38: The source of immortality!

Even though Qing Xuan's eyes were tightly shut, her senses were exceptionally clear.

Her body tensed for a moment at the sudden coolness, then trembled even more weakly as she was unable to resist.

Chu Feng steadied his mind and gently pushed aside her outer, torn, and blood-stained cloud-gauze robe, revealing the plain white inner garment of the same material.

Layer after layer of clothing gradually parted, like peeling open the most precious jade cocoon, slowly revealing the immortal skin and jade bones beneath, which, despite being severely wounded, still could not conceal their peerless splendor.

Her fair skin was gradually exposed to the soft light of the alchemy room; it lacked color due to her severe injuries, but this only made it appear more crystal clear.

As the last piece of intimate clothing was gently slipped down to her elbows, the perfectly undulating curves were finally completely unveiled.

Qing Xuan's breathing was utterly chaotic, and tiny beads of moisture even condensed on her tightly shut eyelashes.

A faint pink hue spread across her entire skin, and the trembling of her delicate body became even more pronounced, yet she couldn't even lift her arm to cover herself.

Chu Feng lowered his head and very gently kissed away the tears from the corner of her eyes.

"Goddess Qing Xuan, I apologize for the offense..."

With that, he fully activated Yin Yang Grand Harmony and the Immortal Elixir Insight Body.

Chu Feng knew very well that he had no time for tender care, so he gave his all from the very beginning.

When there was no longer any barrier between them, Chu Feng clearly felt a power of Dao-charm flow from the deepest part of Qing Xuan's immortal body into his own.

As soon as this Dao-charm entered Chu Feng's meridians, it directly sank into the deepest part of his dantian and Qi Sea, merging with the origin of the Imperial Heaven Extreme Radiance Immortal Spiritual Root.

The process was not painful; instead, there was an indescribable sense of fullness and completeness.

Upon introspection, Chu Feng could see that the wisp of Dao-charm had transformed into a faint, iridescent glow.

One incense stick later.

As the Jade Marrow Verdant Elixir continuously flowed into the deepest part of Qing Xuan's immortal source, she abruptly arched her graceful, swan-like neck, and her beautiful eyes instantly widened.

Her parched and shattered meridians and immortal source frantically absorbed the incomparably pure energy, and that strange throbbing instantly overwhelmed all her composure.

Buzz—

Her previously stagnant and depleted immortal source not only reformed at an astonishing speed but also became more condensed and expansive.

Her broken immortal bones reconnected and regenerated, shining with an immortal radiance even more brilliant than before.

Under the impact of the vast energy, she actually broke through the bottleneck that had troubled her for so long.

Boom!

A powerful aura, far exceeding her previous one, burst forth from Qing Xuan's body, causing the Immortal Spiritual Qi in the alchemy room to ripple.

Immortal light flowed around her, and auspicious clouds rose, as if she had been reborn through nirvana.

"True Immortal Sixth Level!"

Feeling the power within her, a hint of surprise shone in Qing Xuan's beautiful eyes.

She had never expected that Chu Feng could bring her such an unexpected delight.

However, the surprise didn't stop there.

At the moment of her cultivation breakthrough, the general outline of the Moon Hua Holy Heart Sutra automatically appeared.

In the past, no matter how peerlessly talented she was, or how diligently she cultivated in seclusion, she had always been unable to comprehend the final crucial point of the Moon Hua Holy Heart Sutra's seventh level, the "Heart Reflecting Glaze" realm.

That realm required one's state of mind to be as clear and transparent as glaze, reflecting all phenomena yet remaining detached from the material world.

She always lacked that final step of comprehension, always feeling as if there was a thin veil that she couldn't pierce.

Yet, at this moment, in the lingering afterglow of that supreme and wondrous state of Yin and Yang fusion, all the obscure principles of the seventh level from the past instantly became clear.

One thought understood, a hundred thoughts understood!

Moonflower Sacred Heart, reflecting the mortal world.

To embrace the myriad forms of the mortal world with a heart of glaze, reflecting without being stained, that is the true essence!

All the profound mysteries of the Moon Hua Holy Heart Sutra's seventh level, the "Heart Reflecting Glaze" realm, flowed through her mind as if water finding its natural course, without the slightest obstruction!

"This... how is this possible?!"

A monstrous wave surged in Qing Xuan's heart, and her beautiful face was filled with unbelievable shock.

Could the Dao of Yin and Yang actually aid in comprehending cultivation techniques?

She subconsciously looked within herself, and the incomparably stable seventh-level realm and the surging Moonflower Sacred Heart immortal power operating within her truly told her that all of this was not an illusion.

Qing Xuan looked up at Chu Feng, her gaze becoming extremely complex, filled with scrutiny, shock, and a hint of something unusual that even she hadn't detected.

This man from the lower realm, just how many secrets did he hide?

In a trance, Chu Feng felt his consciousness being pulled into a peculiar space.

There, it was spotless and pure, with only cold and pure moonlight illuminating the heavens and earth; everything became incomparably transparent, and all his thoughts were clearly reflected like flowers in a mirror.

Just at the peak of this mental reflection, Chu Feng felt a gentle tremor in the deepest part of his sea of consciousness, and a pure, flawless ray of light imprinted itself, slowly condensing into a Moonflower Sacred Heart mark radiating a glazed glow.

Just then, Qing Xuan suddenly wrapped her arms around Chu Feng's neck and bit him on the shoulder.

Hiss—

Chu Feng couldn't help but gasp, as the Lunar Immortal Source within Qing Xuan's body continuously washed over his flesh.

He could feel that every inch of his meridians was slightly swelling, becoming wider.

His bones seemed to be permeated by moonlight, faintly emitting a faint jade-like luster.

Qing Xuan took a deep breath, suppressing all the tumultuous emotions within her.

"I have bestowed upon you a True Immortal's immortal source Dao-charm and a Moonflower Sacred Heart mark, which will greatly benefit your future nascent soul formation."

Upon hearing this, Chu Feng immediately said,

"Thank you, Goddess Qing Xuan."

Qing Xuan's expression was a bit unnatural: "You may withdraw now."

Chu Feng lowered his head slightly, then reacted and took a somewhat awkward step back.

Actually, he could clearly feel that the other party had broken through her cultivation after taking the elixir, but it was a pity that this Goddess Qing Xuan was not his fated person.

If he had received cultivation returns from an immortal realm goddess breaking through, he might have ascended to heaven in one step.

However, this time he had also gained quite a lot.

"The people of your senior's lineage wish to forcibly extract my wife's spiritual root. Please bestow a decree, senior, to restrain the Shangqing Sect."

Even if he returned now, being in the territory of the Shangqing Sect, Chu Feng would not be able to turn the tide.

Only with Qing Xuan's intervention could he possibly leave the Shangqing Sect safely with Su Qingqiu and his master.

Qing Xuan gently raised her jade hand, and with a slight flash of immortal light, the scattered robes on the ground automatically flew up as if sentient, instantly and neatly dressing her immortal body.

At this moment, she had regained her goddess-like coldness, but deep in her eyes, a hint of emotion, different from the past, had quietly emerged.

Qing Xuan's fingertips condensed immortal power, and a decree containing supreme immortal might instantly formed.

"With my decree in hand, you will surely be safe."

The faint sound of bells from outside indicated that the Goddess's Grand Ceremony was about to begin.

Qing Xuan no longer hesitated; she pointed her fingers like a sword and gently sliced through the void in front of her.

Chila!

With a soft sound, the spatial barrier was forcibly torn open, revealing a crack. From the other end of the crack came the familiar and chaotic fluctuations of Qi from the Shangqing Sect's plaza in the lower realm.

"You should return to the Shangqing Sect quickly."

She gently raised her jade palm, and a soft yet irresistible surge of immortal power enveloped Chu Feng, sending him into the spatial rift.

Watching Chu Feng's figure disappear into the depths of the rift, Qing Xuan waved her hand and closed the spatial passage.

The alchemy room completely returned to silence, leaving only her alone.

Her gaze turned towards the direction of the Goddess's Grand Ceremony plaza, and her eyes suddenly turned icy cold.

"Ling Suyao... the time has come for us to settle our scores."

...In the central plaza of the Moonlight Immortal Sect, rays of colorful light shone, and auspicious Qi permeated the air.

Everyone's gaze was focused on the massive martial arts stage suspended in the air. The sect elder responsible for the ceremony's rituals slowly stepped forward, his voice imbued with immortal power, resounding throughout the entire venue.

"The auspicious hour has arrived! The Goddess's Grand Ceremony officially begins!

The first assessment, a contest of Dao-arts, will be between Goddess candidate Qing Xuan and Goddess candidate Ling Suyao!

The victor will advance to the next round!"

Ling Suyao transformed into a streak of light and flew onto the martial arts stage, her brows carrying an arrogant air of certainty.

She stood with her hands behind her back, enjoying the attention of all.

However, as time passed, Qing Xuan's presence was still nowhere to be seen.

A cold, triumphant smirk played on Ling Suyao's lips. She turned to the elder and, feigning regret, said loudly,

"Elder Zhao, it seems Senior Sister Qing Xuan has already forfeited. You may announce the results."

Elder Zhao frowned. He looked in the direction of the alchemy room, then spoke,

"Nine chimes of the bell. If Qing Xuan has not arrived by then, she will be considered to have forfeited."

As soon as his voice fell, at the sound of the ninth bell chime,

"Who said I forfeited?"

A voice as cold as ten thousand years of ice suddenly descended from the heavens, instantly overpowering all the clamor.

Everyone looked up in shock, only to see a stunning figure quietly suspended in the sky above the plaza.

Qing Xuan's eyes were as cold as ice. She slowly raised her hand, her fingers pointed like a sword.

As immortal power condensed at her fingertips, Dao-charm permeated the air.

The Moonflower Immortal Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth converged, and a ray of immortal light flickered at her fingertips.

"This... this is..."

On the high platform, the Grand Elder, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.

"Heart Reflecting Glaze, clear within and without... It's the seventh level of the Moon Hua Holy Heart Sutra!"

"The seventh level, which no one has managed to cultivate for ten thousand years, has actually reappeared in her hands!"

"Qing Xuan's talent is indeed extraordinary!"

Only Goddess candidates could cultivate the Moon Hua Holy Heart Sutra, but for ten thousand years, no one had ever cultivated it to the seventh level.

Ling Suyao's fingers twitched almost imperceptibly. She stared intently at the god-like figure in the sky and said coldly,

"Qing Xuan, don't get too complacent too soon!"

She suddenly flipped her palm, and a five-grade Immortal Elixir emitting a misty purple aura appeared in her palm.

The moment the Immortal Elixir appeared, the pupils of several elders on the high platform involuntarily constricted.

"That's the Nine Revolutions Reversal Meridian Elixir!"

"A five-grade Immortal Elixir, upon consumption, it can instantly burn potential and forcibly raise one's minor realm."

"I didn't expect Ling Suyao to have prepared this elixir. It's hard to predict who will win between the two of them now!"

What was striking was that at the core of this formed elixir, a faint elixir pattern resembling an ice crystal phoenix was vaguely visible. This was Qing Xuan's unique alchemy mark.

This elixir was Qing Xuan's trump card, refined with countless painstaking efforts.

But she hadn't expected it to be casually plundered by the Ling family's elder and now appear in Ling Suyao's hands.

A hint of ruthlessness and determination flashed in Ling Suyao's eyes. She knew the consequences of taking this elixir, but compared to being completely crushed by Qing Xuan at this moment, the elixir's backlash was nothing.

She suddenly opened her mouth and swallowed the Nine Revolutions Reversal Meridian Elixir.

Boom—

The elixir melted instantly upon entering her mouth, like the most violent volcano erupting within her body.

An incomparably savage medicinal power instantly surged into her meridians, forcibly burning her potential and life essence.

"Ah ah ah—"

Ling Suyao's body trembled violently, and even tiny beads of blood seeped from the pores on her skin.

But at the same time, a powerful aura surged out of her body like a hurricane.

The True Immortal Fifth Level peak's shackles shattered, and by relying on the elixir, she stepped into the True Immortal Sixth Level.

Ling Suyao forcibly suppressed the tearing pain in her meridians, and a nearly deranged, twisted smile appeared on her face.

"Qing Xuan, even if you have comprehended the seventh level of the Moon Hua Holy Heart Sutra, what of it?"

"A mere clown."

Qing Xuan coldly swept her gaze over Ling Suyao, and the vast aura around her, like an invisible tsunami, swept across the entire plaza.

"This pressure... it's also True Immortal Sixth Level!"

"Impossible, she only broke through to True Immortal Fifth Level yesterday!"

"Her immortal source is stable, and her aura is vast, definitely not a superficial power. How did she do it?"

The audience below instantly erupted, their eyes filled with unbelievable shock.

In the True Immortal realm, every breakthrough is as difficult as ascending to heaven. Breaking through a realm in a single day is an unprecedented marvel.

The triumph on Ling Suyao's face instantly froze, turning into extreme astonishment and a hint of panic.

Not only was the other party not injured, but she had also broken through a realm. How was this possible!

"Impossible, how could you..."

"Junior Sister Ling, I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you."

Qing Xuan's eyes were icy cold, and she gently pointed her finger.

A ray of glazed immortal light silently shot out, instantly tearing through space and appearing before Ling Suyao.

A trace of panic finally appeared on Ling Suyao's face. Qing Xuan's profound spiritual pressure made her feel a hint of trepidation; it was definitely not comparable to her own state, which relied on forcibly raising her realm by consuming an elixir.

Moreover, the glazed immortal light before her contained a terrifying power of laws capable of completely annihilating her.

Ling Suyao screamed, frantically channeling all her immortal power. Several body-protecting immortal artifacts erupted with brilliant precious light, layering themselves around her.

Under the wide-eyed gaze of everyone, the glazed immortal light touched Ling Suyao's defensive precious light.

The layered body-protecting immortal light instantly dimmed upon contact with the glazed immortal light, followed by a series of heart-stopping cracking sounds.

In just a few breaths, they lost all their spiritual essence and fell like ordinary iron.

The glazed immortal light's momentum remained undiminished, slamming into Ling Suyao's chest.

Pfft—

Ling Suyao's body stiffened abruptly, her eyes bulged, and a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out.

She flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily against the protective light screen of the martial arts stage.

Cough cough cough... Ling Suyao slid to the ground like a dead dog, her aura as weak as a thread, clearly indicating severe damage to her immortal source.

One move!

It only took one move!

Ignoring all defenses, she instantly severely wounded Ling Suyao, who was also a Goddess candidate.

The entire plaza fell into a deathly silence.

Qing Xuan slowly descended from the air, her robes gently swaying. Her cold gaze swept across the silent plaza, finally landing on Elder Zhao.

"Elder Zhao, you may announce the results."