114: Chapter 114 Leaving the Fallen City

[ "Click~" ]

[ Just as you were admiring the spiritual sword in your hand, a crisp sound came from the window. ]

[ You raised your eyes and saw Senior Brother Jiang Jibai, usually so prestigious and imbued with the aura of a gentleman, stealthily drilling in through the window. ]

[ "Oh~ Where did this flower-picker come from?" ]

[ You put away the flying sword and looked playfully at the man who was still maintaining his superficial composure. ]

[ "Cough~" ]

[ Jiang Jibai gave a light cough and said with a straight face: ]

[ "This seat was merely attracted here by the Sword Intent, Junior Sister, do not misunderstand." ]

[ You chuckled softly and walked forward slowly until you forced him back to the window, extending your slender finger to gently tap against his chest. ]

[ "Then why did Senior Brother beat up Chi Chuan on the arena, and specifically aim for his face? Was there not a shred of personal grudge mixed in?" ]

[ "That was merely a normal sparring match between cultivators." ]

[ "Oh~~~" ]

[ You deliberately slowed your tone, watching the restraint in the depths of the man's eyes, and chuckled inwardly as your words suddenly shifted. ]

[ "Since Senior Brother has seen what he came to see, please head back." ]

[ Jiang Jibai stood in place without moving. ]

[ "Hmm?" ]

[ After returning to your seat, you looked at him with surprised eyes. ]

[ "Is there anything else Senior Brother wants to see?" ]

[ His gaze fixed on you heavily for a moment, and suddenly his figure flashed. The next moment, you only felt your body lighten, instantly falling into a broad and thick embrace. ]

[ "What is Senior Brother doing again?" ]

[ "Not speaking, is it because you were born not liking to talk?" ]

[ "Ying~ Is this finally making a move on the weak little Junior Sister?" ]

[ "Junior Sister! Come away with me." ]

[ Jiang Jibai's words were startling. ]

[ You looked at him quietly, then gently shook your head, your tone revealing an unquestionable seriousness: ]

[ "Senior Brother, if we were truly to act this way, how is Junior Sister supposed to conduct herself in the future?" ]

[ Jiang Jibai was stunned for a moment, his lips twitching slightly, but ultimately he failed to say anything. ]

[ You smiled softly, slowly withdrawing from his embrace, turning your back to him with a trace of unresolvable dejection in your tone: ]

[ "Senior Brother, we have no affinity in this life, you... quickly leave..." ]

[ Jiang Jibai left in low spirits, yet he didn't need to take the risk of being hunted down by the sect. Meanwhile, your emotional strings grew as well, and both sides had a bright future! ]

[ ... ]

[ Three months later, the flying ship landed at Liyun City. ]

[ You stood atop the flying ship, and the shock in your heart was beyond words. ]

[ What lay before your eyes didn't look like a city at all; it was clearly a supreme divine capital spanning through eternity and stretching boundlessly. ]

[ The thousand-zhang city wall was entirely like a crimson jade, with magma seemingly surging inside, looking vividly lifelike. ]

[ What was most shocking was the ten-thousand-zhang tall tower standing in the center of the city, piercing straight into the sky above the clouds as if leading directly to the heavens. ]

[ Above the entire city, a crimson vortex hovered year-round—that was the manifestation of the spiritual vein suppressed by the national fortune of the Tianfeng Dynasty, a miraculous phenomenon known as the Lifire Heavenly Vein. ]

[ The spiritual veins of the world were divided into five grades: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, Yellow, and the legendary Divine Vein. ]

[ This Lifire Heavenly Vein was precisely a Heaven-grade spiritual vein. Although it was only a low-grade heavenly vein, it was enough to demonstrate the immense foundation of the Tianfeng Dynasty. After all, not even the Tianxuan Sword Sect nor the Hehuan Sect possessed such a foundation. ]

[ Your party landed outside the city gates. Liyun City had a rule: anyone below the Nascent Soul stage was prohibited from flying into the territory. ]

[ After all, the city lord of Liyun City was a genuine Soul Transformation Heavenly Lord, and passing cultivators had to show sufficient respect. ]

[ Standing beneath the towering city gate, you couldn't help but marvel at the miraculous craftsmanship of this world's architecture. Such a magnificent structure would be extremely difficult to complete even on the technologically advanced Blue Star. ]

[ Just as the crowd was bustling, a somewhat familiar fragrance drifted into the tip of your nose. ]

[ You turned your gaze sideways and saw an unexpected person. ]

[ Zhou Xiaonuan! ]

[ That Junior Sister of the Tianxuan Sword Sect who had only appeared once in the Wanshou Mountain Range during a certain simulation. ]

[ Why was she here? And she was all alone. ]

[ Perhaps your gaze was too obvious; Zhou Xiaonuan turned her gaze over, and you clearly saw the tip of her nose twitch before her eyes immediately curved into crescents, and she hurried over. ]

[ "This immortal fairy, have we met somewhere before?" ]

[ That strange sweet fragrance became even more distinct, but you didn't loathe it; instead, it gave you a refreshing and carefree feeling. ]

[ "Zhou Xiaonuan, disciple of the Tianxuan Sword Sect." ]

[ "Ah~ The fairy recognizes me?" ]

[ Zhou Xiaonuan was slightly startled at first, then grabbed your arm with excitement in her eyes. ]

[ Something is wrong! ]

[ You had been carefully observing her expression, and it didn't look like the joy of meeting an old acquaintance in a distant land. ]

[ Instead, it looked like... the eagerness of finally finding someone who could recognize her identity. Could she have amnesia? After all, the confusion in the depths of her eyes just now didn't seem fake. ]

[ "Follow me." ]

[ There were too many eyes and ears around at the moment, so you decided to keep her and probe further. ]

[ Hearing this, Zhou Xiaonuan's eyes lit up, and she nodded without hesitation, yet her hand linking yours never loosened. ]

[ Hearing the commotion, Chi Chuan turned his head to look, only to find an unknown female cultivator hanging onto his beloved little wife, and his brow furrowed slightly. ]

[ "Lianhuan, who is this?" ]

[ "A fellow Daoist I made friends with during training in the past. I didn't expect to run into her here today." ]

[ You smiled slightly and replied calmly. ]

[ Zhou Xiaonuan beside you looked at you with shining eyes, worship already welling up within them. ]

[ What's wrong with this girl? ]

[ You remembered that in that simulation, it was just like this; after meeting only once, she would find ways to cling to your side every other day. ]

[ Furthermore, you had tested her, but unfortunately, this girl's mind was crystal clear and completely oblivious to subtext; it seemed she genuinely just wanted to stay by your side. ]

[ Strange, how bizarre. ]

[ ... ]

[ After checking in, you drove away the two grown men who wanted to take the opportunity to approach you, leaving Zhou Xiaonuan to stay with you alone. ]

[ Inside the luxurious guest room. ]

[ You leaned against the couch, watching at your leisure as Zhou Xiaonuan stood in the center of the room at a loss. ]

[ Seeing her about to approach again, you immediately furrowed your brow. Panic flashed across her face, and she pinched her sleeve as she retreated back to her original spot. ]

[ Tsk~ How cute. ]

[ However, this appearance actually reminded you of the little yellow dog you raised in your past life, which was extremely perceptive of human nature. ]

[ Wait! Could this girl not be a human either? ]

[ "Zhou Xiaonuan." ]

[ "Here!" ]

[ She unconsciously stood much straighter, her voice ringing loud and clear, making her sound full of energy. ]

[ "Why do you like to crowd around my side?" ]

[ "I didn't..." ]

[ "Hmm? If you don't tell the truth, get lost." ]

[ "Don't, because I like the aura on your body, and staying with you is very comfortable." ]

[ Aura? ]

[ qinghuang blood essence? No, you hadn't obtained it yet in that simulation. ]

[ If you had to say what was special about yourself, it was only the Jade Marrow Physique. Yet your physique was obscured by the "Dust Transformation" entry, making it utterly impossible for anyone to peer through and discover it. ]

[ Failing to figure out the details, you simply asked bluntly: ]

[ "Zhou Xiaonuan, are you a member of the human race?" ]

[ "Meow~! I am human!" ]

[ "..." ]

[ The two of you looked at each other in dismay, and the room fell into a dead silence. ]

[ ... ]

[ ... ]

[ ... ]

[ (Thanks to the tycoon "Li Xin Ximeng Shiman Qiu" for the massive update and showering of flowers~! Thanks to the tycoon "Lu Feng Who Loves Eating Loquat and Tremella Porridge" for the character summoning~!) ]

[ (Thanks to all the big bosses for all the gifts~!) ]

[ (Uh... I originally thought about slowing down with three updates for two days, but forget it, let's keep updating more... Still going to be two chapters late~) ]