ISWTDB Ch24

Chapter 24: The Disfigured and Blind Sect Leader (24)

Although Ying Zhao could persuade Wen Renming to return his soul fragments so they could proceed to the next world, he couldn’t bear to do so. After all, those fragments were a part of his beloved, and their love was real.

Ying Zhao hoped to spend more time with him. Moreover, Xiao Bai had once said that in this soul-nourishing artifact, time for the outside world almost stood still.

Thus, no matter how many years he spent accompanying Wen Renming here, it would seem like only a moment had passed outside.

And so, Ying Zhao and Wen Renming lived happily in this secret realm for 800 years. Due to their frequent dual cultivation, Wen Renming’s level had long surpassed the Demon Emperor stage, reaching the Demon Ancestor stage.

However, one day 800 years later, the entire secret realm suddenly shook violently, and they could even faintly hear rumbling thunder from outside the secret realm.

Ying Zhao was startled and immediately thought, could it be that Wen Renming’s level was about to break through again? Was he about to ascend to a heavenly demon beyond the Demon Ancestor stage?

But for some reason, Ying Zhao felt something was wrong. Feeling the pervasive oppression in the secret realm, Ying Zhao asked Xiao Bai in his mind, “Xiao Bai, what exactly is happening outside? Why do I feel that this lightning tribulation is not simple!”

In the sea of consciousness, Xiao Bai nodded to Ying Zhao and quickly said:

“Host, I was just about to tell you, something terrible has happened! The system has just scanned the lightning tribulation outside the secret realm and it seems to have the tendency to split open the secret realm. The power of this lightning tribulation is too strong. Although achieving ascension usually involves facing a lightning tribulation, which is often a matter of life and death, this time, based on the system’s calculations, if Wen Renming tries to withstand it, it won’t be a matter of life and death, but certain death!”

Hearing Xiao Bai’s words, Ying Zhao immediately thought, could it be that the Heavenly Dao is meddling, trying to take Wen Renming’s life at this opportunity?

Moreover, this cultivation world is just a small world within the soul-nourishing artifact, so how could there be true ascension beyond the world? Wen Renming reaching the Demon Ancestor stage should already be the limit.

So this lightning tribulation must be a trick of the Heavenly Dao. Thinking of this, Ying Zhao clenched his fists. He turned to Wen Renming and said firmly, “Wen Renming, don’t worry, I will protect you and not let anything or anyone harm you!”

Wen Renming, hearing Ying Zhao’s words, held his hand and smiled at him. He said softly, “Yunping, don’t worry, I will be fine.”

Ying Zhao bit his lip, deciding not to sit and wait for death. He lowered his eyes and consulted with Xiao Bai in his mind, “Xiao Bai, besides unleashing my primordial power, do you have any other ways to help Wen Renming withstand this tribulation?”

Xiao Bai nodded upon hearing Ying Zhao’s words and said, “Host, when the master created me, he left me some energy to use in critical moments. After all, the Heavenly Dao always wants to cause trouble. The power he infused in me is meant to counter and subdue the Heavenly Dao. Host, in a while, you and Wen Renming should go to an open place and draw down the lightning tribulation. The lightning tribulation will surely be condensed from the power of the Heavenly Dao. I will gather my strength to help you withstand it and then strike back along the path of the lightning tribulation to destroy the consciousness of the Heavenly Dao completely!”

Hearing this, Ying Zhao finally breathed a sigh of relief. Since the power was given to Xiao Bai by Bai Rui, it was naturally formidable. As one of the top ten ancient fierce beasts, Teng Snake, Bai Rui’s power would surely be able to repel the Heavenly Dao and protect Wen Renming.

So he took Wen Renming’s hand and went to the open grassy area outside the bamboo house. He smiled at Wen Renming and said, “Wen Renming, the lightning tribulation is about to come.”

Wen Renming turned to Ying Zhao, anxiously gripping his arm and said, “Yunping, you must leave here! I can handle the tribulation alone, just wait for me to return!”

But Ying Zhao shook his head and whispered in Wen Renming’s ear, “Wen Renming, if you are really hurt, do you think I would survive alone? So we must face this lightning tribulation together. If you live, I live with you; if you die, I will perish with you. Think about it, if we both turned to ashes and fused together, it would be quite romantic, wouldn’t it?”

As he spoke, Ying Zhao laughed lightly. Wen Renming, not wanting to harm Ying Zhao, knew that after living together for so many years, they were inseparable.

He naturally understood that what Ying Zhao said was true; neither of them could live without the other. So Wen Renming’s expression became resolute. He took out all his defensive artifacts, placed them in front of the two, and gathered his strength, waiting for the lightning tribulation to strike.

Rumble!

The sky in the secret realm gradually darkened, and they could see electrical currents surging in the distant sky.

Suddenly, a thick thunder dragon broke through the secret realm, striking directly at Ying Zhao and Wen Renming. The thunder dragon roared, its momentum seemingly intent on scorching the heavens.

However, just as the thunder dragon reached them, Xiao Bai opened a protective shield, firmly covering them. With a hiss, Xiao Bai transformed into a hornless white dragon and charged straight at the thunder dragon.

Though the thunder dragon was countless times thicker than Xiao Bai, it was forcibly scattered by Xiao Bai. Xiao Bai flew upwards rapidly, following the path of the thunder dragon, seemingly intent on striking directly at the core of the Heavenly Dao.

After a long time, the sky in the secret realm finally cleared. Xiao Bai returned to Ying Zhao’s sea of consciousness. Seeing Xiao Bai looking somewhat dejected, Ying Zhao worriedly asked, “Xiao Bai, what happened to you? Are you hurt?”

Xiao Bai shook his head and replied tearfully, “No, I’m fine. It’s just that although I severely injured the Heavenly Dao, it still managed to escape. I’m sorry, Host! I’m really useless.”

Seeing Xiao Bai’s self-reproach, Ying Zhao’s lips curved into a smile. He patted Xiao Bai’s forehead and gently said:

“You’ve done very well, Xiao Bai. Thank you so much this time! Otherwise, with my power being suppressed in this small world, I wouldn’t have been able to help Wen Renming. But if I unleashed my primordial power here, I would be expelled by this small world. Xiao Bai, we owe our safe passage through this tribulation to you!”

Xiao Bai blushed at Ying Zhao’s praise. Unable to control himself, he flicked his tail and twisted his body, saying to Ying Zhao, “Host, don’t praise me like that. This is what I’m supposed to do!”

Meanwhile, Wen Renming had been waiting for the lightning tribulation, but the thunder dragon that struck down had dissipated right before his eyes.

Wen Renming didn’t know what had happened, so he turned to Ying Zhao. He had clearly felt a powerful force burst from Ying Zhao’s body, scattering the tribulation.

Not wanting to deceive Wen Renming after years of living together, Ying Zhao leaned over and kissed his lips, saying, “This is a little secret of mine, Wen Renming. Don’t ask, okay?”

Although shocked by Ying Zhao’s words, Wen Renming nodded. As long as his beloved didn’t leave him, he wouldn’t care about anything else. He gratefully hugged Ying Zhao, whispering, “Yunping, thank you.”

Holding Ying Zhao as if he were his most precious treasure, Wen Renming felt truly fortunate. If all the past suffering was to have Yunping at this moment, he would gladly endure tenfold, a hundredfold more pain and torment!

The Heavenly Dao had been severely injured and fled. The crisis in this small world was completely averted. Ying Zhao accompanied Wen Renming in this small world for another thousand years, and they lived very happily every day.

However, happy days eventually come to an end. Even cultivators have a limit. After all, even immortals must face the Five Decays of Heaven and Man.

On Wen Renming’s final day, he tightly hugged Ying Zhao, burying his head deep in his chest. Ying Zhao gently stroked his lover’s hair, filled with sadness and reluctance.

Wen Renming, struggling to grip Ying Zhao’s hand, said with vacant eyes full of regret, “Yunping, I can’t bear to leave you! I haven’t had enough time with you! I want to be with you for a hundred years, five hundred years, a thousand years, ten thousand years. I want to be with you forever!”

But after he finished speaking, he could no longer hold on and closed his eyes.

Seeing his lover lose his breath in front of him, Ying Zhao couldn’t hold back a tear. He kissed Wen Renming’s forehead and whispered in his ear, “You know, you really can be with me forever.”

Immediately, a white light orb slowly rose from Wen Renming’s chest. It was a fragment of Zhu Que’s soul, and from within the fragment, Zhu Que’s voice could be heard. “Xiaozhao, all these years we spent together, was it real? Did you come to find me out of love, not guilt or pity, right?”

Although the voice was very weak, it made Ying Zhao very emotional. He shouted loudly, “Zhu Que! It was I who came to find you! Don’t worry, I will definitely bring you back to life! It was my fault in the past, I was foolish! I came here out of love for you, believe me!”

Upon hearing Ying Zhao’s words, the fragment seemed to glow momentarily with excitement, then gently floated into Ying Zhao’s hand, seemingly rubbing against his palm. Ying Zhao quickly took the fragment, feeling a slight warmth emanate from it.

“Xiaozhao, I have been very happy with you all these years!” Zhu Que’s voice sounded again, but it was even more fatigued. Then the fragment seemed to fall into a slumber, losing its light.

With tears in his eyes, Ying Zhao realized that even now, Zhu Que was trying to do something for him.

Indeed, fragments regain their memory after the small world ends.

How wonderful, he had made his lover happy!

Gently kissing the fragment, Ying Zhao placed it into the system in his sea of consciousness. Then, he closed his eyes and completely left this world.