Chapter 397 163: Zhao Xin's Ascension

"That's enough, that's enough."

Xu Lei chuckled. "You did a great job. I wasn't planning on doing anything with her."

"Then I'll show my devotion to you right now!"

Bai Ling declared, "I'm going to drain you dry! So you won't have any energy left to think about other Female Cultivators!" As she spoke, she pulled Xu Lei to a hidden spot behind the Daoist Temple.

Of course, Xu Lei didn't refuse. He held Bai Ling and enthusiastically performed his Charitable Giving.

「The next day arrived in a flash.」

Between his successful Cultivation and breakthrough to a new Small Realm the day before, and Bai Ling's rather enthusiastic devotion, Xu Lei ended up sleeping in until the sun was high in the sky.

And just as Xu Lei was finishing up washing his face...

Bai Ling suddenly came running over.

Just as Xu Lei wrapped his arms around Bai Ling, about to pull her pants off for another round of Charitable Giving...

"Master, don't perform your Charitable Giving just yet!"

But Bai Ling said, "If you want to perform Charitable Giving, I'll show you my devotion however you want when you're free, Master. But Nun Jinxuan just arrived! And she didn't come to announce that she was Crossing her Tribulation and Ascending so we could watch! She came to ask me for a current map of the Eastern Wilderness Marsh!"

"What?"

Xu Lei was stunned. "She's planning to...?"

「Two minutes later.」

Xu Lei went to one of the sitting rooms in the Daoist Temple, but he didn't see Zhao Xin. He walked back outside and found her strolling near an adjacent building by the cliff's edge, gazing at the white clouds in the distance.

"Zhi Guang? Long time no see. It's been three years, hasn't it?"

Zhao Xin smiled when she saw Xu Lei. "It looks like your Cultivation has progressed! But that girl, Ling'er... I only asked her for a map. What's taking her so long!"

She called him Zhi Guang because Xu Lei no longer used his original Dharma name, Jing Kong.

After all, that name had been given to him at the Nunnery.

Xu Lei had since chosen a new Dharma name for himself, Zhi Guang, one more fitting for a male Monk.

"Ling'er isn't going to give you the map!"

Xu Lei gazed at Zhao Xin and couldn't help but sigh. "The Eastern Wilderness Marsh is too dangerous. You shouldn't go! Even if you manage to kill those two Enchantresses, you'll exhaust most of your Magical Power. You'll probably never be able to Cross the Tribulation and Attain the Dao in this lifetime! It's not worth it!"

"Is this that girl Ling'er's idea?"

Zhao Xin frowned. "But I must go to the Eastern Wilderness Marsh. Tell that girl Ling'er this: I will wait here for one more hour. If she is willing to give me the map, fine. If not, I will leave."

"It's not her idea. It's mine."

Xu Lei said, "That's my feud, not yours. You don't have to risk your life in such a dangerous place to get my revenge for me. It wasn't easy for you to reach this stage of Cultivation! Crossing the Tribulation and Attaining the Dao is within your reach, and with it, longevity and your youth! Walk your own path! Attain your own eternal life! I will kill those two Enchantresses myself. This is my vengeance to claim!"

As Xu Lei spoke, the white hair of Zhao Xin, who stood before him with her back turned, trembled slightly.

She whipped her head around. Her eyes, no longer as clear as they once were, stared at Xu Lei in utter disbelief.

"What did you mean by that?"

Her eyes began to well up with tears. "Zhi Guang... your feud?"

"That's right."

Xu Lei nodded. "Xin'er, I'm your Uncle Hui Chi!"

Zhao Xin's pupils trembled.

Xu Lei stepped forward and gently pulled her into his arms.

"I'm so sorry I'm only telling you this now!"

Xu Lei said, "After I was reincarnated, I went to your Daoist Temple to look for you as soon as I was old enough, but you weren't there..."

Xu Lei then told Zhao Xin his story, including why he hadn't revealed his identity to her three years ago.

Xu Lei hadn't really thought it through before. He'd forgotten that Zhao Xin knew what had happened to him in the Eastern Wilderness Marsh, and that she was planning to avenge him.

Of course, Xu Lei couldn't let her go. She only had this one life, whereas he had many. He could take his time getting revenge himself; there was no need to involve her.

So, to stop her, he had no choice but to reveal his identity.

"Uncle Hui Chi, so you're not dead!"

Tears streamed down Zhao Xin's face as she hugged him back. "This is wonderful! I thought you had died long ago!" she sobbed.

But then, she immediately pushed him away. "Uncle Hui Chi, I... I'm old now."

She felt self-conscious. After all, she was now an old woman, nearly sixty years old.

But Xu Lei was still young.

But Xu Lei stepped forward again and held her in his arms.

"Uncle Hui Chi, how about... how about I serve you, just like when we first met? Back when we lived in the temple together, before we officially became Dao Companions. Would you like that?"

Then, Zhao Xin suddenly asked, "Are you still willing?"

Xu Lei nodded in agreement.

Stroking her white hair and gazing into her eyes, Xu Lei felt himself in a daze, as if he had returned to that Daoist Temple from long ago.

A delicate young maiden lowered her head before him, her movements alluring as she tied up her hair.

"Oh, right, Uncle Hui Chi. I obtained some Spiritual Liquid a while back. It's helpful for Cultivation."

After a moment, Zhao Xin lifted her head. "You should have it! I have no use for it now!"

"What? This...?"

Xu Lei was astonished. "This is almost identical to the Spiritual Liquid I got before! But I didn't have nearly this much!"

「That night.」

Zhao Xin left.

Though she was overjoyed that Xu Lei was alive, she was simply too old now.

"Master, you didn't get drained dry today, did you?"

Bai Ling asked, "Tonight, will you be needing Ling'er's devotion?"

"Yes."

Xu Lei replied, "Come here! Get in position!"

「Three years later.」

For the past three years, both Bai Ling and Zhao Xin had remained by Xu Lei's side.

However, Zhao Xin only visited Xu Lei from time to time during the day.

Occasionally, she would serve him with her mouth.

But she never performed formal Charitable Giving with Xu Lei.

After all, she was old.

Because of this, she always left at night.

At night, Xu Lei would usually sleep with Bai Ling, vigorously performing his formal Charitable Giving with her.

As for his Cultivation, the Spiritual Liquid proved to be quite useful.

As a result, Xu Lei had advanced another Small Realm, reaching the Fourth Tier of the Bodhisattva Ring Realm.

But on this day, three years later, it was time for Zhao Xin's Ascension!

She had already bequeathed her Treasures to her children and disciples, so there was nothing left for Xu Lei.

The only thing she had left to give him was that bottle of Spiritual Liquid from three years ago, but that happened to be exactly what he needed.

At this moment, Zhao Xin arrived at the mountain peak chosen for Crossing the Tribulation.

Xu Lei and Bai Ling were there to act as her Dharma Protectors.

Fortunately, no fools came to cause trouble, and everything went smoothly.

Just before she began Crossing the Tribulation.

"Uncle Hui Chi, I'm so happy that you're still alive."

Zhao Xin said, "But I'm too old now. I can't even receive your Charitable Giving anymore. So, I must go through with Crossing the Tribulation! If I were still young, I would have stayed by your side!"

"Are you confident you'll succeed?"

Xu Lei asked, "Are you sure you're fully prepared?"

"Everything is ready."

Zhao Xin then said, "Ling'er, after I'm gone, I'm entrusting Uncle Hui Chi to your care."

"Don't worry, Nun."

Bai Ling replied, "I've been taking very good care of him. It's just... Master says I'm not as alluringly wanton as you were in your youth! I can only do my best!"

Xu Lei felt a bit awkward.

"When you're young and beautiful, you should be a little wanton for the man you love. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Little girl, you have no idea how much I envy you."

Zhao Xin, however, just smiled. "If my Ascension fails, Uncle Hui Chi, don't be sad for me. But if I succeed and become young again, I'll wait for you up there! When you make your own Ascension, I will be your Dao Companion once more and let you perform your Charitable Giving!"

"Alright."

Xu Lei nodded. "It's a promise!"

Zhao Xin smiled again.

Then, she began to formally channel her Magical Power, summoning the Thunder Tribulation.

BOOM—

Terrifying lightning gathered in the sky, and a massive bolt struck down toward Zhao Xin.

Watching from a distance, the hearts of both Xu Lei and Bai Ling were in their throats.

At that moment, even Xu Lei had no idea what the outcome of Zhao Xin's Tribulation would be!