Chapter 22: The Uncertain Return Journey (Seeking Recommendations Ahhh!)

  (ps: New book on Monday, can the recommendation votes in the hands of book friends be more crazy!)

  Zhang Youren and Xiao Qing walked with ease, their speed extremely fast. Compared to ordinary people, it could even be considered a short-distance sprint. However, in this heavenly realm where immortals were as common as dogs, the two's current speed was only slightly faster than an ant.

  "Boss, I'm so tired after walking around all day, can Xiaqing trouble you for a ride?"

  Xiao Qing looked at Zhang Youren's calm and unhurried appearance, thinking that he was used to riding the dragon throne, not knowing how to drive the cloud. Who would have thought that Zhang Youren was only slightly stronger than an ordinary person?

  Upon hearing this, Zhang Youren's mind was quick to react. How could he possibly let a young woman entrust herself to him? Not only would it be embarrassing, but if Xiao Qing were to come into physical contact with him and discover that he had lost his cultivation, what would happen then?

  So, Zhang Youren seemed calm and composed on the surface, but was actually gasping for breath. He shook his head and continued to walk at a steady pace, exuding an air of composure that made Xiao Qing's racing heart inexplicably calm down.

  Just as the two were measuring the width of the heavenly court with their footsteps, a streak of light flashed by and arrived before them in an instant.

  "Who!"

  Xiao Qing reacted extremely quickly, and upon seeing the approaching figure riding on a cloud, she immediately opened her throat to shout loudly. Her small body swiftly took up a fighting stance, preparing for battle. Indeed worthy of being the personal maid of the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Palace, her vigilance was quite high.

  "Cock-a-doodle-doo..."

  A voice that was pinched and nasal let out a mad laugh like an owl at night, carrying a chill that pierced the hearts of the two people. At the same time, Zhang Youren felt the sky change. In the area around him and Xiaoqing, within a radius of tens of feet, it was pitch black, as if even starlight couldn't enter.

  But from the outside, everything looks normal, just like any other day.

  "Oh no!"

  Zhang Youren was shocked in his heart, seeing the opponent's fearless appearance, obviously well-prepared.

  The Heavenly Court is heavily guarded, but in the eyes of some discerning individuals, the so-called boundary is full of loopholes. Moreover, the Heavenly Court implements a policy of being strict on the outside and lenient on the inside, and the South Heaven Gate is the true defense line, which ordinary people cannot enter. However, within the Heavenly Court, some boundaries are mere formalities, and immortals with slightly higher cultivation have opportunities to take advantage of them.

  "I hope Little Qing's fairy cultivation can hold up against this."

  "Little girl, you're quite vigilant, but I've come in person, how could a small heavenly being like you possibly stop me?"

  A black-robed figure emerged from the night, his hoarse voice like a dull knife scraping against iron, making one's heart feel uncomfortable. Behind the black-robed man, a guy with a bamboo hat and a covered face stood silently, like a ghost, motionless and speechless.

  "It's you!"

  Although the person wearing a bamboo hat did not show his face, Zhang Youren still recognized him from his attire as the one who had competed with him in the auction at Tianbao Pavilion and was identified by Lei Tiandong as a monk from Xifang Leiyin Temple.

  "Those bald heads again!"

  Zhang Youren knew that the newcomer was not benevolent, and it would be difficult to please him. With Xiao Qing's heavenly immortal repair, wanting to escape from this mortal world was no different from being delusional. For now, the only hope was for Xiao Qing to risk her life and charge out of this boundary. As long as she broke through this boundary, in the Heavenly Court, she would definitely be able to summon a large number of heavenly generals, and only then might there be an opportunity to ascend to heaven.

  Zhang Youren's mind was clear, and after a brief consideration, he shouted to Xiaoqing, "Xiaoqing, go quickly! Use your fastest speed and full-body magic to break through the opponent's seal!"

  "Hey big brother, what about you..."

  "Get out, stop nagging."

  "Big brother..."

  Xiao Qing's voice was like a cuckoo's blood-tinged cry, mournful and sorrowful.

  However, she also knew that this was not the time to hesitate. She took a lingering glance at Zhang Youren and shouted "Charge!" in a soft voice.

  "Rumble!"

  A deafening explosion shook the sky, and in the blink of an eye, Xiao Qing transformed into a hundred-zhang-long cyan serpent, carrying a black mist, and charged towards the seal set up by the man in black.

  "Is Xiao Qing a snake demon?"

  If it weren't for the urgent situation, Zhang Youren was almost stunned. Unexpectedly, the maid beside him turned out to be a snake demon who had cultivated into an immortal. It seems that the Jade Emperor is not as boring as people think. The legendary ruthless emperor who stopped the Seven Fairies from meeting Dong Yong, suppressed the Three Goddesses, and forcibly separated the Cowherd and the Weaving Maiden, actually raised a snake demon, what a mess.

  Zhang Youren's messy thoughts were not helped by anyone, and the sound of fighting directly broke his chaotic thinking.

  "Rumble!"

  The green snake transformed by Xiao Qing crashed into the seal with a deafening explosion, but the seal only shook a few times and then remained still. However, Xiao Qing's demonic body was left drenched in blood, with bones exposed.

  "Caw caw caw caw......"

  "It was actually a Heaven-Swallowing Snake Demon, no wonder it had a bit of brute strength. However, the seal I personally set up can only be broken by an existence at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm, otherwise, even if its brute strength is several times greater, what can it do to me?"

  "No, I don't believe it!"

  Xiao Qing's demon body turned its head to glance in Zhang Youren's direction, disregarding the flesh and blood flying everywhere, unrelenting and merciless, still charging towards the seal with a brutal and violent posture.

  "Bang!"

  "I don't believe it!"

  "Bang!"

  "Give me a break!"

  "Bang!"

  "A bit more strength, ah!"

  "Xiao Qing, don't crash, come back!"

  Zhang Youren couldn't bear to look anymore, a delicate and lovely little girl was now like a piece of rotten meat, rolling in the sky, the crimson blood rain dyeing the entire sky red.

  "No, boss, I'm still good!"

  Until now, Xiao Qing still remembered the appointment with Zhang Youren and did not expose his identity in front of outsiders. In her small brain, Zhang Youren's words were imperial decrees, and even casual remarks had to be executed without discount.

  Now, Xiao Qing only wants to rush forward, to charge ahead, using her own life to open up a path leading forward, to pave a golden road for Zhang Youren. At this moment, she has already forgotten her cultivation, forgotten that she is heavily injured, and even forgotten that her pupils are slowly dispersing...

  "Come back, come back with me quickly!"

  Zhang Youren's voice was hoarse from shouting, but he couldn't stop Xiao Qing. Watching her increasingly slow body crash into the boundary again and again, his eyes, which had not shed tears for a long time, became moist...

  "I didn't expect you to be a heroic woman, alright, considering your loyalty and bravery, I'll spare your life. After we part ways, stay by my side and become one of my imperial concubines."

  "Hiss!"

  The man in black let out a soft shout, and a ball of golden light shot out of his mouth. As soon as the words left his lips, the golden light enveloped Xiao Qing's demonic body. In that instant when Xiao Qing's demonic body was enveloped, she transformed back into her celestial form. Her slender body gently floated down to the ground, and two teardrops welled up in the corners of her eyes, beneath her long eyelashes, as if blaming herself for failing to complete the task entrusted by His Majesty.

  Just as Xiao Qing was about to float towards the black-robed man, Zhang Youren could no longer bear it. He didn't care about his own safety anymore, even if he had no cultivation left, he still wanted to live with dignity and not be a coward. How could he let a gentle woman like her become the enemy's prey right before his eyes?

  He suddenly rushed out, relying on his strong physique, leaping into the air, with both hands embracing Xiao Qing's fragrant body, eyes wide with anger.

  "That's enough!"