Chapter 227: Peace in the Ye Luo Clan, Seeking the City Without Tears in July

Liu Yi then took out a yellow orb the size of an egg from his bosom with his right hand and handed it to Ye Luo Baihua, saying, “To control divine artifacts and unleash higher-level skills, one needs strong vital energy. I’m giving this to you as a gift for the restoration of peace in the Ye Luo clan.” What Liu Yi took out was precisely the vital energy pill of the Silver Phosphorus Snake from the Great Desolation Mountains.
Ye Luo Baihua took it and asked, “What is this?”
Before Liu Yi could speak, Tie Shi on his shoulder replied, “That’s something every martial artist aspires to obtain—it’s the vital energy pill of a divine beast. Only divine beasts possess such pills, and they must be beasts over a thousand years old. One also has to be able to kill that beast to get its vital energy pill. It took me a lot of effort to obtain it. Now he’s giving it to you.”
Liu Yi looked at Tie Shi on his shoulder and said, “Why are you so talkative?”
Tie Shi glanced at Liu Yi and said, “I haven’t spoken in ages. Now that I’m talking, you call me talkative. Yet I still helped you.”
Hearing Tie Shi’s explanation, Ye Luo Baihua quickly said, “I can’t accept this. It’s too precious.”
Liu Yi shook his head and said, “Take it. I don’t need it. You need it for practicing swordsmanship. It’s not that precious. Consider it… a gift from me for the restoration of peace in the Ye Luo clan.”
Ye Luo Jianmu naturally knew how powerful that vital energy pill was. He had only heard of it; he had never seen it. If Princess Baihua consumed it, it would be far more effective than ten years of daily practice. Ye Luo Jianmu looked at Liu Yi and said to Ye Luo Baihua, “Princess, please accept it. Otherwise, practicing swordsmanship will be difficult. Besides, Young Master Liu has said this pill is useless to him.”
Ye Luo Baihua glared at Ye Luo Jianmu unhappily and said, “Uncle Jian, why are you like this today? After receiving so much kindness from others, you still want to take their things. How dare you?”
Liu Yi smiled and said, “Others? So I’m an outsider? Aren’t we friends? If you consider me an outsider and not a friend, then give it back to me.”
Hearing this, Ye Luo Baihua quickly said, “I didn’t say that. I didn’t say that. I’ll just accept it.”
Liu Yi nodded smilingly and said, “Senior Jian is also thinking of your best interests. Your cultivation level isn’t very high, so it’s difficult to master this divine skill. With the help of this vital energy pill, you’ll surely achieve twice the result with half the effort. Besides, we’re friends. Why worry about such things?”
Ye Luo Baihua had grown up in loneliness and solitude, never truly understanding what a friend was or how broad the concept of friendship could be. But since Liu Yi called her a friend, she no longer saw him as an outsider, which made her very happy. After hearing Liu Yi’s words, she nodded naively and said, “Okay, then I’ll accept it.”
Liu Yi nodded gently, glanced at the scorching sun overhead, and continued, “Well, since this matter here is settled, I think it’s time for me to leave. I’ll teach you that sword technique this afternoon. I’ll be leaving tomorrow as I still have many things to do.”
Hearing this, Ye Luo Jianmu said, “Young Master, there’s no need to rush. Stay in the City Without Tears for a few days as a token of our gratitude.”

Liu Yi shook his head and said, “I don’t have much time left. There are still many important things to do. I appreciate Senior Jian’s kindness, but I must leave no matter what.”
Ye Luo Jianmu glanced at Ye Luo Baihua, seemingly seeking her advice. But Ye Luo Baihua knew Liu Yi was in a hurry to find July, so he couldn’t stay long. She didn’t say much. After thinking for a while, Ye Luo Jianmu said, “Then this way—Young Master Liu, go with the princess to Bingxin Cave to practice swordsmanship. The air there is cold and clear, perfect for cultivation. Tonight, we’ll prepare a banquet to see you off. How does that sound?”
Liu Yi thought for a moment and said, “In that case… I’ll trouble Senior Jian.”
Ye Luo Jianmu smiled and nodded. “It’s no trouble.” With that, he turned and walked toward the city wall with Ye Luo Ming to prepare for the banquet. For them, Liu Yi had not only saved Wuleye City but also unraveled the long-hidden mystery of its divine artifact. The Ye Luo family had finally returned to peace, which was already a great favor to them.
Only Liu Yi and Ye Luo Baihua remained on the city wall. Watching the beast herds dispersing below, Ye Luo Baihua asked, “What should we do about these beast herds? Could they pose a threat to Wuleye City?”
Liu Yi shook his head. “They were all drawn here by the Blood of Fury. Now that the blood is gone, they’ve returned to their usual state of calm. This isn’t their habitat at all. I think… they’ll leave soon to find their homes, after all, that’s where they were born.”
Ye Luo Baihua nodded. “You’re in such a hurry to leave—is it to find July?”
Liu Yi looked at her and nodded. “Most likely. July has been away from me for a long time. We were separated when I came to this world. I wonder how she is now. But… even if it weren’t to find July, I still need to leave right away. I have many things to do, and my time is running out. I must hurry and complete them.”
Listening to Liu Yi’s words, Ye Luo Baihua seemed both understanding and puzzled. “By ‘time,’ do you mean the demonic cultivation you’re practicing?”
Liu Yi nodded. “The cultivation method I practice was left behind by ancient true demons. It’s called ‘Lanerfina Qing.’ Since this method originated from the true demons’ rebellion against heaven, the higher I cultivate, the greater the difficulties. If I reach the twelfth level, the heavenly fire will burn my heart. If I reach the thirteenth level—the Heart of Slaughter—I’ll be consumed by the demonic power itself. The more powerful I don’t become, the more harm it may cause me.”
Ye Luo Baihua looked at Liu Yi and asked, “Then stop it right away. Why continue practicing that demonic cultivation?”
Liu Yi shook his head. “Once it starts, how can I stop? ‘Lanerfina Qing’ isn’t bound by anything. It constantly absorbs the chaotic energy from the world and transforms it into true energy. In other words, the longer time passes, the stronger my true energy becomes. And that means the greater the chance of being consumed by the Heart of Slaughter. One day, when my true energy can no longer be released, that will be the day of my eternal doom.”

Ye Luo Baihua hurriedly said, “Then you can abandon your current martial arts and practice other techniques. Although those techniques aren’t as powerful as ‘Lan Erfeina Qing,’ they won’t harm you either.”
Liu Yi shook his head, gazing at the distant horizon, and said, “No, my strength is still very weak. You saw Pangu in my dreams too. I have no choice. Even if given another chance, I would still practice ‘Lan Erfeina Qing.’ I want to save my wife from suffering and make Pangu repent for his seven thousand years of sins.” His voice grew more and more intense, and by the end, Liu Yi was shouting.
Although Ye Luo Baihua didn’t fully understand Liu Yi’s situation, she could relate to it. Perhaps there are things we know are wrong but still insist on doing, because the right thing can no longer bring us justice. Ye Luo Baihua continued, “I’ll help you find July. Let Uncle Jian send people to look for her—it should save time.”
Liu Yi thought for a while. He originally intended to decline, not wanting to accept too much help from others. But July had indeed been missing for a long time, and the person who took her was Yu Chenxing. Though he didn’t know Yu Chenxing’s status within the Lan family, his preconceived notions about them made him even more worried about July’s safety. After some thought, he nodded and said, “Then I’m in your debt.”
Ye Luo Baihua nodded. “Okay, then I’ll go with you to look for her tomorrow. Also, please ask Uncle Jian to send people to help.”
Hearing Ye Luo Baihua’s words, Liu Yi frowned and shook his head. “The princess should stay in Wulei City. Let Senior Jian take care of July’s matter. I’ll handle it myself too.”
Ye Luo Baihua shook her head. “I know very little. This is a good chance for me to gain experience. Besides, do you even know the Netherworld well? At least I can be of some help.”
Liu Yi fell silent again. Ye Luo Baihua was right—he really didn’t know much about this world. With her help, it would be easier than doing it alone. Yet, he felt uneasy for some reason he couldn’t explain.
Seeing Liu Yi’s silence, Ye Luo Baihua continued, “If you’re not speaking, that means you agree. Alright, let’s practice that sword technique first. We’ll set off tomorrow. I’ll prepare a mount and everything needed for the journey.”
Before Liu Yi could speak, Ye Luo Baihua had already shut him down. It seemed too late to refuse now. Moreover, he didn’t know where Ye Luo Baihua had learned such stubborn tactics. Before he could say anything, she had already left the city wall and headed inside. Watching her walk away, Liu Yi shook his head helplessly and followed.
Liu Yi had no idea that a woman’s stubbornness doesn’t need to be learned—it’s an innate trait that emerges unconsciously, especially when dealing with people.
Clouds drifted by quickly, and the sun set unnoticed. When the Morning Star rose, signaling the arrival of night, two people emerged from Bingxin Cave—Liu Yi and Ye Luo Baihua. As they walked, Liu Yi said, “You have a high aptitude for learning. You’ve mastered it so fast. Once you become more proficient, this sword technique will become even more powerful.”

Ye Luobaihua smiled and nodded, saying in her pleasant voice, “I really do have to thank you for your True Essence Pills. If not for you teaching me, I probably wouldn’t have known the secrets hidden in this sword my whole life.”
Liu Yi nodded and said, “Hehe, maybe so. By the way… Tieshi, have you seen her?”
Ye Luobaihua replied, “You mean that monkey? It must have gone to find Uncle Sword. Iceheart Cave is so cold—how could it stay there?”
Liu Yi nodded and said, “That’s true.”
Ye Luobaihua looked at the stars in the sky and continued, “Where do you plan to look for July? The world is so big; finding one person is like searching for a needle in a haystack—it’s extremely difficult.”
Liu Yi replied, “Yeah, the world is huge, but if we have a clue, following it will make it easier.”
Ye Luobaihua asked, “What clue?”
Liu Yi continued, “Although I don’t know Yu Chenxing’s status or position within the Lan family, Lei Jun is the master of the Lan family’s Star Palace, and it’s clear they are very close. If we can find Lei Jun, it won’t be hard to locate Yu Chenxing. Once we find her, we’ll naturally ask her for answers.”
Hearing this, Ye Luobaihua said happily, “You think so much! I never considered that. But… after all these years, I’ve never even heard of Yu Chenxing. She shouldn’t be a noble of the Lan family. Yet, judging from her relationship with Lei Jun, it seems quite special. What exactly is her identity?”
Ye Luobaihua seemed to be thinking about something when suddenly she gasped, as if remembering something, and said, “Oh, right! I remember now. That ‘Four-Winged Dragon Beast’ is a treasure of the Lan family, accessible only to those with royal bloodline within the family. Moreover… Yu Chenxing has used the powers of that Four-Winged Dragon Beast. So, she must be related to the King of the Underworld and the six palace masters.”
Listening to Ye Luobaihua’s analysis, Liu Yi nodded and said, “By your reasoning, her identity becomes even more mysterious. Wait… you just mentioned the King of the Underworld? Weren’t we told that the King of the Underworld from the Lan family left long ago?”
Ye Luobaihua nodded and said, “The King of the Underworld did leave, handing over the Lan family to Lan Ying. But he still maintains contact with the Six Star Palaces. It’s just that outsiders don’t know where the King of the Underworld has gone.”
Liu Yi nodded and murmured to himself, “Tears of the King of the Underworld… Tears of the King of the Underworld. To reunite the petals and leaves of the Otherworld Flower, the Tears of the King of the Underworld are one of the key elements. It seems there are quite a few troubles involved here.”
Ye Luobaihua looked at Liu Yi and asked, “What did you just say?”
Liu Yi quickly shook his head and said, “Nothing. I just heard people mention the King of the Underworld before and became curious. Given how highly skilled Lan Ying is, I wonder what kind of figure the King of the Underworld is.”
Ye Luobaihua replied, “I’ve only heard that the King of the Underworld divided his martial arts skills into six parts and passed them on to the six palace masters. That’s why their cultivation methods differ, but their skills are all incredibly high. Lan Ying is one of them. If we want to know how high the King of the Underworld’s skill level really is, we just need to add up the skills of the six palace masters.”

Hearing this, Liu Yi was shocked. He thought to himself, “So terrifying? Has the Dark King’s cultivation already approached that of Pangu?” Though he thought this, he still refused to believe it, as after all, he still needed a drop of the Dark King’s tears. If his cultivation were truly that high, the trouble would surely be significant.

Ye Luo Baihua suddenly asked, “Who exactly are you? Your enemies seem quite powerful.”

Liu Yi looked into Ye Luo Baihua’s eyes and suddenly smiled. “I’m not human. I’m a demon—a demon that has existed since ancient times, Pangu’s nightmare.”

Ye Luo Baihua didn’t seem surprised. Instead, she looked into Liu Yi’s eyes and said, “Is that so? I feel like you’re someone who’s gone through many hardships.”

Liu Yi gazed at the sky and said, “There might be no real difference between humans and demons. Sometimes, humans are even more terrifying than demons.”

Ye Luo Baihua didn’t seem to understand, as she hadn’t truly experienced such things. And so, the two walked leisurely for an unknown length of time until they reached the entrance of the corridor. Ye Luo Baihua said, “Alright, let’s go in. Uncle Jian must have prepared plenty of delicious food. Everyone’s been exhausted lately; let’s relax properly tonight.” With that, she headed inside.

Liu Yi watched Ye Luo Baihua’s back and said to himself, “Yes, after all this time and all these events, things are finally coming to a conclusion. After tonight, there’s still much to do. I hope I have enough time.” Unconsciously, a hint of sadness arose in Liu Yi’s heart. When would those flowers of the other shore bloom again?

When Liu Yi opened his eyes again, the east sky was already showing a hint of dawn. He took a deep breath of the morning air, thinking about last night’s banquet. It had been a long time since he’d drunk alcohol, yet he had gotten drunk last night and fallen asleep until dawn. A gentle breeze blew, and Liu Yi felt a coolness under his feet. When he sat up, he saw that his boots had been taken off.

Instinctively, he touched his waist but felt no presence of the “Sorrowful Dream” sword. Turning his head, he suddenly saw the black sword lying quietly beside him. Liu Yi gently patted his head, recalling last night’s events. He must have been drunk, and then Ye Luo Baihua had brought him to his room. Looking at his removed boots and the sword beside him, Liu Yi could only smile helplessly and say to himself, “Was this the princess’s doing?” Without thinking further, he got out of bed, put on his boots, reathed the black sword to his waist, stretched a bit, and headed outside toward the hall.

After passing through the corridor and entering the hall, although Liu Yi felt it was still early, Ye Luo Baihua, Ye Luo Ming, and Ye Luo Jianmu were already there. But they weren’t waiting for Liu Yi; they hadn’t expected him to return so early. It seemed they were discussing something. Seeing this, Liu Yi asked, “Am I disturbing you?”

Ye Luo Jianmu immediately stood up and replied, “Young master, please don’t be polite. It’s not like you’re an outsider—how could you disturb us? We just didn’t expect you to get up so early. Princess Baihua came to discuss matters related to the City Without Tears with us.” It seemed Ye Luo Jianmu truly didn’t regard Liu Yi as an outsider. With Liu Yi’s question, the topic of their discussion was revealed.

It was only then that Liu Yi remembered that yesterday, Ye Luobaihua had said she wanted to go look for July together with him, and she was probably discussing this matter now. Although he had wanted to decline at the time, he had no choice—Ye Luobaihua had already shut him out of any possibility of refusal. Moreover, Liu Yi needed someone familiar with the Netherworld to guide him. After hearing about the Lan family, the King of the Netherworld, and the other six-star palace masters the previous day, he suddenly realized he knew very little. With Ye Luobaihua around, he might learn much more and avoid many troubles, so he had no objections now.

Liu Yi nodded and asked, “What plans do the two seniors have?”

Ye Luojianmu replied, “The princess has said she will go look for the person together with the young master, which will also be a chance for her to gain some experience. As for us, we will send people to investigate the whereabouts of Miss July. But since the young master already has a lead, we’re not worried. We will temporarily take care of Wulei City on behalf of the princess.”

Liu Yi glanced at Ye Luobaihua. At that moment, she wore a beaming expression, as if she were about to fly out of a cage. Perhaps she was indeed a canary trapped in a cage, and it was time to restore her freedom. She was so young and shouldn’t lock herself away.

Liu Yi nodded and said, “Since the two seniors have made their plans, I don’t have much to add.”