Chapter 381: Just a Step Away
Facing the beauty's Actively send off, Gu Yun naturally welcomed it; the apple was very sweet.
The only regret was that the quantity was a bit small.
Shangguan Zhiyue's eyes widened; this guy didn't even spare the apple stem; he was simply a scoundrel!
Fang Qingyan and Lin Ziyi were right outside; if they found out, she would completely lose face.
She bit her lower lip tightly, afraid of letting out even a tiny sound.
She closed her eyes and tightly hugged Gu Yun's neck, not daring to move.
It was a pity that when Gu Yun ate the apple, he even smacked his lips!
Shangguan Zhiyue coquettished softly, "You eat yours, don't smack your lips!"
Gu Yun froze, looked up at her, and then complied with Shangguan Zhiyue's wishes.
Shangguan Zhiyue finally breathed a sigh of relief, but at that moment, outside the waterfall, Fang Qingyan and Lin Ziyi's footsteps were close at hand.
Her heart, which had just settled, rose once again.
As luck would have it, Gu Yun seemed to be lost in the moment and started smacking his lips again…
"Sister Qingyan, did you hear any strange sounds?"
Outside, Lin Ziyi's voice drifted in.
Shangguan Zhiyue stiffened all over, even her breathing stopped, and the coquettish about to escape her lips got stuck. She subconsciously tightened her arms, trying to stop Gu Yun's actions.
But how could she shake Gu Yun? He continued to do as he pleased.
"Don't be nervous. If you move around, it'll be easier to be discovered, you know."
Gu Yun whispered in her ear, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness.
"You!"
Shangguan Zhiyue was so angry she wanted to bite him, but she didn't dare speak loudly, so she could only glare at him fiercely.
Just then, a jade hand suddenly reached through the water, extending in from outside.
Shangguan Zhiyue's perception was extremely sharp, and she noticed this change immediately.
The jade hand was long and fair, with familiar green nail polish on the fingertips—it was Fang Qingyan's hand!
Shangguan Zhiyue's pupils constricted, and her blood seemed to instantly freeze.
"It's over…"
She closed her eyes in despair, almost already anticipating what would happen next.
As Fang Qingyan's best friend, she was embracing her man in a hidden spiritual spring. How could she possibly explain something like this?
She still remembered her disdainful expression when Fang Qingyan talked about Gu Yun to her.
Facing Fang Qingyan's worry for her, she even patted her chest and guaranteed, "Sisters are like limbs, men are like clothes!"
She absolutely couldn't have any thoughts about Gu Yun, but now… this 'clothing' was actually on her, and it fit so perfectly that she could barely move.
"You bastard, you're going to get me killed!"
She forced her upper body upright, afraid of being discovered by Fang Qingyan, while simultaneously transmitting her resentment to Gu Yun.
That arrogant little expression made Gu Yun even more annoyed; the perfectly fitting clothes suddenly seemed a bit ill-fitting.
"Mm~!!!"
Couldn't hold back, absolutely couldn't hold back!
Shangguan Zhiyue was stiff all over; although she looked normal, she had actually 'died' for a while.
She could almost guess without trying that after today, she would completely lose Qingyan, her best sister.
Especially after seeing Gu Yun's half-smiling eyes, she became even more furious!
This guy was doing it on purpose!
Damn it, she might as well just blow up on him; it's as if this whole thing was her fault alone.
Although Gu Yun did save her out of kindness at first, what about after that?
Every time it was inappropriate!
She shouldn't have let Gu Yun play with her legs so wantonly; she had spoiled him too much.
The more Shangguan Zhiyue thought about it, the angrier she got, and her beautiful eyes almost spat fire.
Just as she felt Fang Qingyan's jade hand about to touch her, she suddenly looked up, ready to scream and go for a 'fish dies, net breaks' scenario with Gu Yun. But just as the sound was about to escape her lips, she suddenly discovered in astonishment.
Fang Qingyan's hand passed through her waist and abdomen as if it were passing through an illusion, making no contact with her.
"Lin Ziyi, it seems there's a hidden world inside here! We can cultivate under this waterfall. Relying on the force of the waterfall to temper our bodies will surely yield twice the results with half the effort!"
Then her voice also came through the water curtain, carrying a hint of surprise.
Lin Ziyi also reached in upon hearing this and exclaimed, "Really? That's great!"
Inside the waterfall, Shangguan Zhiyue's tense body finally relaxed slightly.
Only then did she realize that Gu Yun had already made arrangements, and the outside world couldn't perceive their presence at all.
But then she felt both shame and anger—this scoundrel clearly had a formation to hide them, yet he deliberately scared her!
"You…"
"Keep your voice down, you know. The Myriad Transformation Power can only conceal our figures and bodies, but it can't hide sound."
Gu Yun looked up at Shangguan Zhiyue's swaying body and chuckled softly.
"Mmm…"
Shangguan Zhiyue quickly covered her mouth, while transmitting her furious thoughts: "Then why aren't you letting me down quickly?"
"If I can't hold back later, both you and I will be finished! At that time, I'll just sit aside and cry, and we'll see how you explain it to Qingyan…"
"Oh, you still have the strength to cry?"
"Then I must have failed miserably."
Gu Yun chuckled softly, his actions not stopping at all.
"Bastard~~!"
She cursed angrily via transmission, but Shangguan Zhiyue still didn't dare make any sound. For her, her reputation was still very important. Despite her tough words, she really didn't dare to go for a 'fish dies, net breaks' scenario with Gu Yun, this scoundrel.
She tried to break free by force, but Gu Yun held her tightly: "Be careful! They're coming in."
Sure enough, the water curtain was gently parted, and two beauties stepped in one after another.
Lin Ziyi was still as delicate as ever, having shed her outer robes and wearing only tight-fitting activewear, revealing her jade-like arms.
A faint spiritual energy shield enveloped her body, allowing her to absorb spiritual energy for body tempering without getting wet from the waterfall.
Upon seeing the hidden world within, she was somewhat amazed: "Senior Sister, look!"
As she turned to call Fang Qingyan, Lin Ziyi's sharp eyes noticed several pieces of clothing scattered not far away.
"Has someone lived here before?"
The young girl frowned slightly, a little puzzled.
"It seems to be just a grotto; nothing special, it seems."
Fang Qingyan also poked her little head in and said seriously.
"Alright then, let's cultivate here. We need to get to the depths of the Burial Dragon Valley as soon as possible. I have a feeling something big might happen."
"Okay then…"
Lin Ziyi also went along with Fang Qingyan's wishes and agreed.
Fang Qingyan's words made sense; now was indeed the time to improve their strength and then go find Gu Yun, rather than thinking about these miscellaneous things.
The two women then sat cross-legged and began to cultivate directly.
A wonderful tableau was created: these two women, connected to Gu Yun, were cultivating peacefully.
And their man was behind them, holding one in his arms and having another leaning beside him.
Shangguan Zhiyue's eyes held a faint hint of death; this world had indeed become twisted in ways she couldn't imagine.
Just destroy it already…
//382//
Chapter 382 Shi Yue
At this moment, Gu Yun, the instigator of everything, had a slight curve on his lips.
The current scene was naturally orchestrated by him, with the purpose of seeing this once arrogant young lady reveal such a distressed side.
Now that his goal was achieved, it could be said to have satisfied his somewhat twisted inner thoughts.
However, in reality, these matters were merely the beginning; he could control the true extent of things perfectly.
Regardless of whether Shangguan Zhiyue made a sound, she would not be detected by Fang Qingyan and Lin Ziyi; the deceiving heaven mask was not to be trifled with.
But he did not intend to tell Shangguan Zhiyue this detail.
People always naturally rely on what they want to rely on in times of crisis, and it was the same for Shangguan Zhiyue. Although she knew Gu Yun was a bad guy who liked to tease her, she was even less able to accept the exposure of the matter, and instead, in this process, she would treat Gu Yun as her lifesaver.
Affection points, once they reached ninety, were very difficult to increase.
Naturally, the higher, the better.
Gu Yun didn't care about this before, but if he could get the Ten Thousand Times Return System later, it might come in handy.
Making some preparations now was not a bad idea.
Just as he imagined, under extreme fear, the intertwining auras of the two had made Shangguan Zhiyue treat him as a form of reliance.
It seemed that as long as she stayed close to him, no danger would appear.
Her affection points had already risen to ninety-five.
Subsequently, if they were to continue rising, the difficulty would become even greater.
Gu Yun didn't force it, only constantly paying attention to the situation outside. His women had all been protagonists of destiny before, and now they had transformed into female villains. Just like Feng Yunyun, they naturally possessed the ability to attract protagonists, especially when facing opportunities like now.
Although Gu Yun didn't know who that person would be now, there would certainly be one, barring any accidents.
In the distance, Gu Yun also sensed the aura of the Azure Dragon. It was ordered to guard the two mistresses, but since they had already entered the spiritual spring to cultivate, it had to stay far away from the place, not daring to approach.
It could be said that now was the best time, whether for seizing opportunities or encountering the female protagonist of destiny.
Hopefully, it won't be someone as boring as Long Lin again.
Snow Millennium, seeing that Shangguan Zhiyue seemed to have slumped powerlessly onto Gu Yun, and her master was gazing into the distance in a daze, came forward with a papaya, her pretty face flushed as she looked at Gu Yun: "Master, would you like some?"
Gu Yun withdrew his thoughts and glanced at Snow Millennium.
He smiled softly, then leaned over to enjoy it. Snow Millennium tilted her neck, a position that was not comfortable for her, but a faint smile played on her lips.
Being able to do something for her master, it was wonderful…
Time passed by minute by minute.
Soon, Gu Yun put down the papaya and carried the panting Shangguan Zhiyue and Snow Millennium into the cave to dry off the water on their bodies.
He took out two sets of clothes from his storage space and naturally helped them put them on.
Although women's clothes were a bit cumbersome to put on, Gu Yun had seen a pig run even if he hadn't eaten pork.
The more he undressed them, the more naturally he learned.
The reason he put the two girls down at this moment was naturally because the person he had been thinking about had appeared, the Child of Destiny!
I've been waiting for you for a long time!
The opponent's information appeared before his eyes.
[Name: Shi Yue]
[Age: 100 years old]
[Cultivation: Late Small Saint Realm]
[Identity: Male protagonist of "Lord of the Heavenly Humans"]
[Physique: Xuanhuang Undying Body]
[Halo: Child of Destiny Halo (Gold)]
[Destiny Value: 60000]
[Associated Female Protagonist: Xu Han]
"Good!"
Gu Yun finally became somewhat interested, 60000 points of destiny value!
This is how it should be. If all that came were small fries like Long Lin, it would seem as if Gu Yun couldn't defeat the Child of Destiny, and he would have to send such cannon fodder.
[Ding! Host, just say whether it feels good or not. This is your first time directly instantly killing a Child of Destiny upon meeting them.]
The system had been quiet for a long time, and now it seemed to have finally found an opportunity to come out and breathe.
"That brings us back to the point."
Gu Yun's lips curved slightly. As his strength improved and the system recovered, there might be fewer and fewer Children of Destiny who could catch his eye in the future. For someone like Long Lin, it was too troublesome to kill them one by one, and if he let them go, it would seem like a waste.
It was time for him to cultivate some forces to hunt down the Children of Destiny.
Thinking of this, Gu Yun suddenly wasn't in a hurry to act. If one were to say who should deal with the Children of Destiny, the female protagonists of destiny would definitely be a good choice.
With that sometimes useful, sometimes useless, intelligence-reducing halo, if others went to deal with the Child of Destiny without his instructions, wouldn't that be a freebie?
Look at Bai Hao, such a cunning person. In his script, who knows what the Child of Destiny had him twisted into.
And his father, the dignified patriarch of one of the four great families of the Zongheng Merchant Guild, like a puppet, with an underdeveloped cerebellum and a completely undeveloped cerebrum.
With such a character, could he support such a giant organization and even make it prosper?
He probably would have been swallowed by the other three families without even a bone left.
Others wouldn't work, so it could only be the female protagonists of destiny who originally had a certain resistance, and not just any female protagonists of destiny, but those like Fang Qingyan and Lin Ziyi who had completely fallen for him!
Only in this way could it be ensured that nothing went wrong.
However, before that, improving their strength was also essential.
With this in mind, he stepped forward and placed his hand into the viscous spiritual spring. Wisps of Myriad Transformation Power drilled through his palm into the bodies of the two girls who were concentrating on their cultivation.
With the infusion of Myriad Transformation Power, Fang Qingyan and Lin Ziyi's auras began to rise rapidly.
With Gu Yun's help, their improvement speed was at least ten times faster!
The energy in the spiritual spring was absorbed by them frantically, and the surrounding spiritual energy even formed visible vortices.
While they were doing this, Gu Yun opened "Lord of the Heavenly Humans" and read through it, getting a clear understanding of the plot.
"A battle of ten thousand races?"
"I didn't expect the natives of this Ancient Continent to have such an identity."
"The Heavenly Human Race from the Immortal Ancient Era? They truly have an extraordinary origin…"
Feeling Shi Yue approaching, Gu Yun manipulated the deceiving heaven mask to conceal his aura. It was not yet time to meet Fang Qingyan and Lin Ziyi. Now, he wanted to see how far they could go in facing the Child of Destiny alone, without his presence.
In the distance, Shi Yue had clearly discovered the spiritual spring here, and a hint of greed flashed in his eyes.
"Indeed, Elder Chang didn't deceive me. There's a portion of power overflowing from the inner world here."
"With this assistance, my cultivation can break through even further!"
"Outsiders, all of you shall die!"
A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes!
//383//
Chapter 383 Aesthetic Clash from the Celestial Race
Seeing Shi Yue move closer and closer to the spiritual spring.
Qinglong, who was in the distance, was about to stop him, but Gu Yun's voice echoed in his ears: "Don't act yet, let him be a whetstone for Lin Ziyi and Qingyan."
So Qinglong stopped, looking around in disbelief.
"Master?!"
"You're actually here, why didn't I notice you before?"
"Alright, stay vigilant. If you could notice me, then what kind of master would I be?"
Gu Yun said grumpily, then stopped paying attention to that fellow.
His gaze was completely fixed on Shi Yue.
He was getting closer and closer to the spiritual spring, even able to feel the change in the spiritual energy concentration in the air.
The joy on his face grew more intense, but just as he was about to step into the spiritual spring's range, a sudden booming sound erupted.
The vortex in the spiritual spring exploded, and two graceful figures stepped out from it, their snowy feet lightly touching the water's surface. Due to a thin layer of spiritual power blocking it, their clothes remained clean and tidy, not revealing anything, but their cultivation state had been interrupted, and their moods were not very good.
At this moment, their beautiful eyes were filled with anger: "Who are you?!"
Both women were now enveloped in the aura of the Small Saint Realm, putting them at the same level as Shi Yue.
If it were an ordinary person, they naturally wouldn't be a match for a Child of Destiny, but could a Female Lead with great fortune be an ordinary person?
Especially Lin Ziyi, who had undergone the test of time. As the saying goes, flowing protagonists, iron-clad Female Leads. It seems that destiny is not on those protagonists, but on these Female Leads. This can be glimpsed from Gu Yun's plundering process.
Once the xuan qing treasure mirror is activated, it would be an immense blow to that fated protagonist.
It was just a pity that in Shi Yue's script, that fated Female Lead had no significant role. His plot was a classic story of myriad races vying for supremacy, except he represented the Heavenly Human Race.
And the first to be dealt with were the Human Race, who were the oppressors.
It could be said to be an inversion of the natural order.
His script was extremely oppressive throughout, a constant cycle of killing, with no time to cultivate relationships.
Therefore, Xu Han was reduced to a tool to prove Shi Yue's sexual orientation, basically having no effect on the plot's progression.
Based on this, Gu Yun could guess that although Xu Han was the sole Female Lead, her ranking probably wouldn't be high.
This also made Gu Yun lose interest.
In the field, Shi Yue's steps also halted. He looked up at Fang Qingyan and Lin Ziyi, his expression unchanged, but rather with some disdain: "You two ugly monsters, what do you want to do to this master?!"
In his eyes, these two women had thin arms and legs, clearly malnourished. Weren't such women considered ugly monsters in their Heavenly Human Race?
Fang Qingyan: "..."
Lin Ziyi: "..."
Gu Yun: "..."
Good heavens, truly good heavens!
Gu Yun had calculated everything, but he hadn't expected this point. The Heavenly Human Race and the Human Race were quite similar, so their compatibility with the Great Dao was also very high. Therefore, they had developed their own aesthetic.
Conversely, races like the Demon Race, which were vastly different from humans, needed to transform into humans to cultivate to higher realms. After transformation, their aesthetics were extremely close to those of humans.
At this point, Gu Yun had completely lost all interest in that so-called fated Female Lead.
"System, is that the only way to activate the xuan qing treasure mirror?"
"Ding! Host can always take down the Female Lead with great fortune through two methods: killing and subduing."
"What? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Gu Yun was displeased.
"Host, you didn't wait for me to speak either. The system hadn't even reacted before you already charged forward with your spear, unstoppable."
"Is that the same?"
"I can not wait for you, but you must speak."
Gu Yun forcefully tried to save face. This dog system actually spoke of him so badly, it deserved punishment!
"Ding, Host verbally abused the system in his mind, which aligns with villainous behavior. Awarding 1000 villain points."
The system's aggrieved voice rang out, and only then did Gu Yun nod in satisfaction.
The situation on the field instantly dropped to freezing point due to Shi Yue's single sentence. Fang Qingyan and Lin Ziyi's gazes simultaneously turned cold, and the spiritual energy around them surged out like a storm.
No woman could not care about her appearance.
What's more, Lin Ziyi and Fang Qingyan were both peerless beauties, one in a billion, with countless admirers in the Three Thousand Dao Domains, and their status was beyond noble. Naturally, they cared even more.
Although they didn't care about Shi Yue's evaluation or opinion, being told so to their face, the outcome was simple: kill him!
A cold light shot out from Lin Ziyi's eyes, and icy spiritual energy swirled around her. Her voice was as cold as frost: "Who are you calling an ugly monster?"
Fang Qingyan also had an unfriendly look, staring intently at Shi Yue.
Shi Yue crossed his arms, revealing his thick, purplish arms, with bulging muscles rippling slightly with his movements.
Facing Lin Ziyi's inquiry, he scoffed disdainfully: "Hmph, so small, with no muscle on your body at all."
As he spoke, he used his thick fingers to gesture at the two women's slender waists: "In our tribe, even newborn infants are sturdier than you."
"Tsk tsk tsk, your skin is so pale, it looks like you're about to die. Our Heavenly Human Race's skin should be this healthy dark purple! Explosive like lightning, full of power!"
Shi Yue's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had thought of an interesting idea: "But..."
He stroked his chin, a discomforting smile spreading across his face: "At least they're two females. Although a bit scrawny, they should still be able to bear a few offspring for Er Niu and the others."
As he spoke, he began to calculate to himself: "Er Niu took third place in the tribal martial arts competition last year and happens to need a wife."
"Although the offspring born from you will definitely be frail, we can always pick out a decent one if there are many."
"And you don't need to worry, our Heavenly Human Race's children are born as thick as your thighs, so they're not troublesome to raise."
The more Shi Yue spoke, the more excited he became, completely oblivious to the increasingly ugly expressions on the two women's faces. The only purpose of these foreign women was probably to bear offspring, as long as they didn't contaminate the noble bloodline of their Heavenly Human Race.
As for the two women's cultivation, he had clearly sensed it just now—Small Saint Realm, likely newly broken through, posing no threat to him at all.
He, Shi Yue, was a born genius. When he was in the tribe, although Er Niu and the others were also in the Small Saint Realm, when they fought, they couldn't even break his defense. He could defeat them in one move. They all said he was an unprecedented genius, the future hope of the Heavenly Human Race.
He, too, had always considered the revitalization of the Heavenly Human Race his lifelong pursuit.
"If they give birth well, you might even be able to become concubines for Grandpa Clan Leader."
"Although you might not live for more than three years afterward, you might be able to live a few peaceful years. It's your good fortune to be able to leave a seed for our Heavenly Human Race..."
"Go to hell!!!"
Lin Ziyi completely erupted in rage. Her spiritual energy instantly ran wild, and the ambient temperature plummeted to freezing point.
Even the spiritual spring itself showed signs of freezing under this terrifying pressure.
//384//
Chapter 384 Xuan Huang Immortal Body
Originally, Zi Yi was quite interested in Shi Yue's words, wanting to see what kind of aesthetic this big fool truly possessed.
Of course, it was out of curiosity; people only want to know three types of things: those that will help their future, those they are interested in, and those that are unbelievably outlandish.
Evidently, her interest in Shi Yue's aesthetic fell into the last category.
Lin Ziyi had been observing this purple-skinned, muscle-bound grotesque with great interest, as if admiring some rare exotic beast.
But when he spoke of 'birthing children,' her expression instantly shifted from playful to icy.
She struck decisively, giving Shi Yue no chance to react. In an instant, a thick layer of frost condensed on the ground, and countless sharp ice shards shot towards Shi Yue from all directions.
Fang Qingyan was equally enraged; a hint of ruthlessness flashed in her calm, indifferent eyes, and the wood-attribute spiritual energy around her surged wildly.
With a slight lift of her slender hand, nearby vines suddenly grew frantically, transforming into countless emerald green poisonous snakes that coiled towards Shi Yue.
The surface of those vines glowed with an eerie purple light, clearly indicating they contained potent venom.
Shi Yue was about to continue speaking, but then he felt an extremely terrifying pressure. He suddenly opened his eyes: "Hmph! How dare you attack me! You two women truly have a death wish!"
In a conflict between those of the same realm, he was invincible!
Xuanhuang Qi surged in his palm, and the bulging purple muscles all over his body swelled. The Xuanhuang Qi exploded with a thunderous roar!
Faced with the two women's terrifying attacks, his choice was—to take them head-on!
"This person truly doesn't know what's good for him!"
Inside the grotto, Snow Millennium, who had only just recovered after eating the papaya-flavored soymilk, could naturally tell from her discerning eye that Lin Ziyi and Fang Qingyan's attacks were both extraordinary, far exceeding the power that ordinary Small Saint Realm experts should possess. Faced with such terrifying attacks, instead of avoiding their sharp edge, he actually chose to take them head-on. It seemed this was the unique confidence of a body cultivator...
She sneered inwardly. Although the Grand Dao of the Flesh was incredibly powerful, in the Three Thousand Dao Domains, the body cultivation lineage was not particularly well-regarded. One of the main reasons was that they had to rush forward with punches and kicks against any enemy, were slow, and could only endure enemy attacks head-on.
It gave one the impression of being overly simplistic.
Regardless of others, Snow Millennium certainly thought this way in her heart, believing him to be entirely inferior to her master.
Before Shangguan Zhiyue fainted, she had been watching as well. Gu Yun's body cultivation seemed to have not slackened in the slightest. They say there are only cows that die from exhaustion, never fields that are over-plowed.
Now Shangguan Zhiyue was already fast asleep, yet her master was still so full of vigor.
Indeed... Master is the most perfect man in the world.
Little stars twinkled in Snow Millennium's eyes, and she was immensely grateful for her choice.
Thankfully, she met her master at the right time. Otherwise... Snow Millennium couldn't imagine such a life.
Gu Yun didn't mind the maid's wild thoughts. Her favorability rating was already very high, basically just one step away from reaching ninety points.
Such things happen naturally, following their course.
However, regarding her judgment, he still felt it necessary to put on a show: "Thousand Years, you are mistaken."
Snow Millennium froze, looking up at Gu Yun, a hint of confusion in her eyes: "What does Master mean?"
"Do you think that aboriginal can't withstand it?"
"Of course. The two young ladies' attacks are terrifying. Even a Saint Ruler Realm expert would have to avoid their sharp edge. At the very least, he should have thrown a punch to block them with fierce spiritual power. Choosing to take them head-on? That's truly as foolish as can be."
Snow Millennium's words were sharp, not sparing Shi Yue any quarter. To her, all men besides her master were merely so-so.
Gu Yun chuckled softly: "Thousand Years, do you know about the Xuanhuang Undying Body?"
Snow Millennium froze, her beautiful eyes trembling. Her previously confident expression wavered at this moment: "Master, are you saying this aboriginal is..."
Before her words finished, the attacks in the field had already collided.
Boom—!!!
Ice shards and vines all landed on Shi Yue's body.
The dull impact sound was like heavy hammers beating drums, accompanied by the piercing shrieks of shattering ice crystals and tearing vines!
"It hit!"
Lin Ziyi was somewhat elated. Her ice shards and her senior sister's vines were not simple attacks; they contained infinite Dao rhyme. Once the attacks landed, that ugly aboriginal would either be dead or crippled!
Fang Qingyan, with her stronger perception, was not so optimistic. She stared intently into the dust.
"Be careful!"
Suddenly, her pupils contracted, and she pulled Lin Ziyi, retreating abruptly backward.
A heavy, viscous, and incomparably domineering wave of Xuanhuang Qi, like an enraged ancient beast, violently erupted from the core of the collision!
The air instantly became as if filled with mercury! Breathing became incredibly difficult!
Lin Ziyi was pulled back by Fang Qingyan, feeling as if that massive wave of heavy air was an invisible ten-thousand-ton ocean crashing down, making their blood churn!
The dust was forcibly dispelled by this erupting wave!
Shi Yue's figure was revealed, but the sight before them made Lin Ziyi's pupils constrict, and caused Snow Millennium beside Gu Yun to cover her small mouth in shock.
There was no expected bloodbath, nor was there a single-hit defeat!
Shi Yue walked out step by step, pulling out the ice shards stuck in his body and the entangled vines. Neither the power of ice nor the toxins from Fang Qingyan's attack had caused him the slightest threat.
The ice-sealed blood holes on his body and his skin, corroded to purple, were rapidly healing at a visible speed under the rich Xuanhuang Qi surging around him.
"Hahahaha!!"
"Interesting, truly interesting!"
Shi Yue's wild laughter exploded like thunder. He approached Lin Ziyi and Fang Qingyan step by step, his gaze filled with extreme confidence as he looked at them.
"You two women, you truly gave me a huge surprise."
"To be able to pose even a slight threat to me at the Small Saint Realm, it seems your bloodlines are quite good. It's just that you're a bit too ugly, truly difficult to lay hands on. Otherwise, I could properly dote on you right now."
"Bastard, go to hell!"
Lin Ziyi was furious. An ice-blue long whip appeared in her hand, and she lashed it towards Shi Yue.
The attack landed, tearing his skin and flesh, but Shi Yue merely frowned slightly as Xuanhuang Qi infused and quickly healed the wounds.
"Among those of the same realm, no one can break my Xuanhuang Undying Body!"
"Your attacks are merely tickling me!"
With every step he took, the immense pressure on his body felt like an ancient divine mountain, heavy and suffocating.
Shi Yue's voice boomed like a grand bell, filled with absolute confidence and boundless brutality, "Now—kneel to me!"
//385//
Chapter 385: Protracted War
His voice was like rolling thunder, arrogant and wild.
With each step Shi Yue took, the hard rock beneath his feet silently cracked and sank, as if unable to bear the colossal, barbaric strength contained within his body.
And that invisible Xuanhuang aura, like substantial heavy water, crazily squeezed the space around Fang Qingyan and Lin Ziyi, making their breathing labored and their spiritual energy circulation greatly obstructed.
"What terrifying physical cultivation."
Even Snow Millennium, who had previously disdained him, couldn't help but gasp. This Shi Yue's methods were indeed extraordinary, and it was no wonder he dared to directly withstand the attack with his physical body.
"Master, what should we do? Do we need to intervene?!"
She had just learned from Gu Yun about his relationship with Lin Ziyi and Fang Qingyan, and she also knew that the gentle and quiet green-clad girl was the Junior Sister Qingyan that Shangguan Zhiyue often spoke of, and one of her own Mistresses.
Now that the other party was in danger, she should offer a helping hand.
"No need to rush, the battle has only just begun."
Gu Yun spoke calmly. The combat power Shi Yue displayed was indeed intimidating, but the Xuanhuang Undying Body was strong in defense, yet not among the top-tier in offense compared to other physiques.
If he truly clashed with Fang Qingyan's Green Lotus, it was still unknown who would win or lose.
This was originally a protracted battle that required time, and if the opponent was too weak, it would lose the meaning of tempering.
Shi Yue was a very suitable opponent.
"Kneel!"
Shi Yue roared again, his voice like a tidal wave, directly shaking their souls!
Lin Ziyi's pretty face was grim, and anger almost burst from her ice-blue pupils.
He just had a slightly stronger recovery ability and barely managed to withstand a casual move from herself and Senior Sister Qingyan; why was he acting as if he had already won?
Were all these natives so brainless?
"Kneel to your ancestors!"
She sharply rebuked, not retreating but instead infusing her ice-blue long whip with a full ten-tenths of Ice Soul spiritual energy. The whip instantly swelled, transforming into a roaring frosty python, carrying an extreme chill that could freeze the soul, tearing through the viscous Xuanhuang aura, and fiercely striking Shi Yue's head again!
The power of the Xuanyin Treasure Body was fully released at this moment, and faint light flickered from Dao Body phantoms behind her.
"Hmph, stubborn fool!"
A hint of disdain flashed in Shi Yue's eyes. He didn't dodge or evade, merely tilted his head slightly, meeting the attack with his thick shoulder covered in bulging muscles!
"Crack—!"
Ice shards splattered!
The long whip struck Shi Yue's shoulder, producing a loud clang like metal colliding.
Terrifying cold instantly spread, freezing half of his shoulder and neck with a thick layer of ice.
Shi Yue's expression changed slightly. He could feel that terrifying chill penetrating his skin and delving into his bloodline, as if it wanted to freeze his very blood.
If he didn't use all his methods, this arm would definitely be crippled by the opponent!
"Damn it, I underestimated them. Xuanhuang True Body, rise!!"
Shi Yue's heart stirred, yet he remained composed. In battle, showing fear was the biggest taboo; he absolutely could not expose his true weakness to the opponent, that would be seeking death.
The sneer on his face remained. He took a deep breath, and the ice layer covering his shoulder emitted a groaning "crack-crack" sound as the Xuanhuang Qi erupted completely from his body like boiling lava!
"Shatter for me!"
Boom!
The frozen ice layer, along with the whip tip wrapped around it, shattered inch by inch!
The long whip in Lin Ziyi's hand trembled slightly. Both she and Fang Qingyan had only just broken through to the Small Saint Realm, and the spiritual energy gap between them and Shi Yue was considerable.
Direct confrontation was indeed easy to suffer losses.
Shi Yue's body had been tempered to be no different from a Saint Weapon; his every move carried extraordinary power.
"Now it's my turn!!"
Shi Yue sneered, grabbing Lin Ziyi's long whip and pulling hard, while simultaneously clenching his right hand into a fist, preparing to directly incapacitate Lin Ziyi.
Lin Ziyi raised an eyebrow, letting go directly. It was merely a Saint Weapon; she had too many of them.
Last time, Gu Yun, with a wave of his hand, directly gave her over a hundred long whips, so she didn't feel any heartache throwing them away now.
"Hmph, quite clever!"
Shi Yue hadn't expected Lin Ziyi to directly throw away her weapon. He pulled at empty air, and the immense force had nowhere to vent, causing his sturdy figure to lean forward slightly.
But he reacted extremely quickly, and his right fist, having lost its target, slammed fiercely onto the ground!
"Boom—!"
The entire space vibrated violently!
The ground, centered around his fist, exploded into a deep pit several feet in diameter!
Countless shattered rocks shot out in all directions like cannonballs!
The violent shockwave, mixed with the viscous Xuanhuang Qi, formed a destructive surge of air, sweeping towards Lin Ziyi and Fang Qingyan like an overwhelming tide!
Change of tactics!
He made the most correct choice at that moment almost without any thought, putting himself back in an advantageous position.
This was the battle instinct of a genius; although Shi Yue seemed quite boastful, his battle instinct was truly not to be underestimated.
"Green Lotus!"
At the critical moment, Fang Qingyan gave a clear shout, and in an instant, a massive Green Lotus phantom rose, enveloping both of them.
The lotus leaves layered one upon another, rotating at high speed, forming an impenetrable emerald green barrier that stood before the destructive airwave!
Boom—!!!
The deafening roar seemed to tear eardrums!
The Xuanhuang airwave slammed fiercely into the Myriad Leaf Barrier!
The emerald green lotus leaves vibrated wildly, emitting groans of unbearable strain. The golden light at the edges flickered in the violent collision, and countless lotus leaves were instantly torn and pulverized by the savage force!
The lotus leaves spun frantically, continuously dissipating and cutting the force, stubbornly blocking this world-destroying attack.
"Such strong defense!"
Shi Yue's pupils constricted. The power contained in this punch of his was enough to blast strong cultivators of the same rank, yet it was blocked by a woman whose foundation was not even as strong as his own!
He walked the path of invincibility. Whether it was the youths in his clan or the foreign prodigies he had encountered in the Ancient Continent.
No one in the same realm could withstand one of his punches, but the two seemingly harmless and frail women before him had done it!
"This attack power..."
Snow Millennium raised an eyebrow, not expecting that Fang Qingyan was essentially the same type of cultivator as Shi Yue, both employing a defensive counter-attack strategy.
However, Gu Yun was not particularly surprised. Most cultivators in the Three Thousand Dao Domains were glass cannons.
Their defensive power and offensive power were completely disproportionate.
Many times, even their defense relied on the spiritual energy generated by their attacks clashing with the opponent, or it was entirely entrusted to spiritual artifacts and treasure armor.
This fighting style led to a very low tolerance for error, and facing an opponent like Shi Yue, who was like a tenacious plaster, would be extremely troublesome.
He could let you hit him countless times, but as long as he seized one opportunity, it would be enough to doom someone forever.
But now...
Fang Qingyan's fighting style was also like this. Shi Yue's attacks were also difficult to break through the Green Lotus's defense, and even with Lin Ziyi assisting him, as the battle prolonged, he accumulated many more injuries on his body.
He had never encountered such a troublesome opponent!
///386///
Chapter 386 A Clear Conscience
These two women: one defended flawlessly, like a thousand-year-old turtle shell; the other attacked deviously and coldly, specifically targeting his weak points. Although the single-hit damage wasn't high, it accumulated to make his blood churn.
His Profound Yellow energy had to be used for offense, defense, healing, and recovery. Now, it was becoming difficult to manage, and its circulation was sluggish.
Inside the grotto, Snow Millennium was getting bored.
This feeling was like two football teams immediately parking the bus and then playing for 120 minutes straight without a single goal. To describe it as utterly boring wouldn't be an exaggeration.
She leaned into Gu Yun's embrace and yawned, "Master, let your servant act. Your servant truly can't bear it anymore~~"
She said in a charming voice, wanting to end this farce. In her heart, as a Saint Ruler Realm, she believed killing Shi Yue would be effortless.
Gu Yun looked down at the lazy, calm Yu Jie in his arms. Her voice was so soft and gentle, unlike anything he had experienced before.
Just as he was about to speak, another voice rang out.
"You, what are you doing?!"
Shangguan Zhiyue had woken up at some point, and the moment she got up, she saw Snow Millennium, that vixen, daring to seduce Gu Yun. Immediately, she was furious.
Her gaze was fixed on the curve pressed against her Master's chest. Damn it…
The difference between apples and papayas was now fully materialized.
A nameless fire instantly shot to the top of her head!
She felt even more aggrieved and angry than when she had been 'bullied' into unconsciousness by Gu Yun just now!
Snow Millennium, on the other hand, trembled all over, a hint of guilt seemingly rising in her heart.
Had Shangguan Zhiyue seen her seductive behavior just now? She quickly sprang away from Gu Yun, pretending as if nothing had happened.
She was merely a maid; she couldn't usurp the host.
She stood up straight, her hands instinctively clasped in front of her, her eyes downcast, her cheeks flushed. Where was the lazy charm she had displayed while cuddling her Master just moments ago?
Only embarrassment and guilt remained.
Shangguan Zhiyue, with a powerful aura, took large, imposing strides, ready to demand an explanation.
But just as she tried to take her first step, she felt her legs turn soft, as if all strength had been drained from them. She stumbled, almost sitting down on the ground.
Fortunately, Gu Yun seemed to have anticipated this. He was quick, reaching out to catch Shangguan Zhiyue and steady her.
Shangguan Zhiyue felt a familiar force, carrying a clear scent, supporting her. It also skillfully gave her a light squeeze.
His fingertips even pressed into her flesh, making her feel unbearable shame and anger.
Before she could get angry, she solidly crashed into a broad and firm embrace, her cheek landing squarely on Gu Yun's well-defined chest muscles.
Thump! Thump!
The steady, powerful heartbeat transmitted through the thin fabric, making her ears burn.
"You, what are you doing..."
"I..."
"I just want to know, Miss Shangguan, in what capacity did you say those words just now?"
"Who are you to me, to manage my private affairs?"
Gu Yun lowered his head slightly, his warm breath caressing her sensitive earlobe.
This feeling was exactly like a one-to-one replication of before.
"Who?"
These three words were like cold needles, instantly piercing through all of Shangguan Zhiyue's bluster.
"No, no, I didn't..."
She stammered, her eyes flustered, then became somewhat firm: "I, I was watching you for Qingyan, to prevent you from being deceived by other vixen!"
"You scoundrel, you don't know how many green hats you'll put on her!"
As she spoke, she glared fiercely at Snow Millennium, who looked innocent but lowered her head, eyes on her nose, nose on her heart, not daring to breathe loudly.
"Aren't you the same?"
Gu Yun chuckled, speaking as he gave her two more squeezes, making the already flustered Shangguan Zhiyue even more flustered.
"I... I..."
"Of course I'm different. Those things with us were accidents. Although they happened, as long as you and I have a clear conscience, that's enough!"
"That matter can be considered as if it never happened. As long as you and I don't bring it up, Qingyan won't know. And then you don't come looking for me in the future, and we can still be like before!"
Shangguan Zhiyue said very firmly, gripping Gu Yun's hand: "We can't keep making mistakes!"
Gu Yun: "..."
Looking at that slightly stubborn little face, a smile played on his lips.
He slowly released his hand supporting Shangguan Zhiyue. The warm palm, with its unsettling force, withdrew, making her instantly feel a part of her support being drawn away from her body, leaving her feeling empty.
Her feet returned to the cold rock floor, and the feeling of soreness and weakness became even clearer.
He let her go, his movements gentle yet carrying an undeniable sense of detachment.
"Since Miss Shangguan said so, then we'll do as Miss Shangguan says..."
These words were like a cold, dull knife, slowly and clearly cutting through Shangguan Zhiyue's defenses.
There was no anger, no retention, not even a ripple, only a nearly cruel calm acceptance.
The boundary she had painstakingly drawn, he easily acknowledged, completely unconcerned.
Shangguan Zhiyue was stunned.
She had imagined countless scenarios, but she had never thought it would be like this... calm!
"Good... very good!"
She forced herself to straighten her back, trying to regain the pride of the Shangguan family's eldest daughter, but her voice carried a subtle tremor and dryness: "Remember what you said! We can still be friends later. And you, pay attention in the future, don't, don't let Qingyan down..."
She almost gritted her teeth as she finished the last sentence, then abruptly turned around.
Her gaze shifted, a flash of insight.
"Master..."
Snow Millennium was somewhat puzzled, not knowing what Gu Yun wanted to do, when he already had.
She could see deep disappointment in the young man's eyes, yet he said not a word to try and keep her.
Gu Yun was still acting, playing two roles at once.
Shangguan Zhiyue was just such a person, saying one thing but meaning another. She had to be tormented a bit, otherwise she wouldn't feel satisfied, and that last bit of favorability wouldn't increase.
If he didn't give her some gut-wrenching drama, she might even feel something was missing.
But these were all later matters. Let this fellow stew a bit; Gu Yun's time was limited.
Just then.
"Roar—!"
A non-human roar, full of savagery, pain, and madness, suddenly erupted from the center of the battle!
"Who?!"
Shangguan Zhiyue's gaze was instantly drawn, and then her pupils dilated in shock: "Qingyan, Lin Ziyi?! Who are they fighting?!"
She looked at Gu Yun, her emotions agitated.
///387//
Chapter 387: Attacking Shangguan Zhiyue, Shi Yue Goes Crazy
Having just woken from her coma, she was unaware of Shi Yue's sudden appearance. Now, seeing Fang Qingyan and Lin Ziyi battling a purple-skinned monster, her emotions naturally surged, but she quickly calmed down.
The situation on the field was not as she had imagined. Although Shi Yue was very strong, he appeared burly, with explosive purple energy seeping from the cracks in his skin, as if containing countless powers. His attacks were broad and sweeping, each strike like a collapsing mountain, the air groaning under his fists.
Yet, these attacks could not break through Fang Qingyan's Azure Lotus defense.
In fact, each attack exposed him to Lin Ziyi's line of sight, and her whip techniques became increasingly sharp.
Mysterious and unpredictable moves emerged frequently, like the flickering tongue of a cold, venomous snake, each flick precisely striking Shi Yue's relatively weak joints!
The power of Ice Soul carried bone-chilling coldness and strong penetrative force. Each hit caused Shi Yue's movements to momentarily stiffen, his body's Xuanhuang energy fluctuating violently, leaving ice marks, some deep, some shallow.
Although a single strike was not fatal, the continuous assault, like a persistent parasite, constantly eroded Shi Yue's defense and energy.
"Qingyan, Lin Ziyi, they've both broken through to the Small Saint Realm?" Shangguan Zhiyue's mouth gaped in disbelief.
She had thought that reaching the Quasi-Saint Realm meant she had finally caught up with the two women, but she never expected to be easily left behind again.
This time, no one comforted her. Gu Yun watched the scene with detached calm.
"Qingyan and Lin Ziyi's talents are much stronger than yours. This is quite natural."
His gaze swept over Shangguan Zhiyue. In reality, his words were biased, because her Ice Jade Bone had already been activated by him, and her talent had grown exponentially.
Both were among the top twenty-five heroines; neither would be much worse than the other.
But he wanted to strike her down now, both to ignite Shangguan Zhiyue's anger and subtly convey his inner thoughts.
"Don't look down on people!" As expected, Shangguan Zhiyue immediately took the bait, her voice filled with stubbornness and unwillingness.
She had been a strong-willed person since childhood, refusing to admit inferiority to others, which was why she had previously had reservations about the usually idle Gu Yun and Bai Hao.
At this moment, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes widened, burning with an unyielding flame, piercing directly into Gu Yun's unruffled face.
What she couldn't stand the most was this feeling of being casually dismissed, especially by that scoundrel Gu Yun!
"After stepping into the Quasi-Emperor Realm, who wins and who loses is still unknown."
After the Quasi-Emperor Realm, cultivation speed would slow down significantly. Therefore, being fast in the early stages wasn't truly fast. For cultivators who wanted to stand firm, endurance was very important!
Gu Yun ignored her, turning his head slightly, his indifferent gaze sweeping past her puffed-up cheeks, returning to the fierce battle.
This silence was more damaging than any harsh words; it was a complete, condescending disregard.
"You...!" Shangguan Zhiyue's chest heaved violently, an indescribable mix of grievance, anger, and bitterness rushing to her nose.
She felt like a clown, all her persistence and defiance appearing so ridiculous in front of him.
Her emotions grew increasingly complex, and her expression gradually became somewhat fearful. Why? Why was his image constantly in her mind now?
Shaking her head, Shangguan Zhiyue stepped forward, still somewhat worried as she looked at the stalemate: "Gu Yun, Qingyan and Lin Ziyi are both your women. Your strength is so great, why don't you make a move and drive that monster away?"
"Are you telling me what to do?" Gu Yun did not answer directly, only asked coldly, which immediately made Shangguan Zhiyue's chest tighten.
Some words, once spoken, might be irreversible.
Yes, she regretted it, regretting it at light speed.
But she didn't want to yield to Gu Yun. What if she didn't have Gu Yun? Could she not live?
"Hmph! Cold-blooded and heartless fellow, if you won't help, then I will!"
"Stop!" Gu Yun said faintly.
Shangguan Zhiyue's heart swelled with joy: "Hmph, what's wrong? Are you reluctant? My strength now is just..."
"You go up? Wouldn't that be suicide? Why add obstacles for Qingyan and Lin Ziyi? They are already having a hard enough time."
Gu Yun raised his hand and waved, and Snow Millennium stepped forward.
Grabbing Shangguan Zhiyue's small hand: "Miss Shangguan, I'm sorry..."
Snow Millennium's clear voice carried a hint of imperceptible apology.
As her words fell, wisps of icy coldness, like living things, wrapped around Shangguan Zhiyue's slender ankles, precisely locking onto them!
"Hiss—!" The bone-chilling cold instantly penetrated her clear skin, reaching straight to her bone marrow!
Shangguan Zhiyue jolted, looking down to see crystalline ice spreading at a visible speed over her feet, instantly freezing both her feet and ankles firmly in place!
"Let go of me! Snow Millennium!" Shangguan Zhiyue was both shocked and angry, struggling fiercely, but only earning deeper icy confinement and biting cold.
With Snow Millennium's Saint Ruler Realm cultivation, Shangguan Zhiyue had no ability to resist whatsoever.
"Watch carefully. See how Qingyan and Lin Ziyi defeat the enemy!"
"Sometimes, gaps cannot be bridged by effort alone."
Gu Yun smiled lightly, sparing no effort to strike down Shangguan Zhiyue.
"You...!" Shangguan Zhiyue trembled with rage, her lips quivering, unable to utter a single word in rebuttal.
"As for other matters, Qingyan and Lin Ziyi are both my women; I naturally won't let anything happen to them."
"It's just that they won't be useless vases who can only go limp and wait for me to rescue them when danger strikes."
His words clearly entered Shangguan Zhiyue's ears, as if he were speaking to her.
Vase?
When danger strikes, she can only wait for him to rescue her?
Isn't that exactly what he was saying about her?
At this moment, Shangguan Zhiyue thought a lot. She truly seemed like a bad woman who didn't know how to repay kindness, but if she truly developed a relationship with Gu Yun, then she would be a bad woman to Qingyan. Perhaps... it would be better if Qingyan didn't know about this, so only she would feel uncomfortable. Gu Yun... he probably wouldn't care, right...?
Stealing a glance at Gu Yun's profile, the usually boisterous Shangguan Zhiyue fell silent.
Of course, she guessed one thing correctly: Gu Yun indeed didn't care too much. For Shangguan Zhiyue, Gu Yun's actions were driven more by strategy than emotion.
It was merely lust at first sight; there was no talk of true feelings.
He was currently planning for the future. From Qingyan and Lin Ziyi, he saw future possibilities.
A temporary stalemate was nothing. Being able to fight the Child of Destiny was already a huge breakthrough.
Destiny could create a massive army of Children of Destiny, hoping to overthrow his Gu Family's rule.
Then Gu Yun could also create an army of favored heroines, even stronger and easier to control!
Now, it was almost time to wrap things up.
Shi Yue couldn't be killed yet; his Destiny Value was too high. But... just like the previous Ye Bufan, once a protagonist of the Invincible Dao is defeated, he will immediately fall into deep self-doubt. Shi Yue carries the heavy responsibility of racial revival, so perhaps he won't be directly crushed, but being affected is undeniable.
Gu Yun naturally wouldn't miss such an opportunity to drastically weaken Destiny Value. It was perfect to catch the Child of Destiny off guard!
In the arena, Shi Yue's prolonged assault finally showed an imperceptible lag in its furious rhythm!
"Roar! Annoying! Two annoying flies!" Shi Yue, having healed countless times, let out an undisguised roar of fury. The wrath inherent in the Heavenly Human Race's bloodline now dominated his mind.
He unveiled his first trump card— In an instant, his originally clear eyes turned blood-red, veins on his forehead bulged like coiled dragons, and beneath his purple skin, the purple energy that had flowed like magma suddenly became incredibly violent, surging intensely, as if something terrifying was about to burst forth from his body!
"Buzz—!" An aura far more ferocious and primal than before erupted from his body! The air seemed to ignite, emitting a low hum!
"Not good! He's going berserk!" Fang Qingyan's face changed drastically. She was well-read in various books and had some understanding of the Heavenly Human Race's methods.
"Stop him!" Lin Ziyi also realized the danger. Her icy blue long whip transformed into a sharp streak of cold light, striking directly at Shi Yue's vital throat!
However, it was too late!
"Roar!!!" A savage, brutal roar, utterly inhuman, tore through the air.
Shi Yue's body suddenly swelled a full circle as if inflated.
His already knotty muscles became even more terrifying, like mountains cast from purple bronze. The tiny cracks on his skin instantly burst open, stretched by the surging purplish-black airflow.
Like countless burning purplish-black fire snakes, they coiled around him, emitting a scorching and violent aura!
Berserk! The power of wrath within the Heavenly Human Race's bloodline was completely ignited!
This was not a change brought about by the Xuanhuang Undying Body, but a bloodline instinct belonging to the Heavenly Human Race!
Burning the power of wrath within the bloodline in exchange for a surge in speed, strength, and defense!
Of course, the side effects were also very significant, causing irreversible damage to the body.
However, for Shi Yue, who possessed the Xuanhuang Undying Body, this move could be used as a regular technique indefinitely.
Whatever side effects there were would be completely cleansed by the newly generated Xuanhuang energy within his body.
"Die!!!" After going berserk, Shi Yue's brain had completely lost all reason. He was like a beast that only knew how to kill.
His massive body, like a burning purple meteor, abandoned all defense and strategy, madly crashing into the tottering Azure Lotus barrier with only the most violent speed and power!
"Oh no!!" This time, even the usually calm Fang Qingyan showed a hint of worry on her face.
Although her Azure Lotus Dao Body had extremely strong defensive capabilities, facing Shi Yue, whose attributes had all greatly increased, she was still somewhat stretched thin.
"Senior Sister!!" Lin Ziyi also knew the situation was critical, so she quickly moved to Fang Qingyan's side, extending her palm to transfer spiritual energy into Fang Qingyan's body.
At this moment, she couldn't use an offensive-as-defense strategy to save her Senior Sister. Looking at Shi Yue's state, he would undoubtedly not stop until he achieved his goal.
Therefore... they had to block this move!
Rumble!
A world-shattering collision sounded. The already cracked Azure Lotus barrier let out a mournful groan, its light flickering wildly and unstably, and numerous lotus petals at the edges completely shattered into dust!
"Damn it, I can't hold on much longer."
Fang Qingyan's hands were trembling. Shi Yue was the strongest enemy she and her sister had encountered on the Ancient Continent. It seemed difficult to defeat him by relying solely on their own strength now.
Her body shimmered with light, preparing to use her trump cards.
Gu Yun had given them many life-saving trump cards before leaving, so even if they couldn't win, nothing would happen to them.
But at this moment, a calm, clear voice, carrying a strange soothing power, echoed as if through time, directly in the deepest part of her mind:
"Draw the Spiritual Spring, transform it into an Ice Lotus."
"Ten Thousand Transformations return to source, breaking illusions and slaying evil!"
Both women's pupils dilated in shock. Then they looked at each other, each seeing the astonishment in the other's eyes.
This voice... it was Gu Yun!
"Where is he?!" Lin Ziyi quickly looked around. Upon entering this Burial Dragon Valley, her primary goal was to find Gu Yun, not to seek opportunities!
Fang Qingyan was calmer: "Lin Ziyi, don't worry about that for now. It must be Gu Yun watching in the dark, wanting to see how much we've progressed during this time."
"Quickly, let's do as he said, together..."
Lin Ziyi nodded, speaking earnestly: "Alright, let that scoundrel witness our passionate combined technique!"
The spiritual energy within both women erupted almost simultaneously.
"Buzz—!" The originally calmly flowing viscous spiritual spring, as if stirred by an invisible giant hand, instantly boiled and swirled!
A vast, unimaginably cold energy, like a sleeping giant dragon awakened, erupted with a roar!
"Rise!" Fang Qingyan's jade fingers formed a profound seal!
Whoosh—!
A spiritual spring pillar, ten feet in diameter, shot into the sky. At its apex, a gigantic, crystal-clear ice crystal lotus, radiating ancient coldness, bloomed wildly at a visible speed!
Gu Yun's lips curved slightly. With a gentle tap of his fingertip, a wisp of Myriad Transformation Power effortlessly entered it, merging Fang Qingyan's Azure Lotus Power and Lin Ziyi's Profound Yin Power. The lotus instantly bloomed, as if to freeze everything!
Shi Yue's wild purplish-black furious flames, upon approaching the ice lotus, shrieked "chi chi" as if meeting their nemesis, rapidly extinguishing and shrinking!
"Break!" Fang Qingyan and Lin Ziyi used their last bit of strength, their divine senses locking onto the berserk Shi Yue charging towards them. They leaned back-to-back, supporting each other, and simultaneously raised their jade fingers, pointing them fiercely at him!
The ice lotus shone, flying towards Shi Yue's location.
It was as if a basin of cold water had extinguished Shi Yue's berserk spiritual energy. His eyes filled with terror, almost unable to believe the incoming attack.
"Damn it, what the hell is this?!"
"Even a Great Saint couldn't withstand this, could they?!"
///388//
Chapter 388 Shi Yue fled in panic, misunderstanding?
Shi Yue watched as the enormous ice crystal lotus, condensed from the essence of the Grand Yin Spirit Spring, infused with Fang Qingyan's Azure Lotus origin and Lin Ziyi's ultimate Ice Soul Power, and subtly enlightened by a wisp of Gu Yun's Myriad Transformation Power, instantly transformed into a stream of light that froze time and struck towards him.
The ferocity on Shi Yue's face vanished instantly, without a moment's hesitation, he chose to turn around and flee. What a joke, if he were to take such a terrifying attack head-on, not to mention whether the Xuanhuang Undying Body could block it, even if it could, he would definitely lose all combat power.
Even a Great Saint would not be able to withstand it head-on.
Killing him would be easy then.
He was indeed a bit reckless relying on the Xuanhuang Undying Body, but that didn't mean he was an idiot.
As Shi Yue fled, he muttered to himself that he was the hope of the Heavenly Human Race and could not fall here.
As the saying goes, 'where there's life, there's hope'~~
Despite having found an excellent excuse for himself, the system prompt still sounded in Gu Yun's mind as expected.
"Ding! The Child of Destiny Shi Yue's invincible heart has been thwarted, Destiny Value has decreased by 3000 points. Great Luo Dao Pagoda Sixth Layer unlock progress (25300/200000)."
Withdrawing his outstretched finger, a faint smile played on Gu Yun's lips.
He hadn't even seriously cultivated Lin Ziyi and Fang Qingyan yet, and they were already capable of such a feat.
This reunion, he would definitely infuse them with a massive amount of Myriad Transformation Power, and he expected it would bring him a great surprise later on.
"This…"
The battle situation changed in an instant, Shangguan Zhiyue's mouth hung open, she could hardly believe her eyes.
"This isn't entirely their power, but rather the residual power of this spirit spring, which cannot be replicated."
Gu Yun explained very "conscientiously": "However, their control over spiritual power is already terrifying; they can combine this external spiritual power with their own so intimately. Indeed, this is talent…"
Shangguan Zhiyue's expression darkened, and the pressure in her heart grew. Indeed, she still had to work harder.
She secretly glared at Gu Yun. This scoundrel, she would definitely prove to him that effort was also useful!
Don't mock anyone who works hard!
Even if she couldn't compare to the strongest prodigies in the end, at least she would have no regrets, right?
Gu Yun didn't know that his simple remark had unexpectedly resolved a long-standing knot in Shangguan Zhiyue's heart.
Shi Yue's reaction in the field was incredibly swift; the moment he felt the terrifying power of the ice lotus, he began to flee frantically.
During the process, he didn't even dare to look back at the relentlessly pursuing ice lotus stream of light!
But even so, the speed of the ice lotus stream of light far exceeded Shi Yue's imagination.
The bone-chilling cold that froze time seemed to disregard distance, instantly closing in.
The terrifying low temperature even caused the purple skin on his back to begin crystallizing with frost, and the circulation of Xuanhuang Qi became extremely sluggish.
"Pfft—!"
At the critical moment of life and death, a hint of madness and heartache flashed in Shi Yue's eyes.
He bit the tip of his tongue fiercely, and a large mouthful of vital essence blood, containing a rich golden glow, sprayed out.
This essence blood did not scatter but was instantly incinerated by him using a secret technique.
He hadn't been without gains on the Ancient Continent; there were many treasures from ancient cultivators here.
For example, the one he held in his hand now—the Sky Profound Escape Talisman.
This was refined by an immortal; after activation, it could instantly transport one three thousand miles away, and only a Great Emperor could stop it.
"Open!!"
With his hoarse roar, a dark-golden talisman, inscribed with complex spatial Dao patterns and exuding an ancient aura, flew out of his embrace, instantly devouring the burning vital essence blood!
Om—!
The talisman erupted with dazzling spatial fluctuations, instantly forming a dark-golden cocoon that enveloped Shi Yue!
"Go!!!"
Just as the ice lotus stream of light was about to touch the cocoon!
The dark-golden cocoon suddenly collapsed inward, forming a tiny singularity, and then, with a 'pop,' completely vanished from its original spot!
"Ding! The Child of Destiny Shi Yue fled the battle, his invincible heart was thwarted, Destiny Value decreased by 2000 points. Great Luo Dao Pagoda Sixth Layer unlock progress (27300/200000)."
Hiss—!
The ice lotus stream of light lost its target and struck the small mountain behind where Shi Yue had disappeared.
Silently, the hard mountain body was penetrated by a circular passage about a zhang in diameter, with edges as smooth as a mirror and covered in thick ice crystals. The small mountain was completely pierced through, and the distant scenery could be faintly seen.
The terrifying cold spread along the passage, and the surrounding rocks emitted faint cracking sounds!
"Cough…cough cough…"
Fang Qingyan and Lin Ziyi simultaneously spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, completely exhausted, and collapsed to the ground.
Forcibly activating the ice lotus and undergoing a life-and-death struggle, their spiritual power, physical strength, and even their souls were pushed to their limits.
The ice lotus, deprived of subsequent power, rapidly dissipated and vanished.
"Escaped…escaped?"
Lin Ziyi looked at the spot where Shi Yue had disappeared, then at the terrifying ice cave, her eyes filled with intense unwillingness.
"Spatial Displacement Talisman…and the top-tier kind…"
Fang Qingyan panted weakly: "This guy is quite lucky; if he hadn't had this treasure, he would have been crippled even if he didn't die."
"His identity within the Heavenly Human Race might not be ordinary, and his talent and cultivation are very high. He might become a great enemy of our human race in the future."
Fang Qingyan was meticulous and quickly understood the disadvantages.
"Oh, right, where is His Highness?"
"If he hadn't spoken up to help us just now, we might have all perished here!"
"It wasn't easy to find him; this time, we won't let him run away again. He helped us so much, we should thank him properly."
At this, Lin Ziyi's pretty face flushed slightly, and her eyes scanned the surroundings, trying to find Gu Yun.
"Lin Ziyi, you…"
Fang Qingyan lightly chided, but her actions were honest, as she looked around, trying to find clues.
Soon, they indeed found something. Both of them focused their attention on the waterfall.
"Qingyan Jie, do you think he might be hiding in the grotto behind that waterfall?"
"Possibly."
"It's something he would do, and with Little Junior Brother's ability, it would be effortless for him to avoid our detection!"
Fang Qingyan said earnestly.
"Oh, he might be doing something secretive, which is why he didn't want us to find out."
"Maybe behind this waterfall, there's a little vixen."
"Qingyan Jie, let's go, let's catch them together!"
"Catch them? No, she's a new sister. Don't be so reckless, or Little Junior Brother might punish you again."
"Hmph, let's go, let's go."
Lin Ziyi didn't care about any of that; the joy of seeing Gu Yun again surpassed everything.
"Master…"
In the grotto, Snow Millennium looked at Gu Yun.
Gu Yun nodded slightly, releasing the ice seal on Shangguan Zhiyue's feet.
The biting cold instantly disappeared, but the numbness and coldness in her feet still lingered.
Shangguan Zhiyue swayed, regaining her freedom but feeling no joy. She anxiously looked at Gu Yun, urgently asking: "Gu Yun, what should we do? Quickly think of something! Qingyan Meimei will misunderstand!"
"Misunderstand?"
Gu Yun turned around and looked at Shangguan Zhiyue, who was quite worried: "We are innocent, what is there for her to misunderstand?"
As he spoke, he had already pushed aside the water curtain at the entrance of the grotto.
"Splash!"
The flowing water rippled, and the two graceful figures paused, looking at this scene with disbelief.
A slender hand pushed aside the water curtain, and a familiar white-robed figure emerged from within.
The mist from the waterfall made him appear even more handsome and ethereal, as if he had merely strolled through a scenic spot.
"Qingyan, Lin Ziyi, long time no see."
Gu Yun's voice carried his usual magnetic smile, and his gaze fell upon the two women, filled with undisguised admiration and a hint of imperceptible concern. "That ice lotus just now was well-used. It seems you two have made great progress during this time."
"Your Highness!"
"Little Junior Brother!!"
Both of their eyes instantly lit up like stars, all fatigue cast to the winds.
Ignoring their weakness, they rushed into Gu Yun's embrace like young swallows returning to their nest.
"Wuwuwu, I finally see you again."
Lin Ziyi's delicate body rubbed against him, her reliance on Gu Yun reaching its peak at this moment. Fang Qingyan's emotions were more restrained, but even she couldn't hide her inner excitement.
Just as she was about to say something, her pupils suddenly contracted, because she saw two more figures in the grotto behind Gu Yun.
One of them had a cold and ethereal demeanor, with towering peaks that made even her envious. Her sword-like brows traversed the valleys, and she stood quietly, her face devoid of expression, like an unsheathed sword.
The other person wore a loose long gown, her figure tall and her face beautiful. However, at this moment, that face, which usually carried a hint of proud radiance, was filled with astonishment, panic, and a trace of awkwardness and helplessness.
It was Shangguan Zhiyue!
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Fang Qingyan's gentle smile instantly froze, like a lake turned to ice.
Her clear eyes scanned back and forth between Gu Yun and Shangguan Zhiyue in disbelief.
So it was Zhiyue Jie?
But wasn't she uninterested in Gu Yun, even a little annoyed by him?
How could this be…
Lin Ziyi also noticed the other person, but she didn't feel anything, because she wasn't as familiar with Shangguan Zhiyue as Fang Qingyan was. For her, it was at most just another sister. She had experienced such things too many times, even with the Supreme Empress…
Recalling that scene, Lin Ziyi couldn't help but blush. She was fortunate enough to have witnessed the Supreme Empress in such a state and not been silenced, which was probably a blessing from three lifetimes.
The atmosphere instantly became subtle and heavy.
"Zhi…Zhiyue Jie?"
Fang Qingyan's voice, with an imperceptible tremor, broke the suffocating silence: "You…why are you here? And with…Gu Yun?"
Her gaze locked onto Shangguan Zhiyue, filled with inquiry, confusion, and a hint of imperceptible hurt.
Even if there was something, it didn't matter, as long as she told her openly. Why was she being so secretive? And Miss Shangguan clearly said before that she wasn't interested in Gu Yun, yet now she was like this. Was all that just to fool her?
Shangguan Zhiyue felt a rush of blood "boom" to her head, her cheeks burning hot.
A huge wave of panic and shame instantly engulfed her, almost suffocating her.
"Qingyan, don't worry, there's nothing between me and Shangguan Miss."
"I met Shangguan Miss on the road; she was being pursued and was severely injured. I brought her to this place to recover from her injuries, that's all."
"Because the treatment couldn't be disturbed by any external forces, I set up a shielding method, which is why you didn't notice us just now."
Gu Yun suddenly spoke, his voice calm and firm, as if it were the most natural thing.
At the same time, he looked at Shangguan Zhiyue, smiling as he asked: "Shangguan Miss, am I…right?"
That smile was incredibly gentle, yet also incredibly cold, like a sharp blade piercing Shangguan Zhiyue's heart. But what could she do? It was all her own choice. As a cultivator who could stand on her own, she naturally had to take responsibility for her choices.
"Yes…"
Shangguan Zhiyue said with a trembling voice, forcing a smile uglier than a cry at Fang Qingyan.
"Before, I was ambushed for a Dragon Emperor Inheritance. It was His Highness Gu Yun who happened to pass by, rescued me, and even treated my injuries and stabilized my spiritual power…"
As she spoke, she recalled those scenes. Haha, treatment? It truly had a different kind of charm~~
Suppressing these enchanting thoughts deep within her heart, she bowed slightly to Gu Yun: "Zhiyue thanks Young Master Gu for saving her life."
"So that's how it is…"
Lin Ziyi said happily: "That's great! If it weren't for His Highness, Miss Shangguan might have encountered danger."
She didn't understand the intricacies and believed that Gu Yun and Shangguan Zhiyue had no reason to lie to her.
But Fang Qingyan was intelligent and quickly sensed that something was amiss.
So she sent a voice transmission to Gu Yun: "Little Junior Brother, what's wrong with Miss Shangguan? Why do I feel something strange?"
She found out, as expected.
Gu Yun chuckled lightly, responding: "Nothing's wrong, it was just treatment."
"Impossible! You can fool Lin Ziyi, but you can't fool me. What exactly happened?!"
The delicate young girl frowned, looking slightly annoyed and angry, which made Gu Yun's heart tighten, wishing he could fiercely dote on her.
"It seems I can't hide it from you after all. For now, please continue to play along, and I will explain everything to you tonight."
Receiving such a reply, Fang Qingyan could only suppress the confusion in her heart, displaying a standard gentle smile on her face, with a perfectly appropriate hint of realization and concern.
She stepped forward and gently held Shangguan Zhiyue's cold and increasingly trembling hand: "Zhiyue Jie, are you injured? Is it serious? Have you recovered now?"
She asked three questions in a row, her words thoughtful and caring, conveying concern for Shangguan Zhiyue's current state, as if she truly believed the explanation.
However, holding Shangguan Zhiyue's hand, she could feel the coldness of her fingertips and her uncontrollable trembling.
As a sister who had spent many years with Shangguan Zhiyue, she understood this proud sister's temperament too well.
"I…I've recovered."
Shangguan Zhiyue turned her head away, not daring to look at Fang Qingyan anymore.
At this moment, Gu Yun pushed Snow Millennium forward and introduced her: "Qingyan, Lin Ziyi, let me introduce you. This will be your new sister from now on. Her name is…Snow Millennium."
"Snow Millennium?!!"