Chapter One Hundred and Six: Transformation

Sure enough, after Dan Jun entered, she encountered some trouble but quickly found Mo Xuan. Mo Xuan lay in the water, looking lifeless, scaring Dan Jun so much that she rushed over to drag him out.

"Black-clad Brother, are you okay? You can't be hurt! Wake up!"

In the dark space, stars dotted the sky, but the bright moon was absent, making the shimmering stars seem unreal. Towering phoenix trees stood between the starry sky and the clear spring, creating a beautiful scene. Upon closer inspection, two tiny figures huddled under the tree branches.

"Where is this place?" a hoarse voice asked.

Seeing the person in her arms finally wake up, Dan Jun was overjoyed, shaking Mo Xuan vigorously.

"Black-clad Brother, you're finally awake! Woohoo, Black-clad Brother!"

Mo Xuan stared blankly at a point in the distance and suddenly asked, "Who are you? Where is this place?"

Dan Jun wiped her tears and hugged Mo Xuan tightly, crying, "Black-clad Brother, did soaking in the water make you forget me again? Woohoo, I'm Dan Jun!"

Just as she finished speaking, Mo Xuan broke free from her grasp and suddenly stood up, shouting into the distance, "Don't go! Have I seen you before? Who are you?"

Dan Jun was stunned by his sudden outburst, tears streaming down her face as she watched Mo Xuan shout at the empty air. She suddenly felt a cold breeze behind her.

"Black-clad Brother, what's wrong with you? There's only the two of us here!"

Mo Xuan's body stiffened, staring blankly at Dan Jun, "Can't you see? She's right here!" Dan Jun looked in the direction he was pointing, but saw nothing.

"No, you're not Black-clad Brother! You're not!" Dan Jun realized that everything she had just experienced was fake. She tried to turn and run but seemed to bump into something, and everything went black as she fainted.

When she woke up, Dan Jun found herself in a forest. The entire forest had a gloomy atmosphere, but she felt an eerie familiarity with it. Following her instincts, she walked deeper into the forest and saw a man in black robes sitting under a tree, holding a dark sword.

Full of joy, Dan Jun ran toward him, shouting, "Black-clad Brother!"

The man suddenly opened his eyes, revealing a sinister smile. By the time Dan Jun realized something was wrong, it was too late. The handsome young man sitting there turned into a monstrous creature with a wide, gaping mouth ready to devour her.

Just when she thought she would become the monster's meal, a beam of light descended from the sky, splitting the monster in two. The man in black robes stood there, glowing with golden light, making the light around him seem gentle.

He descended like a hero, stirring her heart. How could she not fall for him?

"Black-clad Brother!"

...

...

Only the two of them knew what truly happened in the Land of Despair.

When Mo Xuan emerged, he was holding the bloodied, barely alive Dan Jun. Without saying a word to anyone, he hurriedly carried Dan Jun toward the Lotus Pond.

Watching them disappear into the distance, Jun Feng lowered his head, lost in thought, and remained silent.

"Emperor, you..."

Yao Xi noticed Jun Feng's unusual behavior and was about to ask, but Jun Feng interrupted her.

"Do not speak of today's events. I will explain to the Heavenly Emperor when he comes out of seclusion."

"Understood!" the two guards replied in unison.

Just as Jun Feng stepped out of the Ninth Heaven, his body went limp, collapsing forward.

"Ahhh!!"

Ye Bai immediately flew out from the Red Immortal Umbrella, trying to catch him. However, due to his small stature and limited strength, he ended up being pinned under Jun Feng's weight.

Ye Bai managed to drag Jun Feng back somehow, though he insisted he never wanted to talk about the ordeal again. Nonetheless, his chatterbox mouth never ceased.

"...Doesn't he know his own limits? Why does he always push himself so hard, acting like he's invincible?..."

Amidst Ye Bai's incessant complaints, Jun Feng's tightly closed eyes fluttered, his long eyelashes trembling as his dark pupils scanned the surroundings faintly.

Meanwhile, Yun Si, who had been pacing around the deserted palace, finally found a clue. She took out a "Thousand Miles Talisman" from her bosom. Casting a spell on it, the yellow talisman emitted a golden light. When she opened her eyes again, the scenery had changed. In the silent forest, the sound of wings flapping echoed intermittently.

Yun Si had no idea where this place was. She had only followed a scale she found in the deserted palace. But in this desolate place, would she really find the person she was looking for?

She placed her hand on the ground, using her mental power. Wisps of green smoke emerged, swirling around her. Soon, the entire forest was covered in this smoke, drifting like threads in the air.

Yun Si's eyes grew cold as she observed the smoke, her gaze sharp with a hint of surprise. There wasn't a single living soul in this forest; it was filled with the souls of the dead! There must be some malevolent force at work here, and it could be connected to the death of the Fifth Prince!

With this thought, Yun Si decided to venture deeper into the forest. The eerie atmosphere beckoned her further into the depths, making her path treacherous until she eventually lost her way. Just then, something even stranger happened. All the souls of the dead began to converge around her, paving a path as if guiding her.

Yun Si hesitated but decided to take a chance, following the path. The spirits surrounded her protectively until they reached a small cottage, where they dispersed.

Yun Si bowed deeply, expressing her gratitude, "I will repay this kindness doubly in the future. May you all find peace in the afterlife."

"Creak!"

The door creaked open as Yun Si entered. By the moonlight, she could see that the furnishings inside were of the finest quality. If not for the dust and cobwebs, the place would have been quite splendid.

She picked up a half-burned candle and lit it. The redwood table, silk bedding, and crystal lamps—everything was simple yet luxurious. The only item on the ornate dressing table was a broken peachwood comb, with no other hairpins or jewelry. Perhaps it belonged to a wealthy gentleman or young master seeking solitude in the mountains.

But who would seek solitude in such a cold and eerie place? Yun Si had experienced the sinister atmosphere firsthand on her way here. Anyone who could live in such an environment was certainly no ordinary person.

For some reason, the first person that came to Yun Si's mind was the Fifth Prince! After all, it was the clues from the palace that had led her here.

Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew through the window, extinguishing the candle. Before Yun Si could react, a massive creature attacked from outside. She dropped the candle and started running, but the beast was upon her in an instant.

"Ah~"

Just as the monster was about to reach her, a golden light burst from her body, repelling the creature.

The closed door was suddenly thrown open again, revealing a figure standing in the cold moonlight.

Could he be the monster from earlier?

Yun Si was perplexed. Tentatively, she asked, "Are you a monster?"

He did not answer. She continued, "A human? Or a ghost? …An immortal?"

"Ugh..."

"Ahhhh!!!!"

A terrifying face with blue skin and sharp fangs suddenly appeared in front of her. Yun Si almost collapsed, using all her strength just to stay on her feet.

When Yun Si regained her composure, she saw that the fierce ghost had been subdued by the man. The man approached, his face stern.

"Return to where you belong. This is not your place."

The man exuded an aura of immortality, and Yun Si could feel that his power was far beyond her own.

"Wait… please don't act rashly. I just… I just want to ask..." She gathered all her courage to speak, fearing that he might strike her down if she angered him.

"Did you kill the Fifth Prince Xiao Chen of the Imperial Capital?"

The man's expression hardened, and he scrutinized the frail young woman before him. "You came here just for this?"

"Yes, yes. The Fifth Prince suffered a tragic fate. The Emperor has been sleepless, commanding me to find the true culprit so that the prince may enter reincarnation." Yun Si stammered, intimidated by the man's piercing gaze.

The man glanced at the fierce ghost he had trapped with his magic, his expression softening. Yun Si's eyes widened in disbelief. She could hardly believe it, but it seemed the ferocious ghost was smiling!

"Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!" Her heart pounded uncontrollably. This wasn't the feeling of love; it was the prelude to sheer panic. The scene was anything but beautiful—only terrifying.

The man turned and walked outside, the cold moonlight casting a silver glow on his dark green robe. "His matter is none of your concern. Return to where you belong!"

How could she not care? An immortal living with evil spirits in this barren land, a vast forest devoid of a single living soul. It was rumored that the Imperial Capital was plagued by demons; who knew it wasn't this evil spirit causing trouble?

Having stayed in the Tian Shu Pavilion for several days, Yun Si had heard numerous tales of disciples mysteriously disappearing. Now it all made sense.

Ignoring the man's words, Yun Si left the cottage and found a spacious area where she summoned all the spirits in the forest. After questioning them, she learned the truth.

It turned out that the one causing havoc in the Imperial Capital was none other than Wen Shiming, the master of the Tian Shu Pavilion. To refine an elixir of immortality, he had killed these spirits and taken their souls. After his attempts failed, he began extracting human essence to continue his work.

To obtain better essence, he disguised his intentions by accepting disciples, keeping those with the best essence at the pavilion.

What Yun Si didn't know was that from the moment he first saw her, Wen Shiming had already chosen her as the final ingredient for his Nine-Turn Immortal Elixir.

Seeing the spirits gradually dissipate, Yun Si shed a tear of regret. Wen Shiming's audacity to commit such atrocities under the Emperor's nose had caused untold suffering.

Wiping away her tears, Yun Si's expression turned resolute. She declared, "I, Yun Si, will avenge you. If I break this promise, may I be struck by heavenly lightning."