Chapter 112: Kiss to Power! Exposing Ji Bai's Conspiracy

"You,"

"……"

A kiss had already fallen.

It landed on Shen Qingli's forehead, very light, very soft.

It was completely opposite to the force with which Di Jin had suddenly domineeringly pulled her over.

Shen Qingli froze for a moment, and Di Jin pressed his forehead against hers.

He also placed his hand on her slender neck, saying, "I really, like you."

Shen Qingli lifted her gaze……

Di Jin had already turned his head away, seeming not to dare to meet her gaze.

But his ears were red as his lips!

"I'll go back first."

Having said that, Di Jin stood up and was about to leave.

"Wait."

Shen Qingli called out to stop him.

Yet he strode over with his long legs, reaching the door in just a few steps.

But he still stopped, turned his head, and looked at Shen Qingli.

Shen Qingli actually had the words of refusal on her lips, but because of his sudden pause and that glance back, she choked up again.

Those eyes were bright and expectant, with hidden anxiety.

Just like her in her past life before she was worn down, looking at Pei Jianshu.

In her youth, when she admired Ai, she received only indifference.

And what about him, A Jin……

Although they are not blood-related;

Although the time they've spent together isn't actually long;

But she truly regarded him as a younger brother before, and now——

"A Li?"

Di Jin suddenly called out.

He no longer calls her "older sister."

Because he knows very well that Shen Qingli had indeed regarded him as a younger brother before.

That was the identity that allowed him to stay by her side when she was on guard against everyone, and it was also his obstacle.

So he wants to leave, not only because awakening is inevitable, but also because he wants her to know that he has grown up, that he is no longer, and more importantly, does not want to be her younger brother.

Shen Qingli came to her senses and also stood up.

"Don't come over."

Di Jin suddenly called out to stop her.

"?"

Shen Qingli was stunned.

"I'm coming over."

Di Jin indeed walked back.

"You don't even need to stand up; I will always obediently return to your side."

He, standing before Shen Qingli, sat on the desk, letting her look down at him instead of looking up.

Shen Qingli's heart was suddenly touched; she actually really dislikes looking up at others, especially after her phoenix bone was pulled out in her past life.

No one knows that, when she once had no bones, each time she stood she had to strain with all her might just to avoid kneeling, or even lying down.

Later, she fell into demon cultivation and reshaped her demon bones, but those demon bones did not match her body, making her whole body ache every day she walked. Still, it was much better than having no bones at all……

She does not like to recall those dark, painful, unbearable memories; she prefers to look forward, believing that there will always be light ahead, and indeed she has welcomed the light.

Now, she resides in the light; she thought she would never recall those dark past events again, and she does not wish to.

But now——

She suddenly remembered.

Yet it was not as bitter as she had imagined.

Because, it's in the past.

It really is in the past.

Shen Qingli suddenly stepped forward and embraced Di Jin.

Di Jin, slightly stunned, obviously hadn't expected such a good thing.

But he quickly sensed Shen Qingli's emotions; his gaze dimmed slightly as he raised his hand to embrace her head and back.

He doesn't know what she thought of, but he can feel that it isn't a pleasant past.

Outside the house.

Shen Kuo, who had originally come to urge them.

Shen Kuo, seeing the scene inside through the door crack he himself had left.

He did not push the door open, and even retracted his outstretched hand.

Behind him, footsteps approached.

Shen Kuo turned his head to signal Shen Qinghuang, who had followed, to be quiet.

"Weren't you supposed to go call someone out?" Shen Qinghuang mouthed the question.

Shen Kuo waved his hand, leading Shen Qinghuang away, he thought, Perhaps this "childhood groom" isn't bad.

Besides that, it's indeed he who raised him single-handedly; at least his character is fine, and he won't disappoint the daughter.

Forget it.

If A Li also likes it, let them go as they wish.

All in all, better than that Pei Shenme.

But there are some things he needs to clarify, such as this kid's family background.

"Imperial Clan, do we have any related records in our clan?"

Shen Kuo, returning to the house, asked Shen Qinghuang, and also recalled his old friend, furrowing his brow slightly.

"None." Shen Qinghuang asked strangely, "Uncle doesn't know either? Then you're raising this kid..."

"Let me think." Shen Kuo actually remembers some things; otherwise he wouldn't have kept raising Di Jin all this time.

Shen Qinghuang didn't ask further, the night passed in silence, and the next day the rematch took place.

"Today's trial topic is: refining a fifth-grade longevity pill."

Like the healing pill, the longevity pill, in the era of Sheng Long Tian when one cannot ascend to godhood, is also hard currency, with enormous demand.

"An ordinary longevity pill extends life by ten years; today, whoever refines a longevity pill with a longer life-extending effect wins."

"Yesterday, Yuan Ying's healing pill was slightly better, earning him a first place; according to the tournament rules, Young Master Shen."

Pointing at Shen Qingli, the Cave Heaven Old Ancestor kindly reminded, "If today you cannot defeat Yuan Ying, then even if you win first place on the final day, you will have no chance at first place in this alchemist competition."

"Thanks for the reminder." Shen Qingli expressed gratitude.

She naturally knows the rules, so she already knows how to respond today.

"Then please have all competing alchemists come onto the stage."

The Cave Heaven Old Ancestor announced the start of the rematch, and the alchemists who had qualified yesterday all went up onto the stage.

The Earth Core Fire also ignited with the competition, and like fire dragons, it spread from the center of the alchemy platform along the sigils, extending beneath each competitor's cauldron.

Shen Qingli had seen it yesterday; she only needed to activate the flame-shaped divine pattern before her, and the Earth Core Fire would surge forth.

Yesterday, she didn't use it, wanting to test Yuan Ying's limits; indeed, after she released her Five-element Phoenix Fire, he responded by activating an even higher-level flame.

Today...

"Hum."

Shen Qingli activated the divine pattern.

The Earth Core Fire "whoosh" rose.

The spectators below all exclaimed in surprise.

"How did Young Master Shen switch to using Earth Core Fire?"

"Did the Five-element Phoenix Fire malfunction?"

"What is she trying to do?"

No one understood, including Yuan Ying and the Cave Heaven Old Ancestor.

Ji Bai's kind eyes narrowed slightly, as if in thought.

And at this moment—

Shen Qingli's mental power had already merged with the Earth Core Fire.

To use Earth Core Fire for alchemy, an alchemist must let the fire follow their will; merging mental power with it naturally is the first step.

However, Shen Qingli originally intended to activate Dark Power again to explore underground!

But as she just activated the dark meridian, the scorching force lying dormant within her body stirred violently!

"I almost forgot that this ancestor despises demons as enemies."

Shen Qingli thought this, and immediately suppressed the dark meridian.

However, the scorching power that had been set loose was extremely fierce!

"Hum!"

It erupted from Shen Qingli's dantian, followed her mental power outward, and surged into the Earth Core Fire.

"Bang!"

The Earth Core Fire exploded violently!

Thus, all the Earth Core Fire on the alchemy platform suddenly went out of control.

Shen Qingli was startled, but then—

"Hum!"

"Hum……"

Strands of white-golden light spread from the center of the alchemy platform, quickly suppressing the erupting Earth Core Fire.

The divine patterns flickered, and in the blink of an eye, they suppressed the tumultuous Earth Core Fire back down.

Shen Qingli's brow twitched, and she looked toward the host platform—Ji Bai!

It was him.

The power just now was very similar to his aura.

Moreover, as Shen Qingli looked over, Ji Bai was also looking at her!

At the same moment, underground—