Chapter 154 Unsealing and Joining Forces, Initial Resolution of Suspicion
The gray barriers of the Hongmeng Space were still vibrating slightly from the bombardment outside. Fine cracks spread like spiderwebs, and the lingering scent of hehuan powder in the air intertwined with the violent aura of lightning-attribute spiritual energy, creating a suffocating pressure.
Lin Yue sat cross-legged about thirty feet away from Ye Qingcheng. His body was surrounded by chaotic spiritual light, veins bulged on his forehead, and the uncleared hehuan powder toxins in his body were still burning his Meridians. However, his gaze was exceptionally clear as he stared intently at the entrance of the space.
Ye Qingcheng lay on the ground. Her sealed spiritual power surged within her but could not be released. Her venomous gaze was like ice picks stabbing into Lin Yue's back.
She could clearly feel the powerful pressure from outside drawing closer. Those three auras were like three heavy mountains, making even her Early Golden Core Stage cultivation feel bursts of palpitations. She had long heard of the names Lei Cang, Lei Mang, and Lei Sha; the killing formation formed by these three working together was something even the Golden Core Elders of her Sect would avoid, let alone her current self, whose spiritual power was sealed and who was all alone.
“Fairy Ye,” Lin Yue suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of hoarseness due to the internal heat but remaining exceptionally firm. “Outside are three Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivators from the Lei Family. Lei Cang is skilled in lightning-attribute killing formations, Lei Mang possesses immense strength and incredible defense, and Lei Sha's Soul-Devouring Thunder Art can corrode the Divine Soul. In our current state, facing them alone is certain death.”
Ye Qingcheng gave a cold snort, her tone remaining icy. “Cooperate with a scoundrel like you? I would rather be slain by the Lei Family than associate with the likes of you!”
“I know you don't trust me,” Lin Yue said as he slowly turned around, meeting her gaze frankly without the slightest flinch. “But you can check your own dao foundation to see if there is even a shred of damage. Although your clothes were torn by your own hand, there are no marks of violation on your skin. If I truly wanted to take advantage of you, I would have done so when the medicine took effect. Why would I wait until the Lei Family hunted us down?”
Ye Qingcheng's body stiffened as she subconsciously inspected her own dao foundation. The Golden Core spiritual light within her Dantian was round and full, her dao foundation was as stable as ever, and because the toxins had been cleared, her spiritual power flowed even more smoothly than usual.
She looked down at her body again. Her skin was clean, and aside from the dirt from the ground, there were indeed no bruises from struggling or any signs of violation. A seed of doubt quietly took root in her heart.
“Although the Hongmeng Space can hide our presence, under the forceful bombardment of the three Lei Family members, it will hold for half an hour at most.” Lin Yue raised his hand, a wisp of pale gold spiritual power condensing at his fingertip as he slowly walked toward Ye Qingcheng. “I will now unbind your spiritual power Seal. We will cooperate temporarily to escape. Once we are safe, if you still feel I have taken liberties with you, I will leave myself at your disposal without a single word of complaint.”
His fingertip stopped an inch before the center of Ye Qingcheng's brows, without the slightest intention of crossing the line; the spiritual power was gentle and pure. Looking at the honesty in his eyes and feeling the approaching roar and pressure from outside, the struggle in Ye Qingcheng's heart grew more intense.
On one side was unforgettable humiliation and resentment, and on the other was an imminent crisis of life and death. Born into a prestigious family, she had always been proud, but she also understood the principle that as long as one survives, there is hope.
“If you dare to play any tricks, I will immediately self-detonate my Magic Treasure and take you down with me!” Ye Qingcheng gritted her teeth as she spat out these words. The venom in her eyes faded slightly, replaced by a touch of resolution.
Lin Yue nodded, and his fingertip lightly touched the Seal on her forehead with spiritual power.
As the pale gold spiritual light flowed, her previously sealed spiritual power instantly surged back into her Meridians like a tide. Her whole body shook as she flipped over and leaped up, her spiritual power surging wildly. She did not immediately attack Lin Yue; instead, she quickly retreated several steps and stared at him warily while her Divine Sense swept through the surroundings to ensure there were no ambushes.
“I am skilled in Mechanism Puppet Art; this Silver-Armored Puppet can distract one person head-on.” Ye Qingcheng waved her hand, and a streak of silver light flew out from her Storage Pouch, transforming into a half-man-tall Silver-Armored Puppet the moment it hit the ground.
The Puppet was made entirely of mithril, with Blue Spirit Crystals embedded in its joints. It carried two short blades on its back, and complex mechanical patterns were carved on its chest, emitting spiritual power fluctuations of the Early Golden Core Stage.
“Good.” Lin Yue did not hesitate. The intertwined gold and red spiritual light around him surged, his Golden Core Dao Body operating at full capacity. His muscles instantly bulged, and a faint golden glow appeared beneath his bronze skin. He reached back and pulled out the zhensha divine staff from his back. The staff was covered in fine zhensha talismans, flickering with red light and emitting an aura that could break evil and suppress malice. “I will take the lead against Lei Cang; he is the head of the three, and killing him will disrupt their formation. Here are a few Qi Gathering Medicinal Pills; take them for now to replenish your spiritual power during the battle.”
He tossed over a jade bottle, which landed accurately in front of Ye Qingcheng. She subconsciously caught it; the jade bottle felt warm in her hand, and the Qi Gathering Medicinal Pills inside were of pure spiritual energy, clearly High Grade. Looking at the jade bottle in her hand and then at Lin Yue's back as he walked toward the entrance of the space, the doubt in her heart faded even more. If he truly had malicious intentions, he could have attacked her while she was weak after the unsealing, rather than proactively sharing pills and planning tactics.
“The Puppet's core mechanism can defend against lightning-attribute attacks, but it is afraid of fire.” Ye Qingcheng spoke to warn him as she controlled the Silver-Armored Puppet to take up a defensive position on the left side of the entrance. “Lei Mang's Lightning-Pattern Warblade is extremely powerful; you must be careful of his strikes.”
“Thanks for the warning.” Lin Yue nodded, spinning the zhensha divine staff in his hand. The red light on the staff surged as he struck the right side of the entrance, forming a solid defensive barrier. “I will draw Lei Cang's attention. Have your Puppet distract Lei Mang, and try your best to avoid Lei Sha's Soul-Devouring Thunder Art.”
Ye Qingcheng did not respond, but she silently controlled the Silver-Armored Puppet to assume a defensive stance. The short blades on its back partially slid out, and the mechanical patterns on its chest lit up with a pale blue spiritual light. She looked at Lin Yue's back as he focused on the defense, at the sweat stains remaining from the previous detoxification, and at his torn collar which he seemed completely indifferent to. The humiliation and resentment of being violated were gradually replaced by a complex emotion.
The bombardment from outside grew more intense, and the cracks in the Hongmeng Space's barrier continued to expand. Gray spiritual light leaked out, drawing even more violent lightning-attribute spiritual power impacts. Lin Yue inscribed the final Defensive Rune on the ground and turned to look at Ye Qingcheng. “Are you ready? They are about to break the formation.”
Ye Qingcheng took a deep breath. The Silver-Armored Puppet's eyes lit up with red light, and its spiritual power circulated to the limit. “Let's do it.”
At this moment, as she looked at the gravity and honesty in Lin Yue's eyes, her favorability toward him quietly rose by 10 points. Perhaps this man really wasn't as shameless as she had imagined.