Chapter 435: Seeing Qing Lian Again

Soon, Xu Lei and Zhao Xin arrived before a door.

After they stated their intention to participate in the assessment, the door quickly shot out a beam of light.

Then, the door swung open.

The two of them stepped inside.

After a disorienting shift, they found themselves in a forest of ice and snow.

It was an incredibly strange place.

Everything was covered in a thick blanket of white snow.

The temperature was extremely low.

And yet, some trees actually grew here.

However, there were no Demon Beasts here.

They would have to endure a month here to pass the assessment.

“It’s so cold,” Zhao Xin said. “Uncle Hui Chi, why don’t we take off our clothes and keep each other warm?”

“Alright. Let’s find a place to hide and see how long we can last,” Xu Lei agreed, nodding.

The two then found a cave, settled in, took off their clothes, and held each other for warmth.

Of course, they had taken out a bed, blankets, and other things from their Spatial Rings.

They snuggled together under the blankets.

A Spatial Magical Artifact could indeed hold a bed.

But the cold within this Secret Realm was strange. It seeped straight into one’s body and soul; wearing more clothes or hiding under blankets was not enough to escape it.

Still, embracing like this offered a psychological warmth.

Afterward, Xu Lei and Zhao Xin did not engage in any Charitable Giving. They simply held each other and simultaneously circulated their Magical Power to resist the cold.

Only by circulating their Magical Power could they resist the chill.

However, they could only resist it, not block it out completely.

It was uncertain how long they could last.

Of course, if they couldn’t hold on any longer, they could leave at any time.

An AI-like Artifact Spirit had given each of them a Token. By activating it, they could exit.

But leaving meant failing the assessment.

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

Xu Lei and Zhao Xin had consumed a great deal of their Magical Power.

The only silver lining was that here, the consumed Magical Power could be circulated and recovered back into the body.

It seemed the Celestial Palace had created a closed space that prevented their Magical Power from dissipating into the world.

After three days, Xu Lei and Zhao Xin were starting to have trouble holding on.

Under these conditions, however, they both felt that their internal Magical Power was being tempered by the cold, undergoing a certain sublimation in quality.

This was a form of tempering through oppressive cold.

After spending some time here, their Cultivation should improve more easily once they left and recovered for a few months, half a year, or even a year.

“There’s no way we’ll pass. It’s our first time taking the assessment, and we’re not strong enough,” Zhao Xin said bluntly. “Uncle Hui Chi, are you still holding up? When should we leave?”

“I’m still okay.”

While resisting the cold, Xu Lei held Zhao Xin, his hand gliding over her smooth, tender skin. “I should be able to last another two days. How about you?”

Zhao Xin said she was about the same.

They looked at each other and smiled.

While nestled together, at least their spirits weren’t cold.

Zhao Xin gave a sweet smile, then kissed Xu Lei on the lips.

Xu Lei couldn’t help but return her kiss.

Their lips and tongues intertwined.

“Uncle Hui Chi, bestow some Charitable Giving upon me,” Zhao Xin added.

“Alright,” Xu Lei said. “Let’s give it a try.”

Although it was still a bit cold, they had been holding each other for a long time. Their body heat had mingled, and it was quite warm between them.

Then, Xu Lei began.

Zhao Xin bit her lip, silently circulating her Magical Power.

Unexpectedly, just as they were in the middle of it, the simple Blinding Technique at the cave’s entrance was suddenly broken.

A familiar figure appeared—it was Jue Gen.

Xu Lei and Zhao Xin were stunned. Jue Gen had been in closed-door Cultivation, which was why they had come for the assessment.

They never expected him to be here for the assessment too!

And Jue Gen, seeing Xu Lei and Zhao Xin naked, kissing, and embracing under the blankets on the bed inside the cave, was struck dumb.

“Jin Xin, Liao Chen, you two?”

He looked utterly flustered and astounded. “How could you…?”

As he spoke, Jue Gen seemed to become unhinged, a hint of fury and madness swirling in his eyes.