Yuan Shu was tempting him. He knew it, but he truly couldn’t resist her allure!
Ever since his mind had been damaged by those spirit plants, he had followed the Great Elder of the Fallen Immortal Sect to heal. It had already been many days since he had last seen Yuan Shu.
He missed her terribly!
“But…”
There were other people on the formation platform. Shi Shuchen was still there!
Yao Qianci had barely begun to speak when Yuan Shu hooked an arm around his neck. His hesitant words drowned in those bright, luminous eyes.
Yuan Shu curved her lips into a smile, casually popped a Moisturizing Spirit Pill into her mouth, and then kissed him.
The instant Yuan Shu’s lips met his, all his hesitation and concern vanished.
The only thing left in his mind was the alluring fragrance of pear blossoms between Yuan Shu’s lips and teeth.
…
When the sound of water mingled with involuntary, breathy moans reached him, the formation diagram Shi Shuchen had been idly playing with suddenly stilled in his hand.
When he realized what the people behind him were doing, Shi Shuchen fell silent.
There was a barrier between them, one he had casually set up when he stepped onto the formation platform.
But for some reason, the barrier…
Had not been infused with much spiritual energy. Its spiritual glow was so faint that it could not block out voices at all.
He heard them whispering sweet nothings to each other, and his heart grew sour and bitter.
Then he heard Yuan Shu teasing Yao Qianci in a lowered voice. He had initially thought she was merely joking, but he had never expected…
A spell seal condensed at his fingertips. Only the final step remained, and he could solidify the barrier and block out the sounds.
But at the crucial moment, Shi Shuchen hesitated.
Those enchanting moans, like bells chiming in the wind, were sweet and pleasing to the ear.
He actually found himself somewhat reluctant to block them out.
Besides, they had no idea he could hear them, so whether he blocked the sounds or not didn’t really matter, did it?
That was what Shi Shuchen told himself. His long, curled lashes lowered slightly, yet his Adam’s apple continued to roll at the seductive sound of those moans.
Yuan Shu still had no idea that someone was eavesdropping. With one arm around Yao Qianci’s neck, she pulled him onto the formation platform.
Her fingers deftly opened his robes and caressed his firm, powerful chest.
Seeing his eyes grow hazy and his body tremble slightly as soft moans escaped his lips, she tilted her head back and sealed his mouth with a kiss.
She would not let him make a single unnecessary sound.
…
“We’re almost there.”
The reminder pierced through the barrier, gradually bringing the two people lost in passion back to their senses.
Yuan Shu raised her head and met Yao Qianci’s flushed eyes. She soothingly kissed the corner of his lips, then pulled his loosened robes back together.
“Shushu…”
His clear, mellow voice carried a hint of entreaty. Yao Qianci lifted his eyes and gazed at her with a flushed, beseeching expression.
The words he had not finished saying seemed to be written plainly in that longing gaze.
In an instant, Yuan Shu understood what he meant.
Yuan Shu was not satisfied either. She had wanted to take this man for a long time!
She had refused him before because the time had not been right.
Once the second level of the Bonding Divine Tree’s trunk base had opened, she would be able to use the Bonding Divine Tree to nourish her Dao companion in return.
This kind of nourishment was most effective when one’s cultivation level was complete and one was merely waiting to break through.
It was exceedingly difficult for someone in the Deity Transformation Realm to enter the Void Refinement Realm!
They needed the right combination of heavenly timing, favorable circumstances, and human harmony. But with her nourishment, the breakthrough would become much easier.
That was why Yuan Shu had rejected Yao Qianci’s advances in the beginning. She had been waiting for this moment.
And now, the time was ripe!
Yuan Shu gently stroked Yao Qianci’s handsome face. With a curl of her lips, she leaned close to his ear.
“Come find me when you have time.”
Understanding the meaning behind her words, Yao Qianci tightened his grip on Yuan Shu’s hand.
Joy burst from his clear black eyes, and even his breathing grew more disordered.
…
The instant the formation platform flew out of the spirit-vein formation, the enormous azure formation vanished completely, like blue smoke dispersing into the air.
The mountain ranges that had originally been hidden behind the formation all appeared before their eyes!
“Peak Master Yao, you really came out! You’re safe—this is wonderful!”
Elder Hai was overcome with joy, tears shimmering in his aged eyes as he looked everyone up and down.
“This time, I owe my survival to all the elders who guarded this azure formation and held on until Peak Master Shi and the others came to rescue me. Thank you!”
By then, Yao Qianci had already regained his usual composure. A gentle smile rested on his face, and his unhurried voice was mild, yet carried an air of authority.
Everyone hurriedly cupped their fists and echoed him. “You’re too kind. It was nothing.”
As they spoke, a tremendous explosion suddenly rang out from the distant mountains.
“Boom!”
Immediately afterward, waves of spiritual energy erupted from several attacks and spread in all directions like ripples on water.
Everyone’s attention was drawn toward the commotion.
“It’s the Sect Master!”
“The Sect Master is fighting someone? Who would dare cause trouble in the rear mountains of the Fallen Immortal Sect?”
“Wait… What is that black spiritual energy? Why does it look so much like… demonic energy?”
The moment those words were spoken, everyone’s expression changed.
After a brief silence, the crowd erupted.
“Quick! The demons are invading! Hurry and go help!”
…
Yuan Shu, Yao Qianci, and the others followed the group toward the scene. From a distance, they saw several people hovering in the sky ahead.
The person on the far left was Qu Qing, Sect Master of the Fallen Immortal Sect. He wore an exquisite light-blue robe, with a small contingent behind him, along with two Guardian Elders whom Yuan Shu did not recognize.
Hovering opposite Qu Qing was a tall man dressed in black brocade robes.
He looked to be in his forties or fifties. A pair of pitch-black horns grew from his head, reflecting a faint gleam. He stood over two meters tall, with a massive, powerfully built frame.
At that moment, he held a strange black thorn whip and stared expressionlessly at the scene.
Yuan Shu had never seen this man before, but there was something familiar about his features.
Yuan Shu raised an eyebrow.
Following the man’s line of sight, she looked behind him and saw several familiar faces.
Li Xie stood at the head of a sizable demon army, respectfully following behind the man.
Li Xie was the First Prince of the Demon Race. The only person who could command such respect from him, while possessing such an imposing presence, was probably Demon King Li Yan, who had held the throne for many years!
No wonder Yuan Shu found him familiar. This man was Li Xie’s father!
He did resemble Li Xie in some ways, but his features were rougher and more rugged, lacking Li Xie’s refinement.
There was another person opposite Qu Qing and Li Yan.
The moment Yuan Shu’s gaze fell upon him, her eyes widened slightly. She swiftly retrieved a veiled hat from the divine tree’s inner space and pulled it over her face.
Helan Ying—why was this fellow here too?!
And judging from his pale face and pained expression as he clutched his chest with one hand, was he injured?
Yuan Shu was astonished. She lowered her head and concealed herself among the crowd.
In Helan Ying’s mind, she should already be dead. She had no desire to be recognized by him again!
Yuan Shu secretly swept her gaze through the crowd. Only then did she notice that Mo Yi was also among the team behind Qu Qing.
Had he hurriedly left last night to seek out Qu Qing, the Sect Master of the Fallen Immortal Sect?
The thought had barely crossed her mind when a cold laugh rang out from the scene.
“Qu Qing, since I, Li Yan, have come today, I have no intention of leaving empty-handed. I will have this man!”
As Li Yan spoke, he pointed at Helan Ying, who was leaning against a rock nearby, his aura unsteady.
