187: Guiding the way, tenderness in the dark night

The strange movement of the netherworld token interrupted the brief tranquility of the mountaintop.

The cold touch and the increasingly clear sense of guidance were like a silent alarm, foreshadowing that the shadow of the Guixu Cult was once again looming over them.

Lin Xuan gripped the token tightly, his gaze sharp as he looked toward the direction from which the guidance emanated—that was a stretch of continuous, sparsely populated mountains located at the border between the Eastern Region and the Southern Wilderness, known as the "Zangxing Mountain Range." It was rumored that in ancient times, stars from beyond the heavens had fallen here, forming a unique and dangerous landscape.

"The guidance of the netherworld token has become clearer; it is in the direction of the Zangxing Mountain Range," Lin Xuan informed the three women. "The Guixu Cult is determined to obtain this object; I fear there is already an ambush ahead."

Su Wanqing's icy eyes narrowed slightly, and the frost silence sword returned to its scabbard without a sound. She said coldly, "We shall meet them as they come."

Qu Feiyan had just achieved a Breakthrough, and her aura had not yet fully stabilized, but her charming eyes were already burning with Battle Intent. "It's just the right time to test my skills on them and see if this Golden Core Peak can tear a piece of flesh off a Nascent Soul Cultivator!"

After her Bloodline purification, her Demonic Technique had less hostility and more control and purity, and her confidence had greatly increased.

Gongsun Yu gripped the thunder urgency sword, her small face tense. "Big Brother Lin, we are not afraid!"

Looking at the three beautiful women beside him, each with a different style but equally resolute, a warm current surged in Lin Xuan's heart, and a sense of heroic spirit arose.

He smiled slightly. "Good! Then let us go and meet them. However, before that, we need to make some preparations and let Feiyan completely stabilize her Realm."

He turned his gaze to Yun Shang, who had been quietly guarding the side. This young girl with a Star Spirit Body had followed them all the way, practicing diligently. Although she was not a Dao Companion, she had already become an indispensable member of the team.

"Yun Shang," Lin Xuan spoke gently, taking out a "Star Brilliance Stone" he had obtained previously, which was highly beneficial for cultivating the star attribute, and handed it to her. "Your Star Spirit Body has extraordinary potential. Cultivate diligently, and your future achievements will be limitless. I give this to you, hoping it will help you condense your Golden Core sooner."

Yun Shang was pleasantly surprised. She quickly accepted it with both hands, feeling the pure Power of Stars within the Star Brilliance Stone, her eyes filled with gratitude and determination. "Thank you, Senior Brother Lin! Yun Shang will certainly not disappoint Senior Brother's high expectations. I will work hard to Cultivate and will definitely not hold everyone back!"

She knew well that being able to follow such a Prodigy was already an Opportunity; only by constantly improving could she live up to this trust.

That night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse.

The four of them found a hidden mountain stream to rest temporarily. Lin Xuan set up a concealment and defensive Formation, isolating the mountain stream from the outside world.

Qu Feiyan sat cross-legged on a blue stone, operating her Cultivation Technique with all her might to consolidate her Golden Core Peak cultivation. Faint images of a blood lotus appeared around her, and her aura gradually became rounded and full.

Su Wanqing was silently wiping the frost silence sword nearby, the aura between person and sword merging, silently enhancing their tacit understanding. The cold moonlight fell on her, like a Fairy from the Moon Palace descending to the world.

Gongsun Yu sat by the campfire, hugging her knees, watching the leaping flames, wondering what she was thinking about. Occasionally, she would secretly glance at Lin Xuan, who was checking the netherworld token, her small face slightly flushed.

Yun Shang was a little further away, holding the Star Brilliance Stone, silently sensing the Power of Stars in the night sky, guiding it to temper herself.

Lin Xuan studied the netherworld token for a while, but apart from its clear directionality, he had no further discoveries for the time being. He put away the token, his gaze sweeping over the three women closely linked to his destiny, his heart filled with peace and satisfaction.

He walked to Gongsun Yu's side and sat down, rubbing her head. "What are you thinking about?"

Gongsun Yu looked up, her big eyes sparkling in the firelight. "Big Brother Lin, I was thinking, when we all become very, very powerful, will we never have to be afraid of the Guixu Cult again?"

Lin Xuan laughed, but his tone carried undoubted confidence. "We don't have to wait until then. Very soon, it will be their turn to be afraid of us."

Gongsun Yu nodded vigorously, her eyes full of admiration and trust.

He walked over to Su Wanqing's side. Su Wanqing stopped wiping her sword and raised her eyes to look at him, her icy eyes softening a little in the moonlight.

"Wanqing," Lin Xuan called out softly, reaching out to take her slightly cool jade hand. "You have worked hard."

Su Wanqing trembled slightly but did not pull away. She just gently squeezed his hand back, shook her head, and everything was understood without words. Her nature was cold, and she was not good at expressing herself, but all her support and affection were fused into this silent companionship and every time they fought side by side.

Finally, he came to Qu Feiyan's side. Feeling his approach, Qu Feiyan slowly stopped her cultivation and opened her beautiful eyes. Her gaze was charming, yet it carried a trace of composure and peace after experiencing storms.

"How do you feel?" Lin Xuan asked with concern.

"Better than ever." Qu Feiyan smiled sweetly, reached out to hook her arms around his neck, and pulled him closer. She breathed like an orchid against his ear, her voice carrying a hint of laziness and charm. "It's all thanks to you, my good Junior Brother... Tonight, let me 'thank' you properly, how about that?"

Her words were ambiguous, but her eyes were clear and affectionate. After experiencing life and death, the chief culprit being punished, and a Breakthrough in her state of mind, at this moment she only wanted to fully enjoy this peace and tenderness with her beloved.

Lin Xuan looked at her delicate face close at hand, smelling the faint fragrance coming from her, his heart fluttering. He lowered his head and imprinted a kiss on her smooth forehead, laughing softly. "That is exactly what I wish for, I would not dare to ask for more."

That night, spring was quietly in the air within the mountain stream. The tenderness between the lovers diluted the slaughter and tension of the road ahead. Su Wanqing and Gongsun Yu were long used to this, each meditating in the distance, leaving space for this pair of lovers. Yun Shang was even more deeply immersed in cultivation early on, without any distractions.

The next morning, the morning sun rose.

Qu Feiyan was glowing, her cultivation completely stabilized, and her eyebrows and eyes added a few points of moving charm. She and Lin Xuan looked at each other and smiled, everything understood without words.

Su Wanqing and Gongsun Yu had also adjusted to their best state.

After a night of cultivation, Yun Shang's aura had also become more solid.

"Set off, Zangxing Mountain Range!" Lin Xuan gave the order, and the five of them turned into escape lights, setting off again, heading straight for that unknown place where crisis and Opportunity coexisted. The mystery of the netherworld token and the conspiracy of the Guixu Cult would all be waiting for them to uncover there.