Chapter 1358: Serpent Body as Curtain, Red Mist as Blanket

Inside the cauldron where black flames blazed fiercely, dense malevolent Qi wrapped in tidal waves of negative emotions surged ceaselessly toward the great serpent coiled at the cauldron's center.

The scales of the black great serpent had already been seared apart by the black flames; these flames were overwhelmingly domineering, and once tainted by them, they brought unbearable agony.

But the serpent body that Li Li Lingjing had transformed into merely tightened its frame slightly, then silently endured that share of pain.

After all, this kind of agony that could torment an ordinary person into madness was truly nothing to her.

On the contrary, she could still calmly sift through the many negative emotions at this moment, sending in those negative emotions that represented lust.

The coiled serpent body formed an enclosed space.

Dark-red Qi seeped in, and with the appearance of this Qi, numerous lewd sounds quietly rose within the enclosed space.

As this dark-red Qi representing lust grew ever thicker, faintly, as if graceful figures were emerging within it.

This dark-red Qi deepened continuously, wrapping around Li Luo and Jiang Qing, who were cultivating, then bit by bit, following their breathing, it seeped into their bodies.

This share of negative emotion representing lust had no overly direct destructive power, and added to the fact that the two were immersed in their breakthrough at this moment, it actually managed to stealthily infiltrate them.

At the start, these negative emotions did not cause the two any effect, but as time intensified, the lust accumulating within their bodies began to swell more and more.

Until a certain moment, Li Luo, who was immersed in the surging rise of his internal phase force, suddenly sensed a strange scorching heat welling up from the depths of his heart.

This scorching heat came with extreme ferocity, almost instantly jolting him awake from his deep cultivation state. He hurriedly sensed within his body and detected the dark-red Qi that had infiltrated, and his heart was instantly horrified: "Negative emotions?!"

He had no time to consider how these negative emotions had invaded his body, and without hesitation, he activated the Small Non-Phase Fire coiled within the mysterious golden wheel. As the flames roared, they swiftly refined away that dark-red Qi.

But after refining away all of the dark-red Qi, Li Luo found that the scorching heat in the depths of his heart had still not dissipated. He immediately understood in his heart that this kind of negative emotion had already spread to every part of his body, merging into his flesh and blood.

This made his heart sink; doing it this way, thoroughly refining it away would be much more troublesome, and it would delay quite a bit of time, but what he lacked most right now was time.

"What kind of negative emotion is this? It invaded my body, yet it didn't trigger the golden wheel's warning?" The scorching heat in Li Luo's heart grew ever more intense, making his breathing turn somewhat Coarse and Heavy. In this state, he simply could not continue his breakthrough.

"Li Luo, don't resist them." And just then, Li Li Lingjing's voice suddenly reached Li Luo's ears.

Li Luo opened his eyes and was immediately startled by the dark-red Qi before him, thick to the extreme. He raised his head and hurriedly asked: "Cousin Li Lingjing, what's going on?"

The black serpent that Li Li Lingjing had transformed into flicked its tongue, and a soft voice came: "My protective barrier was burned away quite a bit by those black flames, so I couldn't block the invasion of all the negative emotions. I could only selectively let in some of the negative emotions with weaker destructive power."

"What kind of negative emotion is this?" Li Luo asked with a somewhat odd expression, staring at the dark-red Qi from which lewd sounds emanated.

"Lust." Li Li Lingjing's simple answer made the corner of Li Luo's mouth twitch involuntarily.

The scorching heat in his heart seemed to grow even stronger because of this answer. Li Luo's mouth was dry and his tongue parched, his breathing growing increasingly Coarse and Heavy. He forced himself to endure the turmoil in his heart and said with a bitter smile: "In my current state, I can't continue the breakthrough either."

"Don't worry, the negative emotion of lust is the easiest to dispel." Li Li Lingjing comforted him.

"How do I dispel it?" Li Luo hurriedly asked.

Light flowed within Li Li Lingjing's serpent pupils as she said softly: "Simply joining bodies with the opposite sex will do."

Li Luo froze on the spot, his temples throbbing urgently, and he couldn't help but say urgently: "And this is easy to dispel?! At a time like this, where am I supposed to..."

His words suddenly cut off. Li Luo's head rang inexplicably, and his gaze turned to Jiang Qing before him.

He seemed to understand Li Li Lingjing's idea.

And at this moment, Li Li Lingjing's matter-of-course voice came: "Aren't you two officially betrothed? This is nothing more than something that would happen sooner or later anyway."

"This is the easiest Po Ju Zhi Fa at hand."

"Although this isn't exactly a great venue, doing the critical thing at the critical moment means there's no need to be particular about it, right?"

Li Luo stared wide-eyed, a sound as if he were choking rose from his throat, and even his expression turned extraordinarily vivid—what an utterly complex emotion that was.

He always felt that doing it this way, he might get beaten to death by Jiang Qing, right?

Cousin Li Lingjing, why on earth are you creating this kind of situation?!

Li Luo had a terrible headache.

But the situation was urgent right now; truly, it couldn't be delayed any longer.

And as if she saw Li Luo's inner struggle, Li Li Lingjing spoke again: "If you can't decide, then ask her."

Li Luo was stunned. His gaze passed through the drifting dark-red Qi before him and looked toward Jiang Qing. Only then did he notice that her cheeks, fair as Bai Yu, had already flushed a rare crimson, and even her long eyelashes were trembling slightly.

It turned out she had actually already withdrawn from her cultivation state as well, but had been pretending not to be awake.

So the conversation he had just had with Li Li Lingjing—she had heard it too.

Li Luo felt a bit awkward, but could only brace himself and call out: "Sister Qing'e."

Having been seen through by Li Luo, Jiang Qing's clasped fists tightened, then she forcibly suppressed the shame and indignation in her heart and opened her eyes.

Those golden eyes, which usually appeared extremely composed, now rippled with shy, watery light.

This was a side of Jiang Qing he had never seen before.

A bashful Jiang Qing.

Jiang Qing opened her eyes, her gaze fixing on Li Luo with shy annoyance as she said: "Look at the fine mess you've made!"

Li Luo looked utterly innocent: "What does this have to do with me?"

Jiang Qing was actually annoyed that Li Li Lingjing had called her out, insisting she also bear this awkward atmosphere—was this because she didn't want to see Li Luo too torn up?

She really does know how to care for people.

When Li Luo had woken earlier, Jiang Qing had also sensed something amiss within her body. She immediately circulated her light phase force to purify the negative emotions within, but this so-called lust had already invaded her flesh and blood; even she could not drive it out completely in a short time.

And just as she was wondering in surprise, she overheard Li Luo's conversation with Li Li Lingjing.

Faced with this situation, even with Jiang Qing's usual calm composure, her heart could not settle.

"Sister Qing'e, what should we do?" Li Luo put on an honest smile and asked.

Jiang Qing's fair, breathtakingly beautiful cheeks flushed crimson, radiating a dazzling glow. Her gaze wandered uncertainly as she said: "How about we join forces and see if we can purify this lust the way we would a venomous curse?"

"Perhaps by the time you two finish purifying it, that Qin Qin Lian will already have come to open the cauldron." And at this moment, Li Li Lingjing's flat voice came.

Li Luo scratched his head and said: "That may not be the case; actually, we could give it a try."

But Jiang Qing took two deep breaths at this moment. She forcefully suppressed the shyness deep within her heart, allowing some of her usual calm composure to return.

She understood the situation before them; they didn't have much time.

Moreover, she didn't want to show this retreating, timid appearance in front of Li Li Lingjing.

She, Jiang Jiang Qinge, is the rightful young mistress of the Lu Lan Mansion.

If that step truly cannot be avoided at this moment, then she does not resist it either.

So she gently bit her red lips, extended her slender fair hand, and suddenly grasped Li Luo's palm, her bright eyes gazing at Li Luo with both bravery and bashfulness.

Li Luo's heart trembled, the scorching heat in his chest now burning fiercely like raging fire, and he understood Jiang Jiang Qinge's meaning.

Li Luo swallowed hard and said, "Sister Jiang Qinge, have you truly made up your mind? This place really isn't suitable, and there are still people..."

Li Li Lingjing said, "I am neither human nor ghost, with only a sliver of human nature remaining. You can treat me as a stone."

Believe your ghost!

Jiang Jiang Qinge gritted her teeth inwardly; the very point of her previous shame and anger was precisely because of the presence of this outsider, Li Li Lingjing.

Just thinking of the absurd scene about to unfold, even with her calm temperament, her scalp was going numb.

But the situation was as it was—what could be done?

At this thought, Jiang Jiang Qinge tightened her grip on Li Luo's palm. Those once deep and mysterious golden eyes now shimmered with a watery glow, with a faint hint of allure radiating from them.

At a thought from her, the Holy Thorn Crown between her hair strands vanished, and her long hair immediately cascaded down like a waterfall, falling to her slender waist.

Li Luo's and Jiang Jiang Qinge's gazes met, and both could see in each other's eyes an affection as intense as the tide. Having grown up together since childhood and gone through countless experiences, that emotion needed no further words.

Perhaps, if not for Li Taixuan and Dan Tai Lan's disappearance for many years, following the normal course of events, they would already be true husband and wife by now.

"Li Luo."

Jiang Jiang Qinge drew close to Li Luo, her red lips pressed against his ear, uttering an unprecedentedly tender call.

Li Luo then extended his arm and wrapped it around that slender, supple little waist. He could feel just how fiery that delicate body was at this moment. The two pressed together, as if a volcano-like desire were flowing between them.

He forcibly restrained the beast-like scorching heat within, breathed in the faint fragrance emanating from the jade-like beauty in his arms, and said softly, "Sister Jiang Qinge, I'm sorry."

He understood that what Jiang Jiang Qinge wanted was for the two of them to reach that step naturally under a grand ceremony, not in this hasty manner now.

But for the sake of both their lives, she was ultimately willing to set aside her reserve and bear all of this.

Soft, lustrous strands of hair fell along Jiang Jiang Qinge's porcelain-like delicate cheeks, that disheveled look giving the present Jiang Jiang Qinge a tender charm Li Luo had never seen before.

Perhaps because of the flow of desire within her body, Jiang Jiang Qinge at this moment was also moved to the extreme.

She shook her head slightly and said softly, "Actually... I originally planned for it to be a... when you were ennobled as a marquis."

She buried her cheek in the crook of Li Luo's neck, her voice carrying a faint trembling note of bashfulness.

"Reward."

These final two words were like a fuse, directly igniting the restless scorching heat within Li Luo. At this moment, he finally stopped holding back.

From his throat, it seemed a low growl escaped, and then he bent down, pressing the girl in his arms beneath him.

And so.

The serpent's body served as a curtain.

The red mist served as a blanket.

The cloud and rain became desire.

And at the very top, a pair of serpent eyes quietly watched this scene, with an occasional flicker of light.

The red mist flowed, oblivious to time.

Until a certain moment, the serpent eyes of Li Li Lingjing suddenly reflected a mysterious flow of golden light; in that instant, she seemed to see a vast golden wheel.

Beside the golden wheel flowed dazzling, sacred radiance.

A kind of indescribable wondrous brilliance blossomed, reflected in Li Li Lingjing's serpent eyes. She could not describe that aura, but beneath it, even her heart that was like dead water stirred with a long-absent palpitation.

In that instant, her memory stretched back to distant times, as if she saw that once sword-bearing, high-spirited noble lady of Xi Ling.

The cold serpent eyes, unconsciously, became much more moist.

The wondrous brilliance spread, and the serpent body that Li Li Lingjing had transformed into actually began to melt at this moment, as if turning into a falling drizzle of blue rain.

The black flames within the black cauldron, under that wondrous light, were silently extinguished.

The dense malice and negative emotions also vanished entirely.

Within the black cauldron, the great black serpent was melted by the wondrous light, but it was not erased—instead, it became a tide of blue water, quietly flowing within the cauldron.

The water tide stirred up faint ripples, like the light in her eyes.

The water tide flowed quietly, brushing past the two tightly entwined figures within the water.

Under this wondrous change, all three seemed to quietly undergo some transformation.