Qiushuang held a revered position in Yunhua Sect. Almost no one would oppose anything she agreed to. Jinyue understood this in his heart, and Qiushuang understood it too. But once Qiushuang spoke these words, Jinyue understood her meaning.
Jinyue suddenly understood somewhat why the relationships within Yunhua Sect were so harmonious.
They seemed like a group of muddle-headed people, yet they did clearheaded things.
In the darkness, Huan Zong slowly opened his eyes. If spiritual energy had a physical form, then at this moment Kong Hou would be like an enormous vortex, gathering all the spiritual energy from the surroundings onto herself. This spiritual energy was condensed and fierce—if an ordinary person were suddenly infused with so much spiritual energy at once, they would have long since exploded and died. However, Kong Hou’s complexion was very good. Her fair cheeks carried a hint of rosy color, and her entire being was in an extremely comfortable state.
She merged as one with the spiritual energy. All the spiritual energy was like obedient pets she had raised, all gathered around her, washing through her meridians again and again.
Yet even so, after the spiritual energy circulated once through her body, half of it would separate to wind around him and enter his spirit platform. The spiritual energy separated from Kong Hou’s body was even gentler, bit by bit nourishing his spirit platform and repairing his meridians that had long been shattered beyond recognition.
Opening his palm and grasping this spiritual energy in his hand, worry appeared in Huan Zong’s eyes. This worry had existed ever since Hongyan Zhenren would rather die than open the Gate of Stars and severely wounded the Evil Sovereign.
He didn’t understand the grudges and romantic entanglements of the previous generation, but Hongyan had fallen at Liuguang Sect just like that, yet Yuexing Sect’s Sect Master Wang Su hadn’t asked a single question, which made him unable to help overthinking.
Since entering Liuguang Sect, he had heard many words of praise for himself—genius, natural sword body, the opportunity for the cultivation world’s ascension. The elders of various sects all looked at him with expectant eyes, all his martial siblings revered him, and he had even become the Peak Master of Mingjian Peak at just over two hundred years old, with not a single person in the entire sect opposing it.
He didn’t know whether he could truly become the hope of the cultivation world. He just practiced and trained with his sword day after day, becoming the qualified genius in others’ eyes.
The world all said that having emotions bred inner demons, yet he had developed inner demons from being emotionless.
Why did he practice with the sword? For whom could he raise his sword? Day after day repeating the same life—even after ascending to immortality there would be no change. For such a life, what difference was there between long and short?
When his martial siblings faced him, they always unconsciously lowered their voices and minded every word they spoke, solely because they worried that a single poorly-chosen phrase might affect his cultivation mindset.
Everyone said they couldn’t affect his cultivation, couldn’t disturb his mental state, couldn’t interrupt his ascension.
Ascension, ascension.
Was ascension truly so interesting that so many people anticipated it? Righteous sects suffered countless deaths and injuries seeking even a sliver of opportunity. Demonic cultivators killed many innocent common people to seize this opportunity—what had those common people who couldn’t ascend done wrong to become innocent sacrifices in this dispute?
Perhaps he had felt unwilling, perhaps he had felt confused. When his inner demons grew, he had no power to resist. He didn’t understand romantic love, didn’t understand social interactions, didn’t even understand how to communicate with people. He was human, yet in others’ eyes he was a sword, the faint but persistent hope in cultivators’ eyes.
What if he wasn’t?
The true opportunity belonged to someone else—who was that person?
Huan Zong stared blankly at Kong Hou. His chest suddenly ached faintly, and the spiritual energy within his body surged violently, nearly severing the meridians connecting his spirit platform. Suddenly, countless streams of spiritual energy separated from Kong Hou’s body and enveloped his spirit platform. This spiritual energy was like the most powerful defender, bit by bit reconnecting his severed meridians, drilling into his already-cracked spirit platform, bit by bit filling those crevices that seemed like bottomless pits.
Kong Hou had not yet awakened from her meditative trance, but the spiritual energy on her body had already begun unconsciously protecting him.
Covering his chest that no longer ached, Huan Zong quietly gazed at Kong Hou and suddenly smiled softly.
In this life, he had already received a gift bestowed by the Heavenly Dao. This gift was incomparably precious—nothing in the world could compare to it. Everyone thought he was immensely powerful, yet only she, even during meditation, still retained a thread of consciousness protecting him.
When the day came for her to ascend, he would only be able to remain in Lingyou Realm, keeping company with his sword day after day, with no one able to accompany him.
Separation…
They would ultimately have to separate.
When Jinyue and Qiushuang’s conversation ended and Qiushuang stood to leave, her steps paused. She looked toward the tree at the entrance where several green leaves had suddenly fallen. Jinyue turned his head toward Mingjian Peak, his expression somewhat strange. “Spiritual energy is surging into Mingjian Peak.”
The rapidly circulating spiritual energy had caused discomfort to the spirit plants, which was why the green tree was shedding leaves.
He looked worriedly at Qiushuang. Before, the news of Kong Hou Xianzi forming her Nascent Soul could still be concealed, but if within just a single month she advanced from Nascent Soul Stage to Spirit Severing Stage cultivation, with such a huge commotion, what excuse could they use to cover it up?
“It’s not Kong Hou.” Qiushuang shook her head very definitely. The sky was azure blue without clouds—it didn’t seem like someone was undergoing tribulation, but rather more like a powerful being’s meridians were in chaos, causing the surrounding spiritual energy to riot.
Both their expressions changed slightly. They both thought of the same person and without hesitation transformed into streaming light and flew toward Mingjian Peak.
At Mingjian Peak, sand and stones flew while glazed tiles scattered everywhere. The Yunhua Sect disciples hugged the hall’s pillars while still not forgetting to open their eyes to see what exactly was happening.
Lin Hu swiftly gathered all the disciples together and set up a barrier inside the hall to prevent the spiritual energy and strong winds from harming the people on Mingjian Peak.
“Senior Lin, what happened?” Xiao Dong, who had come to deliver something on behalf of his master, looked up at the glazed tiles blown away from above the great hall, his eyes full of worry and shock.
“I’m not clear yet. All of you stay properly inside the barrier and don’t go out.” Lin Hu summoned his life-bound sword. “I’ll go take a look.”
After Lin Hu left, the Yunhua Sect disciples and Liuguang Sect disciples inside the hall looked at each other. Most Liuguang Sect disciples didn’t like to talk much, while the Yunhua Sect disciples had lived at Mingjian Peak for some time, but to maintain their sect’s dignity, they were very restrained—apart from eating more than usual, they all behaved very calm and aloof.
Now with the wild wind howling outside, each of them had been blown until their hair ornaments were disheveled and their faces covered in dust. Who knew who looked more wretched than whom.
Wu Chuan used several cleaning spells on himself. Seeing the Liuguang Sect disciples standing properly upright without having brushed off the dead leaves and dust on their bodies, he couldn’t bear it anymore and said: “Won’t you all tidy yourselves up?” If they didn’t do it themselves, he almost wanted to help them pick off the leaves.
The disciples led by Xiao Dong managed a strained smile and, imitating Wu Chuan’s example, used a couple of cleaning spells on themselves. As personally-taught disciples of Liuguang Sect, they all had sword attendants or personal servants—small matters like cleaning usually didn’t require them to do it themselves at all.
This lifestyle of cultivators with high cultivation but low life skills made them appear somewhat clumsy when handling their own minor problems. One disciple who had just reached Foundation Establishment even accidentally created a hole in his robe hem while using a cleaning spell.
Whoosh~
Whoosh~
The wind sounds became even more fierce, and the atmosphere inside the barrier grew even more awkward.
Outside the secluded cultivation cave, sand and stones flew. Qiushuang and Jinyue stood outside the cave with grave expressions. The flying stones automatically fell to the ground before getting close to their bodies, unable to approach them even halfway.
Seeing that Jinyue wanted to destroy the cave entrance and barge in, Qiushuang waved the round fan in her hand and blocked his action: “Wait. If you force your way in now, you’ll probably add fuel to the fire.”
Jinyue took two deep breaths to make himself appear calmer: “Then what should we do now?”
“Wait.” Qiushuang looked at the runic patterns unique to Liuguang Sect on the cave’s stone door, her expression grave. “If any of us approach, we might make things even worse.”
Jinyue smiled bitterly: “Qiushuang Zhenren is right.”
“Kong Hou Xianzi is still inside as well.” A flash of golden light passed, and Lin Hu appeared before the two of them. “Young Master’s feelings for Kong Hou Xianzi are as deep as the sea. With her there, no accidents should occur.”
With qi deviation, what was most feared wasn’t the decline in cultivation—what was most feared was entering demonic possession.
Actually, as early as that day when the demonic cultivation world’s White Evil Sovereign Wu Ku launched a sneak attack that caused Miss Kong Hou to fall into the pool, Lin Hu had already discovered signs that Young Master was entering demonic possession. But after that day, Young Master showed no abnormalities whatsoever. After dual cultivating with Kong Hou Xianzi, his spirit platform had been continuously nourished, and not only had his cultivation gradually recovered, even his spirit platform showed signs of stabilization. So he had simply assumed that time was because Young Master was too worried about Kong Hou Xianzi, which was why he had been in that state.
Could it be that the Heart-Entangling Intoxication that made people develop inner demons had ultimately produced some effect on Young Master?
Jinyue’s heart held slight bitterness. In this lifetime, he had only taken Zhongxi as his single disciple. Had he known it would be like this, he shouldn’t have been so strict with him back then.
“Sect Master Jin, your heart is in chaos.” Seeing Jinyue like this, Qiushuang had no choice but to remind him: “If you cannot calm down at this moment, who else can protect him?”
“Many thanks for Zhenren’s reminder. This one was too restless.” Jinyue suddenly snapped alert. He cupped his hands and performed a deep bow toward Qiushuang.
Qiushuang paid him no more attention, staring at the cave entrance without speaking again.
Kong Hou was awakened by the wind. She groggily opened her eyes and discovered that things inside the cave were flying everywhere in chaos, and her hair was also messily tangled together. She vaguely sensed something was wrong. Turning to look toward Huan Zong, she discovered that spiritual energy was flowing in reverse throughout his body, his eyes were crimson red—he showed signs of qi deviation and entering demonic possession.
“Huan Zong.” Kong Hou stood up. Before she could take a step toward Huan Zong, she was struck by massive spiritual energy and slammed into the jade wall, nearly coughing up a mouthful of blood.
What had happened? She had only been in meditative trance for a period of time—why was her man about to enter demonic possession?
Forming a hand seal and condensing a barrier around herself, Kong Hou forced herself to walk forward with all her strength. At this moment, she finally understood just how great the gap was between Spirit Severing Stage cultivation and Nascent Soul Stage cultivation.
Just a little more and she could grasp the corner of Huan Zong’s robe.
Just a little more…
She caught it!
Kong Hou clenched her teeth and reached out to embrace Huan Zong’s neck. Huan Zong stared at her with crimson eyes, neither returning her embrace nor pushing her away.
But Kong Hou was rather unhappy about this. Usually he treasured and pampered her like a precious gem, yet the moment he entered qi deviation he didn’t recognize her? Look at the male protagonists in story books—even if they lost their memories or entered demonic possession, they could still put the female protagonist in first place.
Slap!
A palm struck Huan Zong’s handsome face. Kong Hou said through gritted teeth: “Huan Zong, if you don’t sober up a bit more, I’m going back to Yunhua Sect with Martial Grand-Uncle!”
“Can’t leave!” The crimson-eyed Huan Zong suddenly reacted. His hands tightly gripped Kong Hou. “Kong Hou can’t leave, can’t go anywhere, stay with… stay with me.”
“Good boy, I won’t leave.” Kong Hou saw him trembling all over as he grasped her, as if she were the most precious thing in his life. Her heart immediately softened into a puddle, and she could no longer bring herself to slap him again. Reaching out to rub the place on his face that she had struck red, Kong Hou extended her arms to encircle his waist, resting her chin on his shoulder while simultaneously withdrawing the barrier around her body, only adding several more layers to the barrier protecting her face.
The powerful spiritual energy tore through her clothing, whipped her hair into chaos, and even carved fine shallow bloody marks on her arms.
“Huan Zong, you’re so wonderful—how could I bear to leave?” Her arms around his waist tightened bit by bit. Kong Hou’s voice trembled slightly as she said, “But if you enter demonic possession, we won’t be able to dual cultivate together anymore, won’t be able to become dao companions. Perhaps you’ll forget me, and I’ll spend my whole life melancholy like Hongyan Zhenren did. When I’m bullied while gaining experience outside, no one will know, and no one will accompany me to travel through all the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas. Or perhaps I’ll forget you and fall in love with another male cultivator…”
The red color in Huan Zong’s eyes grew increasingly intense. Finally, this red color condensed together and deeply submerged into the dark pupils of his eyes, and his gaze became clear once more.
“In this lifetime, you won’t find another male cultivator with higher cultivation than me who’s more handsome than me.”
**Author’s Note:** Kong Hou: First, I must hold my man to the standards of the most classic and sweet story book male protagonists. Second, even in critical moments, I can’t forget to properly protect my face.