<h4>Chapter 341 - Live And Die Together</h4>


    Long Chen had experienced three significant battles during this journey of life and death. He had started at a disadvantage when facing the sixmanders and the dwarves, but ultimately, he was able to turn the tides. However, the third battle caused his cultivation to regress by two stages and Ling Xi ended up losing her Heavenly Profound Jade Lotus body.


    Although Long Chen did not show his rage outwardly, mes of anger burned in his heart.


    <i>One day, I will go back to the Biyang Imperial Capital. Then, with tens of thousands of people watching, I shall defeat the number one prodigy of the Cangyang Kingdom! </i>he swore to himself.


    He had to return to the Biyang Imperial Capital and the Counter Essence Realm. The imperial family had bullied him, and he was going to take revenge for this one day, in broad daylight. He would make them suffer just as much as him!


    <i>Lin Zichen, I must admit that you are an admirable prodigy. You’re not only powerful, you also possess the ultimate divine weapon. Everyone thinks you’re an undefeatable legend. Today, I had to rely on Blood Sacrifice to forcefully increase my cultivation level just to fight you. One day, I will squash you beneath my feet with just my own cultivation!</i>


    If Lin Zichen had not arrived, Long Chen and Ling Xi would have fled to the Western Sea Kingdom already. He would have been able to strengthen himself there while living a peaceful life with Ling Xi. However, now it was all different. Long Chen had to work very, very hard to return to the Biyang Imperial Capital as soon as possible. He wanted to get his dignity back from the imperial family!


    And also resolve Xiang’s grudge! This was a matter between the two brothers. Xiang was still unconscious and Ling Xi had lost the lotus, so how could he not rage? And not hate them?


    <i>You all will regret not killing me today ... The moment I return to the Biyang Imperial Capital, the imperial family will cease to exist in this world!</i>


    Long Chen made a blood pact with himself!


    Lin Zichen traveled further into the horizon.


    It was clear that he was afraid of the Heavenly Demon Lord.


    “Brother Chen, it really is fine. I can still live well like this, right?” Ling Xi said sadly, floating in front of him. To be honest, if she had not chosen this, Long Chen would have died by now.


    He did not me her one bit.


    “It’s fine. I understand. Don’t worry about it,” he said, looking at her. It had been a long time since he saw her in this illusory state.


    “We had to flee all because of the Profound Heavenly Jade Lotus. Now that I’ve abandoned it, I actually feel a lot lighter inside. As for the feeling of having a body, experiencing it for a short while was enough. I’m truly content now. It’s just that you won’t be able to hold me while i fall asleep now ...” Ling Xi started to mumble towards the end.


    “Don’t worry. We’ll get the Nine Heavens Immortal Fruit very soon,” he said, determined.


    “Mhm!” She nodded hard with absolute confidence in Long Chen. “Brother Chen, I’m going back to the Ling Xi Sword.


    Then she turned into a cloud of mist and slipped into the sword. The Ling Xi Sword gradually shrank and, with a <i>whoosh</i>, pierced into Long Chen’s ear.


    Long Chen was left in a daze when he felt the piercing sting on his ear. He had not felt this in a very long time. Suddenly, he felt content to have Ling Xi there.


    <i>Whatever. The Profound Heavenly Jade Lotus was just a dream. Only the Nine Heavens Immortal Fruit can help us turn our dream into reality. That is why I must work hard ...</i>


    At this point, the effect of Long Chen’s Blood Sacrifice expired. His cultivation level gradually regressed, finally stopping at the Fourth River Stage. He was about as strong as he was when he exited the Counter Essence Realm. Long Chen could not help but smile bitterly. His cultivation level had not changed at all throughout this whole journey, yet so much had happened.


    There was suffering, but there were also touching moments. There was one undeniable oue: the rtionship between him and Ling Xi, and the brotherly bond between him and Xiang, had be extra solid after surviving this ordeal. Nothing, not even time, could break their bonds. Even many, many years into the future, this near-death experience would remain in their minds. They would even be nostalgic for this feeling.


    Only change was constant in life. People often grew nostalgic for old times because nothing remained the same forever.


    They would remember the passion, the heroics, the romance, the loyalty, the determination, and fighting together side by side, living and dying together!


    Long Chen, Ling Xi, and Mo Xiang!


    <i>Wait for the day I return to the Biyang Imperial Capital!</i>


    ***


    Long Chen, now at the Fourth River Stage, carried theatose Xiang in his arms. He would now start a new journey to be as powerful as possible.


    “Brother Chen, where should we go now? Lin Zichen must have ced tight security all over the perimeter of Demon Emperor Mountain. He must be waiting for us toe to him, right?” Ling Xi sounded anxious.


    “We don’t have to go anywhere else. We’ll stay at Demon Emperor Mountain.” Long Chen looked up at the mountain that resembled a ck sword piercing through the ground to reach the sky.


    “Why? Wasn’t the Western Sea Kingdom our original destination?”


    “With Lin Zichen blocking us, we won’t be able to go to the Western Sea Kingdom. Plus, to be honest, I think the Heavenly Demon Lord decided to protect us. Why else would he chase Lin Zichen away? Only because Lin Zichen is from the imperial family?” Long Chen knew that the enemy of an enemy was a friend. Since Long Chen was an enemy of the imperial family, and the Heavenly Demon Pce was an evenrger enemy to them, then it made sense that the n would protect and even recruit him.


    “Do they want to take you in?” Ling Xi did not understand. Their original n was to head to the Western Sea Kingdom, so she was a little confused when she heard that they were staying.


    “Let’s wait here. We’ll know very soon.” Long Chen was severely injured from the battle, though they were only surface injuries. After a short period of rest, he quickly recovered his strength. When he opened his eyes, there was a white-haired old man standing in front of him. The old man had traveled at unparalleled speed.


    Long Chen quickly regarded the old man’s looks.


    He was muscr and slightly taller than Long Chen. His old age did not show on his body as his muscles were still solid and filled with explosive strength. He had a hard expression with a gaze as sharp as a sword, as well as a tall nose like a male eagle that soared through the skies.


    Long Chen felt like all his secrets were exposed in front of the old man. He felt restrained due to suddenly meeting a cultivator much stronger than Lin Zichen, and he quickly greeted him. “My name is Long Chen. Greetings, Heavenly Demon Lord!”


    With such a high cultivation level, he was definitely the Heavenly Demon Lord. Long Chen had heard his name before—Zhao Qingyun. Despite the elegant name, he was a vicious person who raped, robbed, andmitted every crime. He was a powerful demon through and through.


    But Long Chen did not believe that.


    It was easy to detect a person’s qualities through their expressions, eyes, and aura. Since the imperial family was in charge of the Cangyang Kingdom, it was easy for them to spread false rumors to vilify the Heavenly Demon Pce.


    Long Chen had his own opinions on this person. Zhao Qingyun had an impassive look, as if he was uninterested in the battles of mortals. No killing intent radiated from his body. Instead, he gave off the energy of an immortal, as well as a hint of regality. How could a person with these qualities be the demon from the rumors?


    Zhao Qingyun was also eyeing Long Chen with confusion in his eyes. Despite his confusion, he nodded and said, “I’ve heard a lot about your heroics during the past few days, kid, so much that scabs will form in my ears soon. I guessed you’de to the Heavenly Demon Pce. And here you are.”


    “It is my honor. Thank you for saving my life just now, Sir.” Zhao Qingyun was a senior worth respecting, plus he was one of the top cultivators in the Cangyang Kingdom. That was why Long Chen maintained a respectful demeanor.


    The effects of Blood Sacrifice had a time limit. If Zhao Qingyun had not stopped Lin Zichen, and if he and Ling Xi continued fighting, the oue could have been tragic. There was still arge gap between him and Lin Zichen after all.


    Zhao Qingyun gave a small smile. He looked past Long Chen, and his gaze fell on the withered Profound Heavenly Jade Lotus. Slightly impressed, he said, “Although I did not see it with my own eyes, I could roughly sense what happened. The girl really is peculiar. Long Chen, there are many peculiar things about you. For example, you fought Lin Zichen just now, but you’re only at the Fourth River Stage.”


    Indeed, Zhao Qingyun had a rough idea of what had happened. Both Ling Xi’s Profound Heavenly Jade Lotus and Long Chen’s Blood Sacrifice were topics that were difficult to exin. Worried that Zhao Qingyun would question him, he grew guarded.


    “Don’t worry. If I were still young, I would not have let you go easily; I would have demanded the truth. However, everyone has their own secrets and trump cards. You are an extraordinarily talented junior, and you have a chance of growing to be Lin Zichen’s rival; that is why I will not trouble you. I came here to ask you about your ns for the future. Let me give it to you straight ...”


    Zhao Qingyun paused, then he continued, “If you want to leave the Cangyang Kingdom, I can escort you out.”


    “Really?” Long Chen gasped. He would no longer need to worry about Lin Zichen watching them if he did that.


    But he was even more interested in listening to what Zhao Qingyun had to say next.


    “Option two is to be my direct disciple. You will get many things that you desire, includingbat techniques, strength, and a Heaven-tier divine weapon that rivals the Imperial Sword!”