Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Yi Shui continent was located at the northernmost tip of the immortal realm and therefore did not have the perennial spring-like climate of Feng Cang continent. It was almost entirely covered in snow, with very little greenery. Apart from snow, all they could see was the boundless ocean.
As they were worried about Xuan Tong, Shen Ying, Lonemoon and Yi QIng headed straight for Yi Shui Palace without stopping. They saw only a few immortal officials along the way.
As they had the special travel access pass given by Chu Xuan, they were able to reach the entrance of the palace without incident. They informed the immortal official guard of the purpose of their visit. After a while, someone came out and greeted them with a salute.
“His Highness invites you in!” They were then led into the main palace.
A man clad in white robes sat on the throne. He had chiseled features and his long hair was tied in a bun. His outward appearance was proper and decent. However, the expression in his eyes was as cold as ice. An almost inhuman aura enveloped him.
They guessed that he must be the celestial emperor Xin Han.
“Greetings, your highness.” They politely saluted him.
Xin Han looked at them, his face expressionless. Then, he asked coolly, “So you are from the Invincible Sect?”
“That’s right!” Lonemoon answered, adopting a businesslike expression.
Seemingly recalling something, Xin Han frowned and said coldly, “I remember… that I’ve already asked my people to return the Spirit Convening Lamp to Feng Cang.”
“Your highness misunderstands! We’ve already received the lamp.” Lonemoon said before continuing, “We’re not here for the lamp.”
“Oh? What is it then?”
Lonemoon smiled and said in a friendly tone, “It’s like this. One of the disciples in our sect met with a mishap during her tribulation, resulting in fiery qi entering her body. We’ve tried many ways but could not expel it from her body, so…”
“You want to borrow the Luo Han Stone!” Xin Han interrupted in that cold voice of his. A slight frown appeared on his face.
“That’s right, we’ve come for the stone.” Guessing that he was unlikely to agree to their request, Lonemoon tried to soften his tone and said earnestly, “We know that this is a divine artifact, but we desperately want to save the child. If you highness agrees, we are willing to exchange it for the Divine Refining Clock. If you don’t trust us, we can go back together.”
Waving his hand, a clock with numerous cracks appeared on his palm. As he had been busy these few days, he had not been able to send it to Xun Shu for repair.
Xin Han’s expression did not change. He looked at the clock for a moment, then continued, “By right, I should agree to your request as the Divine Refining Clock can help me to restore my primordial spirit. The Luo Han Stone is indeed in my palace. But… it is inconvenient for me to lend it to you.”
“What do mean?” asked Lonemoon, perplexed. You either lend it or you don’t. What could be inconvenient about lending it?
Xin Han frown deepened. His previously emotionless expression darkened. Suddenly he gave a deep sigh and got up. He started walking towards the back of the palace. “Follow me and you will know what I mean.”
Everyone exchanged glances and then followed his footsteps.
Xin Han led the group of them through a sea of clouds towards a separate immortal palace. During the flight, he explained the reason why he had rejected their request.
“When I was badly injured, Qiao… Bai Qiao found the Divine Refining Lamp and brought it to me when my primordial spirit was at its most unstable. Thinking it would help to stabilize my primordial spirit, she forcibly lit the lamp and cast a spirit suppressing spell. So…”
Waving his hand, the gate of the immortal palace opened and a white cloud of icy air rushed out. Even Lonemoon and Yi Qing, who were young emperor immortals were shocked.
Everything inside the palace was covered in a layer of ice. In the middle of the room they saw a girl lying on a bed, seemingly asleep. They could sense a weak aura emanating from her.
“She’s… Bai Qiao!” Lonemoon exclaimed in surprise. When he saw her several weeks back, she had been energetic and lively. Now, she seemed like the picture of death.
“She tried to activate the divine artifact using a soul suppressing spell. However, her cultivation was not strong enough to control the spell and her primordial spirit was injured in the process.” Xin Han explained, shaking his head. But there was no sign of any regret or pity on his face, only disapproval. “I discovered this only when I awoke. But I don’t know much about how primordial spirit work, so I used this Luo Han Stone to seal her meridians, to prevent her condition from worsening.”
Then he conjured a seal. A piece of red ruby instantly appeared above the ice bed, emitting a stream of cold air.
“Without the Luo Han Stone, her condition will probably worsen. That’s why I can’t lend it you!” Xin Han explained as he lifted Bai Qiao up. Then he conjured a few healing seals. Drops of perspiration appeared on Bai Qiao’s forehead and her pallor improved. After a while, she slowly opened her eyes.
“Are you feeling better?” Xin Han asked coolly.
Bai Qiao seemed taken aback. “You…” Her voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible. The effort of speaking made her double up in pain.
Lonemoon frowned. He had mentally prepared himself to make great sacrifices to their wealth in order to borrow the stone. But now this happened. As this stone was needed to save Bai Jiao, he could not insist on borrowing it.
“Your highness said that she has damaged her primordial spirit?” Yi Qing asked suddenly.
Everyone was surprised by his question, even Bai Qiao turned her head to look at him. She widened her eyes in recognition and said, “I…”
“You need to rest!” Xin Han waved his hand over Bai Qiao’s eyes. Bai Qiao’s body relaxed and she once again fell into a deep sleep. Xin Han laid her back on the bed and turned to look at them, “Bai Qiao has indeed damaged her primordial spirit.”
Lonemoon finally caught onto Yi Qing’s question.
“Then I have a solution. My sect’s Spirit Convening Lamp is more useful than the Luo Han Stone in restoring her primordial spirit.” Lonemoon suggested, “We will leave the Spirit Convening Lamp here and you lend us your stone. Once they have both recovered, we will each return the item to the other. What do you think?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Xin Han replied with a nod, “This solution solves both our problems. Agreed!”
Lonemoon brought out the Spirit Convening Lamp with a wave of his hand.
Xin Han did not move to take the lamp. Instead, he looked down at Bai Qiao and said, “Please wait a moment while I retrieve the Luo Han Stone.”
Lonemoon and the others took the lamp and left the room. Xin Han came out with the Luo Han Stone stone shortly and exchanged it for the Spirit Convening Lamp.
As they were anxious to get back, they bid a quick farewell to Xin Han and flew directly out of the palace.
Once they were out of sight of the palace, Yi Qing suddenly spoke, “He did it deliberately!”
