Chapter Fifty-Seven: Love Around the Corner

The heavy girl, weighing over two hundred pounds, rolled her eyes, which made Xu Cheng chuckle inwardly, and a smile crept onto his face.

“What are you laughing at? Am I pretty or not?”

Yan Mengdie struck a pose, delicately touching her cheek with her fingers like an orchid, adding a touch of flirtation.

Xu Cheng replied absentmindedly, “Yes, very pretty indeed!”

“Then kiss me on the lips right now!”

With that, Yan Mengdie closed her eyes and puckered her plump lips.

He hadn’t expected her to be so bold, and Xu Cheng was momentarily taken aback.

So be it, he decided. If he kissed her now, who was afraid of whom? Besides, if she ever became beautiful in the future, wouldn’t he have struck it rich?

Imitating the melodramatic scenes from romance dramas of his past life, Xu Cheng swept Yan Mengdie into his arms and planted a kiss on her lips.

Her lips were warm, with a faint fragrance lingering; after all, they were cultivators, their bodies refined long ago, their breath sweet, nothing like ordinary people.

One dared to ask, the other dared to kiss—the disciples of Jade Toad Palace were left dumbstruck.

Especially the three, Ju Hua and the others, whose faces flushed red; they were too embarrassed to interrupt.

After a moment, Xu Cheng stepped back, the taste of sweetness still lingering on his lips—he wasn’t sure if it was Yan Mengdie’s saliva.

“You’ve kissed me, now you have to take responsibility!”

Yan Mengdie, in her heavyset form, attempted a coy, bashful act, though it was rather frightening.

“Of course! I will take full responsibility!”

Xu Cheng chuckled softly as he replied.

“Hey! You two, that’s enough!”

A disciple of Jade Toad Palace couldn’t help but shout.

“Let’s go, let’s go!” Yan Mengdie whispered, her cheeks burning, pulling Xu Cheng along as she hurried down the mountain. Though Ju Hua and the others were still in shock, they followed closely behind.

Moments later, they reached the foot of the mountain.

The scenery around them was picturesque, perfect for a leisurely outing, but they had a mission at hand, and half a month had already been wasted—it was no time to take in the sights.

However, after walking barely a mile or two, Xu Cheng and his companions were surrounded by a group of people, led by Xia Hong and Chu Yanyan.

There was no need to ask; Xu Cheng knew Xia Hong must have come to seek vengeance against Jade Toad Palace, and, as luck would have it, he’d run right into them. The situation was dire—there was no help to be found.

Judging by their strength, just Xia Hong alone, a master of the Nascent Soul stage, would be more than a match for Xu Cheng’s group. Chu Yanyan was at the Foundation Establishment stage, and ten other cultivators of unknown strength accompanied them. All wore white robes with a black lotus embroidered over their chests.

In an instant, these newcomers sealed off the area with their spiritual power—there was no way to escape.

“Members of Jade Toad Palace, kill them all!” Xia Hong roared in fury.

“Yes, my lord!” The white-robed men were just about to attack when Xia Hong stopped them, saying, “Wait. Give me your coffin, and perhaps you’ll live.”

Clearly, Xia Hong recognized its value; the coffin Xu Cheng carried was extraordinary, and he wanted to inspect it.

“Are you sure you want my coffin?” Xu Cheng’s eyes flickered with a barely perceptible amusement, though he forced a look of pained sacrifice onto his face.

If Xia Hong recklessly disturbed the inhabitant of the coffin, he could only blame himself.

“Give it to me, and you may yet live. Refuse, and there’s no hope for you,” Xia Hong said coldly.

“Fine! I’ll give it to you!”

Xu Cheng removed the lock of ghostly flames and set the coffin before Xia Hong.

Xia Hong had no idea what he was dealing with; even Master Yulan had to probe several times before discovering the presence of the True Immortal of Heavenly Water within. Xia Hong was far less discerning.

Though some of the others had survived lightning tribulations, none possessed the abilities of the Ancestor of Extreme Star.

As Xia Hong wrenched open the coffin lid, he revealed the True Immortal of Heavenly Water within. The old monster, who looked like a young girl, opened her eyes the instant the lid was raised.

Endless red light burst from her gaze, and the world seemed to change color. An icy, chilling aura swept out in waves.

Was this the power of one on the verge of ascending to immortality?

The True Immortal of Heavenly Water leapt from the coffin, seized the nearest person by the head, and in an instant, not even their soul remained.

Xia Hong had never expected that this boy would be carrying such a deadly weapon—he turned and ran for his life, abandoning even Chu Yanyan.

Yet in the next moment, the True Immortal of Heavenly Water swept her arms, and all those trying to escape were dragged back.

They were utterly powerless to resist.

“Tastes rather good,” she said, catching one in each hand; in the blink of an eye, they turned to ash.

“Now it’s your turn,” she said, and as she spoke, she transformed them into nourishment for herself.

Hunter and prey abruptly reversed roles; Xia Hong and his followers struggled desperately, but could not break free from her restraints.

After draining the dozen white-robed men, the psychological terror pressed down on Xia Hong.

When his turn finally came, the collapse of his spirit was so complete that he wet himself.

“Wet yourself? Pathetic!” spat the True Immortal of Heavenly Water, and then she too turned Xia Hong and Chu Yanyan into sustenance.

Now Xia Hong’s group was utterly annihilated. The True Immortal of Heavenly Water licked her fingers and gazed at Xu Cheng and the others.

“Why so frightened? I never eat people,” she said.

If she didn’t eat people, where had Xia Hong and his group gone? Xu Cheng couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.

“Many thanks, Ancestor, for saving our lives!” Xu Cheng’s eyes darted as he immediately knelt, addressing her as Ancestor.

“You know my title? And call me Ancestor? Are you… a disciple of the Celestial Gate of Heaven?” she asked. In the blink of an eye, she traversed the ten meters between them and stood before them.

“I was indeed a disciple of the Celestial Gate of Heaven,” Xu Cheng replied, kneeling once more, his forehead nearly touching the Ancestor’s shoes.

“Well, fate is a strange thing. Seventeen hundred years ago, my physical body was destroyed. I refused to reincarnate or seize another’s body, so I turned to the path of ghosts. Now, seventeen centuries have passed. You were once a disciple of the Celestial Gate of Heaven, and now you are an Emissary of the Yellow Springs. Ha ha ha!”

The True Immortal of Heavenly Water burst into wild laughter.

“Ancestor, please accept your disciple’s obeisance!” Xu Cheng bowed respectfully.

“No need for such flattery; I know your thoughts clearly. But in the end, you must grow strong on your own; otherwise, you won’t even be able to control this Coffin of the Yellow Springs,” she said, pulling Xu Cheng to his feet with a sweep of spiritual power.

“Ancestor, isn’t this coffin just a vessel for immortal techniques?” Xu Cheng asked innocently.

“Nonsense! This coffin doesn’t just contain immortal arts—it can seal others, and… well, suffice it to say it’s a rare and precious artifact!” she snapped. She did not reveal the coffin’s other abilities, leaving Xu Cheng feeling as if thirty cats were scratching at his heart.

“I understand, Ancestor.”

Since she refused to say more, Xu Cheng knew pressing further would only provoke her displeasure.

“It’s enough that you know. I have now fully mastered the ghostly immortal arts and will soon ascend to the upper realm. All the turmoil in this world will be left for you to resolve. In the meantime, anything you wish to learn from me, I will teach you. As for using me as your bodyguard, you’d best abandon that idea,” she said calmly.

In other words, if Xu Cheng wanted to bring peace to this chaotic realm, he would have to act himself; he could not simply storm the imperial palace, slay Xia Hao, and destroy the Great Xia Dynasty with ease.