<h4>Chapter 424 - Canyon</h4>


    Long Chen had sessfully reached the Ninth River Stage and was initially filled with confidence. He froze for a long time after he heard Ling Xi speak with such sadness, then he looked at her solemnly without a word.


    He had long noticed that something was off, but he thought it was because she was worried about his safety. However, he waspletely capable of defeating the Sword Emperor now, so why had Ling Xi said such a thing?


    “Ling Xi, tell me what’s on your mind.” Long Chen’s burning passion gradually died down. He sat down on a patch of grass and waved towards Ling Xi. She pursed her lips, then flew onto the back of his hand and sat down cross-legged. She was nervous in the beginning, but as she gazed into his sincere eyes, she finally forced herself to speak.


    “Brother Chen, I’m bringing this up now of all times for a good reason. I have been afraid to talk about this because I thought it would make you resent me ... I feel miserable,” she said as she looked at him. She was starting to be choked up.


    “Silly girl, don’t say that. You can tell me if there’s a problem. Don’t you trust me yet? Since the beginning, have I ever med you for anything?” Although Long Chen couldn’t figure out what she was going to say, he remained calm.


    Ling Xi started to tell him the full story.


    “When we first met, I never thought there would be a day where you and I would be so tightly connected that it would be difficult for us to separate. At the time, I thought that if you were nice to me, I didn’t mind being nice to you. And if I really could return to my original state, I wouldn’t mind giving you some type of reward. And then ... I would bid you farewell. I would treat you as just a kind passerby in my life.”


    At this point, Ling Xi’s voice became unintelligible due to her crying. Although she had no tears, Long Chen knew that her heart was crying too, or she would not look this sad.


    “Why are you telling me this?” Long Chen had a bad feeling.


    Ling Xi shook her head and said in despair, “Brother Chen, you don’t understand the powers behind me. They’re at a ce you cannot even fathom. I don’t want you to obtain the Nine Heavens Immortal Fruit today, because I don’t want to leave you! I can’t bear to leave you at all!”


    She was usually a shy girl, but she was not afraid to speak her mind at this moment as she stared at him with her big eyes.


    It was clear how strong her feelings were.


    They had experienced too much together, from life to death, and death to life. If they did not have each other’s support, it would have been difficult for them to survive to this day.


    “Why will we separate once we get the Nine Heavens Immortal Fruit? Xi’er, are you saying that your n will stop us from being together?” Long Chen had once thought of this problem too. However, when Ling Xi regained her body, she would not have to return to her home immediately. He had always thought that he had a lot of time to grow, then he would obtain her n’s approval when he was strong enough. Was something different now?


    Long Chen’s chest tightened.


    Ling Xi shook her head painfully and said apologetically, “There is one thing that I have been keeping from you. Brother Chen, you don’t know how powerful the people behind me are. My father and mother are very highly ranked masters. In my eyes, you’re very, very awesome. But they will never be satisfied with you.”


    “I’ve thought about this a long time ago, but Xiao Xi, don’t we have time?” Long Chen asked hurriedly.


    “No, we don’t have time. When ... When I regain my body, the strength I once had will also return to me. My powers are easily identifiable, and my n has likely already expanded their search to the Ten Thousand Nations Territory in search of me. This means that if I regain my body, it is very, very possible that my family will discover me ande straight here... Brother Chen, I’m so sorry for not telling you from the beginning ...”


    Long Chen felt like lightning had struck him when he heard her exnation. He had never expected this at all. It was no wonder Ling Xi had said that she wanted him but not the Nine Heavens Immortal Fruit.


    He felt like he was going mad with frustration because he understood the problem. Ling Xi’s background was too powerful for him to fathom and was far from his current understanding. This also meant that when Ling Xi’s family came for her, she would likely be brought back immediately. Then they would be separated forever, and they would never meet each other again ...


    There was a canyon as wide as the gap between heaven and earth between them. The moment they separated, it wouldst forever.


    Long Chen’s throat went dry. He realized that he was extremely miserable at this moment. To be honest, he was furious. Why had she only brought this up now? She should have told him a long time ago so he would be prepared! Not now!


    He had just reached the Ninth River Stage and cultivated the Heaven Sword Array, so he was in a confident state of mind. After she gave him such a huge blow, he hadpletely woken up. He felt chills with the realization that it was not enough.


    “Brother Chen, I’m so sorry ... I know you’re miserable. I am too. I want to beat myself to death for this, but I had no choice. Every time I saw you filled with battle spirit, I couldn’t bear to tell you. Now I have no other option. That’s why I had to force myself to tell you. I’m sorry ...


    “When I first heard about the Nine Heavens Immortal Fruit in Yuanling City, I had already guessed that it would end like that. We didn’t have such a deep bond at the time, so all I thought was that I would repay you generously for it, and I didn’t dwell on the matter ... But after that ... After that, many things happened, and you slowly became the most important person in my life. Brother Chen, I’m not lying. As long as you let me, I am willing to stay by your side. Even if I have no body, even if I can only stay in the sword and watch you speak. I am willing to bear it all ...”


    Ling Xi hung her head, and her emotions reached their peak.


    Long Chen pursed his lips. There was some pain in his gaze. Ling Xi’s words had put him in a dilemma. Ling Xi felt like she could never leave his side, and he felt the same. He had almost gone mad with frustration when he had to endure a month without her by his side in the Counter Essence Realm.


    When she saw his deeply torn look, Ling Xi bit her lip and said gently, “Brother Chen, don’t be sad. I will never leave you. That is why I have decided that I don’t want the Nine Heavens Immortal Fruit no matter what. Can we just stay together like this and live our lives? I know that I cannot give you a child, and I cannot give myself to you ... but I want to be selfish just this time. Will you let me?”


    When she finished, she gazed deeply at him with hope in her eyes, waiting for his reply. She had already said what she wanted to say.


    There was a huge surge of emotion in his heart. Like a drowning man, he struggled desperately in the waves until the end, then he slowly said, “Xiao Xi, what you said is right. You’re correct, but you don’t know men. You don’t know me!”


    Long Chen stood up. There was some redness in his eyes as he spun around, looking at the vastnds. The world was huge, and he was so minute. This made him feel weak, but it did not scare him into giving up!


    “I don’t know men?” She didn’t understand what he meant.


    “No, and you don’t understand me.” Long Chen gritted his teeth and stared in the direction of the Imperial Capital coldly. “Ling Xi, after being with me for so long, do you still not know my personality? I am a proud man. Have I ever given up? Have I ever been afraid? I have always held the firm belief that as long as I am forging ahead, no one in this world can stop me. Including your family!”


    “Brother Chen, what are you saying?” Ling Xi was startled. Long Chen’s determination scared her a little.


    “What am I saying? Hehe ...” Long Chen smiled and gently held Ling Xi in his palm. He tried his best to soften his tone as he said, “I have never retreated in fear. I am a man, and I especially don’t want to run away from our problems so that you have to live as a soul in secret for the rest of our lives! Ling Xi, think about it! If I agree to your request today, will I be fit to be called a man?!”


    Towards the end, Long Chen was almost shouting. Ling Xi was frozen with shock, almost crying. Long Chen had never looked at her with such a scary expression. This was the first time, but Ling Xi knew that he would never hurt her, even if he had to die!


    “Brother Chen, are you saying that you want me to use the Nine Heavens Immortal Fruit? But if that happens, it is very likely that I will leave you forever. You will never see me again! Can you bear to part with me?” she said, sobbing.


    “I could not bear to leave you, Xiao Xi ...” Long Chen closed his eyes. He was so ovee with emotion that tears almost flowed. He did his best to suppress his tears and leaned close to her ear. “I would miss you ten thousand times, but I also could not bear to trap you by my side forever. I cannot destroy your future because of my selfishness. This form does not suit you. You’re still young, so you should have aplete body, not live as a fugitive with me in this pitiful state. All it would prove is that I am trash! Also, the most important thing is ...”


    Long Chen’s breathing was ragged. He stared straight at her and said slowly, “My darling, don’t forget that one day, I will appear right in front of you again, and I will defeat and even kill every person in my way. Then you will be my wife!”