The mountains and rivers receded rapidly like a rolled-up curtain.
Fierce winds roared past Ye Anping’s ears. He felt as if his body was flying ahead while his soul lagged behind, his entire being vibrating from the immense spiritual energy of the escape technique. His protective spells were rendered useless.
The spiritual escape technique of a Void Realm cultivator, if not aided by their own spiritual power for protection, was unbearable not only for Nascent Soul cultivators but even for Deity Transformation cultivators.
He could feel the anger of Great Hero Xuanji. Xuanji Immortal was not using her Void Spirit to protect him, allowing the full pressure of the spiritual escape technique to bear down on his nascent Nascent Soul cultivation base. However, Ye Anping could also tell that Great Hero Xuanji seemed to be moderating her speed, perhaps fearing he would be truly injured. Or perhaps she underestimated his tolerance for pain. The pain from the spiritual escape technique was precisely at the threshold – any more would be unbearable, any less would be unfelt. It felt like a full-body massage, painful yet strangely exhilarating.
But a question arose: Where was Great Hero Xuanji taking him?
They had been flying for about two hours since leaving Taibai Sect. The sun was now directly overhead, and the mountains below had transformed into a boundless, azure ocean. South of Taibai Sect lay the border of Zhou Xing Tian Yu, meeting the mortal realm at the Wenxian Sea.
So…
Just as Ye Anping was contemplating the possibilities of their destination, a solitary island, rising from the sea, rapidly approached from the horizon. A small mountain peak stood on the island, its summit radiant with golden light, resembling a lighthouse. Closer inspection revealed it to be a temple constructed entirely of pure gold. The temple wasn’t large, comparable to Hundred Lotus Sect eight years prior. Yet, Ye Anping immediately recognized it as the “Wu Nian Sect,” one of the five immortal families.
“Wu Xin” meant “no mind,” and though it was guarded by Taishang Wusun, a Void Realm cultivator, and was indeed one of the five major immortal sects, it had only slightly over a hundred disciples.
Why was Si Xuanji bringing him here? This “Wengxin Island” where Wu Nian Sect was located was the finest blessed land among the Four Domains. Several cultivators who had successfully achieved Void Shattering had sought refuge at Wu Nian Sect to undergo their tribulations. Ye Anping had initially planned to find a place with abundant spiritual energy in the Southern or Western Domain to complete the rest of his Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation. Coming to Wu Nian Sect was too much trouble and, frankly, overkill. However, overkill meant absolute certainty. It was good to have Immortal Xuanji watching his back!
Si Xuanji lowered her head, looking at Ye Anping whom she held under her arms, his face buffeted by the wind. Recalling the events that had transpired in front of that old man, Zu Yuan, she grew increasingly angry, harboring a strong urge to simply drop him and let him skim across the Wenxian Sea hundreds of times before retrieving him. After living for so long, this was the first time she had been so utterly humiliated! However, doing so would undoubtedly injure Ye Anping severely. She couldn’t bear to do that… A conflicting mixture of annoyance and affection filled the space beneath her Xuan Xing Sect robes. Meanwhile, the little tiger’s belly began to rumble.
*Whoosh—*
A purple spiritual light streaked across the sky above the temple. Several monks, sweeping fallen leaves with their brooms, looked up at the sound of the void-splitting movement. A gust of wind then sent them tumbling aside.
*Clatter, clatter, clatter—*
Inside the main hall, before a pure gold statue of a celestial Buddha, Taishang Wusun, clad in a golden kasaya, stood with one hand cupped at his chest, gently tapping a wooden fish with his other. Sensing Si Xuanji’s arrival, he turned his head.
*Boom—*
The main hall doors were blown open by the wind. Si Xuanji, carrying Ye Anping, landed behind him, threw Ye Anping to the ground, and then, with hands on her hips, declared, “Bald donkey, I’m borrowing your blessed land!”
“…”
Taishang Wusun rose wordlessly. Standing at seven feet tall, he was like a giant before Si Xuanji. He looked down at her in silence, then glanced at Ye Anping lying on the ground. He clasped his hands together.
“Immortal Dan Yue, the Buddhist sect…”
Si Xuanji raised an eyebrow. “Mm?”
“…”
Taishang Wusun immediately fell silent, bowed, picked up his wooden fish, tucked it into his sleeve, and walked straight out of the hall. After he passed the outer wall of the hall, a spiritual light, like a cosmic expanse, formed a wall around the main hall of Wu Nian Sect, separating the inside from the outside. Taishang Wusun turned around and looked up at his temple with a look of unspoken helplessness. He felt that if he hadn’t agreed just now, Si Xuanji would likely have poured lard into the food of his Wu Nian Sect disciples. Noticing several Wu Nian Sect disciples rushing over, Taishang Wusun sighed and said, “For the next few days, lectures on Buddhist dharma will be held in the Guanyin Hall down the mountain.”
“…Oh.”
…
At the same time, inside the main hall.
Ye Anping lay on the ground, staring blankly at the pure gold statue of the celestial Buddha above. He felt as though his body had arrived, but his soul was still chasing the sea.
*Dong—*
Suddenly, a fair, jade-like foot stepped directly onto his chest. The force was light; Si Xuanji seemed to have deliberately held back, not wanting to hurt him. Ye Anping snapped back to attention, shifting his gaze from the celestial Buddha’s face to Si Xuanji’s. Her expression was furious, her Yin-yang heteromorphic eyes seeming to hold a mixture of sadness, joy, surprise, and doubt.
“You’re playing with me?!”
“Immortal Dan Yue… Junior’s intentions were unintentional, I just…”
At this point, the foot on his chest gently touched Ye Anping’s chin, silencing him. Her big toe slowly brushed past his chin, touched his Adam’s apple, and then with another toe, she gently squeezed it. Finally, her foot moved to his chest, parting his robe and revealing his well-defined collarbone. Her toes lightly played with the indentation of his collarbone.
Si Xuanji narrowed her eyes, her lips parting slightly as she whispered, “Quibbling.” It was at this moment that Ye Anping also noticed that the mask of the little tiger Si Xuanji kept had been soaked with saliva… He had been unsure of Si Xuanji’s intentions, but this sight brought him a sense of relief.
After a moment of silence, Ye Anping suddenly grabbed her ankle and sat up. His black and white long hair, tied back with a ribbon, instantly came undone, spreading out like a bedsheet beneath Si Xuanji. Her small hands, resting by her cheeks, were pressed down by Ye Anping’s palms.
“Immortal Dan Yue, you promised me. If I reach Nascent Soul, you would become my cultivation partner.”
Si Xuanji bit her lip and looked away. “You have quite the nerve! Daring to challenge your superior. You know I am the Sect Master of Xuan Xing Sect, so why did you show no fear when facing me before? Did you not hear that I am very petty?”
Ye Anping chuckled sheepishly, a hint of helplessness in his expression. “Your words now don’t sound like something the esteemed Sect Master of Xuan Xing Sect would say.”
“…”
“Back when I was forming my core, you came to my room every twelve days to help me recover with your dual cultivation technique, True Person Tianji.”
“How did you know?”
“Before you left that day, you accidentally left behind a pair of undergarments. I smelled them, and the scent was the same as yours.”
?
Si Xuanji turned her head, frowning. “You smelled them?!”
“From that time onwards, I have loved you. If not for your help, I might not have survived the seventy-two heavenly tribulations. But I am merely the Sect Master of a humble Hundred Lotus Sect, looking up to you. How could I dare to disrespect you?”
“You are being quite disrespectful now… *Wu—*”
Their lips met, but after only two breaths, they parted, clinging to each other. A faint blush spread across Si Xuanji’s cheeks. She lowered her eyes, avoiding Ye Anping’s gaze, and whispered, “By age, I could be your great-great-great… grandmother.”
“Cultivators, why bother with age? Besides…” Ye Anping paused for a moment, then smiled. “You don’t make me feel the seasoned wisdom of an elder. You’re quite inexperienced when it comes to matters of the heart.”
“My heart is set on seeking immortality; I have no interest in worldly affairs like romance.”
“What about now?”
“… …”
“… …”
“… …”
After his question, there was a long silence before the celestial Buddha statue. Si Xuanji bit her lip, her gaze shifting from Ye Anping’s face and back again. She felt she would lose face by saying what was truly on her mind. She was Dan Yue, the Sect Master of Xuan Xing Sect, who could command the heavens with a wave of her hand and move stars with a flick of her finger. Her past deeds were just an act; now she was the Sect Master of Xuan Xing Sect! How could she speak sweet nothings to someone like a young girl?! It was so petty!
After a prolonged stalemate, Si Xuanji gritted her teeth, shifted her body slightly, and with a switch of roles, sat on Ye Anping’s stomach. She looked up at Ye Anping from below and said softly, “Xuanji.”
“…Mm?”
“Xuanji is fine.”
Then, just as Ye Anping had placed his hands by his ears before, she leaned forward, pressing Ye Anping’s large hands under her own. Her delicate, jade-like fingers slid between his and clasped his palm. Si Xuanji looked down at Ye Anping below her, narrowing her eyes. “Don’t think that by becoming my cultivation partner, you can get me to act spoiled and cute like Xiao Yunluo and Pei Lianxue. If you want to overpower me, wait until your cultivation reaches my level.”
Ye Anping remained silent for a moment, then admitted with a lack of confidence, “To be honest, I don’t have the confidence to reach Void Shattering.”
“It’s not up to you to decide. You are my cultivation partner now. If you fail to achieve Void Shattering and dare to leave me a widow, I will drag you out from the underworld after you die. You’ve crossed this line, so remember: you belong to me in life, and you will be my ghost in death.”
“…”
“I didn’t say you couldn’t die before then. I didn’t say you could leave my side before you leave.”
Her Yin-yang heteromorphic eyes widened slightly. Her black and white eyes seemed to reflect the cosmos, brilliant and captivating, yet deep and terrifying. However, her voice, carrying a hint of childishness, softened the ferocity, making it sound like a child making threats. Her words were venomous, yet they irresistibly made one want to laugh. Si Xuanji straightened her back, resting her hands on Ye Anping’s chest, pushing her long hair behind her ears. “After so many thousands of years, you are the first person to move me, and you must be the last. From now on, you must unconditionally satisfy me, please me, and love me.”
Ye Anping pushed himself up, his forehead touching Si Xuanji’s. He embraced her waist and asked, “I agree.”
The seriousness on Si Xuanji’s face gradually softened after his words. She gently pushed Ye Anping’s hair from her ear and kissed him softly.
*Peck—*
“This Wu Nian Sect is one of the ten thousand spiritual blessed lands. You have survived the first Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation, and though you are almost Nascent Soul, you must not be complacent. You will complete the remaining thirty-five tribulations here.”
“Can I inform my Junior Sisters and them? You brought me here so suddenly, and they are still at Taibai Sect…”
“I’ve already sent Shui Rou to tell those girls that you’ve found a place to reach Nascent Soul.”
“Premeditated?”
“Guess ~”
It was at this moment that a severed hand crawled out from behind Ye Anping’s waist, its fingers wiggling like a caterpillar. Si Xuanji turned to look and reached out to touch it. Gu Mingxin, mistaking her for Ye Anping, suddenly grabbed her hand. However, after feeling her hand, it realized it wasn’t Ye Anping’s and forcefully squeezed her hand. Si Xuanji raised an eyebrow and slapped Gu Mingxin’s hand onto the face of the celestial Buddha statue nearby, then used a golden thread to wrap it around the golden Buddha’s head.
Ye Anping glanced at the golden Buddha, then at the other golden statues of past Wu Nian Sect leaders around him, feeling a slight sense of shame. Although these golden statues were mere mortal objects, they were carved so lifelike that their eyes seemed alive, and he could almost feel their gaze. But then, Si Xuanji’s voice pulled him back. She leaned close to Ye Anping’s ear, gently bit his earlobe, and whispered, “I’m hungry.”
“…”
Ye Anping closed his eyes slightly, then hugged Si Xuanji’s waist and their lips met. A gentle breeze began to stir. The golden Buddha, in its Dharma-sealing pose within the temple, had Gu Mingxin’s hand on its face, as if unable to express its suffering, and could only watch as the two below, amidst the scent of sandalwood, began to exude a different, worldly fragrance.
The sun and moon set over the Wenxian Sea several times. On lotus cushions, on the ground, on the beams, by the window, and in the embrace of the golden Buddha statue, the two left their imprints everywhere.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar sounded, and Nascent Soul tribulation clouds enveloped the sky above Wu Nian Sect. Only then did the two awaken as if from a dream and separate. One meditated, entering a state of deep concentration, while the other sat on the offering table, picking up fruits and nuts and squinting guardedly. The golden Buddha statue thought it was finally over. However, after the golden lightning struck Ye Anping, the two once again embraced, clutched their heads, threatened each other by the ears, touched and patted, and became one. Perhaps finding its wooden expression tedious, Si Xuanji, with her Yin-yang heteromorphic eyes, took out an ink brush with the young man and began to paint on its face.
“This is so ugly, add some blush… Hehe…”
“Xuanji, are we really not breaking any precepts and incurring heavenly punishment by doing this?”
“You are a reverse star, are you afraid of divine punishment?” Si Xuanji, naked, grabbed Ye Anping’s wrist and placed the brush in his fingertips, pointing it at the golden Buddha’s forehead. “Hurry, you draw too… Or I’ll draw on you…”
“Sigh…”
Ye Anping felt a little helpless and offered a slight apology to the golden Buddha in his heart. He then proactively added a “king turtle” to its forehead. All that mattered was Si Xuanji’s happiness. If he cleaned up carefully before leaving and then tapped the wooden fish a few times, it should be fine. Compassionate Buddha, after all. Taishang Wusun must also be compassionate.
…
