Yes, they’re all still alive.
That’s wonderful.
“Please, don’t die again.”
No one knew who had said it, but those words scattered into the wind, falling quietly onto their hearts.
Perhaps, it was both of them who had spoken.
The experience of becoming bamboo cake—perhaps Ning Li would never forget it in her life.
Not just because she gained strength from that experience, but even more so because, within that dream, she finally distinguished between Ran Fu and Yin Que.
The reason the Ran Fu in the first dream was so gentle was because he had Yin Que’s soul.
The real Ran Fu was hot-tempered, vulgar, had no pity for ordinary people, was crude and impulsive, didn’t know how to get along with others, cared only for his sister, didn’t give a damn about anyone else’s life or death, and would stop at nothing to obtain divine gifts.
He wasn’t that good.
The truly good one was Yin Que.
Yin Que, who died for her every time.
The first time they died together was because they failed to obtain a divine gift.
The second time they died together was because they obtained it.
How ironic.
Both dreams revolved around divine gifts.
So, are the divine gifts blessings or curses?
“Brother, I miss Little Dolphin,” Ning Li suddenly said.
Yin Que tightened his hold around her, his voice low, “Little Dolphin didn’t come with us.”
“That’s such a shame.”
That Little Dolphin, who loved to act cute, chirp, and snuggle, was left behind in that dream.
Yin Que was silent for a while, then said, “It’s fine. We have Little K.”
Little K:
???
Ning Li said again, “Brother, can you give me a piggyback ride?”
She missed the days, as Ran Wu, when she would be carried on Ran Fu’s back every day.
“Alright.”
After experiencing two dreams and dying together with Yin Que twice, Ning Li finally understood what truly mattered most to her.
To live together.
To be alive—nothing mattered more.
Ting Rui didn’t dare ask, nor did he dare say anything.
How had the atmosphere between them changed again in just ten minutes?
Wasn’t this little Guide calling the Commander “Ran Fu” just now?
Why is it “Brother” now?
Just what happened between them?
Their relationship seemed to grow so much closer all of a sudden—he couldn’t understand it anymore.
Ning Li was quietly whispering to Yin Que, “Brother, what do you think that silver cube is? Could it be a divine gift?”
Yin Que had already guessed, “According to History, there are five divine gifts recorded. That one might be the Cube of Miracles.”
Cube of Miracles?
It really is miraculous.
It allowed Bamboo Cake’s
[Princess Sea Anemone]
to upgrade to
[Stellar Sea Anemone].
If Ran Wu could use the Cube of Miracles, maybe she really could have had a spiritual body.
It was a pity that Bamboo Cake in history never obtained a divine gift.
Ran Wu never awakened a spiritual body, not even to the end.
“Mm.”
“Do you remember what I said before?”
Yin Que had said many things to her, but Ning Li inexplicably knew what he meant.
He was referring to never thinking of reviving Yu Jiu.
Ning Li lay on Yin Que’s back, her voice muffled, “I remember.”
She remembered, in that last dream, she told herself: if there was a next time, she’d do better.
More carefully.
Stronger.
She could do it.
After experiencing another dream, Yin Que’s strength had recovered by more than half.
He was more at ease than ever when facing their pursuers.
This was the real him.
Neither Ran Fu nor Hui Feng was his true self.
Because his spiritual body was the Cosmic Rose.
Just as Yin Que had promised before, although Little Dolphin could no longer be squeezed, Little K was there for snuggling.
The petals belonging to the Cosmic Rose were pressed softly to Ning Li’s cheek, as if applied makeup, lively and beautiful.
Little Black kept saying it looked good.
Of course it looked good—this was the Cosmic Rose.
Though only willing to appear as a single petal now, she hadn’t forgotten how Yuanzi and the others praised the Cosmic Rose for its brilliance and splendor.
It was said to be the most unforgettable, romantic sight in one’s life.
But while others could only admire from afar, Ning Li could use the Cosmic Rose as a makeup embellishment.
For Hui Feng, Bamboo Cake was the most special person in his life, so for Yin Que, what was Ning Li to him?
The three of them arrived at [Asura Prison] in less than half a day.
True to its name, [Asura Prison] was stifling and oppressive, the environment gloomy and dilapidated.
Almost no wild Sentinels or Guides ventured here.
Rocks of all sizes littered the road, the air was so dry it felt like it would ignite, and Ning Li finished half her bottle of water soon after they entered.
Her first impression:
Hot.
Second:
Stifling.
There was almost no greenery here, and the temperature was scorching, as if she had entered a desert.
Little Black, on the other hand, was as comfortable as if he’d returned home.
Judging by Little Black’s reaction, the death aura here was very strong;
[Asura Prison] truly lived up to its name.
As Ting Rui had previously heard, [Asura Prison] was heavily guarded.
However, the Sentinels stationed here were mostly mid-level, with hardly any high-level Sentinels to be seen.
It was understandable.
Most high-level Sentinels were fighting on the front lines now—how could they waste their time guarding a tiny forbidden zone?
There were more important places for them.
If Ting Rui were alone, he could never have taken Yu Jiu away.
But today he wasn’t alone.
The Commander was here, too—to pick up Yu Jiu.
After quietly sneaking into [Asura Prison], the three didn’t attack immediately but observed the guards’ distribution and began drafting a careful plan.
Of course, it was Yin Que who did the planning; Ning Li and Ting Rui only had to listen and understand.
While she listened, Ning Li kept hearing Little Black exclaim in her mind.
[Happy!]
[So happy!]
Ning Li told Little Black to be careful, not to get discovered.
[Don’t worry, Master.]
[I always get things done. Just trust me.]
Soon, the battle plan was finalized: they needed to get Yu Jiu out within five minutes.
If they took longer, reinforcements would arrive.
There were several hundred mid-level Sentinels in this forbidden zone.
While they were only mid-level, their numbers would still be a hassle.
The mission was urgent—they only had one shot.
Ning Li flexed her fingers, Little Black itching to get into action as well.
It couldn’t wait to be as cool as Yin Que!
Before the fight began, Yin Que had a pre-battle talk with Ning Li.
He’d had talks like this with many people before.
Whenever new recruits went to the battlefield, he would speak with them briefly as Commander.
But this time felt different.
It was more casual, more comfortable.
“The environment here isn’t great. Is it hard on you?”
Yin Que asked with concern.
Because her spiritual body was special, Ning Li was particularly adapted to death aura.
“I’m fine. I can handle it.”
After she spoke, she saw Yin Que give her a slight smile.
“When Ting Rui and I attack, support us from ten meters away.”
Ning Li shook her head, refusing.
“I can attack, too.”
She even gave him a hint:
“You know, that time with the shadow…”
Afterwards, Yin Que had specially reminded her that her spiritual body, the Devil’s Trumpet, didn’t have a foul smell.
Which could only mean her true spiritual body wasn’t the Devil’s Trumpet.
But Ning Li had never revealed what her spiritual body was.
She probably never would.
She was willing to entrust Yin Que with some trust, but not all of it.
Still, even a part was already rare and precious.
Yin Que saw her desire for battle in her eyes and didn’t object further.
“Take care of yourself.”
“Okay!”
The three of them quickly reached the place where Pei Yu Jiu was held.
A high-level Sentinel’s corpse could remain uncorrupted for ten years.
But the Pei Yu Jiu before them was no longer recognizable as human.
His body was charred, not a stitch of clothing on him, hands bound with rope, hanging there, constantly roasted by raging flames.
These flames were unique to [Asura Prison], scorching hot, but also able to shift to a low-temperature form.
For the past five years, Pei Yu Jiu had been roasted alternately by fire and frost.
Ting Rui’s eyes turned red when he saw Pei Yu Jiu’s condition.
The veins on Yin Que’s right hand bulged, but he knew now wasn’t the time for sorrow.
“Go!”
The wind, wrapped in roses, swept toward the guards nearby.
The Deep Sea Whale leapt from the water and sprayed a transparent Bubble, enveloping Pei Yu Jiu and isolating him from the flames.
The Undead, summoned by Ning Li with [Death’s Mandate], scooped Pei Yu Jiu into its arms and began dashing wildly out of [Asura Prison].
Since her spiritual sea had expanded again, the Undead Ning Li summoned were now nearly corporeal, their faces and features clearly visible.
But the Undead, in the end, were not the same as living people.
At a glance, it was clear they were beings of another existence.
When Ting Rui saw a stranger carrying Pei Yu Jiu away, he howled—if not for Yin Que’s timely explanation, he would have chased after them himself.
Once the Undead took Pei Yu Jiu, many pursuers gave chase, but all were killed by the Undead’s skills.
This skill seemed familiar…
Taking advantage of the chaos, Ning Li scrutinized this Undead.
And with that, she realized something: it was an old acquaintance.
Ran Fu.
This time, the Undead she summoned was actually Ran Fu!
After all these years, the fierce edge on Ran Fu’s face had softened a little, replaced by a touch of casualness.
Three centuries later, Ran Fu once again appeared in this world!
He was holding Pei Yu Jiu in his arms, his gaze sweeping from afar.
Across several hundred meters, Ning Li felt she could see a look of appreciation in Ran Fu’s eyes.
The skills of the Lord of Storms swept through the pursuers, knocking them all head over heels.
Ran Fu gave Ning Li a proud smile, as if to say, “Well done.”