[Restart Volume] Chapter 257: Flowers Are Not Flowers, Mist Is Not Mist

"Long time no see."

Li Qingchi replied, still keeping his eyes closed.

"What? Are you here to rescue me?" Li Qingchi smiled. "The prison system of the Crystal Keep is so sophisticated that a single set of keys shouldn't be enough to get you out, right?"

"Indeed," the other person said calmly. "However, rescuing you is still within my capabilities, though right now is not the optimal moment."

"Oh?" Li Qingchi asked. "Then what are you doing jangling that set of keys around?"

"The keys to the [Seven Sins] are due for replacements," the visitor said with a profound implication.

"And what does that have to do with me?" Li Qingchi gave a self-deprecating chuckle. "I hardly seem qualified enough."

"Even if you lack the qualifications, this matter remains inextricably linked to you," the visitor abruptly paused.

"How so?" Li Qingchi inquired.

"Your younger sister has already made the candidate list."

As soon as those words fell, Li Qingchi jerked up from the wooden plank bed, dashed toward the crystal cell, and grabbed the iron bars fiercely, his eyes blazing with fury.

"What is the meaning of this? When I joined the sect, I made it clear that this plan must not involve my sister!"

"It is the Sect Master's will," the visitor replied.

"Damn the Sect Master to hell! What a double-crossing bastard!" Li Qingchi cursed.

Watching the veins bulge on the young man's forehead, the visitor couldn't help shaking his head. "It is merely a candidate list; there is no need to be so agitated."

"Not agitated? My sister is my only living relative, and the sect is about to make a move against her—how can I not be agitated? Do you know the agony of losing a loved one? You don't know a damn thing!" Li Qingchi roared.

"Both of you and I have experienced it; why wouldn't I understand?" The visitor managed a faint smile. "My scars are by no means shallower than yours."

"..." Li Qingchi opened his mouth to retort, then swallowed the words back down.

Silence hung between them for a while.

"How has Vanilla been doing lately?" Li Qingchi broke the silence.

"She is doing well enough for now," the visitor answered. "After the academy exposed your affairs, your sister wept for a long time. Over the last few days, however, she has pulled herself together and recovered much of her spirit."

"I see..." Li Qingchi released his grip on the iron bars. "There is nothing else, I suppose?"

"Hanchuan Academy, in alliance with other academies, is preparing to purge the otherworldly beings," the visitor said. "The academy will dispatch an expeditionary force to Dragonfang Island tomorrow morning."

"Heh, they are only now realizing the threat posed by the otherworldly beings? Isn't a bit late for that?" Li Qingchi sneered.

"Not yet, and besides, the sect will also participate this time," the visitor said.

"Oh? Why?" Li Qingchi asked.

"The power of the Wind Dragon God has awakened," the visitor paused, "and quite coincidentally, it resides on Dragonfang Island."

"Is that so?" Li Qingchi smiled. "Let us hope we do not see a repeat of last time, where the power of the Water Dragon God fell prey to a traitor."

"Samael... that expelled wretch will likely slip in this time as well," the visitor remarked. "After all, he possesses the ultimate disguise and the ability to covertly master the skills of others."

"Quite interesting..." Li Qingchi shook his head. "This multi-factional battlefield."

"I know you wish to prove yourself," the visitor offered a faint smile. "Rest assured, the opportunity will come."

"Time is short; I must take my leave." The visitor waved and turned to depart.

"Won't the academy notice you infiltrating the Crystal Keep?" Li Qingchi asked.

"Have no fear," the visitor glanced back with a smile. "I have my own methods."

"True enough, your current status is hardly low," Li Qingchi nodded.

"Is there anything else?" the visitor asked.

Li Qingchi frowned slightly and uttered:

"Remember to help me protect my sister."

The next day.
Five-fifty in the morning.

A hazy gray hung over the world, with only a gentle ray of light radiating from the distant, rising sun lending a touch of color to the sky.

At the Hades Cultivation Grounds, Mo Xing, Zhang Zhihao, and Cai Hong were exchanging their final farewells.

"I'll see you off this far," Cai Hong said.

"Alright, thank you Senior Brother Cai—" Before Mo Xing could finish, an involuntary yawn overtook him.

He was simply too exhausted!

It had been ages since he woke up this early, and Mo Xing felt rather drowsy. In contrast, the great Zhang Zhihao beside him looked quite spirited, discussing various matters with Senior Brother Cai.

"Don't worry, leave everything to me!"

Cai Hong patted his chest, signaling that the task was in good hands. It boiled down to two words:
Reliable!

"Mhm," Zhang Zhihao nodded.

"Then I'll be off," Cai Hong waved.

"Alright, take care on your way back, Senior Brother," Mo Xing nodded.

The previous night, after returning to the dormitory and finishing dinner, he and the great Zhang Zhihao began packing their luggage...
No, wait, he was the only one packing; the great Zhang Zhihao had already prepared everything inside his storage bracelet.

Fortunately, this world featured the convenience of storage rings and bracelets, allowing one to simply pack and stow their belongings away. Otherwise, hauling around heavy bags and bundles would have been quite the ordeal.

When Cai Hong and Senior Brother Mianhua learned that they were setting out early for Dragonfang Island, they had arranged to see them off this morning. As it turned out, Senior Brother Mianhua slept like a log, completely unresponsive to Cai Hong's attempts to wake him, leaving Cai Hong to send them off alone.

"Morning, you two!"

Recovering his wits, Mo Xing spotted Wu Dance approaching from not far away and hurriedly waved back.

"Morning," the great Zhang Zhihao said.

"Whew~ I thought I was going to be late," Wu Dance jogged over, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"Not at all, we just got here ourselves," Mo Xing smiled.

"Eh? Where are Shiyan and Xia Ningxin?" Wu Dance looked around.

"I haven't seen them either; they're probably on their way," Mo Xing scratched his head.

"I'm here!"

A familiar voice rang out from nearby. Mo Xing turned around to find Shiyan materializing before him, trailing a faint black-and-white afterimage.

Flash Shadow Step!

Mo Xing was taken aback. He truly hadn't expected Shiyan's [Flash Shadow Step] to be so agile—even swifter than classmate Ling Ke's!

"Good morning!"

Shiyan's lips curved upward slightly. Today she wore a light gray short-shouldered capelet with a pale blue round collar that accentuated her slender neck, paired with a wine-red knee-length skirt and a pair of black high boots. Her pitch-black hair fell in natural, gentle waves over her shoulders, looking simple, elegant, and fashionable all at once.

"M-morning!" Mo Xing stammered, once again struck dumb by Shiyan's attire.

She was simply too stunning!

"Morning! Vice President!" Wu Dance chimed in with abundant enthusiasm.

"Mhm, morning," Zhang Zhihao turned slightly and gave a slight nod.

"Mo Xing, aren't you cold wearing short sleeves?" Shiyan suddenly pointed at his white T-shirt.

"Ah? I... I'm fine, not really cold—" Before Mo Xing could finish, he let out a massive sneeze.

"Oh dear, you should put on another layer immediately," Shiyan promptly retrieved a white fleece windbreaker from her storage bracelet and handed it over.

"Uh... thanks for the thought, but I actually brought a jacket myself."

Mo Xing waved his hand and retrieved his black coat from the [Titan Ring], slipping it on.

After all, wearing girls' clothing wouldn't do.

"Very well..."
Shiyan put the fleece windbreaker back into her storage bracelet.

"By the way, why isn't Xia Ningxin here?" Wu Dance, sensing the subtle atmosphere of the scene, quickly changed the subject.

"She's here," Zhang Zhihao said flatly.

Suddenly, a gale whipped up, and a beam of multicolored light pierced the heavens.

Everyone looked up to see a massive golden flying vessel materialize in mid-air, its majestic hull vast enough to obscure half the sky!

Shaped like a ship, the vessel radiated colorful brilliance, while countless hexagram magic arrays revolved beneath its hull, holding the behemoth steadily suspended in mid-air.

The sight left Mo Xing utterly astounded. He had never witnessed a vessel of such scale, let alone one hovering in the sky!

Words failed Mo Xing to describe this magnificent giant ship. If he had to describe it at all, he could only quote the ancient prose:
"On the back of the Kun, one knows not how many thousands of li it stretches; when it rises in rage, its wings are like clouds hanging from the sky."

"Students, please board the vessel!"

A crisp, melodious voice rang in their ears—it was Instructor Su Yunzhou's [Sound Domain]!

"Board? How do we board?"

Mo Xing looked around, seeing neither the giant ship descending nor any boarding ladders dropped down. Did they have to unleash the Dragon God Wings and fly up themselves?

Surely not—he hadn't mastered those yet!

"Look ahead!" Shiyan urged from beside him.

Following her gaze, Mo Xing saw the hazy gray expanse ahead suddenly tear open as if slashed by a blade, a beam of golden light bursting from within to form a wide, towering gateway.

"Th-this is a portal?" Mo Xing stared at the golden gate, which stood over three meters tall, his jaw hanging open in disbelief.

"Indeed! Indeed! That's a teleportation skill that can only be learned upon reaching the Purple Cauldron Realm!" Wu Dance nodded.

"Then... then why aren't we just teleporting directly to Dragonfang Island? Why bother with an airship?" Mo Xing scratched his head.

"The journey to Dragonfang Island is vast, and with so many of us, a direct teleportation would exhaust the caster's spiritual sea. Coupled with the various limitations of teleportation skills, the idea is impractical," Shiyan shook her head.

"Fair enough," Mo Xing figured that even the strongest skills had their limits; otherwise, anyone could become a god.

"Let's go," Zhang Zhihao, who had been quiet most of the time, said as he stepped through the golden portal.

"Mhm," the others followed closely behind.

In the blink of an eye, Mo Xing and his companions emerged on the other side of the gate—the bow deck of the ship!

How magical!
Mo Xing marveled inwardly.

At that moment, a familiar girl holding a cat appeared before the four of them.
Xia Ningxin!
And little Moonshadow in her arms!

"Everyone is here," Xia Ningxin smiled faintly.

"Meow~" Little Moonshadow chimed in from her arms.

On the other side of the academy.

Fallen leaves were gently swept aside by a broom as an elderly man tended to the grounds.

Suddenly, the old man paused in his work, gazing at the distant, glowing airship with a meaningful smile.
He was Mr. Shen.

Beside him hovered a mist-like white mirror, a soul array used for communication.

"Has it been calculated?" Mr. Shen asked.

"It has," the voice from the mirror replied. "You also need to bring along two pieces."

"Oh? Which two?" Mr. Shen asked with curiosity.

"First-year Xiao Feng, and..." The speaker yawned.

"Li Vanilla."