Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 78

Ling Xiao pressed both hands against the glass with an expression that was a mix of wanting to cry and laugh.

Just moments ago, the very person who moved him deeply, Ying Feng, glanced at him with disdain and said, “What kind of expression is that? You look so stupid.”

Ling Xiao’s face became even more comical. “Who does that? Praise someone and then mock them right after? Don’t you know that’s embarrassing?”

“If you cry here, that would be the real embarrassment for me.”

The two of them chatted as if no one else was around, disregarding matters of life and death and any imminent danger.

The overlooked Tai Yin was annoyed. “Enough with the flirting! This isn’t the place for your public displays of affection.”

“Sorry.” Ling Xiao made an apologetic gesture. “I almost forgot that everyone here is single.”

With that comment, he seemed to have mockingly targeted everyone present. Some were already giving him fiery glances, as if they wanted to incinerate him.

“Since your bond is so strong,” Tai Yin raised his hand again, a soul crystal shimmering in his palm, “I’ll help you seal it.”

“Wait!” Fei Jing interrupted him. “What about Xing… How will he manage?”

“He’s waited this long; he won’t mind waiting a few more decades.” As long as Ling Xiao reincarnated, they could find him amidst the vast sea of people. They could then drain out his blood and awaken the dormant Yue Ying.

Even foreseeing Xing Lou’s impending rage, Tai Yin was resolved to not let those who humiliated him leave alive.

Fei Jing frowned. He didn’t have any particular relationship with Xing Lou; he just didn’t want to see the two die. But considering Tai Yin’s reaction, there seemed no way to save them, even by invoking Xing Lou’s name.

“What should I do?” Ling Xiao smirked. “After hearing my Qizhu’s words, I’m even less inclined to die.”

Seeing him raise his fists, Tai Yin grew alert. “What are you planning?”

“This.”

Ling Xiao’s punch landed on the containment device’s exterior. As Fei Jing had said, anyone attempting to damage it, from inside or out, would be hit with a strong electric shock. Electric currents buzzed around Ling Xiao, and under Ying Feng’s astonished gaze, he raised his other hand and struck again.

“That’s all?” Tai Yin scoffed at his seemingly futile effort. “My creation can withstand a hail of bullets. Trying to break it with your bare hands is a dream.”

Ling Xiao’s hands seemed stuck to the surface, with the electric currents flowing from his fingertips to his head, causing a tingling sensation.

“Who said… I wanted… to destroy it…?”

His voice was interrupted by his clenched teeth, and the electric charge he was absorbing grew beyond his body’s limits.

“Ling Xiao!” Ying Feng cried out softly.

“Ahh—!” Ling Xiao let out a roar. With a surge of effort, his hands broke free from the electromagnetic pull. From his center, electric currents spread in every direction, forming a luminescent blue boundary. With hands hanging low and palms facing each other, a large electric ball began to form between them.

“I’m glad I was trapped inside just now. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have thought of this method.”

Ling Xiao slowly raised his head, his pale gray eyes fearlessly fixed on Tai Yin. “Since I have no weapon, I’ll use yours.”

“How laughable!” Tai Yin scoffed. Could such a trivial amount of electricity, which even a mere Qizi didn’t fear, harm him?

But Ling Xiao seemed not to hear. He raised his hands high, the electric ball in the air growing larger and more formidable.

Tai Yin kept a calm exterior, but inside he was shocked. Where had this boy gotten such immense power to manipulate this astonishing electric force?

“Take this!” With a forceful swing, Ling Xiao hurled the electric ball at Tai Yin at high speed.

Although Tai Yin verbally dismissed the threat, he quickly sidestepped to narrowly avoid the attack. The electric ball hit the ground, transforming into rapidly spreading electric waves, with sparks flying everywhere.

At this moment, in the center of the field, Ling Xiao had already leaped to Tai Yin’s side, using the light ball as a cover. With every punch and kick, currents flowed. Whenever he grabbed Tai Yin, the latter would feel numbness in his wrist.

While the high voltage wasn’t fatal, the pain was real. Tai Yin wondered how Ling Xiao could detach himself from the pain, but he was more eager to end this fight quickly. After all, getting entangled for too long with a newly matured Qizi wasn’t a matter of pride.

Seizing an opportunity, Tai Yin leapt back, activating the soul crystal in his hand. Ling Xiao was suddenly flung away as if he were a kite without its string.

“Goodbye,” Tai Yin said, confidently raising his weapon, ready to deliver the final blow.

“Wait!” Fei Jing suddenly intervened, disrupting Tai Yin’s aim. The missile went off course, hitting an unidentified device nearby.

“What are you doing?” Tai Yin shouted in annoyance.

“I think you should ask him,” Fei Jing said, gripping his launcher.

Taking advantage of their argument, Ling Xiao flipped in mid-air and, with a single touch on the ground, landed next to the experiment table.

Tai Yin had a bad feeling. All the electric shocks and fighting had been a distraction. Ling Xiao’s real target had likely been clear from the start. It was—

“Stop him!” Tai Yin shouted in panic. The onlooking novices instantly reacted; dozens of weapons targeted Ling Xiao and fired, instantly reducing Tai Yin’s equipment to shreds.

“No!” Tai Yin tried to intervene, but it was too late. “Get down!”

The glass containers shattered under the gunfire, and the spilled chemicals merged. Under the effects of light and heat, they reacted violently, causing an explosion.

Tai Yin lay flat on the ground, covering his nose and mouth as debris flew overhead. Fei Jing lay beside him, also looking worse for wear. He had intended to save Ling Xiao, but now not only had he failed to do so, but he had also caused the loss of Tai Yin’s experimental results.

As the smoke cleared, there was no sign of Ling Xiao. Given the intensity of the attacks and explosions, his survival seemed impossible. Perhaps his soul had departed the moment everyone ducked.

Damn it! Tai Yin crawled up, tapping his temple to activate his invisible protective mask. The thought of his years of hard work being destroyed in an instant was unbearable, even if it meant Ling Xiao’s sacrifice.

He glanced at Ying Feng, the only one unharmed in this chaos, protected by the containment device. All of Tai Yin’s extra fury was now directed at him.

Fei Jing also noticed this. The calm expression on his face seemed off.

Have you ever cried for your Qizi?

There’s a soul connection between a master and a contract child. If one departs, the other will definitely feel the grief.

“He’s still alive!” Fei Jing shouted. Just as Tai Yin took a step forward, a gust of wind came head-on. Before he could react, he was sent flying.

A shadow flashed, already waiting at the landing point. Poor Tai Yin hadn’t even touched the ground when he was struck and sent flying in the opposite direction. Fei Jing and the others watched in astonishment as a shadow darted through the air, with Tai Yin’s body uncontrollably being thrown around, utterly defenseless against the blows.

“What’s happening!” Everyone raised their weapons, but they were clueless about where to aim.

Fools! Tai Yin mentally cursed, trying to activate another soul crystal. Unfortunately, before he could, the shadow kicked his elbow, sending several soul crystals flying into the air, shimmering brilliantly.

Ling Xiao waved his arm, and the airborne crystals shot out, embedding themselves in the cabin wall.

Finally, the chaos ceased, and everyone got a clear look at the attacker. Ling Xiao’s face was unchanged, but his expression was devoid of human emotion, filled with a chilling murderous intent.

He walked emotionlessly towards Tai Yin. Fei Jing raised his gun.

“Don’t move!”

When Ling Xiao turned to look at him, Fei Jing broke into a cold sweat. This wasn’t the young man who had teased him earlier. Ember had turned him into a cold-blooded monster, capable of killing without hesitation.

Tai Yin understood the power of Ember better than anyone. If he could just endure this period, Ling Xiao, affected by the drug’s side effects, would become vulnerable. But confronting him head-on during the drug’s active phase was suicidal.

Seeing that Fei Jing had drawn Ling Xiao’s attention, Tai Yin discreetly stepped aside—one step, two steps… Now’s the chance!

He turned to flee, but Ling Xiao’s figure was already in front of him. He hadn’t teleported, yet he moved with a speed akin to it.

Backed into a corner by Ling Xiao, Tai Yin realized with dread that he might meet his end at the hands of this young man he once looked down upon, and more ironically, at the hands of his own scientific achievements.

Ling Xiao’s first punch shattered Tai Yin’s protective mask, causing him to stagger backward. The second punch hit his jaw, and Tai Yin fell limply to the ground. As Ling Xiao’s third punch, aimed at his temple, prepared to descend, it seemed the genius scientist, after 400 years, was about to meet his end.

A gloved hand blocked the punch. Instead of the sound of bones breaking, the sound of metal snapping rang out.

“Enough!” Fei Jing voiced. “You don’t really want to kill him, do you?”

Ling Xiao coldly glanced at the man who dared to obstruct him, making Fei Jing tense. The Ling Xiao now seemed intent on slaughter, and Fei Jing feared even he might not be spared.

“Ling Xiao!” Another voice called from behind. Fei Jing was stunned to see a fleeting emotion pass through the emotionless man’s eyes upon hearing the call.

Following that voice, Ling Xiao lowered his fist and emotionlessly moved towards the one who had summoned him, his Qizhu. He acted as if Fei Jing and Tai Yin ceased to exist.

Relieved by Ling Xiao’s withdrawal, Fei Jing began, “The password is…”

Before he could finish, Ling Xiao, just as before, placed his hands on the seam of the glass doors and pried them apart effortlessly, despite them being designed to withstand missiles and even his previous electric shocks. His brow couldn’t help but furrow.

As Ling Xiao’s face cleared before Ying Feng, emotions gradually returned to his eyes due to the diminishing drug effects.

Regaining his clarity, Ling Xiao flashed a grin. “See, I can protect you too.”

After using all his strength to say this, he could no longer stand. Just as Ying Feng regained his mental powers, he teleported behind Ling Xiao, catching him as he collapsed.

Furious, Tai Yin pointed at the two but couldn’t find words. Fei Jing remained silent, and the others seemed lost.

Suddenly, someone yelled, “There’s a vortex!”

Unprepared, Ying Feng, holding Ling Xiao, almost stumbled as a powerful tremor shook them. When he regained his balance, everyone was rushing to their posts, ignoring their presence.

The ship’s turbulence worsened. They were nearing a vortex unique to the vicinity of the Tianxiu planet. It was like a moving black hole that ruthlessly crushed anything in its path, powerful enough to disintegrate a small asteroid in minutes.

As the vortex approached, the starship was being visibly sucked in. From time to time, people’s shouts were heard in the cabin.

“Prepare for warp!”

“The second warp drive is damaged!”

“The booster is malfunctioning!”

They remembered that just a while ago, a fierce battle had damaged many systems. Repair hadn’t been possible. Now, they were facing this impending doom of a black hole-like vortex.

“Initiate spatial jump!”

In front of the Eagle a massive mirror-like surface appeared. With the combined forces of propulsion and the pull from the vortex, the starship struggled to move forward.

It was as if a part of the universe had been erased, with the starship that entered the mirror-like surface vanishing from sight, leaving behind only parts that continued to resist vehemently. Two-thirds of the starship had disappeared, and the speed of the encroaching black hole was accelerating. Facing the most severe turbulence they’d ever encountered, Ying Feng laid down, cradling Ling Xiao in his arms. As the world seemed to spin around them, Ying Feng’s vision went dark. When he awoke, they found themselves in a shattered cabin.

Although the black hole was out of sight, the rapid movement of the ship’s wreckage alarmed Ying Feng. Clutching Ling Xiao, he escaped through an opening, realizing the force that was propelling them at such a high speed.

Not far away was a stargate, leading to an unknown destination. What could be more despairing than having just escaped one vortex, only to be faced with another?

Ying Feng quickly activated all the power crystals he had on hand. Using their power to counteract the force, they managed to slow down their speed slightly but couldn’t completely escape the gravitational pull of the stargate.

There were three oxygen soul crystals left. Ying Feng activated one of them, lifted Ling Xiao’s chin, and transferred half of its power to him. Under the side effects of Ember, Ling Xiao’s body temperature had risen alarmingly. The saliva from the Qizhu, which had a purification effect, was transferred through the mouth, akin to a dying man in the desert finding a clear spring.

Ling Xiao, having slightly regained consciousness, opened his eyes to see Ying Feng’s face pulling away, feeling somewhat reluctant to let go. However, now was not the time for such sentiments. He struggled to look around, seeing the dazzling star gate nearby and the brilliant star cloud in the distance, both signaling the dire situation they were about to face.

Ying Feng showed him the soul crystal in his hand, and Ling Xiao weakly shook his head. At this point, he couldn’t muster any mental power. Drifting like this, they might be pulled into another time and space. Perhaps this was their ultimate fate. The side effects of Ember consumed Ling Xiao’s blood. Even in death, he didn’t want to die by burning blood. Ling Xiao embraced the person in front of him, initiating a kiss and greedily drawing the last bit of coolness from him.

As they continued to kiss, a stream of oxygen filled Ling Xiao’s lungs. He weakly tried to pull away but couldn’t muster the strength, letting more and more oxygen in without the ability to refuse.

Enough!

He tried to communicate with his eyes, but Ying Feng’s eyes remained closed as if this sweet kiss shouldn’t be interrupted by any gaze. The last soul crystal transferred all its oxygen to Ling Xiao. This was the longest kiss in the universe; no other couple’s kiss in recorded history lasted this long. From this kiss, planets revolved, the sun set and rose, tides ebbed and flowed under the moon’s influence, stars formed a brilliant river, connecting every distant galaxy.

No!

Ling Xiao screamed in his heart, a shout that vibrated every cell, but none reached Ying Feng. He felt so close, yet infinitely far away. Ying Feng’s kiss moved from his lips to his forehead, placing a solemn final kiss there. Tears streamed from Ling Xiao’s eyes, but they had no place to fall.

Ying Feng released Ling Xiao, holding two soul crystals in his hands, the last of his mental powers.

When Ying Feng’s hand rested over their hearts, it would be their last touch.

Ling Xiao tried to raise his hand, but he grasped nothing.

Opposite poles attract while like poles repel. The two, having the same magnetic polarity, flew in opposite directions. Ling Xiao escaped the gravitational pull, while Ying Feng hurtled toward the star gate vortex.

Ying… Feng…

Ling Xiao screamed, but there was no medium in space to carry his voice. He watched as Ying Feng’s figure grew smaller, tears floating in space like an eternal rain that would never fall.

Ying Feng was now enveloped in a blue glow, looking at the distant figure, wondering if his remaining mental powers were enough to say his final words. He sent a thought—a voice that traveled across the universe, spanning galaxies, echoing in Ling Xiao’s mind.

Ling Xiao, I think I…

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