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The Demon Venerable’s Wistful Desire Translator: She.Wee
Chapter 83: The Pink-Clad Savior
Xi Huai, holding Chi Muyao’s hand, followed the guiding golden light from Qingze Sect through the large formation to the teleportation array.
Outside the teleportation array, Chi Muyao opened a brand-new spirit pet pouch and let all the Green Underworld Streamfire enter it before taking Xi Huai’s hand.
There are fixed-point and random teleportation arrays. Fixed-point teleportation arrays are typically used at inns, where practitioners can use spirit stones to activate the array and go to their desired destination. Random teleportation arrays, similar to the Mi Tian Tong Yin¹ Array, transport the group to random locations once they enter.
The Eighty-One Discs of Wenling² was initially a large array used for training. This teleportation array was built hastily, likely adapting to the environment of the formation as a random teleportation array. However, its entry and exit points are reversed compared to ordinary arrays. In normal arrays, the entrance is fixed, and the internal location is random. In this array, the internal location is fixed, and the exit location is random.
They needed to hold hands and enter together to ensure they ended up in the same place. Just like during their training, the team needed to enter the teleportation array simultaneously to ensure they were transported to the same location.
As they stepped into the teleportation array’s light circle, golden light instantly enveloped them, and the scenery changed in a blink of an eye.
Before Chi Muyao could react, Xi Huai covered his eyes, saying, “It’s daylight.” The sudden transition from the dark formation to the bright outside would be uncomfortable for their eyes.
With his eyes covered, Chi Muyao leaned obediently into Xi Huai’s embrace. Xi Huai squinted around, assessing their surroundings. “Indeed, it’s a random teleportation. This isn’t Yunwai Tian.”
Not recognizing the place, Xi Huai also couldn’t determine where they were.
As Chi Muyao adjusted, he moved Xi Huai’s hand away and looked around. “Can you figure out where we are?”
“We need to find some buildings to determine our location. But I doubt the thunder tribulation will wait for us.”
Chi Muyao immediately realized the situation and began strapping various magical tools onto Xi Huai. “We should face the tribulation separately. You must be careful…”
“No, I’ll face it with you.” Xi Huai quickly refused, putting the magical tools back on Chi Muyao, then muttered a chant to temporarily suppress his cultivation.
Chi Muyao was puzzled, wondering how one could face a tribulation together. Xi Huai ignored his confusion, looking up at the sky. “Place the spirit pet pouches far away. You won’t be able to protect them during the tribulation. Once they’re safe, come back to me.”
Chi Muyao hurried to place the pouches containing Qiuqiu and Green Underworld Streamfire far away, then quickly returned to Xi Huai’s side.
Xi Huai was setting up a protective barrier to lessen the tribulation’s impact, using his Nascent Soul stage strength to enhance its defense. Simultaneously, Chi Muyao set up a supportive formation to help withstand the tribulation.
No cultivator in the cultivation world takes thunder tribulations lightly. The so-called thunder tribulation is a form of punishment; those who defy the heavens or when gods and demons descend will attract it. Failing to endure the tribulation can result in severe injury or even death.
Thunder tribulations come in nine stages, and Chi Muyao was about to face the Nine-Tier Thunder Tribulation. Dark clouds gathered, as if about to fall from the sky, obscuring the clear sky. Thunder rumbled within the clouds, growing in intensity, until a booming roar echoed through the sky.
Chi Muyao’s formation was only halfway set up when the first bolt of lightning struck. Shocked, Chi Muyao wanted to push Xi Huai away and face the tribulation alone, but Xi Huai stood in front of him, spreading his fingers to catch the lightning. Somehow, Xi Huai managed to weaken the lightning’s force by seventy percent before redirecting it to Chi Muyao.
Thunder tribulations are a crucial experience for cultivators. After enduring the tribulation, their bodies become stronger, better able to contain more spiritual power. This is an excellent opportunity for body refinement, but only the strong can see it as such. Most are too preoccupied with survival.
Xi Huai continued to weaken the lightning before transferring it to Chi Muyao. With protective tools on his body, Chi Muyao only felt the refining power of the lightning, without any real harm.
“Xi Huai…” Chi Muyao felt heartbroken seeing Xi Huai enduring the tribulation for him. He finally understood what Xi Huai meant by accompanying him through the tribulation.
Xi Huai’s words were still brusque, “Stop fussing, or you’ll distract me.” Yet his actions were protective.
Looking at Xi Huai standing protectively in front of him, Chi Muyao felt a mix of emotions. Initially, he had always thought Xi Huai was terrifying, likely due to the deep impression the original story gave him, compounded by decades of imagination and fear. He had been afraid to approach Xi Huai.
Who would have thought that one day, this major antagonist would take such good care of him?
The Nine-Tier Thunder Tribulation consists of nine heavy bolts of lightning, with three lighter bolts interspersed between each heavy one. These lighter bolts contain various elemental powers. If it’s a water-based attack, it could be particularly hard for Xi Huai, as it counters his spiritual root’s attribute.
These lighter bolts are the most damaging. Xi Huai’s hands gradually bled as he endured them.
Noticing this, Chi Muyao immediately used healing spells on Xi Huai, enveloping him in a healing aura. Xi Huai felt relief, the pain easing considerably.
What appeared to be a terrifying thunder tribulation to others was relatively manageable for these two, standing together.
Once the tribulation ended, Chi Muyao hurriedly checked Xi Huai’s hands. “Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine. Find a safe place to absorb the tribulation’s power and consolidate your body’s refinement.”
“What about you?”
“The power of a Nascent Soul stage tribulation is immense. If you’re too close, it could harm you. Just leave me some healing power.”
“Okay.”
Chi Muyao understood, not wanting to cause trouble. He transferred healing energy to Xi Huai and set up a healing barrier around him. Then he equipped Xi Huai with the remaining powerful protective tools he had.
After making sure everything was ready, Chi Muyao took his spirit beast bag and used his speed technique to leave. Once he reached a safe distance, he found a place to sit cross-legged and began meditating to adjust his breathing.
Even while meditating, he could hear the thunderous sounds of Xi Huai’s tribulation. Each clap of thunder shook the heavens and the earth, causing the ground to tremble.
The thunder roared and the earth quaked, spreading an overwhelming momentum in all directions.
Despite having moved far enough away, Chi Muyao could still feel the residual wind from the tribulation rustling his hair.
The lightning tribulation for advancing to the Nascent Soul stage was truly terrifying.
Once he had almost finished adjusting his breathing, Xi Huai’s tribulation also came to an end.
Chi Muyao quickly got up and rushed over to check on Xi Huai’s condition.
Having gone through two tribulations in a row, with the second being especially intense, Xi Huai sat cross-legged in the ruins left by the tribulation, meditating to adjust his breathing. He was still somewhat disheveled.
His robes were tattered, and he had wounds on his body.
While Xi Huai meditated, Chi Muyao helped heal his injuries and observed his condition. Once he was sure there were no major issues, he felt relieved.
After waiting for a while, Xi Huai opened his eyes and looked at him. Chi Muyao then asked, “How are you feeling?”
Xi Huai looked at him without answering, his gaze moving from top to bottom before he smiled and said, “Do I have burnt marks on my face too?”
“Yes, but you still look handsome.”
“Handsome?”
“I mean, you look very dashing!”
Xi Huai wanted to help Chi Muyao wipe off the black marks on his cheeks, but his own hands were dirty as well. He then remembered to use the Simple Washing Technique to clean both of them.
Chi Muyao tugged at his own robe, saying, “This robe was a gift from you, and now it’s ruined. I’m really heartbroken. Even with my tribulation being weakened, it still ruined my clothes, and you endured the full force… it must have been very tough, right?”
“When we were cultivating, wasn’t it also only you who felt the pain?”
Not expecting such a leap in the conversation, Chi Muyao immediately retorted, “That’s different!”
Xi Huai raised his hand to show him, “Look, any injuries I had have been healed by you. I only lost a few magical items. The ones you found in the formation were really powerful and consumed very little energy, so they can probably be used again during another tribulation.”
Chi Muyao quickly nodded, “Yes, keep them safe. They can be used again during your Divine Transformation stage tribulation.”
Xi Huai was puzzled, “Don’t you need them for your Nascent Soul stage advancement?”
“I’m afraid my qualifications make it very difficult for me to reach the Nascent Soul stage.”
Xi Huai suddenly said meaningfully, “I’ll try my best.”
At first, Chi Muyao didn’t understand, but once he did, he pushed Xi Huai’s face away, blushing and stammering, “Even if the Hehuan Sect’s techniques are special, it’s impossible to work that hard!”
“Isn’t your sect leader at the Nascent Soul stage?”
“She has dual spiritual roots, and she’s almost four hundred years old.”
“Then I’ll work hard to help you reach the Nascent Soul stage by the time you’re three hundred.”
“That’s… that’s too far-fetched.”
Xi Huai looked at him tenderly, pulling him onto his lap and drawing closer, lowering his voice to say, “If you don’t reach the Nascent Soul stage and your lifespan ends, what will I do alone in the future?”
“I’ll figure something out.”
“That’s right, we have to cultivate diligently. My cave’s bed is very big…”
Chi Muyao pushed Xi Huai’s face away to keep him from getting closer, his breathing a bit chaotic. How could this person always seize the opportunity to act roguish?
“I just went through two tribulations, and I’m physically and mentally exhausted. My partner is treating me like this…” Xi Huai suddenly sighed, looking sorrowful.
Only then did Chi Muyao let go of Xi Huai. As soon as he did, Xi Huai kissed him.
The kiss was both gentle and fierce, as if soothing him or celebrating their survival and rebirth.
Finally, they had escaped.
Both of them were alive, their cultivation levels had increased, and the tribulation was over. With everything settled, they suddenly felt relieved and just wanted to kiss each other.
Xi Huai held him tightly, kissing him passionately.
Chi Muyao could only hold onto Xi Huai’s neck and comply obediently.
Feeling Xi Huai becoming more audacious, even wanting to take things further in such a place, Chi Muyao quickly pushed him away, “Wait, this isn’t the time for that. We just finished the tribulation, and our cultivation is still unstable. The Hehuan Sect’s techniques… if we do that, I won’t be able to control myself and might suffer a Qi deviation.”
“A Qi deviation?”
Chi Muyao nodded seriously, “Do you remember how every time you acted up in the cave, I had to meditate for a long time afterward?”
“Yes.”
“If I lose control while cultivating, my spiritual energy will become chaotic.”
“But didn’t you not like me back then?”
Seeing that Xi Huai didn’t understand, Chi Muyao explained with a red face, “There are many kinds of emotional arousal. One is cultivating with someone you like, which makes it easy to get emotionally aroused. Another is… feeling good can also arouse emotions. Once aroused, the mind becomes chaotic, the heart technique unstable, leading to a Qi deviation.”
Xi Huai chuckled lightly. Chi Muyao had finally admitted that he felt good when he cooperated willingly.
However, he couldn’t help but ask, “The Hehuan Sect’s heart technique is really special. So even after becoming Dao partners, you still need to control yourselves and can’t cultivate?”
“This is one of the reasons why forming Dao partnerships isn’t suitable for us. If a Hehuan Sect disciple becomes emotionally attached and acknowledges a Dao partner, flowers will bloom on their back, indicating their lifelong dedication to that person. They need their partner’s affection to continue living. If one day their partner’s feelings change, the Hehuan Sect disciple might perish because of it.”
“Perish?”
“Yes.”
“So if you acknowledge me, you can only live relying on me for the rest of your life? Is there something wrong with this technique? What if one day I’m killed or die suddenly? Will you die with me?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“No!” Xi Huai immediately frowned. “You can’t rely on me to live. You’re an independent person.”
Chi Muyao thought seriously and agreed, “That’s indeed a problem. We can plan for this in the long term.”
“Are there any other special aspects to your heart technique?” Xi Huai felt he should understand thoroughly to avoid future misunderstandings.
Chi Muyao really thought about it seriously and then said, “When you secretly used the Dao partner bond, I probably already liked you. I think I might have been stimulated by the bond and had flowers appear on my back. But the flowers appear without any signs or sensations, and since they’re on my back, I didn’t notice. However… you might still see flowers on my back during our future cultivation.”
“But during the last Thousand Sect Conference, I didn’t see any flowers while we were cultivating.”
“It hadn’t been stimulated back then! Also, I like you more and more now, so I might not be able to control the flowers from appearing. If I don’t rely on your cultivation method, the flowers might only appear occasionally during cultivation.”
Xi Huai looked at Chi Muyao, seeing him speak so earnestly, his heart couldn’t help but throb.
He swallowed and genuinely felt that after becoming Dao partners with Chi Muyao, Chi Muyao’s flirtations were even more potent than before. Each one came from the heart, sincere and serious, making his inner turmoil difficult to calm.Xi Huai took a deep breath and asked again, “Is there a solution?”
“I haven’t thought of one yet. I can go back to the Hehuan Sect and ask my master. We can also slowly try together once our cultivation stabilizes. You need to be patient. We’ll figure it out.”
“Oh…” Xi Huai suddenly felt elated, “Alright, I’ll cooperate. We’ll take it slow.”
Talking about this with Xi Huai still made Chi Muyao a bit shy. After composing himself for a while, he said, “I need to visit the Yu Chong Sect first. Before entering the formation, I had my junior sister hide my life lamp. I need to inform them that I am no longer Chi Muyao of the Yu Chong Sect. From now on, I will be A Jiu of the Hehuan Sect, following you to the Qing Ze Sect. Let everyone believe that Chi Muyao of the Yu Chong Sect perished in the formation.”
“Alright, I’ll go with you.”
“You should return to the Qing Ze Sect first. They’re worried about you too. The Qing Ze Sect and the Yu Chong Sect are in opposite directions, so splitting up will save time.”
“But—”
“I’m not running away!” Chi Muyao immediately interrupted Xi Huai, “I really like you. I won’t run, trust me.”
1- I think this is a reference to when Chi Muyao took the formation test at Nuan Yan Pavillion.
2- I am so sorry. I forgot the name used by the original translator and couldn’t seem to find it. In any case if you guys are wondering, it is the reference to the formation they were currently stuck in.
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