Immortal and Martial Dual Cultivation

Chapter 1307: Heart Not at Peace

The further one progressed, the more dangerous the Lightning Tribulation. Xiao Chen no longer bothered to count the number of Lightning Tribulations he had cleared already.

Amid the roars of thunder, he was like a tiny boat beset with trouble and misfortune, on the verge of destruction at any moment.

Xiao Chen used up his various trump cards one by one. Finally, he relied on the Taiji force field to endure to the end, clearing four nines of Lightning Tribulation, all of them.

The tribulation clouds in the sky disappeared. Xiao Chen released his bated breath. His clothes were tattered, but his physical body was still intact. He was in a much better state than the previous time.

"The Heart Tribulation should be coming soon."

Xiao Chen became much more cautious. Previously, he fell at the Heart Tribulation. This time, he absolutely could not do that.

"Whoosh!" Suddenly, a hole appeared in the sky, and intense light shone down, dazzling Xiao Chen's eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, he discovered himself at Qingyun Peak with Liu Ruyue beside him. She smiled gently and said, "You finally can bear to return. Are you going to leave again after this?"

The familiar face, the familiar voice, and the gentle words. Even though people knew perfectly well that the scene was fake, they would be reluctant to break this rare tranquility.

Xiao Chen smiled faintly and held Liu Ruyue's hands. Then, he said, "I won't be leaving this time."

"Great, it is settled, then. This time, you are absolutely not allowed to leave." Liu Ruyue smiled faintly and grabbed Xiao Chen's hands as well, unwilling to let go no matter what.

The days passed one by one at Qingyun Peak. Xiao Chen accompanied Liu Ruyue, wandering around the Heavenly Saber Pavilion and enjoying the peaceful and warm times.

There was no conflict, no pressure from being the Azure Dragon King, no enemies made on the path of cultivation. There was only happiness.

The two occasionally squabbled over some trifling matters. Sometimes, they felt moved over small things. They cried and laughed.

Even though Xiao Chen knew this was fake, he was filled with reluctance to leave. Several times, he wanted to up and go. However, Liu Ruyue's pitiful eyes always defeated him, causing him to agree to stay another month.

The Lightning Tribulation was easy to clear, but the Heart Tribulation was difficult. Could Xiao Chen clear it this time?

Time passed month after month. Xiao Chen stayed in this Heart Demon world for a full year.

However, no matter how long he stayed, he had to leave eventually. What was fake was still fake in the end.

On this particular day, Xiao Chen thought about leaving. He hugged Liu Ruyue and said, "Even if you are destined to leave me, I should still have one last look at you and not just watch you leave in Suifeng's memories."

The corners of Liu Ruyue's eyes shimmered with tears. She pushed Xiao Chen aside and looked at him, saying, "You are leaving. Promise me: accompany me for another month, alright? Just one month. Accompany me for another month, and I'll be satisfied."

Tears welled up in Xiao Chen's eyes as well. He replied somewhat tremorously, "Alright. I promise you. However, you have to close your eyes first."

"As long as you agree, I will listen to anything you say."

A smile immediately lit up Liu Ruyue's face. Then, she obediently closed her eyes.

"Sorry."

Xiao Chen held back the tears in his eyes. Then, he brandished his saber and chopped off Liu Ruyue's head.

There were some things that even though one knew they were fake, one had great difficulty making a move.

"Whoosh!" The scene before Xiao Chen changed. Ao Jiao came out joyfully and said, "Congratulations! You finally cleared this Heart Tribulation."

Xiao Chen forced out a smile. His heart was still immersed in that illusion. The peaceful and happy atmosphere of it was really wonderful. It truly made one reluctant to leave it. This was where the horror of Heart Demons lay.

Even though one knew it was fake, it made one want to believe it was real and never leave it.

However, Xiao Chen, fortunately, managed to walk out of it. Now, he really should check the effects that the Purple Thunder Divine Incantation's eighth layer brought.

Suddenly, Xiao Chen frowned. He raised his head and discovered a figure hidden in the clouds.

"Who is that?!" Xiao Chen shouted and gave chase at lightning speed. The clouds scattered, and he clearly saw the back view of a certain figure.

Xiao Chen felt somewhat disappointed and frustrated. Then, he exclaimed in wild joy, "Leng Yue! It's her! It's her! I was not wrong. She was not far away and was following all the while."

He executed his Movement Technique, the Fish Dragon Art, and quickly pursued her.

This time, Xiao Chen swore to himself that he would not purposely show a wooden expression. As a man, he should learn to be understanding and not act in a fit of pique.

As he gave chase, he focused entirely on that figure in front. Heart Demon? Purple Thunder Divine Incantation? He forgot about all of them.

"Leng Yue, since you miss me, why don't you meet with me again?!"

Seeing the other party get farther and farther away, Xiao Chen called out loudly.

The lovely figure in front paused as if something moved her, causing her to slow down.

Xiao Chen grabbed hold of this opportunity and increased his speed. He soared into the air and finally landed in front of Leng Yue, blocking her.

The two's eyes met. Xiao Chen felt very touched. After a long time, he said calmly, "Even if you are a Demon Monarch with overwhelming power, if you are willing, I, Xiao Chen, will forever be your friend."

Leng Yue shook her head and said with a smile, "It is not as simple as you think. There are too many things that you do not understand."

Xiao Chen suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and said, "Look at me. Let me ask you this. All that happened in the past, is it just a favor to you? I just need to hear a yes or no."

Leng Yue showed a conflicted expression. Tears filled her eyes. "Please don't force me."

Xiao Chen smiled. He already knew the answer. Indeed, Leng Yue was just acting previously.

That smile was incredibly cruel, but it was just for the sake of covering up the struggle in her heart. Leng Yue was not as heartless as he thought.

Xiao Chen let go of her and smiled. "I won't force you. I just need to know your heart, that you did not forget the matters of the past. That is enough for me."

Leng Yue smiled and said, "How can I forget the matters of the past? If I really did, I would not feel so reluctant."

Then, she begged, "Don't move. Let me look at those memories again. Once I've watched them, I will leave. Alright?"

Xiao Chen understood. Leng Yue wanted him to drop his mental guard so she could search for those scenes in the depths of his memories.

"Sure, come in. I never forgot those past matters." Xiao Chen smiled faintly and let Leng Yue poke his forehead with her finger.

---

Back in the real world, above the peaceful sea, Ao Jiao paced around Xiao Chen anxiously.

It had been seven days since Xiao Chen cleared the Lightning Tribulation, but he had not woken up yet. Ao Jiao did not know what he was experiencing in the Heart Demon world that completely trapped him inside.

Ao Jiao felt sorrowful. If this continued, Xiao Chen's heart would be swallowed up by the Heart Demon; he would turn into a heartless body, never to wake up again.

However, she could not do anything to help. Xiao Chen could only rely on himself for this. Only an expert in Mental Energy cultivation at the level of the Heaven Abandoning Deity Sovereign could intervene in this.

However, not to mention whether the Heaven Abandoning Deity Sovereign would come and help Xiao Chen or not, even if he came, seven days had already passed. Such intervention might not work by now.

Within the clouds, Leng Yue showed a grave expression. Her Charm Techniques had reached a level where it could infiltrate the mind and soul. With one glance, she could tell that Xiao Chen was undergoing a Heart Tribulation. However, even after seven days, he still had not woken up.

"Oh no! The Heart Demon probably managed to grab hold of his weakness. I have to go and take a look."

Previously, Leng Yue had already prepared herself to never see Xiao Chen again in this life. However, when she actually saw Xiao Chen in danger, that decision went by the wayside.

The purple mark on her forehead flickered, and a strong wind blew. A strong aura spread out from her body.

The clouds scattered. The azure-clad Leng Yue hovered in midair with a tyrannical air.

At this moment, the Demon Monarch Leng Yue did not look weak at all.

The strong aura even daunted this vast sea, making it slosh endlessly and kicking up boundless, huge waves.

Ao Jiao raised her head and looked. However, before she could understand what was happening, she automatically fainted when she met Leng Yue's eyes.

Leng Yue drifted down. Then, she placed a finger on Xiao Chen's forehead. A horrifying scene appeared before her eyes.

Xiao Chen's heart pounded endlessly. A black shadow already occupied most of it. It looked like an ugly beast wanted to swallow up this tender heart.

"What's going on? What could cause him to drop his guard entirely and open his heart up? Does this fellow not know that he is undergoing a Heart Tribulation?" the Demon Monarch Leng Yue exclaimed before directly entering that heart.

"Whoosh!"

The scene before Leng Yue changed. The sight that met her made her mind temporarily go blank.

She saw Xiao Chen closing his eyes, letting "her" place her finger on his forehead.

The two had smiles on their faces. However, while Xiao Chen's was one of peace and bliss, the smile of "Leng Yue" was sinister and evil.

Xiao Chen actually opened up his heart for her.

How abominable! Extremely abominable!

Leng Yue's heart blazed with rage. Her expression turned cold. There was never a moment where she had been this furious before.

"Puny Heart Demon, who gave you the courage to touch this Monarch's man?!" Leng Yue shouted in rage as she walked over, step by step. With the tyrannical air of a Demon Monarch, no one dared to directly look into her eyes.

The Heart Demon Leng Yue before Xiao Chen turned her head back and was startled, her expression changing drastically.

"You are still not going to stop?! Do you believe that this Monarch will lock you in a heart prison and make you endure the heart flames for one thousand years, nay, ten thousand years?!"

The Heart Demon Leng Yue trembled, frightened into letting go. Xiao Chen suddenly woke up. He was just reliving the memories that he had with Leng Yue in the past.

When he opened his eyes, he saw two Leng Yues before him. One was lying on the ground, looking very weak. One was cold and emotionless, radiating a powerful killing intent, her eyes gleaming with a powerful, tyrannical light.

"Xiao Chen, she is a Heart Demon. Quickly, save me!" the Heart Demon Leng Yue on the ground cried out pitifully.

Leng Yue frowned and shouted coldly, "How impudent!"

Leng Yue swished her long sleeves, and flames immediately covered the Heart Demon Leng Yue, causing the Heart Demon Leng Yue to cry out in pain and resume its original form.

That clump of ugly illusionary light changed continuously, screeching in pain.

Xiao Chen appeared as if he had just awakened from a dream. As he gazed at Leng Yue, who was giving off a boundless air of kingship, he looked somewhat lost, not knowing what was going on.

Leng Yue walked over, step by step, her expression turning gentler. "You opened your heart to a Heart Demon. The situation is urgent. Don't ask anything now. I already occupied the main body of this Heart Demon. Kill me now, and you will be able to come out."

Xiao Chen suddenly felt like he was in a dream. "You never left and was watching me undergo my tribulation?"

Leng Yue showed a distressed smile. "If anything happened to you, my heart would not be at peace."

After saying that, Leng Yue grabbed Xiao Chen's hand and used it to pierce her own heart.

"Boom!"

All the illusions disappeared. Xiao Chen returned to reality. He saw Leng Yue leaking blood from a corner of her lips with her finger placed on his forehead. Then, her finger dropped away weakly.