138: Chapter 138 This is definitely not a good place

"...Right there, in front of the everlasting light tablet."

On the viewing platform, Lin Xiwei stared fixedly at Ling Hao and added a sentence.

This was almost the most direct hint she could possibly give.

The smile at the corners of Ling Hao's lips widened, carrying a look of understanding.

"Alright."

Inside the Changming Hall, the atmosphere was solemn and dignified.

The massive everlasting light tablet stood silently, like a spine supporting heaven and earth.

Upon the surface of the tablet, over two thousand five hundred gilded true names shone brilliantly.

Phantom images of a thousand moons drifted and sank within the hall. The cold moonlight interlaced with the golden radiance of a solar corona, forming a grand and sacred star map of "A Thousand Moons Circling the Sun," illuminating the entire hall like a star-sea Secret Realm, its light restrained yet eternal.

The hall doors closed silently, isolating them from the outside world.

Ling Hao and Lin Xiwei stood before the sacred tablet.

There were no complex rituals, no gaze of ten thousand people.

Ling Hao extended his palm, palm facing upward.

Lin Xiwei gently placed her hand into his palm. Her icy fingertips touched that familiar warmth. It was just like the temperature her Revered Master had given her while teaching her how to draw Talismans by hand at the edge of the Ink Lotus Pond that day.

Her fingertips trembled slightly, and then she tightly grasped that broad palm.

Both of them closed their eyes at the same time, their minds sinking into the Spiritual Platform. Their Divine Soul power, like trickling streams, emerged from between their brows and blended together, triggering the sleeping power of resonance deep within the sacred tablet!

As the thought arose, the covenant was born!

Ling Hao's heart-voice echoed through the Spiritual Platform: "The moon as our alliance, the shadow as our witness! The Great Dao is vast and boundless; this body is pledged to ascend it together with you!"

Lin Xiwei's thoughts followed in response: "I do not seek to share the same lifespan, only to share the same shadow! I am willing to be a single ray of brightness beneath the moon!"

A faint, clear glow rose around the two of them, as if they were enveloped by invisible moonlight.

On the everlasting light tablet, the Great Sun mark representing Ling Hao rippled slightly. A strand of pure golden light silk drifted toward Lin Xiwei, casting a phantom image of a bright moon into the lake of her heart.

Ling Hao's heart-voice rose again: "The sun as our mirror, the flower as our proof! As the years flow by, this heart shall accompany you through every dawn and dusk!"

Lin Xiwei's thoughts echoed firmly: "I do not envy the immortal palaces, I only hope for the same bed! I am willing to become the spring soil to nourish the Dao Root!"

Beside Lin Xiwei's temple, the phantom of that ice heart epiphyllum emerged uncontrollably, emitting a crisp, cold fragrance.

At the same time, the clear glow surrounding them in the hall suddenly brightened. An epiphyllum phantom rotated and bloomed in the light, then quietly dissipated.

Buzz—!

The everlasting light tablet suddenly lit up!

On the tablet's surface, the mark belonging to Ling Hao's brilliant Great Sun projected a gentle light. Beside it, a name flickering with clear silver radiance—"Lin Xiwei"—slowly emerged.

Although its light was not as bright as the core Moon Soul golden names, it was more dazzling and solid than the seven hundred moonlight silver names from the Hundred Flowers Grand Ceremony.

The silver radiance flowed, condensing into a cold phantom of a bright moon that quietly circled the side of the central Great Sun.

Simultaneously, beside Lin Xiwei's temple, an ice heart epiphyllum condensed from pure spiritual power and Divine Soul power quietly emerged, its petals like ice and snow.

The flower's shadow trembled slightly, transforming into an ice-blue strand of light that plunged into the massive stone tablet like a bolt of lightning.

Buzz!

The sacred tablet vibrated slightly, and the silver light of Lin Xiwei's name flared intensely, completely stabilizing! Beside the name, that miniature ice heart epiphyllum mark was clearly imprinted.

That cold bright moon phantom also became more solid. Its clear glow flowed and complemented the Great Sun, forming a small sun-and-moon star map unique to the two of them within the quiet Changming Hall.

A warm and powerful sense of connection was instantly established deep within the Souls of the two.

"The Covenant—is Formed—!"

An after-resonance of the Heavenly Dao, seemingly from the depths of the Soul, rang out in both of their Seas of Consciousness simultaneously.

Lin Xiwei slowly opened her eyes, a warm light flowing within them. She looked down at her hand clasped with Ling Hao's, then looked up at the sun-and-moon marks and the ice heart epiphyllum on the sacred tablet. Before Ling Hao, she let out a satisfied smile.

The Covenant of Eternal Dao Companions was quietly forged in this hall, their intentions forever engraved.

"Let's go. Your Revered Master will take you to a certain place."

As he spoke, Ling Hao pulled Lin Xiwei and started walking out.

A place?

Lin Xiwei was dazed for a moment as she looked at Ling Hao's back, and then her face turned red. She glanced around the empty surroundings; this really didn't seem like a good place for... that.

"Mm."

Lin Xiwei did not refuse. Lowering her eyes, she gave a small, soft response and followed Ling Hao step by step.

...

Beiyue Mountain, entrance to the Yin Wind Gorge.

Three sword-lights descended, revealing the figures of Xia Yingying, Zhao Hongyi, Ye Qinglan, and the guide, Commander Diao.

Commander Diao pointed toward the depths of the valley, which was shrouded in thick erosion qi and jagged rocks, and spoke with an apologetic expression:

"Fairies, that Erosion Beast is wandering deep within the Yin Wind Gorge. My cultivation is low, and I fear I would only be a burden if I went further. I shall take my leave here. I wish the three Fairies a triumphant victory!"

"No matter, just leave it to us!" Zhao Hongyi waved her hand heartily.

Commander Diao cupped his fists in a salute, turned, and left. Only Xia Yingying and the other two remained at the valley entrance.

"The erosion qi is thicker ahead. Flying on swords makes for too big a target," Ye Qinglan spoke coolly, her gaze sweeping forward. "Let's infiltrate on foot."

"Okay!" Xia Yingying nodded obediently.

Zhao Hongyi took the lead, her fiery red dress exceptionally striking against the greyish-dark mountain scenery. Ye Qinglan followed half a step behind, alertly sensing the surroundings. Xia Yingying walked in the middle, her pure aura seemingly dispelling some of the surrounding gloom.

Along the way, Zhao Hongyi couldn't help her curiosity and looked back at Xia Yingying. "Little sister, are you really a Personal Disciple of the Moonshadow Sect? You look so young." Her tone was blunt, but her eyes held an involuntary closeness.

"Yes, I am." Xia Yingying nodded seriously.

"Sister Zhao, Sister Ye, what about you? Which Sect are you from?" she took the initiative to ask.

"My name is Zhao Hongyi," the woman in red grinned. "She is Ye Qinglan. We are both Loose Cultivators from the neighboring Hong State."

Ye Qinglan nodded slightly in confirmation.

"Hong State?" Xia Yingying blinked her round, almond-shaped eyes.

Zhao Hongyi's smile faded slightly, and her tone became heavy. "Yes. Originally, we wanted to come to the Qing State to try our luck. We heard the Moonshadow Sect recruits many disciples and doesn't reject female cultivators with low-grade Spiritual Roots. Our Hong State... is finished."

She paused. "A spatial rift appeared in the Hong State, and demons from another world invaded. More than half of Hong State's territory has fallen. Golden Core True Persons... not even one in ten remains. When we escaped, we heard the surrounding countries were in a similar state..."

A trace of helplessness also crossed Ye Qinglan's cool face.

While talking, the three had quietly approached a depression filled with thick, crimson erosion qi. In the center of the depression lay a hideous-looking monster.

It was the size of an ox but had three twisted horns. Its body was covered in scales, and crimson erosion qi constantly seeped from the gaps between them.

A long tail covered in bone spurs lashed restlessly, each flick bringing a nauseating, fishy wind. Its crimson eyes flickered with violent light within the erosion qi, and its aura was impressively at the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage!

Zhao Hongyi glanced at Xia Yingying's petite and delicate figure, then at her innocent almond eyes, and subconsciously felt that this little girl needed protection. She exchanged a look with Ye Qinglan.

"Little Yingying," Zhao Hongyi lowered her voice, "how about you stay here and watch while we sisters go meet it first! Don't worry, the reward will still be split three ways; you won't get less!"

She clearly treated Xia Yingying as a little sister who needed looking after.

"Correct."

Ye Qinglan also nodded succinctly, the green Flying Sword in her hand already humming.

"But..." Xia Yingying was about to say something, but Zhao Hongyi and Ye Qinglan had already rushed out like arrows from a bow, one to the left and one to the right.