Chapter 990: I’m Coming Clean

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

Bai Piaopiao and Yi Feng spent their days savoring tea, reciting poetry, playing the qin under the moonlight, and sharing heartfelt conversations. They enjoyed an incredibly joyful time together, both silently relishing the fleeting beauty of the moment without ever bringing up anything else.

Until the evening of the seventh day.

After a piece of music concluded, Yi Feng, as usual, praised her.

"Miss Bai, your qin skills have reached a level of mastery that’s truly remarkable. The emotions conveyed through your music are profound and soothing to the soul!"

To find a soulmate in life is to die without regret.

Receiving praise from the one she admired, Bai Piaopiao smiled softly, her heart filled with both joy and a hint of shyness. She glanced at him tenderly, but even though he hid it well, she noticed the worry in his eyes. It was impossible to escape her keen gaze.

No doubt, Yi Feng was still troubled by the matter of Gu Qingcheng.

Though they had been in perfect harmony and never mentioned it, Bai Piaopiao understood. She simply didn’t want this troublesome matter to ruin their rare moments of happiness, so she chose to remain silent. Both of them knew that a calamity was approaching, and Yi Feng likely already had a plan. This time, no matter what, he wouldn’t allow her to intervene again.

Now that the seventh day had arrived, it was time to bring things to a close…

Bai Piaopiao’s expression grew serious.

She stood up and walked over to Yi Feng, speaking softly, "Yi Feng, the Great Desolation Seven Extremes Formation only lasts for seven days. Tomorrow, when the seventh Dao power dissipates, Gu Qingcheng will return."

"At that time, I will stop him. I know you want to take this burden upon yourself, but this time, Gu Qingcheng is consumed by rage, and we cannot underestimate him. Even I may not be able to hold him back."

"The best course of action now is for you to leave immediately. Find a secluded and quiet place to weather this storm. Gu Qingcheng won’t dare to harm me. Once you break through to the Saint realm, you can reappear. As long as you’re alive, there’s always hope. Do you understand…?"

Her tone was gentle, her words tactful.

Looking into Bai Piaopiao’s worried eyes, Yi Feng felt an indescribable warmth in his heart. This girl truly cared for him, even willing to face such a great calamity just to protect him. Her sincerity was genuine and precious.

To have such a confidant in life was truly a blessing from heaven.

But Yi Feng was a man of honor! How could he simply run away?

"I’ll take responsibility for my own actions. I can’t just slink away and leave you to face this alone!"

Bai Piaopiao was stunned for a moment, then deeply moved. Seeing the determination in Yi Feng’s eyes, her heart was completely touched. Even though he knew the calamity was imminent, he still prioritized her safety, unafraid despite his lack of strength. Such courage and responsibility moved her deeply, and she felt her feelings for him were not misplaced.

Yet, the more she saw this side of him, the more she cherished Yi Feng.

"Yi Feng! This is no time for reckless heroics. You must leave now. We’ll have a chance to reunite in the future. If anything were to happen to you… I… I would never recover."

Her words made Yi Feng’s eyes widen.

Bai Piaopiao’s face flushed, but she didn’t look away. Instead, she met his gaze boldly and firmly. Their eyes locked, and in that moment, a thousand words were spoken without a sound.

Yi Feng never expected this girl to value him so much!

She was willing to take a blade for him, to put his safety above all else. It was rare to find a friend who would go to such lengths. With such a life-and-death bond, there was no room for secrets, even his greatest one.

After a moment of contemplation, Yi Feng decided to come clean.

"I’m coming clean. Actually… even if I were to face Gu Qingcheng, even if he’s at the Saint realm, I might still have a chance of winning?"

Bai Piaopiao frowned slightly.

"Yi Feng, don’t joke about this. The difference between a Half-Saint and a Saint is like heaven and earth. The Dao power a Saint wields is something you simply can’t withstand…"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she quickly added, "I don’t mean to belittle you. I know you might have some hidden cards, but you mustn’t act rashly against a Saint. You can’t afford to underestimate him."

Yi Feng was even more moved by her concern and smiled reassuringly.

"Miss Bai, I understand what you’re saying, but I truly have some confidence. In fact, I possess a divine technique. Though I haven’t tested it yet, I know its effects. If I can die and then be reborn, I’ll achieve an immortal state, and my cultivation will greatly increase!"

"If you can help me achieve this rebirth, dealing with that Chess Saint shouldn’t be a problem!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Piaopiao’s eyes widened in shock.

Die and then be reborn?

Did that mean he would have to truly die once? How could such a bizarre technique exist?

Though she had already reached the Saint realm, she had never heard of such a thing. If it weren’t for Yi Feng telling her, she would never have believed it. To die and then be reborn, achieving immortality and a massive boost in cultivation—just the simple description made it clear that this was an incredibly terrifying technique, likely lost since ancient times.

Yi Feng actually possessed such a secret. No wonder he had broken through to the Half-Saint realm in just a few years. Now that he had revealed this secret to her, his trust in her was beyond question…

Bai Piaopiao’s heart was in turmoil, her face showing a mix of emotions. While she was deeply moved, she also had doubts about this terrifying technique. Yet, she trusted Yi Feng completely and knew that cultivators often had their own secrets. Sometimes, it was better not to pry too deeply. She found herself torn.

After a few moments of silence, she spoke seriously.

"Yi Feng… do you truly possess such a divine technique? This matter is of great importance. It’s not something to joke about."

"I would never lie about something like this, nor would I deceive you. It’s just that the conditions for practicing this technique are extremely harsh. I need to test it once, and I haven’t started practicing it yet. That’s why I need your help now." Yi Feng nodded earnestly.

Seeing his serious expression, Bai Piaopiao’s heart tightened, and the pressure in her eyes grew.

From what she knew of Yi Feng, he wasn’t one to speak carelessly. He was always steady and low-key, never even revealing his cultivation level before. Now that he had shared this secret, it was likely that no one else knew about it.

Die and then be reborn…

Who would choose such a high-risk technique unless they were at a life-and-death juncture? It seemed Yi Feng had already made up his mind to stand his ground.

Any further attempts to dissuade him would only be an insult to such a courageous man.

A faint mist appeared in Bai Piaopiao’s eyes. Even though she knew the stakes, she couldn’t bring herself to strike Yi Feng. She feared any misstep, and the consequences of failure were something she couldn’t bear. She was caught in a dilemma.

In the midst of this silence, Yi Feng spoke again.

"It’s alright. Just use your full strength to attack me, and leave the rest to fate. Trust me! As long as I can die, the technique will succeed!"

"Life and death are fated, wealth and honor are in heaven’s hands. Just do your best!"

His increasingly handsome face now radiated a calmness that saw through everything, exuding an indescribable ease and confidence. Bai Piaopiao was momentarily stunned.

Life and death are fated.

These words carried a profound wisdom and openness, giving her great inspiration. While admiring Yi Feng’s enlightened state of mind, Bai Piaopiao also made up her heart. If this failed, she would follow him in death, never betraying such deep affection!

With her resolve firm, Bai Piaopiao nodded.

"Alright, I’ll use my full strength!"

Her soft voice fell.

Bai Piaopiao’s eyes took on a commanding presence as her jade-like fingers danced, summoning a sea of flowers. Countless strands of Dao power gathered from the heavens and earth, the dense energy almost visible to the naked eye. The moonlight was completely obscured by the floral sea!

With her right hand, she unleashed the most powerful strike of her life. The overwhelming force engulfed Yi Feng, his figure appearing minuscule before the terrifying sea of flowers. In an instant, he was swallowed!

At that moment.

Bai Piaopiao’s heart clenched, tears welling up in her eyes. But she gritted her teeth and poured all her power into the strike.

"BOOM~~~~~~!"

A deafening roar shook the heavens and earth, terrifying the entire sacred land. The surrounding divine beasts scattered in panic, as if a great calamity had befallen the world.

As the sea of flowers surged like a tidal wave, devouring everything in its path, the small courtyard was instantly flattened. Bai Piaopiao’s heart ached with pain, but she kept her eyes fixed on the cloud of dust, both hopeful and fearful, her expression a mix of complex emotions.

When the dust finally began to settle, a figure could still be seen standing calmly.

A puzzled murmur came from within.

"Huh? Why am I fine? What’s going on…?"

Hearing that voice, Bai Piaopiao’s eyes widened in shock!