Second Time

Chapter 88 - Space and Time

Shao Xing kept a low profile. She didn't feel like she belonged in the world, but that wouldn't matter once she escaped it. She bided her time for the most part, sometimes chatting with Cai Fei or Liezhu but rarely making any appearance. She focused on her cultivation.

Ren Meili found it very familiar.

Shao Xing still had her Emperor Realm Seventh Stage cultivation. There was nothing that could happen that she couldn't solve, and she would solve it in nearly the same way as Shao Yue.

So, Shao Yue turned her attention whole-heartedly to reaching Void Traversal. Every day, she consumed the highest quality pills she could produce and surrounded herself with high-grade spirit stones. Time flowed faster around her, accelerating her ever upwards. The precious spirit stones shattered one by one, but she replaced them without remorse.

Even with all those advantages, it still took over a hundred years before she felt she'd reached the peak of the Emperor Realm. As for how many years actually passed for her in the space of accelerated time, she couldn't say.

"It looks like she's ready," Shao Xing said to Cai Fei, taking a moment to rub Cai Fei's head. "Go on. I'll await the good news."

Shao Xing couldn't say she loved Cai Fei, but she was decently fond of her. In truth, she liked Liezhu a bit better, but if she'd met Cai Fei earlier and experienced everything Shao Yue had, she may have formed a different opinion. Shao Xing hadn't been able to see Cai Fei's struggles when the latter was still weak and rebellious.

Cai Fei met Shao Yue as the latter left her meditation room.

"All set?" Cai Fei asked.

"Just about. There's one little complication that came up while I was in there."

The two left the pavilion and tracked down Liezhu. During Shao Yue's seclusion, due to the accelerated time, the contract had expired earlier than it should have.

"Messing with time sure is inconvenient," Liezhu complained. "But, I promised, so let's renew it."

Liezhu waved her hand and summoned a new contract. Shao Yue read it over to make sure nothing had changed, and one thing had. The new contract didn't have an expiry date.

Shao Yue glanced at Liezhu, who looked away while maintaining a cold expression. "Alternatively, you could contract with Xing and I can take Shenyu."

"You two aren't going to stay together often. If anything, have Fei take Shenyu. Then I'll at least be with Shenyu most of the time."

"Why not the other way around? Why not contract with Fei?"

"There's no need!" Liezhu huffed. "I've seen things from your perspective enough, I don't need the other side."

Shao Yue laughed, deciding to accept that excuse. "Well, I'll stop teasing you about it."

She reached out and accepted the contract, the spider mark returning to the back of her hand.

"Let's continue getting along, Liezhu."

"Just don't push it too far." Liezhu turned to leave. "Yue."

Shao Yue smiled, then turned and broadcast her voice across the entire peak. "Hello, this is Shao Yue. I'll be attempting my Transcendent Realm breakthrough soon. Anyone who wants to come watch is free to. I'll leave in half a day."

Naturally, none of them would miss such a historic event.

Several hours later, when Shao Yue left, nearly the entire peak flew up to follow her. The rainbow cloud attracted plenty of attention and many other sect members followed to see what was going on.