177: Who doesn't understand this principle?

The flying boat on the return journey no longer moved with the same frantic urgency as it had upon departure.

It sailed steadily through the sea of clouds, its speed neither fast nor slow, as if it had absorbed its master's heavy mood, unwilling to return so quickly to the Sect that required constant vigilance.

Ding Xiaoxue stood obediently to the side, not disturbing them, merely injecting Spiritual Qi into the flying boat to maintain its journey.

A dead silence hung over the flying boat.

After a long time, Ye Feiyan slowly turned her head, her cold gaze falling upon the motionless black figure beside her.

It lay there quietly, its massive Dragon body appearing even deeper under the reflection of the clouds, and those eyes, usually lively and cunning, were now dim and lifeless.

It merely stared blankly at the distant horizon, lost in thought.

A feeling of desolation, never before experienced, enveloped its entire body.

A slight pang went through Ye Feiyan's heart. She extended her pale hand and gently placed it on its cool scales.

“Mysterious Ink.”

Her voice was soft, carrying a trace of subtle tenderness.

“Don't be too sad.”

“Birth, old age, sickness, and death are the natural order for Mortals, and the Heavenly Dao of Reincarnation spares no one.”

“Father and Mother, in the final moments of their lives, saw us, fulfilled their greatest desire, and left with smiles.”

“For them, this... was the best possible ending.”

What she spoke were the principles most clearly understood by Cultivators, and the words most often used to offer comfort.

However, Mysterious Ink merely shook its head slowly, forcing a smile onto its ugly-cute face that looked worse than crying.

“Logic...”

Its voice was terribly hoarse.

“Who doesn't understand logic?”

“But in this world, the most useless thing happens to be logic.”

It turned its head, its small, red-rimmed eyes looking at Ye Feiyan, filled with bitterness.

“I have seen mountains crumble and rivers reverse their flow. I have seen Cultivators fight to the death over a Spiritual Plant, and I have seen Nascent Soul True Lords turn to dust under the Heavenly Tribulation.”

“I thought my heart had long since become as solid as bedrock.”

“But when this matter truly and tangibly happened to me...”

It paused, taking a deep breath, as if trying to expel all the stagnant Qi in its chest.

“That feeling is completely uncontrollable.”

“It's like... a piece of my heart was dug out, leaving a gaping hole, with cold wind ceaselessly rushing in.”

Ye Feiyan's eyes immediately reddened as well.

She could no longer speak any words of comfort, and could only strongly and tightly embrace Mysterious Ink's massive head.

That's right.

Logic, who doesn't understand it?

But those two elders were the people in this world who treated it the best, besides themselves!

...Returning to Green Bamboo Peak.

The familiar Small Courtyard was still so quiet.

The blue stone remained, and the bamboo forest rustled softly.

But the state of mind of the three of them was no longer what it once was.

Mysterious Ink said nothing, silently crawling onto the large blue stone in the center of the courtyard, coiling itself up completely, looking like a pile of black stones.

Feiyan looked at its appearance, feeling helpless, but knew that this kind of pain could only be overcome by itself, slowly.

Furthermore, the current situation no longer permitted her to indulge in grief.

Three Seas City!

Ancient God Court!

That unfathomable Gray-robed Elder!

Peaks of pressure, like nightmares, weighed on her heart, making it hard to breathe!

She must improve her strength as soon as possible!

“Xiao Mo, you... take some time to be quiet.”

Ye Feiyan's voice regained its usual coldness and determination.

“I need to continue my seclusion and push toward the Mid Nascent Soul Stage.”

“Only by becoming stronger can we protect everything around us, and only then can we... take revenge for the Sect Master and True Lord Jian Chen!”

Mysterious Ink's scales shifted slightly, and a muffled voice emerged.

“Go.”

“Don't worry about me.”

“I... just need some time to recover.”

Ye Feiyan took a deep look at Mysterious Ink, who was curled into a ball, and finally turned, stepping into the meditation room she had just shattered and hurriedly repaired.

The stone door slammed shut!

Isolating everything once more.

In the courtyard, only Ding Xiaoxue and the self-isolating Mysterious Ink remained.

Ding Xiaoxue looked at the massive shell, her eyes filled with heartache.

She thought for a moment, then turned and ran into the kitchen.

Soon, a rich aroma of meat drifted out from the kitchen.

Not long after, Ding Xiaoxue carefully walked out, carrying a huge jade platter.

The jade platter was piled high with golden, dripping roasted Spirit Beast legs, richly flavored braised pork chunks, and several steamed Spirit Fish giving off a faint fragrance.

“Senior...”

Ding Xiaoxue placed the jade platter beside the blue stone and spoke timidly.

“Will you... will you eat something?”

“These are all your favorite foods. I... I specifically added extra Spiritual Honey...”

However, Mysterious Ink, who usually ate this food with great relish, offered no response whatsoever.

Ding Xiaoxue didn't dare say much more and could only watch anxiously.

After a long time, Mysterious Ink's head slowly lifted.

It glanced at the food, which was perfect in color, aroma, and taste, but not a single spark of light appeared in its small eyes.

It had no appetite.

Not even a little bit of appetite.

The delicacies it usually regarded as treasures were now no different from pebbles on the side of the road.

“Take it away.”

Its voice carried a deep weariness.

“Right now... I don't want to eat anything.”

“You should also go Cultivate; don't worry about me.”

“Yes... Senior.”

Ding Xiaoxue dared not disobey. She quietly retreated, carrying the plate of barely touched food, and walked into her own room.

The entire Small Courtyard finally fell into complete silence.

Only Mysterious Ink remained, alone.

It slowly raised its head, squinting its eyes at the warm sun in the sky.

The warm sunlight shone upon its shell, yet failed to bring it even a hint of warmth.

It just lay there, motionless, as if it had transformed into a genuine stone sculpture.

It emptied its thoughts and sealed its six senses.

Allowing time to flow, letting the Spiritual Qi between Heaven and Earth, along with the experience points originating from deep within its Bloodline, circulate automatically within its body, Cultivating while idle... Meanwhile.

In the East Sea Region, to the southwest.

A boundless, primeval mountain range, perpetually shrouded in virulent poisonous miasma, stretched across the land.

This place was a forbidden zone for Cultivators, and a death trap for Mortals.

Countless terrifying poisonous insects and fierce beasts lurked within this dense forest; even a Golden Core Cultivator, if they ventured deep inside, would face near-certain death with the slightest mistake.

This place was named Holy Border Mountain.

And deep within Holy Border Mountain, stood an eerie yet magnificent giant city.

The city walls were not built of bricks and stones, but were pieced together from some kind of immense black insect armor, gleaming with a chilling metallic luster.

Countless bizarre Gu insects crawled in and out of the city walls, producing a hair-raising rustling sound.

This was the main headquarters of another major superpower in the East Sea Region—the Hundred Poisons Sect!