Chapter 39: Baozhen Fully Revealed—The Grand Finale

A dazzling white light swallowed Yun Yao. She felt as though she had been sucked into a massive vortex, spinning uncontrollably, her very insides churning.

When the dizziness finally subsided, she found herself in a strange space. There were no sun, moon, or stars here, no mountains or rivers; there was only an endless expanse of white, as if she were in a world at the dawn of chaos.

Yun Yao tentatively took a step forward. The ground beneath her felt soft, like walking on clouds—weightless and lacking any sense of solidity. Fear coiled around her heart like a vine. She attempted to channel her spiritual power, only to discover that the energy within her had turned stagnant, impossible to call upon.

Where on earth was this? Where had the secret treasure brought her?

"Jun Mohan..." she called out tentatively, but only an empty echo returned to her.

Yun Yao forced herself to remain calm. Panic would serve no purpose; she had to find a way out. She took a deep breath and began to observe her surroundings. Other than the infinite white, she could see nothing and hear nothing. It was terrifyingly silent, as if she were the only person left in the entire world.

Time seemed to lose its meaning here. Yun Yao did not know how long she had remained in this space—it could have been hours, or it could have been days and nights. She walked aimlessly, the soft sensation under her feet making her feel like a sleepwalker. Loneliness and helplessness surged like a tide, threatening to drown her. The endless void made her feel unimaginably small, like a speck of dust floating in the cosmos. A stifling oppression spread through her heart, leaving her breathless.

Just as she was on the verge of despair, her fingertips brushed against something solid. The object was piercingly cold, entirely out of place in the soft environment. A flicker of hope ignited within her, and she traced the cold surface. Beneath her fingers, it felt like a stone stele, carved with strange patterns.

"What... is this?"

As Yun Yao’s fingertips touched the patterns, a strange energy surged into her body. Her previously stagnant spiritual power instantly surged to life, flowing through her meridians like a rushing river. At the same time, the patterns on the stele emitted a brilliant light, illuminating the empty void.

The light converged, eventually forming a sphere that hovered before her. Within the sphere, images flashed by like a film. In these visions, an elderly man with the bearing of an immortal wielded a long sword, battling a massive demonic beast. Though gravely wounded, the elder fought with stubborn resolve, eventually sealing the creature away. After the sealing, he poured his life’s cultivation into a treasure, leaving behind instructions for those who followed: only those who possessed a righteous heart and had endured great suffering could truly claim the power of this relic.

This treasure was the very secret prize everyone had been desperately seeking.

Yun Yao realized with a start that the treasure was not merely an object, but a legacy—a test. She recalled the trials she and Jun Mohan had faced, from their initial misunderstandings to their eventual mutual understanding and affection. They had walked a path filled with countless hardships; their characters had been tempered, and their bond had only grown stronger.

"Jun Mohan, we can definitely do this!" Joy and confidence filled her heart. She believed that she and Jun Mohan would surely pass the test and earn the recognition of the treasure. As her conviction grew, the surrounding light brightened, as if responding to her resolve.

Meanwhile, outside the space of the secret treasure, Jun Mohan waited anxiously for Yun Yao's return. He tried every method he knew to enter the space and rescue her, but all his efforts were in vain. He gripped his sword tightly, the blade reflecting his distressed expression. The surrounding disciples of the immortal sect were also worried; they had never seen Jun Mohan lose his composure like this. Their usually calm and steady senior brother now looked like a helpless child.

"Senior Brother, Senior Sister Yun Yao is blessed and will surely be safe," one disciple comforted him.

Jun Mohan did not speak, merely nodding silently, though his clenched fists and trembling lips betrayed his inner turmoil. He looked up at the sky, silently praying for her safety. Suddenly, a powerful, malevolent aura struck from afar. Jun Mohan whipped his head around, his gaze turning sharp.

"They are here..." his low voice carried a note of resolve.

Ying Sha, shrouded in thick black mist, lunged toward Jun Mohan with a wild laugh. "Your beloved little beauty is still trapped in the treasure, her life hanging by a thread, and you still have the mind to deal with us?" Before he finished speaking, his sharp blade was already before Jun Mohan.

At the same time, Elder Lingfeng and his disciples surrounded them from all directions, their battle cries shaking the heavens. Jun Mohan’s eyes were cold; his sword light was like snow, and the biting sword qi tore through the encroaching black mist.

"Yun Yao, I will get you out!" he roared, his form flickering like a ghost as he wove through the enemy ranks. Sword light flashed, and screams echoed one after another. Despite being outnumbered, Jun Mohan fought with growing ferocity, like an indefatigable god of war. Seeing this, the other immortal sect disciples joined the fray, their colorful spells weaving a giant net that enveloped Ying Sha and the others.

Just then, a dazzling white light erupted from the treasure space, illuminating the entire battlefield. Yun Yao appeared within the radiance, dressed in a white gown, looking like a celestial maiden descending from the heavens. She held a long sword that radiated a soft light. The power of the treasure flowed within her, filling her with immense strength.

"Jun Mohan!" Yun Yao’s clear voice rang out across the sky. She flew to his side, and they stood shoulder to shoulder, like a pair of divine companions.

With a determined look, Yun Yao swung her sword. A fierce wave of sword qi swept out, sending Ying Sha, Elder Lingfeng, and the others flying back like kites with broken strings, blood spraying from their mouths.

"What... what is this power!" Ying Sha’s eyes widened in terror; he had never seen such immense power, as if it could command the heavens and the earth. Elder Lingfeng turned deathly pale, realizing he had crossed an insurmountable force, and hastily fled with his disciples in disarray.

Yun Yao and Jun Mohan shared a smile; they knew they had won the battle. The surrounding disciples erupted in deafening cheers, and their names would be celebrated in the immortal sect forever.

However, just as everyone was celebrating their victory, a heart-stopping roar echoed from the borders of the immortal realm. The earth began to tremble, as if something terrifying was awakening.

Yun Yao and Jun Mohan exchanged a look, a heavy expression clouding their faces.

"It seems we have even more important work to do..." Jun Mohan gripped his sword tighter.

Yun Yao’s expression was solemn as she looked toward the distance—toward the direction of the Demon Realm. She felt a profound sense of unease, as if a massive conspiracy was unfolding.