Chapter 89: Yan Huaixuan, Is That You?

Chapter 89: Yan Huaixuan, Is It You?

Shen Lian frowned slightly, and this time, without hesitation, he turned and left directly.

Shen Lian had traveled the road to Floating Cloud Mountain many times.

Over the past year, thanks to Shen Lian's supply of pills, the overall strength of the sect had advanced by a large margin, jumping straight into the top ten.

He Ling had also broken through not long ago, entering the peak of the Earth Immortal realm.

He was just one step away from the Earth Immortal realm. Above that was the Heavenly Immortal realm, and above that was the Supreme Golden Immortal realm. After the Golden Immortal stage, one had to endure ninety-nine Heavenly Thunder tribulations to temper the body, after which a divine voice would bestow a title.

Then they could ascend to the upper realm.

Yet for tens of millions of years, no one had ever truly known what the upper realm was like, and those who could reach the Supreme Golden Immortal realm were exceedingly rare.

The novel's plot also ended with Yan Huaixuan stepping into the Supreme Golden Immortal realm and ascending.

But that wasn't something Shen Lian needed to worry about.

At the foot of Floating Cloud Mountain lay Floating Cloud City, which was in the middle of its biggest festival, kind of like the Spring Festival from Shen Lian's past life. During this festival, all cultivators were allowed to go home and visit their families.

Floating Cloud City was bursting with festive cheer everywhere. Shen Lian watched, and for a moment, memories of his past life came flooding back.

In his memories, even though he hadn't had it great in that family, he still used to look forward to the Spring Festival.

He always used to press up against the window, secretly watching Aunt Wang's family across the street being all happy together.

He'd fantasize about being Aunt Wang's kid, so he could wear new clothes, eat good food, and watch TV.

That scene now felt like it was from another lifetime.

"Ah Lian, wanna hit the streets with me?" He Ci had grown more mature and steady now. After everything he'd been through with Shen Lian, he wasn't so carefree anymore.

He was naturally gifted to begin with, and just three or four days ago, he'd stepped into the peak of Tribulation Transcendence, just one step away from the Void Immortal realm.

He Ci looked at Shen Lian. "You're already at the Earth Immortal stage?"

Shen Lian gave a soft "mm" in acknowledgment.

He Ci looked a little dejected. "I still can't catch up to you."

The gap between him and Shen Lian just kept getting wider.

Shen Lian was quiet for a moment. He figured that without that person, his talent probably wouldn't have been anything special either.

Shen Lian said, "You're already the young sect master now. Don't put yourself down."

He Ci smiled. Behind him, a good-looking young boy walked up. "He Ci, when are we heading out to the streets?"

It was Kong Yun. He could take human form again now, but his cultivation speed was painfully slow, and he refused to go back to his clan, insisting on staying at Floating Cloud Mountain. When asked why, he said he was scared He Ci would break his promise.

He Ci had no idea what to do with him.

Kong Yun looked at Shen Lian, his eyes brightening. "Your cultivation's gone up again."

Shen Lian nodded at him. Not wanting to make things awkward for He Ci, he spoke up. "Why don't we head down?"

He Ci immediately brushed off those random thoughts. "Let's go!"

Kong Yun was buzzing with excitement, constantly dragging He Ci and Shen Lian around to look at everything. Even Chen Xue was itching to get moving. Chen Xue's name didn't fit its personality at all—Chen Xue was super lively.

Shen Lian brought it out too, but he wasn't really interested in any of this himself.

So many people around him were all smiles, yet Shen Lian just couldn't blend in.

Back then, he'd been perfectly at ease in the world of fame and fortune.

He Ci watched Shen Lian.

Shen Lian stood in the noisiest place, yet his eyes were cold, empty of everything.

He Ci couldn't stand seeing Shen Lian like this. He spoke up. "Come on! Let's go drink."

Shen Lian hadn't had a drink since his past life, but seeing He Ci and the others having a good time, he figured he'd give it a shot.

Turns out, the wine in this cultivation world was on a whole other level compared to what he'd had in his past life.

At first, when He Ci warned him not to drink too much, Shen Lian didn't think much of it. In the middle of the conversation, he'd already downed two cups.

Then...

Shen Lian's vision started going double.

He Ci knew it was over. "I wasn't done talking! This wine is specially made—it's called Golden Immortal's Drunk! As in, even a Supreme Golden Immortal would get wasted on this stuff."

He tried to take the wine from Shen Lian's hand, but to his surprise, Shen Lian held on tight and wouldn't let go.

He Ci was startled. He looked at Shen Lian.

After drinking, a faint flush crept up at the corners of Shen Lian's eyes, softening the coldness in his brows and gaze, making him look a bit gentler.

"No need, I can still drink." Shen Lian's voice came out soft and hoarse.

He tipped his head back and downed another cup. Even the tips of his ears turned red.

Shen Lian didn't know why he was drinking.

He just felt that getting drunk like this, when he didn't have to think about anything, felt like bliss.

But this wine was seriously potent. Shen Lian couldn't get a fourth cup down no matter what.

This time, He Ci forcibly took it away. "Stop drinking. The buzz hasn't even hit you yet."

Shen Lian propped his head on one hand. He felt someone talking right by his ear. He blinked groggily and saw a blurry face.

Was it He Ci?

Shen Lian felt like that wasn't quite it. His lashes fluttered slightly, and the person leaned in a little closer, letting Shen Lian get a clear look at his face.

He had cold, handsome features, three thousand silver strands cascading down like a waterfall, and a pair of silver eyes that seemed to hold frost and snow.

No words in the world could do this person's beauty justice. Shen Lian could even faintly catch the subtle scent coming off him.

He Ci looked at the two drunkards, originally planning to take everyone back.

He first stuffed Kong Yun onto the Immortal Boat, then it was Shen Lian's turn. He was about to apologize, but to his surprise, Shen Lian reached a hand out toward him.

He Ci froze, and then overwhelming joy flooded through him.

He turned to Shen Lian, "A Lian..."

But Shen Lian's eyes were tightly shut, still drunk.

He Ci could only barely make out a single word from his lips.

"Yan Huaixuan..."

He Ci's smile completely froze, his face looking worse than if he were crying. He whispered, "Shen Lian, look at me properly. I'm He Ci."

Shen Lian's hazy mind suddenly snapped back to focus. He looked at He Ci's face, then quickly snapped back to his usual self.

He pulled his hand back. "Sorry."

Shen Lian made his way back to the immortal boat on his own, though his mind was still a bit foggy. It was a rare treat, but he hadn't expected the wine to hit this hard.

"Rest well."

He Ci used Spellcraft to settle Shen Lian back onto the bed.

Shen Lian didn't answer, just nuzzled into the pillow, his lashes fluttering down softly.

He Ci had never seen Shen Lian like this before.

But he knew the man in front of him would never be his.

Still, having this one night was enough to satisfy him.

After sleeping for a bit, Shen Lian groggily realized he hadn't washed up yet.

He sat up, completely forgetting he knew the Purification Art, and instinctively thought about taking a hot bath.

Shen Lian cast a spell, and a bathtub materialized in front of him. He slowly got up, still forgetting to undress, and stepped straight in.

But he was so drunk he couldn't control his body, and Shen Lian nearly toppled headfirst into the water.

However, the next moment, a hand appeared at his waist.