80: Eating Meat: Ji Li's Sacrifice (Long Chapter)

"You...?"

Ji Li exclaimed in surprise;

Feeling the warmth on her back and the hot breath that flew into her ear, she was so startled that she hurriedly took a step forward before turning around to look at Chen Qingxuan.

"Weren't you not coming in?"

"Since you insist I come in... then I'll come in!" Chen Qingxuan said while looking around, "How did you find this place?"

This Secret Realm was like a sealed cave.

But directly ahead of the two, there was a passage wide enough for two people to walk side by side, stretching as far as the eye could see.

"Back then, I had nothing to do and thought about exploring the Yao Race's forbidden zone. By chance, I discovered that Stone Pillar that stood out like a crane among chickens. I never expected it to be the entrance to a Secret Realm..."

Ji Li recounted the process.

Then, she looked at Chen Qingxuan: "Do you sense that aura?"

"I sense it."

Chen Qingxuan slightly frowned and said in a deep voice, "Such a rich life aura... There are clearly no living beings within a hundred miles outside... Yet such a dense Life Qi exists here... It's too strange."

If the Secret Realm had a dangerous aura, it wouldn't be surprising;

But it's precisely an incredibly pure life aura.

Probably no one would find it believable!

"I've already checked. Since I left last time, there have been no traces of anyone else entering... Follow me."

Ji Li took the lead and walked forward.

Chen Qingxuan followed closely behind, "How far did you explore last time? What's at the end of this passage?"

"I..."

Ji Li found it somewhat difficult to speak;

Facing Chen Qingxuan's curious gaze, she ultimately confessed honestly: "I didn't reach the end... I fainted."

"What?"

Chen Qingxuan was instantly struck as if by lightning.

In an instant, he became alert, "What did you encounter that made you faint?"

"Emm... It was just a Bell Sound ringing... and then I fainted."

"?"

Chen Qingxuan was stunned again.

A Bell Sound?

It must be known that even decades ago, Ji Li had already become the Demon Lord, and her strength was unquestionable.

Yet she fainted because of a Bell Sound...?

If not heard with one's own ears, who would dare believe it?

As if sensing Chen Qingxuan's concerns, Ji Li reassured him: "Don't worry, this time we are prepared... We just need to be careful of the Bell Sound."

"Do you believe that yourself?"

Chen Qingxuan couldn't help but laugh.

Even if they truly withstand that strange Bell Sound, what dangers lie ahead... are hard to say!

"Anyway, we're already here."

"Sigh, today I'll risk my life to accompany a beauty!"

"Hmm?"

Ji Li paused her steps and looked at Chen Qingxuan.

Chen Qingxuan said seriously: "Don't misunderstand. I mean there are only seven years left until the world's reshaping... If I truly die in this Secret Realm, it's my own fate."

A faint blush appeared on Ji Li's pink cheeks, "The world reshaping in seven years... You can't be serious, right?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

"..."

Facing Chen Qingxuan's serious gaze, Ji Li fell silent.

Although due to past experiences, she found it hard to trust Chen Qingxuan, especially with statements as shocking as the world's reshaping...

But for some reason, her heart inexplicably raced at this moment.

Duang~

At that moment, a long and heavy Bell Sound suddenly approached from afar.

"Be careful!"

Ji Li urgently reminded.

As she spoke, she instantly unleashed the thick Demonic Power within her body, creating a visible barrier in front of them.

Last time, she was knocked unconscious... This time, she absolutely must not repeat the same mistake.

After all, compared to last time... This time, there's a young and strong fellow by her side.

Boom——

The Bell Sound was formless, yet like thunder!

When it collided with the barrier, it erupted into a deafening impact sound, and a fierce wind suddenly arose.

But strangely, the ground where the two stood at this moment, which should have trembled under such a powerful impact, remained completely motionless.

"Hmm?"

Chen Qingxuan narrowed his eyes and activated his Nine Profound Pupils——

Illusion!

Immediately after, a second Life Bell attacked.

Chen Qingxuan suddenly grabbed Ji Li's jade-like hand. The latter quickly glanced back, "What are you doing? Don't mess around now... Quickly resist the Bell Sound."

"Look clearly." Chen Qingxuan tightly held her hand and projected a stream of Mental Energy into her eyes, "There is no Bell Sound. That's an illusion."

"What?"

Ji Li's pupils slightly contracted;

After receiving the enhancement from the Nine Profound Pupils, the next moment, the Bell Sound in her ears instantly disappeared, and the scene before her returned to normal.

Chen Qingxuan looked at the stunned Ji Li, "So, last time you came in and didn't even discover the surface... You fainted from an illusion not far after entering?"

"This..."

Ji Li blinked.

After confirming that the Bell Sound had vanished, she was instantly struck as if by lightning, "How could it be... I clearly wore a Bellyband that can resist illusions... Last time too... How could I be defeated by an illusion?"

"Hmm?" Chen Qingxuan spotted a key point, "Take it off... Let me check if it's It's invalid.."

"Hey, be serious."

Ji Li blushed.

While rolling her eyes, she did not shake off Chen Qingxuan's hand.

Chen Qingxuan said with a smile: "Just joking. Perhaps it's because the power of this illusion is too strong, and ordinary protective gear is hard to be effective... Moreover, the power supporting that illusion is also strange... It's neither like the Human Race's Profound Power nor the Yao Race's Profound Power."

"No wonder..."

Ji Li suddenly understood in her heart.

The next moment, she thought of something else, "What about your eyes?"

"Forgot to tell you, I possess the Nine Profound Pupils." Chen Qingxuan said modestly, "They can see through all falsehoods and illusions, so illusions are useless against me!"

"Nine Profound Pupils?"

Ji Li thought of a girl from the Eastern Land;

But at the moment, she had no time to ask more, "Bringing you along this time was indeed the right choice... Let's continue moving inward!"

"Not too fast. Walk together with me."

Chen Qingxuan squeezed her hand and signaled.

Ji Li looked at the hand being held and ultimately did not refuse... Not long after.

Moving forward, after walking about several thousand steps, the two finally saw the end.

It looked like an Altar built inside a mountain.

Before stepping onto the platform, a bewitching blue light first came into view.

The life aura that had been emanating earlier became increasingly dense as they approached this place, clearly coming from something on the high platform.

"Go!"

The two exchanged a glance and stepped onto the high platform.

"This is...?"

After arriving at the high platform, both were stunned.

They saw a strange spiritual item, the size of a watermelon and shaped like a Snow Lotus, floating in mid-air, continuously emitting leaping particles of power.

And besides this item on the entire high platform... there was nothing else!

"Is the life aura released from it?" Chen Qingxuan couldn't help but step forward and look around, "Could it be that behind this strange Secret Realm... the mastermind that left no living beings within a hundred miles... is this thing?"

"Because of it...?"

Ji Li was also greatly surprised.

She originally thought the truth behind the strange Secret Realm must involve secrets beyond the mortal world.

But now it seems... it's simple to the point of being unbelievable.

Moreover... Ji Li repeatedly shook her head, as if unable to believe it, "This thing... how could it possibly create life?"

"What did you say?"

Just as Chen Qingxuan opened his mouth to ask, an electronic sound suddenly rang in his mind——

Ding!

[Congratulations, Host, for finding the lotus of life!]

[The so-called lotus of life is an Ancient Spiritual Plant. Because its Spiritual Seed Requires Yang, it needs to be nurtured in a Land of Extreme Yin.]

[The so-called Land of Extreme Yin is formed by the accumulation of Ancient Cultivators' Remains. Simply put, it's a former Battlefield Site.]

[But the lotus of life grows slowly, requiring thirty thousand years to mature. If consumed, it will use Grandmist as Qi, Chaos as bones, and blood connecting to the Nine Heavens' Starry River... becoming immortal and indestructible.]

[In plain terms... after the Host consumes the lotus of life, even if heaven and earth collapse and the Physical Body is completely destroyed, a trace of soul can remain, borrowing the power of heaven and earth to reshape flesh and blood, living as long as the heavens!]

[This lotus of life is over thirty thousand years old. Please consume it, Host.]

"Holy shit?"

After receiving the information transmitted into his mind, Chen Qingxuan exclaimed in surprise.

Living as long as the heavens?

This isn't just a simple... increase in Lifespan;

This is immortality!

Immortality that's deathless and indestructible!

Moreover, according to the System, even if he perishes along with billions of living beings during the world's reshaping, he can still leave behind a wisp of soul consciousness, using the power of heaven and earth to reshape his flesh and blood... This is practically a cheat!

"Hahaha..."

Chen Qingxuan, who had long been troubled by the world's reshaping, couldn't help but burst into laughter at this moment.

Isn't this just a cheat?

Ji Li snapped out of her thoughts upon hearing the sound, "What are you laughing at?"

"Do you know what this thing is?"

Chen Qingxuan looked at her excitedly and, without hiding anything, straightforwardly shared the news he had just received.

"The lotus of life?"

Upon first hearing this, Ji Li was naturally greatly surprised, "You mean... the threat we felt outside... wasn't generated by it... but because this place... is the site of a past war... the lingering effects from back then are what made living beings avoid this area?"

"Exactly!"

Chen Qingxuan nodded solemnly.

Gazing at the lotus of life right before his eyes, he swallowed hard, "What a treasure, I almost wronged you... haha!"

"Thirty thousand years?"

Ji Li looked at the lotus of life in astonishment.

But compared to Chen Qingxuan's delight, at this moment she felt more disbelief and looked at Chen Qingxuan to press further, "How do you know all this?"

"I've loved reading since I was little."

Chen Qingxuan stated.

The next moment, he pointed at the lotus of life and said, "Although we found this thing together, sharing it definitely won't have any effect... Allow me to get rich first... ahem, allow me to achieve immortality first, then I'll help you achieve it later, okay?"

"Wait..."

Ji Li grabbed Chen Qingxuan's arm;

Chen Qingxuan turned to look at her, "Wife, you're not going to fight me for it, are you?"

"No... I don't want it."

Ji Li shook her head.

To be honest, she wasn't interested in the lotus of life.

Firstly, she found Chen Qingxuan's claims absurd. If it truly ripens once every thirty thousand years and can help someone become deathless and indestructible... how could such a thing not be recorded anywhere?

Chen Qingxuan's claim about loving to read since childhood... was even more dismissive.

Secondly, without Chen Qingxuan, she wouldn't have made it this far. Even if it were an opportunity that truly tempted her, she wouldn't be shameless enough to snatch it by force;

And she didn't have the strength for it either.

Facing Chen Qingxuan's puzzled gaze, she explained, "There are still many things I haven't figured out... Give me a moment to collect my thoughts... Something definitely isn't right."

"What isn't right?" Chen Qingxuan asked, puzzled, "What are you referring to?"

"I..."

Ji Li's lips parted slightly, hesitating to speak;

To be honest, she didn't know how to explain it to Chen Qingxuan.

Because she hadn't even figured it out herself yet!

Seeing Ji Li's difficulty in expressing herself, Chen Qingxuan temporarily suppressed his excitement and decided to give her some time to process.

After all, the lotus of life wasn't going anywhere.

"The Land of Extreme Yin... thirty thousand years?"

Chen Qingxuan stroked his chin and sighed.

The appearance of this lotus of life here was clearly no coincidence.

But the person who planted the lotus of life must have known its growth cycle... What kind of person would willingly plant a treasure they couldn't enjoy thirty thousand years ago?

Chen Qingxuan shook his head;

Probably wouldn't have a chance to meet them anyway.

Little did he know;

Everything in the world had already been predetermined.

A moment later.

Chen Qingxuan looked at the dazed Ji Li, "Wife, the flower I'm waiting for is about to wither."

"..."

Ji Li snapped back to reality and nodded at Chen Qingxuan with a complicated expression.

"Then I'll go ahead and eat it... You won't regret it, right?"

"Just eat it."

Ji Li said without any emotion.

To be honest, even now she had no desire for the lotus of life. Her only concern was figuring out the confusion in her heart.

But without any clues, mere imagination couldn't resolve her doubts.

"Hey!"

Watching Chen Qingxuan approach the lotus of life, Ji Li couldn't help but call out a reminder, "Be careful."

"Okay!"

Chen Qingxuan turned to look at her and gave her a reassuring smile.

Boom——

Chen Qingxuan reached a hand toward the lotus of life.

At first, he felt an invisible Qi membrane blocking his hand from reaching it.

But just as the System's hint indicated, this was merely an Ancient Spiritual Plant, not some evil entity, and it didn't contain any danger.

Soon, Chen Qingxuan successfully plucked the lotus of life.

After exchanging a glance with Ji Li, he didn't hesitate and immediately devoured it heartily.

Instantly, a torrent of juice burst in his mouth, completely tasteless.

Just like drinking water.

But Chen Qingxuan wasn't eating it for the taste; it was mainly for that deathless and indestructible effect.

Boom——

But right after finishing the lotus of life, the next moment, a terrifying wave of Qi suddenly erupted from within Chen Qingxuan's body;

Instantly, his two types of power erupted completely, out of control.

"What's wrong with you?" Ji Li asked urgently.

"I'm fine!"

Chen Qingxuan waved his hand;

As he spoke, he struggled to suppress the chaotic forces rampaging inside him.

"Hey, why is your face turning red?"

"It's normal, I'm fine."

"Huh? Your neck... ears... Why is your whole body turning red?"

"I-I'm fine."

"Chen Qingxuan, you're smoking!"

Ji Li no longer believed that statement.

Watching Chen Qingxuan visibly changing before her eyes, she instantly grew tense, "You still say you're fine... What exactly is going on?"

"Damn... it's getting a bit hot."

Chen Qingxuan felt something was off.

The heat spreading through his body made his ears ring, and the world before his eyes slowly turned into an ambiguous shade of pink... Especially when his gaze fell on Ji Li's stunningly beautiful face and long legs... He shuddered violently.

Not good!

He was getting aroused.

And just then, Ji Li worriedly stepped forward, "Why are you getting a nosebleed?"

Swish——

Chen Qingxuan rushed forward without warning and grabbed the approaching Ji Li in a tight embrace.

"Hmm?"

Ji Li's mind went blank with a buzz.

Feeling the scorching heat of Chen Qingxuan's body and that look in his eyes she had never seen before instantly made her body tense up, "Wh-what are you doing... Chen Qingxuan... Calm down a bit."

"Gi-gi-give it to me to use."

Chen Qingxuan held Ji Li with both hands,

As he spoke, the chaotic forces inside him made his words unclear, but the desire shining in his eyes as he looked at Ji Li... was unwavering!

Boom——

Ji Li was utterly dumbfounded.

Facing those longing starry eyes, she shook her head in fear, "N-no... I won't give it!"

In this situation, even with her lack of experience, she understood what was happening.

Was this a side effect of the lotus of life?

How could this happen?

As she spoke, she frantically tried to push Chen Qingxuan away... and succeeded quite easily.

After breaking free.

Ji Li stepped back to create distance, "You... Do you know what you're doing?"

"I-I-I..."

Chen Qingxuan's teeth chattered.

While trembling all over, nosebleeds gushed out like two free-flowing faucets.

"Don't pretend with me... I'm not falling for that."

Ji Li gritted her teeth, turned away in shame and anger, and left.

But a few seconds later.

She came back, "Stop pretending... I'm not some naive young girl... Besides, I have my limits too... You're going too far."

"..."

The chaotic forces inside him and the overwhelming desire had long since rendered Chen Qingxuan speechless, trembling all over.

Seeing this, Ji Li stood frozen in place... at a loss.

Who would save her?

Watching Chen Qingxuan's increasingly pained expression, she felt deeply conflicted inside.

After all... she was the one who brought Chen Qingxuan here.

After a brief hesitation, Ji Li seemed to make some kind of decision, suddenly walking over with a flushed face,

"Hey, let me tell you... I have no experience with this sort of thing... It's you who insisted!"

It's so late, I'm exhausted... completely burned out.