Luo Luo’s entire body went numb, her soul trembling violently.
The apocalyptic scene before her had left her unsteady on her feet, and the fact that the "sun" was actually the Saint’s physical body made her shudder to the core, her breath catching in her throat.
The white-robed Saint’s figure dissipated into transparency.
With a deafening roar, the colossal entity plunged into the atmosphere, tearing through the air. The pale edges of the massive temple burst into flames, instantly trailing a long and terrifying tail of fire, setting the entire sky ablaze.
The ground rumbled and quaked.
Every person stood gaping, staring skyward. The blue skies and white clouds had vanished—from horizon to horizon, all that could be seen were surging waves of heat and raging infernos.
The roaring, blazing hellfire drew closer and closer.
And not far from Luo Luo, a red ant finally killed the invading black ant, happily raising its antennae toward the sky in triumph.
"BOOM!"
The burning sky suddenly split in two.
A wild surge of sword energy erupted, and a lean, towering figure burst forth midair, descending with an overwhelmingly arrogant aura.
Clad in black robes, drenched in blood, he had bound the hilt of his sword to his right hand with cloth to keep it from slipping.
He landed with a thunderous impact.
Before Luo Luo could react, her body was crushed into a hard, scorching embrace. Her nose throbbed from colliding with his chest, and the back of her neck was gripped tightly by a bloodstained hand, forcing her to look up. His face tilted, and he kissed her—brutally, possessively.
Luo Luo’s eyes widened unconsciously.
In her pupils, Li Zhaoye’s shattered, godlike beauty was reflected, the roaring, flaming hellscape behind him now nothing more than a backdrop.
"BOOM!"
The meteor struck the earth like a boulder plunging into molten lava.
White light flooded everything—the illusion was obliterated.
Luo Luo’s Pavilion.
A hand waved in front of Luo Luo’s face.
Then again.
"Little fool. Silly fool. Foolish Luo." Li Zhaoye’s infuriatingly amused voice drifted into her ears. "Didn’t I block it all for you? How could you still be scared stupid? Hey—snap out of it!"
Luo Luo blinked dazedly, her senses slowly sharpening.
The world gradually came into focus—she was sitting by the window, Li Zhaoye’s arm draped warmly over her shoulders, pulling her into him.
Luo Luo: "Oh… you’re back."
He arched a brow, his dark, narrow eyes glinting with mischief as he complained, "Fighting that thing nearly killed me!"
Luo Luo tilted her face up to look at him.
The flickering lamplight played across his features, his godlike handsomeness shifting between light and shadow. She murmured, stunned, "You knocked the sun out of the sky."
He leaned in, grinning. "Impressed?"
Luo Luo nodded rapidly.
Unable to resist, Li Zhaoye pinched the tip of her nose, smug. "You wouldn’t believe the secret I uncovered even if I gave you ten extra brains—the Sealed Divine Temple is Him!"
His eyes sparkled with triumph, his entire being radiating pride.
He watched her closely, waiting to savor her shock.
"Well?" He lifted his chin. "Surprised?"
Luo Luo held her breath.
She knew—if she ruined his moment now, she’d never hear the end of it.
So she nodded earnestly, feigning astonishment. "...Ah!"
Li Zhaoye was satisfied.
With a smirk, he launched into a vivid retelling of his exploits within the Sealed Divine Temple, slaughtering enemies left and right.
As he boasted, his fingers idly kneaded her shoulder and arm, squeezing her intermittently as if to reassure himself she was really there.
Xu Junzhu’s gaze lingered on that hand.
It was large, his fingers long and bony, unconsciously tightening around Luo Luo over and over—confirming she had finally returned to his side.
Xu Junzhu looked at Luo Luo, her expression wistful. "Eldest Brother searched everywhere for you. Who would’ve thought you weren’t even in the Sealed Divine Temple?"
"Mm." Luo Luo replied, "I was on the ground. Every day, I saw two suns and two moons. I never imagined you were all up in the sky."
Li Zhaoye shot her a sidelong glance, pitying. "All alone. How pitiful."
Luo Luo obediently put on her most pitiful expression.
He clicked his tongue, lifting his other hand to seize both of hers, clasping them tightly in his palm.
He squeezed, rubbed, soothed.
The warm glow of the lanterns mingled with the warmth of their shared breaths.
"So?" Li Zhaoye played with her fingers. "What was it like down there?"
Luo Luo shared her intel: "I ran into the Saint. Didn’t dare act recklessly, so I just followed him."
Li Zhaoye’s fingers stilled, his dark eyes narrowing.
"I wasn’t in danger," Luo Luo hurried to explain, sensing his concern. "The Saint’s power is terrifying, but his temperament is serene—he doesn’t harm people. Sometimes, he even casually fixes rivers or calms volcanoes."
Xu Junzhu’s eyes widened in surprise. "He sounds… almost kind."
Luo Luo nodded. "He carries so much. The world doesn’t understand him—they hurl curses, rotten vegetables, eggs at him. It made me furious, but he didn’t care at all. They abandoned him, and now they’re reaping what they sowed."
"Ah." Li Zhaoye smirked. "So you already knew the Sealed Divine Temple was his body."
Luo Luo froze.
She turned to him, meeting his raised brows and half-amused, half-mocking expression.
She forced a laugh. "Well… not that early."
"Heh." His smile didn’t reach his eyes. "You knew all along, pretended to be shocked just to spare my pride, huh?"
Luo Luo: "..."
Damn it.
A man who prized his pride above all else would hate being given pity points.
He released her hands, tapping the table with one long, slender finger, his tone suddenly businesslike.
Flatly, he stated, "Deep inside the Sealed Divine Temple, there’s a breach. Or a passage."
His face was expressionless. "A chaotic, evil energy comes from there."
Luo Luo gasped. "What? Then what?"
Li Zhaoye lazily leaned back against the cushions, arms crossed, lips quirking in a cryptic smile. "Oh? He didn’t tell you?"
Luo Luo: "No?"
Li Zhaoye: "Heh."
Luo Luo: "Just tell me!"
Li Zhaoye: "Do I look like I need your charity?"
Xu Junzhu: "..."
These two!
She sighed, breaking the tension with a solemn interjection. "We gradually realized—the demons in the Sealed Divine Temple are endless. No matter how many we kill, more keep coming. Once we paid attention, the truth became obvious."
Luo Luo’s eyes widened.
Xu Junzhu nodded. "That’s why Eldest Brother suspects—the Sealed Divine Temple isn’t truly sealing the demons at all."
Luo Luo began to understand.
She had once read ancient texts describing the earliest records of demons—among them, the phrase "from beyond this world."
A chaotic, foreign energy had invaded, birthing demons that plagued the mortal realm.
Slaying them was only treating the symptoms, not the root.
So the Saint had turned his own body into a dam, blocking the breach where the chaotic energy poured in.
No wonder he looked so exhausted.
Xu Junzhu continued, "The senior brother sensed 'Its' gaze and deduced that the Divine Sealing Hall was a manifestation of 'It.' So, he struck at its weakness—the point where the chaotic miasma had invaded—and successfully shattered the illusory Divine Sealing Hall."
Luo Luo nodded. "Oh... so that's how it happened!"
The atmosphere in the loft grew strangely silent.
Xu Junzhu couldn’t find the right words to say. She wanted to ask something but feared making things worse for the quarreling couple.
Luo Luo suddenly spoke up. "Is there any way to look up historical records from ancient times?"
Xu Junzhu pondered for a moment. "Uncle Shuo Yun might have brought some ancient texts with him."
Every master of weapon-forging and swordcraft dreamed of recreating the legendary divine weapons lost to time.
"Let's go!"
As luck would have it, Uncle Shuo Yun hadn’t yet found a place to shelve his books. Carrying a Qiankun bag, Luo Luo and the other two returned with their haul.
The room was lit with lamps as they combed through the historical records, but not a single mention of the Sage could be found.
Luo Luo stared at the yellowed bamboo scrolls and silk manuscripts, her eyes growing sore.
Li Zhaoye impatiently jumped down from the windowsill and snatched the dusty, musty tome from her hands.
He waved her off, signaling for her to step aside and stop blocking his light.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle."
"Thud."
Dust flew as an old book fell open before Luo Luo.
She looked down and saw a familiar name—Zhang Jing.
"That rebel leader of the uprising!" Luo Luo’s eyes lit up.
The history books made no mention of Luo Luo, nor the tale of the "Empty Boat."
Zhang Jing had indeed led the tenant farmers in revolt.
Luo Luo traced the lines with her finger, her frown deepening with each word.
"Zhang Jing wasn’t like this at all!" She flipped through the pages angrily. "He disciplined his troops, enforced strict military conduct, never harmed civilians, and never looted private property."
Yet the historical records painted him as a tyrant—a bloodthirsty butcher who oppressed the people and committed unspeakable atrocities.
According to the annals, Zhang Jing’s crimes were innumerable, inciting divine wrath. The Three Sovereigns of antiquity, answering the people’s plea, executed the villain and restored peace to the world, earning eternal praise.
Luo Luo was so furious she felt like puffing up.
The Sage, who had borne the weight of the world, was erased from history. Zhang Jing, who had sought to right wrongs, was slandered beyond recognition.
Meanwhile, the true villains celebrated.
In reality, the Divine Sealing Hall hadn’t fallen so quickly.
The Three Sovereigns—Taiyi, Hongmeng, and Tianyin—had seized the opportunity of Zhang Jing’s uprising to infiltrate the Sage’s domain. Over decades, they manipulated public opinion, turning the world against the Sage.
Only later came the records of how the "Three Sovereigns sacrificed themselves to seal the demons."
"Snap." Luo Luo shut the old book with force.
Xu Junzhu’s gaze turned icy. "So it was these three who stole the Sage’s merit! But what happened afterward remains unclear."
Luo Luo nodded. "Mhm."
She glanced at Li Zhaoye.
How had such a transcendent, selfless Sage become the cruel, inhuman Godking?
What a travesty of justice.
Xu Junzhu also looked at Li Zhaoye.
She wasn’t usually one for curiosity, but even she couldn’t resist the urge to uncover ancient secrets. "Senior Brother, could we delve into the Sage’s memories again to find out more?"
Luo Luo blinked expectantly.
Li Zhaoye was displeased. He shot them a cool glance. "Don’t look at me. I don’t mind frying my brain, but the Nether Maiden will die."
Luo Luo & Xu Junzhu: "Oh..."
After a moment of contemplation, Xu Junzhu nodded. "Then let’s focus on training."
She summoned the Illusionary Soul Jade, activated it, and her spirit entered the illusion.
Just as Luo Luo was about to follow, Li Zhaoye grabbed her shoulder.
His expression was dark. "Don’t forget what 'It' is. Pitying 'It'? You’ll die."
Luo Luo nodded. "I know."
"Heh." His lips curled mockingly. "You know nothing."
Luo Luo answered honestly, "I know that if we don’t deal with 'It,' neither of us will get any sleep."
Li Zhaoye’s smirk froze.
After a long pause, his dark eyes blinked slowly.
Then, suddenly, he grinned brilliantly. "If you want to, it’s not impossible."
His tone was wicked—so wicked it sent shivers down her spine.
He stepped closer, eyes burning into hers. "Well? Do you want to?"
Luo Luo froze, too afraid to nod or shake her head.
He leaned down, one large hand pressing on her head to keep her from fleeing.
His gaze was predatory, domineering.
Luo Luo’s mind scrambled for words. "Senior Sister... is waiting for us... in the illusion."
He smirked. "That eager?"
Luo Luo: "Huh?"
Li Zhaoye chuckled darkly. "A soul illusion? Of course. Since you’re so keen... fine."
Luo Luo: "!!!"
Before she could explain she wasn’t "so keen," he grabbed her hand and pressed it into the Illusionary Soul Jade with a laugh.
"Whoosh—"
Before Luo Luo could regain her bearings, a sharp sword light shot toward her.
Inside the illusion, Xu Junzhu had been waiting.
Luo Luo’s nape prickled. She summoned Autumn Water just in time to parry Frostless, Xu Junzhu’s blade.
Their eyes met, and Xu Junzhu’s lit up.
"Little Junior Sister, you’ve improved!"
Luo Luo also felt the weight behind Xu Junzhu’s sword.
During their long separation, neither had slacked in their training, and both had grown stronger.
Before Luo Luo’s heartbeat could steady, another intense duel began.
"Clang! Clang! Clang—!"
Li Zhaoye sat to the side, applauding with a smirk.
Frost and flames intertwined midair, leaving behind frozen afterimages and clear sword marks.
Xu Junzhu laughed. "Little Junior Sister! I guarantee Feng Baiyan is no match for you now!"
Luo Luo brightened. "Really?—Senior Sister, take this!"
"Clang!"
Their blades crossed again.
Xu Junzhu leaned in, whispering, "Are you and Senior Brother alright? Should I leave you two alone...?"
Luo Luo’s heart lurched, her face burning. "...Huh?"
Remembering Li Zhaoye’s shameless words earlier, she was mortified.
"N-no, no need!"
She didn’t dare imagine what would happen if she went to Li Zhaoye now—whether she’d be devoured or just laughed to death.
"Senior Sister must be close to breaking through to the Divine Transformation realm!" Luo Luo said loudly, masking her fluster. "Let me help you!"
"Clang—"
Swords clashed, and the battle resumed.
Amid the flurry of blades, Li Zhaoye’s amused, taunting laughter could faintly be heard.
"Stop."
With a rustle of robes, Li Zhaoye stepped in, halting their swords.
"That’s not how you reach Divine Transformation," he said flatly. "Unity of body and soul, shattering the Nascent Soul to ascend. Have you even grasped the Dao? One dares to teach, the other dares to listen!"
Xu Junzhu lowered her head in shame. "You're right, Senior Brother. I truly have no clue."
Luo Luo felt a pang of guilt: "..."
Wasn't it just about accumulating enough power to advance?
Li Zhaoye raised his hand, the sealing threads flickering past Qingnü Wushuang, provoking a crisp, instinctive defensive chime.
The threads traced the frost petals one by one, as if each step birthed a lotus.
"Hum!"
The sword suddenly emitted a dangerous warning.
Li Zhaoye struck.
Luo Luo hastily retreated to the side as countless sealing threads struck Qingnü Wushuang, erupting into a dazzling blaze of frostfire.
Within moments, a faint "hiss" sounded—blood blossomed from Xu Junzhu's joints in several places.
This scene was familiar to Luo Luo.
Watching her senior sister being pierced, phantom pain flared across her own body.
"Clang!"
Xu Junzhu clenched her teeth, slashing at the sealing threads with her sword.
Li Zhaoye's lips curled without warmth, his movements growing even more ruthless.
The "hiss" sounds continued relentlessly—Xu Junzhu's body in the illusion gradually became drenched in blood.
With a sharp tug of his hand, Li Zhaoye shattered her meridians one by one.
Amidst the shock and pain, a glimmer of insight flickered in Xu Junzhu's heart.
"Clatter!"
Her sword slipped from her grasp.
She could feel it clearly—she was about to "die."
Her meridians crumbled to dust, her dantian collapsed, the frost scattered… scattered… and melted into water!
Frost and snow were born from water.
They could gather—and they could scatter.
If the body dissolved into water, the soul dissolved into water, and water merged with water, reforming—then that was the unity of body and soul, the crystallization of ice and snow!
A sudden brilliance ignited in Xu Junzhu's fading pupils.
Her lips parted—she barely managed to utter a single "thank you" before being expelled from the illusion.
Her last glimpse was of Li Zhaoye's eyes.
Dark. Cold. Dangerous.
Li Zhaoye turned his gaze to Luo Luo.
The killing intent in his black eyes hadn't faded—the moment his stare landed on her, she couldn't help but shiver slightly.
He stepped toward her.
The frostfire and sealing threads slowly retracted behind him. Tall and imposing, his aura was piercing, his presence overwhelming.
Unconsciously, she held her breath, her heartbeat quickening, her ears burning.
He lowered his eyes, as if reading her mind, and drawled lazily, "A day here is but a moment outside—no delay."
Luo Luo: "Oh..."
His scent triggered an instinctive fear in her.
It was aggressive—as if he wanted to devour her whole.
"Snap."
A soft sound—his fingers gripped her chin.
Li Zhaoye had never been a gentle man. The moment he seized her, Luo Luo felt a sharp pain in her back—then, with a thud, he teleported them beneath the pear blossom tree.
Her heart lurched—the memory of their last kiss under these blossoms flooded her mind.
He tilted his head and bit down.
Not lightly. Luo Luo's lower lip stung, but instead of a hiss, a soft "ah" escaped her.
That was exactly what he wanted—her lips parting.
Once they did, she had no chance to close them again.
His mouth captured hers, fierce and demanding. His tongue swept past her teeth, stirring a storm in her chest, leaving her dizzy and breathless.
"Mmm..."
He stole her breath, claimed her lips, ravaged her mouth.
His scent matched his actions—wild, possessive, as if he truly meant to consume her.
His goal was clear. Once she was too dazed to resist, one large hand pressed against her racing heart.
His fingers tightened—her gasp was swallowed by his kiss.
Her pulse spiraled out of control. Her fingers clutched weakly at his robes, her legs wobbling.
He shoved her hard against the pear tree.
As he kissed her relentlessly, his left hand kneaded her chest, his right suddenly flicking to the side.
A surge of pressure—like a physical force—shook the tree, raining pear blossoms around them.
Snow-white petals fluttered down.
His hand tugged sharply downward.
Luo Luo's shoulders chilled—a soft gasp escaped her as she instinctively leaned into him.
His robes fell open; hers pooled at her feet.
He pulled her into his unyielding embrace, her head tilting back as she surrendered to his deep, devouring kiss.
She knew he wouldn’t be gentle.
Suddenly, the world spun—she was on her back, petals cool beneath her, his body scorching above.
He chuckled lowly, his tongue teasing hers, his lips brushing hers, then her jaw.
"Here we go," he murmured, voice rough.
Li Zhaoye always said that before he took action.
Before Luo Luo could process it, her heart was already pounding wildly.
A large hand slid down, lifting her knee.
She felt it then—absolute hardness, unyielding dominance.
Danger, pressed against her.
He gave her no chance to retreat. His mouth sealed over hers again, tongue plunging past her lips, past her teeth, his taste flooding her senses until her mind blanked.
Luo Luo was too tense to breathe. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, trembling faintly—a weak, instinctive resistance.
Beneath his open robes, his lean body pressed flush against hers—then, with a sudden thrust, he sheathed himself inside.
A low groan escaped him. He pulled his lips from hers, forehead resting against hers, noses touching.
His lips curved—a smile so devastatingly handsome, yet so wicked.
His hand found hers, fingers intertwining tightly.
Breaths mingling, he stared deep into her eyes. He’d devour her completely—not even her gaze was spared.
His movements were relentless.
Luo Luo had long lost the ability to think. She could only stare dazedly at him, so close she could count his lashes.
She was addicted to his scent, greedy for his warmth.
Being this intimate with him—it was intoxicating.
"Scared?" he murmured against her lips, voice gravelly.
Luo Luo shook her head slightly.
"Hurt?" he asked next.
His tone made it clear—even if she did, he wouldn’t stop.
Again, she shook her head.
Li Zhaoye paused.
He didn’t look down, just focused for a moment—then, with a quiet growl, he drove deeper.
His lips brushed her ear as he whispered three more words.
He felt it instantly—her ear turned scalding hot.
After a long pause, she finally managed a tiny, breathless:
"...Mhm."
"Tch." Li Zhaoye nipped her earlobe, teeth sharp. "‘Mhm’ what? Answer properly."
Luo Luo: "..."
She’d die before she could say "good."
But Li Zhaoye wasn’t the type to give up.
Cornered, she whispered shyly, "...I like it."
He pulled back slightly, studying her face.
She did look dazed—but then, he always left her like this when he kissed her.
Now, though, he was doing far more than that.
His eyes narrowed dangerously. With a sudden snap of his hips, he drove into her harder.
Pear blossoms scattered around them from the force.
He watched her closely—but her expression didn’t change.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face.
His fingers gripped her chin. "Tell me," he rasped. "How does it feel?"
Luo Luo wanted to hide.
He wouldn’t let her. He chased her lips, demanding an answer.
"It’s... really nice," she mumbled, wishing she could vanish into his chest.
Li Zhaoye’s voice turned lethal. "I think you’re not feeling much at all."
His stare burned. Then, abruptly, he glanced down between them.
He shifted back and forth, confirming there were no issues.
"Speak," he demanded, staring at her.
Luo Luo opened her mouth, recalling the little tiff they'd had earlier.
He didn’t need her to deliberately spare his pride.
So Luo Luo answered honestly, "I didn’t really feel anything, but I really liked being with you—"
Smack.
A large hand clamped over her mouth.
Li Zhaoye inhaled sharply. "Shut up."
He scrambled to his feet, taking several deep breaths, veins still visibly throbbing at his temples.
"I’ll find a book to study," he said through gritted teeth. "It’s a technical issue—practice will fix it."
Luo Luo nodded quickly.
He glared at her, leaning in to growl, "Next time, fake it even if you don’t feel anything! Do I look like I don’t care about my dignity?"
Luo Luo: "...Fine."
What a pain in the neck—so demanding, changing his mind every second.
By the time Luo Luo and Li Zhaoye exited the illusionary realm, Xu Junzhu had already been waiting for a while.
"Senior Brother?"
Li Zhaoye lifted his listless eyes, his face the picture of despair. "What is it? Spit it out."
Xu Junzhu straightened, her expression earnest. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother! I’ve had an epiphany!" She sighed in admiration. "With real experience, I can recreate it endlessly in the illusionary realm! Ascension is within reach!"
BANG!
Xu Junzhu blinked in shock as Li Zhaoye’s eyes lit up. He sprang to his feet, nearly flipping the windowsill in his excitement.
He burst into laughter. "HAHAHAHA!"
Xu Junzhu: "..."
He’s... this happy about it?
Dazed, she thought, Senior Brother really is cold on the outside but warm inside—carrying far too much on his shoulders.
Li Zhaoye grabbed Luo Luo by the collar and yanked her aside.
He whispered fiercely into her ear, "You heard that, didn’t you? You didn’t feel anything because you lack experience—not because my technique is bad, and definitely not because I’m lacking in ability! Got it?"
Luo Luo: "...Oh."
"'Oh' what?" He tapped her nose. "No half-hearted answers—do you understand?"
Luo Luo: "I got it."
Smug, he declared, "Just you wait—next time!"
Luo Luo: "...Oh."
