Chapter 128: A Touch Will Break It

This was a vast, white expanse of a world, with Ling Qi mist so dense that you couldn't tell people or animals apart beyond ten meters.

In the distance, goose feathers of snow drifted down, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that even this was formed from gathered Ling Qi.

Clang!

A pattern of array markings spread out, sweeping the Ling Qi mist away with a gust of wind, as several figures descended from the sky.

These individuals were well-prepared, each with Xian Tian level cultivation, so they hovered effortlessly in the void, though their faces were filled with shock.

"This..."

The concentration of Ling Qi here was incredible—inhaling just one breath could rival days of hard cultivation outside!

Mu Zixi's twin ponytails fluttered as if she were being lifted by them, her little face flushed with ecstasy.

The young girl couldn't resist two things in life: anything bursting with vitality and environments rich in Ling Qi.

She extended her hand, twirling in the void, her light green skirt swirling as if it were on the verge of evolving.

"Damn it, why did it open in the sky?!"

Just then, a furious shout shattered everyone's enjoyment. Everyone looked down to see a thud on the ground, followed by a pained "Ouch!"

Clank!

That was the sound of a Ling sword hitting the ground, clearly from someone who had tried to struggle.

To no avail.

Everyone's faces twitched—this had to be the first time in Tianxuan Men's history that someone with only Lian Ling Jiu Jing cultivation had entered here!

They couldn't even fly...

"Received mockery, passive value, 8."

"Received worry, passive value, 2."

Zhou Tianshen, considering himself one of Xu Xiaoshou's few friends, quickly descended to check on him. But as soon as he landed, he was stunned.

There lay Xu Xiaoshou, wrapped up like a rice dumpling in his clothes, twitching on the ground.

The heaven and earth yuan qi surged into his body like it was in heat, quickly forming a Ling cocoon around him.

Inside, Xu Xiaoshou...

His legs were nearly clamping shut, his body curling up like a shrimp one moment, then straightening out rigidly the next, like a worm writhing under electric torture as it slapped against the ground.

"Gah... gah... day..."

Foamy stuff, or something like Ling Qi, kept spurting from his mouth.

Xu Xiaoshou was in agony—the kind of agony that came from pure bliss.

Despite spending the last three days outside with his "Huxi Zhi Fa" fully activated to adapt to the surging Ling Qi of the inner court, he realized upon entering here what it meant to be outclassed.

Tianxuan Men wasn't a place for humans at all!

He had layered on thirteen pieces of clothing, but it made no difference whatsoever.

Help—

Mu Zixi descended from the sky. She still had that jade slip to give to Xu Xiaoshou—at least he was like a cheap senior brother, and their master had told her to look after him.

"What's wrong?"

The young girl stared curiously at the twitching figure inside the Ling Qi cluster on the ground.

Zhou Tianshen looked completely baffled and waved his hands frantically. "I don't know—I just got here and he was like this. It wasn't me!"

"N-no, it's fine!" Xu Xiaoshou stabbed his fingers "sharply" into his palm, using pain to fight the sensation, barely managing to speak.

"I've got this condition where I twitch if I smell Ling Qi, but it'll heal on its own soon... Don't worry about me, you all go ahead!"

He gritted his teeth, but that only made him twitch harder, so he held his breath and tried to look nonchalant.

"Really no problem?" Mu Zixi stepped forward and pulled out a jade slip. "Our master told me to give this to you."

Xu Xiaoshou took a shallow breath and said, "It's okay, just put it on the ground. You guys go first!"

He was in a hypersensitive state right now—no one could touch him, just like the first time he absorbed the Chi Jin Dan on the arena stage.

The first time was always painful, but if you endured it, it passed.

But Mu Zixi didn't listen. She grabbed her twin ponytails, her lips curving into a smile.

What did he mean by that?

What kind of constitution was this? It looked pretty impressive— no wonder their master had taken notice!

But turning into this at the first sign of Ling Qi? Not even able to move?

That didn't seem like you, Xu Xiaoshou. Weren't you always teasing me so cheerfully?

She squatted down beside him and nudged her chin toward him. "This won't do. Master said this is important—you have to take it yourself."

"How about I tuck it into your clothes?" She reached out her little hand as if to do it.

"No need, back off!" Xu Xiaoshou was instantly alarmed. "Give it to Zhou Tianshen and let him hold it first."

"Hee-hee!" Mu Zixi laughed cutely, her dimples showing. "What are you talking about..."

Her two fingers pinched the edge of his clothes, thought for a moment, then released the outermost layer and touched the one closest to his skin.

That inner garment naturally brushed against Xu Xiaoshou's chest.

Xu Xiaoshou nearly exploded on the spot!

He'd been holding on for dear life— a touch on the outer clothes he could grit through, but skin contact? That was unbearable.

"Ohh..."

A deep, resonant, and seductive throat sound made the other two break out in goosebumps instantly. Xu Xiaoshou's body, which he'd just managed to prop up, thudded back to the ground, shaking violently.

"Clack-clack-clack..." His teeth chattered.

Mu Zixi scrambled back in fright, her face flushing bright red. She had only touched him once—just once—and this happened?

She turned to Zhou Tianshen, her tone defensive. "It wasn't me!"

"Mm," Zhou Tianshen grunted gruffly. "I get what you mean."

"Ahh..."

Another shudder-inducing sound followed, this time an unrestrained moan.

The two glanced over to see Xu Xiaoshou had stopped shaking, his body going completely still, as if he'd short-circuited.

A wave of Ling Qi rippled out from his Dantian, stirring the void and making the Ling Qi mist churn.

"Breakthrough?" Their eyes met in silent understanding.

Mu Zixi was stunned. Just from a poke? One touch and it broke through?

Xu Xiaoshou remained sprawled on the ground.

He really couldn't hold back anymore. Over the past three days, to improve his pills, he'd swallowed a lot of Lian Ling liquid, already teetering on the edge of breakthrough. That one prod was more than he could take.

The Ling Qi mist, scattered by the breakthrough energy, surged back in, and Xu Xiaoshou twitched again. But now, after breaking through, he could clearly see drops of Ling yuan forming one by one in his Dantian.

This efficiency...

It was insane!

At this rate, half a day here and he'd break through to Xian Tian!

"Huxi Zhi Fa"—what a divine technique!

If only it could get rid of this overwhelming pleasure, it'd be godlike!

Just then, another figure descended from the void.

"Need any help?" Mo Mo approached, cradling a copper furnace in her right hand.

She'd seen Xu Xiaoshou's symptoms and thought her sealing power might assist him.

After all, he was the first one to compliment her looks to her face—she'd help if she could.

Xu Xiaoshou, who hadn't paid much attention outside, was shocked anew at the sight of Mo Mo.

Ju Wu Jing!

Her cultivation had actually reached Ju Wu Jing!

Xu Xiaoshou had killed Ju Wu Jing cultivators before, slain those at Shang Ling level, and even been held by someone suspected to be above Zongshi.

His "Perception" had clearly memorized the auras of various realms, and though she hid it well, her true level was obvious at a glance.

He remembered Mo Mo was only at Yuan Ting Jing initial stage when they fought in the outer court finals last time!

How long had it been? And she'd leaped past the middle stage, late stage, and perfection straight to Ju Wu Jing?

What the hell?

"No, no, I'm good now." Xu Xiaoshou jammed four fingers into his palm, wincing as he quickly snatched the jade slip from Mu Zixi's hand.

"Like this..."

"Then I'll be on my way!"

Mo Mo smiled lightly and turned to leave without a care.

Xu Xiaoshou stared at her retreating figure, lost in thought. His "Perception" was fixated entirely on the arm holding the copper furnace.

That slender arm carried an aura that didn't belong—an even more terrifying one.

Xu Xiaoshou's mind raced with unease, unsure if it stemmed from the unknown or something else. Strangely, this aura seemed on par with that of the masked figure from before.

What on earth had been sealed inside...?