107. The Uprising

Xu Jibo restrained his temper as he spoke with Ling Yu, but his gaze kept darting toward the Rift Spring.

Ling Yu watched coldly, wondering what exactly Xu Jibo intended. What benefit could stopping her from going down into the Rift Spring possibly bring him? Besides, she had been spending the past few days with Abi...

A flicker of realization crossed Ling Yu’s mind. Interrupting Xu Jibo’s long-winded speech, she asked, “Where’s Abi?”

Xu Jibo was startled but quickly smiled. “She’s down in the water gathering fire crystals! She’s really something—just loves those sparkling little trinkets.”

Mentioning Abi, his expression was natural. Ling Yu tilted her head thoughtfully—perhaps this matter had nothing to do with Abi? After all, what harm could Abi possibly cause anyone?

Xu Jibo glanced again at the Rift Spring.

Ling Yu suddenly asked, “Xu junior sister, is there something you’re waiting to do?”

Xu Jibo was taken aback.

Ling Yu continued, “You seem quite anxious all this time.”

“…No, just worried about Abi. Don’t know if she’ll get into trouble…”

“Oh?” Ling Yu smiled. “Didn’t expect you and Abi to be so close.”

Xu Jibo looked a little guilty but carefully observed Ling Yu’s expression and found nothing unusual. She then composed herself and said, “From what I see, senior sister’s problem lies in the uniqueness of her cultivation method. I have a question: cultivators with dual spiritual bodies usually choose just one path. Why did senior sister decide to cultivate both?”

Ling Yu was slightly stunned. That question caught her off guard. Why cultivate both? She had never really thought about it. When she first began her sword cultivation, Elder Feng said the Kan-Li sword suited her constitution, so she chose that sword. Later, Liu Weiyi taught her how to comprehend sword aura from that direction.

Until now, becoming a sword cultivator and deciding on techniques had always been guided by others. It had just naturally unfolded.

Still, Ling Yu had no plans to change her cultivation method, because of the immortal scriptures she possessed, which made dual cultivation of water and fire the best choice.

“Because I started that way, so I just continued.”

Xu Jibo smiled dismissively and with a double meaning said, “Honestly, with senior sister’s talent, it’s a pity to choose the sword path. If you took the path of magic cultivation, you’d be an extraordinary prodigy.”

Ling Yu was momentarily taken aback. Xu Jibo’s tone was sincere—sounded like genuine advice. It was strange; even Uncle Duanmu had advised her to switch to magic cultivation. Why did Xu Jibo think so?

“Really, senior sister, you should consider it. I’ve wanted to say this for a long time, but didn’t want to make a casual suggestion. Now seeing how lost you are about foundation building, I can’t help but say it.”

Ling Yu nodded gently. “Thank you for your advice, junior sister.”

Seeing her expression was normal, Xu Jibo secretly exhaled. Feeling a bit guilty but also urging herself, she reminded herself that time was running out. She regretted not paying more attention earlier. That matter would probably happen this month, but on which exact day...

Sighing, though feeling somewhat sorry toward senior sister, she had tried to make amends. If only she had listened to her advice, she wouldn’t have wasted a hundred years…

Just then, a commotion arose nearby.

Ling Yu looked up; the source seemed to be the center of the Rift Spring.

Xu Jibo was nowhere to be seen and grew anxious. “What’s happening?”

The commotion grew louder. Qian Jiale was drawn over and watched for a moment, then said, “I’ll go check.”

Before he could dive in, the crowd suddenly parted with a roar. Someone shouted loudly, “The ground’s cracking again! The ground’s cracking!”

Ling Yu and Qian Jiale were bewildered. Hearing this, Xu Jibo’s face changed slightly. “Not good! We have to leave now!”

“What’s wrong?”

Facing Ling Yu and Qian Jiale, Xu Jibo wanted to explain but didn’t know where to start. She hurriedly said, “Mount Zhurong is a volcano. Though it hasn’t erupted in ages, but... anyway, we have to go!”

Ling Yu couldn’t understand why Xu Jibo was so panicked. Reflecting on her earlier behavior, a thought occurred: Could it be that this was what Xu Jibo was worried about? Had she discovered some clue but couldn’t tell her? So she had misunderstood Xu Jibo, who actually meant well?

Ling Yu believed Xu Jibo wasn’t that bad. Though somewhat hypocritical and self-interested, she had never shown any ill will in their acquaintance.

“Let’s go!” Xu Jibo pushed her. The commotion became more intense—some were rushing toward the spring’s center, others swimming outward.

Ling Yu suddenly thought of Abi and turned to run toward the Rift Spring.

“Senior sister Cheng, what are you doing?” Xu Jibo shouted after her.

“I’m going to find Abi!” Ling Yu ignored her and summoned her paper crane, diving into the spring.

“This...” Xu Jibo didn’t know whether she was anxious for Ling Yu’s safety or worried that Ling Yu might accidentally get hold of that thing. After searching for so many days without success, was she really going to wait for the tragedy to happen? Her heart was in turmoil, but thinking of the difficulty of foundation building, she gritted her teeth and followed. “If you don’t enter the tiger’s den, you won’t get the tiger cub. I’ll risk it!”

“Abi! Abi!” Ling Yu called loudly above the Rift Spring.

More cultivators hurried over, while many others scattered in chaos—the scene was a mess.

Ling Yu was desperate. Where had Abi gone? That foolish spirit beast—would she be attracted to the commotion and have gone over there?

It was possible, though Abi wasn’t the type to ignore a spectacle. Ling Yu felt annoyed. Didn’t she see the situation? Though those at the perimeter were rushing inward, the people inside were swimming outward—clearly something was wrong!

“Abi! Abi!” Qian Jiale shouted behind her, but Xu Jibo got lost in the crowd or perhaps deliberately left.

People’s nature was to not miss out on excitement. Because the small rites on Mount Zhurong were popular, many Qi-refining cultivators had gathered here. Seeing the disturbance in the Rift Spring, they were first confused, then saw many rushing in, eyes gleaming with hope for opportunity. They rolled up their sleeves, summoned paper cranes, and sped toward the spring, not fearing the heavenly fire of Mount Zhurong burning their cranes.

One person led a blind crowd, even passing Qi-refining cultivators lowered their cranes and joined in. Only a few maintained rationality and retreated.

Ling Yu grew more anxious the deeper she searched. At first, Xu Jibo had warned of danger, but she and Qian Jiale hadn’t reacted. Then seeing the abnormal scene, she sensed something was off. If there truly was opportunity, why were people in the center running out? As more people arrived, those inside couldn’t escape—trapped.

The crowd thickened, making every step a collision. Ling Yu was frustrated but had no choice but to endure and keep calling.

Abi was her spirit beast; they shared a connection. She must still be here, but where?

Abandoning Abi to save herself was impossible. They had formed a soul pact. Though a master-servant contract, as Abi’s owner, served by her daily, she would never leave her behind in a critical moment. Moreover, these three years since coming from the mortal world to Cangming, parting ways with two friends, only Abi had stayed by her side. This bond was beyond ordinary.

Ling Yu recalled how furious she was when Boss Qi abandoned Abi. That foolish spirit beast, usually timid and petty, secretly longed for genuine kindness.

“Abi!” Ling Yu glanced toward the center of the turmoil, realizing movement was nearly impossible. Anxiety deepened.

Then, from within the Rift Spring came a faint voice: “I’m here...”

Ling Yu looked down, overjoyed.

Abi was soaking in the spring, looking up at her. She was unharmed, save for a red mark on her forehead—possibly from being stepped on.

She and Qian Jiale dove down, grabbed Abi. “Let’s go! There’s something wrong here. It might not be good.”

Just as she was about to put Abi into the spirit beast pouch, Abi stopped her. “Wait!”

“What’s wrong?”

Abi pointed below and said, “Follow me.”

Ling Yu and Qian Jiale exchanged a glance. Qian Jiale gave her a puzzled look, silently asking what her spirit beast was up to. Ling Yu shook her head. Abi hated danger and death; for her to ask them to dive deeper meant there was likely no danger. “Let’s follow and see.”

Abi led them deeper underwater.

The Rift Spring was very deep, but the water was clear. After diving for a while, the light dimmed, surroundings grew indistinct. Many sparkling points appeared in their vision.

Ling Yu knew these were fire crystals. Abi had told her that beneath the Rift Spring lay heaps of beautiful fire crystals. She had examined them carefully and discussed with Qian Jiale. Most were common, only occasionally valuable ones appeared, worth at most a few dozen spirit stones. Most disciples here ignored them; only she would dive to the bottom just to pick the pretty ones carefully.

Come to think of it, Xu Jibo was quite patient. While Abi collected fire crystals, she followed along. The two got along well. How had Ling Yu never noticed before that Xu Jibo could spend time on such trivial matters?

That thought passed quickly. What mattered now was understanding what Abi wanted to show them—and then leave quickly.

She had a bad premonition. Recently, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of Qi-refining cultivators on Mount Zhurong. With so many packed together, if something happened, a crowd crush could kill many...

Lost in thought, Abi turned and pointed ahead at a dark cave entrance.

The opening was narrow, barely wide enough for one person. No fire crystals remained around, only some rocks blackened by heavenly fire—hard to distinguish unless looked at closely.

Unable to speak underwater, Abi gestured for them to follow, then slowly swam in.

Ling Yu looked at Qian Jiale, who nodded, willing to follow. She then swam after them.

Entering the stone cave, a stifling feeling enveloped them. The passage was so narrow that a burly man would get stuck. Fortunately, Ling Yu was tall but slender-boned, and Qian Jiale wasn’t robust either, so they just managed.

Abi led, Ling Yu in the middle, Qian Jiale last, sealing the passage tightly.

Ling Yu couldn’t help but think: if any danger came from front or back now, they wouldn’t even be able to run.

Luckily, nothing happened. Soon, the space ahead opened, and moist air rushed in.