38: Peak of Yunmeng

Yuer is only half a year old now. He has already lost his father and has even been mocked and looked down upon by others.

If he were to lose her, his mother, Shangguan Yuexi couldn't imagine what would happen to her Yuer.

Shangguan Yuexi took a deep breath, fed Nangong Yu the remaining few mouthfuls of spirit rice porridge, and then carried him back to her bedchamber.

"Mother, you won't leave Yuer, right?"

Seeing Shangguan Yuexi place him on the bed, Nangong Yu's small hand tightly clutched her skirt, his expression nervous and scared, as if afraid of loss.

Shangguan Yuexi felt a pang of heartache. She gently stroked his tender little face and softly said, "No, Yuer, don't worry. Have a good sleep, and when you wake up, you won't be scared anymore. Mother will still be by your side."

Hearing this, Nangong Yu nodded slightly and slowly closed his eyes, yet he still held tightly to Shangguan Yuexi's skirt, occasionally opening his eyes to glance at her.

At this moment, he was three parts acting and seven parts genuine emotion; he was indeed a little scared.

Afraid of losing!

Afraid of losing this hard-won mother!

Afraid of losing this hard-won maternal love!

Afraid of losing the warm family affection he yearned for but couldn't obtain in his previous life!

Seeing him like this, Shangguan Yuexi's face showed heartache. She lay beside him fully clothed, gently embracing his small body, "Yuer, be good, don't be afraid, Mother is here!"

Nangong Yu heard this, closed his eyes, and slowly fell into a deep sleep.

But even so, his small hand still tightly clutched his mother's skirt, not loosening an inch.

Seeing this, Shangguan Yuexi sighed softly. It was false to say she didn't feel heartache.

She continued to hold Nangong Yu gently, not leaving, nor falling asleep, her mind filled with countless thoughts... On the southwestern border of the Qingyou Empire, at the junction of the Xilan Empire and the Silver Moon Empire, there is a mysterious place called Cloud Dream Peak!

This is a mysterious mountain range, towering into the clouds, shrouded in mist. The Peaks are steep and perilous, and the clouds drift among the mountains, sometimes thick as cotton, sometimes thin as gauze, making one feel as if in a fairyland.

The mystery of this mountain range lies not only in its ethereal mists but also in its unknowability.

Whether viewed from afar or from above, Cloud Dream Peak seems to not exist, leaving only endless mist shrouding the surrounding area.

Here, a Cultivator's Divine Thought cannot extend outwards, and everything is full of unknowns.

Furthermore, legends say that Cloud Dream Peak hides many mysterious creatures and Treasure Troves, which once attracted countless Cultivators from surrounding countries and even further afield to explore.

However, even Spirit Venerable Realm Cultivators would get lost in this Cloud Dream Peak; they either couldn't enter, or if they did, they couldn't get out. This made countless Cultivators curious, but also filled them with awe, making them hesitate to approach.

It is even rumored that people from that place also came, but after a glance, they turned and left.

This made Cloud Dream Peak even more mysterious and awe-inspiring.

However, at this moment, on the mysterious and unknown Cloud Dream Peak, a bamboo house stood atop the summit.

In front of the bamboo house, a White-Haired Old Man slowly opened his eyes, a look of surprise and uncertainty in them.

"The mortal kingdom's war has begun, it's inevitable, but this Qingyou Empire seems to be enveloped in a layer of mist, making its true situation unclear. The future seems to have variables!"

The White-Haired Old Man frowned and muttered, "Variables, variables, wait!"

He seemed to think of something, his fingers quickly moving, his brows tightly furrowed, as if calculating something.

"Incorrect!"

"Incorrect, again!"

"..."

"What's going on? Is there something besides that disciple that this old man cannot calculate?"

The White-Haired Old Man murmured softly, his expression somewhat disbelieving, and also unwilling to accept it.

He once again began to calculate with his fingers, but then spat out a mouthful of black blood, his face turning several shades paler.

But even so, he couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly, "Only a rough idea?"

"Indeed, how could something involving heavenly secrets be so simple?"

The White-Haired Old Man murmured, then turned and shouted into the distance, "Xing Meng, come here!"

"Master, what is it?"

As a clear, ethereal, yet slightly childish voice came, a girl who looked about seventeen or eighteen ran over.

The girl was like a Fairy stepping out of a painting, dressed in white robes whiter than snow, her sleeves fluttering as if clouds were swirling around her.

Her serene face was fair as jade, with a faint blush, her cheeks round yet retaining the soft lines of beauty, as if crafted by nature's finest artistry.

Beneath her long, curved brows were a pair of lively, large eyes, revealing a hint of playfulness and agility, forming a contrasting beauty with her serene countenance.

Her nose bridge was straight, perfectly accentuating her exquisite face, and her lips were as delicate and luscious as cherries, naturally crimson, like the most vibrant color on her beautiful, charming face.

Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, smoothly falling to her waist, with a few playful strands scattered on either side of her face, gently swaying in the wind.

She wore a simple white jade hairpin in her hair, loosely tying her long locks, without excessive ornamentation, yet appearing elegant and graceful.

The white jade hairpin reflected a warm luster in the sunlight, complementing her white robes beautifully.

Looking at the girl before him, the White-Haired Old Man couldn't help but reveal a kind smile in the corner of his eyes.

"Xing Meng, you've been on the mountain for ten years now, haven't you?"

Xing Meng paused slightly, then nodded, "Yes, Master. I was three years old when you brought me up the mountain. If it weren't for you, I would have been fed to jackals and wild beasts by now!"

As she spoke, a hint of sadness flashed in her eyes, clearly recalling the events of that year.

Looking at his disciple, whose eyes were slightly dim, the White-Haired Old Man shook his head and smiled, "Foolish child, you have been reborn, why dwell on the past?"

Hearing this, Xing Meng also nodded slightly, looking up at the White-Haired Old Man, a hint of apprehension in her eyes.

She thought of her Master's unusual behavior today and couldn't help but carefully ask, "Master, why are you suddenly asking about this?"

The White-Haired Old Man did not answer, his gaze fixed on the distance, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes.

After a long while, he slowly spoke, "Xing Meng, you have been on the mountain for ten years, but your Spiritual Root is indistinct, seemingly present yet absent. I have found thousands of Cultivation Techniques for you, but none have you been able to successfully Cultivate..."

Before the White-Haired Old Man could finish, Xing Meng fell to her knees with a thud, her eyes reddening, "Master, are you abandoning Xing Meng too?"

"Listen to me first!"

The old man did not turn around and continued, "Now, ten years have passed, and your cultivation has only reached the Peak of Body Tempering Realm by using medicinal liquids, making it difficult to advance further."

"Today, I sense that your Opportunity lies in the Qingyou Empire, but most matters concerning you are beyond my calculation. Therefore, you must find this Opportunity yourself; I cannot help you. You should descend the mountain!"

Upon hearing this, Xing Meng's eyes instantly reddened, mist filling them, "Master..."