When Hu Xinyue returned to this courtyard, not only did she not have the luxurious clothes and food she had in the boat, but she also did not have the charming maids. Instead, she had to do everything herself.
This feeling made her quite uncomfortable, but fortunately, it seemed that everyone did not care about the bet. After a few days of fun, they did their own things and did not deliberately make things difficult for her.
Inexplicably, this courtyard that used to be boring in her eyes had a trace of familiarity, something that made her feel slightly at ease.
Perhaps because of many reasons, or perhaps because that person was here, the ravine formed by hundreds of years of separation was far shallower than she had imagined. But after these days of getting along, she vaguely had the feeling of the past.
The so-called family was not something as superficial as a lover. There would not be so many vicissitudes of life, but no matter how long it was, there would be closeness and familiarity when they met again.
Most of the inhibition in her body had been broken these days. Although she still could not use it as she wished, she was no longer powerless.
Perhaps unintentionally, she restrained her breath and walked past the waterside pavilion where she often stayed. Through the porch window, she saw that she was still wearing the same white dress for thousands of years. She lowered her head and seemed to be sewing something.
She pricked her fingertip with a needle and then drew the silk thread.
When Bai Suzhen looked up and saw her coming, she hurriedly put away the things in her hands. "Xiaoyue!"
Hu Xinyue thought about it. She knew that Bai Suzhen wanted to prepare a protective celestial device for Xu Xian. Originally, she did not care much about it. Any magical celestial device would not be of much use in the face of such a Great Trial of Heaven and Earth. At most, it was better than nothing.
And sometimes the Wakan of the celestial device would trigger a more terrible Thunder Trial, which would become a burden.
In short, all external things, whether celestial devices or tactical arrays, were not of much help to pass the trial. The only thing that could really be relied on was one's own strength.
However, when Hu Xinyue glanced at it, she felt that she had seen such a thing somewhere. Suddenly, she seemed to think of something and immediately changed her expression. She broke into the room and snatched the embroidery that Bai Suzhen had hidden. The red silk thread on the white silk was intertwined, vague but continuous, and outlined a simple pattern. It vaguely looked like two compatible human figures, which reminded people of the Desolate People who hugged each other in the wilderness in ancient times. It contained the unchangeable principle of the combination of Yin and Yang and the ancient covenant of life and death.
"Myriad Life and Death Knots!"
Hu Xinyue's hand suddenly trembled, and her beautiful face showed unprecedented anger. She looked straight at Bai Suzhen and roared, "You want to give this thing to Xu Xian and let him take it to cross the tribulation?!"
For a moment, Bai Suzhen's expression was like that of a child who had been caught doing something wrong, but she immediately recovered her dignified demeanor. "Xiao Yue!"
Hu Xinyue suddenly raised her hand, wanting to give her a slap to wake her up.
Bai Suzhen just looked at her without any intention of avoiding her gaze.
The two of them looked at each other in silence. Hu Xinyue finally dropped her hand powerlessly. She secretly channeled her Fa Li as if she wanted to completely tear the silk cloth. However, before she could use any strength, Bai Suzhen had already taken it back and properly placed it in her bosom.
Hu Xinyue stared straight at Bai Suzhen. Originally, no arcane artifact would have been enough to make her so furious. Whether it took fifty years or a century of cultivation, it would have been nothing. She only needed to spend some time on it, but it just happened to be something like this.
She could still remember that a thousand years ago, the two of them had discovered this secret technique from shamans of the Kunlun remnant lineage. It was called the Myriad Heart Knots, or more accurately, the Myriad Life and Death Knots.
However, this arcane artifact did not have any defensive abilities. Instead, it could connect their lives and souls together using the red thread dyed from their blood, sharing the damage they suffered.
But similarly, if one of them died, only death awaited the other as well.
Hu Xinyue could still remember the mottled carvings she had seen on the moss-covered walls back then: Piercing the heart with blood, dyed red.
Life is different, death is the same.
Not alone in life, not alone in death.
The Myriad Heart Knots, life and death unresolved.
Only an arcane artifact like this could protect the person undergoing the tribulation without triggering an even more powerful lightning tribulation. It could be described as a miracle for cultivators.
However, this was on the premise that the other cultivator's life was on the line. If Xu Xian failed the tribulation, her soul would be destroyed as well.
Hu Xinyue did her best to compose herself. "You know what undergoing the tribulation means. We're both cultivators, and you're not a mortal couple. This is his matter."
Bai Suzhen shook her head. "This is our matter. Xiao Yue, you don't have to worry.
Sir, he's fully prepared. Coupled with the Myriad Heart Knots, he'll definitely be fine. "
Hu Xinyue said, "Which cultivator isn't fully prepared? How many of them can actually undergo the heavenly tribulation?
Alright, let's not talk about that. Give this to him. At most, it'll help him endure a few more strikes when he can't hold on anymore. Once it reaches that point, it'll be no different from failure. "
Bai Suzhen smiled peacefully. "That's enough!" That might be able to save his life in the face of danger.
Hu Xinyue said, "I know I can't persuade you. I'll go tell Xu Xian and let him persuade you. Let's see if he has a conscience to use this kind of thing."
"Don't." Bai Suzhen quickly stood up.
"Clap clap clap clap" The windows and doors of the waterside pavilion were all closed.
Hu Xinyue turned around. Her eyes flashed with a green fluorescence.
Bai Suzhen only said, "Xiao Yue, even if I beg you, don't do that."
Hu Xinyue said, "Can you keep me locked up here forever?"
Bai Suzhen said seriously, "Even if you tell him, I can still put the knot in his heart into his soul. If you do this, it'll just make him worry. It won't help with the tribulation at all. Instead, it'll increase the danger for me!"
Bai Suzhen walked forward and gently hugged her. She said with a happy face, "Xiao Yue, I'm really happy to see you like this. Let's make up, just like before. Don't fight anymore." Her eyes were slightly moist.
Hu Xinyue leaned on her shoulder weakly. "Why can't I persuade you?"
Bai Suzhen held her shoulders and said with a smile, "Didn't I also fail to persuade you?
Because we all have our own choices. Just like the official said, if we can't do things according to our own heart, we won't be happy. "She pressed her chest lightly." This is my heart! "
Hu Xinyue shyly pushed her away. She kicked the door open and walked out.
Bai Suzhen smiled and said softly, "I'm sorry, Xiao Yue. I shouldn't have lost my temper at you. Although I still can't agree with it, it's also your heart!"
Hu Xinyue's body froze, but her footsteps didn't stop. She walked straight back to the room and fell on the big bed until the sky turned dark.
She did not know when the ink-like darkness had entered the room and surrounded her. Strange and ever-changing voices came from all directions. "Do you know what to do if you want to save her?"
This ink-like darkness fluctuated like smoke. However, if one looked carefully, they would find that it contained all the colors of the Boundless Universe. They were entangled and merged in it. Because they merged into one, it looked black.
"Yes."
"But your recent performance is not satisfactory!"
The voice came from the depths of the darkness. It sounded like a man or a woman, but it didn't feel strange or disgusting. Instead, it was a beautiful voice that contained all the most beautiful music in the world.
Hu Xinyue turned over. "Everything is under my control."
"Don't let him pass the tribulation. Otherwise, Bai Suzhen will be buried with him."
Hu Xinyue said, "What are you afraid of?
If you are really so afraid, you can do it yourself.
You are the Devil Lord, do you need my strength? "
"You have your wager, and I have mine too!
With your strength, you can't deal with Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen, but there are countless flaws around them … "
Hu Xinyue interrupted, "I don't need you to teach me what to do."
"As you wish, as you wish …" With this sentence, the thick ink gradually dissipated.
And that sentence was still echoing in the small room. Every time it echoed, the tone changed. Surprise, lament, regret, melancholy … with countless emotions.
The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. Xiaoqing's voice came from outside the door. "Hey, fox, it's time to eat!"
Hu Xinyue said softly, "You don't know anything!"
…
Seven hundred years ago, in Mount Qingcheng.
On a lonely peak, there were some words engraved on the cliff that seemed to be carved by a knife.
"Spirit Serpent Cave" was written in large, crooked characters. However, there was a cross above the "Snake" character, and the "Fox" character was written beside it. A small "Snake" character was added in the seam below, making it "Spirit Fox Snake Cave".
Lifting the natural curtain made of green vines, they went deep into the winding and deep cave. Two girls in white of seventeen or eighteen years old sat opposite each other. Their appearance was vaguely similar. They were both stunning.
But their temperament was very different. One was like a snowy mountain, dignified and elegant, holy and noble.
The other was like a mountain surrounded by clouds and mist, unpredictable and charming.
At this time, a dazzling spiritual light flew over. Before the person arrived, the overwhelming spiritual power pressed down.
They were alarmed, stood up, and arrived outside the cave. A Valkyrie stood in midair. The Valkyrie wore an armor of flowers, was covered in rainbow colored mist, and held a strange shaped sword in her hand as she berated. "Demon fox, demon snake, how audacious of you! You actually dared to eat relics and spirit pills bestowed by the Heavenly Court! Do you know what punishment you deserve?"
The elegant young girl pulled the charming young girl behind her. "I stole it, and it has nothing to do with her!"
They'd cultivated for a thousand years and thought they'd attained some accomplishments, yet at this moment, they actually felt that they didn't have the slightest ability to resist when facing this person.
The charming young girl refused to show weakness, and she stood out and said, "We're here for revenge?
Who are you? What do you want? "
She didn't seem to have come for the sake of annihilating evil, otherwise, they would absolutely be unable to resist a single swing of her sword.
The Valkyrie said, "Oh, revenge? What sort of revenge requires six relics and spirit pills to be taken!?
This matter has already violated the laws of the heavens, and Imperial Monarch Zhen Wu's Devilsweep Sword is hanging above all of you. However …. "