Chapter 96
Yu Sui had the Five Elements Light Core attach to Mei Liangyu's freshly changed clothes.
It had become as tiny as dust, almost invisible to the naked eye. Unless there were power fluctuations, no one could detect it.
The fact that Five Elements Light Cores could be stripped away and controlled to roam freely was unheard of for Nine Schools Arts practitioners on Xuangu Continent, so fantastical that they wouldn't dare imagine it even in dreams.
Yu Sui could feel that the power gathered within her Five Elements Light Cores changed every day, and newly born Five Elements Light Cores inherited this change. The power was accumulated and inherited, not starting from zero.
If the previous Five Elements Light Cores would be detected by perceptive people like Lady Su even when doing nothing, just sitting there, then now after upgrading, the more power was concentrated, the more the Five Elements Light Cores operated under Soul Control consciousness. As long as they didn't emit Five Elements Energy fluctuations, they wouldn't be discovered.
The Five Elements Light Cores that were stripped away, after some time, became like dust in this world, invisible to the naked eye yet omnipresent. Even if discovered, no one would think anything of it.
Just a speck of dust.
When Yu Sui originally used light cores to blast open the Saint Hall door, she believed Master wasn't inside. No matter how arrogant Mei Liangyu was, he wouldn't shut Yu Sui outside while Saint Chang Gen was still in the Saint Hall.
And Yu Sui had also confirmed that Strange Fire could sense Master who existed as consciousness.
While Mei Liangyu was bathing, Yu Sui looked out the dining hall window, thinking about what Master had once said.
Master hadn't been able to see anything related to Strange Fire from her, perhaps because Divine Mechanism Arts helped block it.
To be able to see someone's Divine Mechanism Arts without them revealing any abilities, Master was indeed worthy of being the current foremost practitioner of Ghost Way School.
As for the "good karma" Master mentioned, perhaps it was just a type of divination. He might not know the specific circumstances.
The deeper Yu Sui's understanding of Nine Schools Arts became, the more possibilities she could think of.
Master had also said that people's understanding and knowledge of Heavenly Eye was only partial.
It had parts unknown to others.
But just with the known abilities, it could rank third.
Yu Sui couldn't help but wonder about the strength of the top two Divine Mechanism Arts.
When Senior Brother hid the Divine Wood Seed, he didn't use Five Elements Energy, which meant what he used then was very likely Divine Mechanism Arts.
She didn't know which ranked Divine Mechanism Arts it was.
Yu Sui sat in the dining hall for a long time.
She watched the night scene outside the window, stone lamps bright, with occasional night breezes, watched flowering trees sway and stop again, with scattered disciples hurrying past on the paths. The light and shadows on the small mountain pool water were fragmented, with red fish poking their heads up, causing ripples on the water surface, shattering the Milky Way's reflection.
Yu Sui's heart was very calm.
At this moment, she felt how vast the world was, and how small she was.
How could one believe they were special in such a vast world?
The map of Taiyi was being built bit by bit in Yu Sui's mind. When Senior Brother reached Ghost Way Saint Hall, she had already thought about where to start burning at Taiyi.
Mei Liangyu went to Ghost Way Saint Hall to chat casually with Master for a while then left. For a moment, Yu Sui even wanted to laugh.
All her previous emotions at this moment seemed utterly ridiculous.
Yu Sui looked back at Mei Liangyu, who had already dressed and left.
How many people in this world would be like Senior Brother?
Mei Liangyu left the academy alone in the night, heading to Mechanism Island.
Mechanism Island, as an independent island, covered a large area. Besides constructing Cloud Carriage Flying Dragons, it had many mechanism weapons for external sale and belonged to the Mechanism Families' territory.
Nominally under Taiyi, it actually wasn't controlled by the academy but was run by the Mechanism Families.
Mechanism Island was east of the academy, requiring boat travel, about an hour's journey. After Mei Liangyu entered the island, he didn't bother with anything and first went to the resting place to sleep in his room.
Yu Sui sat in the dining hall all night, only returning to the dormitory to rest when dawn broke.
……
As soon as the sky brightened, Mei Liangyu was awakened by Wenyang Zhou knocking on his door. After opening the door, Wenyang Zhou threw him the Mechanism Island work clothes, sighing: "You just left not long ago, how are you back again?"
Mei Liangyu expressionlessly took the clothes, casually draping them over his shoulder.
Wenyang Zhou's gaze pointed at him: "Change and I'll take you to eat first. Oh, Wenyang Hui also came back this morning."
Mei Liangyu's eyes moved, sneering: "He's also coming to Ancient Tower to work?"
"How can he compare to you?" Wenyang Zhou laughed. "Our Young Master went back to Heavenly Cloud Court. You struck him with Golden Thunder, so doesn't he have to come back crying to tattle?"
Mei Liangyu scoffed at this behavior, not afraid at all, and turned back to change clothes.
Wenyang Zhou leaned against the doorframe, looking at his hands with the medicine cloth removed, casually asking: "Your hands are healed?"
"More or less," Mei Liangyu said.
"You should keep them wrapped," Wenyang Zhou said. "Working in Ancient Tower these few days, you'll inevitably get injured again."
Mei Liangyu reached his hand into the sleeve, not looking back: "If I get injured, I get injured."
Seeing he wouldn't listen to advice, Wenyang Zhou let him be. After Mei Liangyu finished changing, he took him to eat breakfast.
Mechanism Island also had market and entertainment areas similar to the outer city, with tall drum towers nearby, positioned closest to the sea. Standing on market streets and looking up, one could see magnificent buildings half-hidden in clouds and mist in the distance, with jade-white columns supporting overlapping towers like celestial palaces.
There were four such heavenly palaces, standing in the four directions of east, south, west, and north, where the four great Mechanism Families lived.
The Wenyang Family was in the east, called Heavenly Cloud Court, with dense Dragon Stairs connecting above, the only passage to Cloud Court, about a hundred Dragon Stairs, some in operation, carrying people or goods up and down.
The Dragon Stairs were painted with half of a golden-winged bird, the Wenyang Family's clan emblem.
Wenyang Hui only had Qian Ying eliminate the thunder marks and Five Elements chaos, not treating the injuries from being struck by Golden Thunder. He dragged his weary body back to his room, and soon saw his mother, Lady Linxiang, approaching with worried eyes.
The beautiful woman wore a lilac-colored long dress, her autumn water eyes full of melancholy. One could see that Wenyang Hui inherited his stunning appearance from his mother. Though aged, she still retained her charm, with beautiful and alluring features, but very gentle eyebrows and eyes.
"Hui'er, why do you come back injured every time?" Lady Linxiang stepped forward, sitting by his bed. Seeing her son's sickly appearance nearly broke her heart.
Wenyang Hui lay on the bed, responding sullenly: "It's all because Mei Liangyu struck me with Golden Thunder."
"What's wrong with you two again?" Lady Linxiang felt a headache, her pale hand lightly pressing her temple, sighing: "Why do you always provoke him?"
She sighed as she spoke, having a maid bring ointment: "Sit up, Mother will apply medicine for you."
"How am I provoking him? In this Dragon Slaying Cave challenge, I didn't attack him at all." Wenyang Hui sat up, his back to Lady Linxiang, his gaze hiding gloom, but his words sounded innocent and aggrieved: "I used Golden Thunder when fighting his Junior Sister in Dragon Slaying Cave. It was Nangong Sui's inferior skills. Besides, it was just a trial, naturally won by strength. For such a competition, after coming out, I still had to be struck by Mei Liangyu's Golden Thunder in the name of avenging his Junior Sister, in front of so many people, even the instructors couldn't stop him."
"It shows he's held grudges against me for a long time, not that I provoked him."
Lady Linxiang saw the blood marks on his back from the Golden Thunder strike, her heart aching immensely, her medicine application becoming much gentler.
"It's better if your father doesn't know about this," Lady Linxiang frowned.
But Wenyang Hui's heart jumped, turning to look: "Why can't he know?"
"You know your father's temper. He'll definitely say it's your problem. I don't want to see you two always arguing over Mei Liangyu," Lady Linxiang soothed.
Before Wenyang Hui could speak, a maid stepped forward and said quietly: "Second Master and Lord Sui are here."
The Wenyang Family had three heads in total.
Wenyang Hui's father, Wenyang Zhi, as second-in-command, handled mechanism trades with the outside world and was very busy daily.
The First Head of Wenyang had no offspring.
Wenyang Hui was the family's only son.
Wenyang Zhou and Wenyang Xiu were the Third Head's offspring, but not legitimate line.
Their family had many people and many offspring, but the most powerful were still those few from the legitimate line.
Besides these three heads, there were still several ancestors remaining, plus respected elders in the clan, so although Wenyang Hui was the Second Head's only son, he had no real power because the older predecessors were still above, not his generation's turn.
The two people entering from outside, the former Wenyang Zhi had an indifferent expression, the latter Lord Sui was furious. Before the child's father could speak, Lord Sui as the uncle was already anxious: "Hui'er, who injured you like this? Tell Uncle, Uncle will definitely seek justice for you!"
Lady Linxiang stood up, about to intervene, but Wenyang Hui stared at his father's face and answered: "It was Mei Liangyu."
"It's him again!" Lord Sui was so angry his face was red and neck thick. "I knew it was him again!"
"Why are you so agitated?" Lady Linxiang said helplessly.
"How can I not be agitated? I heard he used Golden Thunder to strike Hui'er in front of so many people. Can this be tolerated?" Lord Sui turned to glare at Wenyang Zhi beside him: "You're Hui'er's father. Tell me, can you tolerate this?"
Wenyang Zhi stopped in the room, his gaze surveying Wenyang Hui for a while, saying quietly: "Since there's nothing wrong, rest and then return to the academy."
He turned to leave, and Wenyang Hui called out in a low voice: "Father."
Lord Sui was about to faint with anger, pointing at Wenyang Zhi and shouting: "Is Mei Liangyu your son or is Hui'er your son!"
Lady Linxiang trembled with anger: "What nonsense!"
Wenyang Zhi's departing steps didn't stop. Everyone only heard him say without turning back: "My son wouldn't be so useless as to let others bully him and need to come back seeking backing."
"Brother Zhi! You're being biased! You're biasing toward Mei Liangyu! Hui'er is your biological son! Yet you favor some unknown bastard!" Lord Sui roared at Wenyang Zhi's departing figure, shaking even the flower trees in the outer courtyard.
"Enough! Stop adding fuel to the fire with nonsense." Lady Linxiang pressed her throbbing temple with her pale hand, softly scolding, handing the ointment to a maid and chasing after Wenyang Zhi.
Wenyang Hui had long expected his father would react this way. Even if he wanted to kill Mei Liangyu, his mother would only advise him to restrain himself, and his father would only look at him mockingly, because deep down his father thought he couldn't compare to Mei Liangyu, let alone kill him.
Calling his father was to stimulate his uncle Lord Sui, making him feel sorry for himself while also being angry at the couple's attitude, then help him kill Mei Liangyu.
Lord Sui was still cursing at the door toward the distant Wenyang Zhi. Wenyang Hui took a deep breath, lowering his head in grievance: "Uncle, forget it. Father is right. I should blame myself for lacking talent, not being able to compare to Mei Liangyu, which is why he looks down on even his own son, favoring some unknown child just because that child has better mechanism arts talent than me."
"Nonsense! How is Mei Liangyu, that bastard, qualified to compare with you? You're the Wenyang Family's Young Master, of noble birth, the legitimate heir from an orthodox mechanism arts family. What is Mei Liangyu?" Lord Sui grew angrier the more he thought about it, unable to bear seeing Wenyang Hui so aggrieved. He slammed the ointment box heavily on the table: "This absolutely cannot end like this!"
Wenyang Hui took a deep breath: "Uncle, I'll handle this myself. Even if it means mutual destruction, I must vent this anger."
"I'll go to Ancient Tower right now to duel him to the death."
"What are you going for?" Lord Sui glared at him, then took the ointment and walked over, restraining his anger somewhat, speaking grimly: "I'll handle this. Even Saint Chang Gen can't stop it. He's so brazen only because his master is Old Chang."
Wenyang Hui was waiting for exactly these words, lowering his head to hide the cold smile in his eyes.
On Mechanism Island, the Wenyang Family had plenty of ways to trap Mei Liangyu, preventing him from summoning Saint Chang Gen and blocking Saint Chang Gen's consciousness from entering Mechanism Island.
Wenyang Hui was waiting to see how Mei Liangyu would die on Mechanism Island.
If not for Mei Liangyu humiliating him in front of so many people this time, he wouldn't have steeled his heart to kill Mei Liangyu. He could only blame Mei Liangyu himself.
……
Yu Sui didn't wake until noon.
She got up to wash her face, casually flipping through messages on her Wind-Listening Ruler. Brother Gu had sent the most, all apologetic and coaxing words.
The rest were from Xue Mushi and Wei Ren, plus Zhongli Que sharing daily life.
What made Yu Sui pause was a message from Second Brother Su Feng.
After Yu Sui came out of Dragon Slaying Cave, the message recording Senior Brother's realm breakthrough in Dragon Slaying Cave was sent to Su Feng.
Su Feng had been busy all day, only resting at dawn with little time to check his Wind-Listening Ruler. He hadn't slept long before waking to get busy again. Because of Zhongli Que, he glanced at his Wind-Listening Ruler and discovered his sister had sent such a message:
"Today at the fourth hour, my most impressive and mighty Senior Brother advanced to Tenth Realm in Dragon Slaying Cave, transforming to Divine Soul Dual Core, truly admirable."
"?" Su Feng replied, "Which Senior Brother? Why was he still with you at the fourth hour?"
Yu Sui: "......"
Su Feng became interested, asking again: "Tell me, what kind of person could make you praise him like this?"
At first glance, Su Feng almost thought someone else had taken Yu Sui's Wind-Listening Ruler.
Yu Sui fell back on her bed, holding the Wind-Listening Ruler and squinting at it for a while before slowly replying: "Had no choice, forgot."
Su Feng laughed at this, not pursuing it further, asking if she was taking academy trials and telling her to be careful before getting busy again.
Yu Sui glanced at the Five Elements Light Core's side, seeing Mei Liangyu working in the high-temperature Ancient Tower.
He was alone on the first floor of Ancient Tower, surrounded by individual compartments of Cloud Carriage Flying Dragons awaiting repair. Mechanism axles Yu Sui could and couldn't understand covered the ground. Due to the excessive heat, Mei Liangyu was bare-chested and sweating profusely, but she could see his expression was serious and focused, his hand movements very skilled.
Yu Sui watched Senior Brother repair dragon carriage mechanisms until she spaced out.
Only when Mei Liangyu stopped to rest briefly did Yu Sui withdraw her gaze and get up to go to Ghost Way Saint Hall.
She had placed a new Five Elements Light Core on Mei Liangyu last night that would disappear by evening.
Yu Sui went to Ghost Way Saint Hall as usual, chatting with Master about her experiences in Dragon Slaying Cave during this time. Having heard last night's conversation between Mei Liangyu and him, Yu Sui spoke cleverly, with no conflict with Mei Liangyu's account.
Saint Chang Gen said: "Your Senior Brother was right. Advancing below Fifth Realm is relatively easy. With your talent and diligence, you shouldn't still be First Realm."
Yu Sui pretended to frown with distress, lying on her table: "Perhaps my talent isn't enough, plus Breath Soil interference, so my advancement is slower than others."
Saint Chang Gen said: "Realm level reflects in the Five Elements Light Cores possessed by Nine Schools Arts. I see when you use Nine Schools Arts, your light cores seem unable to retain Five Elements Energy. Even with Breath Soil sealed from competing with you for Five Elements Energy, it's still very difficult."
Yu Sui had mostly guessed the reason, speaking vaguely: "Then it's a side effect of Breath Soil. If Breath Soil cannot be stripped away, I also can't hold Five Elements Energy for light core advancement. Will I be First Realm my whole life?"
Saint Chang Gen said: "There's that possibility."
Yu Sui was quiet for a long while.
Saint Chang Gen, as if afraid she'd be discouraged, added: "Your diligence and effort won't be in vain. They'll eventually transform into useful power returning to you."
Yu Sui laughed, sitting up straight and looking toward the portrait: "Master, don't worry. I won't be defeated by this small setback. They say the cultivation path is difficult. I'm already like this, perhaps there are others with even greater difficulties than mine."
Saint Chang Gen said: "It's just inability to test accurate realm levels. It shouldn't interfere with learning Nine Schools Arts."
Indeed it didn't interfere with learning Nine Schools Arts, just that without advancement, she'd be Five Elements Light Cores her whole life, unable to upgrade to more powerful Divine Soul Light Cores.
Yu Sui had wanted to ask about previously deceased World Destroyers, but couldn't find a way into the topic. However she started would seem abrupt, so she gave up, instead asking: "I heard Senior Brother went to Mechanism Island again."
Saint Chang Gen: "He mentioned it when he came last night."
"Senior Brother came last night? After I left Dragon Slaying Cave, I went straight back to the dormitory. I only learned about Senior Brother fighting Wenyang Hui this morning." Yu Sui's expression was hesitant, her gaze hopeful as she looked at the portrait, saying obediently: "If not for me, Senior Brother wouldn't have conflicted with Wenyang Hui. He just came out and has to go to Mechanism Island for punishment again. I feel somewhat sorry. Master, I wonder if I could go to Mechanism Island to see Senior Brother?"
Saint Chang Gen: "You may."
With Master's permission, Yu Sui went alone to Mechanism Island to find him.
……
Yu Sui didn't go immediately. Since she claimed to be visiting someone, she should bring something, not go empty-handed.
She went to the dining hall to buy some iced pastries and cooling, thirst-quenching fruits and drinks for Mei Liangyu.
During this, she encountered Xue Mushi and Wei Ren coming to the dining hall.
Seeing the famished Xue Mushi, Yu Sui calmly pulled the food on the table toward herself and ordered another table for the two of them.
Wei Ren didn't want to share a table with the reincarnated hungry ghost Xue Mushi, embarrassing and unable to compete with him.
After Xue Mushi devoured a table of food like a whirlwind, Yu Sui asked: "Are you like this in Taiyuan too?"
Xue Mushi nodded.
Wei Ren sneered coldly: "Taiyuan's Yin-Yang School probably feared he'd eat their Saint Maiden into poverty, so they broke the engagement and drove him to Taiyi to bankrupt this place first."
Xue Mushi hung his head: "I'm just more serious and focused when eating, that's why I eat fast."
Wei Ren: "Are you only wholehearted when eating?"
Xue Mushi said honestly: "There are other things besides eating too."
Yu Sui listened to their scattered conversation, packed everything up, and stood. Wei Ren sitting across looked up and asked: "You're going to Mechanism Island?"
"Yes." Yu Sui nodded.
Wei Ren asked warily: "You're not planning to bring Mei Liangyu back today, are you?"
Yu Sui glanced at him: "I can't bring him back anyway."
Only then did Wei Ren relax: "Let him stay outside a few more days. No need to rush back."
He still wanted to enjoy the dormitory alone.
……
Yu Sui left carrying the food box, taking a boat to Mechanism Island.
She stood on deck watching the sea route, also watching Mei Liangyu working on the first floor of Ancient Tower.
Wenyang Zhou and Wenyang Xiu came to call him to rest and eat. The two wanted him to go out to eat, but Mei Liangyu said he was too lazy to walk, staying here.
The two brothers had no choice but to grumble while moving a table over, each with a water bottle and fan, pouring water while fanning.
Mei Liangyu took a clean handkerchief to wipe his face and upper body, looking at the steamed bread and pickles on the table speechlessly for a moment, slowly raising his eyes to look at the two sitting across from him.
Wenyang Xiu knocked the table with his knuckles: "You wouldn't go out to eat yourself. What good food do you expect in here?"
Mei Liangyu stood up: "Not eating."
"Hey!" Wenyang Xiu called him, "You're such a big person still being picky. Do you think you're still that innocent and cute age when market aunties would give you extra dishes and meat? Come back!"
Mei Liangyu sat back down expressionlessly.
Wenyang Xiu put another food box on the table and opened it, showing him the feast inside, pushing it over generously: "Eat."
Only then did Mei Liangyu pick up chopsticks.
Wenyang Zhou had been holding back laughter since putting out steamed bread and pickles, now turning away and snorting with laughter, slapping the table with one hand.
Mei Liangyu ignored them both, focusing on eating.
Wenyang Xiu asked him: "My brother and I are going to Qingyang next month to handle some business. Is there anything you want us to bring?"
Mei Liangyu: "Where in Qingyang?"
Wenyang Xiu said: "Southern Qingyang, Liuguang Prefecture. What's the specialty there again?"
Wenyang Zhou, fanning all three of them, held up one finger: "Fish, very big fish."
Mei Liangyu said: "Fish can't be brought back."
Besides, in this seaside place of Taiyi, what fish hadn't he eaten?
Wenyang Zhou folded another finger: "Jade windmills."
Mei Liangyu paused: "What's that?"
"Windmills, different from paper windmills in that they're made of jade. Craftsmen take a special jade unique to Liuguang Prefecture and thin it out using exclusive techniques not shared with outsiders. The resulting jade is thin as paper, and jade windmills made from it blow wind that's refreshing to the heart." Wenyang Xiu explained: "Years ago at Qingyang Emperor's palace banquet, Liuguang Prefecture's tribute jade windmills caught the emperor's eye, becoming popular throughout Qingyang and Liuguang Prefecture's specialty."
Yu Sui knew about this item, she even had a row of colorful jade windmills in her room.
Mei Liangyu said casually: "Bring some then."
"There's plenty of food too, but the journey is long. Everything would spoil by the time we bring it back." Wenyang Zhou rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Let me think what could still be edible after bringing back."
Wenyang Xiu sighed: "I don't know why Old Chang doesn't let you leave Taiyi. With your strength, no one out there could bully you. It can't be that he's worried you'd bully others, so he keeps you locked in Taiyi."
Mei Liangyu said: "Master is afraid if I leave, he'd have no one to talk to."
Wenyang Xiu tapped the table: "I bet all your wealth that Old Chang is afraid you'd recover your previous memories if you left Taiyi."
Yu Sui was startled hearing this. What previous memories?
Her gaze fell on Mei Liangyu.
Mei Liangyu rolled his eyes at him: "The seal doesn't break the moment you leave Taiyi."
Not everything in this world was known by Saint Chang Gen.
Like how he thought Mei Liangyu didn't know what the seal in his body was, but Mei Liangyu not only knew, he'd found a solution.
Wenyang Xiu took a sip of water from his cup: "If it's really like you said, if you left, your Junior Sister could keep Old Chang company."
Mei Liangyu frowned, his tone cold: "Why bring up my Junior Sister for no reason?"
Wenyang Xiu was puzzled: "Your Junior Sister is perfectly fine. Why can't she be mentioned?"
Mei Liangyu couldn't enjoy his food anymore. He'd worked all day, exhausted to death, and had finally forgotten about Yu Sui, but Wenyang Xiu's casual comment made him remember again.
Wenyang Zhou also asked: "Did you two have a falling out?"
Mei Liangyu looked down, tersely: "No."
Wenyang Xiu continued asking: "Then why can't we mention her?"
"Who said you can't mention her?" Mei Liangyu glared at him.
Wenyang Xiu was baffled by his scolding: "Then if you haven't fallen out, what's this attitude? I only mentioned her once, didn't even say your Junior Sister's name. By the way, what is your Junior Sister's name?"
Wenyang Zhou answered: "Nangong Sui."
Wenyang Xiu had an epiphany: "Ohhhh, your Junior Sister Nangong Sui."
Mei Liangyu: "......"
The more he didn't want them to mention it, the more they would.
At times like this, staying silent and ignoring them was the best solution.
Mei Liangyu focused on eating.
But these teasing voices entered his ears, inevitably making him recall last night's scene of Yu Sui casually looking away and walking off without turning back.
In the past, when didn't Yu Sui stop with a bright smile to call out "Senior Brother"?
She was always the first to greet.
Even when they met on the road and both were busy, she would smile and indicate she'd seen him.
A few months ago, if Yu Sui ignored him, Mei Liangyu wouldn't have cared at all.
But now, thinking of that moment of being ignored by Yu Sui, Mei Liangyu felt like ants were crawling all over his body, poisonous ants that would unexpectedly bite him.
To say Yu Sui was playing hard to get, but this trick was usually what he used on others.
Mei Liangyu thought of their conversation in Three Thousand Divergent Paths, like an argument yet very subtle.
She couldn't still be angry, could she?
Mei Liangyu clicked his tongue lightly, stopped eating, and got up to continue working.