Chapter 2054: I Single-Mindedly Pursue the Dao

"Xiao Feng Dao friend, you really don't need to worry too much; I feel I can hold on for another ten or so years without problem." Xun Shuang tightened her grip on his palm, comforting him.

Xiao Feng couldn't help but wryly smile and said: "Obviously I came to comfort you, how did it turn into you comforting me?"

Xun Shuang felt him gripping her hand tightly, instinctively wanting to break free, while she said: "Between friends we help each other; don't overthink it."

"It's you who's overthinking."

Xiao Feng gripped her even tighter, seeing her try to pull her hand back and distance herself, he suddenly laughed.

For over a year, Xun Shuang has honestly stayed on the World Ancient Tree without leaving.

It's clear she has adapted to life here. To some extent, she also acknowledges Xiao Feng's existence.

The more she insists their relationship is just friendship, the more it shows she doesn't truly think that way. She just refuses to face it, so she finds various excuses to push him away.

"You, what are you laughing at?"

Xun Shuang tried several times to pull her hand free but failed; seeing his smile carry a faint teasing hue, she inexplicably felt a pang of panic.

"Nothing, I just think… you're very beautiful." Xiao Feng stared at her perfect features, unconsciously becoming entranced.

Although he is surrounded by peerless beauties, whenever he sees her, the images of others fade considerably.

"Dao friend, please don't do this; it's time to return to cultivation!" Xun Shuang, growing increasingly flustered by his gaze, hurriedly mobilized a hint of magic power, forcefully breaking free of his control and floating back several meters.

Seeing this, Xiao Feng wasn't angry and said with a smile: "Aren't you resting because cultivation tired you? Let's stroll a bit longer."

"I've rested enough; you go ahead and stroll slowly, I'll head back first… huh?"

Xun Shuang was about to leave, but then discovered herself

her magic power was actually suppressed back down; having just flown up less than three meters, she fell from the air.

Xiao Feng used the Chaos Domain to restrict her movements, stepped forward to support her, took the Fairy Maiden's jade hand, and said: "Don't be so afraid of me; I won't eat you. Relax your mind, just ten minutes."

"This… alright."

Xun Shuang cautiously looked into his eyes, confirming there was no malice in his gaze, then she relaxed.

The two walked hand in hand through Hundred Flower Valley, wandering aimlessly, the air filled with the fragrance of various exotic flowers and herbs.

All along the way they remained silent, merely quietly observing the multicolored flowers and grasses, each thinking of something else.

Though said to be ten minutes, the time actually lasted a bit longer.

After traversing the entire Hundred Flower Valley, unknowingly more than half an hour had passed.

After passing the last flower field, Xun Shuang asked: "Can we go back now?"

Xiao Feng helplessly said: "Are you really so eager to shake me off?"

"I don't." Xun Shuang denied, explaining: "I'm afraid you, Dao friend, will think too much, become overly involved, and end up with a bad outcome."

"What bad outcome?"

Xiao Feng, quite puzzled, asked: "In pursuing the Dao through cultivation, one need not completely forsake affection, right? We are both very powerful; our future will surely be blissful and happy. Why can't we be together? You yourself said heavenly mandate is hard to defy—what else is there to worry about?"

Xun Shuang shook her head: "I… will ultimately face my mission; nothing can be changed. If I become the Lord of Heavenly Dao, I naturally cannot have emotional bonds, otherwise the Heavenly Dao would tilt, bringing disaster to all beings."

As the saying goes, Heavenly Dao is not benevolent, treating all things as straw dogs; Heavenly Dao should treat all things equally,

treating all without favoritism toward any species, nor hatred toward any living being.

She fears that if she develops feelings, she will become a Heavenly Dao tainted by selfish desire, losing impartiality.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Feng reached out to stroke her cheek and asked: "What if I am stronger than you, surpassing this world's Heavenly Dao, so that I don't need you to tilt or show favoritism?"

"You still have relatives and close friends; it's impossible for every one of them to transcend." Xun Shuang said.

"I can protect them myself. In this world you would be the fair and just Supreme God of Heavenly Dao, and in another world we could be a married couple, watching our child grow up little by little—wouldn't that be nice?" Xiao Feng tried to persuade her.

Xun Shuang let out a soft sigh: "Things may not be so simple, Xiao Feng Dao friend; you already have so many peerless beauties by your side—why cling to me?"

"This isn't obsession; it's heavenly will. Think about it: I am so intimate with others, yet none can bear a child; only with you, once…"

"Don't say that!"

Before he could finish speaking, Xun Shuang interrupted him, turning away: "I don't want to hear this."

It seems that incident left a deep scar on her; even now that shadow hasn't dissipated.

Xiao Feng approached from behind, gently embraced her, stroked her lower abdomen, and whispered: "You don't want to hear it, but you have accepted this child, love it deeply, even dared to offend the Void Sea to seize Qi Luck to nourish it. You reject me, saying you want to be an emotionless Heavenly Dao, yet you treat the child so well—isn't that contradictory?"

Xun Shuang's body was stiff; being held so closely by him felt unfamiliar.

"I, I… that is, I cannot bear to kill living beings…" She explained the reason, the rationale

is somewhat far-fetched.

Xiao Feng said: "Mm, you're truly good. I've always been grateful that you left this child behind; although it hasn't begun to develop form, perhaps this will be my only offspring in this life."

Upon hearing this, Xun Shuang immediately said: "After he is born, you take him away; we will have no further contact, that way we'll be even."

"That won't do; you still need to accompany me in raising the child—how could you bear to let our child be born without a mother's love?"

"You have so many wives, especially Jiang Ning, who is so gentle; she would surely treat your child as her own…"

"That's not the same."

"What's the difference? You… you first let go of me."

"Sigh, how exactly can I convince you?"

Xiao Feng was deeply troubled, his arms wrapped around Xun Shuang's slender waist, refusing to let go.

"You, you don't force me, okay? I just want to be friends with you, discuss the Dao and cultivate together, mutually promote, not… not… that kind of relationship." Xun Shuang grabbed his two wrists trying to pry them open, but couldn't overcome his strength.

Xiao Feng rested his chin on her shoulder, pondering for a long while.

After a while, he then, as if having realized something, said: "I understand."

"Understand what?" Xun Shuang asked.

Xiao Feng chuckled lightly: "Actually you're just shy, more averse to intimate gestures, not wanting to become like Xiao Mi and Ning Er, who, behind closed doors, reveal those unsightly sides."

"No way! Dao friend, don't spout nonsense; I am single-mindedly devoted to the Dao, unwilling to let the mundane world taint my Dao heart!" Xun Shuang immediately explained, speaking rapidly, clearly, and concisely.

The more she does this, the more it sounds like a prepared excuse made in advance.

Xiao Feng laughed and said: "Still saying there's none

? Your face is all red, you must be thinking of some unhealthy scenes. Hmm… don't think I don't know, your Divine Sense, Cai Yi's Divine Sense, and also someone else's Divine Sense I don't know who, often sweep over my dwelling. Before I hadn't broken through, I couldn't sense these, but these past few months I've become much stronger, I've long known your little tricks.

"I, I… I that…"

Xun Shuang's face instantly reddened to the ears, she flusteredly explained: "Sense… sensed abnormal energy, just a random check, it's not… intentionally looking at you."

"Yes yes yes, I know this, our Xun Shuang Xianzi is definitely not the type with strong curiosity, not at all interested in my cultivation process, entirely because…"

Xiao Feng laughed while saying, teasing her intensely.

Halfway through his words, Xun Shuang suddenly grabbed his hand, gritted her teeth and said: "Don't say it! I'll tell you a secret!"

"What secret?" Xiao Feng smiled at her, knowing he definitely wanted to change the subject.

Xun Shuang closed her eyes, thinking: "Fellow cultivator dies, I don't; sorry, Senior Demon Emperor!"

Then Divine Sense transmitted sound, to Xiao Feng saying: "The Divine Sense you mentioned that you didn't know whose it was… is actually… the Xuan Die Demon Emperor!"