The demon subordinate presented the item to Li Xie.
On the quaint silver ring was a special thorn flower pattern, which didn't look like anything special.
But since Yuan Shu had said so, he would give it a try!
With that thought, Li Xie reached out and picked up the ring.
Seeing this scene, Su Lingxi's expression turned to one of horror.
No matter how foolish she was, she could tell that these people wearing black body-tempering suits were demons.
And these people had stripped the item from her hand and respectfully presented it to her Second Senior Brother?
She vaguely seemed to have guessed something, but she didn't dare to believe it, opening her mouth with a final shred of hope.
"S-Second Senior Brother, w-what on earth is going on? Who are they? Q-Quickly help me get my thing back, that is mine, Second Senior Brother?"
She looked apprehensive, her pale little face appearing even more pitiful.
If it were an ordinary man, he would probably feel a few pangs of heartache for no reason.
But who was Li Xie?
He was heartless and ruthless. Even among the demon race, no one dared to wink at him, and he had absolutely no interest in women.
Naturally, he was completely indifferent to this.
"Bring her over."
Li Xie ignored her confusion and directly gave the order.
The demon subordinates quickly took action, dragging Su Lingxi to the front of the Boundary Stele.
Just like how they dealt with Zhai Shuo earlier, they roughly slashed open her wrist and squeezed her blood onto the Boundary Stele!
Su Lingxi was so frightened that she screamed and struggled.
However, her weak and pitiful appearance would only warrant a second glance from the lechers of the Luoxian Sect.
To the demons, she was no different from Zhai Shuo earlier.
Seeing her so uncooperative, two demons viciously held her down by the shoulders, pressing her directly against the Boundary Stele.
Seeing that the bleeding wasn't fast enough, they even used spiritual energy to stimulate it, making the blood flow faster.
Soon, Su Lingxi, who had just been struggling, slowly lost her strength, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
"Your Highness, it actually works! But it seems to have run out."
A demon on the side watched the light on the Boundary Stele grow brighter and brighter, his eyes widening in surprise.
This Su Lingxi actually possessed the purest Qingyun Astral Energy in her body, and it could be extracted just by removing the ring from her hand!
Li Xie stepped forward, releasing his spiritual energy over Su Lingxi's head to carefully sense it. A moment later, he frowned and looked at Yuan Shu. "This little bit of Qingyun Astral Energy is still not enough."
Yuan Shu stepped out from the crowd and reached out her hand to him. "Give me the ring."
Li Xie frowned, but he still handed her the ring he had just taken from Su Lingxi.
The corners of Yuan Shu's mouth curled up. She formed hand seals, and transparent spiritual energy sank into the ring.
A moment later, a vast and majestic aura emanated from the ring.
At the same time, a wisp of pure Qingyun Astral Energy was drawn out by Yuan Shu, slowly landing on the Boundary Stele, and was rapidly absorbed by it!
The Boundary Stele lit up with a dazzling light, illuminating the entire area beneath the pool.
Everyone's expression turned to one of surprise.
So the purest Qingyun Astral Energy was actually inside this ring?
Then why didn't Yuan Shu just use the ring directly just now?
Why did she have them bleed Su Lingxi first?
Li Xie turned his head to glance at Yuan Shu, also somewhat surprised. "Does this Junior Martial Sister of yours have a grudge against you?"
If there was no grudge, the Qingyun Astral Energy in this ring was enough to open the Boundary Stele.
There was absolutely no need for the Qingyun Astral Energy in Su Lingxi's bloodline. Why else would she first ask them to drain Su Lingxi's blood to test it?
"What, are you demons so idle that you even care about the internal conflicts of the righteous immortal sects?"
Li Xie said, "...Very few people dare to speak to me like this."
"Well, now someone does," Yuan Shu retorted unceremoniously.
Li Xie's brows furrowed again, his eyes falling on Yuan Shu's pretty little face.
He really didn't understand where Yuan Shu got the confidence to constantly oppose him.
Did she not know that she was currently just his captive?
"What are you looking at me for? The Boundary Stele is open. You promised me before to take me in for a look?" Yuan Shu raised an eyebrow and pouted her lips toward the Boundary Stele.
With the Boundary Stele open, a faint blue teleportation portal appeared before them.
Li Xie also lost the mood to bicker. He reached out and pulled Yuan Shu to his side. "Royal Uncle, I'll leave the outside to you!"
The demon Royal Uncle hurriedly nodded. "Rest assured, Your Highness. I will definitely guard the entrance and not let anyone disturb Your Highness!"
Li Xie nodded, his gaze sweeping behind him as he ordered his subordinates to bring along the half-dead Su Lingxi.
"Demon Guards, follow me in!"
As his words fell, thousands of Demon Guards stepped forward from behind Li Xie, following him to the teleportation portal.
The moment they stepped into the teleportation portal, everyone's shoulders sank, as if a large boulder had been pressed onto their bodies.
Yuan Shu was forced to bend over, gasping in a breath of cold air.
Li Xie glanced at her from the side, pulled her in front of him, and waved his hand to drop a barrier.
Only then did Yuan Shu feel the pressure on her body lighten a bit, and she breathed a slight sigh of relief.
This was also the reason why she had asked Li Xie to bring her into the secret realm.
Because relying solely on herself, let alone entering the secret realm, even passing through the teleportation portal would probably be impossible!
However, Li Xie had also underestimated the pressure of this teleportation portal.
The kind of pressure that squeezed the body from all directions at once made one feel as if they were sinking into a quagmire, unable to move a single step!
The barrier he had left for Yuan Shu shattered with a bang halfway through.
A massive pressure squeezed over, instantly pressing Yuan Shu into his embrace.
His rock-hard muscles bumped Yuan Shu's head so hard it hurt, and she couldn't help but reach out and thump his chest.
Li Xie said, "...Don't move around!"
He gave a low shout and reached out to grab Yuan Shu's wrist, wanting to pull her out.
Just as he pulled her a tiny distance away, an even more massive pressure once again pressed Yuan Shu back against his chest.
Li Xie furrowed his brows, his expression visibly unnatural.
He was tall and sturdy, making Yuan Shu look exceptionally petite in his arms.
Her head reached exactly to his chest, and any casual turn of her head brought a strange sensation of friction.
A faint pear blossom fragrance wafted into his nose, mixed with the unique body scent of a woman, causing his heart to uncontrollably skip a couple of beats.
He hated others touching him.
Previously, in order to bring Su Lingxi into the Death Demon Forest, he had specifically made a trip to Qingyun Peak.
Every minute and second spent with Su Lingxi was pure torment for him.
That kind of physiological disgust was absolutely real.
In particular, he despised the kind of women who shed tears at the drop of a hat.
In a word, annoying!
But now, with Yuan Shu leaning against his chest.
That familiar disgust did not appear. Instead, he couldn't help but stealthily take two sniffs of the fragrance that was so close at hand.
?
Li Xie's expression stiffened.
What did he just do?
Quietly inhaled a couple more breaths of the fragrance on Yuan Shu's body?
That action had happened so naturally, without even going through his brain.
Wait, wasn't he supposed to be disgusted by Yuan Shu's touch?
How could...
At the same time, Yuan Shu's head was hurting badly.
The power of the teleportation portal was still far too strong for someone of her strength.
As a lowly Qi Refining stage cultivator, she truly felt somewhat powerless.
It was very uncomfortable!
Her body felt as if it were stuck in mud, and even breathing seemed somewhat strained and painful.
She shifted her body, wanting to stand up straight on her own, but it was obviously impossible.
Li Xie could still stand on his own strength, and could even push her away.
But she had absolutely no ability to resist.
Her entire body was pressed intimately and tightly against his chest.
Truth be told, Li Xie had a layer of protective spiritual energy that was much stronger than hers. The closer she pressed against him, the more comfortable she felt.
Yuan Shu looked up at him. She saw that although his brows were furrowed and his expression was unfriendly, he ultimately did not push her away again.
Almost instantly, Yuan Shu reached out to grab his arm. As she hopped up, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"What are you doing!"
The sudden closeness caused Li Xie's expression to change, the words blurting out of him.
"I feel awful," Yuan Shu told the truth. "It feels a bit better when I press against you. Li Xie, carry me."
!
"Do you take me for your servant?" Li Xie's expression darkened as he cast a glare down at her.
Why on earth should he carry her?
"It is fine if you do not want to carry me. Just letting me hang here is still more comfortable than before."
As Yuan Shu spoke, she tightened her arms and rested her head on his shoulder, letting her legs dangle in the air.
Her warm breath puffed against Li Xie's neck, bringing about a strange, tingling sensation.
Li Xie's expression shifted slightly, and his Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.
Between the choice of tossing Yuan Shu to the ground right then and there or just conveniently carrying her, he chose the latter.
Whatever. If they entered the secret realm and other situations arose, he might still need her.
As it stood right now, Yuan Shu understood the ancient secret realm very well.
With this thought, Li Xie compromised.
Bending his long arm, he hooked it under the back of Yuan Shu's knees and hoisted her up.
Yuan Shu raised an eyebrow. She simply shifted into a comfortable posture and leaned against his shoulder once more.
Wisps of a refreshing pear blossom scent drifted into his nose, catching him completely off guard.
Li Xie's eyes widened slightly, his Adam's apple rolling out of his control.
If his senses were not mistaken, the part of Yuan Shu resting against the muscles of his forearm was her...
Meanwhile, behind the two of them, countless demon guards stared with wide eyes.
Was the First Highness... finally opening his heart to romance?
