Darkness surrounded them.
Mo Xuan and Ling Yue plunged deep into the underground lake after falling through the abyss. The cold water swallowed them instantly, pulling them downward like a silent grave.
Ling Yue's body hung limp in his arms.
She had lost consciousness the moment they struck the water.
"Ling Yue…"
Mo Xuan tightened his grip around her waist, trying to keep her body afloat as the current dragged them deeper.
Her lips were pale.
Her breathing had stopped.
For a brief moment, panic flashed through his usually calm mind.
Without hesitation, Mo Xuan pulled her closer and pressed his lips against hers beneath the water.
Spiritual energy flowed between them as he forced air back into her lungs.
A faint ripple of life stirred within her body.
Then—
He kicked upward.
With great effort, Mo Xuan pushed them toward the surface. His body was already heavily injured from the battle above, every movement sending sharp pain through his fractured bones.
But he refused to let go.
Moments later—
They broke through the surface of the lake.
Mo Xuan dragged Ling Yue toward the rocky shore. Water poured from their clothes as he struggled to keep himself upright.
When they finally reached land, he lifted her carefully into his arms.
Ling Yue remained unconscious.
Her head rested weakly against his shoulder.
Mo Xuan took two steps forward before his legs trembled violently.
His injuries were too severe.
He collapsed against the stone ground, barely managing to keep Ling Yue from falling.
Breathing heavily, he leaned back against the rock wall.
Ling Yue shivered in her unconscious state, her body cold from the water.
She murmured faintly in her sleep.
Without thinking, Mo Xuan wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. One arm supported her back while the other rested around her waist.
Her head fell naturally against his chest.
They looked almost like they were embracing.
Life energy from Ling Yue's body slowly spread outward.
At the same time, Mo Xuan's darker spiritual energy responded.
Life.
And death.
Two opposing forces began to swirl around them.
The surrounding spiritual energy of the cavern responded to this strange balance. Threads of energy drifted toward them like silent mist.
Gradually—
Both of their breathing slowed.
The energy wrapped around them like a protective cocoon.
And eventually—
Exhaustion claimed them both.
They fell unconscious together, still holding each other.
High above the abyss, their companions stood near the shattered edge of the mountain floor.
Han Wei stared down into the darkness below.
"They fell too deep."
Lan Jian shook his head slowly.
"There's no path down."
Lan Xue stepped closer to the edge.
Her eyes were calm, but her hands clenched tightly.
"I'm going down."
Han Wei immediately stopped her.
"That's suicide. The entire mountain core is unstable."
Lan Jian nodded.
"Even if we jumped, we might never find them."
Lan Xue remained silent for a moment.
Then she remembered Mo Xuan's final words before he jumped.
"If anything happens… meet beneath the mountain in one week."
Her expression softened slightly.
"He knew what he was doing."
Han Wei frowned.
"You trust him that much?"
"Yes."
Lan Jian sighed.
"Then we wait."
The mountain cavern around them was filled with enormous spiritual energy.
"If they survive," Lan Jian continued, "they will return."
Han Wei finally nodded.
"Then we cultivate here and recover our strength."
The three of them sat down within the glowing mountain chamber and began absorbing the dense spiritual energy.
Above the abyss, they waited.
Trusting that somewhere below—
Mo Xuan and Ling Yue were still alive.
Far below the mountain.
Soft ripples moved across the underground lake.
Ling Yue stirred first.
Her eyelashes trembled as consciousness slowly returned.
The first thing she noticed was warmth.
Then she realized—
She was being held.
Her head rested against Mo Xuan's chest, his arms wrapped protectively around her.
Their bodies were still close from when they had fallen asleep.
For a moment, Ling Yue did not move.
She simply looked at his face.
Calm.
Peaceful.
Without his usual cold expression.
Her heart beat faster.
Slowly, she raised her hand and gently touched his cheek.
Warm.
Alive.
Mo Xuan's eyes opened almost immediately.
Their gazes met.
Ling Yue froze.
Then quickly pulled her hand back.
Her cheeks turned slightly red.
"You're awake," he said quietly.
"So are you."
She quickly moved away from his arms, standing up and looking around the cavern.
"Where are we?"
"Below the mountain," Mo Xuan replied calmly.
Ling Yue looked toward the lake.
The water glowed faintly with silver light.
Spiritual energy filled the air.
"How do we get out?"
Mo Xuan shook his head.
"We can't."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"This place allows entry… but not exit."
Ling Yue frowned.
"So what do we do?"
Mo Xuan stared at the glowing lake.
"When we fell into the water, I sensed something."
"What?"
"The spiritual energy inside the lake is stronger than the mountain above."
Ling Yue immediately understood.
"You want to cultivate here."
"Yes."
But Mo Xuan's expression remained serious.
"Even with this energy, it would take at least six months for us to break through enough to destroy the barrier above."
Ling Yue sighed.
"We don't have six months."
"The sect competition is in one week."
Mo Xuan hesitated slightly.
"I have another method."
Ling Yue looked at him.
"Then say it."
He remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.
"There are two spiritual forces inside your body."
Ling Yue blinked.
"Two?"
"Yes."
"One is your natural spiritual energy."
"And the other?"
Mo Xuan paused briefly.
"…Another aura."
He did not mention the truth.
The hidden death energy sleeping inside her.
"These two energies conflict with each other," he explained. "That's why your cultivation progresses slower than it should."
Ling Yue crossed her arms.
"So what's the solution?"
Mo Xuan hesitated again.
"If we stabilize those two energies… and combine them into a single flow, your cultivation speed will increase dramatically."
"How?"
Mo Xuan looked toward the lake.
"We cultivate together."
Ling Yue waited.
Then he added slowly,
"To control your spiritual flow directly… there can't be any obstruction."
Ling Yue immediately understood.
Her face turned red.
She covered herself instinctively.
"You mean—"
Mo Xuan looked away.
"Yes."
The atmosphere became awkward.
Ling Yue looked at the glowing lake again.
Then sighed.
"…Fine."
Mo Xuan looked back at her.
"One condition."
"You cover your eyes."
He nodded immediately.
Mo Xuan tied a black scarf over his eyes.
"Done."
They stepped into the lake.
Ling Yue stood in front.
Mo Xuan stood behind her.
The water reached their waists.
Ling Yue slowly removed the remaining obstruction from her body, the soft glow of the lake reflecting across her skin.
The atmosphere felt strangely quiet.
Mo Xuan spoke calmly.
"You don't need to worry."
"I trust you," Ling Yue replied softly.
Mo Xuan raised his hands.
"Focus."
His palms gently touched the center of her back.
Ling Yue shivered slightly at the contact.
"Relax," he said quietly.
Mo Xuan began guiding the spiritual energy around them.
The lake reacted instantly.
Silver energy surged upward like rising mist.
Spiritual power poured toward them.
Mo Xuan carefully guided the energy through Ling Yue's meridians, stabilizing the conflicting forces inside her body.
At first—
Pain surged through her.
Ling Yue clenched her teeth.
"It's normal," Mo Xuan said.
"Just focus."
Gradually, the two conflicting energies inside her began to separate.
Then—
Merge.
The spiritual energy in the lake responded violently.
Silver light spiraled around them.
Ling Yue's cultivation began rising rapidly.
Even faster than Mo Xuan expected.
He realized something immediately.
Her life energy was incredibly pure.
Under Mo Xuan's guidance, her cultivation surged forward like a river breaking through a dam.
The lake's energy continued pouring into them.
Their figures remained standing quietly in the glowing water.
Time passed slowly.
And beneath the silent mountain—
Mo Xuan and Ling Yue continued cultivating together within the lake.
End of Chapter 22...