Even though he knew this absurd request was just something she said in anger, Qin Luo's eyes flickered as he looked at the lingering resentment and the words that seemed about to turn her into a villain on Xia Zihan's system panel. Finally, he said softly:
"Zihan, you know this request is a bit too difficult..."
Hearing this expected answer, Xia Zihan trembled, but she didn't say anything more, only burying her head deeply in Qin Luo's arms.
But a moment later, Xia Zihan felt Qin Luo lift her chin, forcing her to passively gaze into his deep pupils, his warm voice echoing in her ears once more:
"However... after the competition between the universities, I promise you I will make up for the three years we were apart. At that time, I will be with you alone, is that alright?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Xia Zihan's tense body relaxed, and she buried her face in his chest again, letting out a muffled "hmm".
She knew how absurd her decision was; she was furious, yet she couldn't bear to let go. But so what? At least Qin Luo was willing to make this choice for her, so she could pretend that nothing had changed.
The wind and snow on the mountaintop gradually subsided, and sunlight shone on the two people, casting dappled shadows.
Qin Luo looked down at the beauty in his arms who was gradually calming down, feeling both nostalgic and bitter.
He knew this was just a delaying tactic. How would he explain things to Yi Ting and Murong Liyue after the academy conflict? Not to mention Huang Lu and Su Yaoyue, and who knew if You Yueying would be secretly observing him, potentially making the situation even more chaotic...
Fortunately, he had stabilized the most difficult source of the problem, and he had plenty of ways to get Xia Zihan to accept them willingly. The good stuff in the final stage of this year's academy competition was exactly what he needed.
He stopped thinking and brought his wandering thoughts back. Qin Luo lowered his head and gazed at the person in his arms. Xia Zihan's appearance was indeed more stunning than it had been three years ago. Her skin was as white as snow, her eyebrows and eyes were like paintings, and even the tip of her red nose from crying exuded a captivating beauty.
However, Qin Luo's gaze subtly swept over a certain spot, and he sighed inwardly:
No, how come this girl only has a pretty face but not a big figure? Three years have passed, and the parts that should be developing are still so understated.
Unexpectedly, Xia Zihan, who was lingering and inhaling the scent that she longed for, which belonged only to Qin Luo, seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up.
Qin Luo reacted quickly, his slender fingers gently stroking Xia Zihan's cheek, tenderly wiping away the remaining tears from the corners of her eyes.
"It's been three years since I last saw you, and my Zihan has grown even more stunningly beautiful." He said with feigned emotion, his eyes filled with tenderness. "These eyebrows, this delicate nose, even the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden would be ashamed of herself in comparison."
Hearing this, Xia Zihan pouted and turned her face away, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up slightly, her voice muffled with lingering resentment as she said:
"What's the use of being good-looking if you can't keep someone's heart?"
Even so, her fingers, hidden in her sleeve, unconsciously tightened around the hem of her clothes. Qin Luo's praise seeped into her heart like honey, filling her chest with a sweet warmth.
Seeing this, Qin Luo took the opportunity to pull her closer with one hand, and gently turned her face back to him with the other:
"Who said that? I'm so infatuated with you that I don't even want to participate in the university competition anymore, so I can make up for the three years you've been absent."
"Smooth-tongued, no wonder you've got so many romantic entanglements outside." Xia Zihan lightly punched his chest, but then leaned even closer. Suddenly remembering something, she tilted her head back:
"Then tell me, am I prettier or...?"
"Of course it's you!"
Qin Luo interrupted decisively, then added with a strong survival instinct:
"At this moment, in my eyes, all of them combined are not even one ten-thousandth as good as you."
Qin Luo said this without the slightest hesitation. After all, in his impression, only You Wanling could compare to Xia Zihan in terms of looks, and even You Yueying was slightly inferior.
Hearing Qin Luo's offhand response, Xia Zihan knew it was all fluff, but she still couldn't help but smile.
"Liar..."
As she finished speaking, she gazed at Qin Luo's handsome face, which seemed almost within reach, reached out her slender fingers to hold his neck, and quietly straightened her back and stood on tiptoe.
In the distance, the Purple Phoenix flapped its magnificent wings, and the feathers on its head swayed.
Seeing its owner being coaxed into throwing itself into its arms, its big purple eyes were full of helplessness. It quickly covered its eyes with its wings and let out a soft cry.
At the same time, it didn't forget to peek out from the gaps in its wings, its head popping up and down, looking adorably human-like.
Unfortunately, their blissful moment was short-lived. Just as the two were enjoying their tender moment atop the mountain, figures began to dart out from the entrance of the nearby ruins.
Huang Lu and Su Yaoyue were also among them, their bodies surrounded by spiritual energy, which had increased significantly compared to before.
Huang Lu, in particular, whose cultivation level was originally at the late stage of the Soul Separation Realm, has now risen to the mid stage of the Divine Travel Realm. The spiritual energy around her is powerful and vigorous, indicating that she has obtained a great opportunity in the ruins.
Su Yaoyue was no less impressive. Although her aura hadn't increased as much as Huang Lu's since she had only recently entered the Spirit Tribulation stage, it had still grown considerably. Her spiritual energy flowed freely with every move, and her eyes revealed the satisfaction of exploring the ruins.
Compared to Su Yaoyue and Huang Lu's composure upon emerging from the ruins, Sikong Xiu's demeanor was quite different. The moment she stepped out of the ruins, she shrank back slightly, her eyes cautiously scanning her surroundings.
The gains from the ruins were barely satisfactory, but her mind wasn't on the increased cultivation level; instead, she was preoccupied with a single thought that was causing her considerable unease:
Should we slip away while Qin Luo isn't looking?
Once the idea took root in her mind, it seemed more and more feasible, and she even quietly moved her feet, ready to run away with the members of the Illusionary Dream Sect at any moment.
But when she thought of the restriction Qin Luo had left in her mind, she knew that as long as the restriction wasn't removed, no matter where she fled to, she would never escape Qin Luo's control.
Helpless, Sikong Xiu could only sigh inwardly, suppressing the urge to escape, her face filled with helplessness and frustration.
Immediately after they emerged, the entrances to the ruins in the five regions of the shattered continent began to rapidly dissipate.
At the same time, the ground in the five regions began to crack and collapse. The thick earth began to fissure, and countless boulders floated up from the ground before being annihilated into dust, plunging the entire shattered continent into a state of collapse.
As the shattered continent crumbled, a dazzling pillar of glazed light shot into the sky from the center of the shattered continent.
The beam of light pierced the sky, its brilliance so dazzling that it was almost impossible to look directly at it.
Wherever the beam of light reached, space itself distorted, forming a vast expanse. As the beam rose higher, the oppressive force it emitted grew stronger and stronger.
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