Chapter 596 594: I Don't Want You to See Me Now

Standing inside Cloud-Rubbing Cave, Liang Yiyi was in a bit of a daze.

After the trials of Sword Mountain and the sea of fire, she had finally obtained a fateful opportunity. It was like seeing a rainbow after a storm.

After a final glance back at the Pool of Fervor, Liang Yiyi walked out of Cloud-Rubbing Cave.

"Thank you, Senior."

Liang Yiyi gave the Yunling Saintess a deep bow.

'She knew the Yunling Saintess had been pulling the strings behind it all.'

But the Yunling Saintess said calmly, "That's incorrect. You should call me 'Master' now."

"Because you have accepted the inheritance of Cloud-Rubbing Cave, I am now your master."

"From now on, you are my disciple."

Liang Yiyi was stunned for a moment.

Then, without hesitation, she quickly bowed to the Yunling Saintess.

"Liang Yiyi pays her respects, Master."

The Yunling Saintess grunted in acknowledgment. "To receive the inheritance of our Cloud-Rubbing Cave, one must pass through Sword Mountain and the sea of fire. Anyone who fails these trials is unworthy of our legacy."

"None of what you've endured will be in vain."

"Now, you may go and save the person you wish to save."

"However, after you save him, you must return to Cloud-Rubbing Cave. You will remain here until I, your master, permit you to leave."

A hint of bitterness welled up in Liang Yiyi.

'She had gained the inheritance of Cloud-Rubbing Cave, but she had also lost her freedom.'

'Of course, she hadn't lost her freedom completely.'

'The Yunling Saintess would still allow her to leave the mountain eventually, just not yet.'

She nodded heavily.

"Yes, Master. I understand."

With that, Liang Yiyi took to the air, her white hair fluttering. Tragically, her face remained that of an old woman.

Even her breakthrough in cultivation couldn't restore the hundred years of life she had lost.

This was the price.

SWOOSH!

Liang Yiyi landed before the crowd.

Everyone stared, stunned by her appearance.

"Yiyi, your face...?"

Murong Xiangming's heart clenched at the sight.

'To save Jiang Chen, Yiyi has sacrificed far too much. Even her appearance has changed.'

But Yiyi didn't care about her own appearance.

Her only concern was Jiang Chen.

"It's nothing, as long as I can save the Young Master."

At the same time, everyone was also shocked to realize her cultivation had reached the Martial Arts Sect Second Heaven—a world of difference from before.

"Yiyi, did you find a way to save Jiang Chen?"

Murong Xiangming asked after a heavy sigh.

Right now, their biggest worry was still Jiang Chen.

He was on everyone's mind.

Yiyi nodded. "I have. I will save the Young Master myself."

With that, she walked over to the unconscious Jiang Chen.

She gently laid Jiang Chen's body flat on the ground.

Yiyi held out her hand. Covered in deep wrinkles, it was a shocking sight.

But in that moment, a blue light flashed from Yiyi's hand. A strange power suddenly manifested, enveloping Jiang Chen.

The moment this power appeared, the black aura emanating from Jiang Chen receded frantically, as if it had met its bane.

It shrank back inside Jiang Chen's body.

Yiyi unleashed the Destiny-Defying Divine Skill, sending its power directly into Jiang Chen's body.

Inside Jiang Chen, wisps of black gas were continuously ravaging his body from within.

But now, with the appearance of the Destiny-Defying Divine Skill's blue light...

...the black energies fell into chaos. Shrieking like demons, they began to resist.

However, the blue light was their absolute bane. Wherever it passed, the black gas clusters instantly dissipated.

As the blue light intensified, the black gas within Jiang Chen's body steadily diminished.

HISS!

The final cluster of black gas dissipated.

Everything inside Jiang Chen returned to normal.

The black smoke stopped rising from his body.

Furthermore, his depleted strength began to recover rapidly.

His body was returning to normal.

Color returned to his face as well.

COUGH, COUGH...

After a long moment, a cough escaped the unconscious Jiang Chen's lips.

Then, Jiang Chen slowly opened his eyes.

"Huh?"

He froze for a second. His entire body felt light and free.

It was as if he'd just had a long dream.

Now that he was awake, he found himself completely unharmed.

'This...?'

'Could the curse be gone? No, that's impossible.'

Just as Jiang Chen was wondering...

"Jiang Chen."

"Sire."

"Young Master."

A chorus of voices flooded his ears.

Jiang Chen looked over. The first thing he saw was an extremely old woman.

Yet this woman gazed at him with an intense look, her eyes filled with affection.

WHOOSH!

Jiang Chen scrambled to his feet, staring in disbelief at the old woman before him.

'She felt... familiar to him.'

'Who is she?'

Jiang Chen was about to ask.

But then he saw Murong Xiangming, Mr. Qiu Shui, Zhan Yang, JinLing, and the others standing nearby.

They were all looking at him, expressions of relief on their faces.

"My... my curse is gone?"

he asked in astonishment.

Everyone nodded.

"Sire, your curse is lifted, all thanks to Liang Yiyi."

"She's the one who saved you."

Jiang Chen immediately looked around for Yiyi, but she was nowhere to be seen. There was only the unfamiliar old woman.

"Yiyi! Where is Yiyi?"

Jiang Chen's mind raced, recalling the results of his earlier divination.

'My survival... it really is connected to Yiyi.'

However, no one answered him. Instead, everyone's gaze fell upon the old woman.

At that moment, Yiyi looked utterly crestfallen.

'Jiang Chen doesn't recognize me.'

She was devastated.

She immediately turned, took to the air, and flew toward Moyun Mountain.

'How can I face the Young Master looking like this?'

'I'm just a hideous hag.'

Her eyes filled with tears.

But she had no regrets.

"Yiyi!"

Just then, it dawned on Jiang Chen. He shot after her and grabbed her hand.

Yiyi's body trembled.

But she violently shook his hand away.

"I don't want you to see me like this."

"Go away."

Jiang Chen froze. As she threw his hand off, he was shocked to realize that Yiyi's cultivation now surpassed his own.

He didn't understand what had happened, but he knew without a doubt that this was Yiyi.

He flew forward and once again grabbed her hand.

"Yiyi, you've suffered."

"Can you tell me what happened?"

Even though his divination had given him a rough idea, he didn't know the full story.

'Yiyi had suddenly become an old crone, and it was all his fault.'

Yiyi covered her face, truly not wanting Jiang Chen to see her like this.

"It's nothing. Just go. Your curse is gone."

"From now on, I am no longer your maid."

"I... should be getting back. Master is waiting for me."

With that, she once again threw off Jiang Chen's hand.

Her figure shot into the air, flying straight up Moyun Mountain.

Jiang Chen prepared to give chase again, but a powerful repulsive force suddenly blasted from the mountain, pushing him back.

"That is enough. Liang Yiyi has done what was necessary to lift the curse. She has now taken me, the Yunling Saintess, as her master and is my disciple."

"Brat, do not come and disturb her again."

A clear, cold voice reached Jiang Chen as he was pushed back.