264: Chapter 264 Cultivating Feelings

“Brother Cao, why do I feel like you've changed a bit?” Ning Rongrong blinked her clever, lively eyes, staring intently at Cao Yang before her, her heart filled with doubt and curiosity.

The Cao Yang she saw today gave her an indescribable feeling, as if his entire being was radiating a mysterious and powerful aura.

Seeing Cao Yang's familiar smile, Ning Rongrong couldn't help but furrow her brows, trying hard to think about exactly what had caused such a massive change in him.

However, no matter how much she racked her brains, she couldn't point out exactly what was different.

The corners of Cao Yang's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile as he spoke softly, “Rongrong, since you feel that I'm different, why don't you try to guess exactly how I've changed?” His gaze fell gently on Ning Rongrong, seemingly expectant that she could guess the answer.

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong immediately focused her mind and carefully sized up Cao Yang from head to toe.

She saw that his posture was as upright as a pine tree, and his temperament had become increasingly steady and restrained, with a heart-palpitatingly strange pressure faintly radiating from his body.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Ning Rongrong's mind, and she blurted out, “Brother Cao, have you had a Breakthrough?” As soon as the words left her mouth, even she felt a bit surprised.

After all, Cao Yang was clearly just an Extreme Dao Saint before, and they had been inseparable during this time, so he shouldn't have had any opportunity to go through a Heavenly Tribulation.

Thinking of this, Ning Rongrong's heart became a bit more uncertain.

Hearing Ning Rongrong's guess, a flash of admiration passed through Cao Yang's eyes, and he nodded with a smile, “My Rongrong is indeed exceptionally intelligent to guess it all at once. That's right, I have successfully reached a Breakthrough to the first level of the Source Realm!”

“This... how is this possible? I didn't see you Undergoing Tribulation, so how could you have reached a Breakthrough to that Realm so easily?” Ning Rongrong's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief.

One must know that for Extreme Dao Saints like them who came from various Saint Worlds, although they all knew that reaching a certain Realm would allow them to safely leave this Small Universe and head toward a broader world, they did not know that the Realm was called the Source Realm.

Learning now that Cao Yang had actually crossed this seemingly unreachable chasm without anyone noticing, how could Ning Rongrong not feel shocked?

“I have a way to allow you to successfully reach a Breakthrough without having to endure the suffering of Undergoing Tribulation. In the future, when you face a Breakthrough, you only need to tell me, and I will certainly help you. That way, you won't have to bear the risks and hardships brought by the Heavenly Tribulation,” Cao Yang said with a face full of confidence.

Hearing these words, Ning Rongrong felt as if her heart was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, beating violently.

She stared with wide eyes, looking at Cao Yang in disbelief. One must know that the Heavenly Tribulation one had to face to reach a Breakthrough to that Realm was simply a nightmare-like existence! Its power and level of terror were beyond imagination.

Especially since the Heavenly Tribulation for this Realm originated from the vast and boundless Great Universe; compared to the various disasters encountered over the Year of Calamitys in an ordinary Universe, there was a world of difference that made people pale at its mention.

For a Mortal body like hers without the support of a special Physique, safely passing such a Heavenly Tribulation was an almost impossible task.

Yet now, someone was actually telling her there was a way to bypass the Heavenly Tribulation and directly achieve a Breakthrough. How could she not be incredibly excited?

After some effort, Ning Rongrong finally managed to calm her restless heart slightly. Taking a deep breath, she spoke to Cao Yang with a look of gratitude, “Then Rongrong will thank Brother Cao in advance. I just heard Brother Cao mention that the Realm is called the Source Realm. I wonder if Brother Cao could explain in detail to this little sister what the situation is with this Source Realm and the various Realms that follow it?”

Cao Yang nodded with a smile and immediately began to explain the many even more profound and mysterious Realms beyond the Source Realm to Ning Rongrong...

As Cao Yang spoke, the more Ning Rongrong heard, the more her mind wandered in fascination. Deep in her heart, it felt as if a raging fire was constantly rising, inspiring her to forge ahead toward that distant yet infinitely charming path of Cultivation.

Looking at Ning Rongrong before him, Cao Yang couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration in his heart.

To think that Ning Rongrong was a peerless powerhouse ranked first within the Small Universe! However, when she heard that there were many higher levels above the Extreme Dao Saint, such as the Source Realm and the Chaos Realm, she didn't show even the slightest hint of disappointment.

She truly lived up to being a remarkable woman who dared to go against the heavens with a Mortal body; she was indeed different from ordinary people!

At this point, Cao Yang spoke up, “Rongrong, over the next two days, I need to head out for a trip. Once I return, I will accompany you to look for precious medicinal herbs outside the Small Universe that can heal your injuries.”

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong hurried to wave her hand in refusal, “Brother Cao, how can I allow that? My strength is currently greatly reduced. If I go with you, wouldn't I become a burden and hold you back? Besides, not long ago, you just went through the trouble of finding that vital strand of hair for me. How can I keep bothering you?”

Although she spoke this way, in reality, deep within her heart, Ning Rongrong was full of expectation.

After spending time together these past few days, she already had a fairly deep understanding of Cao Yang's character. She knew well that Cao Yang was definitely not the kind of evil person with ulterior motives.

Cao Yang smiled slightly and comforted her, “Don't worry, Rongrong. Don't you trust me? Not to mention that I've already stepped into the ranks of the Source Realm, just based on the friendship between us, helping you is only right and proper.”

Hearing these words from Cao Yang, a faint blush instantly rose on Ning Rongrong's pretty face.

She secretly chided him: This Brother Cao is truly outspoken; clearly there isn't any special relationship between us, yet he insists on speaking so ambiguously.

“Alright, go back and focus on Cultivating to heal your injuries for now. I'll see you again when I return.” With that, Cao Yang resolutely turned around and walked away slowly with firm and powerful steps.

His tall and straight back grew further and further away until it disappeared at the distant horizon.

Watching Cao Yang's receding figure finally vanish, a trace of hard-to-conceal attachment flickered in Ning Rongrong's eyes.

Immediately after, a smile as brilliant and sweet as spring flowers blossomed on her pretty face.

This smile seemed capable of melting all the ice and snow in the world, making anyone who saw it feel a sense of warmth in their heart.

For a long time, no matter what difficulties or obstacles she encountered, Ning Rongrong had always endured and faced them alone. In her past life experiences, she had almost never felt such sincere and unreserved care.

In the past, it wasn't that no one had ever said seemingly caring words to her, but those people often had ulterior motives, harboring all sorts of unspeakable agendas.

But with her keen insight and exceptionally clever mind, Ning Rongrong could always easily see through their disguises.

However, this time was different from the past. Not only did the man named Cao Yang before her give her unprecedented warmth and care, but more importantly, he was the only powerhouse she had ever witnessed successfully reaching a Breakthrough to that legendary supreme Realm!

Toward such an existence with peerless strength and worthy of respect, a deep sense of reverence naturally sprouted in the depths of Ning Rongrong's heart.