Chapter 400: Qingzhu's Second Awakening
"Manifestation Realm!" Lin Langtian felt the powerful strength surging within him, unable to hide a satisfied smile. A Manifestation Realm expert could easily stand their ground anywhere in the vast Eastern Xuan Region and hold significant positions, even in the eight great sects. With Lin Langtian's extraordinary power, even regular mid-stage Manifestation Realm warriors likely wouldn't be his match.
Taking in his newfound power, he glanced at the unnaturally calm Celestial Essence Pool nearby, frowning slightly. "This place is too quiet," he murmured.
A half-hour passed, Lin Langtian's frown deepening, before he finally stood, focusing intently on the pool. "Something strange is going on…" he muttered, then, tightening his lips, he dove into the pool, the gentle splash echoing through the quiet valley.
Upon entering, he immediately felt a stream of pure and peculiar energy rushing toward him, coursing through his body with a tingling sting. But the sensation brought not pain, but a subtle sense of relief, like the healing of old wounds. "Incredible regenerative properties," he murmured in awe. Years of intense battles had left minor injuries, even with his strong physique. Yet, as the pool's energy seeped into him, he could feel these hidden injuries begin to dissolve.
With a flash of inspiration, he unleashed his Devouring Force, drawing in the energy even faster, then shifted his focus, searching the depths of the pool for Qingzhu.
"Nothing here... did she go down further?" Seeing no sign of her, he pushed deeper, heading toward the shadowed bottom. The pool's narrow passageways and complex terrain slowed him down, but his powerful spirit sense allowed him to adjust his course by detecting subtle energy changes around him.
Suddenly, his spirit sense picked up on something unusual. Alert, he headed toward it, his swift movements slicing through the water.
At last, he reached the area, only to see a glow of emerald green radiating from the pool's depths. There, a figure lay curled within a shimmering, jade-like light, her smooth, alabaster skin radiant in the emerald glow, dark hair cascading down her shoulders like a sleeping water nymph. It was Qingzhu.
"Found her at last," he exhaled in relief, but his eyes soon narrowed as he noticed thin green strands extending from the bottom of the pool, wrapping around her.
"Hmph," he grunted, waving his sleeve to unleash a surge of force that scattered the murky sediment below, revealing a pale skeleton lying beneath. Emerald strands pulsed from it, flowing into Qingzhu's body, drawing energy from her.
Not hesitating, Lin Langtian's hand sliced downward, shattering the emerald lines in a series of crisp snaps. The glow surrounding her faded, yet she remained unconscious.
He quickly pulled her into his arms, her cool, smooth skin bringing a wave of unbidden thoughts to his mind as his gaze drifted over her.
With a heavy exhale, he withdrew a cloak, wrapping her in it to conceal her delicate form. Even wet and clinging to her shape, the cloak helped preserve some decency. With her securely in his arms, he turned his attention back to the skeleton below, noting its faint tremor and dim glow within its eye sockets.
To his surprise, the skeleton stopped, shuddering before crumbling into ashes.
Buzz!
Suddenly, a streak of green light burst from the remains, darting through the water straight toward him.
Lin Langtian watched the green light warily as it drew closer, realizing it was an intricate spirit seal, brimming with immense, boundless energy.
"A spirit seal…" he murmured, understanding its potency. He remembered the fierce power of Yuan Cang's spirit seal from their previous battle and knew well what a treasure it was.
Yet, even as his interest piqued, he made no move to seize it. Spirit seals, after all, chose their own master. As he suspected, the green light shifted away from him, settling instead into the body of Qingzhu, still unconscious in his arms.
"So, it chose her," he whispered, showing no disappointment. He had already gained a great deal in the Demon Abyss and didn't feel any particular need to possess this spirit seal.
With the seal finding its new master, it was time to leave. Lin Langtian prepared to take Qingzhu from the pool when he felt her stir. Glancing down, he was met by her wide, bright eyes and her flushed face, warm against his chest.
The two locked eyes in the quiet depths of the pool, an unspoken silence lingering between them. Lin Langtian froze momentarily, feeling an awkwardness he hadn't anticipated. He wasn't one to navigate romantic tension easily; though they shared an unforgettable moment once, that was under the influence of a trap—now, both were perfectly aware.
And with her so close, her damp, thin robe provided little cover, warmth radiating from her skin and making his breath catch just slightly. He knew any man, placed in this situation, would struggle to remain unaffected.
"Let me go," Qingzhu whispered, breaking the silence.
Ling Qingzhu clearly sensed Lin Langtian's subtle change, and a hint of fear flickered in her clear eyes as she tried to pull away.
In this unusual setting, her usual calm and aloof demeanor had faded. And yet, she hadn't realized that, for a man, seeing a goddess-like, reserved woman in a moment of rare vulnerability was a powerful allure. It was as if a radiant figure had momentarily shed her otherworldly light, revealing a softer, more human side that could captivate anyone.
Suddenly, her words fell silent as she saw that instead of releasing her, Lin Langtian's dark eyes began to blaze with a faint, uncontained desire. Her pupils widened as his face drew closer, his arms anchoring her in place. She could feel the heat of his lips press firmly and possessively against hers.
The intense warmth that touched her lips made Ling Qingzhu freeze. But in an instant, she regained her senses, her slender fingers clawing sharply into Lin Langtian's back, leaving red streaks as she fought to break free.
Yet her resistance seemed to only strengthen his resolve. His arms, like iron clamps, held her tightly, his grip fierce, as if he meant to merge her into himself. The more she struggled, the closer he held her, undeterred by the stinging scratches across his back.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Ling Qingzhu's palms struck against his chest in sharp, powerful blows that would leave anyone else trembling. She was both furious and utterly humiliated, and the sound of her blows echoed with a force that would have made any Nine Yuan Nirvana expert stagger.
But with Lin Langtian now in the Life Profound Realm, his robust body absorbed her assault with barely a flinch.
There, in the depths of the Taiqing Immortal Pool, the two were locked in a strange, intimate struggle—an embrace filled with fierce, frustrated resistance, and a clash of surging tempers and unexpected longing.
"Mmm..."
A soft hum escaped from Ling Qingzhu's lips, and just as she was about to push herself away from Lin Langtian with flushed cheeks, a fiery red spark—like a Vermilion Bird flame—suddenly burst forth from his body, slipping into her own.
The moment the Vermilion flame entered her, a surge of intense heat spread through her entire body, her skin instantly radiating warmth. The strength she had just used to push Lin Langtian away gradually faded, her hands losing all their resistance as they rested weakly on his shoulders. Her usually porcelain-white skin flushed a deep pink, and her once-clear eyes grew hazy with a shimmering, unfocused look.
The desire that began to build inside her was irresistibly stoked by the Vermilion flame, pulling her closer to the man before her, who seemed to emit a powerful, alluring presence that drew her in entirely.
"No... this isn't good!"
A struggle flashed briefly across Ling Qingzhu's face, her body trembling as she fought the wave of sensations overtaking her. Yet, even in the midst of her resistance, a memory resurfaced: that moment in the ancient tomb, where she and Lin Langtian had been so intimately connected for the first time.
The memory weakened her resolve, and in a moment of surrender, she reached out, her slender arm wrapping around Lin Langtian's neck. Her body, supple and inviting, melded against his as a faint fragrance drifted around them, its scent drawing Lin Langtian deeper into the moment.
"Boom!"
A hint of soft fragrance, along with the warmth of her delicate body, was like a lit fuse, setting off an explosion of emotions within Lin Langtian, his eyes instantly glowing with a deep red intensity.
"Lin Langtian, if you dare touch me again, I swear when I regain my senses, I'll take your life!"
The beautiful woman, powerless in his arms, had lost her usual untouchable, otherworldly aura. In this moment, she looked more like a mesmerizing enchantress, her once-clear eyes smoldering as she rested against him. Though her lips were soft and enticingly red, a barely audible threat slipped out.
Seeing Ling Qingzhu still insisting on tough words, Lin Langtian paused in surprise, then a flash of irritation rose within him.
"Ling Qingzhu, no matter what you say, I've already decided that you are my woman. And if you're my woman, then once is never enough!"
In a fit of intense anger, Lin Langtian's eyes turned a fiery red. With a loud shout, he threw caution to the wind, reaching out and swiftly tearing away the robe that had just covered Ling Qingzhu.
In an instant, her flawless figure lay fully revealed, a scene of breathtaking beauty. A powerful rush of satisfaction surged through Lin Langtian, and with a wave of his sleeve, he summoned a glowing sphere, separating him and Ling Qingzhu from the surrounding waters of the lake.
The lakebed fell silent, while within that shielded space, a subtle, stirring sense of warmth began to quietly spread. Inside the sphere, the two shadowed figures intertwined, united in perfect harmony, a blending of yin and yang.
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