A Martial Odyssey

Yi Ping and his group were standing between two imposing cliffs. The cliffs were so tall that they could not see the towering ends. And between these two cliffs were two imposing grey statues that stood around 20 meters tall.

These two statues depicted a handsome man and a beautiful maiden seeming facing each other woefully and they were crossing the passage with their imposing swords!

And beyond these two imposing statues were cold rolling mists.

Yi Ping was looking at these two imposing statues and a sense of familiarity was felt by him.

But he quickly composed himself to say, "It seems that we have found the end point of this level?"

Alice smiled and nodded, "The sooner that we can get out of this level, the sooner the better."

Isa nodded, "It gives me the creep knowing that this Lord Judas is on this level with us!"

Xiang crossed her hands, "He really gives me the shiver, you know!"

Yi Ping smiled bitterly. He really had no idea how creepy this Lord Judas was. But one thing was for sure, it seemed that these immortal goddesses were not fond of the Western Paradise Heavenly King.

The Lord Supreme muttered, "This is the end of this level. I wonder what lies beyond this gate?"

The Immortal Saint of Swords looked at Yi Ping curiously, "We are a big group. It may not seem wise to enter this gate at the same time. I am really surprised that all of you are able to make it to this level in such a big group…"

Yi Ping he heaved a soft sigh as he looked at everyone, "I do know that the strength of the obstructions increase according to the size of our group but I am unwilling to break up our group."

He was anxious because he could not afford to lose any of them and it was a constant hard decision that he had to face at every point.

Lingfeng who knew his thoughts intimately, smiled gently. "Ping'Er, let me say something alright?"

Yi Ping nodded slowly…

Lingfeng said alluringly as she eyed everyone, "In our group, there are the stronger ones and the weaker ones…"

Yi Ping smiled bitterly as he interrupted, "That is not what I mean…"

Lingfeng tugged his sleeve gently as she said gently, "Wait Ping'Er, please hear me out first!"

Ye Yin smiled shyly at Yi Ping, "Let's hear the Heaveness out first!"

Yunzi smiled gently, "That is right. And it may resolve the knot in your heart."

Yi Ping smiled awkwardly as he sighed softly…

Lingfeng smiled before she took a sweeping glance at everyone, "The weaker ones among you must be worried that you may be an encumbrance to Yi Ping and the others. You rather leave the group and suffer alone than be in the group!"

She paused for a while before she looked at Alice, Isa and all the stronger ones, "The stronger ones among you actually do not mind having the weaker ones in the group. It is because you feel that you will be equally able to protect them. So you rather shoulder the daunting trials despite knowing the dangers!"

Lingfeng raised her voice as she looked at everyone, "Am I right to say so?"

Everyone was nodding.

The Goddess of Mercy Xiang said casually, "I like challenges anyway."

Asura also added coolly, "If we have it easy then we won't become stronger and it will be difficult to raise our state of divinity."

Yi Ping said firmly, "Leaving anyone behind isn't an option I suppose. No matter how daunting it is, I will do my best to protect everyone…"

Lele smiled, "The burden of protecting everyone rests with all of us and not only you."

Youxue nodded approvingly as walked gently to Yi Ping, "Ping'Er, we are in this together…"

Yi Ping muttered, "Youxue…"

Youxue in turn looked at him with a thousand affections; Yi Ping was no longer the naïve and weak young man that she had first met him. Maybe it was because he had an unusual destiny that had attracted her in the first place. Maybe it was because of his good nature heart. But no matter, he was now the hero in her heart!

The Lord Supreme sighed and he was followed by the Immortal Saint of Swords…

Lingfeng looked at them with a smile, "The two of you must be worried that with your injuries, you may be a hindrance to everyone?"

The Lord Supreme looked at Yu'Er, Mei'Er, Xingyue and Ye Yin before he sighed again, "That is right!"

The Immortal Saint of Swords looked at Yunzi with a soft sigh, "Yunzi may be the only hope for the Infinity Sword Celestial Sect to gain a foothold in the Immortal Realm. Alas, my will is willing but my flesh is weak!"

It was because his internal injuries were not light.

Dugu Yunzi said firmly, "Protégé master, I won't think of you as a hindrance and I am sure the rest of my sisters won't as well!"

The Goddess Celestial Alice nodded as she smiled warmly, "If you need more time to rest, we can wait a little longer before we go through that gate. But no one will think that you are a hindrance to anyone."

Lingfeng laughed softly, "So that is! So what are we waiting for now? Let's storm this gate!"

Even the golden Kirin cub was growling as though it was also agreeing.

Lie Qing was smiling. She was looking even more radiance after consuming the divine pill of the Western Paradise Heavenly King, "That is right. We shall blame no one for our misfortunates. We have all decided on this course and we mustn't falter from it!"

She had many reasons to smile. She had not only attained her Invincible Divine Force to the twelfth level, she was now also an immortal practitioner of the Divine Crisis level!

And she had even evolved her Golden Impervious Body to the Golden Invincible Body.

Han Lin clapped her hands as she laughed softly, "I agree too!"

Lingfeng nodded as she asked again, "So what do all of you think?"

The Universal Old Man, the Lord Supreme, the Immortal Sword of Saints and all the maidens were all nodding!

Yi Ping muttered as he looked at Lingfeng and the rest, "Everyone…"

He looked at Lingfeng with a broad smile, "Lingfeng, thank you…"

Lingfeng smiled gently, "So what now?"

Yi Ping took a deep breath before he said with firm determination, "We are in this together now. The path ahead may be difficult and full of unknowns but from now, let's us try our best!"

Youxue, Yu'Er, Mei'Er, Yunzi, Ye Yin and Xingyue had gathered around Yi Ping in the next instant. Their eyes were full of affectionate for Yi Ping as they all laughed jovially!

Yu'Er said, "That towering gate ahead looks dangerous but I am not afraid anymore!"

Isa walked in front of her before she winked to her, "What is there to be afraid of? If you call me big sister then I will surely protect you!"

Yu'Er asked excitingly, "Really? Big sister!"

Mei'Er was next to Isa in the next instant, "That is so unfair. Can I call you Big Sister too?"

Isa smiled gently, "If you like, why not?"

Mei'Er laughed softly, "Big sister, Big sister!"

Youxue smiled wryly, "Hmph! I want to as well! Big sister!"

Isa laughed softly, "I have so many little sisters all of a sudden!"

The Universal Old Man rubbed his hands before he said shyly, "Big Sister…"

Isa raised her eyebrows at him as she asked coldly, "What did you say?"

The Universal Old Man shivered lightly before he quickly said, "Nothing…"

Lingfeng laughed gently, "Serve you right!"

Yi Ping said aloud, "So we are all ready?"

Alice said all of a sudden, "Hold!"

Yi Ping asked curiously, "Yes?"

Alice said divinely, "Yi Ping, a minute please."

She looked at everyone with a sly smile before she said solemnly, "Yi Ping, you are a hero in the lower realm. But it is not a fitting title for you anymore. I think that it is time for you to deserve a better title."

Yi Ping smiled bitterly, "I am not a hero. Have you seen a hero that is as lecherous as me?"

Mei'Er said with a smile, "You are not. You are just too sentimental!"

Yu'Er nodded as she lowered her head shyly, "We have made a pledge to avoid the sentiments in our heart so that we can all focus on cultivating as celestial practitioners. And we have all attained past the Divine State of Emotion now…but alas…"

Yi Ping said firmly, "Yu'Er, we must be resolute. One day, we may attain as true immortals…"

Yu'Er looked him earnestly, "Who knows if these type of thing is allowed in the Immortal Realm? Who knows what further destiny awaits the Great God? I rather not part from you at all!"

Mei'Er said woefully, "Shi Shi meant well to depart from us so that she won't be a burden to us and she missed out on attaining as an immortal practitioner…"

Aiel was a little melancholy too, "Sometimes destiny turns up in this manner. A short separation becomes a great gulf…"

Yi Ping smiled bitterly, "I am just an immortal practitioner and is still a celestial. I will be in the Celestial Realm for a long time still…"

Aiel asked him, "You…really think so?"

Isa said quietly, "Unless the whole lot of you has attained as a true immortal, it is really too dangerous for you to put the emotions of the heart as priority. It will be costly to your future attainment and will only be a distraction."

Shen Xingyue said melancholy, "Yes we do know…"

Yi Ping muttered, "Xingyue…"

Xingyue smiled angelically, "Don't worry. That is why I am enjoying our times together even now. It is…"

She placed her hands gently to her bosoms as she muttered, "All these will be forever etched in my heart…"

All the rest of the maidens were also nodding and muttering…

Yunzi said quietly, "Our hearts…"

Youxue nodded as she clasped her bosoms, "Yes, it will be in our hearts…"

Alice said divinely, "So sisters. I, the Goddess Celestial Alice of the Three Known Realms now officially proclaims Yi Ping as the Immortal Hero of the Three Known Realms, does anyone of you have any objections?"

Everyone almost said aloud at the same time, "No!"

Yi Ping as startled, "Immortal Hero?"