Wenren Li did not refute Chen Yixin. He clasped Chen Yixin’s hand, their fingers intertwined, and gazed at him with complete concentration. Within his sea of consciousness, the silver tree merely defended itself enough to keep Chen Yixin occupied; for the most part, it was simply playing along with him.
Chen Yixin had grown tremendously during the past two years, but Wenren Li had never stopped absorbing his remnants and recovering his strength. His own growth was probably beyond anything Chen Yixin could imagine. Chen Yixin curled slightly against Wenren Li’s chest, panting heavily, his gaze unfocused and beads of sweat dampening his forehead and the sides of his nose. Fighting on two fronts at once had taken a tremendous toll on him.
Before Chen Yixin could even recover his senses, Wenren Li had already turned the tables and pinned him beneath him again. Chen Yixin glanced at Wenren Li, while the flaming phoenix inside Wenren Li’s sea of consciousness gave a triumphant cry before flying out and returning to Chen Yixin’s own sea of consciousness.
“Now does A-Li know how impressive I am?” Even though Wenren Li had pinned him down again, that did not erase the fact that Chen Yixin had previously managed to pin Wenren Li beneath him. No one else in the world could accomplish such a thing. How could he not feel a little proud?
Wenren Li lowered his head and kissed the corner of Chen Yixin’s lips. In a low voice, he said, “A-Rong is impressive.”
Having received his acknowledgment, Chen Yixin’s eyes curved happily. As though rewarding him, he kissed Wenren Li on the cheek, then said with great enthusiasm, “Then let’s continue.”
After taking the initiative like that, he had stirred up both his own desire and Wenren Li’s. Two years had already passed. There was no reason to begrudge themselves a little more time for intimacy.
A month later, the door of the small wooden house finally opened. Chen Yixin’s divine flame had transformed, and the effect Wenren Li’s aura had on him had weakened, so he was in fairly good spirits overall. Looking at the field of mutated Phoenix Flowers before him, he beckoned with one hand. The Phoenix Flowers that had bloomed unfaded for two years rapidly withered, then condensed into a silver-blue sphere of light.
The power inside the mutated Phoenix Flowers had not been obvious while they covered an entire field, but once condensed together, the power of divine punishment within them became unmistakable. Normally lethally dangerous, that power now rested with astonishing docility inside the sphere. “So that’s how it is.” Chen Yixin murmured to himself as flames wound together around his body, gathering into the shape of a phoenix egg. With a clear phoenix cry, they completed their transformation into the form of a blue-flamed phoenix.
Even the smallest spark that spilled from him now took the shape of a tiny blue-flamed phoenix. This was the true fruit of Chen Yixin’s two years of enlightenment, finally taking complete form at this moment. He had given his divine flame the shape best suited to it—and the shape in which it could unleash its greatest power.
“My soul flame shall be called Return.”
From this day forward, these flames would serve as the vessel of Chen Yixin’s divine soul. “Return” carried the meaning of coming back and reuniting. At the same time, the name represented another use Chen Yixin had discovered for his divine flame besides its overwhelming destructive power: returning the soul.
Elio’s Notes: “Return” translates 归 (guī), which can mean to return, come home, or reunite. It also forms part of 归魂, literally “returning the soul,” the ability Chen Yixin has now comprehended.
The extraordinary divine aura around Chen Yixin faded. He formed several more seals and sent them into his own body, suppressing his cultivation because he was already capable of breaking through into the Immortal Emperor realm at any time. Taixuan, however, still could not withstand such a breakthrough. At the very least, they would have to wait until Wenren Li had absorbed the remnants inside both Divine Wells.
“Immortal Emperors are divided into nine grades, and beyond the Immortal Emperor realm lies another beginning.” Wenren Li walked over as he spoke. He had originally intended to remind Chen Yixin not to become too proud, but when Chen Yixin turned and looked at him, Wenren Li instinctively changed what he had been about to say.
“However, A-Rong really is very impressive.” And he truly was. Only a little over three hundred thousand years had passed since Chen Yixin had hatched, and now only one heavenly tribulation stood between him and the ranks of the Immortal Emperors. How could that not be impressive? Even if he was proud of himself, it was perfectly understandable.
Chen Yixin wrapped his arms around Wenren Li’s neck, rose onto his toes, and pressed his cheek against Wenren Li’s, his eyes curving brightly. “I think so too.” He had made a breakthrough, so of course he should be happy. Worrying endlessly about what came next had never been Chen Yixin’s style.
Wenren Li held him for a while, then wrapped an arm around his waist and slowly carried him away from the field of Phoenix Flowers where they had remained for two years. Their destination was the Southern Domain’s Demon Palace, which they had left nearly three years earlier.
Although Chen Yixin and Wenren Li had not appeared for so long, the Demon Generals and Demon Guards’ loyalty and reverence toward them had not diminished in the slightest. If anything, it had grown stronger. Stories about the two of them had become increasingly exaggerated throughout the cultivation world, and a wave of worship for Wenren Li and Chen Yixin had swept across Taixuan, affecting the immortal path, the demonic path, and even the mortal world.
“His Majesty and Young Highness have returned.” An Cheng looked rounder than ever. His form of address for Chen Yixin had not changed, but his attitude had. What had once been affectionate familiarity had become heartfelt respect.
“Mhm.” Chen Yixin slipped out of Wenren Li’s embrace and smiled as he nodded to An Cheng. Instead of returning to the palace he shared with Wenren Li, he headed first toward the two Divine Wells in the rear courtyard.
The cheerful expression on An Cheng’s face stiffened and immediately turned to worry. Chen Yixin’s return would probably delight everyone in the Demon Palace. The only ones incapable of celebrating were likely the two Divine Wells that had long since been frightened senseless by Chen Yixin’s threats.
Strolling along hand in hand with Wenren Li, Chen Yixin happened to run into Ze Fang and Qiu Yi, who were approaching together from the direction of the Medicine Pavilion.
“Greetings, Demon Lord and Demon Consort.” Ze Fang knelt on one knee while Qiu Yi bowed respectfully.
“Rise.” Wenren Li nodded to them, indicating that they need not stand on ceremony.
Chen Yixin glanced at them, then released Wenren Li’s hand. “A-Li, go discuss matters with Ze Fang and the others. I’ll join you shortly.” Both his destination and his intentions were painfully obvious. Wenren Li lowered his gaze to the hand Chen Yixin had just released. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded.
Qiu Yi and An Cheng, who had caught up from behind, both widened their eyes. With Wenren Li gone, they would have even less chance of stopping Chen Yixin. What were they supposed to do now?
Wenren Li and Ze Fang headed toward the council hall, while Qiu Yi and An Cheng followed Chen Yixin with their hearts in their throats. No matter how many times he glared at them, neither dared leave, though neither dared actually speak up to stop him either.
Before entering the rear courtyard, Chen Yixin turned and gave the two of them one last look. Then he ignored them completely and walked at an unhurried pace straight toward the Three Lives Well.
Standing before it, Chen Yixin lowered his gaze into the well. Strangely enough, he did not tamper with the Divine Well at all. Instead, a silver-blue sphere appeared in his raised palm, and he casually tossed it twice.
“This is the greatest tonic in all of Taixuan… no, the only thing of its kind in both the Lower and Upper Realms.” It contained the power of divine punishment, yet presented itself in such a gentle and harmless form. Chen Yixin was not exaggerating in the slightest.
Even to Wenren Li and Chen Yixin themselves, it counted as an exceptionally rare tonic. If Chen Yixin was willing to use it to feed a well, then what he wanted in return could hardly be trivial.
As Chen Yixin spoke, a strand separated from the sphere and slowly sank into the well. Chen Yixin, Qiu Yi, and An Cheng outside could all feel the Divine Well tremble—a distinctly delighted tremble.
A faint smile appeared at the corners of Chen Yixin’s lips, but the sphere vanished directly from his palm. He stepped closer to the Three Lives Well and stated his demand without preamble. “I want to know what’s happening with that Otherworld Demon puppet.” Tempted by the tonic, the Divine Well barely hesitated before displaying the images for him.
A naked “Wenren Li” lay on a bed of immortal jade, with one hand resting atop his head. His eyes slowly opened, the vacant gaze gradually focusing, and his lips moved slightly as though forming a single word. From the shape of his mouth, however, it was impossible to tell whether he had said “Yu” or “Xu.”
That was the name the Otherworld Demon puppet had been given in the Upper Realm—a title that had once belonged to Wenren Li.
The image shifted to something more recent. The puppet sat drinking wine in the flower garden of some heavenly palace, with a graceful woman leaning against him. When she turned her head slightly, Chen Yixin finally saw her face clearly. It was Immortal Emperor Guangle’s daughter, Lan Xin, the same woman who had once caused trouble for both him and Wenren Li and whom Chen Yixin had mocked as a fool.
The image lasted only a short while. If it continued any longer, either the Otherworld Demon puppet himself or the still-living Nangong and Dongfang in the Upper Realm might notice.
Ripples spread across the normally motionless surface of the Three Lives Well. It was asking Chen Yixin for more food. Chen Yixin looked down at it and summoned the silver-blue sphere back into his palm, only to peel off another tiny strand and feed that into the well. Then he teleported directly back to his bedchamber.
If a Divine Well could understand what it meant to be dumbfounded, then it was certainly dumbfounded now. One strand after another—Chen Yixin clearly intended to turn this into a long-term business arrangement.
Qiu Yi and An Cheng came forward and carefully inspected the Divine Well. Finding no damage, and remembering how pleased it had seemed earlier, they finally relaxed. They even felt faintly guilty for having suspected Chen Yixin of wanting to bully it.
“Young Highness has grown up…” An Cheng murmured. He even knew not to casually bully the Divine Wells anymore. With that thought, An Cheng decided to personally prepare the ceremonial robes Chen Yixin and Wenren Li would wear for their imperial ascension ceremony. Deep-sea ice silk would not be enough; he would have to use merfolk silk as well.
Qiu Yi glanced at An Cheng, looking rather speechless. Yet when he turned back toward the Medicine Pavilion, he too was already planning to refine some pills Chen Yixin might find useful later.
If the two wells that knew the truth could speak, they would probably be coughing up blood.
Chen Yixin knew nothing of this. After returning to the bedchamber, he remained furious for quite some time. That might not have been the real Wenren Li, but the puppet had been created from Wenren Li’s remnant, and in the future that remnant would become part of Wenren Li’s body again.
Yet someone had seen him completely naked, touched his head, and even leaned against him while drinking wine. Given Chen Yixin’s temperament, how could he possibly not be furious?
Flames of anger swirled around Chen Yixin’s feet. He only calmed slightly when Wenren Li returned. Looking aggrieved, he threw himself into Wenren Li’s arms and rubbed his face repeatedly against his chest. “I’m furious.”
Wenren Li did not know the real reason and assumed that the stubborn Divine Wells had angered Chen Yixin by refusing to cooperate. Feeling sorry for him, he gently patted his back. “Then let them go hungry a while longer. Consider it a way to vent your anger. How does that sound?”
Chen Yixin paused, then continued rubbing against Wenren Li’s chest. After a moment, he nodded. “Mhm.”
The Divine Wells had hidden things from him for so long that taking out some of his frustration on them was perfectly reasonable. Besides, they were not so easy to starve to death.
Still puffed up with anger, Chen Yixin simply allowed Wenren Li to continue misunderstanding the Divine Wells. At this rate, those two wells really were going to be bullied to tears.
Wenren Li continued holding and coaxing Chen Yixin for quite a while before his anger gradually faded. Afterwards, Wenren Li told him about the imperial ascension ceremony. Chen Yixin had no objections, so An Cheng, Ze Fang, and the others were left to make the preparations.
Even after returning to the Demon Palace, Chen Yixin and Wenren Li still had no intention of personally managing too many affairs. Over the past two years, Ze Fang, Hei Yu, and the others had all matured through experience. The Ten Demon Generals took turns handling matters, assisted by Wu Fei, Ping Cheng, and the rest, and for the time being no major problems had arisen.
When it came to administration, however, Ze Fang and An Cheng were clearly the most capable. Chen Yixin and Wenren Li had considered granting them additional positions, though they still wanted to wait for the right opportunity.
Ze Fang had begun preparing for the imperial ascension ceremony three years earlier, yet even so, it took nearly another six months before everything was ready. Those six months also gave the cultivators of the Northern and Southern Domains time to adjust to the Taixuan that now existed: a completely unified realm under a single ruling power.
On the eve of the auspicious day chosen for the ceremony, Chen Yixin wandered back from the Divine Wells and spotted Wenren Li coming to meet him halfway. The trace of irritation on his face vanished at once. He quickened his steps and placed his hand in Wenren Li’s palm. “It’s only a short distance. I could have teleported back myself, but A-Li still came to meet me…”
Chen Yixin spoke with a perfectly serious expression, but the happiness in his eyes betrayed him. He tightened his grip on Wenren Li’s hand before leading him toward a mountaintop not far outside the Demon Palace.
“Since we’re already out here, let’s take a walk before going back.”
Chen Yixin had barely cultivated during the past six months, but Wenren Li had remained focused primarily on cultivation. Completely absorbing all of those broken remnants would take at least several thousand years.
Day by day, Wenren Li’s aura had once again begun to surpass Chen Yixin’s. If Chen Yixin ran off now to fight the silver tree inside Wenren Li’s sea of consciousness, he would probably be suppressed before the fight even began.
Chen Yixin went to see Wenren Li every day while he cultivated. Occasionally desire stirred, but he always forced it back down.
Now, as he looked at Wenren Li’s profile, that desire inevitably stirred again. He hid his thoughts well, however, keeping all his hesitation inside his own heart.
They walked for a while across the flat summit before sitting on a bench Wenren Li had brought out. Simply sitting together, letting the mountain wind wash over them while they gazed at the stars, left both of them in an excellent mood even without conversation.
Chen Yixin behaved himself for only a short while before shifting into Wenren Li’s arms. Naturally, it was not because the mountain wind had made him cold. Lying like this against Wenren Li simply filled him with warmth from the bottom of his heart.
“When everything is finally settled, can we keep living like this?”
Chen Yixin spoke softly, almost in a murmur. His voice scattered into the mountain wind, becoming difficult to hear.
Wenren Li naturally heard him. He nodded. “Of course.”
This was precisely the life Wenren Li had always wanted: someone beside him, and peaceful days together. He gently stroked Chen Yixin’s hair and asked in a low voice, “Shall we go back?”
“No. If we go back, I really won’t be able to hold back anymore…” Chen Yixin rubbed his cheek against Wenren Li’s chin and answered with an innocent expression. He was indeed quietly fanning Wenren Li’s flames, but Chen Yixin himself had been holding back for far too long.
For now, he would simply have to endure a little longer. At the very least, he had to make it through tomorrow’s imperial ascension ceremony. The more he thought about it, the more wronged he felt.
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