491: Chapter 491 Golden Autumn Water

The spirit boat passed through the clouds, and the Golden Crow patterns on both sides of the boat's hull shimmered with dazzling radiance under the sunlight.

Saintess Yan Xueyuan stood by the railing; her dress, interwoven with fire-red and snow-white, fluttered loudly in the high-altitude cold wind, while the hidden patterns of Golden Crows spreading their wings on the hem appeared and disappeared.

Her raven-black hair was tied up high, and the beaded tassels hanging from the slanted, red-gold Phoenix-head hair ornament gently collided, making a soft, delicate sound.

Behind her, a maidservant stood with her hands hanging down; she wore a simple and elegant pale green palace dress, and her figure was so slender that it seemed as if a gust of wind could blow her over.

Her face was delicate, her eyes were lowered, and her eyelashes were always slightly trembling, like a rabbit that could be startled and run away at any moment.

With her Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivation, she was completely inconspicuous among the armored soldiers of the Golden Crow Holy Land on the spirit boat.

Gan Yiyi secretly lifted her eyes to glance at her mistress, bit her lip, and finally spoke in a low voice:

"Saintess... are we really not going to the Fusang Land in Tanggu Kingdom? What about the Golden Crow Holy Son..."

"Say one more word, and I will have you thrown off."

Saintess Yan Xueyuan did not turn her head, her voice as indifferent as frost.

Gan Yiyi shrank her neck, but still braced herself and added:

"This servant is just worried... You had originally agreed to accompany the Golden Crow Holy Son to the Fusang Land, but then you changed your mind that same day. Although the Golden Crow Holy Son didn't seem angry... I'm afraid the Golden Crow Holy Son might be holding a grudge..."

"If you want to go, then follow the Golden Crow Holy Son."

Saintess Yan Xueyuan turned her face to the side, her cold and gorgeous profile showing no expression under the sunlight.

Gan Yiyi hurriedly knelt down:

"Wherever the Saintess goes, Yiyi will go! Yiyi's life was given by the Saintess, as were my cultivation resources. It was the Saintess who saved Yiyi from the poisonous hands of that... that man by the Golden Crow Holy Son's side... Last time you left Yiyi behind, this time this servant will absolutely not leave the Saintess's side..."

Her voice was choked with sobs, and her eyes were already red.

Saintess Yan Xueyuan was silent for a moment, then let out a soft snort from her nose:

"As you wish."

Gan Yiyi opened her mouth, wanting to say more, but Saintess Yan Xueyuan had already spoken first:

"If you say anything else, I will really make you get out."

Gan Yiyi immediately shut her mouth, only slightly lifting her eyelids to look at the increasingly closer mountain gate of Qingmu Cliff below.

At the mountain gate, spiritual light soared to the sky, brocade was laid out on the path, spiritual lamps hung in the air, and hundreds of Cultivators were lined up to welcome them, with an honor guard so grand it was as if they were welcoming an overlord.

She knew very well in her heart that these people were respectful because the flag of the Golden Crow Holy Land was hanging on the spirit boat, and because they had the Golden Crow Holy Son standing behind them.

And not because of her own... vase Saintess.

She secretly glanced at Saintess Yan Xueyuan's back and sighed in her heart.

The spirit boat slowly descended.

In front of the mountain gate of Qingmu Cliff, a group of high-ranking members had long been lined up and waiting.

Among them was a plump woman wearing a deep green, wide-sleeved long dress; her raven-black hair was loosely tied up with a green jade hairpin, her face was dignified and gentle, and her brows and eyes carried the charm of accumulated years.

She lowered her eyelids slightly, a proper, faint smile hanging on the corners of her lips, but behind that smile, there was a hint of indescribable bitterness hidden.

The Sect Master of Qingmu Cliff, An Suxin. But the position where she stood was not the most prominent.

Before this Sect Master, there were two other figures.

On the left was an old man with white hair, his face ancient and simple, his eyes half-closed, and the aura around him was as deep as an abyss.

The Grand Elder of Qingmu Cliff, Mao Xiuzhu, with a cultivation of Undergoing Tribulation Early Stage, usually did not ask about worldly affairs, but today he had to come forward.

On the right, in a more forward position, was a tall woman with a cold temperament.

She wore a frost-white, wide-sleeved robe, wrapped tightly from her neck to her ankles.

Her features were picturesque but as cold as ice and frost, her light gray eyes were like cold pools, revealing a sense of alienation from her very bones.

A head of pure, snow-white long hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall, without any hairpins or accessories, only loosely tied up with a plain white silk ribbon. The aura around her was as cold as frost, and no one could get close to her.

—Grand Elder Jin Qiushui, Undergoing Tribulation Late Stage, the true power-holder of Qingmu Cliff.

The Elders and Disciples dared not even breathe loudly when they saw her. Not only because of her cultivation, but also because of her gaze. When those light gray eyes swept over, it felt like the winter cold wind blowing into the crevices of one's bones, making one feel cold from the bottom of their heart.

In Qingmu Cliff, she was a supreme existence.

She cultivated the Ruthless Dao and believed all her life that "Immortals and Mortals are different." She deeply detested the fact that Sect Master An Suxin had combined with a Mortal back then and given birth to a daughter with low talent.

An Suxin's predicament within the Sect largely stemmed from this Grand Elder's attitude.

Beside Jin Qiushui stood the Saintess she had single-handedly supported.

Junior Sister Tang Yuanxiang wore a bright red palace dress with exquisite Qingmu patterns embroidered on the hem, and a soft gold silk belt tied around her waist, accentuating her slender waist that could be held in one hand. Her face was gorgeous, her arrogance was undisguised between her brows, and her red lips were slightly curled, as if she were expressing dissatisfaction with the world at any moment.

However, her temperament was deeply influenced by Jin Qiushui.

Jin Qiushui was cold as frost, while she was overbearing and arrogant; the "superior" arrogance in her bones was even more exposed than Jin Qiushui's.

Further back was Senior Brother Han Wuji.

This Saint stood behind the Grand Elder, and at this moment, his gaze had already uncontrollably drifted toward the fire-and-white interwoven figure on the spirit boat deck.

His heart skipped a few beats—Saintess Yan Xueyuan, that cold and gorgeous face, that proud beauty; every time he saw her, it made his heart heat up.

But Senior Brother Han Wuji quickly suppressed that trace of infatuation and sternly warned himself in his heart.

This is the Golden Crow Holy Son's woman, cannot touch!!! Cannot touch!!! Cannot touch!!! If I touch her, I will die without a burial place, and Qingmu Cliff will also...

Further away were several Grand Elders who had been in seclusion for many years, all white-haired, with auras like abysses, and faces as still as ancient wells. Further back were the Elders and True Disciples.

"Respectfully welcoming the Golden Crow Saintess to Qingmu Cliff—"

The bell rang nine times, the sound shaking the surroundings.

The spirit boat stopped steadily, and Saintess Yan Xueyuan's figure appeared at the bow. She looked down at the dark crowd below from a high position, her expression indifferent, and she nodded slightly, considering it a return greeting.

"I am just passing through this place and would like to look around,"

Saintess Yan Xueyuan's voice was cold, unhurried, "I just hope to have a place to stay."

Jin Qiushui bowed slightly:

"The Saintess's arrival is the honor of our Qingmu Cliff. Within the Sect, there is a 'Qingxia Peak' with abundant Spiritual Qi and beautiful scenery; there are hot springs and spirit springs on the peak, which can be used for the Saintess to rest..."

"No need."

Saintess Yan Xueyuan said indifferently, "It is too noisy inside the Sect."

The Grand Elder spoke at the right moment: "Then how about going to 'Yingxian Peak'? That peak is independent of the Sect, quiet and elegant, with all kinds of pavilions and towers."

Saintess Yan Xueyuan nodded.

The Grand Elder turned his head to look at Senior Brother Han Wuji behind him, his tone indifferent: "Useless Disciple, why don't you go and lead the way?"

Senior Brother Han Wuji woke up as if from a dream, hurriedly stepped out, and bowed, saying: "Saintess, I will lead the way for you."

He tried his best to keep his voice steady, but when the corner of his eye swept across Saintess Yan Xueyuan's cold and gorgeous face, his breathing still hitched slightly.

Jin Qiushui suddenly spoke: "My Disciple also has nothing to do, why not let her lead the way as well."

She looked at Junior Sister Tang Yuanxiang.

Junior Sister Tang Yuanxiang immediately stepped forward gracefully.

"Greetings, Saintess."

Saintess Yan Xueyuan's expression did not change, still maintaining that cold and arrogant demeanor that kept people at a distance: "Very well."

Junior Sister Tang Yuanxiang's lips curled slightly, "It is Yuanxiang's good fortune to be able to travel with the Saintess."

Junior Sister Tang Yuanxiang and Senior Brother Han Wuji moved and landed on the deck of the spirit boat, one on the left and one on the right, striking a pose to guide the way.

The spirit boat set sail again, slowly heading towards the direction of Yingxian Peak.