Chapter 564: Mingyu's Memories, Escape from the Jade Court

Chapter 564: Mingyu's Memories, Escape from the Jade Court

In the courtyard where Qingyu resided, Xu Yan sat cross-legged with strands of profound intent emanating from his body, unhidden and unguarded.

"Could it be that the master of the Jade Court is truly not within its premises? What could their intentions be towards me, an outsider? Do they hold any hidden motives or schemes?"

Having spent a considerable amount of time in the Jade Court, Xu Yan had yet to encounter its three masters, and he couldn't help but wonder about their intentions. Why had they allowed him to roam freely and even uncover the secrets of the jade figurines? What were they plotting?

Could it be that they truly didn't care if he uncovered the mysteries of the jade figurines?

As Xu Yan broke through to the pinnacle of the Established Way, he made no attempt to conceal his achievement. The intent of the Established Way emerged, and the phenomena of the world appeared, enveloping the entire courtyard.

Aside from Qingyu, Mingyu was also present, blinking curiously at the display.

Achieving the pinnacle of the Established Way was but a natural progression for Xu Yan. As he broke through, he took the opportunity to sense the vague and ethereal Grand Dao, communing with it through his own path.

In that moment, a profound sensation arose within him. His path seemed to have touched the intangible Grand Dao, the underlying laws that governed all things in the world.

It was as if he had also grasped the operating principles of the Land of Non-Transformation, even glimpsing its constant expansion and unique mode of operation.

Even if one stood steadfast and unmoving, they would unknowingly shift along with the turning of the Land of Non-Transformation.

"Have I touched upon the ethereal Grand Dao?"

Xu Yan exuded an otherworldly intent, and the phenomena of the world seemed to undergo subtle changes, constantly striving for perfection and smoothness. It was as if the path had become a perfect circle, devoid of weakness or flaw.

Not only had he achieved the pinnacle of the Established Way, but it seemed that a strand of intent was communing with the Land of Non-Transformation, resonating with the vague and ethereal rules that governed it. He sensed the operation of these rules and the constant changes within the Land of Non-Transformation.

Qingyu fell into a daze, and in that moment, she gained a deeper understanding of the weaknesses in her own phenomena of the world. Subconsciously, she reinforced one of those weaknesses.

Mingyu, immersed in the intent, seemed to suddenly comprehend the method of condensing her soul. It was as if she had also sensed some ethereal rule.

In her mind, there was a buzzing sound, and the rules of the jade figurine were being presented to her. These rules pertained to her consciousness and thoughts, and in that moment, they seemed to be melting away, transforming into her soul.

Mingyu shook her head, and unfamiliar scenes began to unfold in her consciousness. They were extremely distant memories.

"I seem to have a soul," Mingyu murmured to herself.

In her consciousness, she saw layer upon layer of intricate webs, resembling rules that governed her soul, confined it, and fused it with her physical body.

Because of these intricate rules, her soul was bound to her body, allowing her to live.

Vast and ancient memories surged forth, but most of them were blurry. However, within these memories, some names stood out with remarkable clarity, as if they were the most important parts of her recollection.

Xu Yan had already broken through to the pinnacle of the Established Way, and at that moment, he noticed Mingyu's strange behavior. He continued to envelop her with his intent, silently waiting.

Qingyu, too, watched Mingyu with curiosity.

For some reason, she felt a sense of familiarity with Mingyu, as if she had met her a long time ago.

"If I had met her before, there's no way I could have forgotten!" Qingyu furrowed her brows.

Mingyu shook her head, opening her eyes. Her gaze was confused, as if she had lost herself, but in that moment, she seemed more human, her emotions more genuine, rather than those of a mere puppet.

"Mingyu, what's wrong?" Xu Yan asked gently.

"Xu Yan, I seem to have a soul," Mingyu replied softly.

Xu Yan's heart trembled. Could it be that Mingyu was once a living person who had been refined into a puppet?

Were all the puppets in the Jade Court once living beings?

If so, where did these people come from? Could there be a third force within the Land of Non-Transformation, and were the souls of these puppets originating from this unknown faction?

"What do you remember?" Xu Yan asked, his voice steady.

Mingyu blinked, deep in thought, as if struggling to recall something. After a long while, she murmured, "I have a soul, but it seems there was a problem with it. Because of this body, I'm alive, or at least I should be...

"I remember a long, long time ago, Ai and I used to water the bamboo together. Back then, the bamboo wasn't this big..."

Xu Yan was surprised. He turned to look at Qingyu, and if Mingyu's memory was correct, then Ai and Mingyu had watered Qingyu before she gained her sentience. Perhaps Qingyu's attainment of consciousness was related to this.

The water Ai poured for Qingyu was no ordinary water.

Qingyu was also stunned. At this moment, she felt a sense of familiarity with Mingyu, as if she had met her a long time ago, when she first gained sentience.

"Taihao, Linglong Yushan, Seventh... What are these? I remember these," Mingyu said, tilting her head in thought.

"Hmm?" Xu Yan never expected that Mingyu would recall some of her memories.

"Taihao, Linglong Yushan, Seventh? Mingyu, what is Taihao? Is it the name of the heavens and earth?" Xu Yan asked excitedly, feeling that a great secret was about to be revealed.

"Huh?" Mingyu blinked, "I don't know. I just remember Taihao, and..."

Suddenly, the Jade Court trembled slightly, as if something was awakening.

A faint presence emerged, and it was terrifying. Even though Xu Yan had reached the pinnacle of the Established Way, he felt a sense of powerlessness against this presence.

Mingyu's awakening seemed to have disturbed someone within the Jade Court.

Could it be the master of the Jade Court?

Mingyu's expression changed, "Oh no, we're in trouble. We have to run. If we're caught, I'll forget everything again!"

"Mingyu, who is it?" Xu Yan asked gravely.

"I don't know, but we're in big trouble. If we're caught, we'll be locked up, and I'll forget things again," Mingyu said anxiously. "Xu Yan, you should leave. If you're caught, it'll be bad for you. That guy is really scary."

At this moment, Xu Yan recalled what Ai had said about Mingyu acting up every once in a while, causing her to forget and start over.

Apparently, Mingyu had remembered something in the past, but then she was locked up, forgot what she had known, and had to start over again!

"Qingyu, let's go together," Xu Yan said to Qingyu as he took out the Primordial Turtle Shell.

"Okay," Qingyu nodded.

Xu Yan unleashed his power, instantly transporting Qingyu into the small world within the Primordial Turtle Shell. At this moment, Qingyu was just a bamboo shoot, and could temporarily take root in the world within the shell.

"Mingyu, let's go!" Xu Yan's power enveloped Mingyu as they rushed out of the courtyard, heading towards the exit of the Jade Court.

"Xu Yan, it won't work. You should leave by yourself. If I come with you, I'll only drag you down and bring you disaster. That guy is really terrifying," Mingyu shook her head.

"We are friends, and your awakening is also related to me. How can I leave you behind?" Xu Yan said solemnly.

Mingyu held a big secret. The terms "Taihao," "Linglong Yu Mountain," and "Seventh" that she mentioned were all extremely deep secrets, and Xu Yan was very curious about them.

"But, Xu Yan, you can't beat him. He's too scary," Mingyu said, still worried.

"If I can't beat him, we'll just escape back to the Great Wilderness," Xu Yan said, his speed not slowing down as he carried Mingyu towards the exit.

The presence behind them was growing stronger and stronger, and even though Xu Yan had reached the pinnacle of the Established Way, he felt his heart pounding.

It was too powerful.

Could this be the creator of the Jade Court?

It seemed like the presence was awakening from its slumber, stirred by Mingyu's recovery of her memory and her utterance of the word "Taihao."

"The one who is awakening is not one of the three masters of the Jade Court. Could it be that the three masters are also jade puppets?" Xu Yan was shocked. If his guess was correct, then the creator of the Jade Court might be as powerful as a Mixed Element or even a Path Walker!

If the one awakening was indeed one of the three masters, Mingyu would have known.

"I wonder if my master knows about the creator of the Jade Court," Xu Yan thought to himself.

The only option he had was to bring Mingyu back to the Great Wilderness, where only his master could deal with this presence.

The presence behind them was getting stronger and stronger, and there was a fluctuating will within it.

Whoosh!

Just as they were about to reach the exit, a jade figure appeared at the entrance, spear in hand, and an overwhelming presence burst forth.

"Stop!"

It was a jade figure at the Heaven and Earth Master level!

Xu Yan's speed did not decrease, and he struck out with a palm.

Roar!

A golden dragon roared, its dragon might filling the air, like an angry true dragon that wanted to destroy everything in its path!

It was the True Dragon Fury!

Xu Yan, having reached the pinnacle of the Established Way, unleashed his power, and this jade figure was no match for him. Even among Heaven and Earth Masters, there were differences in strength.

Someone as powerful as Tai Cang could easily kill a Heaven and Earth Master with just a wave of his hand.

And at this moment, Xu Yan was confident that he was no weaker than Tai Cang had been back then, so with a single palm strike, the jade figure's spear shattered, and it was sent flying backward. Cracks appeared on its body, and it looked like a jade sculpture about to shatter.

Xu Yan's figure flew out, escaping from the Jade Court.

Boom!

An invisible wave of energy, centered on the Jade Court, rippled outwards, stirring up a storm in the Land of Non-Transformation. Moreover, a powerful force descended upon this land.

"Xu Yan, you escaped on your own, and you've caused quite a stir. It's not a big deal for me to be locked up for some time. You can come find me again later."

Mingyu spoke with a worried expression.

Xu Yan took a deep breath and said, "Mingyu, when you go back, you won't recognize me anymore. You'll forget about me."

"Oh, I'll forget some things, but how can I forget you? You're my only friend!"

Mingyu frowned upon hearing this, feeling troubled.

"Don't worry, I can take you with me," Xu Yan assured her.

Xu Yan turned back, and he noticed that the Jade Court seemed to have undergone some changes. A sacred and immaculate light began to emerge from it, transforming into a human-shaped shadow.

As this shadow appeared, the Land of Non-Transformation trembled, and the violent spiritual energy became gentle.

Moreover, amidst the hazy and unchanging land, a sacred aura seemed to descend.

Xu Yan employed the One-Thought Vanishing Mystical Ability, causing his figure to vanish instantly from his original position. At this moment, he dared not hold anything back, pushing the mystical ability to its limits.

With his established way at the perfect stage, the speed he achieved with this ability was beyond imagination, and in an instant, he had traveled far away from the region where the Jade Court was located.

Even so, Xu Yan remained tense, sensing that he had not yet escaped the influence of that shadowy figure.

"What kind of power is that? Even if I break through to the creation realm, I wouldn't be a match. Perhaps only at the great perfection or completion stage of the creation realm would I be able to contend?"

Xu Yan assessed the strength exhibited by that shadowy figure.

This was just what he could sense, and the true extent of the figure's strength remained unknown.

"Why stir up trouble every now and then? It's not like you can go back anyway."

Suddenly, a thought intruded into Xu Yan's mind.

Xu Yan's heart tightened, and he couldn't help but turn back, but he could no longer see the Jade Court or the shadowy figure. Even from such a distant place, the figure was able to send its thoughts, which was truly terrifying.

At this moment, Xu Yan was prepared to use the jade talisman given to him by his master to face any danger that might arise.

"Hmph, I want to stir up trouble!"

Mingyu naturally heard this thought and responded defiantly.

However, Xu Yan noticed something important in this thought—it conveyed to Mingyu that no matter how much she stirred up trouble, she couldn't go back.

Back where?

Could it be the third force in the Land of Non-Transformation?

"The Land of Non-Transformation is vast and boundless, with too many unknown secrets," Xu Yan marveled.

Without slowing down, he continued his frantic escape.

Hum!

Suddenly, amidst the haze, a bright white light illuminated a hazy region.

Thud!

Several figures crossed the vast distance and arrived in an instant.

They were the jade figures from the Jade Court!

Xu Yan's expression turned solemn. The one who had sent these jade figures from such a distance could have easily arrived in person.

But instead of coming himself, he had sent these jade figures, either because he felt superior or for some other reason that prevented him from venturing too far from the Jade Court.

Xu Yan inclined towards the latter.

"Stay!"

The jade figures surrounded Xu Yan from all sides, their jade-white radiance illuminating the Land of Non-Transformation. Moreover, their lights interconnected, forming a circle of light that trapped Xu Yan within.

"Strong!"

Each of the eight jade figures possessed immense strength, and their combined power formed a cohesive assault. Xu Yan dared not be careless.

While he was confident he could defeat any one of them in a one-on-one battle, facing all eight of them working together was a much greater challenge. More importantly, if he forcefully killed one of the jade figures, what if that figure's master arrived in person?

The master seemed unable to venture too far from the Jade Court, but this was only Xu Yan's speculation.

Even with his master's jade talisman, he needed to be cautious. After all, this unknown and powerful opponent warranted a careful approach.

Xu Yan moved, charging directly towards one of the jade figures and raising his hand to deliver a sword strike.

The sword intent, capable of extinguishing all, instantly sliced through the circle of light.

Puff!

The circle of light was cut open, but it quickly began to mend itself. One of the jade figures struck out with a palm, sending forth a silver-white palm print that seemed capable of "purifying" everything in its path.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end