NOVEL NEXT Chapter 40:
Chapter 040: Are You Worthy?:
“Hongling, may I call you that?”
Yue Hongling didn’t reply.
“I’m currently in the second-layer space, the Demon Marsh. I’ve found a good spot for cultivation and am immersing myself in training. Don’t worry, I won’t fall too far behind you!”
“Damn it, the Demon Marsh has been occupied by the Blue Crocodile Clan. They allow other major clans to cultivate there but refuse to let me in.”
“No matter, I’ll head to Sunny Valley to comprehend the Dao.”
“Sunny Valley has also been taken over by a group of monks. A place like this, meant for cultivation, should be open to all beings in the world!”
“Hongling, are you listening?”
“Today, I fought with a demon for a Demonic Flame Fruit. I won, but the fruit got smashed in the process.”
“Why is it that the Phoenix Clan is no longer in this world? If they still existed, I wouldn’t feel so lonely and helpless.”
“Hongling, can I seek refuge with you? All the resource-rich places are controlled by powerful factions. It’s impossible for me to contend with them alone.”
Finally, Yue Hongling responded.
“No. Since you lack a faction, observe how rogue cultivators train.”
“So you can hear me! I thought this treasure was broken. Hongling, can we talk for a while?”
Yue Hongling was extremely busy.
In her past life, Yue Hongling knew Feng Wuxie was a bit clingy and quite the chatterbox.
She actually liked this kind of personality because she herself was strong-willed, and Feng Wuxie’s soft, gentle demeanor complemented her well.
As for her senior brother, he was tolerant and optimistic, but Feng Wuxie gave Yue Hongling a completely new feeling.
Perhaps it was because her past self wasn’t as strong as she is now, and Feng Wuxie’s clingy and soft nature wasn’t as apparent back then.
But this life… It’s hard to judge.
Yue Hongling was truly overwhelmed. She was now faintly regarded as the foremost figure of the human race, constantly fighting and seizing territories—against demons, monsters, Buddhists, ghosts, and gods.
Fight, fight, fight.
Only after becoming the leader of the human race did Yue Hongling realize how busy such a position could be. Every day was packed with battles and endless tasks.
And what about Lu Ye from her past life?
Back then, her senior brother wasn’t as strong as she is now. His battles were even more brutal—he defeated countless powerful foes but suffered serious injuries himself.
Yet, she still pestered him, asking him to accompany her on adventures, save her, and find treasures she desired.
Faced with these demands, Lu Ye always smiled indulgently and agreed.
Then, he’d go into a grueling battle, risking severe injuries to instill fear in his enemies before making time to accompany her.
So, senior brother had been this exhausted.
Yue Hongling felt a pang of guilt. The incident with the Pure Water Pearl had already made her realize that what her senior brother endured was far from simple.
A faint sigh escaped her lips.
Fortunately, now her senior brother could take it easy.
…
Lu Ye indeed was relaxed. He occupied the Heavenly Spirit Pool, his cultivation advancing at an incredible pace as all the spiritual energy converged toward him.
The Heavenly Spirit Pool had become a forbidden zone. Any intruder who dared to challenge Lu Ye faced death. If they contested for the spiritual energy, they were told to leave. If they resisted, death awaited them as well.
Demons, monsters, ghosts, and gods—none dared to enter anymore. The sacred training ground had turned into a terrifying abyss under Lu Ye’s dominance.
With a rumble echoing from his body, he broke through to the Eighth Layer of Nascent Soul.
It was terrifying—his cultivation soared like a rocket.
But Lu Ye remained composed, aware of his own steady progress. Every step he took was solid, each footprint deeply imprinted.
Years from now, when he looked back from the summit, he’d clearly see every mark of his journey.
Unbothered, he continued his training.
While peace reigned on his side, Yue Hongling was caught in relentless carnage, rapidly improving her strength and mending past shortcomings.
The Eternal Defiance Sutra was an unparalleled battle method, demanding constant combat to grasp its essence—resilience and fearlessness.
In her previous life, Yue Hongling had been overly protected by Lu Ye, hindering her later breakthroughs.
It was only when Lu Ye cruelly left her in the perilous outer realms for training that she managed to make some progress.
The human race had grown fierce.
Yue Hongling fully ascended to the pinnacle of the human race, her reputation spreading among demons, monsters, gods, and Buddhists.
However, the fiercer the human race grew, the harsher the survival conditions became for other races, making life increasingly difficult for a lone demon like Feng Wuxie.
He tried hard to control his emotions and voice, but traces of pleading seeped through.
“Hongling, I was seriously injured today. But don’t worry, my phoenix bloodline gives me strong regenerative abilities.”
Yue Hongling listened and felt a slight twinge of concern, though not as much as she might have expected. Injuries were too common among cultivators.
“Hongling, the situation among the demons is growing stranger. Every demon seems to be going mad. I feel my situation becoming increasingly precarious.”
“Hongling, can I come to you? I really want to. I’ll do whatever you ask if I can stay by your side.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been too restless and lonely. I keep hearing your name everywhere. You’re just too strong.”
“I’m injured again. The demons have clashed with both the Buddhists and the gods. The demon territory is shrinking further.”
Yue Hongling had just emerged from another grueling battle.
This time, it was against a divine son of the gods, a 5th stage Nascent Soul Realm cultivator with the powerful Thunder God bloodline. Yue Hongling barely managed to kill him after an intense struggle.
She glanced at the scorched marks on her body and frowned slightly. The heavenly pills weren’t as effective as the saint-grade pills from her past life.
Taking out the conch treasure, she heard a familiar voice.
“Hongling, Hongling, can you say something to me? I haven’t heard your voice in so long.”
Yue Hongling realized she’d been too absorbed in her battles lately. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Feng Wuxie in a long time.
Lifting the conch, she softened her tone.
“Keep training hard. With your phoenix bloodline, as long as you’re willing to endure, we’ll eventually stand side by side, fighting across the world. I believe in you.”
After saying this, Yue Hongling calmed her emotions and closed her eyes, resuming her cultivation.
“BANG!”
Feng Wuxie was sent flying, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
The Little Dragon King, with a humanoid body and a dragon’s head, stared at Feng Wuxie with cold, brutal eyes.
“A pathetic weakling like you dares to say Yue Hongling likes you? Look at yourself. Are you even worthy?”