Chapter 426: Within the Nine Heavens

Chapter 426: Chapter 172: Within the Nine Heavens

So, Xu Lei returned to his residence. He went into his Cultivation Room, sat cross-legged, and began his Cultivation.

With his eyes closed, he channeled his Magical Power. Using the Dharma Gate of the first seal from the *Nine Dragon Pattern Seal*, he began to meticulously inscribe one of its complex reactions onto his Original Lotus Platform.

「Three months passed in the blink of an eye.」

It took Xu Lei a full three months to finish inscribing this first seal.

‘I actually spent this long cultivating in one go?’ Xu Lei was stunned for a moment after waking up and looking at the Dial he had set beforehand.

He hadn’t expected to cultivate for so long, and stranger still, he didn’t feel hungry.

Of course, Xu Lei also noticed something unusual. He realized the white mist within the Ninefold Celestial Treasure Tower didn’t seem to be ordinary white clouds, but rather contained Spiritual Qi.

Breathing in this mist could stave off hunger and even had the effect of prolonging one’s life.

This must be why Zhao Xin hadn’t aged much over the years. She looked almost the same as when she had first successfully completed her Ascension.

However, the mist could only slow down the aging process, not stop it entirely.

Otherwise, those three old men from before who were playing mahjong wouldn’t have looked the way they did.

「On this day, Xu Lei finally emerged from the Cultivation Room.」

He didn’t expect to run into Wu Sheng so soon.

“Junior Brother Liao Chen, have you finished your Cultivation?” Wu Sheng looked somewhat haggard.

Xu Lei turned to Wu Sheng, nodding with a slight smile. “Senior Brother Wu Sheng, three months ago you were…?”

Wu Sheng shook his head with a bitter smile. “That’s right, I failed again. It seems I need to cultivate more.”

He then turned and left, heading back to continue his Cultivation.

Xu Lei continued onward, planning to take a walk around the area.

As he passed by Zhao Xin’s courtyard, he saw that her gate was shut tight.

It seemed she wasn’t home.

‘I’ve cultivated for three months, so I should be able to make another attempt at the challenge. I might as well go check it out,’ Xu Lei thought to himself.

Unexpectedly, just as he arrived outside the examination room…

Just then, Xu Lei saw the door to the examination room open.

Zhao Xin walked out.

However, she didn’t seem to want to acknowledge him. She merely glanced at Xu Lei and prepared to gracefully depart.

“Xin’er, it’s me, your Uncle Hui Chi!” Seizing the opportunity, Xu Lei immediately used the Sound Transmission Technique to send this message directly into Zhao Xin’s ears.

Zhao Xin’s entire body trembled. She turned around in disbelief, her beautiful eyes fixed on Xu Lei, shimmering with unshed tears.

She was so overcome with emotion she could barely contain it. She nearly rushed forward to embrace Xu Lei tightly, to feel that long-lost warmth and familiarity.

“Uncle Hui Chi, is it really you?” Zhao Xin’s voice trembled slightly. Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly forced them back.

Xu Lei’s heart was also in turmoil, but he knew this wasn’t the time for an emotional outburst.

“Xin’er, this isn’t the best time for us to publicly acknowledge each other.”

He said, “Jue Gen has taken an interest in you, and his father is Yuan Kong. We need to be cautious.”

“You’re right, Uncle Hui Chi. We can’t afford to make Yuan Kong our enemy right now.”

Understanding flashed in Zhao Xin’s eyes upon hearing this. She bit her lip gently and, instead of embracing him, remained where she was and nodded firmly. “It’s all my fault. That Jue Gen is so annoying.”

“But now I’ve been reborn as a young man, while you’ve become a graceful, mature woman.”

Xu Lei looked at Zhao Xin with a playful glint in his eyes. “Given the circumstances, I should probably be calling you Auntie Jin Xin.”

“Never! I’ll always be your little kitten, your little girl.”

Zhao Xin’s face flushed red as she pouted coquettishly. “No matter how big my chest gets, in front of you, I’ll always be your little comforter.”

“Haha.”

Xu Lei chuckled, amused by her words. He shook his head gently. “You… you’re still as mischievous as ever.”

“Uncle Hui Chi, I’ve waited for you for so long. I was starting to think you wouldn’t make it up here through Ascension.”

Zhao Xin’s expression suddenly turned aggrieved. “Do you know how worried I was? How lonely I’ve been?”

“Silly girl, I’m here now, aren’t I?”

Seeing her crestfallen look, a warmth spread through Xu Lei’s heart. He comforted her softly, “I missed you too. I thought about our time together every single moment.”

“Yes, I also miss the days before my Ascension, the nights of nightly Charitable Giving when you’d undress me.”

A nostalgic look appeared in Zhao Xin’s eyes. “We were so happy back then. I wish I could just openly hide in your arms.”

“Xin’er, I miss those days too.”

Xu Lei’s heart stirred. He took a deep breath to suppress his emotions. “I’m sorry. I’m not strong enough right now, so you’ll have to bear with this. Once I have enough power, we won’t have to worry about anyone anymore.”

“I know, Uncle Hui Chi.”

Zhao Xin nodded firmly. “I’ll work hard on my Cultivation too. I’ll pass the trials as soon as possible so we can open the Secret Collection of the Celestial Palace together.”

“Good. Then we’ll work hard together.”

Xu Lei smiled faintly, a determined glint in his eyes. “Actually, there’s a reason it took me so long to ascend—”

Then, Xu Lei told Zhao Xin about how Yuan Kong had killed him twice.

“What?”

Zhao Xin exclaimed angrily, “So that’s why! That bastard deserves to die! One day, we’ll kill him together! By the way, Uncle Hui Chi, are you here to take the examination today?”

“I was.”

Xu Lei said, “But now that I’ve run into you, I don’t feel like taking it anymore. Besides, I probably couldn’t pass it right now anyway. Right now, I just want to eat you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Zhao Xin blushed. “Then let’s go back, and I’ll let you eat me. No, I mean, it should be Auntie Xinxin who’s going to rob the cradle and eat you, this young, fresh meat.”

“What do you mean, Auntie Xinxin? At most, you’re Big Sister Xinxin.”

Xu Lei laughed as well. “Alright, let’s go back then. This ‘young, fresh meat’ needs some instruction from his big sister.”