Chapter 675 - 119: Heart Demon Devouring the Body, a Public Marriage Proposal

A strange smile suddenly appeared on the face of the person before him. He slowly raised his hands, then lunged, grabbing for Song Qingshi’s neck...

"This is bad. Something is wrong with Qingshi."

Outside the Seclusion Chamber, watching Song Qingshi’s Spiritual Energy Vortex begin to distort, Song Changsheng’s gaze darkened.

"Based on our calculations, he should be at the final step now. The Divine Soul Barrier is when Heart Demons are most likely to appear. I fear Qingshi is in grave danger," Song Xianming said grimly.

Song Changsheng shook his head. "Qingshi has possessed a steadfast will since he was a child. He’ll have no problem overcoming a Heart Demon. Compared to him, I’m actually more worried about Qingxi."

At his words, Song Qingxing subconsciously glanced at Song Qingxi’s Spiritual Energy Vortex, his eyes filled with worry.

He knew all too well what a Heart Demon entailed...

Song Qingxi felt as if she were in a dream—a dream that was both incredibly real and utterly absurd.

In that dream, she successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment realm and, under the watchful eyes of the clan’s elders, became Dao Companions with Song Qingxing.

Then, time seemed to fast-forward. Over the long years, their Cultivation soared. Song Qingxing broke through to the Purple Mansion realm, and she reached Late-stage Foundation Establishment.

A gap between them always remained, but Song Qingxing would always stop and wait for her. This touched her deeply, yet it also filled her with guilt.

Burdened by this guilt, she cultivated even harder, but the disparity in their talent only caused the distance between them to grow.

Though she managed a lucky breakthrough to the Purple Mansion realm, her cultivation speed slowed considerably.

Until one day, with the Song Clan’s support, Song Qingxing broke through to the Golden Core realm. She, however, was still languishing in the Mid-stage Purple Mansion.

As time slipped by, she drew ever closer to the end of her lifespan, yet a breakthrough to the Golden Core realm remained a distant, unattainable dream.

She had been resentful, she had been furious, but she still couldn’t change this foregone conclusion.

In the final moments of her life, her only comfort was that her beauty had remained, unchanged by the passage of years.

She eventually passed away in Song Qingxing’s arms.

After her passing, Song Qingxing gradually fell into despair, eventually leading himself to ruin.

The story had a beautiful beginning, but this was an ending she could not accept.

Her will began to crumble, and her inner resolve started to waver.

A dense black mist seeped out from her body, quickly enveloping her. An invisible hand seemed to be strangling her, making it hard to breathe.

Her consciousness began to sink, and memories of her time with Song Qingxing flashed rapidly through her Sea of Consciousness.

"Trust me."

"Trust me!"

"Trust me..."

Song Qingxing’s voice echoed in Song Qingxi’s Sea of Consciousness, slowly but surely pulling her mind back from the brink of the Abyss.

’That day will never come! I won’t make you wait for me. I’ll cultivate with all my might. I’ll catch up to you, no matter the cost...’

A scarlet light flickered in Song Qingxi’s eyes. Dark patterns spread crazily across her fair skin, and her Sea of Consciousness was plunged into darkness.

Just as she was about to Fall into Demon, her thoughts suddenly drifted back twenty years. Her father had accepted an assignment away from home and left. Although the clan elders looked after her, she often felt lonely and afraid.

Until one day, her favorite young uncle took her to a place where she met a quiet older boy.

At first, not only did he not speak, but his attitude was also terrible, making her despise him for a time.

But he was the only other person her age on Lake Heart Island, so she had no choice but to play with him.

After spending more time together, she gradually discovered that he wasn’t so hateful after all. He was even a little cute.

They ate and lived together for more than twenty years. They would sit together and watch the stars, row a small boat across the lake, and eat fruit from the Cyan Plum Tree, scrunching up their noses together at the sourness.

They both firmly believed that nothing but death could ever tear them apart.

"No matter what happens, nothing can keep us apart. I want you... to marry me," Song Qingxi murmured softly.

The black mist enveloping her gradually dissipated, and clarity returned to her eyes.

Looking around the empty, silent Seclusion Chamber, Song Qingxi felt as if a lifetime had passed.

’Did I... succeed?’

She looked down at the foul-smelling black secretions on her skin, and a faint light glimmered in her eyes. This was the sign of Washing Marrow, the purification that came after a successful breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm and the elevation of one’s level of Life.

"It stinks."

Song Qingxi wrinkled her delicate nose. Just as she was thinking about getting some water to wash herself, the door to the Seclusion Chamber suddenly burst open, and a figure in a Profound Robe rushed into her arms like a gust of wind.

"Ah! Why did you come in now?" The tips of Song Qingxi’s ears turned slightly red.

Song Qingxing said nothing, merely holding her tightly, as if afraid she would fly away the very next moment.

Song Qingxi tried to struggle, but found Song Qingxing’s arms were like iron clamps, impossible to budge.

She could only say, her face blushing, "You should go out first."

"What’s wrong?" Song Qingxing asked, bewildered.

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Song Qingxi’s face as she said reproachfully, "It stinks so much, can’t you smell it?"

"It doesn’t matter."

Song Qingxing replied without a second thought, but then he felt a hand slap his forehead.

Turning around, he saw Song Changsheng standing behind him with a look one might give a simple-minded child.

"Uncle," Song Qingxing said, quickly standing up.

"Uncle," Song Qingxi called out in a voice as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz, not daring to look at Song Changsheng. Being caught in such a situation by an elder was always embarrassing.

"You did well. Your uncle is proud of you," Song Changsheng said with relief.

When they saw Song Qingxi’s Qi Vortex on the verge of collapse, Song Changsheng and the others had despaired. They never expected that just when all hope seemed lost, she would turn things around. In the end, Song Qingxi lived up to everyone’s hopes and successfully pulled through.

"I’m sorry to have worried you, Uncle."

"Don’t dwell on it. All that matters is that you succeeded. Go ahead and clean yourself up. We’ll wait for you outside."

Song Changsheng smiled gently, then glanced at Song Qingxing beside him and said irritably, "So impetuous. Come out with me."

After leading Song Qingxing outside and waving his hand to set up a Restriction, Song Changsheng said in a heartfelt tone, "Girls care about their appearance. They are very particular about their image, especially in front of the person they like.

You’ve been through this yourself. Don’t you know that one needs to wash up after a breakthrough? Rushing in so recklessly, didn’t you just embarrass Xi’Er?"

"I don’t mind," Song Qingxing said with a solemn expression.

Song Changsheng couldn’t help but roll his eyes. ’Is this about whether *you* mind or not?’

"You, you... you’re really a blockhead. I have no idea what Xi’Er sees in you."

Just as Song Changsheng was "scolding" Song Qingxing, Song Qingxi emerged, neat and clean, and gave a graceful bow to everyone.

"You’ve truly blossomed into a poised and graceful young lady. I remember when you were just a little thing," Song Xianming said with feeling, stroking his beard.

"Brother Song, your clan is truly full of talented individuals! For both of them to succeed under such circumstances is a rare sight indeed," Yuann Tianshu praised.

"Hahaha, Brother Yuann, you flatter us. Qingxia’s talent is no less than theirs; I’m sure she will also succeed in her breakthrough."

Several years ago, Yuann Tianshu had thought of taking on a disciple. Among the many disciples of the Song Clan’s younger generation, he had ultimately chosen Song Qingxia, who was also devoted to the Sword Dao, to inherit his legacy.

This time, Song Qingxia was also in seclusion. Yuann Tianshu hadn’t thought much of it at first, but after Song Qingxi and Song Qingshi put on such a thrilling display right from the start, he couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat for his beloved disciple.

Just then, Song Qingxing suddenly knelt before Song Changsheng and declared in a clear voice, "Uncle, I wish to marry Qingxi and make her my Dao Companion! I ask for your blessing!"

In an instant, there was dead silence. Only Song Qingxing’s clear voice echoed through the mountains.

Looking at Song Qingxing before him, Song Changsheng couldn’t help but think of himself and Zhuang Yuechan.

A smile appeared on his face. He looked up at Song Qingxi, who stood a short distance away, equally stunned, and said gently, "Xi’Er, are you willing?"

...