Battle Through the Heavens: Beauties Abound Starting with Yunlan and Her Disciples

116: Section 116A faint, elegant smile played on the corners of Yun Xiancheng’s lips.

He was the ordained ruler; if he could travel through time and space, then his future self would surely come to attend this ”future wedding banquet.”

However, the truth was that at yesterday’s grand feast, there were no figures from the future. [Because you are the one and only existence in this universe.]

At that moment, a gentle and melodious yet ethereal and otherworldly female voice quietly echoed in the depths of Yun Xiancheng’s mind. This was the young lady from the system residing within him speaking to him.

The female voice paused, seemingly choosing her words, and after a moment, continued faintly:

[We, too, are unique because of you. In this world, there are no so-called parallel worlds, nor do there exist versions of you and us that can be copied at will.]

[Time is not a river that can be folded or reversed at will; it is merely a scale and yardstick for the evolution and change of all things. The future is always the future—]

[—it has not yet arrived; the past is already the past, gone forever. All we can possess is this fleeting present moment. Therefore, there will not be a second you, nor a second us, returning from the future.]

These words from the female voice were undoubtedly an indirect admission that at some point in the future, she would choose to become Yun Xiancheng’s wife. At the same time, it clearly explained why no one from the future had attended yesterday’s ”future wedding banquet.”

The logic was actually quite simple: time travel did not exist in this world, nor did parallel dimensions that could interfere with one another. Yun Xiancheng and the confidantes around him were all unique and irreplaceable existences in this vast universe.

Yun Xiancheng’s expression remained as calm as still water, but hearing the system’s gentle and considerate explanation, a trace of warmth couldn’t help but well up in his heart.

It seemed this mysterious elder sister was watching his every move at all times. ”So that means it’s impossible for us to have the ability to travel through time at all?”

Nalan Yanran blinked her bright, large eyes and looked at Yun Xiancheng, her tone carrying a hint of confusion. ”What’s so strange about that? Husband, why do you look as if we should definitely be able to travel through time?”

”Yeah, yeah! The idea of traveling through time is just too inconceivable; it’s simply impossible!” The other Young ladies also chimed in, chattering away with expressions that suggested it was only natural.

Yun Xiancheng nodded with a smile, agreeing with their view: ”You’re right, there is no time travel.”

”If time could really be traversed, it would mean the past, present, and future exist simultaneously and can influence each other. Wouldn’t that be strange? Could there really be multiple versions of us?”

He concluded at last.

At this moment, Medicine Lady’s aged and wise voice rang out in Yun Xiancheng’s mental space.

As the former number one Alchemist of the Fighting Qi Continent, her ability to understand various profound mysteries far exceeded that of ordinary people, and she grasped the deep meaning of Yun Xiancheng’s words almost instantly.

”From this, it can be seen that so-called time is not an objectively existing entity; it is merely a concept, a frame of reference used to describe the movement and change of all things in the universe.”

She continued with a hint of appreciative laughter, ”As expected of my good disciple. These strange and eccentric ideas of yours, one after another, are truly remarkable!”

Cai Lin, with Xiaoer atop her head, suddenly felt that her flat-chested roommate had a pretty good head on her shoulders.

She looked at Yun Xiancheng’s peerless face. ”Truly a perfect person...”

Her interest in Yun Xiancheng grew more and more; this man seemed to be filled with countless riddles. Aside from being lustful—which was a flaw, though for him, it didn’t seem like much of one.

Only such a perfect person was qualified to carry Cai Lin’s life... At that moment, Nalan Yanran picked up the invitation, her slender fingers lightly rubbing its surface. She tilted her head and asked curiously:

”So, dear Senior Brother... what’s the deal with these two sisters, Han Yue and Han Xue, mentioned on this invitation?” Her tone carried a small hint of jealousy.

”Them,” Yun Xiancheng replied with a distant gaze and a calm tone, ”they are your future sisters.”

”I knew it! Husband, you’re going to Jia Nan Academy because you’ve already planned to find new sisters there!” Nalan Yanran pouted her rosy little mouth, speaking with a coquettish huff.

Looking at her, she had clearly mistaken these future sisters, Han Xue and Han Yue, for two female students at Jia Nan Academy.

That was more or less the case; she was half right. Yun Xiancheng smiled:

”Yan Ran is truly as intelligent as she is beautiful.”

Xiao Yan, however, was still immersed in thoughts about time and the future. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she proposed a new possibility:

”Then... what if someone from the future really did come yesterday, carrying this invitation, to attend the banquet? What would happen then?” Hearing this, Yun Xiancheng turned to look at Xiao Yan, a meaningful smile appearing on his face:

”If that were the case, then today I wouldn’t be talking to you about this future wedding banquet. I would quietly burn this invitation and then make up a reason—for example, saying that writing the words ’future banquet’ was just me practicing my calligraphy, with no other special meaning.”

”Brilliant! Simply brilliant!”

Medicine Lady couldn’t help but praise him once more in Yun Xiancheng’s mental space.

”You brat, you really are incredibly clever! First, by holding this future wedding banquet, you anchored the fact that we would inevitably gather here. Because of this gathering as a premise, it became possible to attract our future selves. But if the future people actually came, yet you canceled the banquet... then where would our future selves have learned about this gathering to travel back in the first place? Wouldn’t that fall into an unsolvable paradox?”

”Truly worthy of being the disciple I chose; this level of meticulousness is truly breathtaking!” Medicine Lady sighed with emotion. Xiao Yan pondered for a long time before finally beginning to understand the brilliance of Yun Xiancheng’s maneuver.

”So...” Xiao Yan looked at Yun Xiancheng tentatively and asked slowly, ”The conclusion that time travel doesn’t exist is certain. And then? What...”

...what does this prove?”

Yun Xiancheng smiled slightly, his smile warm and profound:

”This proves that the past and the future are both illusions. Only the present we inhabit is real and true. Every one of us is, in this world,”

a unique existence, one that cannot be replicated.”

237 Returning to the Snake-People Clan

After spending a pleasant time with his wives, Yun Xiancheng set out on the road to Jia Nan Academy.

Within Yun Xiancheng’s vast and boundless mental sea, a figure formed by a wisp of consciousness gazed at the stunning woman leaning back on a swaying jade chair. ”Cai Lin, do you really not plan to go back to the clan to take a look?” he asked softly, his words carrying a hint of subtle concern.

Queen Medusa, Cai Lin, was not at this moment the cold and aloof monarch who overawed the Tagor Desert, but rather more like a lazy and charming young girl. She slightly opened her long, narrow, and enchanting vertical pupils. Hearing this, she simply shook her head slightly, her voice carrying a unique rasp and magnetism:

”Those two girls, Yue Mei and Little Flower, are now already at the Dou Huang level. With them there to guard the Snake-People Tribe, it should be more than enough. I... I’ll go back a bit later; there’s no rush for now.”

”Saying that doesn’t sound like a responsible Queen, you know.” Yun Xiancheng’s consciousness wisp turned slightly, cleverly adjusting the perspective so she could clearly perceive the scenes of the outside real world.

At this moment, inside the speeding luxury carriage, Yun Xiancheng’s physical body sat cross-legged by the window, eyes slightly closed, with faint halos of Fighting Qi swirling around him, clearly immersed in cultivation.

Inside the spacious carriage, the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

Purple Wing was enthusiastically in the carriage’s small and exquisite kitchen, learning how to cook dishes from Nalan Yanran, with tempting aromas wafting out from time to time.

Xiao Yan sat quietly cross-legged to the side, seemingly practicing a Dou Technique.

She was practicing the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations. Not long ago, as they passed through the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Yun Xiancheng had conveniently gone to retrieve it for Xiao Yan. Meanwhile, Little Lioness Yun Yan was curled up on the soft bed like a well-behaved kitten, sleeping soundly.

Xiao Yi Xian sat quietly opposite Yun Xiancheng, her clear, watery almond eyes fixed unblinkingly on his handsome and perfect profile, a sweet, honey-like smile of happiness occasionally spreading across her lips.

”What I wanted you to see wasn’t this,” Yun Xiancheng’s voice echoed in Cai Lin’s consciousness, tinged with a bit of helplessness.

Cai Lin shifted her attention away from the ”warbling beauties”—the women inside the carriage—and toward the scenery flashing past the window. With just one look, her originally lazy expression instantly froze.

”This... this is... the Tagor Desert?!” She sat up abruptly from the swaying jade chair in shock, her tone filled with disbelief. ”You guy, you actually drove the carriage to my Snake-People Clan’s Holy City without saying a word?!”

She thought to herself that this was bad. Was this guy really going to drive her away? She actually didn’t want to leave his side so soon... ”Are you so impatient to drive me back?” Cai Lin’s voice held a trace of imperceptible grievance.

”When you and those wives of yours were doing those intimate things, I consciously blocked my perception and couldn’t see anything at all...” Her words were filled with disbelief and a faint sense of loss.

The slight warmth that had risen just moments ago from that cozy scene was now as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, cooling her down instantly.

The flame of ”expectation” that had been joyfully burning in her heart also flickered precariously before this sudden ”reality,” almost being extinguished completely.

”No... Your Majesty, where on earth are your thoughts wandering?”

Yun Xiancheng looked at her tearful appearance, feeling a mix of bewilderment and amusement. He looked at her strangely and explained softly, ”What I mean is, we have now arrived at the territory of the Snake-People Clan’s Holy City. As the Queen, aren’t you going to return to the palace first to check on your people’s situation,”

”and handle the backlog of affairs?”

He paused and added, ”Of course, if you want to continue staying in my carriage, I naturally won’t object.”

Hearing this, a flash of blankness first crossed Cai Lin’s long, narrow vertical pupils, which was then gradually replaced by a hint of surprise and shyness. Her originally somewhat pale, pretty face now seemed to be stained with the most delicate rouge, faintly flushed with a moving blush.

”You mean... you’re not driving me away?” she asked somewhat uncertainly, her voice trembling slightly. ”Of course not,” Yun Xiancheng replied succinctly, his tone full of affirmation.

He thought to himself that this high-and-mighty Medusa Protagonist had long since dropped all her defenses and pretenses before him, revealing her...

...girlish innocence and tenderness hidden beneath her cold exterior.

At such a rare opportunity to further close the distance between them, how could he be so foolish as to push her away? Cai Lin’s unique golden vertical pupils stared unblinkingly at Yun Xiancheng’s gentle face, which carried a hint of a playful smile.

After a long while, she gave a soft hmph, crossed her arms over her chest, and said with feigned pride, ”Since you’ve invited me so warmly, then this Queen... this Queen will reluctantly rest in your broken carriage for a few more days! Don’t you dare think that this Queen is reluctant to leave you!”

”Mhm, everything shall be as my Queen wishes,” Yun Xiancheng replied solemnly, suppressing a smile. ”Then please rest well. If you have any needs, just give the order at any time.”

As his voice fell, his figure formed from consciousness dissipated slowly before Cai Lin like blue smoke.

Cai Lin stared quietly at the spot where he had vanished. After a long time, she muttered in a barely audible voice, ”Your Queen... what an insolent fellow.”

She reached out her slender hand and pressed it gently against her chest, which was still thumping wildly, feeling that strange palpitation. This damned little thief...

For a moment, it was hard to tell what she was thinking, but deep in her eyes flickered an indescribable light as brilliant as the stars. Meanwhile, inside the carriage in the real world, Yun Xiancheng slowly opened his eyes, which were as deep as the starry sky.

”Husband, is your cultivation finished?” Xiao Yi Xian, who had been silently guarding him by his side, noticed the moment he opened his eyes. She asked softly, her voice full of concern.

Yun Xiancheng nodded with a smile and reached out his arms, pulling the gentle and kind Beauty before him into a tight embrace. Xiao Yi Xian leaned into his chest, her slender, fair hands gently cradling Yun Xiancheng’s handsome face.

Their eyes met, and a thick affection flowed silently through the air. In the next moment, without any need for words, their warm lips pressed tightly together, attracting each other like magnets, unable to part.

It was a lingering and somewhat urgent kiss, as if pouring out all the longing and love that had accumulated in their hearts over these past days.

After a while, until both felt slightly short of breath, Xiao Yi Xian, with a flushed face, reluctantly separated their lips. She carefully straightened Yun Xiancheng’s slightly disheveled collar, her head lowered, and said softly with a hint of shyness and tenderness:

”Husband, let’s get out of the carriage first. I imagine the sisters from the Snake-People Clan must be waiting anxiously by now.”

238 Dining Together

At this moment, Yun Xiancheng was wearing a high-quality azure robe.

It made his already tall and straight figure appear even more outstanding and handsome, like a green pine growing on a cliff, standing proudly with an extraordinary aura.

”Mhm, that sounds good.” Yun Xiancheng nodded, about to stand up.

”Husband! Wait a moment!” Just then, Nalan Yanran’s crisp voice came from the kitchen area.

Then, her small head, adorned with an exquisite bun, popped out from behind the kitchen curtain. With a bright smile on her face, she suggested:

”I see it’s getting late. Why don’t we... invite those two sisters from the Snake-People Clan to join us on the carriage for a simple meal later? Sister Purple Wing and I...”

...just finished making a specialty dish!”

Hearing this, Yun Xiancheng naturally had no objection. He nodded with a smile and agreed. Then, he pushed aside the carriage curtain and stepped out.

He saw two enchanting and beautiful snake-people women standing gracefully in front of the carriage, looking forward with anticipation. On their heads were crowns similar to the one Queen Medusa wore.

Although much simpler than the magnificent crown of their Queen Medusa, which symbolized supreme power, they were enough to show their extraordinary status within the clan.

These two were naturally the most distinguished Dou Huang experts in the Snake-People Tribe besides Queen Medusa—Yue Mei and Hua She Er.

The moment they saw Yun Xiancheng’s familiar figure stepping down from the carriage, the expressions of the two snake-people beauties, which had been somewhat solemn and majestic, were immediately replaced by intense surprise and excitement.

They let out a soft cry almost simultaneously, and with a flash of their figures, they lunged toward Yun Xiancheng like two arrows released from a bow. *Whoosh—*

Two soft yet incredibly powerful snake tails wrapped tightly around Yun Xiancheng’s body almost at the same time.

Yue Mei and Hua She Er, one on each side like two clingy koalas, held him tightly, wishing they could rub their entire bodies into his embrace.

”My dear little foe~ how could you bear it? What made you suddenly think of visiting us today?” Yue Mei’s soul-stirring peach blossom eyes stared unblinkingly at Yun Xiancheng, her voice enchanting to the bone, filled with endless longing and resentment.

Yun Xiancheng felt the two warm and soft bodies in his arms and the faint fragrance unique to snake-people women emanating from them.

He reached out and gently rubbed their smooth, beautiful hair, gazing at them tenderly. With a voice full of affection and doting, his first words were:

”I’ve truly missed you both these days. So, I came to see you. It’s as simple as that.”

Hearing Yun Xiancheng’s blunt yet affectionate words, the two snake-women’s expressions were instantly filled with intense shyness and joy. Two moving blushes rose on their pretty faces.

The two snake tails that were originally just wrapped around Yun Xiancheng now seemed to have a life of their own, subconsciously tightening even more, as if they wanted to twist their entire bodies into a single strand with him and never part again.

”Alright, alright, dears. The wind and sand are quite strong here; it’s no place for talking.”

Yun Xiancheng looked at their clingy appearance, as if they wanted to merge with him, feeling both amused and helpless. ”Let’s go into the carriage first, and we can talk slowly.”

Saying so, he put an arm around each of them, leading these two ”Beauty snakes” who were almost entirely hanging off him, and walked slowly into the spacious and comfortable carriage.

Their unique way of ”entering” left Xiao Yi Xian inside the carriage dumbfounded, her beautiful almond eyes wide with shock. ”Is this even possible?” she marveled to herself.

As a pure human woman, she truly hadn’t expected that the body structure of the Snake-People Clan could be so ”convenient” and flexible!

”Hello there, you must be Sister Xiao Yi Xian, right?”

It was Yue Mei who, despite still being intimately wrapped around Yun Xiancheng, politely gave Xiao Yi Xian a friendly smile and said softly,

”I’m Yue Mei, and this quiet one here is our good sister, Hua She Er.” Hua She Er simply kept holding onto Yun Xiancheng without saying much.

They had previously had some simple interactions through that magical ”family network,” so they weren’t exactly strangers. Now that they were meeting formally, they didn’t neglect the proper courtesies.