Chapter 242: Ji Qingqing
Chapter 242: Ji Qingqing
In the far north, on Heavenly Prison Island, deep within the vast Wasteland Sea, three thousand-mile-long Abyssal Chains connect and secure the island above an endless abyss.
Ji Qingqing sat in front of a thatched cottage, holding a stone in her hand as she gently etched chaotic patterns on the ground.
Her brows furrowed slightly. Recently, she had been feeling an inexplicable unease.
Her family had judged her and imprisoned her on this Heavenly Prison Island. She wasn't overly concerned for herself, as her uncles and aunts took good care of her. Apart from being unable to cultivate and spending her days in meaningless boredom, she didn't feel much discomfort.
Life here was quite harsh, but she had endured many tough days while following Li Tiangang in the military, and she had long adapted to it.
"I told him not to come unless he had broken the Four Foundations. He should have listened..."
"After all, he has always prioritized the family..."
"I wonder how Li Hao is doing. It's been fifteen years. He must be tall and strong by now. I wonder if he looks more like me or his father. They say sons resemble their mothers..."
Ji Qingqing's thoughts drifted to her husband and child, the two most precious people in her heart.
Thinking of her son, whom she hadn't seen in fifteen years, brought her a warm feeling, but also a deep sense of guilt and longing.
Her memories wandered back to the Hundred Day Feast fifteen years ago, where the chubby baby in the cradle and the swift arrival of the Imperial Edict still lingered in her mind.
If it weren't for the Demons' invasion of Yanbei, she would be living a happy life with her family.
"All descendants of military families suffer. I made you suffer, you shouldn't have been born to me..."
Ji Qingqing murmured softly.
If nothing unexpected happened, she would have to stay here for a thousand years before seeing her husband and child again.
She knew how difficult it was to break through to the Fourth Establishment Realm. Even though her husband was a prodigy with remarkable talent, it still depended on opportunity and fortune.
With the average lifespan in Divine General Manor, by the time she left Heavenly Prison Island, they might already be gone, having died in battle.
"Li Hao started his martial path too late, making it difficult for him to achieve greatness. With the wealth and glory of Divine General Manor, perhaps he can live a safe and peaceful life for a hundred years..."
Thinking of this, Ji Qingqing felt a bit better. Although a hundred years was short, it could still be a life of peaceful happiness.
As she was lost in her thoughts, she suddenly heard a woman's voice calling from the Abyssal Heaven Stele outside the island.
"Young Miss?"
Ji Qingqing snapped back to reality and saw a Divine Soul hovering in the air. When the Divine Soul noticed her, it quickly descended and disappeared.
Soon, a figure flew toward the mountain.
Seeing the old woman who had taken care of her since childhood, Ji Qingqing was startled and her face paled.
"Ningma, why are you here? Could it be that you...?"
"Young Miss..."
The old woman, who had been Ji Qingqing's mother's maid and her own wet nurse, had a deep bond with the young lady. Seeing Ji Qingqing's dirty and disheveled appearance, Ningma's eyes filled with shock and sorrow.
"This place is too harsh, Young Miss."
Ji Qingqing, however, was anxious. "Ningma, why are you here?"
"I received Patriarch's permission to visit you and bring you some good news."
Ningma quickly composed herself, thinking of the important matter at hand. She took Ji Qingqing's hand and said, "Young Miss, you will be leaving soon. Your son has come to take you away!"
"Ah?"
Ji Qingqing was relieved to hear that Ningma had not been sent here as a prisoner, but she was stunned by her next words, staring at her in disbelief.
"Ningma, what did you say?"
"I said, your son has come to take you away!"
Seeing her shocked expression, Ningma smiled. These days, whenever anyone in the Ji Family mentioned that young man, who could fail to praise him? And he was the son of their own Young Miss.
“Me, my son?”
Ji Qingqing suspected she was hallucinating, no, even delirious. The Ningma before her must be a mirage.
She pulled back her hand and pinched herself, instantly feeling a sharp pain.
“Ningma, are you, are you joking with me?” Ji Qingqing couldn’t help but ask.
“Would I travel hundreds of thousands of miles just to joke with you, Young Miss? This is the truth,” Ningma smiled.
“Your son, Ji Leping, recently escorted the Heroic Souls of the Yun Ge War God back to the family. He then challenged and defeated many prodigies, including the strongest of this generation, Ji Xuanshen, earning the title of Dao Seed. He has already used his status as a Dao Seed to clear your name!”
“Soon, you will be reunited with your son!”
Hearing her joyful voice, Ji Qingqing was stunned, especially when she heard the name "Le Ping." Her eyes flickered with confusion.
Her son was born into nobility, blessed by Emperor Yu, and named Li Hao!
But Le Ping was just a name she, a mere woman and a mother, had given out of her gentle heart.
“Ningma, you said my son, he, he is called Ji Leping?”
Ji Qingqing’s voice trembled.
This name was known only to her and her husband.
She suddenly thought of a possibility. Since leaving Yanbei, her husband might have renamed their son to honor her, even forsaking the imperial name.
Although this seemed highly unlikely, the man who had once been a law-abiding citizen, adhering strictly to the rules, had broken those rules for her, defying the entire Li Family to marry her. He had even dared to challenge his parents and uncles, willing to sacrifice his Li Family status.
Now, it was not impossible.
“Isn’t he your son? Didn’t you name him?”
Ningma, seeing her shocked expression, was puzzled.
Ji Qingqing’s body shook, her eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face.
She didn’t speak, her thoughts swirling, her fingers digging into her palm.
But soon, she thought of something and asked, “Wait, you said my son has become a Dao Seed?”
“Yes, your son came to the Ji Family alone at a young age, truly shocking everyone. He defeated many prodigies, including the naturally sacred-boned Ji Xuanshen, and reportedly did so in the Three Eternities Realm. It’s a myth, unprecedented and perhaps never to be repeated.”
Ningma’s smile grew wider when she mentioned Li Hao.
Ji Qingqing’s face was filled with shock and disbelief. “My son, he, he is that powerful?”
She found it hard to imagine that the infant she had held in her arms fifteen years ago could now defeat a Ji Family prodigy.
This was something she had never even dared to dream.
Moreover, during her time in Yanbei, she had heard that the child couldn’t practice martial arts and only opened his meridians later, missing the crucial foundation-building and blood dissolution stages. He was already far behind other children, and it would have been impressive enough for him to catch up with the geniuses of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty, let alone rival a Ji Family prodigy.
“Ningma, you said he came alone?”
Ji Qingqing couldn’t help but feel anxious.
Ningma nodded. “That’s right.”
Ji Qingqing’s expression changed. Her husband hadn’t come? Could something have happened to him, or was there another reason?
Her heart raced with unease.
Ningma, seeing her worried and tense, smiled. “Young Miss, your son will be coming to fetch you soon. Why don’t you freshen up first? It would be upsetting for him to see his mother in such a state.”
Ji Qingqing snapped back to reality, looking down at her dirty hands. She had been reluctant to use her power, but now that she was about to leave the island, there was no need to conserve it.
Her Qi Power surged, instantly cleansing the grime and dust from her body.
Her fair skin was revealed, and her hair became clean, like flowing black silk.
“That child must have had a tough journey…”
Thinking of what Ningma had said, defeating all the Ji Family prodigies and securing the Dao Seed title, these were just a few simple words, but she knew how difficult it must have been.
Her heart ached, and she bit her lip, turning to enter the thatched hut. Soon, she emerged in a shimmering, light green cloud robe, looking like a celestial maiden from a painting.
Seeing Ji Qingqing’s transformed appearance, Ningma smiled. “Young Miss, you are as beautiful as ever, and you bear a resemblance to Young Master Le Ping.”
“Does he resemble me?”
Ji Qingqing murmured, her eyes filled with anticipation as her heart tightened. Images flashed through her mind: her belly swelling, and herself cradling the swaddled child.
Fifteen years had passed.
She had thought that mother and son would be forever separated, but she never imagined they would meet again.
Along with her excitement and anticipation, there was also an inexplicable sense of nervousness and unease.
Having been such a negligent mother, would that child still recognize her?
……
……
In the Far North of the secret realm.
It was tens of thousands of miles away from Holy Mountain, far beyond Li Hao's imagination.
This entire Ji Family Holy Land was as vast as seven or eight Great Provinces of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.
Li Hao and Ji Yunyue flew together, and as they traveled, they saw the landscape become increasingly desolate the farther they were from Holy Mountain. The vast desert and lush forests alternated, presenting a variety of natural landscapes, but they were utterly uninhabited.
The journey took half a day at Ji Yunyue's speed with his Body Movement Techniques, but it would have taken Li Hao fifteen years.
"This secret realm was left behind by our Ji Family Ancestor. Outside the secret realm, there is a Maze Array secretly set up by our Ji Family. If you are near our territory and don’t have a guide, even a Demon King would get lost and be unable to launch a direct attack."
Ji Yunyue chatted casually with Li Hao on the way, letting him know that the biggest difference between the Ancient Holy Clans and other tribes was this secret realm.
Other tribes lived in the Great Wasteland Sky and could only rely on Arrays for protection. However, once their habitats were found by Demons, even the strongest Arrays would eventually be breached.
The secret realm, on the other hand, had various mystical properties. Attacking it would require tremendous effort, yet it could easily withstand the assault of a million Demons.
Even at the Enlightenment Realm, tearing through the secret realm would require significant effort.
Only at the Sage Realm could one easily break through, like the Sage who bestowed Li Hao with the mark.
Finally, after traversing tens of thousands of miles, they arrived at the edge of the Wasteland Sea.
The endless Wasteland Sea stretched as far as the eye could see, with no end in sight.
At a specific location stood a steep Lonely Peak, towering prominently on the edge of the Wasteland Sea.
An Elder was stationed there. Ji Yunyue approached to explain their purpose, presenting the Patriarch’s token. They borrowed a divine artifact boat named the Nine Wastelands Boat.
The two of them boarded the Nine Wastelands Boat and crossed the Wasteland Sea, heading for a solitary cliff on the other side.
There, the Twin Flowers that could cure the poison grew.
"Are there any Monsters in this Wasteland Sea?"
Li Hao stood at the stern of the boat, gazing at the Wasteland Sea, which occasionally stirred with gentle waves. The depths were unfathomable, not dark but faintly red.
Ji Yunyue smiled and said, "Of course not. Even Divine Weapons would decay in there. It’s rumored that this Wasteland Sea was formed from the blood of a demon saint that our Ji Family Ancestor severed, which then flooded the area."
"The blood of a demon saint?"
Li Hao was slightly taken aback, looking at the vast waves of the Wasteland Sea. If it was the blood of a demon saint, how large must that demon saint have been?
"Is that really true?"
"It might be exaggerated, but the Wasteland Sea is tens of thousands of miles wide. Even a Demon King would be considered grand if it had a hundred-foot body."
Ji Yunyue explained.
The Twin Flowers grew on the Solitary Cliff on the Western Shore of the Wasteland Sea, guarded by a Demon King that the Ji Family had subdued. Once the Twin Flowers were picked, they would wither and lose their effectiveness if not consumed within half a day.
When Ji Yunyue presented the Patriarch’s token, the Demon King recognized it and readily plucked a bright red Twin Flower, handing it to the two of them.
With the Twin Flowers in hand, they did not linger. They immediately turned the Nine Wastelands Boat and hurried toward Heavenly Prison Island, which floated in the center of the Wasteland Sea.
...
Meanwhile, as Li Hao and Ji Yunyue were searching for the Twin Flowers, Ji Yunqing accompanied Li Tiangang and swiftly flew toward Heavenly Prison Island.
Ji Yunqing explained their purpose to the elder on Lonely Peak and borrowed another small boat of the Nine-Cast Divine Weapon grade. The two of them crossed the Wasteland Sea, heading toward Heavenly Prison Island.
After traversing tens of thousands of miles of the Wasteland Sea, the towering, floating Heavenly Prison Island came into view.
Three chains extended steeply from three points in the abyss, reaching up to the sky, securing the Heavenly Prison Island in place.
"If it weren't for these three Abyssal Chains, the Ancestral Sage Law on Heavenly Prison Island would cause the island to rise continuously until it reached the sky of the secret realm, where it would be scorched by the Blazing Sun Sacred Fire, and the people on it would be burned alive!" Ji Yunqing said.
Li Tiangang's eyes narrowed. This place, where the Ji Family imprisoned criminals, had a sense of intricate and magnificent craftsmanship. Was this the power of a Sage?
The other end of the Abyssal Chains extended into the Wasteland Sea, anchored by three spike-like peaks in a circular abyss.
The thick chains stretched taut, passing through the peaks, covered in moss and bearing the marks of time.
"They should have found the Twin Flowers by now and be up there."
Ji Yunqing said, "Let's go up directly."
He jumped onto one of the peaks, waited for Li Tiangang to join him, and then put away the boat. He stepped onto the chain, which looked like an iron bridge, and headed toward Heavenly Prison Island.
The chain stretched for thousands of miles, spanning the sky, with a grand and imposing presence.
Li Tiangang, hearing Ji Yunqing's words, looked up at the massive island above, his eyes filled with excitement.
Would he soon be able to see his mother and child?
His heart raced, and he quickly followed, catching up to Ji Yunqing. As the two of them climbed onto the Abyssal Chains, Li Hao and Ji Yunyue, who had just picked the Twin Flowers, hurried over as well.
"Wait here for me; I'll bring Qing Qing down."
Ji Yunyue said to Li Hao, not wanting him to risk entering the dangerous Forbidden Area.
Li Hao shook his head. "We've come this far; let's go together."
Seeing Li Hao's determination, Ji Yunyue felt somewhat helpless. She raised her hand and summoned a long, whip-like chain, wrapping it around herself and Li Hao.
"Alright, let's go, but be careful of the desolate abyss below. There are special laws here; even the Dao Realm cannot fly. If you fall, it's certain death."
She cautioned him.
Li Hao nodded, and the two of them stepped onto the iron chain, climbing up one after the other at a rapid pace.
With their Body Movement Techniques, the steep iron chain was like a tilted ladder to the sky. They leaped and climbed, moving swiftly.
After traveling for dozens of miles and reaching the chain above the desolate abyss, Li Hao felt a special power covering his body, suppressing his inner energy and making it impossible to exert any force. Even the Heaven-Earth Meridian had disappeared, cut off.
No wonder it was said that one couldn't cross the abyss.
The law suppression here was even stronger than in the Wasteland Sea.
He looked down, his expression slightly more serious, recalling the second trial of Tan Palace Academy, which involved crossing a ten-thousand-foot iron chain to test one's courage.
His and Ji Yunyue's courage clearly surpassed that of Force Mastery practitioners. Although their expressions were serious, it only made their movements more cautious and careful, with no fear.
The chain swayed gently, and strong winds occasionally howled through the high air, but Li Hao and Ji Yunyue climbed steadily, unaffected.
On Heavenly Prison Island above, Ji Qingqing and Ningma emerged from the mountains and stood before the Abyssal Heaven Stele, waiting.
They frequently summoned their Divine Souls to look around. After a long while, Ningma suddenly exclaimed with joy:
"I see them!"
On the thick chain, thousands of miles away, two small figures could be seen leaping and climbing.
(End of Chapter)
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