Chapter 2376: The Aloof Sword Cultivator and His Natal Sword Spirit 20

"Ah."

"A plump, pink head poked out from Xie Qingmo's sleeve cuff."

"The little pink blob seemed to have been woken by the recent commotion, rubbing its sleepy round eyes, curiously looking around."

"It quickly spotted the Chen Sword lying on the blue stone, its round eyes lighting up; it wobbled over on its short legs, stretching out its pink little paws, as if wanting to touch that icy blade."

"\"No. \" Xie Qingmo's fingertip promptly pressed down on its little head."

"The little pink blob, feeling wronged, retracted its paws and obediently lay beside Xie Qingmo's leg."

"Xie Qingmo's gaze fell upon the Chen Sword."

"He reached out, intending to pick it up and place it in a more convenient position."

"... but he didn't pick it up."

"The Chen Sword seemed to have fused with the blue stone beneath it; no matter how hard Xie Qingmo tried, it wouldn't budge at all."

"How could a sword master fail to lift his own sword?"

"Xie Qingmo: \"... \""

"He silently gazed at that temperamental natal sword, helplessly shaking his head."

"Never mind; let it stay there."

"Xie Qingmo closed his eyes again, focused his mind, and began to circulate his Zhou Tian."

"Time quietly flowed in the secluded cultivation cliff."

"One day, two days, three days…"

"Jin Chen never appeared."

"There was no noisy voice in his ear, no figure that would cling to him at any moment."

"When Xie Qingmo meditated, or even just stared blankly at the cliff wall, an unprecedented sense of loneliness, like vines, quietly wound around his heart."

"That lingering embarrassment and subtle awkwardness after the incident were replaced, in the silence, by the discomfort of being alone."

"Having grown accustomed to a lively presence beside him, its sudden loss made him realize that the clamor had long been etched into his bones."

"He finally couldn't help it, his fingertip lightly brushing the icy scabbard, his tone soft and ethereal."

"\"Jin Chen. \""

"The Chen Sword remained utterly still, with no response."

"Xie Qingmo pressed his lips, hesitated a moment, then reached out and picked up the Chen Sword."

"This time, the sword blade no longer resisted heavily."

"He laid the sword horizontally across his knee, his fingertips gently stroking its icy spine, with an almost clumsy soothing."

"\"Jin Chen…\""

"The Chen Sword on his knee trembled ever so slightly, a tiny movement that clearly transmitted to Xie Qingmo's palm."

"Immediately afterward, Jin Chen's voice appeared in his sea of consciousness."

"\"What are you doing? If you're angry with me, I won't come out. \""

"Hearing the familiar voice, the huge stone weighing on Xie Qingmo's heart inexplicably fell away by half."

"He rubbed the sword hilt, responding in his sea of consciousness with a gentle voice: \"It's not anger…\""

"\"What is it? \" Jin Chen pressed."

"Xie Qingmo was at a loss for words."

"What is it—embarrassment, or… the uncontrollable palpitation brought on by that uncontrolled intimacy?"

"He pressed his lips tight, his ears again uncontrollably flushing red, his gaze somewhat dazedly fixed on the ground before him."

"In his sea of consciousness, Jin Chen seemed to sense his embarrassment beneath the silence, teasingly probing, \"Is it embarrassment? \""

"Xie Qingmo closed his eyes, his thick lashes fluttering slightly, and gave the faintest nod."

"\"…Mm. \""

"The voice in his sea of consciousness faded away."

"In the next instant, light and shadow converged before him, and the youth in dark robes and black hair reappeared before Xie Qingmo."

"Jin Chen stared unwaveringly at Xie Qingmo, tilted his head slightly, and raised an eyebrow."

"The mountain cave was very quiet."

"Jin Chen's gaze slowly drifted downward, landing below Xie Qingmo's slightly open collar, where a clear red mark was still visible on his fair skin."

"He reached out, his cool fingertips ever so gently touching that mark."

"\"Do you hate me then? \" Jin Chen asked, feigning innocence."

"Xie Qingmo lifted his eyes, meeting Jin Chen's gaze."

"\"I don't hate you. \""

"He was just a bit at a loss."

"How did things come to this point?"

"Yet when Jin Chen embraced him again, Xie Qingmo still couldn't bring himself to push him away, his mind in turmoil."

"Thus Xie Qingmo was secretly kissed again."

"A heat flared at his lips, \"…Jin. \" Before the words could finish, seeing Jin Chen's eyes hiding hurt, he forcibly swallowed them back."

"A smile flickered in Jin Chen's eyes as he wrapped his arms around Xie Qingmo's slender waist, pulling him closer and holding him tighter."

"\"Xie Qingmo, your face is flushed—you like it too. \""

"\"…Shut up. \""

"——"

"No-Come Peak, the stone gate of the secluded cultivation cave burst open with a boom."

The clear, cold spiritual aura poured forth, and a plain-white figure slowly stepped out.

Xie Qingmo's aura was round and smooth, inwardly restrained; light flickered, the barrier of the late Golden Core had already been broken, leaving only a cicada-wing-thin obstacle before the Nascent Soul.

Though not yet fully ascended to the Nascent Soul, he was already far beyond his pre-seclusion self.

Outside the cave dwelling, Xing Yan and several junior fellow disciples had long been waiting, their faces lit with genuine joy.

"Congratulations, second senior brother, on breaking out of seclusion!" the three exclaimed in unison.

Xie Qingmo gave a slight nod, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

Xing Yan stepped forward and whispered, "Second senior brother, the eldest senior brother… is on Reflection Cliff."

Jin Chen snorted, "Are there ghosts on Reflection Cliff? Getting punished still needs company."

"What, are you worried he'll be lonely, or that he'll go hungry and cold? Your Heavenly Derivation Sect's rules are quite novel."

Lan Yi twisted her fingers nervously, "Sword Spirit, you don't know… it's said that the junior fellow disciple, while facing the wall on Reflection Cliff, has again gained a great opportunity."

"He encountered an immortal who blessed him in a dream and received a supreme wondrous method, his cultivation advancing a thousand miles in a day…" Her tone held confusion and a faint unease, "Everyone says… his immortal affinity is terrifyingly deep."

Xie Qingmo: "…"

Jin Chen: "…"

He lifted his eyes to the sky, his brows slightly raised.

Ling Gun Gun flopped onto his shoulder, 【Not right, Host, the protagonist seems to be putting on airs again.】

【Let me take a look…】 Ling Gun Gun flipped through the plot.

As if to confirm Lan Yi's words, in less than three days, an earth-shattering piece of news spread throughout the Heavenly Derivation Sect:

Liu Qingcheng, who had been punished with confinement on Reflection Cliff, actually broke through several levels in a short time.

Starting from mid Qi Refining, he advanced like a bamboo splitter, directly reaching late Golden Core.

The speed of his breakthrough and the stability of his realm were simply astonishing.

Along with it came his claim that he once again received an immortal's blessing in a dream and was taught the supreme Dao truth.

Such a miracle completely overturned the Sect Leader's earlier verdict.

True Person Ling Xu had always pitied Liu Qingcheng; citing the heavenly-bestowed immortal affinity as an unavoidable delay, he ignored the Law Enforcement Hall's objections, personally went to Reflection Cliff, made an exception to lift Liu Qingcheng's three-year confinement early, and brought him out.