Yun Xi pressed her forehead and said: "Xiao Xian, I clearly said to wait until the Wu people left before taking action, not that you could take the spiritual vein as soon as they were gone."
Xiao Xian shook its leaves and replied: "Master, I understood it as waiting until they all left before collecting it. This way there is less chance of misunderstanding, and soon that place will cease to exist anyway."
Yun Xi's eyes narrowed. "So, Xiao Xian, you mean that after the Wu Tribe is extinct, that space will disappear as well?"
"Yes. That place was meant to confine the Wu Tribe. The mirror spirit wanted them to perish along with the failed evolutionary beasts. Now the objective is achieved. I have already absorbed most of the spiritual vein there. It cannot sustain itself for long. Once the cultivators are transmitted out, the space will vanish."
Yun Xi took a deep breath and asked: "Xiao Xian, I am trapped here now. Are you sure this has nothing to do with you taking that spiritual vein?"
Xiao Xian awkwardly explained: "Hehe, Master, you also dug up the only Shengji Tree on this floating island. How could it all be my fault?"
Yun Xi snorted, convinced that besides the Shengji Tree she had dug, Xiao Xian's actions were indeed another important reason.
"Master, since this is an 'equivalent exchange,' we will tidy up this place and plant a spirit plant of equivalent value. If we still cannot leave the floating island afterward, we will strike it open. I will supply the spiritual power for you," Xiao Xian assured, shaking its leaves.
Yun Xi could say nothing more. Xiao Xian had taken an entire high-grade spiritual vein. She had to make amends. She reminded herself that to gain, one must be willing to sacrifice, and then began her work.
First, she instructed Zi Yan to burn all the weeds on the floating island, turning the ashes into soil nutrients. She then performed hand seals to till all areas suitable for planting, using a jade spade to dig out the ten struggling spirit plants. She replanted them in different locations according to their growth habits.
As she worked, Yun Xi muttered to herself: "Good thing my first task in sect training was planting spirit rice, and later I worked with Zong Hao on medicinal fields. Otherwise, I would be completely lost."
While she muttered, the floating island's light barrier slowly thinned, returning to its initial state.
After finishing, Yun Xi cast a purification technique on herself, gazing proudly at the neatly arranged floating island land and mentally giving herself a thumbs-up before looking skyward.
Fei Xia transmitted: "Master, the light barrier has thinned, but it has not disappeared."
Dian Dian complained a little: "Master, we still need to transplant a spirit plant of similar value to the Shengji Tree, but we don't have one!"
Dian Dian slyly omitted mentioning the portable garden, where almost extinct rare materials were stored. Even if Master was willing, it would be hard for Dian Dian and Fei Xia to let go.
Yun Xi sighed in agreement: "You are right, Dian Dian. My portable garden only has common spirit plants. There is no single one that can match the Shengji Tree. In that case, we will win by quantity. Filling this place with spirit plants should equal one Shengji Tree."
She had her own plan. She would never reveal the garden inside her space, as it could cause endless trouble. Planting low-rank spirit plants across the floating island, however, was achievable.
She opened her portable garden, transplanting a batch of first to third-rank spirit plants. Naturally, the quantity was limited, so for the remaining land, she scattered seeds with a flick of her sleeve, tilled the soil with hand seals, and summoned a spirit rain to nourish the seeds.
Finally, she took advantage of the floating island's terrain to set up a large spirit-converging formation. High-grade spirit stones were placed at the formation's eye. Once activated with hand seals, the surrounding spiritual energy was gradually absorbed, providing the seeds with continuous energy to accelerate growth.
Yun Xi was pleased to see first-rank spirit plants breaking through the soil. "Now the mirror spirit should be satisfied. If not, I will leave here by force."
At that moment, the light barrier above flickered twice, then slowly faded, and finally vanished entirely.
Yun Xi waved her sleeve to gather Dian Dian and Fei Xia, teleporting away from the first floating island and heading straight to the second. This second island was much closer to the Bronze Divine Tree and ten times larger than the first, resembling a small island.
As Yun Xi landed, she released her divine sense to cautiously scan the surroundings.
The spiritual energy here was dense. Distant green mountains, thick forests, flowing streams, and abundant spirit flowers, grass, and trees were everywhere. Occasional insects and beast cries added to the vibrant scene. Compared to the first floating island, the difference was staggering. Yun Xi suspected the first island had been a trap set by the mirror spirit to compensate for the spiritual vein Xiao Xian had absorbed.
Thinking this, Yun Xi slipped her hand into her sleeve and pinched Xiao Xian's leaf. Xiao Xian dared not protest. It understood Master's intent and quietly accepted her "affection," not daring to show itself.
Yun Xi only expressed mild dissatisfaction, blaming Xiao Xian for acting on its own. She was not truly angry, only annoyed at the time lost on the first floating island, and then stepped forward to explore the new island.
Meanwhile, Sheng Yuhong emerged from the white mist. The scene before him was completely different from Yun Xi's. He saw a towering Sword Mountain, covered with swords. Sword intent and sword energy raged from the base to the peak, each layer more intense than the last. Sheng Yuhong's eyes brightened as he gripped his natal sword and began a new round of trials on the Sword Mountain.
At the same time, Wei Yunqing remained immersed in the illusion. She became the favored genius of the Wei family with dual spirit roots. Within five days, she successfully drew energy into her body, earning the admiration of her father and the clan leader. Wei Yun Xi, by contrast, was entirely her foil. Although she had a single spirit root, her speed in drawing energy was slower. Even though she later apprenticed under the leader of Haoran Sect, she failed to gain the favor of Senior Brother Sheng Yuhong.
Wei Yunxi's affection for Sheng Yuhong ran deep. To gain his approval, she even tried to flatter her sister. Sheng Yuhong had merely told her to manage the sibling relationship, yet no matter what Wei Yunxi did, his attention remained solely on Wei Yunqing.
To eliminate this troublesome sister, Wei Yunqing, during a secret realm trial, intentionally disguised herself as Wei Yunxi. She feigned going mad and killing many fellow disciples, deliberately letting two or three escape to seek help. She then reverted to her true form to block Wei Yunxi, fighting her fiercely. Sheng Yuhong arrived to see Wei Yunxi pierced through the dantian.
Without hesitation, Sheng Yuhong injured Wei Yunxi to save her immediately. Wei Yunqing felt immense satisfaction. She knew Wei Yunxi could not escape death, and her plans with Ancestor Nan Feng could proceed. Thinking of obtaining the mutated Ice and Wind spirit roots, her lips could not hide a smile, finally feigning fainting in Senior Brother Sheng Yuhong's embrace.
The more triumphant Wei Yunqing was in the illusion, the faster her spiritual power drained in reality.