Chapter 362: What on Earth Am I Doing?
Luo Wusheng absolutely didn't dare use the Ephemeral Tether Nexus in front of Miss Kirin.
If the Empress were to find out that he'd been secretly watching her like this… she would go ballistic.
Even though [Phantomless 2.0]was powerful—comparable to a one-use Divine Artifact—it wouldn't stand a chance against a genuine Divine Artifact such as the Human Emperor Sword, especially in a real fight.
Not to mention, she was stronger than him cultivation-wise. Plus, she had backup.
With a three-against-one setup in her favor, he'd be utterly demolished.
(And then there's the matter of the so-called "Predestined Effect"… it really would be best to fulfill that as soon as possible.)
His time was short. The timeline for launching the resurrection plan was set to just after the Human Immortal List. If he missed the window to reach the Ancient Heavenly Gate, all would be lost...
And once he activated the resurrection protocol, he'd enter a 49-day Nirvana state under the effects of the Ancient Phoenix Essence, which would leave him completely out of commission.
During that time, he wouldn't be able to help Bai Xiaoyao fulfill their karmic link, no matter what it entailed.
So yes, time was tight.
The worst part?
He didn't even know the exact nature of this "Predestined Effect." All he could do was make vague guesses based on his junior sister's behavior and the red causal thread that bound them together.
He knew it was related to him, but how it was supposed to resolve, he had no idea.
(Still… I can't just say that, can I? "Hey, I plan on dying soon, so let's get this Predestined Effect thing over with.")
Yeah, not a good look.
It was one thing for Bai Xiaoyao to know about his resurrection plan, but actually telling her he intended to die soon—voluntarily—was a lot harder to explain.
She might not pry into every detail of his life, but this? She'd definitely demand answers.
As he struggled internally, across from him, Bai Xiaoyao—whose pale wrist was still gently held in his grasp—let her gaze flicker slightly.
It's just one simple test, but she'd already gathered a lot of useful information.
(Senior Brother doesn't want to leave just yet… because whatever he's doing, he can't afford to walk away from it?)
The clever demoness knew her Senior Brother was up to something.
Something important. Something he hadn't told her.
Something that made his aura fluctuate strangely from time to time.
And it had to be related to that secret magical technique involving his now hollow left eye socket.
But for the life of her, she couldn't figure out what exactly he was doing that made him look like he was stuck between spiritual enlightenment and having a heart attack.
(According to him, someone outside is responsible for getting us out of the imperial palace…)
So… he doesn't want that person to find out what he's doing?
Her mind pieced the puzzle together bit by bit.
And yet, despite her curiosity, she didn't press him.
Because no matter what, she was on her Senior Brother side.
Besides, she didn't really want to go back yet either.
If Yuli woke up, or if anything else came up, this rare moment of privacy with her beloved Senior Brother might vanish again—until who knows when. And by then, she'd have to waste half her energy dealing with Lu Yuliu.
Still, outwardly, Bai Xiaoyao giggled again.
"Fufufu~ Could it be that Senior Brother is addicted to the feeling of me stroking your head? Can't bear to let me stop?"
Her teasing made Luo Wusheng's eye twitch.
He forced himself to withdraw a portion of his attention from the Empress's scene, took a deep breath, and replied:
"Don't mess around, Junior Sister. This is all to fulfill that Predestined Effect sooner…"
"Hmm? Is that so?" Bai Xiaoyao tilted her head, voice sweet and slow.
"If that's the case, then pushing further might actually have the opposite effect. Don't you think we should go back now~?"
Her words trailed off like silk, soft and deliberate.
The spoiled always get bolder.
Luo Wusheng suddenly thought of that phrase. Even though it wasn't exactly relevant to the moment, it still felt oddly fitting.
If this were a normal day, he probably would've flicked her forehead and reminded her:
"Your Senior Brother is still your Senior Brother."
But today?
Today was anything but normal.
But now…
Luo Wusheng had a feeling his junior sister had already figured out that he wasn't planning to leave just yet. That teasing tone earlier? Clearly a deliberate ploy to mess with her Senior Brother who was stalling.
Since he'd already been seen through, he might as well lean into it. No need to cover things up anymore.
After weighing his options, Luo Wusheng finally gave up the internal struggle and resigned himself with a sigh.
"All right, all right. My junior sister's head pats are the best in the world. How could I possibly let it end so soon… Does that work for you, my adorable little demoness?"
"Hehe~ Good boy, Senior Brother~"
As Bai Xiaoyao's soft, warm body pressed even closer to him and her hand once again resumed gently stroking his hair, a flicker of thought passed through Luo Wusheng's eyes.
She really is getting more clingy…
(Wait… if the green causal threads represent hostility toward me, then what does gold represent? A favorable bond?)
(Shame most of the causal threads from that day extended into the void. I couldn't see who they were connected to…)
(I wonder what color the causal thread is between me and Shuangxue…?)
(Both Yuli and Xiaoyao had gold threads, but at that moment, Xiaoyao's thread had a faint pink tinge to it…)
Luo Wusheng paused and stopped thinking.
Because on the other side—in the Imperial Pool, through the Antediluvian Nether Eye—something had changed.
. . . . . . . . .
Imperial Pool.
The Empress was panicking.
She hadn't expected to waste so much time on just the first stage of the Heart Mirror in the Imperial Pool.
Sure, the first stage didn't consume much spiritual energy—but it still used it. And she'd burned through more energy than she wanted.
(The time I spent just on the first stage is equivalent to two full questions from the second stage…)
"What on earth am I doing?"
Was that scene really that captivating? It was just a man and a woman undressing and doing 'that' in bed…
Okay, fine. She had to admit that the Holy Saint had pulled out quite a few tricks, and at the time it had felt shockingly stimulating to watch.
But now? Just thinking of herself in that scene made her cheeks burn.
Where had he even learned all that?
…Oh. Right.
He is the Holy Saint of the Demon Sect. And the Demon Sect had an entire region devoted to dual cultivation.
(Wait—could it be that he's actually experienced all that himself…?)
No, that didn't make sense.
The girls around him still had their virgin essence intact, she'd checked it personally during their previous encounters.
As for others… given how well he'd concealed his identity all these years, he wouldn't risk exposure over a meaningless fling. That would've shattered his disguise long ago.
(Wait a second—wasn't there also that Sword Sect Elder back in Daybreak City I never met…?)
(Why am I thinking about this?!)
"This… is probably just one of his passing fantasies… The events in that scene weren't even fully formed ideas. They were just fragments the pool completed using rules of the mindscape. It never actually happened."
"That body… It only resembles me. And besides, I'm… I'm a little bigger than that…"
"…Just a bit."
"And anyway—only I saw it. No one else will ever know…"
Even if she did eventually choose him as her consort, this memory would remain buried in her heart forever.
The Empress bit her lip, a faint red blush still lingering on her otherwise regal face.
Then, determined, she raised her hand and pressed forward.
The scene on the water curtain still hadn't finished playing, but she'd already made up her mind.
She had spent too much time getting lost in some man's fantasies.
Her true goal hadn't even started yet, she couldn't let herself be derailed now.
The water curtain scattered with a splash, and in the faint mist beyond the illusory portal, the image began to reassemble.
Vague human shapes started forming.
Yet, instead of looking forward, the Empress glanced down at herself.
"…Strange."
"I clearly used spiritual energy to clean myself earlier, so why do I still feel uncomfortable?"
Frowning, she tugged at her robe and muttered softly:
"I'll go bathe properly once this is over."
<+>
Note: Link to the character Illustration:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lkIcPnCxeyuyZA4Kkb621dPC05UvWjhD[1]
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[1] https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lkIcPnCxeyuyZA4Kkb621dPC05UvWjhD
[2] https://www.patreon.com/user?u=93297024
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[4] https://www.patreon.com/posts/chapter-487-cry-149583539
[5] https://www.patreon.com/posts/chapter-487-cry-149583539