Chapter 176: Buddha’s Impact

Chapter 176: The Buddha Lord's Assault

When Xie Xiyi wasn't involved in matters, he was truly disengaged, but when busy, he was indeed quite occupied.

He worked tirelessly from dusk till dawn, making it his mission to eliminate cultivators who had used or consumed the Xie family's flesh-and-blood chalcedony.

The Haoyuan Realm was already in turmoil, with the demon realm gate wide open, demonic cultivators running rampant, and Nine Netherworld soul cultivators secretly stirring up trouble. Despite Xie Xiyi's relentless hunting, it failed to draw significant attention from the immortal sects.

There was no other way—killing Xie Xiyi was simply impossible. Since he could emerge from that mysterious demon kingdom, any attempt to forcibly eliminate him would only weaken the immortal sect cultivators, ultimately allowing the demons to exploit the opportunity.

The leader of the Supreme Sword Sect in Wanqiong Province, having lost the disintegrated immortal Ancestor Tingyun, did wish to fight Xie Xiyi to the death. However, given the broader situation, he was pressured by several ancestral elders from Penglai Province and the Northern Wasteland to prioritize unity against external threats.

As for Xie Xiyi hunting down cultivators who had consumed the wine brew or chalcedony, they turned a blind eye, unwilling to confront him directly.

After killing, Xie Xiyi was drenched in the scent of blood, the metallic tang seeping into his bones. As a Demon Heart entity, he reveled in the blood aura, finding immense pleasure in bathing in the mist of blood.

But he couldn't indulge in it—Chi Yu disliked the smell of blood.

Xie Xiyi could only use the Dust Cleaning Spell to cleanse himself.

Yet, the spell couldn't entirely remove the thick scent of blood; only a special cold spring could thoroughly erase it.

So, Xie Xiyi found a treasured location, immersed himself for several hours, and then emerged.

He changed into fresh robes, fastened a belt adorned with pearls and jade, and tied his hair with the hair tie Chi Yu had given him.

Black mist condensed into a water mirror, clearly reflecting his figure and face.

Xie Xiyi examined himself carefully and finally realized that an all-black outfit seemed too somber. After all, as a newlywed, he shouldn't always wear black.

Dismissing the water mirror, he transformed into a beam and flew to the nearest cultivator city, entering the largest Brocade Pavilion to purchase cultivation robes.

Since he wasn't wearing his ghost-faced mask, the shopkeeper didn't recognize Xie Xiyi. He only quickly glanced at the cultivation robes Xie Xiyi wore, unable to identify the material, though the aura emanating from them was extraordinary. The visitor's imposing presence and pressure, like an impending storm, led the shopkeeper to assume he was a wealthy, high-status customer with deep backing, so he respectfully approached to serve him.

Xie Xiyi spoke concisely, "Do you have cultivation robes that enhance one's complexion?"

The shrewd shopkeeper instantly understood the underlying meaning and inwardly chuckled, though he didn't dare show it on his face. He replied respectfully, "Of course, esteemed guest. Please come inside to take a look."

Xie Xiyi followed him through a long corridor into an inner chamber reserved only for extremely wealthy clients.

Stepping over the threshold, Xie Xiyi was met with a dazzling display of divine light and immortal colors.

The shopkeeper introduced them one by one, "This robe is woven from the fur of the silver-needle sea dragon's underarms and belly. It's overall a noble, understated yet elegant silver, embroidered with light white wave and water beast patterns. Whether under sunlight or moonlight, it emits a soft, hazy glow. The silver-needle sea dragon is an aquatic demon beast, so it's naturally impervious to water, fire, blades, and spears, with top-tier defense capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a Nascent Soul Cultivator."

"This Frostfeather Mantle is primarily vermilion, complemented by gold and cyan, embroidered with a qilin playing with an embroidered ball. It's very youth-enhancing, and its defensive effects are naturally excellent, able to withstand a full-force strike from a Golden Core perfection cultivator."

The shopkeeper introduced several sets, but Xie Xiyi remained silent, so he had to brace himself and continue.

Inwardly, he wondered if Xie Xiyi couldn't afford them.

Though he thought so, he didn't dare show it on his face. Even though he knew nothing, the killing intent radiating from Xie Xiyi was too intense—merely standing close enough, one could feel the sharp, sword-like pressure around him, so he didn't dare slack off in the slightest.

After the shopkeeper finished introducing his treasured cultivation robes, Xie Xiyi finally spoke. He pointed at several cyan robes and said, "Not these. I'll take the rest."

The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, beaming with joy, "Excellent, excellent! Please wait a moment, esteemed guest. I'll pack them for you."

He quickly wrapped up the robes and placed them into a storage pouch. "Thank you for your patronage. That will be 13 top-grade spirit stones."

Xie Xiyi's expression didn't change. The black mist around him spontaneously swirled, forming a hand that took out 13 top-grade spirit stones. Then Xie Xiyi took the storage pouch and vanished on the spot.

The shopkeeper was stunned. After a few breaths, he came to his senses, his legs going weak as he nearly collapsed. "Heavens, it's the Ghost-Faced Cultivator! Oh my god, I'm actually still alive..."

Aside from a jade-white bone sword, the Ghost-Faced Cultivator's weapon was that ethereal black mist.

With the Haoyuan Realm in turmoil, even the young master of the Brocade Pavilion had been killed by the Ghost-Faced Cultivator. Yet he had seen the Ghost-Faced Cultivator's true face and survived.

The shopkeeper wiped off cold sweat, thinking he should have charged less.

The black mist formed a water mirror again. Xie Xiyi changed into new robes and nodded in satisfaction. If his face were covered with black talismans, it probably wouldn't shine so brilliantly.

Xie Xiyi rarely looked at his own appearance. He had known since childhood that he was exceptionally handsome, so there was no need to keep looking later on.

But human nature is to wish to display all that is beautiful before the one they adore.

Hence, he now scrutinized and pondered repeatedly.

He took out the lynx bone ring Chi Yu had given him from the black mist and put it on his finger, then found exquisite jade pendants to wear. Finally, he achieved a stunningly luxurious demeanor.

Xie Xiyi's appearance was already like gold and jade, extraordinarily striking. Donning new robes made his bearing even more elegant and transcendent.

Only when he could find no flaw did he dismiss the water mirror. The black mist enveloped him, and in an instant, he arrived at the Yu Dynasty imperial palace.

"Chi Yu," Xie Xiyi called out to Chi Yu, who was admiring flowers in the imperial garden with Xiao Qiu.

When Chi Yu turned to look at him, Xie Xiyi was satisfied to see a trace of shock and awe on his face.

Chi Yu murmured, "The night's glow cannot obscure it; the bright moon shines with its own radiance. Brother Xuan Ji, clothes make the man, and gold adorns the Buddha. This new look suits you perfectly."

His heart pounded powerfully and rapidly. Gazing at Xie Xiyi, his eyes held a faint glimmer of moisture, shimmering under the light, exceptionally beautiful.

A pleased smile appeared on Xie Xiyi's face. He naturally wouldn't show pride, acting as if it were nothing. He said nonchalantly, "I bought new robes for you too. Come try them on."

"Oh, coming." The moment Xie Xiyi arrived, Chi Yu's gaze naturally followed him. Xiao Qiu's presence faded into nothingness. Chi Yu took a few steps forward before remembering him, turned back to say a word, then returned to the room with Xie Xiyi.

Xiao Qiu watched their retreating figures and bravely comforted himself, "It's fine, I have my uses too."

If Brother Aotian and His Highness were to have descendants in the future, he could still help take care of their children. He couldn't be said to be forcibly inserted and utterly useless.

Chi Yu returned to his bedchamber and removed the Luo Po Zen School ritual robes.

Naturally, Chi Yu also loved looking sharp. In junior high and high school, he had to wear uniforms, but he often put effort into the clothes underneath and had quite a knack for dressing himself. Of course, he was also conservative—at most, he added some silver chains for accent. Aside from the left ear piercing his grandmother took him to get as a child, he had no other piercings.

He was the type who was somewhat trendy yet still very well-behaved.

After coming to the cultivation world, he hadn't had any particular demands for dressing up.

But now he was broadening his horizons.

Chi Yu changed into a vermilion set—cultivation robes chosen by Xie Xiyi. The material was excellent, embroidered with sparrows and many exotic flowers and plants. As he moved, the sparrows seemed to flutter their wings, ready to take flight, surrounded by shimmering spiritual light, vivid and lifelike.

Xie Xiyi gathered his long hair from behind, tied it into a high ponytail with a red cord, leaving only a few strands falling over his forehead, lending an air of youthful innocence.

After tying his hair, Xie Xiyi circled to the front and looked down. What he saw was Chi Yu's skin, exceptionally fair and translucent under the red robes. His features were exquisitely carved, stunningly beautiful, with lips as red as rouge. His eyes and brows carried an ethereal, lofty spirit; even when shy, he radiated a vibrant fearlessness.

"Ahem, does it look good?" Chi Yu asked, under Xie Xiyi's deep, intense gaze, his voice inexplicably softening.

"What should I do?" Xie Xiyi chuckled lowly. "I want to take off the robes you just put on."

Chi Yu: "..."

His Adam's apple bobbed several times as he blustered, tough on the outside but weak within, "No! You can't undress! I didn't even think about undressing you!"

Xie Xiyi: "Oh? It seems I'm not attractive enough for you yet."

As he spoke, his tone lowered, as if with a touch of loneliness.

Chi Yu said, "...That's not it. It's just that I'm more mature and composed, not one to do improper things in broad daylight."

Xie Xiyi lifted his thin eyelids and laughed, his voice deep and pleasing, "I don't care about these reputations or judgments. I can be a beast."

With that, he reached out and grasped Chi Yu's waist, lowering his head to kiss Chi Yu's sweet lips. As he savored the soft, plump, and juicy lips, he whispered with a smile, "So sweet, Chi Yu. I love it."

Chi Yu: "..."

He was about to lose his cool.

His heart was pounding fiercely, and he felt a dizzying sensation.

He sank into the warm embrace deliberately crafted by Brother Xuan Ji, without the toxic sting. A simple kiss alone brought forth so much sweetness.

Chi Yu was usually quite skilled at being a smooth talker, especially when it came to giving sincere compliments—a rare quality that required both skill and emotional depth. Though challenging, Chi Yu excelled at it.

In contrast, however, he was not one to use sweet words or romantic phrases in intimate relationships; he was even somewhat shy about expressing such sentiments.

Perhaps it was still due to inexperience. Even after two years in the Haoyuan Realm, and having just passed the age of 20, his nature kept him overly pure.

Driven by a competitive streak, he defiantly stuck out his tongue to lick Brother Xuan Ji's thin lips, which had begun to radiate warmth, then bit down firmly with his sharp canine teeth, drawing drops of black blood. He licked them away, swallowed, and muttered, "Brother Xuan Ji, your blood is sweet. I like it too."

This was clearly insincere, but Xie Xiyi didn’t call him out. Instead, he wrapped his arms around him and laid him down on the bed along the curve of his body.

The gorgeous red robe, freshly put on, was soon shed like a coat, revealing skin like frost and snow, with two crimson buds like red plums blooming on snow. The lithe, rippling muscles were resilient and beautifully refined, and even his small navel was exceptionally adorable.

Xie Xiyi thought to himself that he had completely fallen to the mortal world—how could mere flesh and appearance captivate him so deeply, making him unable to extricate himself?

When he first entered the Zen sect, he practiced the Nine Observations, clearly understanding that any physical form would eventually decay into bones. Seeing through the illusory beauty of appearance to grasp the essence of bone and dust was the most fundamental practice.

In this practice, he had always excelled, so much so that he lost all sense of discrimination and attained a higher innate state. From then on, everyone appeared to him as illusions or skeletons, and no one could capture his attention.

From Buddha to beast, and from beast to man—these many changes, applied to his cultivation, surely brought numerous breakthroughs in mindset.

"Brother Xuan Ji." Chi Yu's clear voice carried a distinct vitality and liveliness. His bright golden eyes gazed at Xie Xiyi, his cheeks flushing with a blush spreading from light to deep, his ears turning red in an instant. He stretched out his smooth, toned arms and gently wrapped them around Xie Xiyi's neck. His Adam's apple bobbed twice, and when he spoke again, his clear voice had grown noticeably hoarse. "...What are you waiting for?"

Chi Yu's initiative was reserved yet brave. Looking up at Xie Xiyi from below, he was not entirely submissive or controlled. Even in his innocence, he hinted at a masculine aggression.

Even if he was weak, he still had claws and teeth.

Xie Xiyi curled the corners of his lips, a dark fire lighting in his eyes.

Cultivation had lost all meaning to him. Now, all he could see were Chi Yu's bright eyes, filled with attachment and anticipation.

Sinking deep into this, he embraced it willingly.

He leaned down, hooked his arm around Chi Yu's slender, resilient waist, and pulled him into his embrace. With a suggestive press of their bodies, he murmured in a low, captivating voice, "Here I come."

Chi Yu let out an inexplicable giggle: "...Haha, Buddha's striking."

Xie Xiyi: "?"

Chi Yu: "...Never mind, Brother Xuan Ji, please continue."

The green curtain fell. Chi Yu moved over Xie Xiyi's knees, only to be pulled into a deep kiss. Their breaths grew increasingly heated. Suddenly, a flicker of clarity passed through Chi Yu's eyes. As they kissed, he pulled back slightly and mumbled vaguely, "Feels like we forgot something."

Xie Xiyi chased after his lips and responded, "Don't think about anything else."

The room was filled with spring romance, not something to be shared with outsiders.

Only Xiaoqiu in the imperial garden remained in his wheelchair for a long time, gazing at the brilliant flowers and sighing deeply—three people were always too crowded.

In the end, Wu Yunsu was the one who escorted him back.