The cool night breeze blew against his body, making the heat within seem even more intense. Shen Liuxiang’s nape was covered with a thin layer of sweat. He frowned slightly, mumbling: “Just… intimidate it, quickly.”
After speaking, he realized his words were slurred, his voice soft and light, completely different from usual.
It sounded distinctly abnormal.
Shen Liuxiang pressed his lips together and turned his face away, choosing not to speak further. He heard rustling sounds from somewhere in the forest, along with the suddenly accelerated heartbeat beneath the robe pressed against his cheek.
Zhou Xuanlan’s hand around his waist tightened, his voice sounding particularly deep in the night. “What’s wrong, Master?”
Shen Liuxiang’s eyelashes trembled lightly as he panted: “I feel unwell.”
Lying on Zhou Xuanlan, wrapped in familiar warm breath, his tense mind relaxed slightly, and his body couldn’t help but draw closer. But they were already pressed together without any gap—how much closer could they get?
Shen Liuxiang lowered his head, and with some agitation, he bit the robe beneath him, tugging at it as if venting his frustration.
The person holding him stiffened, the arms around his waist suddenly tightening. Noticing his abnormal state, Zhou Xuanlan’s expression changed. In an instant, the weather above Mount Shengqi transformed as an invisible, powerful pressure descended, directed straight at the giant spider.
The spider, which had been scratching its head, froze, its huge eyes widening.
It sensed a trace of dragon might. Amid its panic, it met a pair of dark, cold eyes. Its ten-foot-tall legs immediately began to tremble, and in the next moment, it raised a cloud of dust as it fled back into the cave without looking back.
Zhou Xuanlan’s gaze returned to normal, and the hand on Shen Liuxiang’s waist applied some pressure. “I’ll push Master away from the spider web first.”
Shen Liuxiang, radiating heat, murmured an agreement in his daze. But when movement came from his waist, his whole body couldn’t help but tremble, and he lowered his head, whimpering.
“Don’t touch,” he said, his mind unclear, instinctively saying whatever came to mind. “If you touch again, I won’t be polite anymore.”
Hearing this, Zhou Xuanlan paused, his tone revealing a slight laugh. “How will Master be impolite?”
Just as Shen Liuxiang was about to speak, his wrist was gently pulled, and his entire body broke free from the spider web. Landing on the ground, his legs were weak and unsteady. He grabbed the wide sleeves embroidered with gold thread, his swaying gaze slowly falling on the tall figure.
The spiritual energy floating in the air stagnated, and Shen Liuxiang trembled all over.
“Impe… Imperial Father?!”
He had forgotten that Di Yunyu seemed to be watching from the shadows all along.
With this realization, Shen Liuxiang’s last bit of clear consciousness vanished from fright. His fingers loosened, and he fell directly toward the ground.
When he woke again, a sky full of stars entered his eyes. Shen Liuxiang was stunned for a moment, sitting up to look around.
He was at the top of Mount Shengqi, with silence all around and no one in sight. Touching the back of his neck, the burning sensation from before had completely disappeared, his skin now pleasantly cool.
At this moment, spiritual energy condensed before him.
Shen Liuxiang’s heart skipped a beat, but he relaxed when he saw the bright purple light. “Oh, it’s you.”
Fortunately, it wasn’t Di Yunyu, otherwise he would have had to find a block of tofu to crash into (commit suicide from embarrassment).
“What kind of tone is that? Disappointed it’s not Zhou Xuanlan? Imperial Father is personally teaching him techniques right now, so he probably can’t come,” Xu Xingchen huffed as he sat cross-legged, reaching into his robes to pull out several scrolls. “If not for Imperial Father’s instructions, I wouldn’t have come looking for you.”
Shen Liuxiang was surprised. “Why is Imperial Father teaching him techniques?”
“How would I know?” Xu Xingchen’s face was full of discontent. “Imperial Father doesn’t even come to teach me, why should he teach him?”
As his words fell, a tremendous sound came from the distance.
They looked over to see a starry sky above their heads, while in that direction, the night sky was filled with lightning and thunder. Purple lightning resembling giant pythons danced wildly, looking terrifying even from a distance.
Xu Xingchen was stunned, his heart filled with jealousy.
The place where the great thunder struck was precisely where Imperial Father and Zhou Xuanlan were. Imperial Father was actually teaching such an earth-shaking technique to Zhou Xuanlan!
Xu Xingchen, sour to the extreme, placed the scrolls that Di Yunyu had given him on the ground, arranging them in a row with gloom. “Imperial Father said these secret techniques are for us to practice. He’s personally guiding Zhou Xuanlan.”
Shen Liuxiang pointed with confusion: “Is it going to rain in the Imperial Palace?”
Having stayed in the Imperial Palace for seven years without seeing a single drop of rain, he was surprised and found this scene of apocalyptic lightning strangely peculiar.
“It’s not rain,” Xu Xingchen pouted. “Imperial Father is guiding Zhou Xuanlan there.”
Shen Liuxiang’s expression froze as he realized what was happening. His face showed mixed emotions, and after a while, he sat back down obediently.
Oh well…
A disciple may die, but a master must live on!
Seeing his face alternating between white and red, Xu Xingchen waved his hand. “Which secret technique do you want to practice? These are all Imperial Father’s private collection, very precious, never taught to outsiders.”
Shen Liuxiang came to his senses and casually picked up one scroll. As his palm touched it, four large characters appeared in his mind—Star Shifting.
Shen Liuxiang looked up at the night sky: “This secret technique is fitting for the occasion. I’ll take this one.”
Xu Xingchen was speechless at his method of choosing techniques. His gaze fell on the other scrolls on the ground, examining them one by one, making a careful selection. Finally, he chose one that sounded extremely powerful—Heaven-Flipping Seal.
Xu Xingchen: “When my technique is perfected, one seal will change the color of heaven and earth.”
Shen Liuxiang: “Techniques can only add luster to strength. If your cultivation level isn’t sufficient, the power of your spell won’t be as effective as you wish.”
Xu Xingchen snorted: “I’ve already reached the Soul Formation Realm. Give me another decade or so, and I’ll definitely reach the Great Completion Realm. You’d better be careful. By then, I’ll be far ahead of you, and you won’t have the face to see Imperial Father.”
As Xu Xingchen said this, he unfolded the secret technique scroll, his eyes full of smiles, as if already envisioning the day when Di Yunyu would pat his head.
*”My son Xingchen is a world-shocking talent. I can confidently pass the Emperor’s position to you. As for Shen Liuxiang, you should learn more from your brother. This way, when he occasionally lets you sit on the imperial throne for fun, you’ll at least have theability.”*
Xu Xingchen couldn’t stop smiling.
Shen Liuxiang gripped the scroll tightly, his gaze falling on Xu Xingchen’s face. After a moment, he asked: “What if Imperial Father isn’t here by then?”
In the original story, Di Yunyu’s demise was sudden and unclear. Shen Liuxiang vaguely suspected it might be related to his failed ascension from years ago, but after hundreds of years without incident, why would he suddenly perish? Unfortunately, no one knew Di Yunyu’s current situation.
Xu Xingchen asked in confusion: “Not here? Where would he go?”
Shen Liuxiang hesitated for a moment, then laughed lightly: “Perhaps he ascended.”
Xu Xingchen’s smile gradually faded: “My mother ascended shortly after giving birth to Xinglian. Perhaps it was inevitable, but I was very sad… At that time, Imperial Father promised he wouldn’t ascend and would always stay with Xinglian and me.”
Shen Liuxiang’s expression grew serious: “When cultivation reaches a certain level, the mortal world can no longer contain such a person. Without ascending, death is the only path.”
Xu Xingchen was surprised and explained: “Imperial Father’s cultivation transcended the three realms long ago. If he wanted to ascend, he would have left long ago, and we wouldn’t exist. Imperial Father must not want to leave and has found some method to remain in the mortal world.”
Shen Liuxiang frowned, staring at Xu Xingchen for a long time before swallowing his words. He was equally confused and decided to clarify things before discussing further with Xu Xingchen.
Shen Liuxiang spoke no more, raising his hand to open the scroll. After examining it for a while, his interest was piqued.
This technique called “Star Shifting” allowed one to exchange positions with other objects. For inanimate objects, one could directly swap positions. For living things, one needed something carrying the target’s essence, such as hair strands, a personal jade pendant, or fragments of clothing…
Finding this fascinating, Shen Liuxiang immediately set aside distractions to focus on practice. Half an hour later, he opened his eyes, his gaze falling on a stone in front of him. His fingers formed a seal.
*Click—*
The small rock fell, and Shen Liuxiang’s figure appeared in its place.
Shen Liuxiang’s eyes brightened, though he realized that exchanging places with lifeless objects wasn’t difficult—the challenge lay ahead.
He scanned his surroundings, his gaze landing on Xu Xingchen, who was earnestly practicing his technique and clearly shouldn’t be disturbed. After contemplating briefly, he summoned his Nascent Soul.
The small Nascent Soul had been resting comfortably in his dantian. Suddenly brought out before it could react, a fingernail-sized piece of its robe was torn off.
Its tender white face was blank for a moment before being lifted and placed high on a tree branch.
Shen Liuxiang: “Stand there without moving. Help me practice my technique for a while.”
The small Nascent Soul made an unhappy “hmph” sound, sitting down on the branch. “Won’t stand. Want to sit.”
Since Di Yunyu had taught him how to control his Nascent Soul, Shen Liuxiang could somewhat communicate with it mentally, experiencing its childish three-year-old mindset. Though resentful, the Nascent Soul sensed his non-negotiable intent and could only resist in small, subtle ways.
Shen Liuxiang had placed the Nascent Soul in the tree where spiritual energy was abundant, thinking that since it was out, it might as well absorb more energy.
A moment later, a spell fell on the Nascent Soul.
The small figure “thump” rolled from the tree, landing head-first and remaining dazed for quite a while. Shen Liuxiang went forward to help it up, gently brushing away fallen leaves with a sigh: “I didn’t handle it well. No matter—this time, you sit on the ground, and we’ll try again.”
The small Nascent Soul widened its eyes, puffing its cheeks angrily. But in the next moment, its mouth drooped, and bean-sized tears came pouring down.
The rapid change of expression made Shen Liuxiang exclaim that it truly was his Nascent Soul, showing his own temperament.
However, why had it suddenly started crying?
While Shen Liuxiang pondered this, he suddenly turned around to see Di Yunyu looking down, staring at the sobbing, hiccupping small Nascent Soul with slightly furrowed brows. “Why are you crying?”
Hearing this, the Nascent Soul immediately ran to Di Yunyu’s feet. Unable to embrace his long legs, it hugged his white boots instead, rubbing its small head against the gold-trimmed hem of his robe. “I missed Imperial Father. Can Imperial Father take me to play for a while?”
Shen Liuxiang: “…”
He hadn’t sensed any feelings of longing from his Nascent Soul. Clearly, it simply didn’t want to practice and was saying whatever worked depending on who it was talking to. He truly didn’t know who it took after!
Di Yunyu’s palm lifted, and the Nascent Soul landed on it.
Glancing down slightly, he said softly: “Little liar.”
Both Shen Liuxiang and the Nascent Soul froze.
“I’ll take you to play later,” Di Yunyu told the frightened Nascent Soul before handing a jade bottle to Shen Liuxiang. “The Love Flower Gu on your body was injured by dragon blood and is near extinction. If you endure the next few occurrences, the Gu will be gone. This is Clear Meteor Pill, which can provide some relief. Remember to carry it with you in the future.”
Shen Liuxiang accepted it, glancing at the area where the dark clouds had dispersed, wanting to say something but holding back.
Di Yunyu caught everything in his gaze: “A demon’s power is far greater than a human’s.”
After saying this, he glanced at Xu Xingchen, who was still practicing, then left with the small Nascent Soul trembling in his palm.
Shen Liuxiang walked away, pondering these words. As he approached his destination, a sudden realization struck him.
Di Yunyu was trying to tell him that with his strength, he couldn’t break free from the spider web, but Zhou Xuanlan, as a demon with natural physical advantages, could easily break the spider silk’s constraints.
Shen Liuxiang: “…”
When he found Zhou Xuanlan, he was meditating beside a small stream with scrolls nearby, including records of the lightning punishment technique Di Yunyu had just used.
After the lightning, the surroundings had become barren. Zhou Xuanlan appeared fine, except for the burnt smell emanating from his body.
During Di Yunyu’s demonstration, a bit of lightning had struck him.
Zhou Xuanlan understood perfectly well. Knowing he was in the wrong, he didn’t dodge and silently endured a couple of strikes. He had intended to rightfully hold his master a little longer but hadn’t expected the Love Flower Gu to act up, causing his master discomfort for quite some time.
Sensing Shen Liuxiang’s arrival, he opened his eyes, about to curve his lips when he noticed Shen Liuxiang smiling somewhat strangely. He paused: “Ma-Master.”
Shen Liuxiang clapped his hands: “Well acted.”
Zhou Xuanlan looked flustered, opening his mouth to explain but finding no defense. After a silent moment, just as he was about to admit his mistake, his arms were pulled apart, and someone entered his embrace.
Zhou Xuanlan was startled, though his hands instinctively encircled the person. “What is Master doing?”
Shen Liuxiang: “Letting you hold me.”
Zhou Xuanlan froze momentarily, and before he could react, the person in his arms had already tilted his head up and moved close to his ear.
The voice falling on his ear carried a trace of light laughter.
“Why be so secretive about wanting to hold me? What are you suppressing?”
Thank You for the new chapter (๑ơ ₃ ơ)♥