Outside the Mysterious Ice Cave, Fu Ling stood under a tree, a tendril of demonic power extending from her fingertip, threading into the cave. Yet Yi Fan and Chang Xu, standing guard outside, were completely unaware.
“Even as a half-immortal, she’s a waste, imagining such ordinary scenes in her dying dreams,” Fu Ling scoffed lightly. But then she paused.
Just now, a scene had appeared in Bai Shuo’s mind. Yet, as she was guarding Chong Zhao, the scene had been veiled in a dense fog, making it difficult to see clearly.
With her demonic power, Fu Ling should have been able to observe Bai Shuo’s thoughts easily, especially since Bai Shuo was trapped in her “Eternal Drunken Dream” spell.
(The “Eternal Drunken Dream” is a secret technique of the demon realm that confuses one’s consciousness, causing the soul to sink into dreams. If the mind fails to awaken, the person will drain their spiritual energy within the illusion until they die.)
As someone of her rank, Fu Ling could have easily ended Bai Shuo with a single strike. Yet, out of curiosity about Bai Shuo’s and Chong Zhao’s past, she chose instead to ensnare her in this illusion. Bai Shuo and Chong Zhao’s dream world was boringly mundane, but when Fu Ling saw the way the young man in white looked at Bai Shuo, she couldn’t suppress a flare of anger.
Could it be that Bai Shuo was more than just a half-immortal? Fu Ling hesitated for a moment before letting out a mocking laugh.
If she truly were an immortal lord enduring tribulation, she wouldn’t still be only a half-immortal by now.
“In light of your connection to him, I’ll grant you the ‘Eternal Drunken Dream,’” Fu Ling murmured, her expression indifferent, a faint smirk on her lips.
Inside the cave, frost had crept up to Bai Shuo’s chest, and it seemed as if her breathing had stopped. Only her lips quivered faintly.
Fan Yue held her tightly, rubbing her hands continuously as he called out desperately, “Master… Master…”
But no matter how he called, Bai Shuo didn’t respond. Just as the frost reached her lips, the boy instinctively leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
He remembered that night in the herb hut—this was how Bai Shuo had saved him.
In the illusion, darkness filled Bai Shuo’s vision as she knelt on the ground, shivering violently.
She knew she was dying, freezing to death, and that what she had just seen was only a final illusion before death.
She must be the first immortal in history to freeze to death, she thought wryly. The Mysterious Ice Cave was so cold—had the sect leader chosen it to be her final resting place on purpose…?
Suddenly, a faint warmth seemed to knock against her spirit. Who? Who was trying to save her?
Bai Shuo was so cold she couldn’t speak; her entire body was as stiff as ice.
After a long moment, she realized the warmth was coming from the corner of her lips. Driven by a survival instinct, she managed to open her mouth and bit down hard.
In the Mysterious Ice Cave, Fan Yue, still anxiously pressing his lips to hers, suddenly felt a sharp pain as blood seeped from his mouth. He couldn’t tell if it was Bai Shuo’s blood or his own, but as the fresh blood touched his lips, a sharp clarity filled his eyes. Looking up toward the cave entrance, he spoke a single, cold word.
“Leave!”
A surge of powerful soul energy pierced through the barrier, striking Fu Ling’s spiritual platform. Her face turned pale, and she spat out blood, staring at the cave in disbelief.
“A half-god’s presence?! The Hall Master of Hao Yue?!”
“How is he here?! This can’t be!”
Before Fu Ling could react, another wave of soul energy slammed into her spiritual platform. Realizing she couldn’t stay, she disappeared instantly.
Outside the Mysterious Ice Cave, the trees trembled, though there was no wind. Chang Xu shivered and whispered, “Senior Brother, do you think there might be ghosts on Miao Miao Island?”
Yi Fan looked straight ahead. “Confucius said: ‘One does not speak of strange, powerful, or spiritual matters.’”
“Senior Brother, why are you quoting the mortal sages? We’re immortals.”
“Be quiet.”
“Oh…”
Inside the Mysterious Ice Cave, the cold gleam faded from Fan Yue’s eyes. He closed them, slumping to the ground while still holding Bai Shuo tightly.
The frost gradually receded from Bai Shuo’s body, and a faint trace of spiritual energy began to revive within her.
Two days later, the stone doors of the cave on the rear mountain slowly opened, and Chong Zhao stepped out, greeted by the morning sun.
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