Chapter 428: Scumbag Quotes, Zi Yan Falls

The spectating Cultivators' worldviews were shattered; they had never seen such a method for Undergoing Tribulation.

That was a terrifying Lightning Tribulation comparable to an Immortal King's tribulation!

And it was actually eaten by a sword?

Feeling the joy emanating from his Lifebound Treasure, Zhou Chen felt a surge of heroic pride in his heart.

"Since you've come, don't leave."

He held his fingers together like a sword and lightly slashed toward the sky.

"Heaven-Splitting."

The qingping sword suspended in the Nine Heavens suddenly expanded, transforming into a ten-thousand-foot giant sword. Carrying the supreme sharp edge capable of splitting heaven and earth, it slashed down at the thick tribulation clouds!

Screech—!

It seemed as if only this single green sword light remained between heaven and earth.

The terrifying tribulation clouds that covered ten thousand miles were actually split clean in half by this single sword strike!

Under the strangulation of the Sword Qi, the tribulation clouds rapidly disintegrated, turning into pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi that fed back into the land.

One sword to split the heavens!

The qingping sword circled once in the air, turned into a streak of light, and flew back into Zhou Chen's hand, sinking into his Dantian for nourishment.

At this moment, the qingping sword was a bona fide Top-Grade Immortal Rank Magic Treasure.

Furthermore, because it had undergone Fusion with chaos divine iron and the World Tree, its potential was immeasurable. In the future, it might even have the chance to be promoted to an Immortal Dao Emperor Weapon, or even transcend beyond that.

Zhou Chen slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, the brilliant light in his eyes becoming restrained.

"Within the True Immortal Realm, I shall be invincible."

Calming his agitated emotions, Zhou Chen reopened the System panel to check Gu Ming's Opportunity.

[Recent Opportunity: In ten days, the Gu Family Secret Realm opens. Obtain an Immortal King Legacy, and strength increases greatly.]

Looking at this entry, Zhou Chen lightly tapped his knee with his finger, falling into deep thought.

The Gu Family Secret Realm…

That was the base of the Primordial Immortal Clan.

According to the top-secret information of the Zixia Sect, the Gu Family's foundations were unfathomably deep. Not only did the clan have an Immortal King overseeing it, but rumors said there were even living old fossil Immortal Emperors in deep slumber.

Although he now had the qingping sword and his strength had soared, barging into that kind of dragon's pool or tiger's den was no different from seeking death.

"An Opportunity is good, but one must be alive to take it."

Zhou Chen decisively gave up on that idea.

As a qualified villain, knowing how to judge the situation was the way to survive.

Since the hard bone couldn't be chewed, he would switch to a soft persimmon to squeeze.

His gaze moved down, landing on Gu Ming's third Opportunity.

[Recent Opportunity 3: In one month, encounter Zi Yan of the Zixia Sect. Fall in love with Zi Yan at first sight. After being rejected despite persistent pestering, forcibly abduct Zi Yan. After Dual Cultivation with Zi Yan, awaken the Primordial Immortal Physique.]

"Love at first sight?"

Zhou Chen smiled, a playful smile.

Zi Yan possessed peerless beauty, but her personality was as cold as a Moon Goddess. Usually, she was indifferent to any male Cultivator, yet she was uniquely warm toward Zhou Chen.

He hadn't expected that this would eventually be Gu Ming's stroke of romantic luck.

"Since she's your woman, then I won't be polite."

"One month is too long. How about… right now?"

Zhou Chen stood up and straightened his robes.

In his mind, those classic scumbag quotes and affectionate routines from his past life began to surge wildly.

To deal with this kind of aloof Saintess who was inexperienced in the ways of the world and only knew how to Cultivate all day, using force was a poor move; attacking the heart was the superior strategy.

He wanted to make this Saintess willingly become a plaything in the palm of his hand.

Zhou Chen pushed open the door of his Immortal Cave and flew toward the Purple Bamboo Peak where Zi Yan was located, facing the morning sun.

The hunting hour had begun.

Purple Bamboo Peak was shrouded in mist year-round, its Spiritual Qi overwhelming.

Beside a quiet cold pond, Zi Yan was sitting cross-legged.

She wore a plain white dress, her long black hair scattered casually. Her skin was whiter than snow, and her features were like a painting, like a Fairy walking out of a scroll.

Only at this moment, a trace of pain was locked between this Fairy's brows.

Although she was already at the First Layer of True Immortal Realm, she had been stuck at a Bottleneck for a full half-year.

Because of her special Physique—the Great Yin Jade Marrow Physique—while powerful, extreme Yin would inevitably lead to its opposite. Without something of extreme Yang to harmonize it, every time she attempted a Breakthrough, the cold Qi in her body would run wild, causing pain that reached her marrow.

"Pfft…"

Zi Yan's delicate body trembled as she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, staining the white veil in front of her red.

The cold Qi in her body was like a maggot on a bone, crazily eroding her Meridians. Her consciousness began to gradually blur.

Just as she was about to faint, a warm and mellow immortal power suddenly pressed against her back.

This power was domineering yet gentle, instantly dispersing the cold Qi raging inside her and protecting her heart's Meridians.

Zi Yan struggled to open her eyes and looked back.

She saw a man in green standing behind her, one hand pressed against the center of her back, his expression focused and grave.

What kind of eyes were those?

Deep, concerned, pained… as if they contained all the affection in the world.

"Zhou… Zhou Chen?"

Zi Yan recognized the newcomer, but Zhou Chen was usually elusive. Why would he suddenly appear here?

Zhou Chen withdrew his hand. He didn't explain immediately but took off his outer robe and gently draped it over Zi Yan's thin shoulders.

His movements were extremely gentle, as if he were treating a rare treasure.

"Silly girl, with cold Qi entering your body, why did you still try to force a Breakthrough?"

Zhou Chen's voice was deep, carrying a hint of reproach, but even more so, an unconcealable heartache.

Zi Yan was stunned.

No man had ever dared to speak to her like this, and no one had ever given her this feeling of being cared for.

"I… I wanted to break through my Realm as soon as possible…"

Zi Yan subconsciously lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong.

Zhou Chen sighed and sat down beside Zi Yan, his gaze looking out at the distant sea of clouds.

"Cultivating immortality, cultivating to the end—if you can't even take care of yourself, what is the meaning of eternal life?"

He turned his head and looked directly into Zi Yan's eyes.

"Zi Yan, do you know? Actually, I have been watching you for a long time."

Zi Yan's heart skipped a beat, and a blush appeared on her pale cheeks.

"Every time I see you cultivating hard by the cold pond, my heart suffers along with you. But I didn't dare disturb you, fearing I would disrupt your Dao Heart."

Zhou Chen's voice became raspy and full of magnetism.

"But today, the moment I saw you spit blood, I regretted it."

"To hell with the Dao Heart, to hell with the rules."

Zhou Chen suddenly grabbed Zi Yan's cold little hand, his gaze burning like fire.

"If the price of Immortal Ascension is to make you suffer, then I would rather you remain in the mortal world for a lifetime, with me protecting you so you can be worry-free for all your years!"

Boom!

This classic scumbag quote from his past life was a total dimensional strike in this relatively conservative cultivation world.

Zi Yan's mind went blank, and her heart beat like a drum.

No one had ever said such words to her.

He would rather she not Cultivate immortality just to protect her?

What kind of deep affection was this?

So, in this cold immortal path, there was actually a person who had been silently guarding her all along?

"Once I feared that too much passion would damage my cultivation; yet entering the mountains, I feared losing the one who could topple cities."

"How can one find a way in this world to satisfy both—to not fail the Heavenly Dao, and to not fail you?"

At this moment, Zhou Chen stood with his hands behind his back, looking into the distance, leisurely reciting a modified love poem by Tsangyang Gyatso, stirring up circle after circle of invisible, ambiguous ripples.

Looking at Zhou Chen's sincere eyes, the high wall built in Zi Yan's heart instantly collapsed.

"Zhou… Big Brother Zhou…"

Zi Yan's eyes turned slightly red as she gripped Zhou Chen's hand back, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Zhou Chen thought to himself, 'Mm, the timing is right.'

He took the Opportunity to pull Zi Yan into his arms. Zi Yan's body stiffened for a moment, but she didn't resist; instead, she obediently leaned against his broad chest.

"Junior Sister, the cold Qi has accumulated in your body. If it isn't completely eradicated, I fear your life will be in danger."

"Relax, I won't hurt you."