Chapter Forty-Five: Landing in Australia

A ripple of air and a flash of light passed by, and a man and a woman appeared in a primeval forest near the Greater Khingan Mountains, thousands of miles away. The man was strikingly handsome, the woman naturally beautiful. Perhaps the long-distance transmission had startled her; she furrowed her brows faintly and slowly awoke. Seeing the unfamiliar white-haired, blue-eyed man beside her, she was astonished. “Who are you? Why am I here?”

“Miss Yunmeng, you’re awake. Are you feeling better? I am Chang Hao, the third son of Elder Xue, who serves your father, Lord of the Northern Snow Domain. I’ve come specifically to bring you home. Ahead lies the Northern Mystic Realm. Let’s hurry on our way.” Chang Hao stopped supporting Yunmeng, merely gesturing for her to continue forward. His blue eyes were as clear and pure as flowing water.

Yunmeng ignored his words and remained unmoving, asking only to herself, “So you say. Why should I believe you? Shouldn’t I be on a small island near Australia right now? Where are Brother Huafeng, Master Zhang, Dan Qiusheng, and Elder Yinglong?”

“Don’t worry, Miss. They’re all fine. That millennia-old Yinglong of the dragon clan and the leader of the One Qi Dao Alliance both have some strength; they should be able to protect themselves. No need to worry.” Chang Hao paused. “As for how you can believe me, once you return to the Snow Domain and meet your father, Lord Xue, all will become clear. At that time, Lord Xue will awaken your memories of your previous life, and everything will come back to you.”

“Such a flimsy excuse?” Yunmeng felt a headache coming on. By instinct, she knew that whoever could bring her here from among so many masters was far beyond her ability to resist; escape was impossible, so she could only grit her teeth and walk onward, hoping his words were true. “Hey! Chang Hao, right?”

“That’s right, your memory is excellent.”

“Don’t try to fool me. I may not be able to beat you, but don’t think you can deceive me just because you’re good-looking. If everything you say is a lie, I’d rather die than meet your so-called Lord Xue!”

“Miss, you exaggerate. Lord Xue is your biological father. This is the primeval forest of the Greater Khingan Mountains. We’ve just risked exposing the Mystic Realm’s location by activating the formation and using the Grand Derivation Celestial Escape to leap over ten thousand miles of space, all so you could meet Lord Xue sooner, heal your old wounds, and enhance your power. That way, you’ll have the chance to do what you wish.” Chang Hao explained gently.

“I’ll trust you this once. Let’s go.” Yunmeng finally relented.

“Please follow me.” Chang Hao moved ahead swiftly, his steps as graceful as snowflakes dancing in the wind.

“The Snow Dance Illusory Wind Step! He really is from the Northern Snow Domain.” Seeing the familiar movement, buried deep within her memories, Yunmeng began to believe him. Without further hesitation, she used the same step and slowly caught up to Chang Hao.

Huafeng watched more than fifty people flying through the air, as if in a dream. Scenes he never dared imagine now unfolded before his eyes. Though awed, his heart was more concerned with how Yunmeng was faring. He wondered what kind of person the Lord of the Northern Snow Domain was, and whether Yunmeng would suffer injustice. Thinking about the difficulties of cultivation, he had no idea how much longer it would take to reach the realm of the Yuan Emperor; all he could do was give his utmost effort.

Lost in countless thoughts, in an instant, the group arrived beside an enormous oval-shaped flying saucer illuminated by a giant light screen. The saucer was as large as four or five football fields, and there were three in total, arranged in a triangular formation. Everyone landed, cautiously gathering together.

Yinglong’s black pupils suddenly turned gold, activating the dragon clan’s innate talent—the Insight Golden Eye, able to see through all disguises to the true form. He turned and sent a message to everyone, “Except for Huafeng, all those below Yuan Emperor level stay and follow Master Zhang’s instructions to provide support. The remaining thirty Yuan Emperors come with us to rescue! Obey orders, no one act alone! Move out!”

The group nodded silently, their expressions grave. These three ships hovered above the city; the world-famous opera house once stood directly below. The vast city had become a wasteland, but the undamaged skyscrapers still hinted at its former glory.

“We can only hold out for a few seconds, so everyone must hurry. The passage we’ve opened is battling the energy shield of the entire alien ship.” Yinglong finished, and seeing everyone nod in understanding, he and Dan Qiusheng worked together to break open a passage about two meters wide. More than thirty cultivators at the Yuan Emperor level rapidly slipped through in silence.

Huafeng and the others passed through the barrier, the scene before them becoming clearer. The once flourishing city, after half a century, was now worn and faded. Cars of all kinds were parked haphazardly along the roadside; despite decades without human maintenance, many facilities remained intact. If not for the weeds, taller than a person, growing everywhere on the roads, Huafeng might have thought these areas were only temporarily abandoned, and those who once lived here could return at any moment. Yet war’s cruelty and the overwhelming alien technology had erased all of that.

“Brother Huafeng, snap out of it. One of your family’s deputy hall masters and other cultivators from various sects are on the left saucer. We must hurry, or they may not survive the night.” Dan Qiusheng interrupted Huafeng’s reverie and called him to keep up with the team.

In a secluded alley, shielded by tall buildings, Dan Qiusheng distributed Master Zhang’s Concealing Charms to everyone. After a brief incantation, the charms took effect. Now, anyone passing by would likely not notice their presence; the Concealing Charms bestowed near-invisibility.

“Don’t spread out too much. The Charms last only an hour. In half an hour, whether successful or not, we must retreat! That’s an absolute order!” Dan Qiusheng gave the final instructions before action.

Huafeng saw, through the cracks between floors, the moon already high in the sky, knowing it was deep into the night. In this unfamiliar land, with a group of people he barely knew, on a mission to rescue Daoist allies he had never met, he felt a moment of disorientation. Yet he braced himself and kept up with the team.