Heartstrings for the Loved Ones

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--- Chapter 189 ---

Baek Ain breathed in, opening his eyes leisurely.

He saw several confused, familiar faces and grinned slightly because the Chasing Dream Trial was over. The people close to him passed wonderfully.

They are on the same small island, but the surrounding ocean is sparkling blue. "Hmm..." Baek Ain checked his new achievement title.

[Name: The Awakened]

[Effect: The Awakened shall resist the corruption, -50% damage taken from Spiritual-type Attack]

"Welcome back to the Isle of Awakening." An ethereal voice suddenly echoed

"Heartstrings, the second trial will start in two minutes."

Baek Ain closed the system panel and checked Qing Lin nearby, "What happened when we were away?"

Qing Lin sighed and explained, "A tsunami suddenly appeared and swept the island. We tried to fight back, but the muddy water was too much to handle."

"At last, we drowned."

"But I think that was the goal of the trial, no? I felt like my mind and soul became much stronger." She added while tilting her head.

Baek Ain nodded, "Yes. To chase your dream, you need to wake up."

"It's in line with Bodhisattva."

However, Baek Ain doubted other people would have the same fate as them.

"We lost seven people in total..." Gu Yuan went to Baek Ain with a grim expression. "Two from my Gu Clan."

"Same, two as well..." Huo Ling added curtly.

"We lost one." Yao Dan scratched his cheek awkwardly.

Lan Rou stepped out, "Pill Tower lost two of our elders."

"As we went further into the trials, I doubt everyone could survive..."

Gu Yuan, Huo Ling, and Yao Dan stared at Lan Rou solemnly because they never expected this woman to confront them. After all, Pill Tower joined the group because Baek Ain allowed it.

They glanced at Baek Ain, and he smiled.

"Don't worry, she's trustworthy." Baek Ain commented with a reassuring expression. "Let me introduce you to the Orchid Saintess, Lan Rou."

"Nice to meet you." Lan Rou nodded as she maintained a calm look.

Gu Yuan and two other elders were surprised.

Lan Rou doesn't appear that old, with a beautiful face and an alluring body. One might think she was a flower in a glass house, but her cultivation base is unfathomably deep.

At first, Baek Ain thought Yi Xian would be the one who stepped out and socialized with other people. But it seems the Poisonous Fairy is shyer than her sister-wife.

Yi Xian noticed Baek Ain's expression and sent a message, 'I don't want to deal with these people. It's a pain in the ass.'

'Especially after that 'pampering' session~!' Baek Ain returned playfully.

No one noticed it, but Yi Xian's ears reddened slightly upon hearing Baek Ain's teasing.

'Grr... We are in the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree, so don't say something like that!' Yi Xian complained.

'But you like it, though.' Baek Ain chuckled in his heart.

"Brother Lin, Brother Lin! Are you listening?" Yao Dan called Baek Ain with a worried expression. He thought the muddy water was affecting Baek Ain a little.

Baek Ain cleared his throat, "Well, yeah."

"I just dozed off for a moment."

Gu Yuan sighed, "It seems you paid quite a price to save us earlier. Even though we discovered that being swallowed by the muddy ocean is okay, I still felt guilty."

"Grandmaster Lin, if we survived this place. You're always welcome to my Gu Clan."

"Haha, you're our honorary elder. Our Yao Clan will always be your second home." Yao Dan didn't want to lose.

Baek Ain smiled and didn't say anything. They talked about the safest way to pass the trial, but the 2 minutes rest time was finally over.

"Heartstrings will be commenced..." The ethereal voice appeared again.

"Once you pass this, you may obtain one Bodhisattva Seed and a chance to get out of the trial."

Everyone frowned slightly as a white light swept them over.

Baek Ain appeared in a pure land with beautiful petals dancing in the atmosphere. Moonlight penetrated the dark clouds of the night sky and gave off a beautiful shine.

[The "Awakened" was in effect]

Baek Ain smirked, sensing several presences nearby.

Cai Lin appeared in her red dress, swaying her sexy body at him in a gentle manner.

"Ain, do you want me?" Her sweet voice could rile up any man easily.

"Come here, come and get me."

However, Baek Ain knew this was an illusion. His Cai Lin won't do something like this.

Cai Lin is the epitome of a queen. She would drag Baek Ain to the bed and do the deed.

Knowing Cai Lin alone won't work, several other ladies appeared in the pure white land.

That includes his mistresses in the Fallen Orchid Sect, Nalan Yanran, Yun Yun, ladies from the Behemoth Paradise, his three disciples, and even beautiful elders from the Magical Beast Tribes.

Baek Ain's heart couldn't help but warm up slightly. Does this trial show him the women he cared for?

"I didn't expect so many women to be entangled with me in this life." Baek Ain was happy, to be honest. In Baek Ain's first life, he was a uni graduate with no family or lover.

He was satisfied enough to live alone with his modern entertainment.

However, the abrupt change bestowed Baek Ain a better and more enjoyable life.

The journey Baek Ain took until now.

The women he loved, even if he had not married them.

"Are you willing to kill yourself to save your loved ones?" An unknown voice struck Baek Ain.

Baek Ain stared at the distance and confidently answered, "Yes."

"Then, you must experience it..." The voice emotionlessly continued.

All the women near Baek Ain suddenly drew their weapons and charged at him with feral expression.

Weirdly, Baek Ain didn't feel anything.

"Yafei won't make such a face."

"Cai Lin would definitely use the hairpin I refined."

"Lan Rou, I know your smile is better than that."

"Come on, Yi Xian. Give me your best hug."

"Qing Lin... Even when you're mad, you're still cute."

"Yun Yun, Yanran, Lan Guan, Lan Tianxue, and Lan Mingxi. Even Elder Ling and Xue are here. I didn't expect to see you here."

"Haha~!" As Baek Ain laughed, his body was 'brutally' pierced by countless sharp weapons.

His limbs were also chopped off as they drained his blood.

They forked his eyeballs and even burned his flesh.

Even then, Baek Ain knew.

He has no enemies.

These ladies aren't his enemies.

Baek Ain's belief pushed him forward as a brilliant white descended on him.

What can he say? He trusts his lovely wives.

"Such a loyal man..." A whisper echoed amidst the pure white land.

"I know you're special..."

"As expected, this little trip of mine isn't wasted."

"I searched for Fan Gu's inheritance but found a rare unpolished diamond instead." The melodious chuckle finalized the trial, allowing the pure white land to become void.

...

[Ding! Your Awakened Achievement upgraded to level 2]

[Name: The Awakened Lv.2]

[1st Effect: The Awakened shall resist the corruption, -69% damage taken from Spiritual-type Attack]

[2nd Effect: Any spouse whose soul is 'directly' connected to you will feel eternal love from you, even if you were 'unfortunately' separated by world and dimension. Their Affection won't drop below 90]

[Note: 100 is the maximum Affection one could have for each other]

Baek Ain sighed in relief, "That was lukewarm."

"I thought they would be more brutal, but our 'observer' imagination seems rather low."

"Alicia, have you spotted her?"

[Yes, Host] Alicia responded positively.

[The Mysterious Female Cultivator is currently watching in the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree's core]

[I also have prepared "Counterattack Protocol" to help you]

Baek Ain stretched and said, "Well, let's face her off, shall we?"