Prelude to Battle Heavens
The towering pristine mountains stood in front of the meditating Yi Ping but he was clearly not in the mood to admire the breathtaking views.
Two days had passed after the battle with the three Arhat Practitioners of the Enamel Sect. Although still battle weary, Yi Ping had almost fully recuperated from his injuries and regained much of his martial strength.
The pace of his own recovery astonished even Yi Ping himself. It was because his injuries and strength often took months to recover!
The Goddess Aiel had explained, “It is different in the Stellar Sanctuary. Maybe it is because time flows differently here. The recovery time here is ten times faster than outside the Stellar Sanctuary.”
At this moment a golden Kirin cub was sleeping in his lap and at the same time he was being surrounded by a dozen breathtaking heavenly maidens who were meditating next to Yi Ping!
The Universal Old Man was looking in envy but he was also bewildered. It was because he could not understand how so many maidens could have fallen for Yi Ping especially when he was the not the responsive and romantic type.
While there was nothing strange about it, it was indeed strange that they could actually come together and put aside their differences. More strange as these maidens were not weaklings and they all had their fierce individual personalities.
Even the Universal Old Man did not dare to offend them so easily!
They were obviously rivals but they were surprising docile now!
He pretended to look in the other way and continued to meditate.
Even though he knew that the Goddess Aiel did not have him in his heart anymore, he was not sad at all. It was because he really owed her too much. From her expressions when she was looking at Yi Ping, he knew where her heart belonged for it was exactly the same as when the Heaveness looked at Yi Ping!
He was soon thinking, “I know Ai only too well. She is not the type that expresses herself well. There are so many maidens around Yi Ping and many of them hardly even have the chance to even express their affections for him…”
He was soon smiling, “When she got bored of Yi Ping, she will surely remember me…”
Yi Ping heaved a soft sigh as he opened his eyes.
But as soon as he opened his eyes, he was immediately surrounded by a dozen beautiful maidens as they gathered around him as they showered him with all kinds of concern!
Lie Qing immediately asked, “Ping’Er, are you alright?”
The Goddess Isa tapped Yi Ping lightly on his right shoulder, “Are you feeling much better now?”
Yang Min said shyly to him, “Did you rest well?”
A chorus of jovial laughter and warm smiles were immediately heard from the rest of the maidens, “Yi Ping! Ping’Er!”
To the utter astonishments of the Universal Old Man, Yi Ping and the rest of the maidens, the Goddess Aiel and the Goddess of Mercy had suddenly nodded to each other and were massaging Yi Ping’s back; their eyes were affectionate and they were looking at him attentively!
Yi Ping was so stunned that he panicky said, “Huh? No need…”
The Universal Old Man’s jaws almost dropped when he saw that the Goddess Aiel was voluntarily massaging Yi Ping’s back!
Even Han Lin, the Celeste Wind Maiden and Jing’Er were a little startled by the action of the Goddess Aiel. It was because they have been with the Goddess Aiel for hundreds of years and had known her only too well. It was frankly quite impossible for their lazy mistress to lift her fingers to do almost anything and she preferred to sleep most of the time!
That was why she had even ordered her clan protégés to prepare a large bed sedan to carry her to the Unmoving Mountains!
And around Yi Ping were Yixian, Lele, Lie Qing, Shi Shi, Jing’Er, Yang Min, Youxue, the Goddess Isa, Han Lin and the Celeste Wind Maiden who were all looking or chatting around him affectionately.
This caused Yi Ping to be really awkward as he quickly said, “I am really alright now. We should be on our way now.”
The Goddess Aiel touched the pink mark on her forehead gently as she said, “Thank you! Without your help, I will never be able to unseal my Heaven Eyes again. Finally I can return to the Immortal Realm. This is the least that I can do for you.”
The Goddess Isa whispered softly, “Thank you!”
Yi Ping smiled weakly, “This is really not worth mentioning. I just hope that you won’t be upset with Maiden Ziyan…err…Alice for sealing your Heaven Eyes.”
The Goddess Aiel whispered softly, “Don’t worry. I have never blamed her at all. Or else…”
She stole a glance at Yixian before looking at the Goddess Isa, “Or else, I will never be able to unite with Ishtar or put aside my differences with Isa.”
The Goddess Isa said quickly, “Whatever! If she doesn’t pick on me, I won’t cause her anymore trouble. But you know, she is a really mean and troublesome person!”
Yi Ping smiled weakly, “Troublesome maybe but mean, I don’t think so…”
The Goddess Isa whispered, “Don’t be too quick to judge because you do not know yet!”
Lele suddenly asked, “Yi Ping, why this small Kirin following you?”
The Kirin had also awakened from its sleep and was jumping in front of Yi Ping and around the maidens. It seemed to be extremely playful and was constantly seeking their attention!
Yi Ping replied with a weak smile, “I do not know…”
The Goddess Isa said warily, “Golden Kirins are extremely rare in the Celestial Realm and even rarer in the Immortal Realm. Hmm… I wonder where it comes from?”
Lele caught the golden kirin cub by its tail as she laughed softly, “Does it matter?”
The golden kirin cub began to snarl at her and started to claw at her furiously but Lele ignored it and shook it even more violently as she said, “Since you like Yi Ping so much then I shall call you Xiao Ping! Xiao Ping! Xiao Ping!”
Yi Ping smiled bitterly, “Surely you are able to come out with a better name.”
Lingfeng looked at Yi Ping with a woeful expression, “Are you really…the White Sage?”
All of a sudden Lele used her knuckle to knock on Yi Ping’s head, “Of course he is the White Sage! Who else can he be?”
Lingfeng lowered her head shyly as she whispered softly, “I just want to hear from him himself…”
Yi Ping turned to look at her as he said warmly, “I will never forget that I have a grand protégé mistress. I will never forget all your instructions and all that you have said…”
Lingfeng began to laugh alluringly, “And I have never forgotten that I have a rascal protégé either!”
Yi Ping managed a weak smile as he looked at the majestic pristine mountains that were in front of them, “We still got a long way to go…”
Yixian and Lie Qing gave him a gentle smile as they said at the same time, “Yes…”
Yixian added gently, “But there is nothing that we cannot overcome together.”
But he was soon sighing melancholy, “Ye Yin, Xingyue, Yu’Er, Mei’Er, Yunzi…where are you? I hope that you are alright. We are coming for you…”
Lie Qing raised her Perpetual Darkness, “My divine sword shares a bond with Sister Ye Yin’s divine sword. If something happens to her, I will surely know.”
Si Shi said with a quiet determination, “Yunzi is the Celestial Ocean Heavenly Maiden incarnate. Moreover she is with the elders of the Infinite Sword Celestial Clan. I wouldn’t worry for them.”
Youxue tapped Yi Ping quietly on his right shoulder as she looked affectionately at him, “That is right. Somehow I am more worried for her opponent!”
Yi Ping nodded as he took a determined step forward before turning around, “Let’s us go now!”
Immediately there were jubilee outbursts as everyone laughed jovially as they set their sights on the majestic pristine mountains that stood towering in front of them!
The Universal Old Man was shouting, “Hey! Wait for me!”