Chapter 217: The Kiss That Sealed Their Love
The Thirtieth Heaven of the Immortal Realm.
Within the Immortal Court.
"Master."
Lin Chongtian, leading the assembled mighty beings of the Immortal Court, knelt on one knee before Lu Xunxian, his tone utterly reverent.
Over these eighty years, under Lin Chongtian's leadership, the Immortal Court had built an illustrious reputation in the Immortal Realm and smoothly risen to become an overlord-tier force.
Apart from Lin Chongtian, an Immortal Emperor, that first batch of Immortal Court members to join had all broken through to the Immortal Venerable Realm.
As for Hua Rouyu, she was a notch lower — only at the Peak of the Immortal Monarch Realm.
Later on, countless prodigies had joined the Immortal Court as well.
Even though the requirements for joining the Immortal Court were exceedingly demanding, they'd all agreed to them.
For no other reason than this: joining the Immortal Court, the resources were the real deal.
And who would mindlessly betray an overlord-tier force?
Only a fool, surely.
"Mm. I'm about to head to the Dao Realm. For the time being, I entrust Lu Xiaoyao and Lu Qingyun to your care from the shadows — unless it's a crisis dire enough to kill them, there's no need to intervene."
Lu Xunxian looked toward Lin Chongtian and instructed him.
Though he'd left restriction seals on both his son and daughter — enough that even Immortal Emperors couldn't kill them — those seals would only take effect at the critical moment.
So that was why he had Lin Chongtian and the others watch over his son and daughter from the shadows.
And this was precisely why he had founded the Immortal Court.
"Yes, Master. Unless we ourselves should fall, we will absolutely not let the two young masters come to harm!"
The Immortal Court members present answered loudly, without a word of hesitation.
Just then, a figure came hurrying over — none other than Gu Daoshi.
"Senior Lu, I'm not too late, am I?"
"No. You've come at just the right time."
Lu Xunxian shook his head.
Lin Chongtian, off to the side, was shocked at the sight of Gu Daoshi.
The present Immortal Court was an overlord-tier force, and as its Vice Pavilion Master, he naturally knew of Gu Daoshi's existence.
"This one greets Senior Gu!"
"Rise. Serve well under Senior Lu — he won't treat you unfairly."
Gu Daoshi waved a hand and spoke with an approving air.
And just then, a fiery-red figure came hurrying over from afar — none other than Zhu Qingyan.
Upon seeing Zhu Qingyan, a smile spread across Gu Daoshi's face.
"Looks like you've thought it through after all, Fellow Daoist Zhu."
But what Gu Daoshi hadn't expected was for Zhu Qingyan to shake her head lightly.
"I only came to see you off — and, while I'm at it, to tell Xunxian a few things."
As Zhu Qingyan's words fell, Gu Daoshi tactfully understood that what came next was not for his ears.
So Gu Daoshi waved a hand and led Lin Chongtian and the others away, leaving the Immortal Court to Lu Xunxian and Zhu Qingyan.
Gazing at Zhu Qingyan before him, Lu Xunxian couldn't help but let out a sigh.
"Why put yourself through this?"
"I don't know either. The first moment I laid eyes on you, a voice within told me you were the one I was fated to."
Zhu Qingyan shook her head with a wry smile.
"It's just such a pity that, because of clan matters, I can't go to the Dao Realm with you."
"But rest assured — I will definitely come find you."
"So, before then, I hope you won't forget me either. Please keep me in a special place in your heart — will you?"
"Fine. I promise you."
Almost without hesitation, Lu Xunxian agreed.
Zhu Qingyan was a top-tier beauty to begin with, and on top of that she'd pursued Lu Xunxian for so long; for him to feel nothing would naturally be impossible.
Seeing Lu Xunxian agree, Zhu Qingyan didn't dawdle either. She stepped gracefully forward and, before Lu Xunxian could even speak, planted a kiss upon his lips.
This kiss lasted a full hour.
By the time they parted, Zhu Qingyan's cheeks had long since flushed a hopeless red, the very picture of bashfulness.
"That was — my first kiss."
"Let's consider it the kiss that sealed our love."
"As for everything else — let's leave that for when we meet again."
"Until then."
With that, fearing the reluctance in her own heart, Zhu Qingyan hurriedly turned and left.
Watching Zhu Qingyan go, Lu Xunxian couldn't help but smile and shake his head.
This girl.
Just then, sensing Zhu Qingyan's departure, Gu Daoshi walked in from the side, regarding Lu Xunxian with a most meaningful look.
"Senior Lu, having won over the Vermilion Bird Immortal Emperor — that untouchable flower atop the high peak — how do you feel, I wonder?"
Lu Xunxian shot Gu Daoshi a glance. "So you've decided not to go to the Dao Realm after all?"
Gu Daoshi: ...
Geez, can't even take a joke now? Fine, I'll keep my mouth shut, all right?
"All right. Since everything's been settled, let's be off."
Lu Xunxian didn't waste any more words — the sooner he dealt with the matters of the Dao Realm, the sooner he could return.
As Lu Xunxian's words fell, Gu Daoshi's expression turned grave, and he took out every safeguard he had and equipped them.
After all, he'd only heard tell of the Dao Realm and had never been there in person, so naturally he had no idea what the situation inside was like.
For all he knew, in the Dao Realm, Dao Practitioners might roam everywhere and Immortal Emperors be worth less than dogs.
And once Gu Daoshi was ready, Lu Xunxian simply scooped him up and drew him into his own inner world.
Then he let a sliver of his own aura leak out, and the next moment he was summoned by the Dao Realm and at the same time rejected by the Immortal Realm, ascending toward the Dao Realm.
Almost the very instant Lu Xunxian ascended, Lu Xiaoyao and Lu Qingyun within the Azure Heaven Secret Realm both felt something stir, and exchanged a grave glance.
"You felt it too, didn't you? Father has gone to the Dao Realm."
"Mm. I felt it as well."
And beside the two of them, Luo Qianxue happened to be right there.
Upon hearing their words, a powerful surge of unease welled up within Luo Qianxue, and she hurriedly spoke.
"What do you two mean by that?"
As Luo Qianxue spoke, Lu Xiaoyao and Lu Qingyun looked toward her in puzzlement.
"Sister Qianxue, didn't Father tell you he was going to the Dao Realm?"
"What — he's gone to the Dao Realm?"
Luo Qianxue could no longer sit still.
She hadn't known the slightest thing about this.
Lu Xiaoyao and Lu Qingyun exchanged a glance and understood why Father hadn't told Sister Qianxue.
"Sister Qianxue, don't blame Father — after all, he's going to the Dao Realm."
"The Dao Realm is unlike the Immortal Realm; it's exceedingly dangerous in there."
"Even we aren't going along with Father."
"And besides, I think Father wants us to cultivate and ascend to the Dao Realm by our own efforts."
"So, Sister Qianxue, please understand Father."
"Also, Father said he'll come back."
Hearing Lu Qingyun's comfort, Luo Qianxue felt a little better within.
But then, thinking that it was the Dao Realm after all — one had to cultivate at least to above the Peak of the Immortal Emperor Realm to ascend there.
Though her own talent was among the very top in the Immortal Realm, even so, cultivating to the Peak of the Immortal Emperor Realm would likely take well over a million years to achieve.