With his words, the air currents in the sky froze accordingly. This was the ability of Shenxi Venerable; he could not only control his own breathing, but after attaining Enlightenment into the Void Realm, he could control the surrounding winds as well.

You Su distinctly felt it becoming difficult to breathe, and he said in a deep voice:

"Release the Saintess Yudie. I won’t reveal that the Jade Ring Pool was involved in the former saintess’s death at my hand."

Suddenly, a deathly silence settled around the small pool. Centered on Shenxi Venerable, the wind within three feet was as still as water.

"Mr. You, even if you are a disciple of the Lotus Sword Venerable, you should watch your words. Who would believe such a lie?"

Shenxi Venerable stared intently at You Su’s somewhat ferocious face. In front of a Venerable of the Void Realm, a youth at the Middle Spirit Platform Realm was as insignificant as an ant.

Yet, You Su gritted his teeth and said fiercely: "Even the lives of mortals matter! They are not tools for you to test whether the Jade Ring Pool is ready to reemerge!"

Shenxi Venerable was taken aback at his words; the surrounding air, as if a toy at his whim, suddenly began to flow again. Not only You Su, but even Yui Zhen, who had remained silent at the side, began to gasp for air, staring in shock at the blind You Su.

"How perceptive of a blind man, Mr. You. How did you figure it out?"

You Su steadied his breathing and said coldly: "The Jade Ring Pool is beautiful, but beauty is not for oneself; it’s for others to see! Hence, the Jade Ring Pool has always thrown its doors wide open, eager to show its beauty to the world. Now, hiding from the world is a last resort. I’ve never known a sanctuary to be so contradictory, thriving with life but where local cultivators rarely come out, proving that you are tired of isolation and eager to reconnect with the outside world to revive the thriving scene of the past."

"Continue."

Shenxi Venerable put his hands behind his back, earnestly facing the young man before him.

"But the only way you can judge whether the Jade Ring Pool has recovered enough to reemerge is by the Spirit Vein in the Saintess. Without a Spirit Vein, the Jade Ring Pool hasn’t regained its vitality. But there are two problems: first, a new Saintess cannot be born unless the current one dies; second, Spirit Veins are innate, they cannot be reborn later. This leads to a situation where, if the Jade Ring Pool has recovered yet the Mortal Saintess doesn’t die, you have no way to determine if you can reemerge! So..."

You Su clenched his fists, glaring at Shenxi Venerable:

"You treat the Mortal Saintess as a tool! When you desperately want to know if you can reemerge, you kill her to allow a new Saintess to be born and give you the answer! You disregard mortal lives no better than an evil sect!"

"How dare you speak out of line!"

Shenxi Venerable shouted furiously, reaching out to squeeze the air; You Su was lifted by an invisible hand clamped around his waist.

You Su, seeing his anger, felt constrained in action yet seemed to hold the upper hand, laughing coldly:

"I think Shenxi Venerable won’t be so impulsive. If I dare to say these things, I naturally have the confidence not to fear your wrath."

After his words, the grip of the invisible hand tightened, yet wrapped in it, You Su showed no hint of fear.

After a moment of standoff, You Su suddenly felt a lightness in his body as Shenxi Venerable turned away to look at the dreamlike white light under the Black Lake. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Our actions at the Jade Ring Pool are aboveboard, not as filthy as you say. Whether it’s the previous Saintess or Saintess Yudie, they sought death themselves. Mortals living among Immortals are not as easy as you think..."

You Su gaped in astonishment, realizing he had overlooked the possibility that the previous Saintess might have sought death during his analysis of her last words. Reflecting on her letter of disappointment and sadness toward this world of cultivation, her wish to end her life early wasn’t surprising.

"I..."

"Enough, Mr. You, please leave. Tomorrow, Yui Zhen will bring the Lotus Heart to exchange with you for the Emperor’s House Tree Seed, and you may then leave the Jade Ring Pool. It doesn’t matter how you speak of the Jade Ring Pool afterward; the Jade Ring Pool is clear in conscience."

"But I can tell that Saintess Yudie still has attachments to this world. How could she wish for death?"

Shenxi Venerable sighed heavily: "This generation’s Lotus Heart had problems. It wilts upon leaving the Five-Colored Soil and cannot be taken away. Mr. You seeks the Lotus Heart for the Third Elder’s important purposes, it seems. Saintess Yudie knew she didn’t have long to live and that many clansmen were waiting for her death. So, to fulfill your wish and take the Lotus Heart away, she chose to sacrifice herself, becoming the most suitable nourishment through her mysterious bond with the Jade Ring Pool, fully cultivating the Lotus Heart. Now, do you understand why?"

You Su staggered back a few steps, looking lost and forlorn:

"I knew she approached me with ulterior motives, so my indulgence of her was a pretense, because I could not remain at the Jade Ring Pool for her... Yet, she never intended to keep me, even going so far for my peace of mind to leave. How could she be so foolish..."

"Perhaps the Saintess has found fulfilment because of you. Mr. You, there is no need for sadness. Go back and wait for tomorrow." Shenxi Venerable advised again.

"Isn’t there any other way? She’s not dead yet, is she?" You Su took small steps forward, anxiously asked.

"Without doing so, the Lotus Heart cannot be taken, unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless Mr. You can bring the Lotus Sword Venerable here; she has gained enlightenment at the Jade Ring Pool and has a high affinity for it. Only she could possibly take away the still imperfect Lotus Heart."