In the tranquil depths of her sea of consciousness, the Acacia Divine Tree stood in silent growth.
Wisps of Acacia energy streamed into the tree, gathering upon the second tier of its base, which glowed with a faint azure light.
As time passed, the pale pink Acacia energy continued to accumulate, slowly condensing into a tiny Acacia blossom.
……
Yuan Shu reached out and wrapped her arms around the man before her, whose skin was burning hot, then rose onto her toes and kissed his chin.
“Senior Brother Leng, you’re only one step away from breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage, aren’t you?”
Leng Shuxue held her tightly, lowering his head to inhale deeply at the nape of her neck, intoxicated by the faint fragrance of pear blossoms.
“Nothing can escape Shushu’s notice. I also feel that my strength has been increasing too quickly—so quickly that it hardly seems real.”
After all, he had once been crippled in both legs by demonic poison, and his cultivation had fallen to the Foundation Establishment stage.
Yet in a mere few months, he had advanced directly from Foundation Establishment to the perfected Nascent Soul stage. No one would have dared believe it if they heard it from someone else.
But he had truly done it.
Of course, he had a vague feeling about the reason.
Every time he was with Yuan Shu, he could sense a special energy flowing back into his body, as though it were nourishing him and strengthening his cultivation.
He did not know what it was, but if Yuan Shu was unwilling to tell him, then it was certainly harmless to him.
“Senior Brother Leng’s constitution is special. Being together benefits both of us, so there’s no need to dwell on it.”
After saying this, she paused, then lifted a finger and gently traced the man’s exquisite, handsome features. With a soft laugh, she said, “Senior Brother Leng, when we return tonight, you should make your preparations to advance as soon as possible.”
“Who knows? Perhaps by tomorrow morning, Senior Brother Leng, you’ll have already broken through!”
Leng Shuxue chuckled. Lowering his head, he kissed the tip of Yuan Shu’s pert nose. “How could it happen so quickly? I only advanced to the Nascent Soul stage recently.”
“I was lucky enough to reach the perfected Nascent Soul stage. To break through to Deity Transformation, I’ll probably need another year or two.”
“Is that so?”
Yuan Shu looked at him with a mischievous smile. She extended her thumb and gently brushed it over his rosy lips before rising to kiss him.
“Then let’s wait and see.”
Her soft voice, breathtaking beauty, and the hand lightly caressing his chest easily stirred a shiver through him.
Leng Shuxue’s breathing changed. Dark currents surged in the eyes fixed intently upon her.
“Shushu…”
Yuan Shu tilted her head back and looked at him with languid eyes. The next moment, Leng Shuxue’s handsome face descended upon hers.
Soon, no voices could be heard within the barrier. Only the ceaseless sound of surging water remained.
……
When the barrier faded, Yuan Shu and Leng Shuxue parted ways in the forest.
Something had happened at the Immortal-Fall Hall, and the sect master had summoned the senior disciples in charge of each peak, along with the elders.
Leng Shuxue had handed the magical artifact to his junior brother to deliver, but just moments ago, he had received an order from the peak master instructing him to go to the Immortal-Fall Hall immediately.
He could not stay any longer.
……
Hidden beneath the cover of trees and undergrowth, Long Yunhui carefully watched the two people in the forest.
When he saw Leng Shuxue leave, his heart relaxed. He rose and was just about to go see Yuan Shu when a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.
Long Yunhui’s heart jolted. Acting on instinct, he struck backward at once, but his fist was abruptly caught.
When he looked up, he met Leng Shuxue’s cold, clear eyes.
“Fourth Junior Brother?”
After recognizing him, Long Yunhui froze. He turned to glance at the forest not far away.
Wait—hadn’t he already left?
He had seen it with his own eyes!
“Third Senior Brother, did you come to see Shushu?” Leng Shuxue’s voice was always cold and distant whenever he spoke to anyone other than Yuan Shu.
But at this moment, Long Yunhui could hear a hint of displeasure in it.
Long Yunhui frowned, his expression immediately turning wary. “So what if I did? What are you planning to do?”
Compared with Long Yunhui’s nervousness, Leng Shuxue remained remarkably indifferent. His cool gaze swept over Long Yunhui’s face as he said evenly, “I’ll soon be breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage.”
“What did you say?”
Long Yunhui was stunned, his tone filled with disbelief.
He had only recently heard that Leng Shuxue had advanced to the Nascent Soul stage. How could he be about to break through to Deity Transformation so soon?
How was that possible?
Leng Shuxue did not answer. Instead, he continued, “Shushu told me to come by whenever I have the time. She’ll be waiting for me.”
His voice was light and calm, but his words made Long Yunhui’s eyes widen in disbelief.
“You’re talking nonsense! Shushu would never say that!”
“Never?” Leng Shuxue gave a soft laugh. “Shushu said that she likes powerful men. Third Senior Brother, you haven’t made much progress in nearly half a year, have you?”
“If I were you, still stuck at the Core Formation stage and unable to break through, I’m afraid I wouldn’t even have the courage to come see Shushu.”
“You!”
Long Yunhui’s eyes widened. The hand hanging at his side suddenly clenched into a fist as he glared furiously at Leng Shuxue.
In terms of talent, he was indeed inferior to Leng Shuxue. In terms of perseverance, he was also inferior to Second Senior Brother.
He was clearly the Third Senior Brother of Azure Cloud Peak, yet both Leng Shuxue and Shu Linyuan had entered the sect after him and surpassed him in cultivation.
In the past, no one had ever mentioned this, and he himself had never cared.
But today, Leng Shuxue had ruthlessly exposed the truth.
Why had he chosen to avoid the matter after realizing that Yuan Shu and Leng Shuxue were together? Perhaps only he himself knew that it was a manifestation of the cowardice buried in his heart.
Ever since Leng Shuxue’s legs had recovered, his cultivation speed had shot upward. It seemed that they no longer belonged to the same world.
With so many outstanding people around Yuan Shu, had she already grown tired of him?
Otherwise… why had she not taken the initiative to contact him for so long?
Even in the communication jade talisman, it was always he who sent her greetings.
Did Shushu really like powerful men?
“Third Senior Brother, if you truly like Shushu, then you should work harder. Otherwise, you won’t even have the chance to hide in the shadows and spy on her.”
“Just like now… you’ll be discovered!”
The corners of Leng Shuxue’s lips lifted into a faint smile.
That usually expressionless face seemed to make even the sunlight gentler the moment he smiled.
Long Yunhui’s eyes widened slightly.
Before today, he had felt that he still possessed qualities capable of making Yuan Shu look at him with admiration.
For example, his face.
Shushu loved his face the most. Whenever they were together, she would kiss every inch of it carefully, their lips and tongues tangling as she loved him with all her heart.
But which of the senior and junior brothers at Azure Cloud Peak had an ugly face?
As for Leng Shuxue, before his legs had been crippled, the female disciples who admired him had been enough to circle the sect ten times over!
His face was even two degrees more handsome and refined than Long Yunhui’s. It was difficult for Yuan Shu not to be captivated by him.
Not to mention his current strength…
He seemed to be the most ordinary one among all the senior and junior brothers. It was not impossible that Yuan Shu simply did not like him anymore.
Long Yunhui was devastated. He shot a vicious glare at Leng Shuxue, who stood blocking his way, then turned and sped off.
With Leng Shuxue around, he would never let him go see Shushu.
Damn that man. Just because he was stronger, he thought he could act so tyrannically and domineeringly?
Just wait. Once he advanced, he would make sure to blind them all with his brilliance!
In the forest, Leng Shuxue quietly watched Long Yunhui’s furious retreat. The corners of his lips curled slightly.
There was one good thing about Third Senior Brother: he was a little foolish and easy to placate.
Remembering Yuan Shu’s reminder about breaking through, Leng Shuxue’s smile faded slightly.
He, too, had to work harder!
With that thought, Leng Shuxue turned and left the forest.
