Chapter 1753: Intimacy

The heavy burden that suddenly landed on his shoulders made Li Luo feel his body grow inexplicably heavy.

"Alliance Chief Li Luo, this matter is of great importance, tied to the survival of the ten Outer Shenzhou three years from now, so please give it your all," Qi Huang said to Li Luo with cupped fists, his expression solemn.

Two Divine Fruit Li Tianwang — this was probably the most powerful legacy that the colossal entity, which had once dominated an era, had left behind for the present world.

Li Luo nodded and said solemnly, "The two seniors have shown my family a great kindness. Both publicly and privately, I will naturally do everything in my power to ensure the two seniors can safely leave the Spirit Phase Grotto-heaven and survive in this world."

Li Luo naturally also understood the weight of Yan Changsheng and Su Ying's existence; the news of their survival, if it reached the various Li Tianwang of the Outer Shenzhou, would surely bring joy and exhilaration.

The "Withering-Flourishing of Evil" has now fallen into the hands of the Return-to-One Society, and they're probably not far from breaking the Coffin Seal, so the Outer Shenzhou also needs to begin preparing, mustering all its forces, ready to meet the final decisive battle.

"Just do your best. The two of us have lived far too long and have long seen through everything. If it weren't for the survival crisis the Outer Shenzhou now faces, the two of us would rather drift along with the dissipation of this Spirit Phase Grotto-heaven and return to the river of time," Yan Changsheng said with a faint smile, a trace of weariness in his eyes.

Su Ying nodded slightly and said to Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge, "From now on, you two will stay here, absorb and refine the 'Withering-Flourishing Heart Lotus', comprehend the meaning of withering and flourishing, and strive to re-condense the 'Withering-Flourishing Aspect' before the decisive battle arrives."

Both Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge nodded. The next three years of the ten Outer Shenzhou should see a final period of peace. The Dark World had suffered enormous losses this time, with the Ten Evil Demon Kings nearly all executed, so for now the Dark World no longer had suitable forces left to mount further invasions.

"Just stay here at ease; the matters outside, we will handle properly," Li Taixuan said soothingly.

So the group lingered for a while longer, chatting. In the end, Li Taixuan, Qi Huang, and the Golden-Winged Elder withdrew from the Spirit Phase Grotto-heaven, after all there were still many loose ends outside. Though the Dark World's army had retreated, many Ghost Domains still lurked throughout the Outer Shenzhou, and these all needed to be dealt with quickly to avoid leaving hidden dangers.

As everyone departed, Su Ying enthusiastically took Jiang Jiang Qinge and Li Luo by the hand, smiling as she told them the amusing stories of Dantai Lan's childhood cultivation here, and the two listened with great interest, thoroughly engrossed.

After chatting for a long while, Yan Changsheng waved his palm, and a green peak rose thunderously from the ground, shooting straight into the clouds, finally stopping not far from the "Withering-Flourishing Heart Lotus".

On the cliffside of the green peak stood a simple, rustic bamboo house.

"In the days to come, if you grow weary from cultivation, you may stay in this house," Su Ying said considerately.

"Thank you, the two seniors."

Both Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge spoke up to express their thanks.

Yan Changsheng and Su Ying smiled, then waved their hands as their figures gradually faded, clearly leaving the time ahead to the young couple.

And with their departure, Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge's bodies finally relaxed completely. The two exchanged a glance, each catching a trace of weariness in the other's eyes.

This decisive battle on the Heavenly Star Great Plain had also been an extremely heavy burden for them.

Those intense, extreme battles, even with the two of their strength and foundation, had left them somewhat exhausted.

Li Luo took Jiang Jiang Qinge's slender hand, sat with her at the cliff's edge, his gaze resting on the "Withering-Flourishing Heart Lotus" amid the sea of clouds not far away, its surface flowing with rosy light, making it appear utterly mystical.

Breathing in the faint, clean fragrance emanating from the girl beside him, Li Luo stretched out an arm, wrapped it around her willow-like waist, and with a gentle pull, drew her closer.

Jiang Jiang Qinge yielded to that pull, resting her head on Li Luo's shoulder, her brilliant golden eyes gently closing, a tender, lingering smile playing at the corners of her red lips.

Li Luo held Jiang Jiang Qinge, neither speaking, simply savoring this moment of peace.

After a long while, Jiang Jiang Qinge finally opened her bright eyes, gazed at Li Luo's strikingly handsome, well-defined face, and asked, "I heard you forced that Clan Leader Zhen of the Celestial Dragon Race to call you Master?"

What the hell?!

Li Luo, who had been enjoying this rare moment of quiet, nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood at those words, and hurriedly explained, "The situation was special at the time. Both she and I were eroded by the Desire Evil, our reason blurred — it was absolutely not intentional!"

A teasing glint flowed through Jiang Jiang Qinge's eyes as she said, "Li Luo, oh Li Luo, I didn't expect you to have such a taste?"

Then she slowly leaned close to Li Luo's ear. As her red lips parted slightly, her warm breath fell into his ear, bringing a tingling, numbing sensation, and immediately after, Jiang Jiang Qinge's voice, carrying a rare, alluring charm, followed.

"Then, would you like me to call you Master too?"

Those words, entering his ear, instantly made Li Luo's heart tremble violently; that tingling numbness shot straight to his scalp, leaving him instantly parched and feverish.

After knowing each other for so many years, this was the first time Li Luo had ever seen Jiang Jiang Qinge display such an unprecedented, alluring, enchanting demeanor.

Yet, oddly enough, her countenance was so pure and flawless.

Li Luo shivered and said in a trembling voice, "If you really want to call me that, then I wouldn't mind hearing it."

As his words fell, the anticipated scene did not come. Instead, a faint pain came from his neck — it turned out Jiang Jiang Qinge had given him an annoyed little bite.

Li Luo drew a soft breath and said, "A little harder."

Jiang Jiang Qinge, however, had no intention of indulging him. She leaned back to pull away, but the arm Li Luo had wrapped around her waist suddenly tightened, pulling her entire body into his embrace, and then he held her across his arms.

"Woman, you're playing with fire," Li Luo said in a low voice, yet his gaze burned hot enough to melt rock, fixed intently on the exquisite, flawless face before him.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's pretty face flushed, but she did not shy away in embarrassment; instead, her eyes boldly met his.

After a period of separation and a series of life-and-death battles, they both understood that their feelings for each other needed an outlet.

Li Luo licked his lips, a smile breaking across his face, and said, "Sister Jiang Qinge, do you remember what Mother said when she left back then?"

"She said..."

"She wanted to hold a grandchild."

Having said that, he carried Jiang Jiang Qinge in his arms and turned toward the bamboo house.

Jiang Jiang Qinge curled up in his embrace, her golden eyes flowing with intense longing. As they entered the house, she suddenly asked softly, "Li Luo, will we win?"

Li Luo's footsteps paused, and he laughed with easy nonchalance.

"If we can't win, dying together — I'm willing."

The next moment, he pushed the door open and went in.

Day after day after day, their intimacy unceasing.

Five days later.

The figures of Yan Changsheng and Su Ying appeared outside the bamboo house. The two exchanged a glance, their expressions both somewhat strange.

In the end, it was Su Ying who said teasingly, "I say, although the two of us old fogies have lived too long and don't care whether we can leave the Spirit Phase Grotto-heaven, it's been so many days now — shouldn't you two be getting ready to do some proper work?"

Creak.

The room door was pushed open at this moment.

Li Luo, refreshed in spirit, full of vigor, and radiant, strode out. He gazed at the "Withering-Flourishing Heart Lotus" in the sea of clouds not far away and let out a long, resonant howl.

"Let's get ready to do something big!"