After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 53

When Ye Li finally stepped onto solid ground after traversing the reeking swamp infested with countless venomous insects, the spatial fluctuations emanating from the Cloud Mist Secret Realm’s entrance behind her had become extremely intense and unstable. The light portal, which had previously rippled like water, now twisted and flickered as if it could collapse at any moment.

She dared not linger. Fighting the lingering weakness from her unhealed injuries and the imminent expiration of her disguise talisman’s effect, she quickly moved away from the exit area and found a hidden mountain hollow, concealing herself in the thick bushes.

Almost the instant she hid herself—

“Buzz—!”

A dull hum, seemingly originating from the depths of the void, echoed through the heavens and earth! The light portal to the Cloud Mist Secret Realm’s entrance suddenly exploded with a dazzling light, then, like a shattered mirror, it cracked inch by inch, finally dissolving into countless specks of light, vanishing into nothingness. All that remained was a patch of distorted spatial ripples, evidence that an entrance to a minor world had once been there.

The Secret Realm had closed.

Immediately afterward, streaks of white light flashed one after another in the empty space around the former entrance, like dumplings being dropped into a pot, and figures were forcibly expelled by the spatial energy. These were the survivors who had failed to leave in time and were ultimately teleported out by the Secret Realm’s rules.

The scene became chaotic for a moment.

Some stumbled upon landing, still shaken; others were injured, their bodies stained with blood, and immediately sat down to heal; some eagerly looked around, searching for fellow disciples or wary of enemies; others laughed out loud upon exiting, clearly having gained much; and still others looked dejected, sighing, having clearly wasted their time or even suffered losses.

The Elders and team leaders of the various sects, who had been waiting outside, immediately rushed forward to receive their disciples, creating a bustling clamor.

Ye Li watched the commotion from her hiding place. She saw Gao Sheng, Shi Feng, and others being teleported out. Gao Sheng’s face was terrifyingly grim, his gaze sweeping the crowd like an eagle’s, clearly searching for her whereabouts. Shi Feng’s severed arm was thickly bandaged, his face pale, his eyes filled with venomous hatred.

She also saw Qin Yixuan and the disciples of the Azure Water Pavilion. Qin Yixuan maintained her usual cool and refined demeanor. Her white robe was slightly dusted with dirt, but it did not diminish her aura. She calmly conversed with the Azure Water Pavilion Elder who came to meet her, her gaze occasionally sweeping the whole area with a subtle scrutiny.

Su Wanyun, Liu Yiyi, Han Li, Chen Mo, and other disciples of the Cloud Pill Peak also appeared one after another. They gathered together, their faces showing the relief of surviving a disaster, but Su Wanyun’s eyes held an unconcealed worry for Ye Li, as she constantly searched for her in the crowd.

The team leader for the Profound Cloud Sect this time was a solemn-faced, profound-aura Elder, one of the sect’s venerable Law Enforcement Hall Elders named Yan. He looked at the returning disciples, his brow slightly furrowed. He had clearly noticed the reduced numbers and the injuries on many, especially when he saw Shi Feng’s severed arm, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

“Gao Sheng, what happened? Shi Feng’s arm?” Elder Yan asked in a deep voice, his tone conveying unquestionable authority.

Gao Sheng immediately stepped forward, a look of grief and indignation on his face, and bowed: “Reporting to Elder Yan! This disciple was just about to report! In this Secret Realm, our sect’s Cloud Pill Peak disciple, Ye Li, is suspected of obtaining a Heaven-defying inheritance, practicing an evil technique, and her temperament has drastically changed! She not only harmed fellow disciples, ambushing and severely injuring Junior Brother Shi Feng, severing his arm, but also colluded with outsiders during the struggle for the inheritance and struck mercilessly against us! This disciple was incompetent and failed to capture her. I beg the Elder for forgiveness!”

His words were not quiet, and not only Elder Yan heard clearly, but also many surrounding Profound Cloud Sect disciples and people from other sects heard every word.

“What? Ye Li harmed fellow disciples?”

“She also obtained a Heaven-defying inheritance?”

“No wonder we didn’t see her come out. Did she die inside out of a guilty conscience? Or did she escape?”

Instantly, whispers arose. Su Wanyun and the others’ faces changed drastically. Liu Yiyi anxiously wanted to interject, but was pulled back by Han Li, who signaled her not to be impulsive. Chen Mo frowned, remaining silent.

Elder Yan’s sharp gaze fixed on Gao Sheng: “Is this true? Do you have evidence? Did other disciples witness this?”

Gao Sheng hurriedly pointed to the several Battle Frenzy Peak disciples beside him and the two minor family disciples who had miraculously escaped from Ye Li’s hands: “Elder Yan, please observe! Junior Brother Shi Feng’s injury is solid proof! These Junior Brothers also saw it with their own eyes! That Ye Li’s movement technique was strange, and her finger technique was sinister, definitely not a righteous cultivation method of our Profound Cloud Sect! She must have fallen into the Demonic Path!”

Those few disciples naturally agreed, exaggerating and embellishing the details of how “vicious” Ye Li was.

Elder Yan’s face was serious. He then looked at Su Wanyun and the others: “The few of you were traveling with Ye Li. Do you know about this matter?”

Su Wanyun plucked up her courage, stepped forward, and bowed: “Reporting to the Elder, this disciple is Su Wanyun. Senior Sister Ye is definitely not as Senior Brother Gao described! At the time, outside the inheritance cave, Senior Brother Gao and the others were the ones who first surrounded and attacked Senior Sister Ye, attempting to seize her opportunity. Senior Sister Ye was forced to defend herself! Senior Brother Shi Feng’s arm was also injured by Senior Sister Ye during the encirclement, but there was a reason for it! As for colluding with outsiders and practicing a demonic technique, it is pure fabrication! Please investigate thoroughly, Elder!”

“Junior Sister Su, don’t be misled by that demoness!” Gao Sheng interrupted sternly. “What benefits did she give you to make you defend her like this?”

“You!” Su Wanyun’s face flushed with anger.

“Enough!” Elder Yan stopped the argument, his gaze sweeping over everyone. “This matter is fraught with doubts and cannot be determined by one side’s story. Upon returning to the sect, the Law Enforcement Hall will conduct a detailed investigation, and justice will be served! The most pressing task now is to count the numbers, treat the injured, and return to the sect!”

He had his own calculations. Gao Sheng was a Core (Registered) Disciple of the Battle Frenzy Peak with a complex background, and if Ye Li truly obtained a great opportunity, she also needed to be treated with caution. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, now was not the time for deep inquiry.

Although Gao Sheng was unwilling, he did not dare defy Elder Yan, so he bowed in assent, a sinister flash in his eyes. Once back at the sect, he had plenty of ways to solidify Ye Li’s guilt!

On the other side, at the Azure Water Pavilion’s camp.

Qin Yixuan briefly reported her experiences in the Secret Realm to the leading Elder, omitting the details related to Ye Li, only mentioning obtaining a part of the inheritance and encountering ordinary dangers.

The Elder stroked his beard and nodded, quite satisfied with Qin Yixuan’s performance. At this moment, a nearby disciple whispered: “Elder, the Profound Cloud Sect seemed to be saying just now that one of their disciples named Ye Li obtained the core inheritance and even harmed fellow disciples…”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yixuan’s delicate eyebrows furrowed almost imperceptibly, but she did not speak.

The Azure Water Pavilion Elder’s eyes flashed with insight, and he chuckled: “The internal affairs of the Profound Cloud Sect have nothing to do with us. However, that Ye Li… is somewhat interesting. To stir up such a storm with an initial-level cultivation and make that brat Gao Sheng so exasperated, she’s probably not simple. Yixuan, have you had contact with this person?”

Qin Yixuan said lightly: “I’ve met her a few times. She does possess extraordinary qualities,” and said no more.

The Elder pondered but did not press further.

…

Ye Li, in her hiding spot, heard all the disputes outside. She was not surprised by Gao Sheng’s slander. Su Wanyun speaking up for her brought a slight warmth to her heart, but she also knew that Su Wanyun’s single testimony would do little to change the situation. Elder Yan’s ambiguous attitude meant that upon returning to the sect, a storm would surely await her.

“I must recover my strength as quickly as possible!” Ye Li’s sense of urgency intensified.

She quietly took out a drop of the Star Source Liquid. This item was immensely precious, originally intended to break through bottlenecks or save her life at a critical moment, but the current situation was pressing, and she had to restore herself to peak condition immediately to deal with the impending crisis.

Without hesitation, she consumed the drop of liquid, which resembled a miniature liquid star.

Boom!

An energy far more vast and pure than any previous pill instantly dissolved within her body! This energy not only contained an immense amount of spiritual energy but also possessed a strange effect of nourishing the soul and repairing the source.

Ye Li immediately channeled the Netherworld Emperor Scripture with all her might, guiding the energy to cleanse her damaged meridians and internal organs. The Samsara Mirror fragment also buzzed happily, greedily absorbing the Star Source energy contained within the liquid. The clear light it emitted grew brighter, accelerating the recovery of Ye Li’s soul and physical body.

Her originally pale complexion visibly regained its color. The congested, clotted blood in her body was dissolved by the powerful energy, and her damaged meridians were rapidly repaired and widened. Her nearly depleted Dantian Qi Sea was refilled with pure Extreme Cold spiritual power, becoming even more abundant and condensed than before!

The effect of the Star Source Liquid was truly miraculous!

In less than an hour, Ye Li’s injuries were completely healed. Not only was her spiritual power fully restored, but it had also advanced significantly, reaching the true peak of the Initial Spirit Realm, just one catalyst away from breaking through to the Meridian Condensation Realm! Even her soul had strengthened slightly, and her understanding of the Universal Traceless Steps and Ice Soul Sealing Heaven Finger seemed to have deepened considerably.

The effect of the disguise talisman had long worn off, and she had reverted to her original appearance, changing into a clean set of clothes. At this moment, though simply dressed, her eyes were bright and sharp, her aura condensed and profound. Compared to before entering the Secret Realm, she had undergone a transformative change!

She meticulously inventoried her gains from this Secret Realm journey:

Core Inheritances: Universal Traceless Steps, Ice Soul Sealing Heaven Finger—priceless treasures.

Top-tier Treasures: Star Source Liquid (two drops remaining), Profound Firmament Token, Void God Crystal—any one of which would cause a bloodbath if leaked.

Cultivation Improvement: Reached the peak of the Initial Spirit Realm, foundation incredibly solid, combat power skyrocketed.

Combat Experience: Having undergone life-and-death battles, her fighting consciousness and adaptability have greatly improved.

Other Gains: A small amount of pills and spirit stones pilfered from a few rogue cultivators, and the contribution points accumulated from previous missions.

She had truly returned with a full load! Although the process was extremely perilous, the rewards were equally commensurate with her efforts.

However, she had also paid a price: her identity was exposed, making her a target; she had formed a deadly feud with the Battle Frenzy Peak; the news of her possessing great treasures might have leaked; and upon returning to the sect, she would face severe scrutiny and challenges.

“Fortune is where misfortune lurks, and misfortune is what fortune leans on,” Ye Li muttered to herself, her eyes showing no fear, only calm analysis and firm fighting spirit.

At this time, in the open space outside, the various sects had begun to gather, preparing to withdraw. On the Profound Cloud Sect’s side, Elder Yan, having tallied the numbers (confirming several disciples had perished), produced a massive Cloud Ship and signaled the disciples to board.

Ye Li knew she had to show herself. Hiding would only make her look guilty.

She straightened her clothes and walked out of her hiding place with composure, heading toward the Profound Cloud Sect’s Cloud Ship.

Her appearance instantly drew everyone’s attention!

“Ye Li! She’s not dead!”

“She came out!”

“She looks… not injured at all? On the contrary, her aura is stronger?”

Exclamations and whispers immediately arose.

Gao Sheng, Shi Feng, and the others, upon seeing her, practically had fire spewing from their eyes, especially sensing the increasingly unfathomable aura around Ye Li, which made them both shocked and furious.

Su Wanyun was both surprised and delighted, quickly waving to her.

Elder Yan’s gaze also fell upon Ye Li, sharp as a knife, seemingly trying to see through her.

Ye Li disregarded the surrounding whispers and stares. She walked steadily in front of Elder Yan, bowing slightly, neither humble nor arrogant: “Disciple Ye Li, greetings to Elder Yan.”

Elder Yan looked at her deeply, feeling the condensed and icy spiritual power fluctuations within her, and was slightly startled. This girl was indeed not simple!

“Mm, it’s good that you’ve returned. Board the ship. The specifics will be discussed after we return to the sect.” Elder Yan did not ask further, merely waving his hand.

“Yes.” Ye Li replied, turning toward the Cloud Ship. As she brushed past Gao Sheng, she could clearly feel the latter’s unconcealed murderous intent.

She sneered inwardly, but her expression remained calm as she stepped onto the Cloud Ship.

The massive Cloud Ship slowly ascended, carrying its gains, scars, and surging undercurrents, sailing toward the Profound Cloud Sect.

The Secret Realm journey had concluded, but a greater storm was brewing within the sect. Ye Li stood by the ship’s rail, watching the swiftly passing mountains and rivers below, her eyes deep.

Profound Cloud Sect, I am back. This time, I will no longer tolerate!