Chương 1174: Chapter 1172: A Hidden Shadow

The morning sun crested the jagged peaks of the minor mountain ranges surrounding the Five Star Lakes and cast a warm golden glow across the valley. The remnants of the campfire from the previous night smoldered with a faint orange light while the morning dew gathered on the blades of tall spirit grass. Li Yu and Lian were still talking and were enjoying each another's company. She sat beside him with her dark robes rustling gently in the cool spring breeze while a serene expression graced her face.

Li Yu finally sat up slowly and stretched his arms as he felt a robust energy humming through his body. The peaceful night they shared under the starlight had done wonders for his state of mind and the lingering scent of wine still hung in the air. He looked at the beautiful woman sitting next to him and realized he did not want time with her to end just yet. That while she was a busy person, he would just go ahead and be selfish this time around.

"Did you enjoy your time?" Li Yu said with a warm smile while brushing a stray blade of grass from his robes.

"I hope you found the night restful."

"It was one of the most restful nights I have experienced in a while." Lian replied while turning her head to meet his gaze. Her dark eyes held a soft affection that contrasted sharply with her usual stoic persona.

"The energy of this valley is calming and the company is even better."

"Do you have to return to your legions today?" Li Yu asked while feeling a bit hopeful.

"Or do you have some time to spare?" Lian shook her head and a faint smile formed on her lips.

"The Veiled Lotus is self-sufficient and my generals know how to handle the daily operations without my constant supervision. I have no urgent missions requiring my immediate attention."

"Then stay with me a little longer," Li Yu offered while standing up and offering her his hand.

"We spent yesterday sitting by the lakes but this area covers a vast area of untouched wilderness extending deep into the surrounding mountains. I would love to show you some of the groves and waterfalls hiding in the higher elevations. We can spend the day exploring the woods and just enjoying the scenery." Lian placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her to her feet.

"I would enjoy that. It sounds as good a reason as any to skip out on tiring duties. Lead the way." They left the campsite behind and took to the sky. Li Yu guided them away from the wooden buildings of his central hub and directed their flight toward the dense forests clinging to the slopes of the eastern mountains. The trees here grew tall and thick with leaves that shimmered in various shades of emerald and jade.

The air grew noticeably cooler as they ascended and the dense spiritual energy of the natural environment washed over their bodies. They flew over a deep ravine and followed a winding river upstream until they discovered a hidden cascading waterfall. The pristine water tumbled down a sheer cliff face and crashed into a crystal clear pool surrounded by glowing blue moss and vibrant spiritual flora. The beauty of the secluded spot made it an ideal location to spend a lazy afternoon.

Li Yu and Lian landed softly on the rocky bank of the pool as the mist from the waterfall felt refreshing against their skin and the ambient sounds of nature provided a soothing melody. Li Yu walked over to a cluster of blue fruit growing near the water and inspected them carefully before plucking a few ripe pieces. He tossed one to Lian who caught it effortlessly and took a small bite.

"This is a serene place," Lian noted while tasting the sweet juice of the spiritual fruit.

"The Qi here is pure and untainted by the blood of the outside realms." Li Yu nodded and found a comfortable spot on a large flat boulder overlooking the pool. He patted the stone beside him playfully and Lian walked over to take a seat. The peaceful atmosphere provided the right opportunity for Li Yu to bring up the lingering concern he had kept hidden since the battle. He trusted Lian and he valued her vast experience as a supreme powerhouse.

"I need to tell you something about what happened during the final battle. I didn't tell the complete truth earlier." Li Yu began while looking down at the clear water.

"Before the colossal squid initiated its soul implosion, the pressure on my body became overwhelming from my Qi absorption. The Qi I was absorbing from the creature was too dense and it threatened to shatter my body from the inside out. I had to forcefully redirect a large portion of that energy directly into my inner world to survive the influx." Lian stopped eating her fruit and her expression shifted to one of focused attention.

"Your inner world is one of the core of your Dao and important to your future path. Introducing foreign laws from an ancient terror into your foundation carries significant risks."

"I know," Li Yu sighed while leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees.

"My inner world expanded rapidly to accommodate the energy but the natural survival instincts took over. The land fractured and isolated the corrupted Qi far away from the core laws. The ancient energy formed a dark sprawling ocean with shifting purple waves. The strange reality warping rules of that creature are sealed within those waters." He paused for a moment before admitting the most troubling part.

"The problem is that I cannot access that section of my own inner world. Whenever I try to project my divine sense into the dark ocean, it hits an invisible barrier and bounces off. I am the master of my inner world but that specific area rejects my authority which has been troubling me." Lian frowned and a look of concern flashed across her face. She set her fruit aside and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"That is an odd and troubling occurrence, Li Yu. The inner world should bend to your will without exception. I have heard of inner worlds changing or mutating for other people before though. It is rare but it happens."

"Have you seen or heard of this kind of isolation before?" Li Yu asked while looking at her for guidance.

"Not through a foreign creature like your situation," Lian explained while tapping her finger against the stone in thought.

"Most mutations I know of happen due to rare natural treasures or unique bloodline awakenings. Usually such changes are generally beneficial in some way since they introduce new truths or empower the cultivator with unique traits. A mutation can elevate a cultivator above their peers if they learn to harness it." She hesitated for a brief second and her voice took on a more serious tone.

"But they could also lead to bad things. Altering the foundation of your inner world is unpredictable and especially so if you are not able to control it. I recall reading a text long ago. It detailed a powerful cultivator whose inner world was affected by some kind of evil spirit he encountered in a ruined realm. He absorbed the spirit by chance to boost his cultivation and it created a section in his inner world like what happened with you." Li Yu felt a chill run down his spine but he kept his expression calm.

"What happened to him?"

"At first he experienced a great surge in strength," Lian recounted the old lore while her dark eyes locked onto his.

"But the foreign space within slowly bled into his primary inner world over the years. The cultivator spiraled into madness as the evil spirit corrupted his understanding of the Dao. He lost his temper easily, isolated himself from his allies and eventually began slaughtering innocent people to feed the dark energy growing inside him. He became the enemy of many others and a coalition of experts had to be formed just to hunt him down and kill him."

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Li Yu took a deep breath and looked back at the crashing waterfall after hearing such a tale. That was about the last thing he wanted to hear but it was good to know. He searched his own mind and his soul space for any signs of corruption or unnatural anger immediately. Li Yu remembered that he had thought that Demonic Qi that he had absorbed from demon cores in his younger days would affect him but it never did.

The Demonic Qi was refined and turned into his own strength completely as his body, soul and cultivation grew. Li Yu looked around his Ocean of Qi and sure enough there were no signs of that red Demonic Qi from long ago. He then looked up at the Yin Yang vortex that spun smoothly and his five Nascent Souls rested peacefully without any signs of distress. Besides the already aggressive nature of the Fisherman Soul when Li Yu was in the heat of combat, everything else seemed peaceful enough.

"I do not sense any of that," Li Yu said honestly.

"My mind feels clear and my Qi is stable as it usually does. I do not feel any madness taking root in my soul."

"I know you do not," Lian said softly while squeezing his shoulder to offer comfort.

"But that doesn't mean it wouldn't happen to you down the road if those bizarre laws begin to leak past your natural barrier. We must treat this with caution and that is why I am telling you now. If you can prepare for it, then you will more likely not fall prey to it." She saw the worry lingering in his eyes and her demeanor melted away to reveal a fierce protective warmth. She leaned closer and let her hand trail down his arm to interlock her fingers with his.

"It will be okay though," Lian promised with a confident and unwavering voice.

"You are not some lone cultivator wandering the void without guidance. You have access to some of the best things the realms have to offer or have the ability to get it. Your grandfather is a Worldkeeper and your parents possess incredible knowledge and resources as well. There would most likely be a solution to this problem and we will find it together." Li Yu felt a great weight lift from his chest as he listened to her reassuring words. She was right.

He had a family of supreme experts and a vast network of resources to rely on. He did not have to face this unknown variable alone. If anything, he was probably one of the best people in the Myriad Realms to be able to deal with such a problem should it arise.

'I will wait for my family to return and tell them everything,' Li Yu thought while squeezing Lian's hand in return.

'They will know who to consult or how to proceed.' Lian noticed the tension leaving his shoulders and smartly decided to change the conversation as there was nothing else to discuss. There were people in Li Yu's life that were more qualified to handle such a situation and the two of them would not be able to solve it together. She did not want this dark topic to ruin the beautiful day they were sharing since time together was relatively rare.

They were in the early stages of their relationship and they needed to focus on building joyful memories together instead of dreading about the unknown that might be nothing at all.

"Now that we have addressed the serious matters," Lian said while a playful glint appeared in her dark eyes.

"I believe you owe me a proper tour of this wilderness. I sense a grove of peaches growing further up the mountain and I want to see who can reach them first. Let me see how far your techniques have come along." Before Li Yu could even respond, Lian blurred into motion. She kicked off the flat boulder and soared into the air like a streak of black lightning. Her sudden departure caught him off guard but a genuine laugh escaped his lips as he realized she was challenging him to a race.

He circulated his Qi and launched himself after her while enjoying the thrill of the chase. Li Yu quickly realized what she was doing and that made him feel even better as his mood completely flipped. The rest of the day transformed into a fun and lighthearted adventure for the two cultivators. They raced through the dense canopy of the mountain forests and dodged thick branches with acrobatic grace.

Lian easily stayed ahead of him due to her superior cultivation and skills but she playfully slowed down just enough to keep him engaged in the pursuit. They found the grove of pink peaches and spent time harvesting the sweet fruit while teasing each other about their foraging skills. They sparred lightly in a grassy clearing later in the afternoon. Li Yu tried to use his fluid movement techniques to land a harmless strike on her shoulder but Lian parried his attacks with effortless precision.

She moved with the grace of a dancing shadow and eventually caught his wrist to spin him around. She pinned him gently against the trunk of a large ancient tree and laughed softly as he surrendered the match with a dramatic sigh. She wasn't going to lose to him just yet, he would have to earn that. Her laughter was a beautiful sound that echoed through the quiet woods and Li Yu felt his heart swell with affection for the supreme general pinning him to the bark.

She released him with a warm smile and they continued their journey through the untouched wilderness while holding hands and sharing stories of their favorite places in the Myriad Realms. When the sun began to set and cast long purple shadows across the valley they returned to their secluded spot near the eastern lake. Li Yu gathered fresh wood and built another campfire to ward off the evening chill but mainly for the nice atmosphere it brought.

He cooked a hearty meal using the fresh herbs and ingredients they had gathered during their exploration while Lian prepared the woven blanket and opened a flask of ale this time. The night enveloped the Five Star Lakes in a blanket of glittering stars and a tranquility settled over the camp they had made. They sat close together by the fire while eating the warm food and passing the flask of ale back and forth without worries.

The alcohol brought a comfortable heat to their blood and stripped away the remaining layers of hesitation between them. Lian proved once again to be much more bold than Li Yu as the night progressed. While he still felt a bit hesitant about initiating physical contact with the fearsome Black Lotus, she showed no such restraint. She shifted her position on the blanket and straddled his lap while wrapping her arms loosely around his neck.

The sudden closeness made Li Yu's breath hitch but he eagerly wrapped his own arms around her waist to secure her against him. She looked down at him with dark eyes filled with affection and leaned in to capture his lips in a deep passionate kiss. Li Yu met her fierce intensity with his own growing desire and they lost themselves in the shared warmth of the moment. Lian took the lead and guided his hands to run along the curves of her dark martial robes while she tangled her fingers in his hair.

She kissed him until they were both breathless and then rested her forehead against his while letting out a soft contented sigh. They spent the entire night by the fire talking about future plans, things they were dreading, drinking the ale and sharing countless kisses under the starry sky. They explored the boundaries of their early romance with a joyful enthusiasm that left them both feeling incredibly happy and connected.

The heavy burdens of war and the dark mysteries of his inner world faded into the background as they focused solely on the person holding them in the present. The hours slipped away in a haze of laughter and quiet whispers until the sky in the east began to lighten. The first rays of the morning sun pierced the horizon and painted the clouds in brilliant shades of pink and gold. They sat side by side with Lian resting her head on his shoulder as they watched the sunrise reflect off the calm surface of the lake.

"The dawn is beautiful here," Lian murmured softly while watching the light chase away the shadows of the valley.

"It is," Li Yu agreed while kissing the top of her head.

"I am glad you stayed to see it with me." Lian offered a warm smile and reluctantly pulled away from his embrace. She stood up and her dark martial robes shifted back into her polished black dragon scale armor in a fluid motion. The crimson cloak settled over her shoulders and the aura of the supreme general returned to her posture but her eyes still held the soft warmth of the woman who had spent the earlier time in his arms.

"I must return now," Lian said while adjusting her bracers.

"My generals will need new directives for the upcoming cycle and I cannot neglect my duties for too long."

"I understand," Li Yu said while standing up to see her off. They had talked about this earlier and came as no surprise but it was tough to see her go.

"Be safe on your missions, Lian. And please come back whenever you have the time."

"I will always come back to you, Li Yu," Lian promised with unwavering certainty with her words meaning several different things to the two people present. She stepped forward to give him one last lingering kiss on the lips before taking a step back and rising into the air. Li Yu watched her ascend into the morning sky and then tore a rift to leave. He stood by the dying embers of the campfire with a heart full of joy and a renewed determination burning in his chest.

He would face whatever challenges awaited him and solve the mystery of his dark ocean so he could stand proudly beside the incredible woman that was just with him.