to penetrate the endless white forces.
"Brother Qin Yun, the Golden Core Cauldron is all yours," Hong Lingtong said with a voice transmission.
Qin Yun looked at Ji Lie. "If you successfully save her, half the treasures I receive in exchange for the Golden Core Cauldron will be yours. As for the other half… it doesn't belong to me but to another cultivation expert."
"Oh? So you do have a faction backing you." Ji Lie nodded. "Alright, half it is then! Everyone here has heard it. The property of my Ji royal family is not something anyone can covet."
"Save Yi Xiao and half the Golden Core Cauldron is yours," said Qin Yun.
"Alright."
Ji Lie immediately enlarged his arm that was covered with a black metallic layer. It was the first-grade Dharma treasure, Fiend Annihilation Hand.
Phew.
The gigantic arm directly but slowly extended into the array formation. When it touched the endless white forces, Ji Lie’s expression changed slightly. However, his arm had the Fiend Annihilation Hand protecting it, so he was able to withstand the barrage.
"Oh?" As his arm, now dozens of feet long, extended further into the array formation, his expression changed. He could sense his arm being aggressively inundated by the array formation.
"Elder Lie, why don't you use both arms?" asked Sixteenth Prince immediately.
"The array formation is too powerful. If I used two arms, even I would be pulled in." Ji Lie's face was flushed red as he tried his best to search using his gigantic arm. But no matter how he swept it around, he did not scoop up any living being. There were some trees and rocks, but they had long turned to dust within the array formation.
Qin Yun stared at Ji Lie.
Phew.
Ji Lie's expression was extremely ugly as his arm rapidly contracted and withdrew from the array. He shook his head and said, "I can't find her. Either she's dead or she has been pulled even further into the array formation. I can't reach her."
"She's still alive." Qin Yun flipped his hand to reveal the Inspect Heavenly Token. "Her transmission mark hasn't dissipated. However, Yi Fenggu's transmission mark is gone."
"She's still alive?" The eyes of Eighth Zhu and company lit up.
"Yi Fenggu is dead and Yi Xiao won't be able to last much longer," said Qin Yun softly.
Qin Yun walked toward Hong Lingtong.
Phew.
He cast an Isolation Spell, preventing the others from seeing him or Hong Lingtong.
"Brother Hong," Qin Yun looked at Hong Lingtong and handed him a Cosmic Bag. "All these treasures here, including the Golden Core Cauldron, are yours. If I don’t come out alive, please remember to take care of my Qin family. I am no longer able to live up to my filial obligations."
"Qin Yun, don't be foolish. This array formation is way too ruthless. It shows no mercy at all. It's completely different from all the other array formations in the immortal abode," said Hong Lingtong. "It's best for us to exit this area and bring powerful cultivators in."
"Bring others? Who?" Qin Yun shook his head. "How many Connate Golden Core realm cultivators will be willing to risk their lives? Furthermore, there are very few Connate Golden Core realm cultivators that are stronger than me in this world. And those are people who preside over something, be it a sect or family clan. Even if I can find awesomely powerful cultivators to help, the time it would take to rush here would probably be half a day at the least! Yi Xiao can't wait any longer!"
"Take this." Qin Yun passed the Cosmic Bag over.
"I really can't accept it," Hong Lingtong said anxiously. "If I were to take the transcendent-grade Golden Core Cauldron, I won't be able to conceal the treasure halo. It will end up harming me instead."
Qin Yun was slightly startled.
"These three Golden Core Outer Pills, three Nine Revolutions Spirit Pills, two second-grade Dharma treasures are yours. These are the most important treasures I have other than the Golden Core Cauldron," said Qin Yun. "I might come out alive. So just hold on to them. I believe you should be able to conceal the treasure halo of these treasures. As for the Golden Core Cauldron, I won't be able to give it to you anymore."
Hong Lingtong accepted the items and looked at Qin Yun in the eye. "Brother Qin Yun, don't worry. I, Hong Lingtong, swear to the heavens that as long as I'm alive, I'll protect the Qin family. From this day forth, I'll treat your parents as my own."
Qin Yun nodded.
"However, Brother Qin Yun, is there a need for this? You have a promising life ahead of you…" Hong Lingtong could not help but say. It was difficult to find a confidant on the path of cultivation. After spending more than a year together, he truly felt that Qin Yun was someone he wanted as his closest confidant.
"She will walk with me on this path of cultivation," said Qin Yun. He retrieved the gigantic Golden Core Cauldron from his Cosmic Bag. He held the massive cauldron in one hand and undid the Isolation Spell.
Ji Lie and company were still puzzling over what Qin Yun was talking to Hong Lingtong about. He had even deliberately prevented others from probing.
"Oh?" The Bai sisters, Ji Lie, Sixteenth Prince, and company were surprised when they saw Qin Yun reappear holding the Golden Core Cauldron with one hand.
Qin Yun walked straight towards the array formation.
At the same time, he enveloped himself in the Cyclic Sword Flash barrier. With one hand holding onto the cauldron, he headed in.
"If I do not come out in an hour, I'll probably never come out again," said Qin Yun loudly. "Everyone, please tell everyone you see about this after you exit the abode! Tell them that the Golden Core Cauldron has entered the immortal abode array formation with me, Qin Yun. To those who want the Golden Core Cauldron, please enter the array! If you can save me and Yi Xiao, I'll hand over the Golden Core Cauldron with both hands. If I die, then you’ll have to find the Golden Core Cauldron on your own."
"Haha, I, Qin Yun, will be entering with the Golden Core Cauldron. It's truly a selfish act, but it's for my survival. So please forgive me."
As Qin Yun spoke loudly, he continued to walk into the array formation.
Qin Yun looked at the forces of vast whiteness. Every smile and action of Yi Xiao's emerged in his mind. The way she ate mooncakes, their kiss under the moon while they hovered over the river, and their promise to be together to the very end.
"I only wish to hold your hand and grow old with you, never abandoning you in life and in death."
"Never abandoning you in life and in death."
The duo's promise was still ringing in his ears.
"Never abandoning you in life and in death. Yi Xiao, wait for me. You have to wait for me." Qin Yun stepped into the turbulent swath of whiteness.
With the Cyclic Sword Flash protecting him, he held the Golden Core Cauldron with one hand and walked into the array formation where the white forces raged.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he walked in without turning his head back. This scene left many people silent.
"Qin Yun." After a long while, Sixteenth Prince mumbled to himself. "I once disdained you. I once wanted to snatch Yi Xiao away from you. But now, I know that I'm inferior to you. It's impossible for me to risk my life for Yi Xiao."
"Qin Yun, come out. You have to come out," Hong Lingtong said secretly as he watched.
Bai Junyue was watching solemnly, her face covered with tears. All she could think of was the scene of her brother's final departure. That turned into an eternal farewell.
Time passed.
An hour passed without Qin Yun coming out.
Two hours passed, and still there was nothing.
"Let's go." Ji Lie said with a downcast voice.
Sixteenth Prince looked at the white array formation and whispered, "I wish for the both of you to come out alive and be together."
"He isn't dead. He isn't dead." Hong Lingtong held his transmission treasure. "His transmission mark has not dissipated."
"If he hasn't come out in two hours, he's probably not coming out." Fang Yu shook his head and sighed. "What a pity."
Bai Junyue watched quietly.
"Sister, let's go. Let's continue searching for the Numinous treasure. Ji Lie and the rest are leaving," urged Bai Junyu.
"Alright." Bai Junyue did not say anything else as she turned to leave.
"Eighth Brother," Lunatic Zhu looked at the array formation in a dazed and whispered. "Is Qin Yun mad? Does he not care for his life?"
"The joy of being together with a loved one is delighting, but the parting is bitter, and yet there are even more hopelessly lovelorn people." Eighth Zhu recited softly. "Brother, let's go."
"Yea." Lunatic Zhu nodded.
The two left together.
Three days later.
Ji Lie and company exited the immortal abode. Eighth Zhu managed to obtain the Numinous treasure, Tuṣita Divine Fire Talisman Amulet, by pure luck and rushed out of the immortal abode immediately after. However, they came out bearing bad news. Three days ago, Qin Yun had brought the Golden Core Cauldron into the array formation to save Yi Xiao and never came back out.