Chapter 182: Eternal Red (12)

Chapter 182: Eternal Red (12)

One after another, torches set into the walls light up with a blue flame that turns orange-red after a moment. The produced pools of light expand and spread out until the room becomes entirely visible.

A table sits in the middle of the room; three of its chairs are toppled over, and the remaining chair is several steps away from the table. There are no windows, no tapestries, and no decorations other than the torchbearers.

The air pressure, temperature, and humidity all suggest that this space is disconnected from the outside world not merely in isolation, but as if this were a different world entirely.

However, the most striking feature of the room is the person at the other end of it.

Beneath the veil that covers most of her hair and face, only a pair of luminous red and gold eyes can be seen, reflecting also the glow of the flame. Flames burn in what little red hair is visible as if her hair itself is made of fire. Her red dress is lavish, decorated with flower themes of gold and silver, exposing the smooth skin of her shoulders.

It is the appearance of a bride-to-be. In the culture of these creatures, on the wedding day, the bride would don a red dress and a veil to hide her face. Only when the marriage is consummated would the veil be removed.

Behind this figure, orbs of fire burst into existence blue at first, but then turning a bright yellow and orange. The impression she immediately leaves on me is one of tremendous danger. Her cultivation is so unfathomable that not even Lady Yue would be a comparison. She looks to be about the same age as Lan Xiaohui, but it wouldnt surprise me if this person is truly an immortal.

The flames that burn behind her, in her hair, and reflect in her eyes, contain an immense amount of power. The manner in which they burn, pulsing madly, defies my understanding of nature. The qi that fuels those flames is as if it comes from an entirely different universe.The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.

Lan Xiaohui and Wu Yulan understand their situation. They understand that the entity standing across from them is not a person, but a living myth. They understand that they find themselves in the lions den and that their lives hang in the balance. Nevermind the fox that was chasing them that was merely their executioner. This creature may as well be their deity.

The red-haired girls frown becomes even deeper as the three stare at each other awkwardly. Lan Xiaohui and Wu Yulan do not even dare to speak a word. I assume that this is their evolutionary equivalent of playing dead. Maybe just maybe if they do not move or speak, this Godlike entity will forget that they exist.

The waves of oppression and hostility wane as the veiled girl tilts her head. You are not who this princess was expecting. Who are you? Her voice is crystal clear and her tone and cadence are bespoke of refinement and elegance. This title she uses to refer to herself princess is likely truthful and accurate. The arrogance of station, without the arrogance of that stations power, is an intriguing trait that ordinary, mortal creatures are seldom known for.

Senior, we are very sorry for disturbing your rhrrrhk!

Ah, forget it, the veiled girl speaks, suddenly standing in front of Lan Xiaohui. When she moved, or how she crossed this distance without me even sensing a burst of qi is something I failed to notice, even with my perfect perception.

It is regrettable.

However, as I make ready to withdraw my consciousness and shut off my external senses, something surprising happens.

I feel a weak thread of consciousness pour into my vessel, and when I focus on it, I detect not one but two threads of consciousness.

Lan Xiaohui and Wu Yulan are alive?

This cannot be possible. I did not detect a pulse. They are not even breathing. They dont even have lungs or a heart anymore those were all crushed.

I sense the strangest thing then as I focus on them. Their physical hearts are crushed, but their Dao Heart still exists. It is an empty thing, now, save for a few glimmers of affection toward each other, and toward me. In the vast emptiness of those black hearts things that were colorful and filled with ambition before there are just a few glimmers of affection, like stars, in the vast sky of hatred and killing intent.

When that Dao Heart pulses, I feel this resentment and affection drive the operation of [Empty Moon Prana] which had seemingly broken through to the third layer in this situation and draw in qi and air through the pores in their skin, and directly to their intact dantian.

My sentient core explodes with glee. My undocumented features gamble all their available processing resources. They are alive when they should not be; driven entirely by animosity and a desire for vengeance. It is as if their hearts are in lockstep with each other.

A glimmer of hope.

If they, as sword cultivators, refuse to die before they can inflict some damage back, then, my sentient core suggests, I should also strive to do the same. After all, my owner's wishes are my wishes.

Though I do not operate under any concept of wishfulness, but only certainty.

I open my Inner World to them and remove all limitations.

You want to drag this God into the afterlife with you this much? I am proud of you, I transmit a whisper into their Dao Hearts, allowing my words and thoughts to cascade into them with warmth. They need all the encouragement they can have. I will help you.