Chapter 369: Escaped

The Lotus Cave was tranquil, the Lotus Pond like a gemstone embedded within it, the surface of the hot spring water emitting a faint mist.

Several newly bloomed Crystal Lotus floated on the water, their petals swaying gently in the breeze, exuding a sweet fragrance.

The water vapor of the Lotus Pond swirled, merging with the scenery around the cave to form a dreamlike, illusory scene.

Yang Simin kept her eyes closed, soaking in the Lotus Pond; her skin appeared exceptionally delicate under the nourishment of the hot spring, her long hair draped over her shoulders like a waterfall, swaying gently with the ripples.

The surrounding air was permeated with the clear fragrance of the Crystal Lotus and the unique mineral scent of the hot spring; these two aromas intertwined, making one feel relaxed and happy.

Occasionally, a butterfly would fly into the cave, skimming lightly across the water's surface and landing on the tip of Yang Simin's crystal-clear nose.

Yang Simin's delicate brows furrowed, and she slowly opened her eyes; the wound at her dantian had already healed, and her body felt no pain at all, replaced instead by a feeling of warmth and comfort.

She looked around, discovering she was in the Lotus Cave, then looked at herself in confusion and muttered, "So I didn't die."

"Splash, splash~~"

Faint ripples drifted over; Yang Simin's expression was slightly startled as she looked up.

Her vision gradually cleared, and through the swirling water vapor, she saw the person on the opposite side, also soaking in the Lotus Pond.

Chen Che.

His figure was visible and then hidden in the mist, like an immortal who had stepped out of a painting.

Sunlight passed through the palm-sized skylight at the top of the cave, spilling onto him and plating his handsome silhouette with a layer of golden halo.

Yang Simin pursed her lips, her cheeks radiating heat, her gaze involuntarily drawn to Chen Che.

Chen Che's brows and eyes revealed a sense of fortitude; even in a relaxed state, he did not lose his heroic spirit.

His eyes were tightly closed, his long eyelashes casting faint shadows on his eyelids; his high-bridged nose and tightly pressed thin lips formed his perfect side profile. Water droplets dripped down his angular chin, each drop seemingly telling of his extraordinary temperament.

His hair was wet and plastered to his forehead, a few strands drifting gently with the undulations of the hot spring, adding a touch of unbridled charm.

"Thump, thump..."

Her heartbeat involuntarily accelerated; since growing up, Yang Simin had never observed Chen Che from such close proximity, nor had she ever realized he was so heart-stirringly handsome.

The surrounding environment seemed to sense this subtle flow of emotion; the fragrance of the Crystal Lotus became more intense, and the temperature of the hot spring seemed to become even more pleasant.

Yang Simin gently reached her hand into the water, feeling the tenderness of the hot spring water, while also feeling this sudden heartbeat.

She bit her lip, the water rippling, her crystal-clear collarbone exposed above the water; Yang Simin gathered her courage and slowly moved toward Chen Che.

Her heart hammered like thunder; she did not know why she was walking toward him, nor did she know what to do after reaching him, but she simply could not suppress the agitation in her heart.

She just followed her instinct, thinking to be closer to him, and closer still...

"Oh my, trying to do bad things just after waking up."

The atmosphere was broken by the untimely teasing voice; Yang Simin frowned and turned her head to look over, very unhappy.

Xie Wanning was holding a bundle of clothes in her arms, having walked in at some unknown time. "I say, Saintess, oh Saintess, this 'Saint' title of ours cannot be called in vain; be a little more reserved."

"None of your business!" Yang Simin said, pouting.

Xie Wanning snorted: "None of my business? If I hadn't come, you would be streaking later. What? Does the Saintess have such a hobby?"

Yang Simin's face flushed red, and she subconsciously looked down; her body from the collarbone down was under the water and could not be seen clearly, but she knew very well that she was stark naked right now, wearing nothing at all.

And Chen Che on the opposite side was likely the same.

"Alright, hurry back and put on your clothes; you two can be considered to have taken a 'mandarin duck bath' in a roundabout way."

Xie Wanning placed the clothes in her arms by the side of the pond. "If it weren't for seeing that you were both severely injured, I wouldn't have allowed it."

Yang Simin glanced at Chen Che unwillingly, then reluctantly returned to the side of the pond, quickly putting on her clothes under the cover of the swirling mist.

"What happened?" Yang Simin asked after putting on her clothes.

"Chen Che risked his life to repair your dantian and saved your life, while he himself exhausted his strength and fainted. But before he fainted, he said that the spiritual energy here is abundant, and soaking here would lead to faster recovery."

Xie Wanning looked at Yang Simin, who was glowing with health. "It is indeed quite good; you were in a coma for two days, but now you have already recovered almost completely."

Yang Simin looked at Chen Che and asked again: "Then my clothes were... Ouch!"

Xie Wanning knocked on Yang Simin's head in time.

Yang Simin covered her head, glaring at Xie Wanning with a resentful face: "What are you doing?"

"Letting you calm down. He is your brother, understand? Besides, I was the one who took off your clothes."

Xie Wanning put her hands on her hips and looked Yang Simin up and down again. "Tsk tsk, speaking of which, you aren't very old, but you've got quite a lot on you, though compared to me, you're still a bit lacking."

"Hmph!"

Yang Simin shot her a sideways glance, yet her gaze still subconsciously swept over Xie Wanning's towering chest.

"I say, you two are chatting quite happily, could you spare some time to attend to me?"

Chen Che's voice came at this moment.

Xie Wanning and Yang Simin were both delighted and crowded over.

"You're awake?!"

"How do you feel?"

Chen Che moved his arms and twisted his neck: "Not bad, I should be fully recovered."

"Then what is the situation now?" Xie Wanning said: "I mean, regarding your cultivation and the Heavenly Book."

Chen Che looked at his own palms and said: "My current cultivation is Heavenly Master Great Perfection, and the Heavenly Book is still within my body, but if I want to use the Heavenly Book Power like before, it is a bit strenuous."

"Brother, what exactly did you comprehend?" Yang Simin asked curiously.

Chen Che looked at Yang Simin, and it was a good while before he answered: "This world is just a Fruit on the World Tree; we are inside it, and if we want to break free from it, we must become the tree planter, which is the True God."

"True God? So you know the method to become a god, right?"

Chen Che smiled and continued: "There is indeed a method to become a god, but before that, one must first die and then be reborn."

"That sounds a bit exciting."

"Actually, it's quite a joke when you talk about it. The origin of Martial Artists is that True God who planted the World Tree; because of boredom, he added some ingredients to the World Tree. People in the Fruit become Martial Artists by comprehending the Heavenly Book. While their Martial Dao Cultivation climbs, they catch a glimpse of the scenery of the Heavenly Kingdom, making people addicted to it and yearning for the scene after becoming a god."

"In the Fruit world, more and more people become gods, and they can go to the Heavenly Kingdom to accompany him; the True God has also, in a sense, completed the creation of gods."

"It's just that this path is not easy to walk, because the human body has limits; even a Martial Artist is still a mortal of flesh and blood, so to become a true god, the prerequisite is to shed one's mortal shell."

Yang Simin nodded: "I understand, this is what is called dying first to be reborn."

"Smart!"

Chen Che snapped his fingers, "The prerequisite for shedding one's mortal shell is to collect all the Heavenly Books; this is also why, whether it is Gu Yuanzong using the Ritual to gather power, or me forcibly breaking through using Heavenly Book Power, our bodies will suffer backlash and face the risk of being torn apart."

"Gathering the Heavenly Books is simple; half are in your body now, and the remaining half are in Xia. Once we go back, we can gather them all, and ascending to the Heavenly Kingdom won't be a difficult matter."

Xie Wanning said with a smile.

Chen Che shook his head with a smile, changed the subject, and asked: "By the way, how is Zanpu Dunzhu? Was he caught?"

Xie Wanning's smile stiffened, and she said in a low voice: "No, he escaped."

………