Taking the Blame AND Finding Fortunes—What a Hard Life He Leads
Taking the Blame AND Finding Fortunes—What a Hard Life He Leads
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Chi Ling, Ye Ling, and the others had also run into trouble.
Not long after entering the Celestial Ancient Continent, they encountered a powerful rhinoceros-like ferocious beast, one with cultivation at the True Enlightened Realm.
Although Chi Ling was a Young Prodigy, her true strength was only at the early Honoured King Realm—enough to contend with some Partial-Enlightened beings at best.
Once she ran into a True Enlightened Realm existence, things became very difficult for her.
Even if she brought out her magical artifacts, she would have a hard time killing it, unless she used some Forbidden Weapons or heavy treasures.
Except... she couldn’t bear to part with them.
After all, she had just arrived—who knew why her luck was so bad that she’d run into a True Enlightened Realm ferocious beast the moment she stepped in?
This rhinoceros beast was at the mid-stage of the True Enlightened Realm, extremely powerful.
With one breath from its mouth, torrential flames surged skyward, divine radiance spewing forth and transforming into a sea of fire that burned several clan members to death, leaving the rest pale with terror.
“Chi Ling, let’s work together. You hold it off, and I’ll handle the kill.”
At that moment, among the followers, the disguised Ye Ling suddenly spoke up.
Ever since entering the Celestial Ancient Continent, he had been hinting at Chi Ling in various ways, trying to make her understand that Gu Changge was no good person, trying to get her to keep her distance from him.
But whether Chi Ling didn’t understand or simply didn’t believe him, she paid no mind to his words.
This left Ye Ling helpless—after all, Gu Changge’s disguise was simply too perfect.
On top of that, he had a face that was extremely deceptive to women.
Now, seeing this scene unfold, Ye Ling couldn’t hold back from stepping forward.
Because he had confidence—he was long accustomed to fighting above his level, and he possessed numerous powerful Transcendent techniques and methods.
This was also his chance to show off in front of Chi Ling and the others.
Hearing Ye Ling’s words, Chi Ling looked over, but before she could say anything—
“What did you say? Trying to steal the spotlight at a time like this—do you have to go about it this way?”
“He’s practically asking to die. Even if you want to show off in front of the Gifted Lady, you don’t have to go this far!”
Her other followers’ expressions changed, somewhat unable to believe it, and they all began cursing angrily.
In their eyes, Ye Ling’s actions looked like showing off in front of Chi Ling.
Which made them—who were stronger than Ye Ling—look cowardly by comparison.
This Ye Ling only appeared to be at the Honoured Lord Realm. Was he courting death? Daring to attack a True Enlightened Realm beast, and even saying such things?
“Has he lost his mind? At a time like this, he’s still thinking about showing off?”
The group of followers and the other female prodigies of the Vermilion Bird Clan couldn’t help but give Ye Ling strange looks, and some couldn’t resist mocking him.
Ye Ling was clearly used to this kind of mockery-first-ask-questions-later routine—after all, he only appeared to be at the Honoured Lord Realm.
Facing a True Enlightened Realm existence, his chances of victory naturally seemed slim.
But they shouldn’t forget—he had another identity.
“In a moment, open your dog eyes wide and watch carefully.”
“Today, I’ll broaden your horizons.”
Ye Ling touched his nose, somewhat exasperated, then sneered coldly.
He prepared to unleash a powerful technique and slap the faces of these so-called prodigies who looked down on him.
With that, Ye Ling was about to make his move. Black and white light rose from his entire body, carrying mysterious fluctuations within—there was even a feeling as if it could bury all living beings.
“Ye Ling’s strength is actually quite impressive...”
Chi Ling couldn’t help but nod, feeling that with Ye Ling’s help, her chances of killing the beast were much greater.
Just then!
Weng!
The void trembled!
However, a crystalline, exquisite palm imprint moved even faster than Ye Ling, as if carved from immortal stone.
This palm imprint tore through the void, its divine might vast and boundless, descending rapidly from a small hill not far away.
With a pu sound, the True Enlightened Realm beast panicked, unable to react in time before it was severely wounded—its body split open, blood spraying out.
Its hard scales couldn’t block the strike at all, torn apart like rotten paper.
Sss!
At this sight, the whole group sucked in a cold breath and looked toward the small hill in the distance.
There, a group of prodigies with powerful auras had appeared, all clad in golden divine armor and riding various mighty, ferocious beasts, like knights.
At their head was a breathtakingly beautiful woman, her robes fluttering, her dark hair dancing in the wind. Her gaze was cold and sharp, filled with indifference and depth—she had the air of an Empress descending upon the world!
“It’s her!”
“Yue Mingkong!”
“The Crown Heir of the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty!”
The prodigies of the Vermilion Bird Clan all changed color, unable to suppress their shock.
The True Enlightened Realm beast that Chi Ling couldn’t handle had been severely wounded by this future Empress with a single palm strike.
This was just too strong! Simply terrifying!
“So powerful—at least mid-stage Honoured King Realm or above, otherwise there’s no way she could do something like this...”
Chi Ling couldn’t help feeling a bit astonished as well.
She had just broken through to the Honoured King Realm; even if she reached the mid-stage, she couldn’t accomplish something like this.
It showed that although they were both Young Prodigies, Yue Mingkong was indeed far stronger than her.
After all, Young Prodigies were divided into upper, middle, and lower tiers.
Someone like her was only at the middle tier, but Yue Mingkong was clearly at the upper tier or even higher.
“Yue Mingkong...” Ye Ling was also stunned for a moment, then a flash of amazement passed through his eyes.
No matter when he saw this world-renowned heaven-blessed daughter, he couldn’t help but feel dazzled.
She was truly too beautiful—an immortal countenance like a painting, so beautiful it was soul-stirring, like the heavens’ most perfect masterpiece.
Especially that peerless temperament that looked down upon the world—it made his heart pound uncontrollably.
“What a waste, letting that bastard Gu Changge have her. How infuriating...”
Ye Ling hadn’t expected that just as he was about to act, Yue Mingkong would beat him to it and severely wound the beast first.
At this moment, his heart was full of envy, jealousy, and even unwillingness.
He believed that Yue Mingkong’s ambush on him last time had been entirely arranged by Gu Changge.
Naturally, that debt was also chalked up to Gu Changge’s account.
Still, Ye Ling was at ease—his concealment methods were excellent, and there was no way Yue Mingkong could recognize him.
After all, even Gu Changge hadn’t recognized him before...
“Many thanks to Crown Heir Mingkong for your assistance.”
Coming back to their senses, the young prodigies of the Vermilion Bird Clan all called out their gratitude toward Yue Mingkong in the distance.
Chi Ling’s expression was complicated as she cupped her fists. “Many thanks to Crown Heir Mingkong for your help!”
She knew that the reason Yue Mingkong had acted was very likely because of Gu Changge.
And most likely it wasn’t a friendly gesture... but a show of force toward her.
A declaration of ownership.
That day in front of Supreme Peak, the sight of her and Gu Changge chatting so pleasantly had fallen right into Yue Mingkong’s eyes.
Her taking action today was most likely a demonstration.
This made Chi Ling smile bitterly inside, not knowing how to explain.
It had to be said—women understood women best. She had guessed with perfect clarity that this was exactly why Yue Mingkong had acted.
Atop the mountain peak, Yue Mingkong swept a glance over Chi Ling, her expression cold, saying not a word.
Then she turned and left with her followers, heading deeper into the continent.
If she hadn’t seen Chi Ling there, she wouldn’t have bothered intervening at all.
Although she knew this heaven-blessed daughter was merely a pawn Gu Changge was using, she still needed to make her understand... Gu Changge was not someone she could set her sights on.
Come to think of it, this was also for Chi Ling’s own good—to keep her from sinking too deep into Gu Changge’s schemes.
Moreover, Yue Mingkong had not noticed that Ye Ling was mixed in among Chi Ling’s followers.
In her previous life, Ye Ling hadn’t carried the blame of being the Successor of Demonic Arts and had come to the Celestial Ancient Continent openly and aboveboard.
Here, Ye Ling seemed to have obtained quite a few fortuitous encounters.
Beyond that, she didn’t know much else.
Of course, the main thing was that she knew exactly where and how some of the Young Prodigies obtained their fortunes here.
Yue Mingkong was confident that this trip to the Celestial Ancient Continent could help her cultivation quickly break through to the Partial-Enlightened Realm.
If she could seize the Celestial Spirit when the time came, achieving sainthood on the spot wasn’t even out of the question.
Because the Celestial Spirit was the very Source of immortality—something that would alarm even Sacred Emperor Realm beings.
“Based on the timeline of my previous life, the Celestial Ancient Continent will soon fall into turmoil—the ancestral tombs of some natives will be destroyed...”
“In my last life I didn’t think deeply about it, but it must have been Gu Changge sneaking over.”
“He possesses the Immortal-Devouring Demonic Art. The ancestral tombs hold the corpses of many ancient Celestial Ancient powerhouses. As long as their bodies haven’t decayed and still retain some Source, it’s all enough for Gu Changge to devour and absorb.”
“It’s practically a natural breeding ground for him. By the time he leaves the Celestial Ancient Continent, who knows how high his cultivation will have soared...”
“Not to mention Gu Changge is also eyeing the Celestial Spirit that’s about to emerge.”
Yue Mingkong rubbed her brow, feeling a sense of powerlessness and discouragement. Even knowing all this, there was fundamentally nothing she could do to stop it.
Gu Changge was truly too terrifying.
Both in strength and in methods, he was flawless and impeccable.
As a regressor, even if she could guess what Gu Changge was going to do—so what, if she couldn’t stop it?
Although Gu Changge had said a few days ago that he couldn’t bear to kill her, for someone who understood Gu Changge’s temperament as well as Yue Mingkong did, the credibility of such words was clearly only temporary.
She had indeed been sleeping more soundly these past few days than before.
But staying alive at Gu Changge’s side was no simple matter.
Of course, the main reason was that the shadow Gu Changge had left on her in her previous life was too great.
Gu Changge’s ruthlessness hadn’t changed in the slightest.
The reason he wasn’t killing her now, and even treated her kindly, was because she was useful to him—had value to be exploited.
So Yue Mingkong still had to think of every possible way to keep growing stronger.
“Xianer’s trajectory hasn’t changed much. She offended the Ancient Sea Palace, and although she’ll be hunted next, she’ll escape danger every time and even break through in battle.”
Yue Mingkong’s expression remained unchanged as various thoughts ran through her mind. Then, she led her large group of followers toward the nearest fortune site.
She remembered that in her previous life, a Young Prodigy had found a corner of an Emperor Grade Array Pattern here.
Meanwhile, sensing the battle fluctuations coming from not far away, Ye Ling—who had been gazing at Yue Mingkong from afar—suddenly frowned.
He turned his head to look, his expression changing as he saw a figure in a red dress being attacked, moving in his direction.
“That’s... Yin Mei...”
“Not good, she’s in danger.”
Seeing this, Ye Ling’s figure moved without hesitation, transforming into a divine rainbow as he swiftly shot in that direction.
To him, Yin Mei was not just Bai Lie’s fiancée—she was also a valuable witness who could prove he hadn’t killed Bai Lie.
“Ye...”
Chi Ling frowned at the sight, but she didn’t stop Ye Ling. After all, he was only mixed in among her followers; he didn’t actually take orders from her.
She didn’t mind, but her other followers were displeased—extremely annoyed with Ye Ling.
This guy actually ran off on his own. As a follower, he didn’t even listen to Chi Ling’s commands.
“I thought this guy seemed unfamiliar before. Did he sneak in?” someone wondered aloud, growing suspicious.
“Don’t tell me he’s the hidden Successor of Demonic Arts, sneaking in and mixing among us...” another person couldn’t help saying. At those words, quite a few people shuddered.
Recently, the Successor of Demonic Arts had been making waves everywhere, leaving everyone on edge.
The more they thought about it, the more suspicious Ye Ling seemed...
At this, Chi Ling had no choice but to helplessly come up with some excuse to explain.
Though in her heart, she was still somewhat displeased with Ye Ling’s behavior... She had helped him out of kindness, yet he seemed to have no self-awareness, taking it for granted.
“From the looks of it, Ye Ling really can’t compare to Daoxiong Changge...” Chi Ling shook her head. She didn’t say it aloud, but she couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed in Ye Ling.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Ye Ling watched as Yin Mei fought a Young Prodigy who shone with divine radiance—mountain peaks collapsed, sand and stones flew.
The field was awash with surging treasure light like heavy rain, runes erupting and flooding in all directions.
But Yin Mei seemed to be at a disadvantage, her face haggard, blood at the corner of her mouth.
Her followers were also entangled by a ferocious beast, unable to come to her aid.
“Yin Mei is in danger! I have to help her!”
Ye Ling didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He had experienced this kind of clichéd hero-saves-the-damsel scenario plenty of times—he was practically used to it.
Doing it now came naturally and familiarly.
He brought out a crimson dagger.
Chi!
A terrifying sky-splitting sound rang out as the dagger transformed into a streak of crimson light, arriving at extreme speed like an Arcane Bridge, piercing toward the high sky, splitting clouds apart, shooting toward that Young Prodigy.
“Who’s there?!”
That Young Prodigy blazed with divine light, flames burning all over his body—clearly a powerful figure.
He sensed the extraordinariness of this dagger and used a Transcendent technique to knock it aside.
He glanced at Ye Ling, who had come attacking from behind, and couldn’t help frowning.
Moreover, for some reason, he kept feeling that the Yin Mei before him seemed to be showing weakness, not using any of her powerful methods.
Seeing yet another person coming to attack, he simply gave up at this point—he didn’t want the sword grass anymore—and directly transformed into a divine rainbow and left.
A strange glint flashed in the depths of Yin Mei’s eyes, but her face remained composed as she said with some gratitude and curiosity, “Many thanks for your assistance, Daoxiong...”
According to Gu Changge’s instructions, this fair, handsome man before her should be the disguised Ye Ling.
After all, only someone whose heart was wholly set on women would disregard the risk of exposure like this and come straight in to “save the damsel.”
This made Yin Mei unable to suppress her inward mockery.
Hearing Yin Mei’s words, Ye Ling was actually a bit hesitant at this moment.
Because once he chose to reveal his true identity, if Yin Mei harbored ill intentions toward him...
He would be in great danger.
But after thinking it over, combined with Yin Mei’s past conduct, he chose to trust her character and said frankly, “Yin Mei, I’m Ye Ling.”
“What?!”
At those words, Yin Mei’s beautiful eyes immediately widened, shocked and incredulous. Then she hurriedly said, “Are you trying to get yourself killed? You dare come here, and even dare reveal your identity?”
“How can you be so foolish? What if I meant to harm you?”
As she spoke, her expression grew even more anxious, deeply worried for Ye Ling.
If Gu Changge were here, he definitely couldn’t resist praising her.
This acting—worthy of the Gifted Lady of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan—could easily crush the so-called best actors of his previous life.
Whether in expression or words, not a single flaw could be found.
Ye Ling was completely bewitched, dizzy under her spell.
Seeing Yin Mei’s worried, concerned expression, Ye Ling felt a wave of emotion in his heart.
There was one more person in this world who believed in him!
He truly hadn’t misjudged Yin Mei’s character.
At once, Ye Ling lowered his voice and said to Yin Mei, “Don’t worry, my concealment methods are brilliant. No one can discover me.”
Hearing this, Yin Mei calmed down, though she still looked somewhat worried.
“You’re far too bold, daring to sneak in here. Don’t you know how many Cultivators are looking for you?”
“Anyway, I’ve been framed. I’ll find a way to clear my name. Besides, there’s something I want in the Celestial Ancient Continent,” Ye Ling replied.
Hearing this, Yin Mei nodded.
“Yin Mei, don’t you suspect that I was the one who killed Brother Bai Lie?” Ye Ling couldn’t help asking at this point, somewhat curious.
Yin Mei shook her head, then looked straight into Ye Ling’s eyes and said, “I’ve never doubted you. Although Bai Lie was angry after you left that night, it wasn’t to the point of being so enraged that he’d kill you.”
“He wouldn’t disregard your years of brotherhood. Besides, I believe in your character.”
“You wouldn’t do something like that.”
Her tone was certain, without the slightest doubt.
Hearing these words, Ye Ling never expected Yin Mei to trust him so much. His heart was filled with boundless emotion as he nodded. “Don’t worry, I will definitely clear my name. Also, you need to be careful of Gu Changge—I suspect he’s the one who framed me...”
Anyway, Yin Mei had already offended Gu Changge.
So Ye Ling spoke these words frankly, warning Yin Mei to guard against Gu Changge within Skyward Schloss.
“What?! It could be Shixiong Gu?”
At those words, Yin Mei immediately put on an expression of utter shock, then showed a frightened, disbelieving look.
But inwardly she was thinking: The Young Master predicted it perfectly. Ye Ling is clever enough—he’s already started suspecting him. What a pity this guy is still too stupid.
She shook her head inwardly.
And soon, Ye Ling successfully appeared before Yin Mei’s followers as her “old friend.”
Chi Ling and the others, who arrived later, were somewhat shocked but couldn’t say anything.
Thus, because of Ye Ling, Chi Ling and Yin Mei decided to cooperate and band together for the time being.
The group headed toward the depths of the continent.
Ye Ling’s face wore a smile.
He gradually displayed some powerful methods, convincing the crowd somewhat. His luck was especially good—he actually came across quite a few rare Heavenly Herbs and the like.
He even found some divine weapons buried in the earth.
“Spirit turtle, following the direction you mentioned, can I really find the Stage of Enlightenment left behind by the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being?”
Ye Ling asked the spirit turtle inside his pendant, full of confidence. The current group was already faintly revolving around him as its backbone.
“Rest assured, that was specially left for you by the Supreme Being. And at the Stage of Enlightenment, there are many other good things left for you.”
The spirit turtle said to Ye Ling.
Hearing this answer, Ye Ling grew even more excited.
And his every move was being watched by Yin Mei, who was secretly and carefully leaving traces for Gu Changge, worried that Gu Changge wouldn’t be able to find this place when the time came.
After all, the Celestial Ancient Continent was too vast.
So, just to be safe, she made multiple preparations.
And none of this was noticed by anyone.
Watching the somewhat excited Ye Ling ahead, a flash of mockery passed through Yin Mei’s eyes, and she couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. “Not only are you taking the blame for my Master, now you’re even finding fortunes for him. What a hard life you’re living.”