Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Jiang Yi did not send a voice transmission so everyone standing around heard him. They were hurt by his words.
The expressions of a couple of people from the Phantom Race darkened immediately. The middle-aged, powerful man—however—did not react or say anything in reply. The man beside him said coldly, “Young Mistress Qingchen, who is this? How can he speak in this manner?”
If not for Qi Qingchen, the Phantom Race’s people would have flown into a rage immediately. The middle-aged man did not stop the man beside him from speaking. This implied that he also felt quite unhappy inside.
The corners of Jiang Yi’s mouth twitched. He wanted to say something else, but Qi Qingchen grabbed his hand and sent another burst of energy into him, sealing his throat. Apologetically, she said, “Lord Yi, my friend does not know any better. I hope you will not take his words to heart!”
The middle-aged, powerful man smiled slightly, but he did not spare Jiang Yi another glance. Qi Qingchen had already apologized on his behalf; he had to forgive him on that account. Once again, Qi Qingchen smiled and said, “We will return now. See you at the tournament tomorrow!”
The middle-aged, powerful man pursed his lips and nodded. One of the formidable martial artists of the Phantom Race led the group to the Teleportation Array. With a burst of light, the group was teleported back to the base of the mountain. Although Jiang Yi could not move or speak, he glared at the base of the mountain, refusing to avert his gaze. Yi Piaopiao must still be crushed underneath the mountain. Perhaps she had no idea that Jiang Yi once came within a couple of inches of her.
“Jiang Yi, what’s wrong?”
Qi Qingchen had sensed long ago that something was amiss. She looked at Jiang Yi, who did not answer her and only frowned. Deciding not to ask any more questions, she retrieved a divine boat and brought both Jiang Yi and Di Ling’er into it. She set up the restrictions around the boat and sent a voice transmission to him: “Jiang Yi, what is the relationship between you and Yi Piaopiao?”
Jiang Yi still did not speak. He only lowered his head and remained seated. It was obvious from his body language that he was very sorrowful. He sat in silence for a couple of seconds before he finally looked up with a bitter smile. “Young Mistress Qingchen, you have returned me the favor that you owe me. I’m sorry for all the trouble. If I have the chance in the future, I will return the favor to you for sure. Let’s go back!”
Qi Qingchen and Di Ling’er’s heads were full of questions, but since Jiang Yi had made it clear that he did not want to talk about anything, it was not their place to ask too many questions. Qi Qingchen silently steered the divine boat back towards Heavenly Charm City. It was extremely quiet inside the cabin. Seeing Jiang Yi close his eyes as if he had just lost a part of his soul caused Di Ling’er’s heart to hurt. A few times, her lips trembled; and she desired to say something. At last, however, she always stopped herself.
Once they returned to Heavenly Charm City, the divine boat stopped outside the back garden of Snow Moon Castle. After Jiang Yi got off the boat, he walked inside the castle without saying another word to anyone else. Di Ling’er and Qi Qingchen quickly followed behind him.
Qi Qingchen stood at the white jade city plaza and stared at Jiang Yi’s downcast back. A complicated emotion filled her eyes. Once Jiang Yi disappeared from her vision, she mumbled to herself, “Jiang Yi does not look that old, and he came from Earth Emanations Domain. By right, he shouldn’t be related to Yi Piaopiao in any way. Could he… have a special admiration for her?”
…
“Jiang Yi!”
Once they returned to Wind Flower Castle, Di Ling’er started to ask him a question. However, Jiang Yi returned to his own room without muttering a single word. He set up the restrictions around his room and shut the door in Di Ling’er’s face.
Plop!
The moment he entered the room, Jiang Yi fell to the ground and buried his head into his hands. He grabbed onto his hair with both of his hands, causing the veins in his hands to bulge out. He closed his eyes, not speaking nor crying. He merely stared into blank space. Every inch of his muscles was trembling.
If people who knew Jiang Yi well saw him at that moment, they would know that he was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. Never before had he shown any hint of his own weakness to outsiders. However, this did not mean that he really had a strong, heaven-defying heart. He, too, was human. He, too, would feel weak, helpless, and frustrated. He, too, would break down.
The gravity was ten thousand times worse there, and she was lonely in a cold jail cell. There was no one for her to talk to or confide in about how much she missed her son, worried about him, and hoped for him.
Jiang Yi did not know how badly Yi Piaopiao was suffering, but he had a strange, cold feeling in his heart. It made him feel like he could not even breathe. He was in immense pain. He hated the ruthlessness of the Phantom Race, he hated his own incapability… he hated the heavens.
Yet, he had to suppress his own emotions. He could not afford to explode, be rash, or find someone to talk to. Otherwise, Yi Piaopiao could find herself in even worse circumstances.
Plop!
After sitting for a while, Jiang Yi’s body suddenly fell to the side. He passed out immediately. He forced himself to pass out because if he allowed himself to carry on thinking… he would break down for sure!
He did not know how much time passed, but the next thing Jiang Yi knew, he was being jolted awake by the flashing restrictions of the room. He waited for a while and discovered that they were still flashing. Frustrated, he stood up and undid the restrictions. Then, he opened the door for whoever it was outside to step in.
It was Mo Lingqiu. When Jiang Yi saw him, he quickly perked himself up. He did not want Mo Lingqiu to be able to tell that something was amiss with him. He had promised Mo Lingqiu that he would not do anything rash.
Di Ling’er obviously did not talk about him behind his back either. Mo Lingqiu did not know that he had snuck out to see Yi Piaopiao in secret.
Mo Lingqiu entered the room, scanning Jiang Yi from head-to-toe in a slightly shocked manner. “Jiang Yi, what’s the matter? Why did you take so long to open the door? En… why do you look so listless?”
“It’s nothing!” Jiang Yi forced a smile. Casually, he asked, “Lord Mo, what’s the matter?”
“The tournament has started.”
Mo Lingqiu scanned him from head to toe for several more seconds and said, “I’m guessing there will be no point watching the tournament’s Wu Fight this year. If Qi Qingchen came in second, nobody would dare to come in first. However, I think the Wen Fight would be more exciting. There are many talents from various domains. Let’s go and watch.”
“I’m not going anymore!”
Jiang Yi did not have the mood to watch these. He turned around and sat down on a chair, smiling bitterly. “I’ve been feeling quite tired lately. I just want to rest. Lord Mo, you can go ahead. I’m not taking part anyway.”
“It’s not that you can’t take part!”
Mo Lingqiu pondered for a moment and said, “You are still young. If you can display powerful mystical abilities, perhaps you might get even more points. If you can come in first for the Wen Fight—not only would you be able to obtain a Primitive Spiritual Treasure as the prize, but the Sovereign and Pavilion Lord Di might even reward you handsomely. For all we know, they might give you one more free chance to enter the Primitive Mystic Realm or Dao Heaven Mystic Realm!”
“En?”
A hint of life came back into Jiang Yi’s eyes. He was already feeling completely hopeless about the Phantom King going easy on Yi Piaopiao. That was one stubborn, old antique. Despite Qi Qingchen stepping out to plead on Yi Buhui’s behalf, he refused to budge for her sake. Instead, he still locked Yi Buhui up. Jiang Yi knew full well that even if he knelt down for the rest of his life at the base of the Saint Spirit Mountain and even if the Earth Emanations Sovereign himself stepped out on his behalf, the Phantom King would still not budge.
That was why he set his mind on one thing: to try his best to cultivate and improve his skills. Then, he would kill his way onto the Saint Spirit Mountain and snatch Yi Piaopiao back. He would lead her to leave the Phantom Race and out of this ruthless, heartless the Saint Spirit Domain!
He had a thirst for power and skills; this was a thirst he had never felt before. Now, there was a chance to improve his skills presented before his eyes. How could he give it a miss? The first prize was a Primitive Spiritual Treasure. There was even a possibility that he would be able to enter the Primitive Mystic Realm or Dao Heaven Mystic Realm for free one more time. These were very valuable rewards!
Number one?
He thought about the monster talents, and his gaze darkened. These were the elite young masters and young mistresses from the various domains. Their great clans’ mystical abilities, techniques, and power surpassed ordinary beings. How could he win first prize?
Mighty God Technique? Art of Concealment? Merged Flames?
Jiang Yi pondered for a while and then realized that he could not reveal any of these. However, apart from these, he did not have any extraordinary mystical ability.
Forget it. I’ll go and take a look before I decide!
On second thought, Jiang Yi did not want to give up. There was always a possibility. He jumped to his feet and said, “Alright, Lord Mo. I’ll go with you to take a look.”
