The first light of dawn was breaking, the ocean waves crashing against the sheer cliffs, kicking up boundless spray.

"Tear!"

A sound like rending silk suddenly erupted, and the void atop the cliff face split open, two figures stepping out from it in succession.

They were Nie Kong and Yu Longyue, who had just departed the Fish Spirit Clan.

"We’ve reached the shore, just as expected. So fast!"

Nie Kong gazed into the distance, seeing the boundless, surging waves to the east, while to the west lay rolling mountains completely blanketed in ice and snow. A look of pleasant surprise crossed his face. If he had tried to return to the mainland from Sword King Island on his own, even utilizing the Phantom Eagle King, he likely wouldn't have covered even thirty percent of the distance by now.

After resting at the Fish Spirit Clan for a day, Yu Longyue had led him to the base of the fish-shaped structure, where there was only a massive slab of blue jade covered in intricate lines.

Once they stood upon it, and after Yu Longyue activated it with some unknown method, a rich azure light enveloped his body and dragged him through the void in a rapid transit. When Nie Kong’s figure settled, he found himself standing at the pinnacle of this cliff face along the coastline.

"Illusion Array!"

The words flashed through Nie Kong's mind, and he instinctively glanced down. The stone surface of the cliff top was also carved with numerous lines, identical to the markings on the blue jade within the Fish Spirit Clan's domain.

According to Yu Longyue, this thing was called the "Illusion Array," and like the Illusion Realm, it was a relic left behind by the Illusory Spirit Continent. This was the first time Nie Kong had ever witnessed, or even heard of, such a miraculous Illusion Array; he estimated that on the current Heavenly Spirit Continent, only the Sea God Palace possessed one.

It was regrettable that this Illusion Array could only function unidirectionally—it could transport one instantly from the Sea God Palace to this location, but not back again.

Perhaps, within that Divine Void Realm, two-way Illusion Arrays existed.

"This is the northeast of the continent, still very far from the Flower Spirit Clan. Even for me, reaching there would take about ten days," Yu Longyue said, smiling as she retracted her gaze from the distance. "Nie Kong, I will take you the rest of the way, Aunt Yue will guide you." Knowing the connection between Nie Kong and the Flower Spirit Clan, the relationship between them had grown considerably warmer, and Nie Kong no longer addressed her as 'Your Majesty, the Fish King.'

"No need, Aunt Yue. I have a mount; its speed is quite fast."

Nie Kong laughed heartily. If Yu Longyue took ten days alone, wouldn't it take her half a month to reach the Flower Butterfly Secret Realm if she brought him along? In the past, a longer journey wouldn't have mattered, but now Nie Kong was desperate to see Hua Mei immediately and was unwilling to waste any more time.

With the Phantom Eagle King, things were different. Its speed in the air was likely something even a powerhouse like Yu Longyue, possessing strength equivalent to the ninth rank of the Heavenly Spirit realm, might not be able to match. Most importantly, Nie Kong wouldn't have to worry about her revealing that he possessed an independent space.

"A mount?"

Hearing Nie Kong say this, Yu Longyue couldn't help but chuckle, but the smile froze on her face the next moment as she saw the enormous black eagle body suddenly materialize. Especially when a surge of majestic soul energy rushed out from between Nie Kong's brows, a look of sheer astonishment appeared in her eyes.

"Whoosh!"

The soul settled into its head, and the Phantom Eagle King immediately stretched its wings wide.

This spirit beast possessed strength close to the peak of the ninth rank! Yu Longyue judged instantly after a brief detection, looking at Nie Kong with disbelief. Having seen the beast token hanging from Nie Kong's waist, Yu Longyue had assumed the mount sealed within could be strong—perhaps fifth or sixth rank at best—but she never expected to see a peak ninth-rank spirit beast appear before her. She truly wondered how Nie Kong had managed to subdue it!

"Oh, this is the Heavenly Spirit Continent. Your Lord is back again…"

The Phantom Eagle King’s eyes darted around, and it let out an excited, booming cry. Catching sight of Yu Longyue beside him, the beast instantly trembled, quickly restraining itself. The eagle’s head leaned toward Nie Kong’s chest, fawningly saying, "Big Brother, Little Brother truly admires you. Dozens of ninth-rank experts and eighth-rank masters surrounding and intercepting you, and yet they couldn't stop you. By the way, did that woman, the Grand Exalted Spirit Venerable, finally show up?"

Yu Longyue grew increasingly alarmed as she listened. Yesterday, Nie Kong had vaguely described some situations in the Fallen Abyss. The ninth-rank Black Spirit Masters there were roughly equivalent to the Heavenly Spirit Masters on the Heavenly Spirit Continent, while the eighth-rank Black Spirit Masters were similar to the Cave Spirit Masters here. What exactly had Nie Kong done in the Fallen Abyss to provoke so many formidable Black Spirit Masters to pursue him? And that Grand Exalted Spirit Venerable—that was a Spirit God!

When Nie Kong spoke of his experiences yesterday, he had only touched upon them lightly, glossing over the details, but now it was clear the reality was far from simple.

"Enough!"

Noticing Yu Longyue’s expression, Nie Kong glared at the Phantom Eagle King and snapped, "Adjust your body as fast as possible; we are departing now."

"Yes."

The Phantom Eagle King hastily complied.

Yu Longyue realized she was becoming less and less able to fathom Nie Kong. After a moment, she took a deep breath, composed herself, and looked at Nie Kong with a sweet smile. "Nie Kong, you little fellow, you kept secrets well. To think you sealed such a powerful ninth-rank spirit beast within your beast token."

Beast token?

Nie Kong was slightly taken aback that Yu Longyue could recognize the beast token of the Beast Taming Sect and connect it to the Phantom Eagle King. However, this suited him well. Thinking quickly, Nie Kong smiled, "It’s just good luck, Aunt Yue."

Yu Longyue smiled enigmatically. "Returning safely to the Heavenly Spirit Continent after being pursued by dozens of ninth-rank experts and eighth-rank masters—that’s luck too?"

"Don't listen to this fellow talking nonsense; there weren't that many," Nie Kong laughed awkwardly, relieved when Yu Longyue didn't press further. "Aunt Yue, let’s go." As he spoke, Nie Kong had already leaped onto the Phantom Eagle King’s back.

Yu Longyue let out a light chuckle and nodded. A flash of azure light, and she was already a hundred meters away. Nie Kong gave a mental command, and the Phantom Eagle King let out a sharp cry, rapidly giving chase.

Along the way, there was almost no pause. Initially, Yu Longyue and the Phantom Eagle King could travel side-by-side through the air, but after two days, even Yu Longyue began to struggle to keep up. Thus, the passenger count on the Phantom Eagle King changed from one to two.

It took only eight days for Nie Kong and Yu Longyue to reach the Raging Azure Mountain Range. Now, the entire mountain range was draped in silver, covered in vast snow, appearing completely pure when viewed from high above, with no other color visible between heaven and earth.

Under Nie Kong's instruction, the Phantom Eagle King slightly reduced its speed, soaring along the mountain range. With Yu Longyue, the Fish King of the Fish Spirit Clan, present, Nie Kong didn't worry about finding the Flower Butterfly Secret Realm and let the Phantom Eagle King follow her directions.

After half a day, dusk was approaching.

"This is the place."

Yu Longyue suddenly spoke, a look of delight blooming on her charming face. Nie Kong instinctively lowered his gaze. The world around them was still a sheet of white, with no unusual signs, and he looked back at Yu Longyue in astonishment.

Yu Longyue smiled faintly, not revealing anything, merely signaling the Phantom Eagle King to descend.

"Screech!"

The Phantom Eagle King, having endured grueling labor for eight straight days, was utterly relieved. Upon receiving Yu Longyue’s command, a cry of liberation burst from its throat. Immediately, the eagle spread its wings, its body transforming into a black streak, plummeting like a meteor.

Several thousand meters vanished in an instant. The massive body of the Phantom Eagle King landed on a hillock, kicking up the thick snow into the air in a fluttering, colorful cascade.

"Huh?"

Nie Kong surveyed his surroundings, his eyes still detecting no abnormality, yet he clearly sensed a strange vitality. He instinctively turned his gaze northward. In this season, the life force within the mountains was considerably weak, but in that direction, there was a powerful surge of vitality—most uniquely, this vitality was exceptionally active, utterly different from the surrounding world.

"Flickering Light and Shadow!"

Nie Kong shifted his steps, his figure darting away like a phantom glow, following that vitality. Seeing Nie Kong’s movement, Yu Longyue paused in surprise, then burst into a soft laugh, following with the Phantom Eagle King. She had intended to tease Nie Kong a little, but she hadn't expected him to discover the location of the Flower Butterfly Secret Realm so quickly; it greatly exceeded her expectations.

Ten seconds later…

Nie Kong stopped before a cliff face. A faint trace of green was secretly leaking out from a triangular crack in the rock. That massive wellspring of vitality lay inside the fissure.

Glancing back at the approaching Yu Longyue and the Phantom Eagle King, Nie Kong walked directly into the crack. The green hue he perceived grew richer. After walking dozens of meters along the fissure, Nie Kong felt a sudden openness; a beautiful valley came into view. Outside was ice and snow, yet within this valley, the grass was verdant, flowers bloomed in countless hues, a tapestry of color, seeming like two completely different worlds separated by the crack.

"This place is truly well-hidden," Nie Kong couldn't help but sigh. Beyond that crack, the cliff walls on either side did not disappear but shifted hundreds of meters outward to the left and right, then angled upwards until they nearly converged in the high sky, leaving behind an extremely narrow slit. The valley looked as if it had been carved out from within the mountain. Strangely, although the fissure high above was small, the light within the valley was abundant, as bright as day.

Hearing Nie Kong's admiration, Yu Longyue smiled sweetly. "If it weren't so, the Flower Butterfly Secret Realm would have long been exposed to the world."

Nie Kong nodded slightly. Without Yu Longyue pinpointing the direction, his own keen sense of vitality, and the fact that the ground was covered in snow, otherwise, even thoroughly searching an area of several square miles, he might not have found this valley concealed by the cliffs.

"Whoosh!"

Just then, a breeze seemed to sweep through the valley, and all the proudly blooming flowers swayed gently toward the valley entrance. Following this, a massive purple flower drifted out from the depths of the valley, instantly traversing hundreds of meters of void to hover before the entrance. Then, its petals began to detach one by one, and a small purple figure emerged from the stamen, its body expanding at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In a blink, a woman with a graceful, mature, and voluptuous figure in purple stood elegantly before Yu Longyue: "Greetings, Your Majesty, the Fish King!"

For more novels, visit storyread.net.