The flames reflected on his white robes, like a grand landscape painting spanning thousands of years.

The melodious birdsong awakened a deep reverence for nature in people's souls. The colors of the Fire Feather and the Fright Feather petals were identical, and they were both scattered by the wind between heaven and earth.

Petals fell onto Xie An's robes as if they were on fire. Two drops of bright red blood stained his clothes. The grass on the ground was knee-high, seemingly merging him with this timeless beauty that has endured for millennia.

Xie Shuci listened to the petals falling with the sound of the wind and birdsong, but what he could hear even more clearly was the sound of his own heart beating louder and louder, like thunder.

"Aww..."

Both the king and the crane looked up, gazing at the breathtaking scene before them.

Twelve startled birds flapped their enormous fiery wings, like twelve blazing flames, circling again and again in the sky.

On the earth, those who had left before the startled bird appeared looked back as the bird soared like a dragon over the mountaintop, its petals drifting in the clouds. The fallen startled bird flowers were swept away by the wind and landed on their heads, allowing them to receive this gentle caress from destiny.

Everyone stopped in their tracks and looked reverently at the "Dragon Soaring" on Jingyu Mountain.

Amidst this breathtaking scenery, my heart pounded so hard that my steps became unsteady.

"Little blind man..."

Xie Shuci murmured.

He didn't know if he was murmuring in his heart or actually shouting it out; the birdsong in the sky made him unable to hear his own voice.

He approached Xie An in a daze, perhaps wanting to ask him what was wrong, or perhaps simply wanting to stay by Xie An's side at that moment.

But as he approached, Xie An, who had been fast asleep, suddenly opened his eyes, his aura suddenly becoming sharp and fierce, carrying the killing intent of a thousand troops marching across the river.

However, upon realizing it was Xie Shuci, the chilling killing intent vanished in mid-air before Xie Shuci could even notice it.

Xie An's face turned pale, and he slowly lowered his eyes and closed them.

Xie Shuci walked up to him, knelt down on one knee, and asked, "Have you taken your medicine?"

"Yes, I ate," Xie An said calmly.

"good."

Xie Shuci stretched out his hand, and a white spiritual energy overflowed from his palm, flowing towards Xie An's body like thousands of threads.

Xie An tightened his lips. When the unfamiliar spiritual energy approached, the evil factors within him fled like madmen, trying to hide in a place where they would not be discovered.

He didn't want Xie Shuci to find out.

"Buzz—"

The gentle spiritual energy touched his body. He thought that he wouldn't accept Xie Shuci so easily, but in fact, under these circumstances, when he was extremely vigilant due to excessive physical exertion, Xie Shuci's spiritual energy easily broke in.

He was left with almost no time to struggle. Xie Shuci's spiritual power was like an invisible wind, vast in scope, encompassing heaven and earth, coming straight at him, leaving him nowhere to hide and nowhere to escape.

Xie An took the Spirit Gathering Pill, and a small, weak stream of spiritual energy gathered around his body. When Xie Shuci approached, that small stream of spiritual energy couldn't wait to welcome him in.

null.

exhausted.

This is what Xie Shuci sensed from Xie An during their spiritual connection.

Xie An felt utterly empty inside, only more exhausted than ever before.

Xie Shuci looked at the soaring figure of the startled bird in the sky, and at the flowers blooming all around, with startled bird flowers dancing in the air.

"Xie An, did you see that?" Xie Shuci asked softly.

Xie An closed his eyes, raised his chin, and gently inhaled the faint fragrance of flowers in the wind, truly experiencing the world as Xie Shuci saw it.

Pure, clean, and completely transparent.

What he sees is what he thinks.

Perhaps, from Xie An's perspective, such a person is ignorant and short-sighted.

But it really makes people feel relaxed.

So relaxing... even if losing vigilance would mean death, I'd still want to sleep soundly, feeling a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.

In just a moment, their spiritual connection was severed.

Xie Shuci lowered his head in a daze and saw that Xie An's head was drooping and his breathing was even. This time, he was really asleep.

Xie Shuci bent down to examine his face, muttering, "I wonder if he saw it or not."

"Aww!"

The king excitedly darted to Xie Shuci's feet, grabbed the hem of his clothes, and dragged him backward with all his might.

"Awooo!"

Look, it's falling!

Xie Shuci stumbled and was carried back to the crane's side. "What are you doing?"

"Aww!"

The king pointed his dog head towards the stands.

Xie Shuci looked up and saw Luo Xianyu and the other two standing by the stands. Seeing Xie Shuci looking over, Xiao Lian called out:

"No, Xianlan won't accept my spiritual power!"

Little Fairy Orchid looked at the sky in confusion. She could see the startled birds flying and their cries, but she couldn't see them as a complete picture.

No, that's not right.

That shouldn't be the case.

But even in her imagination, she couldn't add any beautiful colors to them.

Just then, several feet below the stands, a wisp of white spiritual energy, like a river flowing against the current, slowly swam towards the stands.

It was like a single passage connecting heaven and earth in a sea of ​​fire, slowly, slowly spreading out in front of Xiaoxianlan.

Xiao Xianlan's eyes were glazed over, and her body became light, as if an invisible force was lifting her up, making her feel incredibly relaxed.

The external spiritual energy surged into the thin spiritual aura around her. Although there were no clues to suggest otherwise, Xiao Xianlan was quite certain that this external spiritual energy belonged to her brother Xiao Ci.

Brother Xiaoci's spiritual power is very gentle, without a trace of impurity, like a stream that just covers your ankles, making you feel no danger, only comfort, very comfort.

So, Xiaoxianlan reached out and gently touched it.

In an instant, the two spiritual energies merged together.

Xiao Xianlan shuddered, a strange feeling surging into her mind like a tidal wave.

"Little Fairy Orchid!"

From the stands, Xie Shuci shouted.

The sound traveled through the blazing fire and the soaring birdsong, reaching Luo Xianlan's ears accurately and clearly.

"Did you see that!"

Luo Xianlan stared blankly at the breathtaking scene between heaven and earth. The towering flames reflected on her dazed face, and her clear eyes still reflected the dark scene. However, in her mind, she clearly pictured the color of the sky as if it were a raging fire.

The color was unfamiliar, something she had never seen before, yet a voice in her mind told her precisely that it was red, the color of a flame more intense than blood.

This flame is a bright red flame.

Tears silently slid down her cheeks, the glistening water reflecting the character on her face.

She pouted, a sob escaping her throat, "Mmm..."

This was the first and only color she had ever seen in her short life.

The world is so beautiful, and colors are so beautiful.

"What color are the flowers?!"

"red……"

Luo Xianyu turned her head to look at Luo Xianlan beside her, who was almost sobbing uncontrollably, her eyes gradually welling up with tears.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Red is the color of blood, the color of sunset, and the color of cinnabar."

"Um……"

Standing on the stands, one can have a panoramic view of the entire Jingyu Mountain.

Brown soil, green grass, and other colored flowers sprouting from the grass—each color gradually flooded into her mind.

In her mind, a vibrant and diverse picture unfolded.

At the same time, Luo Xianyu unfolded her handkerchief, took out the last Spirit Gathering Pill, and swallowed it.

My sister's aura is very similar to hers, so it doesn't take much effort to blend in.

When Xie Shuci severed the connection between their spiritual consciousnesses, Xiao Xianlan sensed another extremely familiar aura.

"elder sister……"

Tears dried on her face. She turned her head blankly, looking at the corner of her eye beside her.

The reddish Luoxian jade.

Everything is understood without words.

—Xianlan, my sister is sick.

That night, the startled birds did not linger for long before rushing off to the horizon and disappearing into the vast moonlight.

But the mountain of startled feather flowers drifted all night long.

Having feasted their eyes, Xie Shuci wanted to take the group back to the inn.

For some reason, Xie An was unusually awake in his sleep. Whenever anything other than Xie Shuci came near, he would instantly open his eyes.

He was probably too tired and didn't want anything else to get close. Xie Shuci couldn't possibly carry him all the way back, so he had the king and the crane guard on both sides, and he simply lay down on the ground and took a nap.

Inside Tianzhu City, the Jingyu flowers, which usually appeared at noon, only appeared in the evening. No one found it particularly strange, and after admiring the Jingyu flowers enough, everyone went home.

However, when this news reached the territory of Futu, it caused a huge uproar.

About a month ago, a master divined that the way of heaven was reversed, and the startled bird, as a symbol of the way of heaven, was greatly injured and was in a deep sleep, so there was no way it would return to its nest.

However, by evening that day, all twelve startled birds awoke at once, which meant that someone had forcibly awakened them!

As countless cultivators speculated about who was responsible, a young man sneered: "The Startled Feather Birds are ordained by Heaven. Who else could awaken them but Xiao Xun, the Holy Son of Heaven and companion of the Startled Feather Birds?"

“Xiao Xun…”

"He really isn't dead?!"

"He's in the cultivation world?"

The young man, with one foot on the roof, said with great interest, "To cultivate the path of slaughter with the destiny of a Heavenly Saint Child, this person is truly interesting."

If Bixie was born out of natural disasters and man-made calamities, then Xiao Xun was born to inherit the great fortune of Heaven and to save the common people.

Such a destiny, yet choosing to prove one's path through killing, is tantamount to challenging fate!

Arrogant indeed, truly arrogant.

"Sikong Ye, what do you want to do?"

The young man leaped from the rooftop, his figure as fast as lightning, disappearing into the night sky in the blink of an eye, leaving behind the words, "Go broaden your horizons."

Xie Shuci slept quite comfortably that night, and when he got cold in the middle of the night, he covered himself with the king's tail.

When he woke up in the morning, many petals had fallen on him. Looking around, he saw thousands of flowers blooming and falling with the wind, covering the ground so much that the grass underneath was almost invisible.

Xie Shuci stretched, and the king, hearing the noise, wagged its tail and swept it across Xie Shuci's face.

"Pah! You've got a mouthful of hair on my face."

"Awooo! Awooo!"

The king happily rolled around in the flower field; it was now in its Crimson Snow Wolf form, crushing all the flower petals on the ground.

"woke up?"

Xie Shuci suddenly heard a sound above his head. He looked up and saw Xie An sitting under the tree in the same position as last night. His face was still a little pale, but he was much better than yesterday.

Xie Shuci sat up with a start. "Little blind man, did you see it last night?"

Xie An nodded. "Mm."

Is it pretty?

"nice."

Xie Shuci breathed a sigh of relief, scrambled down the tree, and leaned against Xie An, asking curiously, "Why were you so tired yesterday?"

Xie An didn't speak, but frowned and looked down. Xie Shuci followed his gaze and found that he had unfortunately landed on the half-peach branch.

"Get out of the way."

Xie An slapped his hand without hesitation, and only raised his head when he saw that no petals had been crushed.

Xie Shuci pouted, daring not to speak out, and muttered under his breath, "They didn't do it on purpose, why are you so concerned about a peach branch?"

"Aww!"

Don't worry, the peach branch will come back to life!

Xie An didn't know if he heard his mutterings. He pursed his lips, took the back of Xie An's hand that he had slapped red, and gently rubbed it with his thumb.

The pressure of her fingertips rubbing the back of her hand was very light, so it tickled a little. Xie Shuci quickly pulled her hand back, "It's okay, it doesn't hurt."

Xie An nodded without saying anything.

"Oh, right! I saw blood on your clothes yesterday..."

Xie Shuci tugged at his sleeve and found it pristine white, completely bare. "Huh? Where's the blood?"

Xie An pulled the piece of clothing out of his hand and said calmly, "You've mistaken me for someone else."

Xie Shuci asked, puzzled, "Really?"

"Okay, let's go back."

After saying that, he stood up from the ground.

Seeing this, Xie Shuci didn't think much of it. The petals of the Jingyu Flower were similar to fresh blood, so perhaps he was seeing things wrong.

However, he had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

On the way back, everything was fine until Xie Shuci suddenly thought of Xiao Xianlan.

Xie Shuci lay on the king's back, looking at the bright sunshine and sighing, "I wonder how Xiao Xianlan is doing now."

Xie An, seated on horseback, asked upon hearing this, "She knows?"

“Yes, Luo Xianyu also took the Spirit Gathering Pill last night. Anyway, when Xiao Xianlan and I ended our spiritual connection, Luo Xianyu’s spiritual sense entered,” Xie Shuci said.

But to everyone's surprise, Xie An's face immediately darkened upon hearing this.

"Oh, she must be very sad right now."

Xie Shuci hadn't noticed the little blind boy's strange behavior and sighed to himself.

Xie An tightened his lips and did not respond.

The crane sensed his low spirits and let out an uncomfortable cry.

"Tell me, is her illness curable? There are so many miraculous medicines in the cultivation world that can even save people who are about to die, so they should be able to cure her illness too."

After Xie Shuci finished speaking, he noticed that no one responded for a long time, and called out in confusion, "Little blind man?"

He sat up from the wolf's back and looked in Xie An's direction. Seeing that Xie An's expression was not good, he couldn't help but wonder, "Wasn't he fine just now?"

"What's wrong?" Xie Shuci asked.

"You've connected with someone else's spirit?" Xie An said coldly.

"Ah..." Xie Shuci suddenly remembered that Xie An didn't seem to like him doing this kind of thing with others, and explained, "I didn't originally plan to do this, but Xiao Xianlan doesn't accept other people's spiritual power, so I..."

"Then why is she able to communicate with Luo Xianyu's spiritual consciousness?"

"Luo Xianyu is her older sister."

"Since you possess the Luo Xianyu, why do you wish to communicate with her spiritually?"

Xie Shuci: "..."

That makes sense, but Xie Shuci couldn't understand why Xie An would get angry over something like this.

Xie Shuci said, "I'm even connected to you in spirit."

Upon hearing this, Xie An's tone immediately became even more somber: "Am I the same as them?"

For a moment, Xie Shuci didn't quite understand what he meant.

What aspects does this "difference" refer to?

Xie Shuci wasn't sure what he meant, so she tentatively asked, "Um...they are women, and you're a man?"

Xie An turned his head, his face turning pale. "Besides that?"

"besides?"

Xie Shuci looked at him blankly, unable to explain himself.

Xie An waited for a long time, but received no further news. He clenched his teeth and turned his head back without saying a word, then rode his horse forward.

Xie Shuci stared innocently at his retreating figure, not understanding what she had said wrong.

Yes, there is a difference. The difference is just gender, what other difference could there be?

Of course, the little blind girl holds a different place in his heart than Luo Xianyu and the others, but they are connected by spiritual consciousness, so it doesn't really matter.

On the way back, the little blind man had a cold face and ignored Xie Shuci.

Upon entering the inn, he went straight to his room without saying a word. Before Xie Shuci could even enter, he slammed the door shut behind him.

Xie Shuci was met with a cold shoulder. He didn't dare to go in directly, so he pushed the door open a crack, wanting the king to go in first. But the little king was even more cowardly than him. He probably knew that Xie An was angry, so he squatted down next to him and looked at Xie Shuci innocently, pretending not to understand what he meant.

Seeing this, Xie Shuci was disappointed and frustrated.

He glared at it, "You ungrateful wretch! You ate all the meat in the dog's belly?"

"Huh?" The king seemed puzzled and stuck out his tongue innocently.

Xie Shuci had no choice but to push the door open and go inside.

As soon as I entered the room, I saw the little blind boy holding onto the table, his body swaying for a moment, and he almost fell down.

Xie Shuci was startled and quickly stepped forward to support his arm.

"Little blind man, what's wrong?" Seeing his pale face and haggard lips, Xie Shuci couldn't help but frown.

"Awooo!"

I know, it's because of excessive blood loss.

Xie An was still angry. He slapped him away, and although he didn't say anything, his face clearly said, "It's none of your business."

He then sat down at the table. Xie Shuci felt a pang of sadness seeing his stubborn yet slightly aggrieved expression, so she sat down as well.

"Little blind girl, what's wrong with you? Why do you look so pale?" Xie Shuci asked worriedly.

Xie An pursed his thin lips and asked, "Am I any different from them?"

"have!"

What's the difference?

"At once……"

Xie Shuci wanted to speak, but dared not speak carelessly, fearing that Xie An would notice something.

Seeing that he hesitated and couldn't speak, Xie An's expression turned even colder.

"If you can't say it, then forget it."

He poured himself a cup of tea, his body weak, but as he picked it up, his fingers gave way and the cup slipped from his grasp.

The King: "..."

Is this the same hand that can crush a baby's skull with its bare hands?

"Hey... Xie An! What's wrong with you?" Xie Shuci brought a tablecloth to wipe the water stains off the table.

Xie An lowered his head and said indifferently, "Anyway, I'm no different from anyone else. What happens to me is none of your business."

Xie Shuci steeled her resolve and gritted her teeth, saying, "You're different from them. You're Xie An, you're mine... you're a very important person to me, unlike anyone else!"

Xie An paused, then pointed to the dog at his feet, "And it?"

The King: "..."

What does this have to do with me?

“It’s different with the King, it’s different with anyone else. To me, you are the most important person, without exception.” Xie Shuci said this with great certainty.

This was indeed his true thought.

Xie Shuci didn't know how to define his feelings for Xie An, but Xie An was definitely the most important person in his world.

Upon hearing this, the king was terrified, and immediately his eyes welled up with tears, "Awooo..."

What about that baby? Waaah...

Upon seeing this, Xie Shuci quickly reassured her, "Of course, you're important too?"

After hearing his words, Xie An did not express his opinion, but continued to ask, "Will you still communicate with others spiritually in the future?"

"No, no," Xie Shuci quickly shook his head.

This time, Xie An nodded in satisfaction, calmly picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of tea, and then steadily brought the cup to his lips and took a sip.

"I'm fine, I just feel dizzy from sleeping too long."

As Xie An said this, a smile appeared on his lips, a far cry from the frail appearance he had just shown moments before.

Xie Shuci: "..."

Good grief, we're really being completely outmaneuvered.

Xie Shuci looked at him and suddenly felt a little wronged. She had been completely open and honest with him, answering all his questions, but the little blind man hadn't said a word from the beginning. She had made her point so clearly and so... so...

Xie Shuci leaned down, rested his chin on the table, and said sullenly, "And what about you? I've said so much, and you haven't said anything?"

Xie An was taken aback by his question. "What did you say?"

"You!" Xie Shuci snapped angrily. "I've already said you're very important to me, that I only need you, so you should at least show some appreciation!"

Upon hearing this, Xie An frowned, seemingly pondering the meaning behind his words.

Xie Shuci just stared at him expectantly.

Xie An hesitated for a moment, then said, "You...are..."

The only person who shares a spiritual connection with me.

Just as Xie Shuci sat up straight, thinking he would continue speaking, Xie An shut his mouth.

Xie Shuci was dumbfounded. "That's it? That's all?"

Xie An looked puzzled. "Not enough?"

"What did you say? It doesn't show my uniqueness at all!" Xie Shuci said angrily.

After listening, Xie An pondered for a moment and said, "Spiritual connection is generally something that can only be done by Daoist partners or people who are extremely close and trust each other."

Are they Daoist partners or have an extremely close relationship?

After hearing Xie An's words, Xie Shuci murmured in confusion.

Daoist partners?

Close relationship?

Daoist companions...

Close relationship...

Daoist companion!

They have a close relationship!

Daoist partners!?

Xie Shuci silently repeated Xie An's words in his mind. When he uttered the words "Daoist companion" for the nth time, Xie Shuci's chest felt like fireworks exploding, making his mind a complete mess.

The Dao and companions! How can these two words be tied to them? How old is the little blind man? He's only sixteen! He's not even an adult yet!

Xie Shuci suddenly cupped his cheeks, his burning cheeks making him tremble all over.

So, so this is what spiritual connection is like?

Only people with a specific relationship can do this!

So he, that alchemist... and Little Fairy Orchid...

No, no, no, these are not the point.

So, he and the little blind man...

No wonder Xie An repeatedly told him not to share his spiritual consciousness with others!

My God... he actually did something so intimate with the blind girl?

Kill him! Someone, kill him!

He was the only one whose spiritual connection with Xie An was shared... Wasn't he just leading Xie An astray?

Xie Xiaoci! You've committed a grave sin!

Xie Shuci's cheeks flushed bright red as he struggled internally. Xie An and the King looked at his increasingly red face and both showed puzzled expressions.

"Xie Shuci?"

"Huh?"

"Ah..." Xie Shuci raised his head in confusion. When he saw Xie An's jade-like face, his heart pounded again, and the words "I will take responsibility for you" almost slipped out of his mouth.

"I...I...I will never communicate with anyone again!" Xie Shuci said, straightening his body as if making a vow.

Xie An seemed quite satisfied and nodded, "Hmm."

"You, you, you must never do this again... understand? I didn't know before that doing this would only... Anyway, anyway, let's never mention this again!"

Xie An feigned confusion: "What are you referring to?"

Xie Shuci's mind was like boiling water; even saying those words felt like scalding her tongue. "You... you're not allowed to mention the matter of shared spiritual consciousness again!"

"Oh..." Xie An responded meaningfully.

Xie Shuci suddenly stood up from the table, "I...I'll go boil some hot water for the waiter to take a bath!"

"No... I'll ask the waiter to boil some hot water for a bath!"

Xie An took a leisurely sip of tea. "I'm hungry."

"Then wash after you finish eating!"

After saying that, Xie Shuci ran out in a flash.

Judging from that back view, it looked like they were fleeing in panic.

The king sat on the ground, looking at the staggering figure with a puzzled expression.

Xie An brought the teacup to his lips and chuckled very softly.

Even though it was my turn to ask the question, and someone else answered it, I get so shy that I run away.