160 Farewell (1/2)
When Yi Ping and his group reappeared again to rejoin the main group, they exuded a beaming radiance and the delightful expressions that they had were like light that lifted the darkness!
The other maidens from the main group were startled to see them coming back with such delightful mood that they were envious!
Yixian smiled, ”Ping'Er, what takes you so long to come back?”
Youxue sighed softly, ”Now I really regret not going after Lele!”
Lingfeng was happy to see them in such high spirits. She was a little worried for Lele and Yi Ping when it took them so long to return. So it seemed that her worries were misplaced!
She yawned softly, ”So our dashing hero is finally back.”
Shi Shi smiled, ”Welcome back!”
The Goddess Celestial Alice, the Goddess Isa, the Goddess Aiel and the Goddess of Mercy were obviously startled to see them in such exuberant spirits and radiating a delightful happiness that seemed to be infectious!
Han Lin, Jing'Er, the Celeste Wind Maiden, Lady Winter Plum and Yang Min were smiling too!
Old Reverend Vanquisher Sage muttered, ”Such enviable people.”
Lingfeng startled by his enveloping righteous animus!
She smiled to herself, stealing a glance at Yixian at the same time, ”It seems that he has finally reached enlightenment…”
Yixian was looking beaming at Yi Ping, ”He has finally reach enlightenment and has finally put everything aside. He has finally returned to his old self…”
When Yi Ping had caught the sight of everyone again, he sighed softly in his heart. ”It is really not easy for everyone to reach this point. Whether I am the White Sage or the Dark Chaos Lord, it isn't important anymore. If it is our destiny to be at the same place and time, then I should make atonement for the past or at the very least, help end the feuds that have started long ago…”
When he had thought of this, his eyes became spirited and his mood light!
Alice and Isa were quietly observing Yi Ping and they were secretly startled. It was because they had recalled seeing this light-spirited expression that was constantly accompanying the Dark Chaos Lord which was his trademark countenance!
Alice had remembered that she had thought of the Dark Chaos Lord as an arrogant badass fellow when she had her first meeting with him. To add fuel to fire, he was so bold to even name his sword after her. How Insolence of him and infuriating!
Needless to say, her impression of him was horribly bad in the beginning…
The Universal Old Man hastily called out excitingly, ”Ping'Er, come over here quickly. The Goddess Celestial Alice and the Goddess of Mercy have just taught us a way to gauge our divine practice. You don't want to miss this!”
Yi Ping was beside the Universal Old Man in an instant as he asked excitedly, ”Protégé Master, really?”
The rest of the maidens rejoined the main group and immediately the entire group was jovial and alive!
”Where did you go?”
”What sweet nothings did Yi Ping says to Lele? Lele looks absolutely happy compared to earlier…”
”Did something interesting happen?”
Yi Ping smiled weakly as everyone began to crowd around him.
He raised his voice to make himself heard above the ruckus, ”There is a way to gauge our divine progression?”
The Goddess Celestial Alice smiled weakly at Yi Ping as she nodded…
The Goddess of Mercy quickly said, ”Alice, you take a rest first. Your injuries are the worse here…”
The Goddess Isa knew what the Goddess of Mercy was going to say, so she said weakly. ”That is right. Let the Goddess of Mercy explained to the newly arrivals…”
Both Isa and Alice nodded approvingly.
Even the golden Kirin cub was howling to show its approval!
Yi Ping nodded at them gently, ”Alice, Isa…”
His heart ached at their present condition but he had kept it to himself.
Indeed their injuries were not light.
Even for immortals of their caliber, they may not survive what the Goddess Celestial Alice and the Goddess of Mercy had gone through!
They had literally taken the blunt of the Esper Formation and were later smashed hard onto the celestium floor. The very reasons that they had survived were because Alice was protected by her divine robe and her celestium silk while Isa was protected by her newly restored celestium armor!
The Goddess of Mercy forced a weak smile as she looked at Yi Ping…
Yi Ping smiled, ”Maiden Xiang…”
The Goddess of Mercy said playfully, ”I will like you to call me Xiang'Er!”
Yi Ping hesitated for a while because he had suddenly noticed many of the maidens were groaning with displeasure with their eyes but he coolly said, ”Xiang'Er, can you show us the details?”
The Goddess of Mercy raised both of her hands in front of Yi Ping. All of a sudden the tips of her fingers began to glow with a dim golden light!
She smiled, ”This is the basic Deific Divine Skill.”
Yi Ping was startled as he appraised her curiously.
The Goddess of Mercy smiled as she explained, ”From my right hand to my left hand, there are altogether ten fingers. Each of the light on my finger represents a state of divinity.”
Yi Ping understood immediately but he asked, ”But there are only seven states of immortal divinities, am I right? Where does the three extra comes from?”
The Universal Old Man began to laugh heartily, ”You haven't figure out, am I right?”
Lingfeng said unhappily, ”Hey! You also didn't figure out earlier. None of us did!”
The Universal Old Man protested weakly, ”I am just trying to pull a quick one on Ping'Er, what is wrong with you?”
Yi Ping rubbed his nose as he made a guess, ”I surmise that at the beginning of this intricacy practice, we have to gain the practice of getting the first of the fingers to glow first. Only then can we truly use this divine skill to track our immortal practice. The second finger will only glow once a celestial practitioner has accumulated enough cultivation to begin the Immortal Practice? The third to the ninth finger represents the different various stages of the Immortal Practice? And the tenth marks the full attainment of the Immortal Practice?”
The Goddess of Mercy stammered astonishingly, ”You know?!”
Everyone was also gasping!
Yi Ping smiled weakly, ”I am just making a lucky guess. That is all.”
The Universal Old Man muttered, ”Oh well, I got a smart protégé. Like protégé master, like protégé…”
Lingfeng coughed coldly, ”My foot!”
The Goddess of Mercy smiled weakly, ”So here is the intricacy formula of the Deific Divine Skill…”
Shen Xingyue, Lie Qing, Ye Yin, Mei'Er and Yu'Er gathered excitingly around the Goddess of Mercy to receive the instructions of the Deific Divine Skill…
Lele was beaming alluring to Yi Ping, ”You have better progress fast or else I won't forgive you!”
Yi Ping answered coolly, ”I will. Stay safe…”
The Goddess of Mercy began to recite to them the intricacy formula of the Deific Divine Skill…
But no sooner had she finished reciting the Deific Divine Skill, the Goddess Celestial Alice rose up hastily to say, ”There is no time to lose anymore. We must make haste now. We may not be able win against the Dark Primordial Heavenly King and the Great Ascetic Heavenly King right now but we may be able to get ahead of them. It is their first time in the Stellar Sanctuary and they may not be as familiar as us.”
Yi Ping was startled, ”Now?”
It was obvious to him that Alice, Isa and Gusu Xiang were in no condition to continue their way. The traps and monsters in the unknown Stellar Sanctuary were simply overwhelming…
Alice turned around to ask the Goddess Isa and the Goddess of Mercy, ”Isa, Goddess of Mercy. Are you strong enough to walk?”
Isa replied weakly, ”Definitely better than you.”
The Goddess of Mercy laughed weakly, ”Speak for yourself first!”
Alice nodded, ”I have recovered a tenth of my martial strength so that is enough for me.”
Yi Ping clenched his fist quietly. He had only respect for their determination…
Deep inside, he wanted to protest but he knew that she was right. If they do not hurry, their opponents may catch up with them. Just one glance at the Great Ascetic Heavenly King, he knew that he was not an easy opponent to defeat at all. If the Dark Primordial Heavenly King was with him, then they really had little chance!
Yi Ping may not experience the martial strength of the Great Ascetic Heavenly King yet but he had a firsthand experience of the fight between the Goddess of Mercy and the Goddess Asura. He knew that the Great Ascetic Heavenly King was leagues above them!
And most of his group had been badly hurt by the Esper Formation and the artefact manifest monster…
All of a sudden Yi Ping had noticed that the mood of his group had become extremely solemn!
It did not escape the notice of Lele, Shen Xingyue, Lie Qing, Yu'Er, Ye Yin and Mei'Er!
Lie Qing immediately asked, ”Did something happen while we are not here? What is wrong with all of you?”
Ye Yin, Yu'Er and Mei'Er were stunned at the sudden atmosphere. Their empathy skills were the strongest in the group and they were extremely sensitive. It was as though something was already being planned in their absence!
Jing'Er took a forlorn look at Yi Ping, ”Hero Yi Ping, it is time for us to part.”
Yi Ping was shaken, ”Jing'Er, what happens?”
Jing'Er stole a look at the Goddess Aiel and the Goddess Celestial Alice, ”Nothing happens. I just don't want to be your hindrance…”
Yi Ping quickly interrupted her, ”No you are not…”
Jing'Er smiled gently, ”And I am not the only one that is leaving too.”
Yi Ping took a step back, stumped by the announcement!
But he quickly composed himself to say as he took a look at everyone, ”But this is the Stellar Sanctuary. No one can leave once they are in it…”
Alice said, ”Yes and no. I have the artefact core of the Stellar Sanctuary with me. I can use the warping formation to forcefully expel practitioners out of the Stellar Sanctuary.”
Yi Ping was startled, ”Really?!”