Chapter 540: The Fairy's Determination

"This..."

The moment he saw Yun Xiao, Li Changshou's eyes narrowed. He felt as if his Dao heart had been struck hard by a wooden hammer, leaving him in a daze. Two lines of poetry he had loved in his previous life surfaced in his mind: "Clouds would think to be her dress, flowers her face; the spring breeze brushes the railing, and the dew is rich."

She appeared from the mists, floating forward with hands behind her back, a faint smile in her eyes and subtle dimples at the corners of her mouth. From the tips of her hair to her fingertips, she was impeccably groomed.

In particular, her soft, delicate hands and slender fingers were tipped with pinkish-white spiritual powder, and exquisite colorful ribbons adorned her wrists.

When had Yun Xiao ever bothered with such meticulous grooming?

Had he been overthinking things before?

This time, it wasn't Uncle-Master Tongtian causing trouble and making him temporarily hide in the Chaos Sea to avoid implication;

Rather, Uncle-Master Tongtian purely intended to facilitate a marriage between him and Yun Xiao, thereby bringing him closer to the Jie Sect?

Why didn't he say so sooner? Why wasn't it mentioned earlier!

A venerable Saint, was he truly always stuck on the first layer?

If it was merely for a romantic talk and a chat about life, why go to the perilous Chaos Sea?

Wouldn't the Six Paths Reincarnation Disc have been a better choice?

Li Changshou glanced down at Bai Ze at his feet, then looked up at Jin Peng flying in the sky. His heart twitched a few times, and a gentle smile appeared on his lips.

Having misunderstood the lady's intentions, he naturally couldn't let Yun Xiao feel awkward anymore.

Li Changshou asked softly, "Have you been waiting long?"

Yun Xiao gently shook her head. She then offered a smiling greeting to Bai Ze, the auspicious beast who had transformed into the size of a white cat. Her thin lips, having touched spiritual herb leaves, parted slightly, releasing a faint fragrance.

"I haven't waited too long; I just arrived. Shall we depart now?"

Three or four answers instantly surfaced in Li Changshou's mind, and he almost subconsciously made a choice, nodding in agreement.

With ample preparations, they naturally proceeded according to the original plan.

"Let Jin Peng be our ride this time. His extreme speed can be fully utilized even outside the Primordial World, whereas our divine abilities and spells would be somewhat affected."

"Mm," she replied softly, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes.

Li Changshou immediately understood her playful jab. He gave a slightly constrained smile and began discreetly checking the items he carried with him, signaling Jin Peng to descend.

What was with that subconscious urge to find mouthwash?

He was nervous, indeed.

Bai Ze, being quite astute, was the first to leap onto Jin Peng's back, positioning himself on Jin Peng's head, and privately instructed Jin Peng with a couple of words.

As an ancient auspicious beast of the Primordial World, how could Mr. Bai not understand such matters?

The moment Fairy Yun Xiao appeared, Bai Ze's heart sank with a thump. He knew that he and Jin Peng had, most likely, accidentally spoiled Lord Water God's good intentions today.

But he couldn't be blamed for his lack of tact; he hadn't known the specific circumstances.

At the time, Lord Water God had asked through a paper effigy, "Mr. Bai, if we leave the Primordial World and enter the Chaos Sea, will your auspicious-avoidance and danger-avoidance abilities still be effective?"

Bai Ze had honestly replied, "Within the Primordial World, where the Great Dao rules prevail, I can indeed sense fortune and misfortune, but I cannot go too deep into the Chaos Sea."

And then, he had been summoned to this place.

From the looks of it, Lord Water God had clearly overthought things this time, trying to be too cautious and ended up trapping himself, didn't he?

Although Bai Ze was already devising a way for himself and Jin Peng to escape promptly, he couldn't help but feel a secret satisfaction deep down.

Finally, there was something even Lord Water God couldn't predict!

Li Changshou and Yun Xiao flew onto Jin Peng's back.

The cushions, originally placed about five feet apart, were moved by Jin Peng to be only about a foot apart, at Bai Ze's unspoken signal. Li Changshou and Yun Xiao made no mention of it.

Li Changshou cupped his hands and gestured for her to be seated.

Yun Xiao nodded slightly and sat cross-legged beside him, her skirt slowly fanning out around her.

Li Changshou asked, "How shall we find that treasure spot this time?"

Yun Xiao flipped her fair hand, revealing a miniature sword in her palm. She explained, "This is Master's Immortal Trapping Sword; it can guide us to that location."

"Master said there's a great opportunity for you there, though I don't know what it specifically is."

Li Changshou said softly, "This journey itself is already an opportunity."

Yun Xiao didn't respond, but her gaze grew even gentler.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng asked, "Teacher, Fairy, where should we go?"

Yun Xiao activated the miniature sword in her hand, pointing to the southeast-downward direction.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng spread its wings, its thirty-foot-long body gliding smoothly across the horizon. A barrier of immortal energy expanded around it, and it began to accelerate steadily.

Professional mounts often require only simple instructions.

Bai Ze stood proudly on the Golden-Winged Great Peng's head, gazing into the void ahead. He sealed off his own senses with immortal energy, deliberately making this sealing evident.

It was as if he was saying, "You two can talk amongst yourselves; I hear nothing."

Li Changshou gazed at the fairy so close to him, thinking of the ongoing Investiture of the Gods Tribulation. He sighed inwardly.

The imperial decree he carried...

For now, he should keep it. This was not the right time to reveal it.

What Li Changshou found most comfortable about being with Yun Xiao was not needing to rack his brain for topics or exert much mental effort. Simply sitting together felt as if flowing clouds and still water enveloped them both.

He felt the years were peaceful, unaware of time slipping by.

Perhaps, this was Fairy Yun Xiao's unique charm.

In the void, patches of light flickered far and near. Jin Peng, without realizing it, reached its top speed, leaving realms swiftly behind.

"Did Uncle-Master Tongtian say anything after he returned?" Li Changshou asked softly.

"I didn't see Master before," Yun Xiao replied gently. "It was Senior Brother Duobao who came to Three Immortals Island and spoke of the matter at Zixiao Palace."

Li Changshou frowned deeply, pondering for a moment.

Yun Xiao chuckled softly and asked, "Are you perhaps bothered about being forcibly given the role of the main tribulation orchestrator by Ancestor-Master?"

"No, this was something I intended to help the Heavenly Court strive for," Li Changshou said, probing tentatively. "Aside from official matters, did Senior Brother Duobao tell you any other... unimportant details?"

Yun Xiao seemed a little puzzled. After thinking carefully, her delicate face flushed slightly.

A blush...

So she knew, after all?

Li Changshou couldn't help but sigh mournfully inwardly.

Senior Brother Duobao went too far, didn't he? He was disciplined by the Dao Ancestor, his robes were torn, and he was humiliated; was it necessary to widely publicize it like this?

Are the Jie Sect disciples supposed to be tight-lipped?

Yun Xiao looked to the side, lifted a hand to brush a strand of hair from her ear, and said softly, "Senior Brother said that I shouldn't have any regrets, as with the tribulation descending, no one knows what will happen."

Li Changshou first let out a sigh of relief, then his forehead creased with dark lines.

"Those words are also a bit dangerous. Don't let them make you overthink things. Nothing has been settled in Zixiao Palace. You..."

"Never mind. Let me show you this."

As he spoke, Li Changshou took out the God-Beating Whip from his sleeve, and the dense power of the Heavenly Dao radiated from it.

Yun Xiao examined it carefully, touching the tip of the God-Beating Whip with a finger, closing her eyes to feel its essence.

"This item seems to be a part of the Book of Heaven."

"Indeed," Li Changshou said softly as he put away the God-Beating Whip. "As the main orchestrator of this tribulation, I've had a few insights that I've never mentioned to anyone else."

"The Heavenly Court doesn't just govern the Three Realms; the Heavenly Dao can also use the Heavenly Court's order to consolidate the stability of heaven and earth, increasing its power to suppress the Nine Foul Springs, allowing the world to accommodate more beings."

"Indeed, the concept of 'order' can limit the growth of karma."

"Of course, this also has some negative effects, such as suppressing natural inclinations and, to some extent, eradicating individuality."

"The Book of Humanity governs life, death, and reincarnation, while the Book of Heaven adds another layer of protection for the Heavenly Dao. As the tribulation progresses, the more prosperous the Heavenly Court becomes, the fewer cultivators need to be extinguished by the tribulation."

"As long as the grand tribulation doesn't spiral out of control, there's actually a high hope of keeping it contained to a degree where it won't harm the direct disciples of Saints."

"Of course, this is an ideal scenario."

As Li Changshou spoke eloquently, Yun Xiao watched him quietly from the side. It seemed that what he said wasn't as important as his demeanor while speaking: his bright eyes, steady, clear, unhurried voice...

He was always so captivating, making one want to listen and observe more.

Li Changshou chuckled, "Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think my attire today is too casual?"

Yun Xiao said, "Your illusionary spell seems to have changed again."

"You can even notice such a small detail."

Li Changshou raised a hand and lightly tapped his forehead, removing most of his disguise. "I had an occasional insight before and suddenly thought of a way to improve my illusionary spell."

"Does it look more pleasing this way?"

"Mm," Yun Xiao responded softly. "As long as it's your original appearance, it's always pleasing to the eye."

A direct advance?

Li Changshou's old face flushed. He inexplicably felt a little overwhelmed by the offensive. He decisively changed his approach, took out two jade talismans from his sleeve, and began discussing cultivation matters with Yun Xiao.

Finding topics of conversation was also one of the basic skills when pursuing someone.

This discussion, however, wasn't trivial; it sparked Yun Xiao's serious and earnest nature, leading her to debate with Li Changshou.

They discussed everything from the Three Thousand Worlds to the outer void, then passed through the Heavenly Dao barrier and flew into the Chaos Sea.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng, already at the Great Luo cultivation realm, had a Dao strong enough to resist the erosion of Chaos Qi. Sitting on Jin Peng's back felt incredibly stable.

Re-entering the Chaos Sea, without the protection of Teacher Taiqing, Li Changshou directly felt the impact of the chaotic Dao on his own Great Dao.

His primordial spirit felt as if it had plunged into a muddy swamp, with a suffocating sensation that made it difficult to manifest or perceive anything.

He finally understood why the Chaos Sea was called a "sea."

This feeling was indeed like a mortal plunging into the vast East Sea or South Sea: if they lost their way, they would eventually die of exhaustion and be buried in the bellies of fish.

In the Chaos Sea, the most crucial thing was to maintain a sense of direction, always knowing one's position with the Primordial World as the starting point.

For this reason, Li Changshou had consulted many ancient texts stored in the Heavenly Court over the past half-month, creating several sets of Dao artifacts that could help find the 'way home' in the Chaos Sea, for unforeseen circumstances.

The further he moved from the Primordial World, the weaker his connection with his paper effigies became.

This wasn't determined by distance, but because the Great Dao used by the paper effigies remained in a chaotic state within the Chaos Sea.

Li Changshou, for his part, only utilized these Great Dao through talismans and restrictions; he hadn't yet had enough energy to fully comprehend them.

Fortunately, the treasure spot mentioned by Sect Master Tongtian was not far from the Primordial World.

Just as Bai Ze proactively warned them that his fortune-and-misfortune sensing ability was about to fail, the Immortal Trapping Sword in Yun Xiao's palm vibrated gently a few times, indicating they were near the treasure spot.

By then, they had no idea how much time had passed, as time itself was chaotic in the Chaos Sea.

But Li Changshou had been secretly keeping count; their venture into the Chaos Sea should not have exceeded half a month.

Jin Peng immediately halted. Li Changshou and Yun Xiao rose together, looking out in all directions.

All they could see was Chaos Qi.

This grayish mist was not uniformly distributed; it was chaotic in itself. Each wisp of Chaos Qi seemingly contained profound Dao principles, yet it was impossible for living beings to directly comprehend them.

It was worth noting that most of the Outer-Realm Heavenly Demons and Chaos beings near the Primordial World gathered around Xuandu City.

This was actually a very clever tactic; the Dao Ancestor deliberately set up a target to draw those outer-realm beings to one side, thereby alleviating "defensive pressure" elsewhere.

Bai Ze hopped over from the front, maintaining his small, auspicious beast form to appear as inconspicuous as possible.

The ancient Ten Great Demon Commander chuckled, "Lord Water God, Fairy, how shall we search next?"

He was actually giving Li Changshou an opening to suggest they split up, allowing him and Jin Peng to politely withdraw.

Li Changshou clearly hesitated for a moment but ultimately declined Bai Ze's kind offer.

Better safe than sorry.

This was the Chaos Sea; if they got separated, they would only meet again in the Primordial World, and who knew what strange crises they might encounter.

Well, as long as one was thick-skinned enough, who cared about being a third wheel?

Li Changshou asked, "Did Uncle-Master Tongtian give any other instructions?"

Yun Xiao looked at the peerless immortal sword in her palm and called out, "Please manifest your spirit."

The Immortal Trapping Sword immediately shone brightly, lengthening to three feet, and floated before Yun Xiao. A wisp of spiritual awareness simultaneously echoed in the hearts of Li Changshou and Yun Xiao.

"Follow me; it's just ahead."

It was still a maiden's voice.

The sword moved forward on its own, parting the Chaos Qi to either side. The profound and enigmatic Dao rhythm of a Saint emanating from the sword naturally belonged to Sect Master Tongtian.

Jin Peng flew forward again. This time, it flew an unknown distance—perhaps over a million *li*, or perhaps only a few hundred *zhang*.

The Chaos Qi ahead suddenly vanished, and they plunged into a void.

Here, dark Great Dao were surprisingly visible, crisscrossing the void and forming a relatively stable "bubble" of Dao principles.

If the orderly Three Thousand Great Dao in the Primordial World were likened to a sea of Dao principles, this place could indeed only be called a "bubble" of Dao principles, liable to be crushed at any moment by drifting Chaos Qi.

This void was also not the same as the outer void of the Primordial World; its spatial and temporal Dao principles were distinctly different.

Right in the center of this place, there seemed to be a swirling mass of vapor. Jin Peng flew slowly forward, and in an instant, that vapor transformed into a sea of clouds, within which lay a hidden dimension.

Bai Ze promptly commented from the side, "Although the Chaos Sea is vast, such hidden places are extremely rare. It's truly uncommon to find one so secret and not too far from the Primordial World."

Li Changshou chuckled at that. What he had been thinking about just then was the pros and cons of the Primordial Spirit Dao and the Physical Body Dao.

Within the Primordial World, the Primordial Spirit Dao had various advantages over the Physical Body Dao.

However, in the Chaos Sea, cultivators who primarily cultivated the Primordial Spirit Dao, if they hadn't reached the Great Luo realm, couldn't manifest their own Dao to cast divine abilities.

A powerful physical body, however, remained unaffected; every punch delivered pure destructive force.

It was also due to his recent success in cultivating the Eight-Nine Arcane Art and absorbing the ancestral witch's essence blood that Li Changshou didn't feel too deep a sense of crisis in the Chaos Sea.

"Jin Peng, be careful; maintain full alert."

Li Changshou instructed thus, and Jin Peng responded with a firm "Yes."

Following this, Li Changshou subconsciously moved closer to Yun Xiao... certainly not to naturally hold hands later or anything!

Jin Peng flew into the sea of clouds. The Immortal Trapping Sword again emitted sword light, cutting through the swirling mists ahead, and found a gourd-shaped 'mountain'.

It was not cloud, nor was it mountain.

Similar appearances under different rules could mask vastly different essences.

Li Changshou carefully sensed that the mountain was surrounded by many strange grand formations. Their principles were entirely different from those in the Primordial World, yet they could utilize fragmented Great Dao from the Chaos Sea!

A relic of a highly accomplished being!

These four words popped into Li Changshou's mind, giving him a sense of anticipation.

Being in the Chaos Sea, there was no sense of time passing. This relic, though appearing new, had actually existed for an unknown number of Primordial Era cycles.

Sect Master Tongtian was indeed correct.

Li Changshou and Yun Xiao exchanged a glance, each giving a soft smile, sharing a subtle sense of unspoken understanding, as if they had "experienced something together."

But there was no rush; he would play it safe once more.

"Mr. Bai, please sense if this place is auspicious or inauspicious."

Bai Ze replied, "This place is already at the very edge of where the Heavenly Dao's power can project. I need to sense it more thoroughly."

Li Changshou naturally nodded in agreement, waiting for a while longer.

Soon, Bai Ze slowly let out a breath. "There's no calamity ahead."

"Let's go in together," Li Changshou called out, instructing Jin Peng to transform into human form. He handed over the Small God-Slaying Spear and gripped the Qiankun Ruler himself.

Yun Xiao also took out her Hunyuan Golden Dou and Dragon-Binding Rope. Combined with the Immortal Trapping Sword, she was indeed fully armed.

As she was taking Li Changshou out to search for treasure, she naturally intended to protect him, as he was slightly weaker.

To save Li Changshou's face, Yun Xiao would discreetly stay by his side, striking only when the timing was right. If he could handle something, she would let him deal with it.

The three individuals and one auspicious beast slowly approached the mountain and entered a cave dwelling without any hindrance.

Unfortunately, the cave dwelling was empty, save for a few scattered colorful spiritual stones, a simple stone bed, and a single chair. A powerful and majestic remnant of the Great Dao lingered within.

Bai Ze's nose twitched, and his eyes showed a hint of doubt. He murmured, "A familiar person's lodging in the Chaos Sea?"

"A master of the Demon Race?" Li Changshou asked cautiously.

"Not necessarily," Bai Ze said. "In ancient times, a large number of masters temporarily resided in the Chaos Sea to escape the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity. This place should be a Daoist sanctuary left from that era."

"However, such sanctuaries are usually just empty shells, with no treasure... cough!"

Bai Ze suddenly understood something and let out a soft "Eh?" "Jin Peng, look outside! What's that?"

Jin Peng, not understanding, turned his head to look.

Bai Ze suddenly exclaimed, "Look, it's actually the Demon Master Kunpeng! Quickly, pursue him!"

With that, Mr. Bai transformed into human form directly, grabbed Jin Peng's arm, and dragged Jin Peng, along with his spear, out of the place.

At the same time, a wisp of Bai Ze's telepathic message reached Li Changshou's ear:

"Lord Water God, search thoroughly. Jin Peng and I will guard outside. There must be treasure here... Grandfather Tongtian wouldn't lie."

Such clumsy acting...

Li Changshou frowned slightly, looking at Yun Xiao with a touch of worry, fearing she might mind this.

But he saw Yun Xiao indeed lowering her head, her face flushed, her eyes seemingly holding a hint of guilt.

Guilt?

Li Changshou immediately understood: Yun Xiao felt that her identity as a senior outer disciple of the Jie Sect was a burden on their relationship.

"Let's," Li Changshou said softly, "search around here."

"Mm."

Yun Xiao nodded gently, and she and Li Changshou temporarily separated, one to the left and one to the right, beginning to search every corner meticulously.

Soon, Li Changshou made a discovery...

Beneath the stone bed, there was indeed a treasure hidden, seemingly a prenatal essence of Earth.

Li Changshou took out this essence of Earth, observing it carefully. He found that it had transformed into a stone statue, with no restrictions upon it.

"A good item," Li Changshou praised. "Many thanks to Uncle-Master Tongtian for the guidance."

Yun Xiao, however, said, "This item can only stabilize a residence. What use is it otherwise?"

Li Changshou explained, "I obtained some Five-Element spiritual objects from Empress Nuwa, and a set of Five-Element spirit beads from Senior Brother Duobao, transforming Little Qiong Peak into something like a defensive spirit treasure."

"With a little refining, this object can serve as the 'spirit' of Little Qiong Peak, allowing it to undergo a transformation."

"For me, it's truly a treasure comparable to a Primal Spirit Treasure."

Seeing his earnest explanation, Yun Xiao couldn't help but purse her lips and chuckle softly. "Don't force yourself to explain for Master," she said gently. "I naturally understand Master's intention."

"It's just that I shouldn't have invited you here, but Senior Brother Duobao guessed my true feelings."

"Under the grand tribulation, I'm afraid I might also..."

She raised her head, looking at Li Changshou with a gaze both open and as tender as water.

"I don't want to have any regrets. Ultimately, I wanted to find a place where others couldn't intrude, to tell you my true feelings."

At this moment, an inexperienced and unyielding man might be moved to pull out the imperial decree and explain, 'You'll be fine in the future; I'll definitely protect you.'

Li Changshou, being experienced, would naturally not make such a mistake now.

At this moment, he shouldn't mention anything else, only speak of them and the present.

He no longer suppressed his Dao heart, put away the essence of Earth, and took a step towards Yun Xiao.

"These words should have been spoken by me; after all, I am a man."

"What does it matter if one is male or female?" Yun Xiao blinked lightly. "Is that a human rule? That only men can say such things without being seen as losing their decorum?"

"There's no such rule," Li Changshou quickly said. "It's just that I myself have some..."

*He thought, how to express 'male chauvinism' using the common terms of the Primordial World? Urgent, waiting for a reply!*

"Hehe, tsk tsk tsk."

Outside the cave dwelling, beyond the peculiar grand formations, Bai Ze stroked his goatee and chuckled softly.

Jin Peng whispered, "Mr. Bai, what's going on? Where is that Demon Master Kunpeng?"

"Aren't you and Kunpeng still somewhat related?"

"He is a rebel of my clan," Jin Peng said, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes. "If I can find his trace, I will surely bring his head back to Undying Volcano!"

Bai Ze nodded slowly. He wasn't very familiar with this matter, having only vaguely heard rumors.

Jin Peng then couldn't resist asking, "Why aren't we inside helping Lord Water God?"

"Still don't understand?"

Bai Ze telepathically replied, "Lord Water God isn't what he used to be. The Dao Ancestor personally appointed him as the orchestrator of the grand tribulation. Behind him are two great patrons: Grandfather Taiqing Saint and Grandfather Dao Ancestor."

"The Jie Sect is anxious... do you understand?"

Jin Peng pondered carefully, then couldn't help but smile slightly. He telepathically replied, "Fairy Yun Xiao is, among all the fairies I've met, the most deserving match for Teacher's wisdom. This is also a good thing."

Bai Ze, however, sighed and began examining the various formations. He telepathically responded:

"Lord Water God probably intended to fully protect Fairy Yun Xiao during the grand tribulation, and only afterward formally establish their Dao companion relationship."

"This is Lord Water God's responsibility, and also his accustomed caution."

"But Fairy Yun Xiao must have felt the pressure brought by the grand tribulation and didn't want to delay any longer."

"At this moment, I suppose they're there pouring out their hearts to each other... Hmm?"

Bai Ze suddenly frowned, looking at a green stone on the 'mountain' and the Dao pattern mark gently glowing on it.

Bai Ze took a few steps forward, examining it closely. His heart suddenly began to tremble, and his expression turned somewhat solemn.

"Mr. Bai, what's wrong now?" Jin Peng asked, puzzled.

"This cave dwelling is still inhabited," Bai Ze whispered. "This is a special mark used to determine location in the Chaos Sea!"

"The other party has activated this mark and is already on their way here!"

As Bai Ze's words fell, Jin Peng seemed to have suddenly seen something. His eyes widened, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

In the surrounding Chaos Sea, an unimaginably vast shadow, impossible to gauge its true size, was swiftly cutting across their side...

Meanwhile, in the spacious main hall of Biyou Palace.

Sect Master Tongtian leaned against the white jade steps. Before him, three precious swords formed an 'equilateral triangle', displaying clear images that broadcast the situations in multiple Jie Sect Daoist sanctuaries.

Duobao Daoist sat cross-legged nearby. He now opened his eyes and asked, "Master, what kind of treasure did you arrange for Junior Sister Yun Xiao and Junior Brother Chang Geng?"

"Treasure?"

Sect Master Tongtian's eyes crinkled in a smile upon hearing this. "What treasure could compare to the precious memories of two people overcoming some hardships together?"

Duobao Daoist was stunned. He hastily asked, "Didn't you find a secret place in the Chaos Sea for Junior Sister Yun Xiao and Junior Brother Chang Geng to get closer?"

"Hmm?"

Sect Master Tongtian frowned. "When did I ever tell you such things as your Master?"

"Chang Geng hasn't even offered tea to me yet, nor has Senior Brother agreed to this matter, let alone had a lively ceremony arranged. How could I just marry Yun Xiao off?"

"Do you perhaps think I'm using Yun Xiao to win over Chang Geng?"

"Then Master... what exactly is that place?"

"It's nothing, just one of Kunpeng's old resting places," Sect Master Tongtian said with a calm smile. "Don't worry. Kunpeng is heavily injured and hasn't healed; he's only fast, no longer a match for Yun Xiao. Furthermore, I can transport myself there at any time with the Immortal Trapping Sword."

"After this ordeal, I'm sure the two of them will be able to advance together, deeply understanding each other's importance!"

"Hahahaha!"

Duobao Daoist: ...

*He thought, I should check my treasure vault to see if there are any spiritual treasures that can protect my knees.*

Sect Master Tongtian suddenly thought of something, frowning as he looked at Duobao. "You didn't, by any chance, say too much to Yun Xiao, did you?"

"Disciple merely advised her not to have any regrets."

Sect Master Tongtian's face darkened, and he could only sigh deeply, a sudden sense of a weary old father coming over him.

With a sword-finger gesture, a somewhat blurry image appeared within the triangular frame before Sect Master Tongtian.

In the image, the figures of a man and a woman were only vague outlines. They were facing each other, barely two feet apart, seemingly speaking.

Sect Master Tongtian drew a simple sword-essence talisman with his sword-finger. The three precious swords vibrated, and an unusually clear dialogue was transmitted:

"I'm sorry. You were originally a fairy of the clouds, yet I insisted on pulling you down into the mortal world."

"I wanted to come down myself..."

"Yun Xiao..."

"Mm."

With a soft call, their fingers intertwined, and the two figures slowly drew closer.

Sect Master Tongtian covered his eyes with one hand, while Duobao Daoist beside him was thoroughly embarrassed, looking down and avoiding further sight.

One foot, five inches, three inches...

The two figures moved closer and closer, their eyes closed and breath held.

Although the image was blurry, one could still see Fairy Yun Xiao's slender hands clenched in nervousness, and discern the tension in Li Changshou's Dao body at that moment.

Two inches!

The image suddenly trembled. The Immortal Slaying Sword, the Immortal Execution Sword, and the Immortal Decapitation Sword simultaneously burst into a violent hum. Sect Master Tongtian sat up, looking at the left edge of the image.

There, a massive black head crashed through the mountain wall. Its enormous, indifferent yet furious eyes stared at the somewhat tiny figures of Li Changshou and Yun Xiao.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng and Bai Ze were sent flying backward in disarray, seemingly directly knocked into the cave by this colossal head!

It... it really appeared, didn't it?

That ironclad rule of the Primordial World: whenever such a scene occurs, it will surely be interrupted!

Li Changshou's mouth twitched uncontrollably. He was about to turn his head to face this unfamiliar ferocious beast, which didn't exert too much pressure on him.

The last one who interrupted his good moment was already picking up axes in the river!

But just as Li Changshou turned his head, before anger could flare in his eyes or his majesty could be revealed, the fairy in front of him gently pulled Li Changshou's hand and then lightly stood on her tiptoes...

Li Changshou was momentarily stunned. He turned to look at the fairy before him, who was perfectly calm, as if nothing had happened.

Yun Xiao swiftly withdrew her slender hand. Li Changshou subconsciously touched his cheek. That soft sound just now, that almost imperceptible touch, reverberated continuously in his Dao heart.

"Let me handle this."

Li Changshou said with a smile, then naturally stepped forward, shielding Yun Xiao behind him. He faced the colossal beast's head directly, staring into its somewhat terrifying purplish-black eyes.

Eight-Nine Arcane Art, activate.

Balance Great Dao, activate.

Profound Yellow Pagoda, Qiankun Ruler, activate.

Bai Ze's shout came from the side: "Lord Water God, be careful! That is the Demon Master Kunpeng!"

Li Changshou's spirit involuntarily stiffened. He took a small half-step back and made a gesture.

All together!