Shaya nuzzled against Xueji’s embrace, looking utterly blissful.
She suddenly leaned close to Xueji’s ear and whispered, “Aji, has this gotten bigger?”
Having said that, she discreetly gave it a squeeze.
“Mm, look at this.”
Xueji extended her hand.
Shaya obediently looked over, and then received a flick to the forehead.
“Ouch!” She clutched her forehead, looking like it hurt a lot.
Xueji was just about to scold her when she grinned again and said, “It doesn’t hurt, hehe!”
“How did you also learn to be so shameless?” Xueji got up and pinched Shaya’s cheeks with both hands.
“Because there aren’t many chances, woohoo!”
There really weren’t many chances. Their group had been constantly affected by approaching events, and opportunities to be together had become rare.
Ling Xiaoxiao was still in the forbidden zone with her situation unknown, and Lilith had become even more distant.
What worried Xueji most was Lilith. The connection between her and Lilith had gradually weakened after the other’s departure.
“Aji, she’s your student, right?”
“Yes, her name is Shen Moling.”
Shaya pulled away from Xueji’s embrace and stretched, revealing her fluffy big tail.
She walked toward Shen Moling. Under her aura, Aria could only reluctantly let go of the arm she was holding.
Shen Moling, who was also of the fluffy variety, was sniffed all over by her, and then taken in as a subordinate.
“Call me Boss, and I’ll look out for you~” She proudly raised her head and put her hands on her hips.
Shen Moling looked at Xueji helplessly, and Xueji nodded.
“You’ll train under Shaya from now on. After all, she’s also of the beast race like you, so she’s more suited to teach you.”
“Then, Teacher Shaya, please accept this disciple’s bow.”
Shen Moling was just about to perform the formal bow when Shaya stopped her with a raised hand.
“Call me Boss!”
“O-okay, Boss!”
Shaya nodded in satisfaction, and a pale blue mark appeared on Shen Moling’s forehead.
Shaya blessed her with frost, granting her an enhancement similar to that of a frost giant.
Aria’s mouth hung wide open. These people were all stepping on their own feet to reach the sky one after another—she wanted cheat abilities too, ahhhh!
“Don’t look so much like you’ve never seen the world. I’ll just teach you two forbidden spells.”
Sofia really couldn’t stand watching this person whose envy was written all over her face, even drooling. She handed her two pieces of parchment.
When Aria saw the contents on the parchment, her eyes went wide—she was clearly very satisfied.
Seeing her reaction, Sofia finally gave her a pleasant look.
“Looks like everyone’s ready. The road ahead is even more dangerous. You all…”
Sofia and Shaya naturally needed no convincing—their decisive answers directly cut off Xueji’s words.
Shen Moling knew they were going to rescue Ling Xiaoxiao, so she insisted on going no matter what. After all, her ability was crucial.
“Um, I want to go too.” Aria spoke up somewhat nervously.
“Sister Xiaoxiao is my benefactor, and I want to protect… uh…”
Halfway through, she saw Shen Moling looking at her and suddenly couldn’t speak.
“It’s nothing. Let’s hurry and set off.”
Seeing everyone’s gaze suddenly fixed on her, she chose to back down first to escape that scrutiny.
“That’s it?” Sofia looked like she was disappointed in her.
“Eiyah, let’s go, let’s go. Holy Maiden, please stop bullying me!”
…
Shen Moling’s ability activated once more. This time, Xueji, Shaya, and Aria were all present, and each of them held their own longing for Ling Xiaoxiao in their hearts.
“Sister Xiaoxiao, I will forever remember your life-saving grace.”
“Violent Immortal, actually I quite like you. When I learned of your thousand-year solitude and responsibility, I saw the bearing of a true strong one.”
Xueji had been brewing for a long time before she finally called Ling Xiaoxiao’s name in her heart.
“Xiaoxiao, ever since I accepted myself, I’ve been able to feel my possessiveness toward you. Loving someone like me must be hard for you, right?”
“I can tell you now—this is how I thought a thousand years ago, wanting only me in your eyes. Actually, back then, I didn’t care that much about the future of all living beings.”
“What kept me going was that twisted, warped love for you. That was wrong, which is why I traded my life for the world’s future.”
“I thought, if I could do it all over again, I’d make it up to you with a gentler love, and openly become your lover under the sunlight.”
“Only by your side do I have the drive to face those endless threats.”
“Now, I can finally say what’s in my heart with certainty. I love you, Ling Xiaoxiao!”
The glass-colored radiance was as gorgeous as a dream. With Xueji’s enhancement of Shen Moling, the intense longing even brought everyone physically into the forbidden zone where Ling Xiaoxiao was.
At that moment, in the crimson-gold sky, a figure stood with hands clasped behind her back.
Below her, the roaring Shadow of the Abyss churned restlessly, but didn’t dare act rashly.
The pressure from both sides caused the space within the forbidden zone to constantly solidify and shatter. Since space had the ability to self-repair, this process repeated endlessly here.
“So foolish. Knowing it’s a forbidden zone, why did you come in?” Ling Xiaoxiao turned around, but the smile on her face was irrepressible. “And saying so many embarrassing things.”
Her casual turn revealed a beauty that could topple cities. Between her brows and eyes was endless tenderness. Her black hair flowed like a waterfall, her face like a celestial being’s.
Even Sofia, meeting her for the first time, was captivated by the immortal-like beauty before her, unable to look away.
“Xiaoji, am I pretty?”
“Y-yes, yes, pretty…”
Under the intense impact, Xueji was stunned.
“Seems you’ve found me another sister~”
“I can explain.”
Just as she was about to speak, Ling Xiaoxiao’s lips sealed her mouth.
In front of everyone, Ling Xiaoxiao kissed her.
It took Xueji two minutes to struggle and gently push her away.
“You don’t need to explain.” Ling Xiaoxiao released Xueji with a smug look, then glanced at Sofia and simply smiled.
She was in a great mood now. With one hand forming a seal, she suppressed the raging sea once more.
“Xiaoji, can you feel it? It’s very close.”
“Mm, part of the Great Shadow is right here.”
“I can feel it. This thing is incomprehensible, unknowable. Honestly, we can’t even call it an opponent.” Sofia joined their conversation.
“Yes, but it doesn’t have malice either, so we shouldn’t treat it as an opponent.” Xueji paused, then continued, “We should guide it away from here.”
Xueji remembered the vision she saw when she signed the contract with Clotho on the Beach of Fate. She had already met the true body of the Great Shadow.
But she couldn’t comprehend it, couldn’t become aware of that fact.
Only by looking at its shadow could Xueji think about that existence.
Only now, when Xueji saw the mysterious existence beneath the ocean, did she understand this.
Because the other was observed by this world’s will, it was trapped here, and its very existence would cause the world’s reality to begin collapsing.
The good news was that the Flow of Good and Evil had nothing to do with a being like this.
The other held no hostility toward Blue Star’s planetary will.
“So have you figured out what to do?” After hearing Xueji’s explanation, Ling Xiaoxiao asked.
“Of course. Lilith has been waiting for us for a long time.” Xueji looked beyond the sky, where an oppressive gaze descended.
Sofia’s whole body went into fight-or-flight mode. This familiar feeling—why was the Demon King here?!
