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Chapter 40

Looking back at reality, the nine tailed fox was completely unconscious. Because of the recalled memories that the nine tailed fox is seeing, he wasn't able to fully control his divine energy that was directed on Lian Ren's consciousness. Shao Ling thought that it's the best opportunity to do what he needs to do.

Carefully lying Lian Ren down the floor, he rested his both palms on Lian Ren's chest and closed his eyes, digging deep onto his spiritual core to help him regain his consciousness. The azure blue spiritual qi leaked out of his palms and penetrated inside Lian Ren's core.

Digging through a Cultivator's core is a very risky decision. Because it is equivalent to facing the full potential of the Cultivator's power. Shao Ling knew about this, but he also knew that it's the only way to make Lian Ren regain his consciousness as soon as possible considering that he was trapped in a divine trial of delusion made by the nine tailed fox.

Inside his core was surprisingly cozy, not cold. Which is why Shao Ling was surprised as soon as he went inside Lian Ren's core. But however he tried to find Lian Ren's consciousness he can't find it. Time has already run out, and the azure blue energy already dissipated from his palms, but Shao Ling didn't gave up and inserted another set of energy in his palms and penetrated the qi inside.

With his determination and valor to succeed. His spiritual qi dug deeper inside that he thought. And what Shao Ling saw was a cold place filled with spiky ices and frozen floor. Even a slight contact from the ice can give him a frostbite. But Shao Ling kept going and went to find Lian Ren's consciousness inside. Shao Ling was getting more and more frostbites as he move forward the cold path. Until he heard a murmurs somewhere the blizzard and sensed the sound the follow it.

The more he gets closer, the more the blizzard and ice turned even more cold to the point that Shao Ling's fingertips are starting to froze. The sound of a sobbing child first echoed throughout the place. And after a while, a deep murmuring voice resonated in the midst of the blizzard.

Shao Ling felt a sharp pain in his chest. He bit his lip and knitted his brows as he continued to went closer. The continuous apology of Lian Ren's consciousness gave him a stabbing pain in his chest. Although he want to stop and close his eyes to take a deep breath, Shao Ling chose to move forward and shove his weakness away.

Shao Ling was expecting for the blizzard to go even rougher as he pass by the barrier, but what greeted him was a quiet space of water in the center. Shao Ling stared down at the water where he was walking to. From the looks of it, it seemed like the ice melted inside the space and turned into water. In the center of the water, lies a blue wisp that is floating still. The wisp was trembling and slightly swirling, as if it was suffering and trying to escape from somewhere.

Shao Ling was about to take the wisp when another voice of Lian Ren resonated from the blue wisp,

With frozen trembling hands, Shao Ling carefully grabbed the blue wisp. All of a sudden, a tear escaped from his eye. Shao Ling followed the droplet of tear dripped down the water, and noticed his reflection that there were already tears falling non stop from his eyes. He didn't let out a single sound of cry, nor did he try to do it. Shao Ling held tightly to the blue wisp, closed his eyes and let his emotion take over him atleast once.

How is your consciousness like this, Lian Ren?

Every tear that escaped his eyes dripped down the water of the space. Without him realizing, the blizzard barrier was slowly starting to fade and a cozy feeling enveloped around Shao Ling, followed by a bright white hole materializing inside the edge of Lian Ren's spiritual core. Shao Ling lowered his gaze at the blue wisp, and noticed that it wasn't trembling anymore. It was just staring at him, standing still in his palms. Since the wisp doesn't have a face, Shao Ling doesn't know what it was thinking or trying to say to him.

Even knowing that the wisp can't say anything, Shao Ling gave it a warm smile, moved the blue wisp closer to him as he whispered, The wisp only looked at him, slightly showing a white spark of glow.

Shao Ling started to walk towards the gleaming white hole. He glanced left and right, staring at the once harshly cold ice spikes turning into a beautiful sculpture of trees. The materialized trees looks so beautiful, as if it was made of sparkling clear crystals instead of ice. Shao Ling can't feel the cold anymore, nor the pain of frostbite all over his body. In fact, he noticed recently that the frostbites on his body had completely healed and disappeared.

Finally arriving at the gleaming white hole, Shao Ling was about to enter it when the blue wisp went ahead of him. The wisp flew out of his palm and went to the white hole, looking back at him as if it was asking him to come along. Shao Ling's lips slightly curved at the sight of the pure blue wisp and followed along, entering the gleaming white hole with a heave of breath.

A blinding white light blocked Shao Ling's vision as he felt that the hole was pulling him out. The uncomfortable feeling lasted for a bit, until he found himself lying beside Lian Ren. Shao Ling immediately stood up to check Lian Ren's condition, when he saw that Lian Ren's eyes was open and staring at the night sky in a daze.

Shao Ling heaved a breath, causing to caught Lian Ren's attention and glance at him. Shao Ling froze at his eyes, now that he regained his past memories, he knew what he and Lian Ren went through in the past. As well as the passionate contact that they shared on Lian Ren's bed.

Shao Ling cleared his throat and averted his gaze at Lian Ren.

A warm hand grabbed Shao Ling's nape, pulling him closer to Lian Ren's face. It was so sudden that Shao Ling had no time to react. Unconsciously resting his both hands on Lian Ren's chest, both of their lips collided with each other. The warm and soft feeling give shivers down Shao Ling's spine, he trembled and tried to withdrew his lips on Lian Ren, but Lian Ren pushed his nape more, causing their teeth to brush at each other. Shao Ling felt a bit pain, causing his mouth to slightly open. Lian Ren took it as an opportunity to move his lips, pulling Shao Ling close to him as he savor Shao Ling's sweet and moist lips.

Shao Ling pushed him slightly, signalling him to stop even though he showed a bit of hesitation.

Lian Ren's eyes were only directed to him, he never took his eyes off Shao Ling and that made Shao Ling embarrassed that he close both of his eyes just to not meet Lian Ren's eyes. The warm feeling instantly change into a scorching hot sensation. Shao Ling was starting to feel lightheaded from Lian Ren's kisses. He can't even kiss him back because he's petrified from what Lian Ren was doing. Shao Ling can't take it anymore, he pushed Lian Ren a bit longer and pulled back his face away from him to speak.

He said to him as he gasped for breath.

Lian Ren stared at him for a while and finally let go of Shao Ling's nape and waist. Shao Ling was relieved but for some reason he was slightly disappointed that Lian Ren stopped. Realizing his disgraceful thoughts, Shao Ling frowned at himself, realizing that he was actually disappointed by the fact that Lian Ren stopped kissing him. You dirty Master! How dare you think about that to your disciple! Have some conscious and pride! How disgraceful! Unacceptable!

Shao Ling was still reprimanding himself when all of a sudden, Lian Ren pulled him closer again. Shao Ling was surprised, but he was prepared for what was gonna happen so he immediately closed his eyes tightly and tensed his lips when he realized that Lian Ren was hugging him. Shao Ling paused for a while, dumbfounded by his own actions when he felt that Lian Ren hugged him tighter, snuggling on his stomach while hugging him.

Shao Ling felt embarrassed to answer, so he only patted Lian Ren's head as he tightly closed his eyes and bit his lip. Lian Ren snuggled on his stomach even more, leaving Shao Ling a tickling sensation as he flinched on Lian Ren's actions. The two of them stayed still for a long time until Shao Ling noticed that the sun was already rising in the east. Shao Ling glanced at Lian Ren and tapped his head then spoke,

Lian Ren heaved a breath and loosened his hands on Shao Ling's chest,

The two of them stood up. Shao Ling glanced at his dirty Yun Sect uniform and sighed as he tried to brush the dirt away when he saw Lian Ren reaching out his hand to him in his peripheral vision. Shao Ling lifted his gaze on him, and was slightly blinded from the ray of sun that was behind Lian Ren. Shao Ling glanced at Lian Ren's hand for a long time until he felt that it would be very embarrassing if he accepted Lian Ren's hand late so he looked away and walked past him.

Shao Ling said as he cleared his throat. Lian Ren chuckled at his behavior and followed him from behind as they went towards to the path of plains as soon as they exited the forest.

As the sun rays lit up the dark and eerie forest, the dark and corrupted trees were slowly illuminated. Leaves started to grow from its empty branches and small flowers started to grow from the little bushes growing at the edges of the small boulders.

The nine tailed fox groaned as he slowly regained his consciousness. He stood up carefully and heaved a heavy breath. He shifted his gaze at the rising sun and let out a slight smile.

The nine tailed fox's ears twitched as he heard a deep and sultry voice coming from behind the trees. A man wearing a black robe embroidered with golden outlines walked out of the trees and gave him a grin.

Lim Yuan, the Mount Hua Peak Master, massaged his temples and heaved a sigh.

Wang, the nine tailed fox replied with a scowl.

Lim Yuan said as he continued to sigh,

Wang averted his gaze and stood quiet for a while until he guiltily glanced at Lim Yuan and spoke,

Lim Yuan said with a grin.

Wang replied with a guilty tone.

Lim Yuan replied with a smile.

Wang replied.

" Lim Yuan said as he approached Wang and patted his head.

Wang answered.

Lim Yuan smiled at him.

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