The situation across the entire mountain sect was much the same as elsewhere. Under the ravages of time, ninety-nine percent of everything had decayed, and intact items were less than one in a hundred.
If there was any power in this world that was the most fearsome, it had to be the power of time, the power of the ages.
Watching the familiar sights of the past disappear one by one before her eyes, Luo Yingying could no longer hold back and burst into tears. Especially when she finally reached the back mountain and saw the graves, she cried inconsolably, eventually fainting from grief.
Ning Beichen looked at the woman who had fainted on the ground. He walked over and picked her up. However, seeing nowhere else to go, he carried her back to the small wooden house perched on the cliff face.
Looking at this girl who was like a fairy, Ning Beichen's heart undoubtedly quickened. He subconsciously reached out to touch her face.
But as fate would have it, just then, Luo Yingying suddenly woke up. She opened her eyes and stared at him coldly.
"What are you doing?"
"I... I saw you fainted, and I wanted to see if you were sick."
Ning Yanwang was so embarrassed he almost wanted to find a hole to crawl into, offering a ridiculously clumsy excuse.
He swore that he wasn't interested in this woman at all and had no ill intentions towards her. However, his actions made it impossible for him to confidently say so.
Luo Yingying continued to watch him with a cold gaze, her expression clearly saying, "Do you expect me to believe that?"
To be honest, Ning Beichen didn't even believe his own explanation, but what else could he do? He had been caught red-handed.
It was like a thief putting his hand into someone's pocket, only to claim he was just checking how deep it was when caught.
This... there was no way to explain it, was there?
Under Luo Yingying's cold stare, sweat began to break out on Ning Beichen's forehead, giving him a sense of extreme social awkwardness.
Fortunately, not long after, Luo Yingying stopped looking at him with that cold gaze and instead said to him,
"Go out. I want to be alone for a while."
Hearing Luo Yingying's words, Ning Beichen felt as if he had been granted a general amnesty. He didn't dare to linger and hastily left the wooden house.
Outside the small wooden house, Ning Beichen leaped onto a large rock exposed in the vast sea. Looking at the misty expanse, he muttered to himself,
"Damn it, I didn't do anything to her, so why should I feel guilty?"
As if this statement gave him courage, Ning Yanwang regained his confidence.
"Alas! But anyone in this situation would be heartbroken, wouldn't they?"
Ning Beichen thought of how Luo Yingying had fainted from excessive grief and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
For Ning Beichen, it might not have been much, as he wasn't directly involved. But for Luo Yingying, even though countless years had passed, it felt like only yesterday.
That kind of sorrow and pain couldn't be alleviated by a few words. It would accompany her for the rest of her life, and if she couldn't overcome it, she might even lose the will to live.
So Ning Beichen was considering whether to find her a psychologist.
"What a tragedy!"
Ning Beichen found a place to lie down and lost himself in thought. Before he knew it, his eyes closed.
After an unknown period, Ning Beichen sensed someone approaching him. Without thinking, he immediately unleashed a powerful punch.
However, his punch was easily deflected by the approaching figure. Ning Beichen then saw Luo Yingying's displeased gaze.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you."
Ning Beichen quickly and awkwardly apologized.
"Come with me somewhere."
Luo Yingying ignored his explanation. Just as she was about to grab Ning Beichen, he quickly said,
"Don't grab me, I can fly myself. Don't worry, I won't run away."
Luo Yingying retracted her hand and instantly shot up into the sky. Ning Beichen quickly followed her, riding his sword.
They flew through the sea of clouds, one after the other. After an unknown amount of time, Luo Yingying descended from the clouds, and Ning Beichen followed closely.
"Where... where is this place?"
Ning Beichen saw that it was a vast valley, but this valley was filled with a large amount of black, tar-like substance that seemed to be disappearing.
"This is the sacred land of my sect. Only the sect leader has ever been allowed inside."
Luo Yingying said.
"Then why are you here..."
Ning Beichen asked her curiously.
"My sect members are gone. I am the last person of the sect. From today on, I am the sect leader. I will rebuild the Feixian Sect."
Luo Yingying said with firm resolve.
Ning Beichen's eyelids twitched, but he now knew the name of her sect.
"But this place is already destroyed. Is there still any point in rebuilding the Feixian Sect?"
Ning Beichen thought to himself.
"I know what you're thinking. Even if only one person remains of the Feixian Sect, I will not let it disappear. Also, from today onwards, you are a disciple of the Feixian Sect."
Luo Yingying told him.
Ning Beichen was utterly dumbfounded and quickly said,
"Miss Luo Yingying..."
"Call me Sect Leader."
Luo Yingying glared at him.
"Luo..."
"Call me Sect Leader."
Ning Beichen had only spoken the first syllable of her surname when Luo Yingying interrupted him.
"Alright, Sect Leader Luo, I'm afraid I can't agree, because I have a master, and I can't betray him."
Ning Beichen subtly shifted the concept, adding "Sect Leader" after her surname.
"You don't have to betray anyone. The Feixian Sect doesn't restrict a disciple's lineage. You just need to acknowledge yourself as a disciple of the Feixian Sect, and it won't require you to sever ties with your own master."
Luo Yingying said to him.
"It can be like that?"
Ning Beichen scratched his head.
"Yes, I can. My Feixian Sect doesn't impose such restrictions."
Luo Yingying said.
"Alright."
Ning Beichen nodded helplessly, as he really didn't want to provoke her at this moment.
After all, the Feixian Sect was already defunct. Whether he joined or not made little difference.
"Since you are also a disciple of the Feixian Sect, from now on, you must prioritize the interests of the Feixian Sect. This is the sacred land of our Feixian Sect, where some of our treasures are kept. Go down and disperse the substance within."
Luo Yingying said to Ning Beichen.
"Okay."
Ning Beichen was still not accustomed to having someone like a supreme emperor over him, so he tried his best to downplay the existence of the Feixian Sect.
Luo Yingying, however, didn't seem to pay much attention to this, or perhaps she didn't notice Ning Beichen's intention.
Ning Beichen willed it, gripping his ancient bronze sword, and descended into the valley.
As the black substance in the valley saw Ning Beichen descend, it surged towards him like a tide, like a pack of hungry wolves.