AZI Volume 3 Chapter 14

Taking Tian Cheng's advice to rest for the night to heart, Long Hua did tuck himself into bed.

And the next time he regains his awareness—

"…?"

He finds himself within an endless void of white space—that is reminiscent of the world inside of his spiritual sea, if the landmass didn't exist.

"Welcome."

In a gentle manner, as if speaking to a frightened child, a voice calls out to him.

"…"

Turning around, Long Hua sees a figure shrouded in light. No, it might even be appropriate to say that the body of this figure is composed entirely out of light—making it impossible to see their exact appearance, and face.

However, judging by the pitch of this person's voice, this entity of light should be female, to which, Long Hua asks—

"Who are you?"

Immediately, Long Hua raises his guard, and actively rotates the Tranquil Heart Incantation—causing his eyes to give off a clear blue glow.

In response to this reaction, Tian Cheng thought—

(Already on guard?)

Narrowing her eyes beneath the veil of light that shrouds her, Tian Cheng answers—

"If I said—I'm an acquaintance of Dao He Tian Xue's, would you believe me?"

While asking this, Tian Cheng sends out a black and white symbol—designed in the form of a ten-tailed fox.

"Shizun's personal crest?"

Under the effects of the Tranquil Heart Incantation, Long Hua's state of surprise lasts for but a brief instance.

Examining the personal crest, and detecting a familiar trace of divine sense on it, Long Hua knew that this had come from his shizun directly.

As if its entire purpose had been to make contact with Long Hua, the crest dissipates into particles of light—the moment it touches the tip of his finger.

"Where is he right now?"

With a blunt tone, Tian Cheng answers—

"Who knows? All I was told—was to come and find you, and provide you with some assistance."

"…"

Towards Tian Cheng's answer, dissatisfaction is all but evident on Long Hua's face, to which, Tian Cheng replies—

"Young man. My contract with Dao He Tian Xue prevents me from disclosing to you—any of the things that occurred to you in your past life. And besides, do you really have the time to be concerned with whatever Dao He Tian Xue is doing at this time? The Zang Luo Realm isn't reachable with your current strength. Compared to the you—during your previous life, you're nothing right now, especially so when you have nearly gotten yourself killed. Had that doll of yours not saved your sorry rear at the last moment, your situation could have gotten a lot worse."

"…"

Unable to rotate the Tranquil Heart Incantation properly when taunted like this, clear frustration and irritation can be seen on Long Hua's face. However, he doesn't try to deny Tian Cheng's claims.

Drawing in a deep breath of air and exhaling, Long Hua relaxes his shoulders.

He doesn't have the strength to return to the Zang Luo Realm at this time, and he barely has the strength to keep himself alive in the Leng Bing Realm—where much of this world's dangers are still unclear to him.

Right now—

(What I should focus on, is rebuilding my strength and surpassing the me from my previous life. This isn't the time to be taking it easy and resting. Even if the spirit Qi in this world is limited, there're plenty of other things that I can cultivate outside of it—while I'm still stabilizing my cultivation base after a breakthrough. My sword Qi originates from the sword intent of sharpness, precision, and flexibility; there's no rule saying that I can't add another attribute to it. Martial arts are another thing that can be honed further. There's also that Cloud Ink Incantation, I can use it as the basis of a different cultivation method—to add the elements of Yin and Yang into my strikes. As for my curse… I need to do as much research as possible on it. From what I can recall, I've had this curse even in my previous life.)

Parting her lips beneath the light veil, Tian Cheng looks to Long Hua, who is silently contemplating these matters with a sharp gleam in his eyes.

As a feeling of bad premonition wells up in her heart, Tian Cheng thought—

(Something's wrong… What is up with that fire in his eyes? He's…-?)

Clenching his right hand into a fist, Long Hua remarks—

"I still have a lot of things to deal with. I shouldn't be resting right now."

Stating this with quiet determination, and turning away from Tian Cheng, Long Hua's body begins to turn faint.

"...…"

"…"

Completely stunned in place by Long Hua's behavior, Tian Cheng is unable to say anything until his presence has thoroughly vanished from the dreamscape.

"This, I, he, that…- Aaaaaahhh! The hell is this?! Th-This script is utterly wrong! Wh-What kind of attitude was that?!"

Pulling at her own hair, Tian Cheng screams.

"If this was a dating sim game from the Earthborn Elementals' Realm, shouldn't he be engaging in a conversation with me right now? I even showed him his shizun's crest, and told him—I'm an acquaintance of Dao He Tian Xue's, and was sent here to assist him! Shouldn't he have at least asked me—what kind of assistance could I provide before leaving?!"

Waving her right hand, Tian Cheng brings up a projection of the outside world.

Once more, Long Hua is seated in lotus posture—on the bed, cultivating.