Clearly, Bai Qingya was quite displeased. Perhaps she had misunderstood something; the indignation and discontent on her face when she departed were unmistakable. Even from a distance, Ji Changkong could see it perfectly.

On this side, Chu Shanxin was still leaning against his shoulder, her face flushed crimson, in a drunken stupor, as if she had no idea what she was doing.

However, if an outsider had observed them, they would certainly have noticed that their posture was a shade too intimate, likely leading them to mistake the two for having shared some illicit moment.

Ji Changkong froze, just for a moment. He snapped back to reality immediately and quickly helped steady Chu Shanxin. He urged, "Miss Chu, please stand straight. I still have some matters to attend to, so I won't keep you company." Saying this, he swiftly turned and chased in the direction Bai Qingya had left.

Chu Shanxin’s body swayed slightly, and she slowly straightened up. The drunken haze in her eyes gradually cleared, and she glanced slyly in the direction Bai Qingya had gone, murmuring softly, “A good man must be actively pursued; the process of winning a man is no less than a war. Bai Qingya, this is only the beginning.”

A figure reeking of wine quietly stopped beside Chu Shanxin, nodding with a smile. “It is best that Xin’er has this thought. There are few young men in this world worthy of you; you must seize this opportunity well.”

The newcomer was Chu Yunlong.

Chu Shanxin giggled charmingly, “Third Master, rest assured. I will naturally contend with Bai Qingya, both for myself and for our Chu family!”

Chu Yunlong’s expression turned solemn, and he slowly nodded, praising her, “For Xin’er to have this ambition is truly a great fortune for our Chu family! Although those Northern Barbarians have temporarily withdrawn from the continuous mountain range, there is no guarantee when they might return next, and perhaps their next force will be even stronger! If we can secure the long-term friendly assistance of Xuanyuan Valley, it would be tantamount to securing the strength of Tianshan and the Shuiyun Kingdom. For our Chu family, this is the most advantageous outcome!”

After a brief pause, Chu Yunlong added, “Ji Changkong’s potential is limitless. If you can capture his heart, the Chu family will eventually be ruled by your word! If you can win him over, Xuanyuan Valley, Tianshan, and the Shuiyun Kingdom will all become sharp tools in your hand. One day in the future, you will become the most powerful woman in this world!”

Chu Shanxin’s eyes suddenly lit up. After a long moment, she slowly nodded. “I will. I will definitely snatch him away from Bai Qingya! This man should belong to me!”

Chu Yunlong nodded with satisfaction, his expression pleased.

Southwest of Bei’an City, within an elegant bamboo grove, Bai Qingya stood frowning, looking faintly at Ji Changkong blocking her way. “What are you doing here? Following me at this hour, aren’t you afraid of upsetting Chu Shanxin? You are quick indeed. In just a few days, your relationship has advanced so rapidly. Congratulations!”

Ji Changkong forced a bitter smile and explained, “Sister Bai, Miss Chu was just drunk. Seeing that she was about to collapse, I only helped support her, never imagining you would happen to see it.”

“There are no such coincidences. I think it’s a case of mutual affection finally coming to fruition, are you going to fulfill that promise from before?” Bai Qingya said sourly.

“What promise?” Ji Changkong was bewildered.

“Didn’t she say that if you could repel the Northern Barbarians, she’d let you do whatever you wanted?” Bai Qingya huffed. “Looking at the situation, if I had arrived any later, you two might have found a place to…”

“Sister Bai, please don’t overthink things. Nothing of the sort happened.” Ji Changkong was torn between laughter and tears. “Chu Shanxin is just like that; do you really believe the nonsense she spouts?”

“I believe what I see with my own eyes!” Bai Qingya looked at him calmly. After a moment of hesitation, she suddenly sighed softly. “Changkong, my mind is a complete mess right now. I need to find a quiet place to sort things out, okay?”

Ji Changkong fell silent, staring at her blankly. After a long pause, he finally asked, “You don’t trust me?”

Bai Qingya shook her head weakly. “I don’t trust myself, Changkong. I feel the distance between us is growing wider and wider.” Bai Qingya raised her head, looking directly at him, and murmured softly, “When I first met you, your power was low, and you lacked experience. Back then, I could offer you some help. However, now you possess the cultivation of the Eight Trigrams Heavenly Realm, have experienced multiple major battles, and have elders like Li Hentian and Xiao Poshan teaching you. In terms of experience and realm, you have long surpassed me. Now, I can no longer offer you any assistance.”

“Changkong, I am trying desperately, striving not to be left too far behind by you, but unfortunately, I find the gap between us widening. Whether in realm or status, I am now far inferior to you. I feel my existence might restrict your growth. Being with you will only become a burden to you; I cannot help you, nor do I wish to become a hindrance that distracts you by needing your care.”

These words must have been deeply buried in Bai Qingya’s heart; only now did she reveal her true feelings without reservation.

So, it wasn't just about Chu Shanxin.

Ji Changkong stood stunned, silently contemplating the meaning behind Bai Qingya’s words for quite some time.

Indeed, he had never considered that such an issue would arise between him and Bai Qingya because he had never expected Bai Qingya to help him in any capacity. He simply felt happy being with her, without any complex notions.

But just because he hadn't thought about it didn't mean Bai Qingya hadn't considered it. She had thought about it, thought it through thoroughly, even anticipating future scenarios that might never occur.

“I never, ever thought that the problem you mentioned would become an obstacle between us. I never even considered these issues. Sister Bai, you are too…” Too overly thoughtful. Shouldn't things between you and me be free of these messy factors?” After a long moment of surprise, Ji Changkong finally managed to speak.

“You didn’t think about it before, perhaps because you didn’t care. Now that I have brought it up, you should think about it carefully,” Bai Qingya watched him quietly. “I should also think about it myself. I came here simply to see you. Now that I have seen you, I am relieved. The Northern Barbarians have retreated for now, and my Star Transformation Celestial Master cultivation probably can’t offer you any real help either.”

“Changkong, I’m going back first. I need to go home and calm down. You should think it over too. Only when this layer of obstruction is removed from our hearts can we… can we talk about other things.”

Saying this, Bai Qingya offered a faint smile, and her elegant figure gradually walked into the distance, without looking back.

Ji Changkong stood there frozen. After a long, long time, he shook his head with a bitter smile, his face full of helplessness.

Burdened with thoughts, he returned to the mansion and found Bai Canghai. He explained Bai Qingya’s departure, and Bai Canghai took the matter very seriously, repeatedly inquiring about the details. Ji Changkong frankly recounted the entire incident to Bai Canghai, word for word.

When Ji Changkong finished, Bai Canghai patted his shoulder comfortingly. “That girl just likes to overthink things. Don’t mind her. I will persuade her when I return, and she’ll be fine after a while.”

Ji Changkong understood Bai Canghai’s intentions and nodded lightly. “I hope so.”

“Changkong!” Suddenly, Xiao Xing and Chen Qisen strode over together, both wearing grave expressions, clearly having important news to share.

Ji Changkong’s heart sank instantly. Looking at the two, he asked, “Is it… is it news about my maternal grandfather?”

Both nodded with grim faces. Chen Qisen said, “We received word. The Sage… the Sage is already in the Asura Imperial City. It seems… it seems he has already engaged the Asura King. For the past few days, the Asura Imperial City has been shrouded in dark clouds, with incessant strong winds and torrential rain. The vital energy between heaven and earth has shifted dramatically. Many volcanoes in the Northern Barbarian territory have erupted for no apparent reason. This is a sign of a confrontation between peak experts. If the news is correct, the Sage—the Sage has already clashed with the Asura King!”

Upon hearing this, Ji Changkong’s face blanched with shock. Without the slightest hesitation, he declared immediately, “I will make a trip to the Asura Imperial City!”

“We’ll go with you!” Xiao Xing offered.

Shaking his head, Ji Changkong told Xiao Xing, “No! It’s best if I go alone. I just want to go and see. I have long prepared myself for this battle; I knew it was unavoidable. We just managed to drive out the Northern Barbarian Celestial Masters, and if so many of us enter the Northern Barbarian lands now, it will immediately invite massive retaliation. Furthermore, Bei’an City still needs people to guard it. I am not going there to fight the Northern Barbarians; I only want to see my maternal grandfather.”

After his explanation, Xiao Xing and Chen Qisen both let out a soft sigh. They understood in their hearts that this battle between Gu Ya and the Asura King was likely fraught with peril.

This news could not be kept secret. Soon, many people in the Great Chu Kingdom learned of it. When the experts of the Great Chu Kingdom heard that Gu Ta was going alone to the Asura Imperial City to challenge the Asura King to a decisive battle, their spirits soared, believing it was a great opportunity to strike a blow against the Northern Barbarians.

Many in Xuanyuan Valley, however, looked despondent. They knew that Gu Ya had been injured during his fight with the Holy Mother Youlan, and the Asura King was the first expert in this world to intervene in the Nine Palaces Heavenly Realm—even several years before Cao Xuanqi!

He was not Nan Yi’s Chi Kui. In this fight, Gu Ya certainly could not rampage as he did back in Nan Yi when dealing with Chi Kui.

“That’s wonderful! With the Sage taking action, we can settle this once and for all!” Song Yu was extremely excited and even began proposing that they join forces and make a trip to the Northern Barbarian lands, seizing the opportunity while Gu Ya and the Asura King were fighting, while the Northern Barbarian Celestial Masters were severely defeated, to harshly discipline the Northern Barbarian Celestial Master Sects.

“Do you know how many races there are in the Northern Barbarian lands, how many Seven Star Celestial Masters and Eight Trigrams Celestial Masters?” Chen Qisen said grimly, not bothering to be polite.

Song Yu looked surprised. “How many?”

“The Northern Barbarian lands have dozens of races, and every race is teeming with masters. There are no fewer than a thousand Seven Star Celestial Masters among the Northern Barbarians, and at least a hundred Eight Trigrams Celestial Masters. If you think a minor defeat means you can destroy the Northern Barbarian lands, you are welcome to try. However, our Shuiyun Kingdom will not be involved,” Chen Qisen snorted.

“Th-this many?” Song Yu was stunned.

“If not more!” Xiao Xing looked at the eager experts of the Great Chu Kingdom and said seriously, “According to the news from my Xiao family, the power of the Northern Barbarian lands far exceeds that of any single nation in our Central Lands. Even if the Shuiyun Kingdom and the Great Chu Kingdom joined forces, entering the Northern Barbarian lands would only lead to losses.”

Xiao Xing looked at Song Yu and continued, “You might not know this, but the Northern Barbarian Celestial Masters who attacked your Great Chu Kingdom this time only accounted for one-third of the total Northern Barbarian races. The other two-thirds of the Northern Barbarian races, because their living conditions are relatively comfortable, did not participate in this war. But if we were to enter the Northern Barbarian lands, the situation would be completely different. At that point, we would face the masters of all the Northern Barbarian races, confronting no less than a hundred Eight Trigrams Celestial Masters and over a thousand Seven Star Celestial Masters!”

After a pause, Xiao Xing looked at the Great Chu Kingdom experts, whose faces were filled with dread. “Do you still insist on marching into the Northern Barbarian lands?”

Every expert of the Great Chu Kingdom fell silent; no one answered.

Song Yu chuckled sheepishly and shook his head.

“The Northern Barbarian lands, the Western Regions, the Eastern Sea, and the Southern Yi—of these four territories, the Northern Barbarian lands possess the greatest strength, followed by the Western Regions, then the Eastern Sea, and finally the Southern Yi. The Northern Barbarian lands and the Western Regions not only have Nine Palaces Celestial Masters overseeing them, but their territories also harbor numerous experts. The Eastern Sea has the most Celestial Master sects and families, and the highest number of Celestial Masters. The quantity of Seven Star and Eight Trigrams Celestial Masters might even surpass the Northern Barbarian lands, but because the Eastern Sea is too fragmented and lacked a Nine Palaces Celestial Master until recently, it has been surpassed by the Western Regions and the Southern Yi,” Chen Qisen explained the continental situation, feeling a need to enlighten the ignorant experts of the Great Chu Kingdom.

With his explanation, the Celestial Masters of the Great Chu Kingdom completely abandoned the idea of retaliating against the Northern Barbarians.

“I will make a trip to the Northern Barbarian lands; you all remain here to guard,” Ji Changkong repeated his decision once more. He then said no more, leaving under the gaze of everyone, heading toward the harsh, cold lands of the Northern Barbarian territory with lightning speed.

Xiao Xing and the others watched the direction Ji Changkong disappeared into from afar, their expressions filled with deep worry. They worried for Ji Changkong, for Gu Ya, and even more for the future of Xuanyuan Valley.

The Northern Barbarian Lands, the northernmost part of the Five Elements Continent, was swept by biting cold winds, with barren soil, historically home to robust barbarians.

Passing through the endless mountain range, as soon as he set foot on the land of the Northern Barbarians, Ji Changkong immediately understood why those barbarians had never given up their ambition to invade the Great Chu Kingdom.

As far as the eye could see, it was all desolate land, predominantly gray-white, lacking much moisture. It was unsuitable for growing crops. Although it hadn't snowed yet, the wind was bone-chillingly cold, even more severe than the winters in the Central Lands. Spreading out his divine sense, he could barely detect any trace of life.

After a long time, he finally sensed the life fluctuations of an unknown strange beast within the belly of a mountain peak.

Looking at this desolate land, he understood that if he had to live on such soil, he too would likely harbor thoughts of invading others, as this place was truly unsuited for human habitation—the environment was simply too harsh.

Sighing briefly, he increased his speed, flying toward the far northern reaches. He knew the location of the Asura Imperial City from Xiao Xing; it lay in the extreme north.

[Ti: Dear reader, the current chapter has reached the last page of this book.]