AVL Chapter 52

An hour later.

 

Xi Jianlan’s legs had gone numb, but the “Encountering Peach Blossoms” illusion showed no signs of change.

 

The three looked at each other.

 

Liu Changxing said tactfully: “Jue’er, shall we continue waiting?”

 

Xi Jianlan choked.

 

Thinking back carefully, when Xun Niang opened the formation earlier, she seemed to have coughed up blood. It would probably be very difficult to open this formation from the outside.

 

Sheng Jiao sat with lowered eyes, his robes scattered on the ground already covered with a layer of illusory peach blossoms.

 

Xi Jianlan silently ground his teeth, got up and walked to sit in front of Sheng Jiao, saying coldly: “If I undo ‘Exchange for Bright Moon,’ can you really break open the formation?”

 

Sheng Jiao was concise: “Yes.”

 

Xi Jianlan knew Sheng Jiao never did anything he wasn’t confident about. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly said: “But this time I sealed your spiritual power with my own ability. After you break open ‘Encountering Peach Blossoms,’ can you let me use ‘Exchange for Bright Moon’ to seal your spiritual power once more?”

 

Sheng Jiao: “…………”

 

Even Sheng Jiao, composed as he was, was shocked by Xi Jianlan’s words.

 

He really couldn’t understand where Xi Jianlan got the audacity and shamelessness to say such things.

 

Any person with a normal brain would never agree.

 

“I’m afraid.” Xi Jianlan leaned forward slightly, supporting himself on Sheng Jiao’s knee, his eyes coldly staring into Sheng Jiao’s. “I’m afraid of your Tianyan pearls, so Sheng Wuzhuo…”

 

He reached out to gently caress Sheng Jiao’s lips, seducing like a demon: “Please agree, I beg you.”

 

Xi Jianlan’s face was too exquisitely beautiful—anyone else would have been enchanted and lost their soul.

 

But Sheng Jiao remained unmoved, saying coolly: “What if I go back on my word?”

 

Xi Jianlan had inexplicable trust in this blockhead Sheng Jiao, grinning: “You’re the Xiezhi Sect Master, not a smooth-talking liar like me. Going back on your word—how could that be the conduct of a gentleman?”

 

Sheng Jiao’s brow furrowed slightly, seemingly displeased with this statement: “You also studied in Zhuxing Zhai’s Jiusi Courtyard for four years.”

 

Xi Jianlan was stunned, then laughed as if hearing a joke: “To survive, I can even abandon my dignity—what kind of gentleman am I? Tianyan Academy having such a disgraceful student like me probably ruined their reputation, didn’t it?”

 

Sheng Jiao’s five fingers curled slightly.

 

“Will you agree?”

 

Xi Jianlan gazed at him with moist lashes. No matter how unreasonable his request, his attitude was pitiful and pleading, as if Sheng Jiao not agreeing would make him heinously guilty and despised.

 

Sheng Jiao met his gaze indifferently.

 

Xi Jianlan probably felt his shamelessness was too much. After thinking, he added another bargaining chip, pinching the glass orb between two fingers and waving it in front of Sheng Jiao: “If you agree, I’ll give you Xi Minghuai’s memory.”

 

Liu Changxing sat not far away, seeing the two talking so close they were almost touching. He felt something was odd, but thinking carefully, little Xi Jue at Tianyan Academy was always afraid of cold and darkness, constantly pouncing on other Zhuxing Zhai members.

 

Thinking of it this way, it made sense.

 

Finally, Sheng Jiao reached out to take the glass orb: “Alright.”

 

But Xi Jianlan pulled back, grinning: “A gentleman’s word is his bond—I’ll give it to you once we’re out.”

 

Xi Jianlan knew he was full of lies and had almost no credibility in others’ eyes. He’d expected Sheng Jiao not to trust him and was about to rack his brains for some useless guarantees.

 

Unexpectedly, Sheng Jiao just nodded, indicating the deal was made.

 

Xi Jianlan blinked in surprise.

 

Sheng Jiao said: “Spiritual power.”

 

“Oh.” Xi Jianlan came to his senses and obediently went to undo the spiritual power.

 

“Exchange for Bright Moon” was a spirit word Xi Jianlan had already set—it could be activated without spiritual power.

 

In the Encountering Peach Blossoms illusion, peach blossoms filled the trees, petals scattering freely like falling snow.

 

The moment the seal fell, Sheng Jiao’s confined spiritual power instantly returned. The spiritual power fluctuation, completely different from Void Return realm, was like a sudden violent storm.

 

Spiritual power burst forth, rippling in all directions with thunderous force.

 

In just an instant, tens of thousands of peach trees in the entire illusion were shaken until flowers fell everywhere, with fierce winds sweeping toward the sky.

 

Sheng Jiao rose indifferently, his spiritual power temporarily uncontained, nearly sweeping away the unprepared Xi Jianlan.

 

Liu Changxing caught the swaying Xi Jianlan.

 

Xi Jianlan stared at Sheng Jiao in shock, his heart racing wildly as an inexplicable sense of crisis surged up.

 

Sheng Jiao…

 

Was no longer Void Return realm.

 

He wasn’t even half-step Great Ascension stage—his mental state and spiritual power had almost entirely broken through bottlenecks. Now he only needed a thunder tribulation to completely leap into being one of the few great masters in the thirteen provinces.

 

Above Great Ascension stage was achieving enlightenment—being sealed as an immortal lord by Heaven’s Way and ascending.

 

Xi Jianlan thought of something and his face turned pale as paper.

 

“Encountering Peach Blossoms” could restrict the spiritual power of Void Return realm and below cultivators, but couldn’t stop Great Ascension stage.

 

Sheng Jiao was expressionless. Without even using Tianyan pearls or his natal sword Winter Snow, he condensed a ball of lightning spiritual power in his palm, creating an overwhelming pressure in the vast illusion like the calm before a storm.

 

Countless peach trees turned to powder, the peach grove instantly leveled, completely exposed.

 

After a moment of shock, Liu Changxing came to his senses and quickly said: “Wuzhuo, no need to use spiritual power to break the formation, use your fingertip blood…”

 

Before he finished, Sheng Jiao forcefully struck the formation’s eye with the spiritual power in his palm.

 

Red light collided with lightning patterns, the ground cracking with fine lightning marks that spread in all directions in an instant.

 

The illusion was instantly broken.

 

The feeling of going from formation illusion to reality was like tearing through space. Xi Jianlan, with his powerless body, felt like countless hands were pulling and tearing him in all directions.

 

The tearing sensation spread throughout his entire soul.

 

But it was only momentary.

 

When Xi Jianlan opened his eyes while gasping slightly, the three had returned to Hongchen Shijun Tower.

 

The wooden carved peach blossom painting on the wall looked as if struck by lightning—petals withered, trees charred black, still emanating lightning patterns and wisps of black smoke.

 

Xun Niang, who had been looking out the window, turned around startled. Her gaze fell on the completely destroyed “Encountering Peach Blossoms” formation, her expression shocked.

 

Was such a big commotion necessary? Wasn’t it just a formation that could be broken with two drops of blood?

 

Or perhaps…

 

Xun Niang’s lips twitched slightly.

 

Or perhaps these three really couldn’t gather two drops of blood?

 

Endless Period had been impatiently chasing its own tail in circles. Suddenly seeing Xi Jianlan, it was so happy tears filled its eyes: “Xi Jianlan!”

 

It kicked with all four paws, its fat body still agile, “whooshing” onto Xi Jianlan’s shoulder and affectionately nuzzling his cheek. It suddenly transformed into black mist, circled Xi Jianlan’s neck twice, and disappeared into the back of his neck.

 

Xi Jianlan touched the back of his neck and smiled slightly.

 

Xun Niang looked at him with mixed feelings and asked softly: “Did you get the memory?”

 

“Mm.” Xi Jianlan held the glass orb between two fingers, smiling without warmth: “Hidden quite deep.”

 

They’d almost been trapped to death inside.

 

Xun Niang opened her lips, wanting to speak but stopping.

 

Never mind.

 

Xi Jianlan held the orb, about to ask Xun Niang how to view it, when he belatedly heard commotion from outside the window.

 

He walked over and glanced down to find that the crowd who’d been selecting courtesans and lighting lanterns still hadn’t dispersed—they were even more frantically lighting cloud lanterns and throwing them toward Hongchen Shijun Tower.

 

“What’s going on?” Xi Jianlan asked.

 

For some reason, Xun Niang looked at Sheng Jiao with pity.

 

Sheng Jiao: “?”

 

Xun Niang said: “Hongchen Shijun Tower’s old rule—the distinguished guest who lights the most lanterns for the courtesan can spend a spring night with the new courtesan.”

 

During the hour-plus Xi Jianlan was trapped in “Encountering Peach Blossoms,” Hongchen had already counted the lanterns—Lan Jiaojiao was undoubtedly the new courtesan, and the crowd had already cheered.

 

Xi Jianlan said “oh” and didn’t take it to heart.

 

He hadn’t signed any indenture contract with Hongchen Shijun Tower. Now that he had the memory orb, he could just leave, and Hongchen wouldn’t dare stop him.

 

But Sheng Jiao didn’t know the details and frowned slightly.

 

Xi Jianlan inadvertently noticed and suddenly smiled slyly, leaning forward to ask: “How many lanterns did Sect Master Sheng light for me?”

 

Sheng Jiao stared at him coldly.

 

Xun Niang said quietly: “Today the one who lit the most lanterns was an immortal lord surnamed Yu. I heard the tower master has already invited him to the pleasure house.”

 

Xi Jianlan’s smile instantly disappeared.

 

That bastard Yu Tuishan again.

 

Just as they were talking, someone gently knocked on the door.

 

Hongchen pushed the door open. Seeing the mess in the room, she blinked in surprise, but she probably had urgent business and didn’t ask much—if it was broken, they’d just redecorate. Hongchen Tower wasn’t short of money.

 

“Dear,” Hongchen smiled gently, “could you step aside with sister for a word?”

 

Xi Jianlan frowned: “Just say it directly.”

 

Hongchen also looked at Sheng Jiao with pity.

 

Sheng Jiao: “?”

 

“That Immortal Lord Yu has arrived,” Hongchen said. “He lit fifty thousand lanterns for you today and wants to invite you to a private room for a chat.”

 

Fifty thousand lanterns.

 

Who knows how many of them were mixed with “Abandoned Immortal Bone.”

 

The wisps of fake Tianyan weren’t significant. For those who hadn’t taken “Abandoned Immortal Bone,” inhaling it was about the same as the pleasure house’s aphrodisiac incense—as long as they didn’t inhale it regularly, there would be no major harm.

 

The fear was that Yu Tuishan had other malicious plans.

 

“I heard sister splits the cloud lantern proceeds eighty-twenty,” Xi Jianlan said with a half-smile. “I earned so much spirit stones for sister—it wouldn’t make sense not to give me a share, right?”

 

Hongchen: “……”

 

Probably because Yu Tuishan’s offer was too high, the money-loving Hongchen didn’t turn against him after hearing this. After pondering for a while, she slapped the table: “Fine! I’ll split half with you.”

 

Sheng Jiao: “……”

 

Liu Changxing: “……”

 

This little liar was always good at making money.

 

Xi Jianlan didn’t say much more. He also wanted to meet Yu Tuishan, so he nodded slightly: “Mm, please ask the immortal lord to wait. I’ll go over shortly.”

 

Hongchen was delighted and left happily.

 

Xi Jianlan took the courtesan outer robe from Sheng Jiao’s forearm and casually draped it over himself, walking outside carelessly.

 

Xun Niang hesitated: “Xi Jue…”

 

Xi Jianlan tossed the glass orb and said without looking back: “Don’t worry. That person is very capable—knowing I got Xi Minghuai’s memory, he definitely won’t keep pestering you.”

 

He smiled meaningfully: “If he wants to kill anyone, it should be me.”

 

Xun Niang was stunned.

 

Xi Jianlan said no more and left.

 

Besides, Liu Changxing was here. Unless a Great Ascension stage master came personally, no one could truly take Xun Niang’s life.

 

The air was full of “Abandoned Immortal Bone” scent. Xi Jianlan had barely gotten through the aftereffects of “Abandoned Immortal Bone,” but upon inhaling the fake Tianyan—even just those few weak wisps in the air—the craving in his meridians slowly surfaced again.

 

Yu Tuishan came with ill intent. Xi Jianlan caressed the glass orb, bit the poison pill on his tooth to forcibly gather a trace of spiritual power, and was about to probe into the glass orb when footsteps came from behind.

 

Sheng Jiao had followed.

 

Only then did Xi Jianlan realize there was an even bigger problem unsolved.

 

In Zhuxing Zhai, Sheng Jiao never spoke or conversed with anyone. If Xi Jianlan hadn’t constantly brought him along to play, he would probably have had no presence like Fu Man.

 

After all these years, Sheng Jiao’s status and cultivation were incomparable to before. Even without saying anything, his presence and oppressive aura were overwhelming, impossible to ignore.

 

Xi Jianlan stopped and turned slightly, seeming to wait for Sheng Jiao.

 

Sheng Jiao’s expression was cold, seemingly with some displeasure. Just as he approached with a dark face, Xi Jianlan suddenly opened a narrow, empty private room nearby and forcefully pushed Sheng Jiao inside by the shoulder.

 

The two squeezed in and shut the door with a “bang.”

 

This private room was narrow and faced away from the light, everything within sight dim.

 

Xi Jianlan gripped Sheng Jiao’s collar tightly, stood on tiptoe to lean close to his ear, and let a few words drift softly from his lips:

 

“Virgin… fingertip blood? Hmm? Say that again.”

 

Sheng Jiao was cold as frost and snow, looking at him indifferently in the darkness.

 

“Sheng Wuzhuo, speak.” Xi Jianlan said coldly. “Say something I want to hear.”

 

After a long silence, Sheng Jiao said what Xi Jianlan least wanted to hear: “Don’t call me Sheng Wuzhuo.”

 

Xi Jianlan was stunned, somehow suddenly blushing to his ears. Pressed by Sheng Jiao’s frosty and osmanthus scent until his waist went soft, he said with false bravado: “Sheng… Sheng Jiao! Believe it or not, I’ll really kill you!”

 

“I believe you.” Sheng Jiao tucked a strand of Xi Jianlan’s disheveled hair behind his ear and said coldly: “Are you really going to see Yu Tuishan?”

 

Xi Jianlan sneered: “Of course. He lit so many lanterns for me—why shouldn’t I see him? Unlike a certain someone who’s so stingy he waits for change after buying a small lantern.”

 

That certain someone: “……”

 

Xi Jianlan got angry just talking to him. He gritted his teeth hard, forcibly suppressing the fine, dense pain spreading through his bones and marrow. With a face like still water, he formed hand seals to use “Exchange for Bright Moon” on Sheng Jiao.

 

This quasi-Great Ascension stage Sheng Jiao made Xi Jianlan inexplicably wary. He still needed to seal his spiritual power first to prevent complications.

 

But Sheng Jiao knocked his hands away and said lightly: “The memory.”

 

Xi Jianlan was in unbearable pain all over and had no mind for jokes and nonsense. For the first time in his life being so obedient and trustworthy, he handed over Xi Minghuai’s memory without a word.

 

Sheng Jiao took the orb and put it away, then methodically grabbed Xi Jianlan’s slender wrist.

 

Xi Jianlan frowned: “What are you doing?”

 

Sheng Jiao’s dark eyes stared intently at Xi Jianlan’s pale face. Noticing something unusual, he suddenly seemed to change his mind. His eyes sharpened as he condensed spiritual power at his fingertip, instantly forming a heart-binding ribbon that wrapped around Xi Jianlan’s little finger.

 

Xi Jianlan’s pupils contracted as he said warily: “Does the dignified Xiezhi Sect Master go back on his word?! Don’t move—I’m going to use ‘Exchange for Bright Moon.'”

 

“Go ahead,” Sheng Jiao said.

 

Xi Jianlan had an inexplicably bad feeling: “Then… then don’t resist.”

 

But Sheng Jiao said: “Did I promise not to resist?”

 

Xi Jianlan looked at him in shock.

 

Sheng Jiao was upright and just, like when judging cases at Xiezhi Sect, his face full of convincing righteousness and honesty, yet saying something almost like playing rogue.

 

—Very much like Xi Jianlan.

 

“But you…” Xi Jianlan was truly anxious. “You agreed to let me seal your spiritual power—doesn’t that imply not resisting? Otherwise, why would I trade such an important thing as Xi Minghuai’s memory?”

 

If Sheng Jiao resisted, was there any point to the deal?!

 

Sheng Jiao said coolly: “I didn’t agree to that.”

 

Xi Jianlan: “…………”

 

Xi Jianlan exploded with anger: “Sheng Jiao!”

 

Sheng Jiao’s cultivation completely overwhelmed him. Looking down and ignoring Xi Jianlan’s fury, he finally wrapped the heart-binding ribbon he’d wanted to use around Xi Jianlan’s slender little finger, winding it countless times until their souls were completely connected.

 

Xi Jianlan: “……”

 

The pain in his body like thousands of insects gnawing somehow suddenly seemed suppressed by a flowing spiritual power—that was Sheng Jiao’s spiritual power transmitted through the heart-binding ribbon.

 

After the heart-binding ribbon was secured, Sheng Jiao’s pupils were ice-cold as he said indifferently: “Go ahead.”

 

Go see that Immortal Lord Yu who lit fifty thousand lanterns.

 

Xi Jianlan was completely dumbfounded.

 

It had always been Xi Jianlan who was full of lies and went back on his word to deceive others—who would have thought that one day he’d be outmaneuvered by the most upright Sheng Jiao?!

 

Sheng Jiao’s features were sharp and cold, like the perpetually frigid stone atop a snow mountain.

 

Completely different from Xi Jianlan’s unrestrained passion, even in intimate moments Sheng Jiao’s expression remained emotionless and desireless. Xi Jianlan had never thought to guard against such an aloof flower.

 

“Sheng Wuzhuo.” Xi Jianlan’s voice trembled as he held onto his last shred of hope, trying to make this person pick up his gentleman’s facade again, murmuring: “Breaking your word, being untrustworthy—are your actions worthy of Tianyan Academy’s cultivation? Are you… still a gentleman?”

 

Sheng Jiao quietly met his gaze, mimicking Xi Jianlan’s action from the illusion by reaching out to gently press Xi Jianlan’s pale lips, his tone cold and distant.

 

“No.”

 

Xi Jianlan: “…………”

 

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 (advanced chapters available on kofi)