Chapter 578: If I Can Successfully Emerge From Seclusion, May I Become Your Concubine, Sir?

Ten years passed.

Xiao Mo's injuries had fully healed, and his cultivation had reached the late stage of the Jade Simplicity realm.

And the great war between the Human Alliance and the demon alliance had flared up anew, fought even more fiercely than before.

Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng once again returned to the battlefield, resisting the demon alliance's assault.

Looking back, Tushan Meng and Tushan Jingci had once often appeared at the very front lines of battle but now, their figures could no longer be found on the battlefield at all.

Rumor had it that Tushan Jingci had now reached the middle stage of the Immortal realm, and was in seclusion, cultivating intensively, attempting to break through in one stroke into the late stage of the Immortal realm.

If this rumor were true, then, given that cultivators of the Upper Three Realms in seclusion often required a full century or more, many years might pass without anyone catching sight of Tushan Jingci at all.

As for Tushan Meng, rumor had it that she was entirely unable to free herself, because of that vast formation array but regardless, after another fifty years of tempering himself in battle, combined with nightly dual cultivation with Gui Junmeng, the bottleneck at Xiao Mo's late Jade Simplicity realm gradually began to loosen as well.

And Gui Junmeng, too, was steadily advancing toward the late stage of the Immortal realm.

By now, Gui Junmeng's cultivation progress had fully caught up to Tushan Jingci's.

Meanwhile, Liu Shui, who had always remained at Xiao Mo's side, had also cultivated with extraordinary diligence, and had reached the late stage of the Golden Core realm.

Decades earlier, after Liu Shui had pressed Xiao Mo's hand against her own chest, and been discovered by Gui Junmeng, and had run off in shame, she had indeed shut herself in her room for some time but Liu Shui also knew that avoiding the matter forever was no solution.

In the end, Liu Shui walked out of her courtyard again.

A few days later, when the three of them met again, though the atmosphere was somewhat awkward, Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng never brought up that matter again.

After that, the three of them proceeded, as though by unspoken agreement, to go on exactly as they had before.

Although Liu Shui was never formally taken as Xiao Mo's concubine, in practice, the way she attended to Xiao Mo's daily life was hardly different from that of a concubine at all.

Another twenty years passed.

Liu Shui's cultivation showed no progress whatsoever.

Just as Xiao Mo had anticipated, Liu Shui's natural talent was, in the end, limited. The Golden Core realm was likely to be her ceiling, with little hope of any further breakthrough yet Sister Liu Shui was, of all things, desperately eager to break through into the Nascent Soul realm.

Xiao Mo vaguely sensed that the reason Sister Liu Shui felt such urgency was, perhaps, influenced and provoked by the example of himself and Junmeng.

His and Gui Junmeng's cultivation had indeed advanced with extraordinary speed but the trouble was, throughout the entire world, how many people's cultivation could possibly advance at such a pace as his own?

Gui Junmeng noticed that Liu Shui's Daoist heart had grown somewhat unsteady, and wished for Xiao Mo to go speak with her, to offer some comfort.

In truth, even without Gui Junmeng needing to say anything, Xiao Mo had already long since intended to do just that.

In the days that followed.

Xiao Mo specifically sought out several opportunities to speak heart to heart with Liu Shui, gently telling her that the Golden Core realm was already quite an accomplishment.

What Xiao Mo said was, in fact, the plain truth. Cultivators of the Golden Core realm, in any sect, already held elder-level status, with lifespans reaching a thousand years.

The great majority of cultivators never even reached the level Sister Liu Shui had attained.

"Sister Liu Shui, you're only just past two hundred years of age now, there's still a long road ahead of you. Just keep moving forward steadily, and perhaps, in time, you'll encounter the right opportunity to break through into the Nascent Soul realm."

Hearing Xiao Mo's words, Liu Shui lowered her head, a flicker of quiet disappointment passing through her eyes...

"Sir... I know that..."

Liu Shui raised her head, looking earnestly at Xiao Mo, her voice carrying a certain complexity.

"It's only, sir, that I have a clear sense, in my own heart, of the depth of my own cultivation talent."

"Although I reached the late stage of the Golden Core realm at just over two hundred years of age, which does seem, at a glance, remarkably fast progress, all of this was simply because I happened to encounter a cultivation method well suited to my own constitution."

"Daoist Master Yun Xi knew from the start that my talent was limited, and that reaching the Nascent Soul realm in the future would be exceedingly difficult for me, as my spiritual roots were naturally suited to exerting their strength in the early stages of cultivation."

"And so this Way of Dao Clouds technique that Daoist Master Yun Xi passed on to me allowed my cultivation to proceed smoothly and swiftly right from the start, reaching the Golden Core realm in just two hundred years, but as my age and cultivation level increase, I will find it ever more difficult to progress further..."

"Of course, sir, I don't say this to blame Daoist Master Yun Xi, because before she passed on the Way of Dao Clouds to me, she had already explained the trade-offs involved."

"But... I still wish to advance one step further... while the door to the Nascent Soul realm has not yet fully closed, I want to try."

"Otherwise, if another century passes... then I truly will have no hope left at all..."

She took a deep breath, a stubborn light shining in her eyes. "Sir, next month, I want to go train with another army of the Human Alliance. I can no longer let you keep protecting me."

Xiao Mo wanted to refuse but looking into her stubborn eyes.

Xiao Mo understood, what right did he have to stand in Sister Liu Shui's way, in her pursuit of the great Dao?

In the end, Xiao Mo nodded and agreed.

Over the following forty years, Liu Shui fought on another front, always charging to the very forefront of every great battle.

On the battlefield, tempered between life and death and by the trials of demon blood, her cultivation finally broke through to the peak of the Golden Core realm but during one surprise raid mission, Liu Shui encountered an ambush by the demon alliance.

She managed to fight her way out of the encirclement only by burning her own essence blood.

The moment Xiao Mo learned of this, he immediately went to find Liu Shui, following the talisman marks left upon her.

By the time Xiao Mo found her, Liu Shui was drenched in blood, her breath faint and failing.

Because Liu Shui's injuries were too severe for her to remain at the front any longer, Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng brought her back to Seeking Immortals Temple.

Xiao Mo managed to save Liu Shui's life but Liu Shui's loss of essence blood had been too great, not only damaging the foundation of her cultivation, but affecting her lifespan as well.

Unless Liu Shui could break through into the Nascent Soul realm, gaining another thousand years of life, while also comprehending the fundamental laws of the Nascent Soul realm, using the power of heaven and earth to mend her damaged foundation on her own.

Otherwise, she likely had no more than a century left to live.

After Liu Shui woke, she spent each day simply sitting quietly in the courtyard, saying nothing, as though lost in thought.

Gui Junmeng often stayed by her side, yet did not know how to offer comfort, and could only quietly keep watch over her.

Three years later.

Once Liu Shui's injuries had improved somewhat, she made a decision.

That night, Liu Shui rose from the stone bench in the courtyard, walked toward Xiao Mo's courtyard, and knocked gently on his door.

"Sister Liu Shui..." Xiao Mo opened the door, and seeing Liu Shui standing outside, paused slightly in surprise.

"Sir, forgive me for disturbing you so late at night..." Liu Shui bowed slightly, a faint blush quietly rising to her cheeks. "There's something I'd like to say to you, sir... would you walk with me a while?"

"Of course." Xiao Mo nodded, stepping aside. "After you, Sister Liu Shui."

"My thanks, sir..."

Liu Shui bowed again in gratitude.

Half an incense stick's time later.

The two of them were walking amid the trees.

The moonlight, clear as water, fell silently upon them, stretching their shadows long and far, trailing slowly along the blue stone path.

The two of them walked side by side beneath the moonlight, the summer cicadas around them chirping without pause, their calls rising one after another, each louder than the last.

"Sir... I intend to go into seclusion, to attempt a breakthrough into the Nascent Soul realm..."

After a long while, Liu Shui spoke softly, her tone carrying a note of firm resolve.

Hearing Liu Shui's words, Xiao Mo's brow could not help but furrow slightly, his tone carrying a note of gravity and concern. "Sister Liu Shui, attempting to break through into the Nascent Soul realm is no small matter... have you truly decided on this?"

Xiao Mo did not directly try to dissuade her, only hoping that Sister Liu Shui had thought it through carefully.

Although Sister Liu Shui now had only a century of life remaining, with the aid of some superior natural treasures, perhaps her lifespan could be extended by another century still. Within two hundred years, who could say what opportunities might arise?

"I've decided."

Liu Shui nodded earnestly, her gaze firm, without the slightest wavering.

"What use is there in continuing to delay like this? I know full well how perilous breaking through into the Nascent Soul realm is, but I want to try."

She paused, her voice soft yet carrying a stubborn note.

"In truth, before I was injured, I had already intended to complete that raid mission, then return to Seeking Immortals Temple to attempt the breakthrough into the Nascent Soul realm."

"Though the accident happened, perhaps it wasn't entirely a bad thing either, at the very least, it's only strengthened my resolve to break through into the Nascent Soul realm."

"It's only, sir..."

Liu Shui turned, gazing deeply at Xiao Mo, a note of careful, hesitant hope hidden in her faintly trembling eyes.

"There's something I've always wanted to say to you, sir, but I've never dared to say it..."

"Please, Sister Liu Shui, speak freely." Xiao Mo answered softly.

"If... I mean, if..." Liu Shui bit her lip lightly, her voice growing quieter without her meaning it to, as though afraid of disturbing something delicate, "if, this time, I manage to successfully emerge from seclusion... might I become your concubine, sir?"

"Sister Liu Shui..." Xiao Mo was about to speak, but saw Liu Shui step forward gently, reaching out a finger to press against his lips.

"You don't need to give me your answer right now, sir..."

Liu Shui's eyes trembled faintly, gazing deeply into his, that gaze holding hope, unease, and a certain near-humble pleading.

"Once I emerge from seclusion... you can tell me your answer then, all right?"

Looking at her careful, hesitant manner, so afraid of being refused, Xiao Mo's heart sank faintly.

After a moment, Xiao Mo nodded, saying quietly, "Sister Liu Shui... I understand..."

"My thanks, sir..."

Liu Shui smiled, bowing deeply in gratitude.

"There's nothing else pressing for now. I'd like to walk here a while longer, to gather my thoughts. Please, sir, go back and rest."

"During this period of preparation for your seclusion, Sister Liu Shui, if you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to tell Junmeng and me. We will do everything we can to help." Xiao Mo said earnestly.

"All right..." Liu Shui's eyes curved into a smile, and she nodded gently, her voice soft as a spring breeze.

"I'll head back now." Xiao Mo gave a bow, and turned to walk back the way he had come.

Liu Shui stood where she was, staring blankly after Xiao Mo's retreating figure, her gaze following him step by step into the distance, as though trying to carve the sight of his back into her heart.

Once Xiao Mo had disappeared entirely into the moonlight, Liu Shui tucked back a strand of hair drifting in the breeze, and smiled faintly, her voice so soft it nearly dissolved into the wind, “Sir... I'm truly glad... to have met you..."

The next day.

Liu Shui began making every preparation for her seclusion, to attempt the breakthrough into the Nascent Soul realm.

The so-called formation of the Nascent Soul, put simply, meant allowing one's soul to fully condense into an independent Nascent Soul.

Even should one's physical body later be destroyed, the Nascent Soul could still survive, whether by seizing another's body, or by reshaping a physical form with the aid of natural treasures, both being viable paths.

And so, before entering seclusion, Liu Shui had to purge the impurities from the spiritual energy within her body, and condense that spiritual energy to its purest form.

After all, only within a cultivator whose spiritual energy was sufficiently pure could a Nascent Soul be nurtured into being.

Beyond this, Liu Shui also needed to consume certain elixirs capable of nourishing the soul and strengthening its power, to increase her chances of successfully forming a Nascent Soul.

In addition, Liu Shui had to rely on formation arrays and certain specific techniques, to clear away every distracting thought from her mind, bringing her inner state to the utmost calm.

For the most crucial step, in forming a Nascent Soul, was to confront one's own inner demons directly.

And before entering seclusion, the calmer one's heart, the less easily one could be led astray by these inner demons.

Of course, such preparation could only help to a limited degree.

Otherwise, so many people would not have fallen before the trial of the inner demons.

And during this period of Liu Shui's preparation, Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng used their own military merits to obtain no small number of precious natural treasures for Liu Shui.

Anything that might increase her chances of successfully forming a Nascent Soul, Xiao Mo never hesitated to provide.

Liu Shui tried hard to refuse but how could Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng possibly let her refuse?

"My thanks to you, sir, and to Junmeng..." Unable to decline any further, Liu Shui looked at the storage pouch the two of them handed her, and could only accept it.

She lowered her head, her small hands gripping the pouch's opening tightly. "Even if I don't succeed in emerging from seclusion this time, if there is a next life, I will surely repay the two of you."

"Sister Liu Shui, please don't say such things." Gui Junmeng shook her head gently, reaching out to take Liu Shui's hand, her tone soft. "I believe, Sister Liu Shui, that you will surely emerge from seclusion successfully."

Liu Shui smiled faintly, assuring Gui Junmeng that she would surely not disappoint her but everyone knew.

How could breaking through into the Nascent Soul realm possibly be easy?

A single wayward thought during seclusion could well mean the difference between life and death.

A year passed.

Liu Shui's preparations were nearly complete, ready to enter seclusion.

Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng found her a blessed cave-heaven rich in spiritual energy, and personally crafted a formation array for her, to serve as her place of seclusion.

Once Liu Shui entered the blessed cave-heaven, the formation array was activated.

Disciples of Seeking Immortals Temple would take turns standing guard outside the array, to protect Liu Shui during her seclusion and it was in the very month after Liu Shui entered seclusion.

Xiao Mo, who had already reached the peak of the Jade Simplicity realm, also entered seclusion, striving for a breakthrough into the Immortal realm.

In the second year of Xiao Mo's seclusion, Gui Junmeng, sensing something, also entered seclusion, striving for a breakthrough into the late stage of the Immortal realm.

In the twelfth year of Xiao Mo's seclusion.

A great roar sounded from the Tushan clan's lands.

Centered on Moon Spirit Mountain, the earth trembled across tens of thousands of li.

Ring after ring of spiritual energy ripples spread outward into the distance, reaching as far as a million li away!

The great laws of the Dao surrounding the Tushan clan shattered, then reformed anew, and strands of obscure, otherworldly immortal music drifted softly outward.

Such an enormous disturbance left the other demon clans and the human race full of speculation, none of them certain what exactly the Tushan clan was doing.

"It's done!"

Yuan stood upon a mountain peak, watching as the great formation was finally completed, her fingers gripping her sleeve tightly, that gaze of hers, always so indifferent, now betraying an intense, burning heat.

"Sister... little sister... wait a little longer..."

"Yuan will... come bring you both back... very soon..."