696: Chapter 107 Sunflower, the matter is settled.

"Sunflowers, it fits perfectly since your names both contain the character 'Kui' ( Aoi), and when they mature, they yield seeds."

Hearing Meng Li's answer, Hong Kui and Lan Kui were instantly stunned.

They were attacked by memories of death.

Long Yang had mentioned in the final letter he left for Long Kui that he hoped she could plant many sunflowers where she lived in the future.

For this purpose, Long Yang had also left behind a bag of sunflower seeds.

They still kept that bag of sunflower seeds.

Unexpectedly, Jing Tian, the Reincarnation of Long Yang, did not remember this matter, yet Meng Li wanted to plant sunflowers.

Was it a coincidence, or was it intentional?

Hong Kui was unsure, nor did she ask. She just smiled and said, "Alright, I'll go get the hoe."

Lan Kui did not follow, but instead walked up to Meng Li, hugged him, looked up into his eyes, and whispered softly, "Thank you, Husband."

Meng Li glared at her, "How can one thank their Husband?"

Lan Kui smiled, "Lan Kui was wrong. There is no need to thank Husband."

"Good that you know," Meng Li smiled contentedly, then abruptly changed the subject, "But speaking of which, how do you plan to thank me?"

"Ah?" Lan Kui was momentarily surprised, then softly asked, "How does Husband wish Lan Kui to thank him?"

Meng Li lowered his head and whispered something in her ear.

Lan Kui listened until her face turned crimson, "You only know how to cause trouble. I won't talk to you anymore."

With that, she stomped her foot and turned to leave.

Hong Kui, returning with the hoe, saw this and suspiciously asked Meng Li, "What did you do to her?"

Meng Li coughed dryly and vaguely replied, "Nothing, I just told her about a new application method for using Tanfire (Dan Fire) for delicate work."

"What new application method?" Hong Kui asked curiously.

Meng Li whispered something in her ear.

Hong Kui's face instantly flushed, then she shot Meng Li a look, spitting, "You only know how to humiliate people."

After speaking, she also turned and left, neglecting the matter of planting sunflowers.

Meng Li pouted, "They all want to know, but once they know, they aren't happy. Women!"

Muttering to himself, he continued digging the holes.

When the holes were almost ready, Hong Kui and Lan Kui returned, bringing the bag of sunflower seeds left by Long Yang to begin sowing.

Though they were shyly driven away, the matter of planting sunflowers could not be neglected.

Because for Hong Kui and Lan Kui, this matter represented not only Long Yang's expectation from back then but also Meng Li's good intentions.

As for the thanks Meng Li requested...

After some psychological preparation, Hong Kui and Lan Kui fulfilled their promise to Meng Li.

Time flowed, seasons turned, years passed.

Although the matter could not be disclosed to outsiders, and it was somewhat embarrassing, it was also a source of pleasure.

After this passed, Meng Li patiently guided Hong Kui and Lan Kui, leading them to study The Great Joyful Union Technique and other contents of the Harmonious Union Secret Codex.

"You only know how to torment people," Hong Kui muttered, looking at Lan Kui who had fallen asleep from exhaustion during the study and practice, and spitefully spat at Meng Li.

"Then it's your turn to torment me next?"

"Turn it is!"

Hong Kui faced the challenge head-on, but was ultimately overwhelmed by successive difficulties.

"Didn't you say you were tormenting me?"

"You can't torment me anymore."

"..."

After several nights of continuous passionate intimacy, Hong Kui finally couldn't help but say, "Don't you need to cultivate? The deadline to repair the Lock Demon Tower is approaching."

"Cultivation is complete."

Before obtaining the Water Spirit Orb, Meng Li had used the sacred spirit pearl to comprehend part of the Water Law. With his foundation built upon comprehending the Earth, Fire, Lightning, and Wind Laws, comprehending the Water Law using the Water Spirit Orb afterwards took no time at all.

As for the Law of Creation, it is easy to learn but difficult to master.

The Law of Creation contained within the sacred spirit pearl was merely the master showing the entrance; further cultivation depended entirely on him.

His path concerning Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire had entered a phase of self-evolution, requiring gradual progress—a matter of attrition that could not be rushed.

Similarly, there were only a few days left until the two-month deadline.

Meng Li was not in a hurry to go to Shushan.

He figured Xu Changqing was also not in a hurry, perhaps even hoping Meng Li would go later.

Because once he went, Lin Qinger would soon be brought back to Nanzhao by Zi Xuan and the Holy Maiden. Then, if Xu Changqing wanted to see his daughter, things would become complicated.

But even so, what was due had to come.

A few days later, Meng Li headed to Shushan before the agreed-upon deadline.

Hong Kui, Lan Kui, Tang Xuejian, and Jing Tian accompanied him.

Logically, Meng Li could have gone alone, but Jing Tian and the others felt they were participants in the mission and wanted to go witness it, meet Xu Changqing, say goodbye to Zi Xuan, and bring their journey to a complete close.

They had nothing else pressing anyway, and the trip there and back wouldn't take too long.

Their mode of travel was the same as before.

Meng Li rode the Flying Tiger Jade Beast with Hong Kui and Lan Kui.

Jing Tian flew on his sword, carrying Tang Xuejian.

As for Xu Maoshan... he had recently gone to Chang'an with He Bi Ping, supported by Jing Tian, to open a branch of the Yongan Pawnshop. Rumor had it he had even hit it off with a girl there and was currently dating her, so Jing Tian hadn't asked him to come.

Meng Li and the others arrived at Shushan, made a few inquiries, and headed straight for Wuji Pavilion.

In the lotus pond in the rear garden of Wuji Pavilion, they found Xu Changqing, Zi Xuan, and the Holy Maiden.

After a brief greeting, Meng Li took out the sacred spirit pearl and gave it to the Holy Maiden, asking her to use her magic to integrate it into Lin Qinger's body.

He himself went to the Lock Demon Tower to completely repair it using the power of the five spirit orbs.

"The Valley Spirit does not die; it is called the Mysterious Female. The Gate of the Mysterious Female is the root of Heaven and Earth. It continues endlessly; use it without exhaustion..."

As the incantation circulated, the five spirit orbs flew above the Lock Demon Tower, forming a circle and revolving, emitting Divine Power to infuse the tower and repair it.

Instantly, clouds gathered and churned above all of Shushan, and the heavens and earth changed color.

It took the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before the strange phenomenon dispersed.

Along with it, the five spirit orbs, their power exhausted and needing time to recover, also subsided.

The matter of repairing the Lock Demon Tower was completely concluded.

Meng Li reunited with Hong Kui, Lan Kui, Tang Xuejian, and Jing Tian, and returned to Wuji Pavilion to bid farewell to Xu Changqing.

Zi Xuan, the Holy Maiden, and Lin Qinger also said their goodbyes.

Xu Changqing did not try to keep them.

Seeing this, Meng Li, Jing Tian, and the others understood.

The romance between Xu Changqing and Zi Xuan was now completely severed.

Given Zi Xuan's condition, this parting was most likely final.

They said nothing about it.

Even Tang Xuejian only sighed silently.

Zi Xuan had stayed on Shushan for two months, and even with Lin Qinger as a link, Xu Changqing still hadn't changed his mind, which was telling enough.

...

After returning to Yu Zhou City, Meng Li's life became peaceful. Usually, besides contemplating the Dao and cultivating, he spent time with Hong Kui and Lan Kui. However, they did not stay in Yu Zhou City the entire time, but instead traveled around—wandering the Northern Sea in the morning and the Southern Mountains in the evening.

Most of the time, the three traveled together, occasionally joining Jing Tian and Tang Xuejian.

The reason they occasionally traveled with Jing Tian and Tang Xuejian was twofold: first, Meng Li preferred spending time alone with his two companions; second, Jing Tian had to guard the Yongan Pawnshop, and Tang Xuejian had to handle affairs at the Tang Family Fortress, so they didn't have as much free time for extensive travel.

A few winters later.

Meng Li, Hong Kui, and Lan Kui happened to arrive in the territory of Nanzhao when heavy snow began to fall.

Lan Kui was instantly startled, "Didn't they say Nanzhao is like spring all year round and never snows?"

Hong Kui said, "When things are abnormal, there must be a demon involved."

Meng Li closed his eyes and sensed briefly, replying, "Someone cast a spell to send this snow to Nanzhao. The source of the magical energy is—Shushan!"

Hong Kui and Lan Kui instantly understood.

"It's Daoist Xu."

"Why would he make it snow in Nanzhao at this time?"

Meng Li performed a quick divination and sighed lightly, "Zi Xuan's final moments are approaching, and Daoist Xu is about to attain the Dao and achieve Ascension."

Hong Kui and Lan Kui were stunned.

That winter, Nanzhao experienced an unprecedented heavy snowfall.

The entire Nanzhao was covered in silver, transforming into pure white.

Not long after, the Heavenly Gate opened above Shushan, and the Shushan Sect Head, Xu Changqing, attained the Dao and Ascended.

The Descendant of Nüwa, Zi Xuan, whose black hair had entirely turned white, gazed from afar at the scene of Ascension amidst the heavy snow, and quietly passed away.

The entanglement of the two across three lifetimes finally concluded in the way that both left the mortal realm on the same day.