Chapter 102: Ao Jinyu

"Ah!" The young girl cried out in alarm, startled by the sudden sight. Uncle Kong snorted coldly and rushed forward, ready to attack, but was stopped by the girl.

"Wait!"

Her intervention calmed Uncle Kong, and he took a closer look—there was no enemy, only an unconscious young man, his blue robes torn and ragged, clutching a treasure pouch in his hand.

"This is a human cultivator," Uncle Kong frowned, puzzled. "How could he appear in the Divine Realm? Was he hunted down?"

"He might still be alive. Let me fish him up," the girl said hurriedly. Without waiting for Uncle Kong to reply, she extended her jade-like hand, and a gentle stream of water enveloped the boy’s body, lifting him out.

The boy blinked weakly, feeling as if every part of him was about to split apart. Pain surged like a tide, and he couldn’t help but groan softly before slipping back into unconsciousness, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"He’s alive, but badly injured," the girl observed, approaching the ragged youth who looked for all the world like a beggar. Seeing his agony, her heart softened.

"Miss, you’re far too reckless," Uncle Kong sighed helplessly. "If he were an enemy—"

"He’s nearly dead. How could he be a threat?" she retorted. After thinking for a moment, she placed her hands on the boy’s chest. A faint spiritual glow shimmered, and his wounds began to heal rapidly.

"Even if he’s not an enemy, you needn’t waste your spiritual power healing him. His cultivation is only at the peak of the First Turn Human Immortal, maybe just into the Second Turn. He poses no threat, but how could he be of any help?" Uncle Kong frowned.

"I’m not saving him for help," she replied.

Soon, the boy—whose name was Liu Ping—finally awoke. He blinked, the pain that had surged over him now receding like the tide. As he opened his eyes, he was met with the face of a stunningly beautiful girl, and for a moment he doubted the reality of it.

His mind in disarray, Liu Ping squinted and quickly recalled and analyzed his situation. Once his thoughts were organized, he spoke, "Thank you, miss, for saving me."

Hearing his gratitude, Ao Jinyu was pleased and smiled, "It was nothing—it’s what I ought to do."

Liu Ping sat up slowly, relieved to see the treasure pouch still in his hands. He quickly took out a few pills, swallowed them, and sat cross-legged to restore his strength.

Ao Jinyu, Uncle Kong, and several armored guards rested nearby as well.

After a while, Liu Ping opened his eyes again. Most of his injuries had healed, his condition about ninety percent of his peak. The rest would require slow recuperation.

"That was close… Nearly died. If I hadn’t grasped Divine Demon Descent at the last moment, I might really have met my end," Liu Ping muttered, a bit disheartened, though his spirits were not bad. Disaster survived brings fortune, and now he had mastered Divine Demon Descent, granting him the strength to face Earth Immortals head-on. Against those below Earth Immortal, he could almost defeat them instantly. The formidable power of Divine Demon Descent left him quite satisfied.

---

"Thank you all for your rescue. Words cannot express my gratitude. Your kindness will be remembered," Liu Ping rose and bowed to those cultivating nearby.

"A mere Human Immortal—what gratitude can you offer?" one of the armored guards grumbled, already in a foul mood after watching the admired Miss personally heal this stranger, clearly displeased and snorting with disdain.

"How dare you speak so!" Uncle Kong’s face turned cold as he reprimanded.

The guard lowered his head, not daring to say more.

"Who are you, and why are you here?" Uncle Kong turned to question him, his tone only slightly softer than the guard’s.

These people had just saved him, so Liu Ping naturally wouldn’t quarrel. "My surname is Liu, given name Ping, courtesy name Feng Chang. I don’t know why I’m here—must have been pulled over by a teleportation array. Where is this place?"

The girl, Ao Jinyu, watched Liu Ping with keen interest. Born and raised in the ‘Ancient Primordial Divine Realm,’ she had never met a human before. She quickly answered, "This is near the Call Gorge."

"Call Gorge? Which prefecture is that?" Liu Ping was puzzled and continued questioning.

Ao Jinyu replied, "Prefecture? Not any prefecture. This is the Ancient Primordial Realm."

"Ancient Primordial Realm? This… a small world! Is it… the Demon Realm?" Liu Ping was startled, sizing up the group, his disbelief apparent.

"No, it’s the Divine Realm," Ao Jinyu nodded.

"Divine Realm?" Liu Ping paused, then understood—the so-called Divine Realm was merely the residence of the Divine Dao clans, fundamentally no different from the Demon Realm.

"I actually got pulled here…" Liu Ping was speechless, then asked, "Could you tell me how to return to the Human Realm?"

"You can. There’s a teleportation array at the realm’s gate, but you need a token to activate it. Some places don’t have one. Which prefecture do you wish to go to?" Uncle Kong, seeing Ao Jinyu’s interest, quickly interjected.

"Realm’s gate? I want to go to Zhang Prefecture, Yangzhou," Liu Ping said, and the atmosphere instantly grew tense. The guards and Uncle Kong grew alert, staring coldly at him.

Liu Ping was baffled and took a defensive stance. "What’s the meaning of this?"

"What’s the meaning? Which family sent you?" Uncle Kong snorted coldly.

"Which family? I think you misunderstand. I merely stumbled in here by accident."

"Misunderstand? How could such a coincidence happen, and you just happen to want to go to Zhang Prefecture?" Uncle Kong clearly didn’t believe him.

Liu Ping shrugged, palm open. "I’m afraid it’s exactly that coincidental."

---

Ao Jinyu said, "Uncle Kong, it’s probably a misunderstanding. He doesn’t seem to be lying."

Uncle Kong smiled bitterly. "Miss, whose side are you on?"

Ao Jinyu shook her head. "I’m just stating facts. Uncle Kong, you’re too nervous."

Liu Ping explained, "I’m a scholar of the Great Xia Dynasty, a human. I have nothing to do with the families you mention." With that, he produced his scholar’s insignia and displayed it.

The guards didn’t recognize it, but Ao Jinyu found it novel and watched curiously. Uncle Kong did, his brows relaxing as he snorted, "A scholar cultivating the Dao—what a foolish proof to offer. Fine, since Miss says so and you don’t seem to be lying, you may come with us. We’re heading to Zhang Prefecture as well."

Liu Ping was delighted. "Excellent! You’re truly a good man, uncle!"

"Who’s your uncle?" Uncle Kong’s expression hardened as he snorted. He didn’t truly trust Liu Ping, but as a half-step Earth Immortal, he wasn’t afraid of a mere Human Immortal causing trouble. Even the five guards, all at the Third Turn Human Immortal, could easily handle him.

Liu Ping was speechless, forcing a smile, then found a spot to change out of his tattered clothes. Luckily he had spare garments in his treasure pouch, or he would have to maintain that beggar’s image. After washing his face, he emerged renewed. Ao Jinyu’s eyes brightened slightly. "So you really are a scholar."

"Of course," Liu Ping nodded and then proceeded with the seven others.

The girl seemed interested in him—or rather, in the Human Realm where he lived. Liu Ping was pleased to converse with her, despite the obvious annoyance it caused the five guards, but what concern was that to him? They were merely Third Turn Human Immortals. In their exchanges, Liu Ping only learned their names; they revealed little else, evidently not trusting him, which he didn’t mind. If they told him everything, that would be more abnormal.

"The Human Realm is prosperous—how prosperous is it, really?" Ao Jinyu asked.

Liu Ping spoke only of its pleasant aspects. Uncle Kong snorted, "The Human Realm is poor. Most common folk barely eat, suffering endlessly, while the officials and nobles indulge every night, living in utter decadence. It’s two extremes, hardly the interesting prosperity you describe!"

Liu Ping was at a loss, inwardly thinking—so Uncle Kong is actually a disgruntled spirit?

Suddenly, Liu Ping’s expression changed. He drew the Qing Su sword from his treasure pouch and slashed decisively, unleashing a surge of sword intent!

Uncle Kong and several guards felt a chill down their backs, surprise flickering in their eyes. The sword intent was powerful!

Uncle Kong, confused, shouted at Liu Ping, "How dare you!"

But Liu Ping ignored him, swinging his sword to cleave a large tree in front of them cleanly in two.

A sharp scream rang out, followed by a voice seething with hatred, "You’re a clever one! Your sword intent is decent, but much too weak!"