There are many awkward things in the world, though not many that could truly make Chu Xingchen feel awkward.
However, accompanying the owner of a grave who had "come back to life," preparing to go see their own corpse—this, if examined closely, was still somewhat awkward.
He called it awkward, but in truth it wasn't too bad—just felt a bit strange, that's all.
Naturally, Chu Xingchen would not reveal his inner thoughts on his face.
His expression remained completely natural, as if this were his own grave.
With the grave's owner personally leading the way, the originally designed mechanisms naturally all went dormant.
But accompanying the resurrected grave owner to look at their corpse was indeed rather peculiar.
Awkward perhaps, but actually not too bad—just felt somewhat strange, really.
Stepping into the grave, after walking just a few paces, one could see that towering tree that seemed on the verge of dying.
Around the great tree, the ground below was a patch of withered yellow grass.
It was as if all vitality was about to fade.
Chu Xingchen looked at this tree.
To be strict, Luo Yue couldn't really be called resurrected—at most, she simply hadn't died completely.
He slightly lowered his head to glance at Luo Yue beside him, whose expression was calm.
Luo Yue also raised her head to look at that towering tree, feeling that faint presence, that sensation of intimate connection.
She suddenly spoke: "I won't live much longer."
Chu Xingchen looked again at the great tree.
The entire tree was nearly bare, with only a few extremely withered yellow leaves hanging upon it.
It seemed as if a gentle breeze would be enough to make them fall.
"That is indeed visible."
Chu Xingchen answered with a sincere expression.
The tree was in such a state—wanting it to survive would probably be quite difficult.
Luo Yue heard this and turned her gaze toward Chu Xingchen.
For a moment, she couldn't tell whether this cunning person was being sincere or hinting at something.
But cunning people always liked to hint at things.
Forget it—she was also a bit tired anyway.
Chu Xingchen looked at that great tree and suddenly asked:
"Since your body is blocking the spirit vein, there should be a large amount of spiritual power supplied to you. How did you end up in such a state?"
"Naturally, for the sake of safety."
Luo Yue stepped forward as if reminiscing.
"If a single spirit vein could be supplied to me alone, that wouldn't be called a price—it would be an enormous opportunity."
"I left my true form here to block this spirit vein so it wouldn't be discovered. Naturally, there couldn't be major fluctuations."
"The Mystic Heaven Sect also employed many methods for this purpose.
"But saying not a single thread of spiritual power was supplied wouldn't be accurate either—more or less, they had to leave some spiritual power for me."
Chu Xingchen and Luo Yue's pace wasn't fast, but Luo Yue could slightly shift the space in this place.
After chatting briefly, they had already arrived beneath the tree.
Luo Yue's expression remained calm as she slowly reached out to touch that towering tree.
Her heart was filled with a thousand emotions, and just as she was about to undo the seal, a curious question interrupted her movement.
"Can you still return to your original body?"
As Chu Xingchen spoke, he reached out to touch the towering tree.
But before he could make contact, a thread of spiritual power struck toward him.
This tiny amount of spiritual power couldn't even tickle Chu Xingchen, who was at the Unification Realm.
He turned his gaze to look at Luo Yue.
Luo Yue's usual expression seemed to have been learned from his second disciple.
Only occasionally, when she couldn't maintain her composure, would some different expression appear.
But at this moment, Luo Yue clearly couldn't hold it together.
Her brows furrowed slightly, and her voice carried a hint of severity:
"Don't touch randomly."
Chu Xingchen heard this and silently withdrew his hand.
He hadn't thought that much earlier, but now he suddenly understood.
Though he was touching the bark of the towering tree, proportionally speaking, his hand reaching down might have been touching Luo Yue's thigh.
Luo Yue's expression quickly recovered.
Thinking Chu Xingchen had some matter, she asked:
"Why do you ask this question?"
"This tree has grown so large. If planted in the sect, others might think my sect has existed for ages—the prestige would instantly be elevated.
"If you can't return, I wanted to try whether I could move it and plant it in the sect, hand it to Ning Qianqian—perhaps she could keep it alive."
Chu Xingchen spoke halfway, glanced at Luo Yue, and continued explaining:
"But... thinking it over carefully, forget it. You continue."
Seeing Luo Yue's expression, she still cared quite a bit about this original body.
Such a large tree—if Cui Hao's brain short-circuited one day and he wanted to climb up and play...
Though it was a tree, respect should still be given where possible.
Luo Yue sighed softly.
For some reason, she could never quite follow this person's train of thought.
Perhaps cunning people were simply like that.
She said nothing, but gently reached out to touch her original body.
In the next moment, an indescribable sensation of comfort spread throughout Luo Yue's entire being.
She had been separated from her original body for a very long time.
Her ability to manifest externally relied almost entirely on the powerful spiritual consciousness of a Grand Vehicle cultivator, plus her habit of lying still whenever possible.
But even so, the toll on her had been somewhat excessive.
At this moment, her soul was once again bathed in the breath of life.
Luo Yue felt comfort throughout her entire being.
Or perhaps one could say that ever since separating from her original body, every minute and every second had actually been a form of torture.
In the next moment, the entire towering tree transformed into countless flickering spiritual lights.
Like flowing sand rising, becoming countless stars in the sky.
Amidst the sky full of yellow flowing light, there were hints of pale green.
The breath of dryness and life spread together through this flowing sand.
That towering tree, in just a moment, completely turned into flowing light and dispersed.
A thousand years of time—now, in but a brief moment, had vanished without a trace.
The moment the great tree dispersed, the entire secret realm began to shake violently.
Chu Xingchen's expression remained calm.
With his cultivation, even if the entire secret realm collapsed, he would be safe and sound.
Not to mention Bai Xuanling was outside as well.
Chu Xingchen's gaze turned toward the small sapling concentrated in Luo Yue's hand.
The sapling was very small, with only a single newly sprouted, slightly yellowed tender leaf.
But compared to that great tree, bare and yellow, this sapling was filled with a different kind of vitality.
One was heavy; the other, teeming with life.
Luo Yue's tone remained calm:
"Your sect can also exist for a very long time. If you wish, this tree can be planted here, letting it witness the sect's development."
Chu Xingchen glanced at it, then asked quietly:
"Does this count as your original body? Or your child?"
Luo Yue didn't answer, but directly flipped her hand and put away the sapling before her:
"Let's go! This secret realm is about to collapse. Prepare to receive the spiritual power."
"Hey, hey, I didn't say I didn't want it!"
"Even if you want it, I won't give it!"
"Didn't you just say you were giving it to me?"
"I changed my mind!"
Luo Yue strode outward.
This tree was neither her original body nor her child.
It was merely a seed she had brought because she feared loneliness.
But later, Luo Yue couldn't bear to let this seed share her loneliness.
So she hid it away.
But today, the sun was just right—this seed could sprout and grow.
A thousand years from now, it too would grow into a towering tree.
Like herself back then.
But... it shouldn't be like her.
...
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