Xu Zifan took Shi Yunxuan away from the boundless forest. Just as they flew into the air on their swords, the demonic energy within Shi Yunxuan flared up. Shi Yunxuan let out a groan, her breathing became disordered, and she almost fell. Fortunately, Xu Zifan reacted quickly and protected her.
Unable to travel in this way, Xu Zifan had no choice but to land back on the ground and return to the boundless forest to find the cave where he usually lived. He concealed the entrance and helped Shi Yunxuan resist the demonic energy. He had just received Chu Duan's inheritance, and although the inheritance did not contain a method to draw out the demonic energy, it did contain a method on how to temporarily resist it using pills and spiritual energy.
Shi Yunxuan was curled up in pain, trembling all over, her clothes soaked with cold sweat. Shaohua quickly helped her find some medicine, which Xu Zifan gave her. He helped her sit up, placed his hands on her back, and used his spiritual power to dissolve the medicine, beginning to block the demonic energy. Suppressing it too much would make the demonic energy rebound even stronger, while being too weak wouldn't eliminate the pain. Xu Zifan could only carefully control his spiritual power to maintain a balance against the demonic energy, waiting for this disturbance to pass.
Shi Yunxuan's painful groans gradually subsided, her head drooped, and she fainted. Xu Zifan used his divine sense to see that her brows were relaxed, knowing that she was no longer in pain—the method had worked! However, this was only a temporary solution. The original owner of this body had a lightning spiritual root, and after demonic energy was introduced into her body, she would experience an attack every half month, lasting for a whole day and night. Xu Zifan predicted that Shi Yunxuan would experience an attack once a month, with a shorter duration.
Half a day later, the demonic energy within Shi Yunxuan's body subsided, and Xu Zifan also withdrew his spiritual power. He felt the demonic energy slowly drifting away to another place, in a relaxed, "floating" state, which meant he was alright. A moment later, Shi Yunxuan also woke up. Seeing Xu Zifan's not-so-good expression, she smiled and said, "Brother Xu, don't worry, I'm fine."
Xu Zifan nodded. "There must be a way to solve this. Let's go."
The pills to resist demonic energy were left by Chu Duan, and there were only a few. He couldn't refine such high-grade pills yet, so he had to find a way to draw out the demonic energy as soon as possible.
Because of the delay caused by the demonic energy, they returned to town later than Huo Chongjun and his wife. As soon as they entered the town, they overheard someone saying that Zhengyang Zhenren possessed a pure yang body.
Shi Yunxuan turned her head instantly, her face full of shock. Xu Zifan's expression didn't change, but she could keenly sense that Xu Zifan's mood had worsened. This was true! She quickly glanced around, pulled Xu Zifan, and turned into the alley with her head down, sending him a secret telepathic message: "Brother Xu, do you still have any disguise pills? We both need to disguise ourselves, otherwise we'll be found immediately."
"There are top-grade disguise pills in the storage ring left by Master." Xu Zifan took out two pills and gave one to Shi Yunxuan. A top-grade disguise pill can keep one disguised for a month, and one's figure and voice will also move at will, making it the best mask.
Shi Yunxuan transformed into a pretty young woman. "Brother Xu, you are in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, while I am at the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm. If we encounter someone with a higher cultivation level than us, they will become suspicious as soon as they see our cultivation levels. Let's go our separate ways. You can go to the underground palace to study alchemy and improve your cultivation. There are many good things in that forest, and you might even encounter some opportunities. It will be safer for you when you come out in the future."
"And you?"
"When I return to Huanzong, the demonic energy won't flare up so quickly, don't worry."
Xu Zifan immediately refused, "No, I'll take you back and let you see your master before you leave." Shi Yunxuan was injured because of him, and he couldn't just leave. Although the news that he was Tang Sanzang's flesh had spread, unlike the original owner who was seriously injured and had been introduced by demonic energy, he was now in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm. Even if he encountered someone with a higher cultivation level than him, he still had his spatial storage to hide in. After thinking it over, he didn't really need to be afraid of anything.
Shi Yunxuan confirmed with Xu Zifan, "Brother Xu, are you really a pure Yang body?"
Xu Zifan didn't deny it and nodded. Shi Yunxuan said angrily, "Xiang Yushuang knows, right? That's why they immediately released this news to harm you as soon as they clashed with us!"
Xu Zifan nodded again, seemingly lost in thought, "Perhaps we can also release the news."
Shi Yunxuan's eyes lit up. "That's right! No one will believe the news about them at this time, but that's not important. What's important is that Huo Chongjun and Xiang Yushuang are people that the Xuantian Sect values highly. They absolutely cannot allow anything to happen to them. The Xuantian Sect will definitely clarify that the rumors are false. Then, not many people will believe your news either, since these three pieces of news were spread one after another. If Sect Leader Xiang still has some master-disciple relationship with you, it would be even better if he could help you clarify things as well."
Xu Zifan meant it that way, and smiled, "He will help me clear things up." Xiang Wentian is very protective of his daughter, afraid that others will discover anything, and he is definitely afraid that he will resort to desperate measures and expose the news that Xiang Yushuang has a pure Yin body. He will definitely help him solve the trouble.
After a brief discussion, the two spread the news that Huo Chongjun had been secretly practicing demonic arts and that Xiang Yushuang had killed three members of the Hehuan Sect. One wave of trouble followed another in the cultivation world, the successive reports shocking the entire realm. As the daughter of the Xuantian Sect's leader, was Xiang Yushuang's killing of the Hehuan Sect members a declaration of war on behalf of the Xuantian Sect? But how could such a kind and gentle person as Fairy Yushuang do such a thing? Some said it was just a rumor, while others said that she had broken her engagement and forced her senior brother away—what wouldn't she do?
Compared to this, the news of Huo Chongjun cultivating demonic arts and Xu Zifan possessing a pure Yang physique was even more explosive, instantly making the Xuantian Sect the focus of the entire cultivation world. Xiang Wentian questioned Huo Chongjun and Xiang Yushuang about what had happened outside, and both of them lied. Huo Chongjun had his own secret method to hide his demonic energy, and Xiang Wentian personally investigated but found no problems, so he breathed a sigh of relief. He then immediately clarified to the public that the three rumors were malicious attacks against the Xuantian Sect and were completely untrue.
Although some still harbored doubts, the Xuan Tian Sect's strength was undeniable, and it wasn't worth clashing over such a matter. Only the He Huan Sect was truly convinced.
Xiang Yushuang killed their men, but lacking evidence, she could only send people to search the boundless forest. Everyone treated Huo Chongjun and Xiang Yushuang's affair as gossip, and most people thought the so-called Pure Yang Body was a myth. However, a small number of people still harbored a glimmer of hope, wishing they could capture Xu Zifan and discover that he truly possessed the Pure Yang Body. After all, cultivation was tedious; why not try this potentially shortcut?
As a result, more people began to move around the cultivation world. Xu Zifan and Shi Yunxuan encountered several robbers trying to rob them while flying on their swords, but they were all dealt with. When passing through towns, they encountered powerful cultivators who suspected them and chased them to the outskirts of the city, but they were also defeated by their combined efforts. They encountered two villains, whom they killed together and seized their storage rings. Fortunately, no one was able to confirm their identities, and they didn't encounter any powerful figures above the Nascent Soul stage. Their journey was relatively safe, though they were hindered by these people, wasting a lot of time, and they hadn't yet returned to the Hehuan Sect.
During their rest periods, Xu Zifan pondered alchemy, while Shi Yunxuan focused on cultivation. She had consumed many pills after her injury, some of which were left by Chu Duan, known for their potent effects and high spiritual energy. After half a month of cultivation, Shi Yunxuan broke through to the Golden Core stage!
That day, they were in a mountain cave. Xu Zifan sensed that she was about to break through and immediately flew outside to keep watch. The tribulation lightning struck fiercely. Shi Yunxuan withstood several bolts of lightning, her face turning pale. After the last bolt struck, a trace of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth. Then, because of her successful breakthrough, her body was rapidly repaired, and a vast amount of spiritual energy surged towards her from all directions, strengthening her golden core.
Looking at the power of the tribulation lightning, Xu Zifan said thankfully, "[Luckily, my last advancement was in the spatial realm. If I was struck like this when I went from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, wouldn't I be torn to shreds by the time I went from Golden Core to Nascent Soul? But I have a lightning spiritual root; I wonder if I can withstand the lightning.]"
[Shaohua: According to the analysis, Heaven will not allow anyone to take advantage of loopholes. Last time you escaped the tribulation in the space, the power of the tribulation next time may be doubled.]
Xu Zifan looked up at the cloudless blue sky and said nonchalantly, "[Then I'll just keep advancing in this space. I don't want to become an immortal, so I don't necessarily need to undergo tribulations. Once we leave, those accumulated tribulations will naturally be useless.]"
[Shaohua: According to analysis, the lifelong wish of the vast majority of cultivators in the cultivation world is to ascend to immortality. Have you ever thought that you could directly ascend to immortality in this world, possess endless life, and never have to do missions again, traveling to unknown worlds?]
Xu Zifan chuckled softly, "[Do you know why I let Yunxuan come with me?]"
[Shaohua:...Isn't it for the sake of the contract?]
[Of course not. If it were Huo Chongjun or Xiang Yushuang, no matter how much benefit they offered me, I wouldn't want them around to annoy me.]
[Shaohua: Based on this, you're inferring it's because you like Shi Yunxuan?]
Xu Zifan looked at Shi Yunxuan, who was recovering from the lightning tribulation, and smiled. "[Because seeing her such a strong will to survive, her quick wit, and her ability to read people reminded me of my days growing up in the slums. From a very young age, I learned to read people, like Yunxuan, to observe others' needs and do everything in my power to ensure my own survival. Never give up, never surrender, repay kindness with kindness, and avenge wrongs.]"
A hint of nostalgia crossed his face. "It's been so long, almost a thousand years. I'd almost forgotten how weak I was, how I schemed and plotted to grow up and reach such a high position. That day, Shi Yunxuan's every word and action reminded me of my childhood self. Who wouldn't like themselves? I'm proud of that experience, and naturally, I admire Yunxuan. So what she said that day also reflects my opinion. Ascend to immortality? Ha, and then what? Is the immortal realm all goodness, beauty, and peace? Wouldn't it just be a stagnant pool? What would you do there? Just daydream?"
[Shaohua: Do you think the Immortal Realm is just like the Cultivation Realm, except that people's average strength has increased?]
[Of course, just like the ten worlds we've visited, each is different, but we all have to deal with interpersonal relationships. To be honest, I now possess endless life, and the most important thing about life is fun, not length. Staying here or in the immortal realm for eternity would become tiresome. Constantly changing worlds like we do is the best life; there's always something new, and even the missions are interesting. Even if something happens and I die someday, it doesn't matter; this is truly "living."]
As a system reliant on data analysis, Shaohua cannot fully comprehend the complexities of human nature. For example, Xu Zifan's ideas conflict with many others, some of whom believe that ascension to immortality is the ultimate fulfillment. Furthermore, many dislike or hate the people Xu Zifan likes, just as its previous analysis of Shi Yunxuan as a clever and witty demoness cannon fodder easily evokes resentment. Humans with emotions have various preferences; Shaohua, being a system, has no preferences and therefore absolutely supports Xu Zifan's ideas. Having clarified this matter, it confirmed that ascension to immortality would not be their goal, further clarifying its future direction.
Just as Xu Zifan and Shao Hua were relaxing and chatting, Shi Yunxuan suddenly suffered a demonic attack and spat out a mouthful of blood!
"Yunxuan!" Xu Zifan flew over and hugged her, probing the spiritual energy in her body. He found that she had absorbed too much spiritual energy during her advancement, which put too much pressure on the demonic energy, causing it to rebound and become even more severe than last time!
Xu Zifan quickly gave her a pill to help her resist the demonic energy again. Shi Yunxuan also guided the spiritual energy in her body to slowly flow into her dantian, enduring the pain to allow the spiritual energy and demonic energy to gradually become balanced until the pain disappeared. After a day and a night, the demonic energy finally calmed down.
Shi Yunxuan opened her eyes, not mentioning the pain of the demonic energy, and felt the power within her body. She happily said, "Brother Xu, I've reached the Golden Core stage!"