Chapter 117: Yan Huaixuan Will Ascend in the Future

Chapter 117: Yan Huaixuan Is Destined to Ascend

Yan Huaixuan gently stroked Shen Lian's cheek, "Yes."

Shen Lian immediately said, "Then I'll go with you."

But Yan Huaixuan said, "The situation in the Fallen Snow Domain changes by the minute. If you go, I'd have to worry about you."

It sounded like Shen Lian would just be dead weight.

Shen Lian: "..."

However, Shen Lian also knew that Yan Huaixuan was merely stating a fact; he didn't mean it as an insult.

Still, a weight had indeed been lifted from Shen Lian's heart.

He had been mulling it over since yesterday.

In the end, Yan Huaixuan had used his body to ward off the demon. Though he died and his Dao vanished, because he had saved the Primordial Realm, the Heavenly Dao descended moral golden light, reshaping Yan Huaixuan's physical body, and he ascended to the upper realm.

But in this life, the only variable was that Yan Huaixuan had developed an additional inner demon.

Shen Lian worried that the inner demon might affect the Heavenly Dao's granting of moral golden light for Yan Huaixuan.

If Yan Huaixuan's inner demon were gone, then things would develop just as in the book's plot.

That way, Shen Lian could rest easy.

But—

Shen Lian thought of something else.

Yan Huaixuan would ascend in the future.

His eyes suddenly became unfocused—

This ascension was different from the ascension when he was mortal.

Throughout history, cultivators in the entire cultivation world who could ascend could be counted on one hand.

How many people had spent their entire lives stuck at the Supreme Golden Immortal stage, only to die in silent resentment?

Could he... also have a chance to ascend?

"What are you thinking about?" Yan Huaixuan held Shen Lian's chin.

Shen Lian parted his lips, "Nothing."

Yan Huaixuan lowered his gaze, then suddenly lowered his head to kiss Shen Lian's lips.

There was no warning at all.

And this time, Shen Lian didn't push Yan Huaixuan away again.

Perhaps it was because he thought of Yan Huaixuan perishing and losing his Dao, or perhaps because he thought of Yan Huaixuan ascending.

After that, they truly would never see each other again.

Shen Lian knew his own physique; he didn't have exceptionally outstanding talent. Being able to cultivate to the Supreme Golden Immortal stage was already incredibly lucky.

Let alone ascending?

Thinking of this, Shen Lian didn't know why, but a faint sting pricked at his heart.

Yet it was quickly pushed down by Shen Lian.

Shen Lian closed his eyes and let Yan Huaixuan kiss him.

And Yan Huaixuan, as if lost in thought, grew more and more fierce in his movements, almost kissing Shen Lian breathless.

Shen Lian frowned, unable to hold back in the end, "Yan Huaixuan, enough."

"Not enough," Yan Huaixuan was pushed away, then bent down again.

He captured Shen Lian's lips, his voice hoarse, "Shen Lian, let me hold you a little longer."

Shen Lian was speechless, "Aren't you already holding me?"

Yan Huaixuan said no more, just hugged Shen Lian tightly.

The air fell silent for a moment. Shen Lian was used to Yan Huaixuan shamelessly pestering him, but now Yan Huaixuan wasn't speaking.

He didn't struggle either, which made it seem somewhat...

But Shen Lian thought again, oh well, Yan Huaixuan was going to ascend anyway.

"When do you plan to go to the Fallen Snow Domain?"

"You're that eager for me to go?" Yan Huaixuan answered evasively.

His words made Shen Lian freeze, then he said in a low voice, "The longer your inner demon is left alone, the more danger each day brings."

"Besides, who knows when the demon race might appear."

Yan Huaixuan was silent for a moment, "Got it."

Shen Lian paused, "Good that you know."

Yan Huaixuan lowered his gaze, looking at Shen Lian's hair.

Who knew how much time passed before Xie Ren's aura appeared outside.

Shen Lian immediately came out of Yan Huaixuan's embrace, "Someone's coming."

Yan Huaixuan glanced at him, his tone indifferent, "I know."

He stood up, then walked toward the door.

Watching his departing figure, Shen Lian didn't know why, but that hollow feeling in his heart welled up again.

He pressed his lips together, his expression somber.

The reason Xie Ren was looking for him was nothing more than to ask when he could refine another batch of healing pills.

"Now that demon appearances are increasing, the number of injured cultivators is too numerous to count," Xie Ren's face, though still cold, carried an extra hint of weariness. "Those pills you gave to that demon clan member last time—can you refine more?"

Shen Lian said coldly, "I need materials."

Hearing this, Xie Ren immediately said, "Don't worry, I'll have someone deliver them. What do you need?"

Shen Lian handed him a list.

As Xie Ren was heading out, he turned back and said, "Those two friends of yours—I've already let them out."

"As for Yan Huaixuan, I know you were forced by him back then too, right?"

Back then, Yan Huaixuan had shielded Shen Lian from the Heavenly Thunder, yet the moment Shen Lian regained consciousness, he pierced Yan Huaixuan's chest and left without mercy.

Shen Lian didn't confirm or deny it.

Xie Ren paused for a moment before speaking again, "From now on, if you see him, don't have anything more to do with him."

"That's all I have to say."

Shen Lian frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Shen Lian's heart churned with unease—could these people already know Yan Huaixuan had developed an inner demon?

Xie Ren let out a sigh. "There's no point in hiding this."

He lifted his head. "The patriarch of my sect foresaw long ago that the Primordial Realm would face a huge calamity, because the seal on the demon race was getting weaker and weaker."

"To help the Primordial Realm survive this calamity, the patriarch gave up his physical body to keep his soul alive forever. He calculated that a Celestial Radiance Star would appear in the future."

"That star is a peerless genius with incredible talent. Within five years, he rose from the lower realm to become a Supreme Golden Immortal. Because of this Celestial Radiance Star, the Primordial Realm gained a glimmer of life."

Shen Lian immediately knew—this was Yan Huaixuan.

Because in the original story, Yan Huaixuan was exactly like this—he became a Supreme Golden Immortal within five years.

"But later, we discovered that along with the Celestial Radiance Star, a Demon Star was also born. That Demon Star was extremely evil, and because of it, the entire Primordial Realm started declining again."

Shen Lian frowned. Demon Star...?

"But we never knew who the Demon Star was. But then, a year ago, the Demon Star suddenly disappeared."

Shen Lian quickly asked, "So does that mean the Demon Star is dead?"

So the Primordial Realm's calamity was gone too?

But Xie Ren just gave Shen Lian a light glance. "No. It devoured the Celestial Radiance Star. From then on, the Primordial Realm's future turned bleak—almost no hope in sight."

Shen Lian's body trembled slightly.

Wasn't this exactly the same as Yan Huaixuan developing an inner demon?

"You mean... Yan Huaixuan will eventually destroy the world?"

Xie Ren was silent for a moment. "I don't know either."

Shen Lian snapped out of it. He remembered that Yan Huaixuan had already found a way to get rid of the inner demon, so he said, "That won't happen. Yan Huaixuan isn't that kind of person. You're his master—you should believe in him."

Xie Ren let out a rare bitter laugh. "He and I only share the title in name. I've never taught him a single day."

Shen Lian's fingertips tightened slightly beneath his sleeve. "In any case, you all should believe that Yan Huaixuan isn't that kind of person."