Chapter 220 - 219: Cultivation World: A Tear from Sister Chu, Acting Until You...

As soon as the woman finished speaking, three mounds of Top Grade Spiritual Stones, each the size of a small hill, appeared in the great hall. They radiated a light so brilliant it forced everyone to shut their eyes.

"A-Am I seeing things? These are all Top Grade Spiritual Stones!"

"This is the first time in my life I’ve ever seen so many Top Grade Spiritual Stones. It’s like I’m dreaming."

"I think I must be hallucinating. How could anyone possibly have this many Top Grade Spiritual Stones!"

...

The crowd erupted in an instant, the sword floating overhead suddenly forgotten.

In the Cultivation World, no matter how one began their path to the Dao, the only universal currency was the Spirit Stone.

However, not all Spirit Stones were of equal value. Top Grade Spiritual Stones were the absolute highest tier.

It was no exaggeration to call them stones that stored Spiritual Energy with zero impurities. Most would be loath to use them for cultivation, so how could someone just toss them out so carelessly and brazenly?

This Female Cultivator really had more Spirit Stones than sense!

People are inherently greedy, and Demon Cultivators even more so.

There were more than enough Spirit Stones in the hall, but after the initial shock wore off, the crowd’s greedy gazes shifted to Chu Liangyu herself.

If she could produce this many Spirit Stones so easily, it meant she had even more on her!

Chu Liangyu seemed to be frightened by their stares, and tears began to well up in her eyes.

The crowd gradually closed in on her, looking as if they might devour her at any second.

She could no longer maintain her composure. A hint of fear appeared on her face as she subconsciously cast a pleading glance toward her master.

She was too terrified to make a sound, her mouth just opening and closing again and again.

A closer look would reveal she was mouthing the words: Master, I’m so scared.

Perhaps because her savior had yet to act, the hope in her eyes gradually dimmed, and a look of dejection crossed her face.

Her eyelids slowly drooped. The next moment, tears fell without warning. She cried without a sound, a sight that was all the more heart-wrenching for its silence.

So many people were closing in on her. Though clearly terrified, she instinctively moved to shield her stomach.

Her body curled in on itself, trembling slightly. She was obviously terrified to her core.

Li Jingxuan’s thin lips pressed into a firm line. He tightly gripped the Taichu Sword, which had returned to his hand at some unknown point, his gaze never wavering from Chu Liangyu for a single moment.

"Hey, how many more Spirit Stones you got? Hand them all over. If you don’t, well, we won’t be so polite."

One man smirked lewdly at her belly and reached out to touch it.

However, before his hand could even brush against Chu Liangyu’s robes, his entire arm was lopped off in the very next instant.

"AAAAHHH..."

A blood-curdling scream echoed through the great hall, jolting those lost in their dreams of riches back to reality. Their eyes, now filled with terror, fixed on Li Jingxuan.

"Begone."

It was just a single word, yet it carried the full spiritual pressure of the Divinity Transformation Stage, slamming the crowd to their knees and forcing them to cough up blood.

Meanwhile, Li Jingxuan had already pulled Chu Liangyu into his arms, whisking her away before blood could even gush from the severed limb.

Chu Liangyu’s hands were clenched tightly around the fabric of his robes. Her lips, tinged slightly purple, trembled. When she spoke, her voice was choked with a sob as she called out, "Master."

It was different from how she usually called him. This time, her voice was filled with attachment and trust, as if he was her entire world.

It was a cry that promised she would stand steadfastly by his side, accompanying him forever, even if the whole world were to scorn and curse him.

Something flickered in Li Jingxuan’s eyes. He felt his heart begin to beat faster, and he instinctively looked down at her.

In a rare moment of gentleness, he spoke to comfort her. "I’m here."

For the first time, Chu Liangyu actually detected a hint of tenderness in his voice.

It was incredible, yet surprisingly captivating.

"I have said it before: no burning, killing, or plundering. If you break this rule again, it won’t be as simple as losing an arm."

With a slight lift of his arm, Li Jingxuan swept up all the Spirit Stones.

"These do not belong to you. If you want something, earn it yourselves."

"This meeting is over. You are all dismissed."

Everyone exchanged glances before silently filing out of the great hall.

Once only the two of them remained, the doors to the great hall slammed shut with a THUD.

The hall was instantly plunged into darkness, leaving only the faint, wan glow of Luminous Pearls to illuminate a small patch of space.

The hall was so quiet you could hear them breathing. And because of this, the atmosphere gradually grew intimate.

They remained in their previous position. Whether intentional or not, the arms holding her tightened slightly.

"Master, you..."

It seemed the darkness was particularly good at stirring one’s innermost desires—especially those of someone who already harbored a Heart Demon.

Chu Liangyu wanted to say he was holding her too tightly, that she could barely breathe, but before she could finish speaking...

An aura as crisp and cold as winter snow drew near. Realizing what was happening, Chu Liangyu immediately took a few steps back, her eyes wide with panic as she looked at him.

’Oh my god, was he really about to kiss me just now?’

’All I did was act a little pitiful. How could his attitude change so drastically?’

’It’s over. I’m really afraid I won’t be able to clean up this mess.’

"Master, I’m tired. I-I’ll just go back and rest now."

As soon as she finished speaking, Chu Liangyu turned to run.

But the great doors refused to open. When she struck them with her Spiritual Power, it vanished as if she’d thrown a stone into the sea, leaving not a single ripple.

Chu Liangyu swallowed hard. With her back pressed against the doors, she could only watch as Li Jingxuan drew closer and closer.

"There’s no hurry."

Cultivators were not like mortals; even in this darkness, they could see as clearly as if it were day.

Now, Chu Liangyu noticed that his aura seemed different. It had become a strange mix of righteous and sinister.

Just as she was hesitating, Li Jingxuan’s hand came to rest on her belly, and his eyes held a new, unreadable emotion.

For the very first time, Li Jingxuan was actually paying attention to the child in her womb. He was like a completely different person from the man he’d been during the day.

"My good disciple, don’t you think... this child is a bit too quiet?"

Chu Liangyu’s heart skipped a beat. ’Could it be? Has he figured something out?’

’No, no, no. The Heavenly Dao itself made this happen. It shouldn’t be that easy to see through.’

Steeling herself, Chu Liangyu smiled and said, "Perhaps he just takes after me as a child."

"Like you?"

The movement of Li Jingxuan’s hand stilled. His gaze met her guileless smile, and he found himself irresistibly leaning closer.

"But... I don’t think my good disciple is well-behaved at all."

Slowly, the distance between them shrank until the tips of their noses touched.

Their ragged breaths shattered the already fragile peace. The moment their lips touched, it was as if a switch had been flipped, unleashing all of his pent-up emotions.

Chu Liangyu was screaming internally. She wanted to do something, but given the persona she was playing, there was no way she could push him away at a time like this.

’It seems I’ve well and truly unleashed Li Jingxuan’s Heart Demon now.’

’If it weren’t for the Heart Demon, a man with his personality would never, ever do something like this.’