Breaking through the illusion of the mortal world

Chapter 160 Meeting

The wine flowed freely in Lingyun Tower, and melodious music filled the air. Outside the gilded pavilion, the evening glow painted the sky like brocade, filling the room with unrestrained elegance.

As Lu Mingzheng and Cheng Hao were chatting and laughing, a voice suddenly rang out in his mind:

"You hothead, don't make a sound. Come to the west courtyard, I'll be waiting for you."

Lu Ming's smile froze instantly, and he was secretly surprised, but he quickly concealed it.

It is Ning Qingxue.

He never expected to hear her voice in Fulong City, Zhongzhou, thousands of miles away.

Lu Ming suppressed his emotions and gently took his leave from the crowd: "Dear senior brothers and sisters, I will be leaving for a moment and will return shortly."

Lu Ming followed the corridor westward, and the deeper he went, the quieter it became. Spiritual runes and restrictions enveloped the area, keeping out all the noise and laughter from the outside world.

The door to the secluded courtyard on the west side was slightly ajar. He raised his hand and gently knocked, and the door slowly opened.

The courtyard was bathed in soft light and shadow. Ning Qingxue stood under the phoenix tree, dressed in a light green outfit.

The phoenix flowers are in full bloom, their fiery red color resembling a phoenix in flames.

The moment she saw Lu Ming, her cool and aloof eyes revealed undisguised joy, and the corners of her lips curved slightly, but she quickly suppressed it and gave a haughty snort.

"You're actually quite obedient."

Ning Qingxue's tone was haughty, but without a trace of reproach; it was full of joy at their long-awaited reunion.

Standing in the pavilion, Lu Ming looked at the real person before him with surprise and delight: "Qingxue, how did you come to Zhongzhou? It's tens of thousands of miles away from Tianya."

"A major event is about to occur in the Central Continent. Both the Li Tian Palace and the Zi Chen Palace are heading to the Central Continent to cooperate with the Jue Chen Palace in forming the Dao Protection Alliance." Ning Qingxue turned around, a hint of worry in her eyes. "The Dao Protection Alliance is aimed at your Dao Academy and the Dayan Immortal Dynasty."

"I thought that after parting ways in Shenzhou, we might not see each other again for a long time, but I never expected to meet again so soon." Ning Qingxue's tone was calm, but her expression still revealed her joy.

Since parting ways with Tianya, she has thought of the person who risked his life to save her and with whom she shared her feelings day and night. Now that they have met again, the joy she felt has long since overshadowed the barriers of their positions.

Lu Ming took two steps closer, looked at her familiar features, and said softly, "I never expected to see you in Zhongzhou."

Ning Qingxue raised her eyes and glared at him: "You've caused such a huge mess in Zhongzhou, subduing the Dark Fragrance Pavilion, and you've become the target of everyone's anger. And you're the one in the most danger, don't you know that?"

She was genuinely happy to see him, yet she couldn't help but scold him for being too impulsive.

Lu Ming chuckled, knowing that she genuinely cared about him.

Ning Qingxue toned down her coquettish demeanor and earnestly revealed her secret plan for this trip to Central Continent:

"The Heavenly Spirit Holy Land took the lead, uniting the six major sects and four great families of the Central Continent. Three days later, they held an alliance meeting at the Heavenly Spirit Holy Land to form the Protector Alliance."

Ostensibly, it's about protecting the Daoist traditions of Central Continent, but in reality, it's about joining forces to counter the Daoist Academy and the Great Yan Immortal Dynasty.

"The Daoist Academy defeated the Zichen Palace in Qingzhou, and the Zichen Palace has moved to Zhongzhou. The major palaces of Lihentian Palace have united to resist the further expansion of the Dayan Immortal Dynasty, and it is said that the Heavenly Palace will also send people over."

"Your group has become the target of everyone in Central Continent, especially you. Your cultivation is the weakest, so they will use you as a breakthrough point. Therefore, your situation is the most dangerous, do you know that?"

"And you, kind-hearted and guileless, I'm really worried something might happen to you..."

Ning Qingxue explained the whole story clearly, with obvious concern in her voice.

But as she finished speaking, her eyes and brows slowly drooped, her long eyelashes trembled, and she struggled internally.

She is a disciple of the Li Tian Palace, and the sect's bloodline is her root. She is destined to be unable to betray it and unable to stand by Lu Ming's side.

But she genuinely loved him, remembered his life-saving grace, cherished the mutual affection between them, and couldn't bear to see him suffer even the slightest harm.

Proud as she is, she never shows weakness, but at this moment she can hardly hide her helplessness.

Ning Qingxue's voice lowered slightly: "Lu Ming, we have different positions... we are destined to be enemies, not friends."

A single sentence, as light as the wind, struck their hearts with tremendous force.

Lu Ming also paused slightly, as he could sense Ning Qingxue's struggle.

Lu Ming laughed heartily and said, "Don't worry, although my cultivation level is not high, my luck is extremely good."

"We were able to emerge safely from such a dangerous place as the ruins of the Heavenly Pivot Holy Land and even obtain great opportunities."

"Trust me, I will protect myself!"

Lu Mingxin looked at her and said softly, "I know. Qingxue, thank you for taking the risk to tell me this."

"Who needs your thanks?" Ning Qingxue immediately raised her eyes, turning her face away haughtily. "I just don't want you, a fool, to die in the schemes of the Protectorate Alliance without knowing why."

"And that time at the Tian Shu Ruins, if I hadn't seen through that old man in gray's scheme, you probably would have been sold out and would have been counting the money for him!"

"How can I believe you could have survived such a complicated situation in this state!"

Ning Qingxue spoke toughly, but her hand gently clenched his sleeve.

Lu Ming felt a warmth in his heart and smiled gently, "Don't worry, my cultivation will increase, and my temperament will also improve, so I will naturally be able to protect myself."

"That's all I can do." Ning Qingxue released her grip, regaining her proud demeanor, but her tone softened. "From now on, in Zhongzhou, be sure to protect yourself and never venture out alone again."

Lu Ming nodded solemnly: "I will. Take care too."

Ning Qingxue looked at him deeply, a look that contained joy, longing, and an indescribable helplessness.

"I'm giving you something." Ning Qingxue took out a white flower from her storage ring.

The flower has a faint glow and a subtle fragrance. When it is first taken out, it is only in the shape of a bud, but it soon blooms completely, and its beauty is breathtaking.

This was the very same Ephemeral Flower that Ning Qingxue had picked at the Shenzhou Inn.

"The Ephemeral Flower blooms for only one night, and then withers after blooming once. That night, after I picked the flower, I made a little magic item so that it could bloom at any time."

"Even though it's just an inanimate object now, it's still better than it withering into mud."

"I've always loved flowers, so I'll give this to you. It has no other use, but it can transmit messages within a certain range."

Lu Ming stared at the gift Ning Qingxue had brought, momentarily lost in thought.

Lu Ming's thoughts drifted back to more than 30 years ago, when Hu Zhen gave him a calligraphy brush.

But more than thirty years have passed, and the person I once longed for day and night has become someone else's partner...

Lu Ming accepted the flowers and smiled, a smile that reflected both relief from the past and joy in the present.

"Thank you, Qingxue," Lu Ming said with a smile.

Ning Qingxue stared at him with wide eyes: "What are you grinning about? Where's mine?!"

"Huh?" Lu Ming suddenly realized what was going on and hurriedly searched his storage bag to see if there was anything he could give as a return gift.

"This...no, it's too vulgar. Although this is valuable, it's stolen, so it lacks sincerity...I can't just give her some pills and spirit stones, can I? No, Qingxue definitely doesn't lack these things," Lu Ming thought to himself.

Lu Ming searched anxiously, feeling somewhat helpless. He was truly unprepared and had nothing to offer.