Growing Up Means...

Shui Yuetian had been quietly watching the drama unfold all along. From Yu Xian and Nora's movements and expressions, she tried to guess what was happening between them. When Yu Xian suddenly walked toward Nora, an inward squeal erupted in Shui Yuetian's heart—her assist had really worked! "Sorry, Nora and I need to step away for a bit. We'll be right back!" Taking Nora firmly by the hand under everyone's astonished gazes, Yu Xian turned and addressed the group. A spatial bubble instantly enveloped the two of them. In the blink of an eye, only the spatial bubble remained where they had stood, and it shrank rapidly out of sight. Seeing this, everyone had an inkling of what was going on. Zhang Shou sighed and spread his hands helplessly. "So what, are we just supposed to stand here like idiots waiting for Salty Fish and her to come back?" "There's a snack shop over there. Let's head over and grab something to eat while we wait!" Shui Yuetian said excitedly. Little Nora's eyes immediately sparkled, and she cheered, "Yay! I want tasty food!" The group then strolled over toward the nearby snack shop. *** Island Grotto-Heaven. Yu Xian looked at Nora standing right before him, his heart pounding fast. He asked earnestly, "Nora, are you truly willing to face danger with me—even to die together?" "I am!" Nora gazed at him, her eyes steady and resolute. This was no fleeting impulse; it was a decision made after confirming the genuine feelings in her heart again and again. The prophetic dream had merely been a catalyst. What truly drove her to this choice was the love in her heart. She wanted to face the future with Yu Xian, joining hands to forge a life without regrets. Even if it meant death, she refused to repeat that past: stranded alone on Earth like her dream self, unable to find a home for her soul or a direction for her future. The moment Nora spoke those words, "I am," Yu Xian's already pounding heart accelerated violently. Looking at Nora so close to him, his emotions welled up beyond restraint. Instinctively, he leaned in toward her. With a faint blush rising to her cheeks, Nora gently closed her eyes and met him halfway. The moment their lips met, the Primordial Blood Pact entered Nora's body. They held each other close, and gradually, Nora merged into Yu Xian's body. Yu Xian closed his eyes as his originally silver hair shifted to platinum, while his features grew even more refined. Yet external changes were secondary; the true transformation took place within. Although he was a wild vampire, his origin had ultimately come from Nora's mutated blood. Whether he acknowledged it or not, on a conceptual or metaphysical level, Nora was the wellspring of his extraordinary power. Certain concept-grade or rule-grade abilities could strike at Yu Xian through Nora. Now, that had changed. For Yu Xian and Nora were now one. Even at the conceptual level, they formed an unbreakable union. Anyone attempting to target Yu Xian through Nora would have to face the retaliation of the entire blood pact system. Furthermore, Yu Xian and Nora were in a marvelous mental state. Their minds seemed to resonate on the same frequency. At this moment, their thoughts were without barrier, and both could vividly sense each other's love. Scenes from the past flowed through their shared mental realm. Hand in hand in the river of memories, it was as if they had returned to every morning they walked to school together. Bright sunshine, the delight of seeing each other, mutual affection—happiness beyond words. In this wondrous state, both Yu Xian's and Nora's strength began to rise steadily. 126… 127… 129… 0.02… 0.1… 0.9… 1… 130… 133… 145… 1… 10… 20… 50… Yu Xian's numerical increase was not outrageous, primarily because he was already very powerful to begin with. What was truly astonishing was Nora. Spurred by their mental resonance, her strength skyrocketed, breaking through to the equivalent of half a Star Rank. In truth, this was similar to dual cultivation. Without question, Yu Xian was the highest-grade cauldron. Nora's spiritual power had been frail, but under Yu Xian's "nourishment," her progress was naturally immense. Nearby, Zhenwo Changjing was the sole witness to this scene. Watching Yu Xian bathed in a faint golden glow, she suddenly understood the significance of her meeting with him across countless space-times. She also understood that Zhenwo Changle had never been her enemy. Even though Zhenwo Changle saw her as a mortal foe and wished nothing more than to kill her quickly, she should never have regarded Zhenwo Changle as an enemy. Because Zhenwo Changle was never an enemy, but... a lover. "So that's how it is. My fate crossed paths with Yu Xian's for this very reason: both of us will grow powerful through love, and invincible through love." A gratified smile appeared on Zhenwo Changjing's face. Kindness was only the surface; the true core was love. Invincibility was not about being unbeatable; it was about having no enemies. Now she was invincible, while Yu Xian still had a long way to go, yet she believed that one day he would be invincible as well. She closed her eyes, her entire body radiating an indescribable aura. In truth, she possessed many offensive abilities; she had simply never used them. Now, she relinquished them all. For just as she had realized, she had no enemies left. And since she had no enemies, she naturally had no need for any means of attack. "Farewell, Yu Xian." Zhenwo Changjing slowly opened her eyes and took one last, deep look at Yu Xian. Then, condensing the power she had discarded into a mote of light, she sent it into Yu Xian's chest before turning away to depart in silence. The intersection of her fate and Yu Xian's had reached its end. She was going to find her lover now, to stop him from slaughtering the innocent, and she would not return. All feasts under heaven must come to an end. She and Yu Xian had met and come to know each other, and now the time had come to part. Ten minutes slipped by in the blink of an eye. Yu Xian slowly opened his eyes; his combat power had risen to 300. He could feel the surging power within him—a power that had emerged in a wondrous way, not absorbed from the outside world, but born from his and Nora's love. *Could this be the secret of Mind Branch cultivation techniques? Did Nora and I stumble into some sort of Mind Branch state by sheer coincidence?* Yu Xian thought to himself as he sensed his condition. He instinctively went to ask Zhenwo Changjing, only to discover that Zhenwo Changjing, who had always been by his side, was gone. "Auntie!" "Auntie, where are you? Auntie..." Yu Xian looked around, a sudden inexplicable panic rising within him as he called out loudly. Over the past year and more, he had grown accustomed to Zhenwo Changjing's companionship, viewing her as family, an elder, and a friend. Whenever he had questions, he habitually consulted her because he trusted completely that she would never harm him. Her abrupt disappearance left him flustered and alarmed. In an instant, he moved rapidly through spatial bubbles, shuttling across countless cities and planets, searching every possibility he could imagine. In the end, he had to admit the truth: Zhenwo Changjing was truly gone. Perhaps when a lion grows up, he must eventually set out on his own path; fortunately, he already had a pride of his own by his side. Collapsing onto the sandy beach and watching the tide rise and fall across the sea, he finally looked up at the sky and let out a wistful sigh. Things had come to this; for now, he had best return to Crescent Bay.