Translator: She.Wee

————–

Chapter 108: Peace In The World And Four Seasons In Harmony

Xi Huai successfully advanced to the Divine Transformation stage, and his spiritual sense avatar instantly killed several cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage. This level of power greatly surprised Yu Yanshu.

He had anticipated that advancing to the Divine Transformation stage would boost Xi Huai’s strength and make him formidable, but he had not expected such astonishing abilities.

Reaching the Divine Transformation stage made killing Nascent Soul cultivators as easy as killing a Foundation Establishment junior.

This was an overwhelming display of power.

With this, Xi Huai truly became someone feared by all in the world.

However, Yu Yanshu quickly recovered and greeted Chi Muyao, “Junior Brother Chi, I’m returning to the formation to find Junior Brother Xi. If he has activated his magic weapon, he won’t be able to receive any transmissions.”

At this point, Guannan Tianzun had found a box for Xi Zihe that could suppress the purification bead. When placed inside, the box would neutralize the bead’s purification ability, temporarily sealing it.

Once taken out, the purification bead would still be a powerful tool for purifying cultivation, and over the years, Xi Zihe had studied physical techniques, making him an even more terrifying force.

Chi Muyao, utterly exhausted, replied, “Mm, alright.”

He watched Yu Yanshu return to the formation, feeling worried as well. Azure Fox Ancestor still hadn’t returned.

Everyone feared another sudden change, and they hurried back to Qingze Sect’s protective mountain formation, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

Inside the formation, there were healers and disciples waiting. Despite this, Chi Muyao insisted on checking everyone’s injuries himself, pushing through his exhaustion.

The protectors who had been by Xi Huai’s side also rushed over from the inner gate, asking if there was anything they could help with.

Xi Huai’s spiritual sense avatar had arrived first through Chi Muyao, naturally the fastest, but the others quickly followed after leaving seclusion.

Two protectors had fallen, and everyone understood what had happened without asking.

Qingze Sect finally returned to its original state.

From now on, they would no longer fear any incoming enemies.

Still uneasy, Chi Muyao had Xi Lin accompany him back into the illusionary realm.

They first encountered Yu Yanshu and Xi Zihe, bidding them farewell before the two flew toward the teleportation array.

They weren’t returning to Nuan Yan Pavilion but heading to a large formation, as if they hadn’t been involved in this matter at all and had been cultivating in the formation all along.

This had been arranged beforehand, with three trusted individuals supporting them in secret.

Chi Muyao, however, was eager to find  Azure Fox Ancestor, eventually locating him in a corner of the illusionary realm.

His spiritual power exhausted, the Azure Fox Ancestor ancestor could no longer maintain human form and had reverted to his fox form, curled up in a corner hiding.

When Chi Muyao found him, the Azure Fox Ancestor ancestor was still unconscious. He carefully picked it up.

Having helped him, the Azure Fox Ancestor ancestor had exhausted all his strength. Who knew how long it would take for him to recover and return to human form?

As he treated the ancestor, Chi Muyao estimated that recovery could take as little as a year or two, or as long as three to five years.

A fox’s repayment of kindness.

Although he always acted indifferent, when it came to helping him, the Azure Fox Ancestor ancestor was one of the most serious members.

Meeting the Azure Fox Ancestor ancestor and having saved him was certainly a stroke of fortune for Chi Muyao.

Chi Muyao himself was extremely tired. After returning to Qingze Sect’s protective formation with the ancestor in his arms, he barely had time to glance up at the dark, clouded sky before collapsing onto the ground in exhaustion, falling fast asleep.

Si Ruoyu’s injuries had healed by fifty percent under Chi Muyao’s care, but the remaining half would require her own closed-door cultivation to fully recover.

After finishing her meditation, she opened her eyes and saw Chi Muyao sleeping on the ground, still thoughtful enough to have pulled a blanket from his treasure bell to cover himself. She couldn’t help but laugh. “Does anyone here have the strength to carry him back to sleep?”

But no one from Qingze Sect moved.

Si Ruoyu initially thought that Chi Muyao’s disciples weren’t well-liked in Qingze Sect, but then she heard Song Weiyue say awkwardly, “Who dares touch him? If we do, won’t the young sect leader, who just entered the Divine Transformation stage, pour his first pot of vinegar over our heads?”

Si Ruoyu laughed again. “You can’t even touch him?”

Zong Sicheng, relieved that his father’s injuries had stabilized, answered, “It’s more than that. If anyone even looks at the young sect leader too long, they get a death glare.”

Unable to do much, Si Ruoyu had Xi Lin and the others use object control techniques to move Chi Muyao into a small nearby house to let him rest for a while.

Chi Muyao had a habit of taking good care of himself. After overexerting his mind, he liked to sleep to rest.

This time, he had persisted for over three months, leaving him with a splitting headache, his ears ringing. Once he was certain that the retreat was in order, he finally had the chance to sleep.

What he didn’t know was that this sleep would last four whole days.

During this time, Yu Yanshu and Xi Zihe returned to Nuan Yan Pavilion. The sect had descended into chaos after the deaths of seventeen Nascent Soul-level Tianzuns, with some even taking the opportunity to stir up trouble.

Luckily, Yu Yanshu had prepared in advance and quickly quelled the situation. People had even started nominating him to become the acting sect master.

However, this matter couldn’t be rushed, and there would still be some negotiations to go through.

Si Ruoyu also returned to the Hehuan Sect, going into seclusion to heal herself.

Guannan Tianzun hadn’t left either. Even though the communication talismans from Nuan Yan Pavilion arrived one after another, he stubbornly stayed at the Hehuan Sect to accompany Si Ruoyu through her seclusion, ignoring all the talismans.

As for Xi Huai, after successfully advancing to the Divine Transformation stage, his tribulation was unexpectedly difficult.

He had previously sailed through everything smoothly, but this time, he finally encountered some hardship, sustaining minor injuries from the lightning tribulation. Thankfully, they were “nothing serious” and would pass with a bit of endurance.

After dealing with the sect’s internal affairs, Xi Huai carried Chi Muyao back to his cave.

Time passed, but Chi Muyao didn’t wake up, frightening Xi Huai into frequently checking his breathing, fearing that Chi Muyao might suddenly stop breathing in his sleep.

What was it called again?

Oh, right—sudden death.

Just as Xi Huai was leaning over to check if anything else was wrong, Chi Muyao finally woke up in a daze, staring back at Xi Huai.

The two of them stared at each other in silence for a long time, until Chi Muyao’s eyes crinkled into a smile, and Xi Huai finally snapped out of it.

Chi Muyao sat up, using a small cleansing technique, then stretched lazily before looking at Xi Huai, his gaze shifting up and down.

Xi Huai, on the other hand, seemed ready to confront him, glaring unhappily as if saying, “This time, you won’t get away with it so easily.”

But Chi Muyao kept laughing, laughing so hard that tears came to his eyes. “Your hair is sticking up like it’s been taken out of dreadlocks.”

Xi Huai: “…”

“Your neck got scorched too?”

“…”

“When I went through my Foundation Establishment tribulation, the same thing happened to me. I have ointment that can help with the burns. You’ll be fully healed in about three months.”

“…” What kind of cultivation technique is “healing through metabolism”?

Chi Muyao laughed even harder. “But I can’t do anything about the hair, hahaha!”

Xi Huai’s appearance was truly comical—his hair frizzed from the lightning tribulation, and a patch of his neck and shoulders had turned black. In Chi Muyao’s world, Xi Huai’s current look would suit a “tough-guy rapper” style.

Chi Muyao laughed so hard on the bed that he couldn’t stop, rocking back and forth.

Xi Huai had initially wanted to argue with him, but the atmosphere, coupled with his own ridiculous appearance, made it impossible. Even if they did argue, Chi Muyao would end up laughing.

Seeing Chi Muyao laugh so hard, Xi Huai ground his teeth in frustration and pounced on him, biting him. “Do you have a heart?!”

“Yes!” Chi Muyao, now lying flat on his back, pointed to his chest. “It’s full of you.”

“…” Xi Huai’s breathing grew heavier as he glared at Chi Muyao with intensity. Then, fiercely, he kissed his Daoist partner.

It seemed that all his heartache had turned into a kiss, serving as his only form of punishment.

Perhaps this was the only punishment Xi Huai could bear to inflict on Chi Muyao.

He was overwhelmed with tenderness, filled with love, yet his partner loved him even more, willing to do anything for him, going all out, leaving him helpless.

It was hard to imagine that such a gentle person had done so many earth-shattering things for him.

Chi Muyao had saved his life countless times—so many that he himself had lost count. Each time, Chi Muyao was the one injured the most. Without his healing abilities, who knew how many times Chi Muyao would have died already?

This person, with kindness and warmth, softened all the years ahead of him.

It was like spring returning to the earth, making his world bloom with flowers, filling the air with a refreshing fragrance.

Softness was for him, change was for him, and even madness was for him.

To have someone love him to such an extent.

Xi Huai felt that his life was worth it.

Xi Huai had successfully ascended, so naturally, a grand celebration banquet was to be held, almost as large as the ceremony for his and Chi Muyao’s Daoist couple ritual.

Chi Muyao, as the manager of Qingze Sect, was in charge of all the arrangements this time.

Xi Huai, however, was unwilling, sulking like a resentful husband, his gaze lingering on Chi Muyao with a long and melancholic expression.

Who would have thought that the first Divine Transformation stage cultivator in the current cultivation world would not be a majestic figure but someone trailing behind his Daoist partner, nagging and whining, demanding dual cultivation?

What kind of celebration was this? He had already ascended to the Divine Transformation stage! Why not just retreat for dual cultivation for the next twenty years?!

He had ascended to Divine Transformation, an ideal cauldron! Why waste it on a celebration when they could be busy behind closed doors, too busy to even see each other?

People who knew might say he ascended, but those who didn’t might think he’d been dumped!

Chi Muyao, on the other hand, rarely looked at him, but when he did, he couldn’t hold back his laughter, commenting, “What a fluffy ponytail you have.”

Xi Huai’s hair hadn’t fully recovered yet, so he had simply tied it all back into a simple ponytail to keep it under control.

Unexpectedly, even this became a target for Chi Muyao’s teasing. In contrast, back in the cave, A-Jiu had said that if Xi Huai needed him, he would die for him right then and there—now that was endearing.

Xi Huai, already annoyed, spoke even more rudely, “Keep nagging, and I’ll cut off your tongue.”

“If you cut it off, you won’t be able to kiss me.”

“…” That was indeed a problem.

During this time, Yi Qianxi came to Qingze Sect.

Now, Yi Qianxi’s visits to Qingze Sect were no longer done in secret. After all, having ties to the only Divine Transformation stage cultivator was the ultimate protection talisman.

Moreover, Nuan Yan Pavilion had undergone a major internal reshuffle, and the dominance of the orthodox sect was finally under control. In the past, Nuan Yan Pavilion always selected disciples first, and only those rejected by them had a chance with the other sects, leaving those sects forever disadvantaged. This had long caused widespread resentment.

Now that the system had been abolished, things were much more harmonious.

The orthodox sects were in disarray, and no one cared anymore about their members visiting demonic sects.

After all, with the demonic sects’ invasion, it was hard to tell which sects were demonic and which were orthodox.

After arriving, Yi Qianxi picked up the Azure Fox and examined him for a long time, repeatedly asking the same question, “Is he really utterly exhausted and unable to revert to human form, or is he just fooling me?”

“Senior sister, he exhausted all his strength helping me, and yet you still doubt him. If he knew, he would be heartbroken.”

Yi Qianxi was quite troubled. “It’s not that… but he does have a track record.”

Chi Muyao had to patiently explain that the Azure Fox ancestor had persisted for three months, draining his spiritual energy, which was why he was in such a state.

Yi Qianxi gradually shifted from suspicion to sympathy. She held the Azure Fox ancestor for a while, feeling sorry for him, then placed it on a chair before pulling out some tools from her Hundred Treasures brell pouch for neutering spirit pets.

Xi Huai couldn’t help but burst out laughing, somewhat gloating.

Chi Muyao quickly intervened, “Senior sister, please, spare him!”

“Some spirit beasts benefit from neutering!” Yi Qianxi was adamant.

“How about you wait until he can speak, and then ask for his opinion?”

“When he shared my bed, did he ask for my opinion?”

Chi Muyao, hearing the Azure Fox ancestor’s mental transmission, awkwardly relayed, “The Azure Fox ancestor says it was you who hugged him to sleep, not him forcing you.”

Yi Qianxi flew into a rage. “You wretched fox! You can transmit your thoughts to him, but not to me?”

What followed was a long silence. Yi Qianxi went from angry to speechless, likely engaged in a mental conversation with the Azure Fox ancestor.

In the end, Yi Qianxi gave up on the neutering plan and left with the Azure Fox ancestor, saying, “I’ll come back for the celebration.”

“Alright,” Chi Muyao watched them leave.

To avoid letting others in Qingze Sect witness Xi Huai’s embarrassing “tailing” behavior, Chi Muyao carried his account books to Xi Huai’s courtyard, sitting at a stone table to review the numbers.

In the courtyard, Qiuqiu was chasing the little deer, chirping loudly.

Xi Huai, holding Chi Muyao in his arms, watched the scene and asked, “What’s the bird saying?”

Chi Muyao could tell that Xi Huai was quite fond of Qiuqiu, but he couldn’t understand Qiuqiu’s words, so he kept asking.

He still remembered Xi Huai’s complicated expression when he told him that Qiuqiu thought Xi Huai was its father.

Xi Huai had even seriously asked, “Am I a bird dad?”

It sounded like an insult, but it was a genuine question, which made it all the more hilarious.

Chi Muyao replied, “It’s bragging to the little deer about how powerful it was in the illusion, how strong its attacks were.”

“Can the deer understand?”

“Yes, the Colorless Yuni Deer is one of the most communicative spirit beasts. They can understand all spirit beast languages, but at the moment, it’s annoyed, probably regretting its ability.”

“The Azure Fox is a seductive man. What do you think Qiuqiu would look like if it took on human form?”

Chi Muyao paused, then looked over at Qiuqiu and the little deer, saying, “I’d guess Qiuqiu would be a thick-browed, energetic young man with a head of golden hair, mixed with a few strands of black. He’d seem a bit silly, but when it comes to real combat, his abilities would be strong. And he’d definitely be loyal.”

“And the little deer?”

“Probably a gentle young man, with handsome, refined features, an elegant demeanor, and deep emotions. Maybe he’d have silver hair, with silver eyebrows and lashes, and light-colored eyes.”

“What if his hair, like his antlers, was transparent?”

Suddenly, an image of a fairy-like boy with long, transparent hair floating in the wind appeared in Chi Muyao’s mind. From a distance, you wouldn’t even see the hair, just a shiny bald head…

How was that any different from being bald?

Chi Muyao exhaled deeply. “This is something best not thought about in detail… never mind, it won’t happen.”