Chapter 133: Entering the City

"Boom!" The earth and sky shuddered. Faced with the divine majesty of the heavenly tribulation, the Samsara Mirror did not retreat in the slightest; instead, its radiance grew even more intense under the onslaught of the lightning.

A deafening explosion erupted, echoing through the heavens and causing the ground to tremble violently. A massive shockwave rippled outward from the point of impact, reducing every blade of grass and tree in its path to nothingness. The three experts of the Blood Origin Sect were caught in the blast; under the force of the shockwave, they met the same fate as the brothers Blood Shadow and Blood Form.

"Hum—" The Samsara Mirror let out a mournful cry. A fine crack appeared on its surface, its glow dimmed considerably, and it fell powerlessly onto Long Yun, merging into his flesh and blood. Sensing the severe damage the mirror had sustained, a wave of guilt washed over Long Yun. He placed the mirror within his dantian, using the power of Heaven-Seizing to nurture it back to health.

"Brother—" Yan Qingqing had successfully passed the tribulation. Bathed in a radiant, colorful mist, her peerless beauty, framed by the celestial light, appeared like a goddess from the nine heavens—sacred and inviolable. Long Yun could sense her aura continuously rising; this was the benefit of passing the tribulation. Not only had her cultivation solidified, but her comprehension of the Heavenly Dao had also multiplied. At this moment, Yan Qingqing was undergoing an essential transformation, strengthening not only her physical body but her very essence.

A faint smile finally curled on Long Yun’s lips, but his exhausted primordial spirit could no longer support him. Everything went black, and he lost consciousness.

When Yan Qingqing finished bathing in the five-colored light, she looked at Long Yun with joyful eyes, eager to share the triumph of her success. However, seeing him already unconscious from the massive depletion of his true energy and spirit, the smile on her face vanished instantly. She appeared by his side in a flash.

Seeing his face, pale as paper, Yan Qingqing felt as if her heart were being stabbed by a knife, as if she were the one who had been injured. Her jade-like hand rested gently on his shoulder, and she poured her true energy into his body in a steady, dense stream.

"Brother, why are you so foolish? Do you not care for your own life? How could your physical body withstand the might of the heavenly tribulation? You’ve done this for me—how can I ever repay you?" she murmured.

A blush flushed her cheeks, and she couldn't help but part her cherry lips, pressing a light, butterfly-kiss to his. A sensation like an electric shock surged through her entire body. Her breathing grew rapid, and her heart hammered against her ribs like a trapped deer. Fortunately, Long Yun remained unresponsive. The crimson hue on her face spread to her neck. "So this is what it feels like," she whispered to herself. "So steady, so blissful."

Yan Qingqing lifted Long Yun so he could lean against her slender frame. She continued to mutter words even she couldn't fully comprehend, the blush on her face refusing to fade.

***

Time passed, and eventually, Long Yun slowly stirred. He felt a soft sensation against his back and took a deep breath, inhaling a fresh, sweet scent that made his heart flutter.

"Brother, you're awake!" Yan Qingqing’s voice came from behind him. Long Yun realized with a start that the softness he felt was her chest. Feeling embarrassed, he sat up slightly, trying to compose his emotions, and turned to her. "I'm fine. My body recovers quickly."

"Brother!" Yan Qingqing called out softly. Suddenly recalling the moment she had kissed him, her face burned with heat once more. Long Yun, unaware of the cause, smiled slightly. "Silly girl, don't worry. Your brother has thick skin. What could a couple of stray lightning bolts do to me?"

Yan Qingqing’s face was like a burning fire; she bowed her head, too shy to speak. Long Yun frowned. "Qingqing, what’s wrong? Were you injured during the tribulation? Why is your face so red?"

"Oh!" Unable to hide her shyness any longer, Yan Qingqing stood up abruptly and ran off, quickly disappearing from his sight. Long Yun looked around, bewildered. "A woman’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea. I truly don't understand what that was all about." He shook his head, stood up, and followed in the direction she had fled.

Two days later, Long Yun’s injuries had fully healed, and his cultivation was one step closer to the Innate God-Unity realm. He could even feel that the barrier might break at any moment.

The Profound Heaven Domain, also known as Profound Heaven City, was a massive city built by various forces joining together to protect against the frequent incursions of the sea tribes. Outside the city gates, disciples from various sects took turns standing guard. They usually checked to ensure no one entering bore the scent of the sea tribes, but otherwise, the inspection was quite lax.

"Brother, shall we go straight in, or wait for Brother Xiao Leng?" Yan Qingqing asked, watching the stream of people entering the gate.

Long Yun replied, "Let’s go in. Brother Xiao Leng is taking a different path; he might be entering through another gate. We shouldn't just wait here. Let's go in and scout the situation."

Yan Qingqing nodded and followed him toward the gate.

"You two, what is your business?" a guard challenged them, his eyes flickering. The people coming and going were mostly commoners looking to trade, though there were occasional cultivators, albeit very few.

Those cultivators who entered the Profound Heaven Domain were usually those who had nowhere else to turn, and once inside, they rarely left. Seeing the aura of cultivation on Long Yun and Yan Qingqing, and noting that they were strangers, the guard immediately interrogated them.

Long Yun smiled politely. "My sect was destroyed, and I am being hunted by enemies. I seek to enter the Profound Heaven Domain for refuge. I ask this brother to let us pass."

The guard scanned Long Yun. He was only at the Rebirth realm himself, but because Long Yun and Yan Qingqing had suppressed their aura to the Gathering Yuan realm, the guard looked at them with a haughty expression. "You mean to say you are from outside and want to join the Profound Heaven Domain?"

"Exactly," Long Yun nodded.

The guard smiled. "Since you want to enter, do you know the rules for first-timers?"

Long Yun looked startled and said bitterly, "I truly don't know. I’ve never been here before. Perhaps you could enlighten me, brother, so I don't make a fool of myself?"

"Hmph!" The guard’s expression turned sour. He wished he could slap Long Yun—how could he not understand what he was clearly implying? Long Yun understood perfectly well that the guard was extorting him, but he pretended to be dense to annoy the man.

"Anyone entering for the first time must pay a high-quality treasure or some medicinal pills; otherwise, you will surely face unnecessary trouble!" Seeing Long Yun’s blank expression, the guard finally spoke plainly, his eyes landing greedily on the Qinghe Sword on Long Yun’s back. He had been eyeing the sword since they arrived; though his cultivation was low, he could sense the extraordinary aura it exuded.

Long Yun pretended not to notice the guard's gaze and said with a wronged expression, "But brother, we are refugees. We have nothing of value. I beg for your mercy!"

The guard scoffed, unable to restrain himself any longer. "Kid, do you take me for a fool? Hand over that sword on your back immediately, or do you think you'll be entering this city safely?"

Long Yun smiled inwardly. The man had finally shown his true colors. Just as he was about to speak, a voice boomed from afar:

"You scoundrel! To think you would dare bully my friends—you must be tired of living!"