Cross circulated his Heaven Rending Void God Arts constantly, refining his entire being as the days trickled by.
1 and a half months later
Long Chen threw Cross a pill and he ate it right away, not even asking what it was. Cross took off his blindfold and he could see! A miracle! His eyes felt much better. Long Chen's eye also felt slightly better.
They reached land and saw a Monster tide, so they swept past, helping the humans in need. Cross dangled countless strings off the side of the Ship and collected the corpses, sending half to Long Chen.
They got to the shore and got off the boat but they were stopped by a man who shouted "Stop! Who are you!?" Cross smiled and said "It seems our help wasn't appreciated." Xue'er held his arm and giggled. The man glanced at Xue'er and Yu Qingxuan, his eyes flashed with lust and greed.
Cross and Long Chen looked at each other and shook their heads. Sure enough, the man said "I think you're conspiring with the Demons! Arrest them!" the Dragon Blood Warriors behind Long Chen immediately killed all the people with the man.
Cross said "Isn't it nice to live?" Feng Xue'er smiled sweetly and said "Seems like they were in a rush to meet Lucifer." Cross scratched the bridge of her nose and said lovingly "You learn fast, Xuexue." Feng Xue'er scrunched her nose cutely and Cross smiled happily.
A powerful guy appeared as Guo Ran cleaned up the man, Uncle Huai shot and destroyed the powerful guy's body. The guy suddenly went into a wooden totem and cast a tracking mark on the group saying something about a 'Ye family not letting them off' before running away.
Cross scoffed at this and said "Are we going to let them off? This fellow, is his brains shit?" Long Chen rubbed his face and said "Do we have to meet idiots everywhere we go?" he killed the man that was crying on the ground and searched his soul.
Long Chen suddenly said "Heavenly God? Immortal Aristocratic Family?" Cross said "Heavenly God? The Peak??" Long Chen sighed and said "Is it the peak?" looking at Cross with a wry smile, Cross rubbed his nose and said sagely "There's always a higher mountain." before sighing.
Long Chen laughed and interrogated some people around about where this was, learning that they were in the Peaceful River Prefecture. Long Chen left a threat to not fuck with him or the consequences could not be afforded.
Then the group left on the ship, sailing away.
Ain't that the truth? I haven't seen someone who has survived Long Chen's revenge yet!
Anyway.
They left and 3 Hierarch Realm old men came. In short, Cross didn't have to move. Two of the old men were taken care of by Uncle Huai and Long Chen had been fighting the last one, but he pissed himself, kneeled on the ground and begged for his life.
Long Chen disdained to kill him, but Cross wasn't polite. The old man said "I'm willing to be a slave!" Cross waved over and smiled saying "Very well, since you want to be a slave. I will fulfill your wish." his hand glowed black and gold and he slapped the old man's forehead, imprinting the Taichi pattern and enslaving the old man.
The old man stood up without emotion and had a blank expression on his face. Cross washed the old man clean and threw him armor and a heavy sword as he said "Get dressed, carry the sword on your back at all times and stand guard."
The old man did as he was told and stood guard suited in armor with a giant heavy sword on his back. Cross smiled and sat in a chair, looking at the gawking looks. He chuckled and said "What?" The group just shook their heads and the ship continued on.
They came to a city and went to the Huayan Trading Company. Long Chen went to get information and the rest went to rest. Cross went for a walk on the streets with Xue'er. He felt really happy, being with Xue'er at the moment, feeling calm from the depths of his heart.
Actually, he had his Art circulating at all times, he felt that this was the Art for him. It finally fit with his body. He wouldn't go as far to say that it was fate, because he didn't believe in such a thing. It was all bullshit, if he stands there and doesn't resist an attack from a God would fate help him then? Destiny?
Haha. I don't think so. The result would be Cross meat patties, not a heavenly destiny.
As such, he was just happy he got the Art and didn't think about too much else. His Body was constantly being refined, which meant he was in constant pain, but after a month it didn't hurt so much anymore.
Cross walked the streets, holding Feng Xue'er's hand and walking gracefully, bringing her to buy things. He smiled at her graceful figure trying on a bunch of robes but ultimately sticking with the sundress Cross made for her.
Of course, what would a walk be without shopping? Cross and Feng Xue'er bargained with a few old men over things, Cross was so rich he didn't really mind the price but paying less was always a good thing, right?
They circled around the city, not having a single accident which was too goo to be true. Even Xue'er was surprised and happy. Nobody bothered them on their date! She was beyond thrilled actually. Cross smiled and said softly "Xuexue, are you tired?"
Feng Xue'er was startled and asked "What do you mean, hubby?" Cross walked to a restaurant and got a table in a corner, subconsciously releasing a noble and calm aura, making people have a good feeling towards him.
They sat down and Cross finally said "All of this, aren't you tired?" he ordered a few dishes with a smile and Xue'er replied "I don't want to say anything usually..." Cross smiled and held his chin in his palm as he looked into her eyes and said gently "Tell me, love."
Feng Xue'er smiled warmly and said "Well, I am tired... I don't want to speak for the rest but... I just want to rest, the constant push to get stronger takes a toll, you know?" she seemed to finally find an outlet as she gushed her feelings "Every time I watch you fight or are in pain, my heart hurts. I just want to live quietly, away from all the constant fighting. I stomach it because I love you, but truthfully, I don't like fighting. I don't like it at all."
Cross smiled softly as he listened to her complaints. He felt deep guilt in his eyes as he looked at her, she stopped and saw the guilt look in his eyes. She said quickly "Cross... Please don't feel guilty. I know you're doing everything for us. If anything, we should be the ones who are guilty. You get so strong so fast, it's really hard to keep up. I, along with the others, try our best but in the end, we seem unable to help you every time."
Her eyes quickly watered and Cross wiped her tears away as he said "Xue'er, do you know why I fight?" Feng Xue'er said immediately "To survive." Cross shook his head and said "To make a better world for you all."
Xue'er looked up and Cross' eyes were extremely gentle and full of love as he said "I want to make a world where you, our children, our children's children, and so on, don't have to fight and can live in peace. I want to become an unshakable pillar that shelters you all from the rain and protects you all forever."
He sighed and said "It's hard. It's extremely hard. Everyday it's a constant push through rows and rows of corpses and blood." Xue'er's eyes turned red as she said "Cross.." He continued "But I will push, swim, climb, tear, and claw my way forward. Even if I have to crawl, centimeters at a time, I will do it. Even if I have to use my teeth to continue and it takes 100s, 1000s, 1000000s of years I will do it."
He smiled and added "This is my way, my path, my Dao. Unyielding to the Heavens and Unrelenting to any obstacle." he looked at Xue'er and said softly "You, Luna, Jasmine, Ying'er, Jie Yuan, Die Wu, Elise, Luo Ning, Lu Mingxuan, Yuanyuan, Amelia, Lily, Artemis, Hong'er, Zephyr, Pandora, White, Selena, Grey, Gold, Silver, Platinum, Rose, Carl, Buckbeak, Red, Blue, and Levi, are my family. If I have to suffer for you all to have a better life, the price is inconsequential. I can endure any suffering, any pain for you all. You're all my life, each and every one of you is my treasures."
Cross flipped his palm slowly and smiled as a 28 colored rainbow lotus bloomed on his palm, dazzling the other customers. Cross said softly "If I lose even one of you, I don't know what I would do." he shook his head softly and the lotus floated to the roof of the restaurant and spun into beautiful colors, sprinkling down from the sky.
The cultivators were a bit irked but when they felt the sprinkles they lost their disgruntled expressions immediately as they felt calm and happy. The lotus was full of life aura, it was good for cultivators anyway.
Xue'er cried and said "Cross... I..." Cross wiped her eyes and said "I know, my love. It's okay. If I couldn't handle it, I wouldn't dare accept any of you in my heart for fear I wouldn't be able to protect you. I do this willingly because I love you. If I didn't want to, I wouldn't."
Feng Xue'er sniffed and Cross caressed her cheek as he said lovingly "Eat, then we'll go back." she nodded and they had a nice meal before leaving the restaurant. They walked on the streets and Cross walked to a shop.
He smiled at the middle aged woman and said "How much for the bracelet, miss?" the lady smiled and said "100 Immortal Crystals." Cross gave her 100 crystals before taking the rusted bracelet and leaving with Feng Xue'er.
He tapped the bracelet with his knuckles and the bracelet buzzed, the rust fell off and revealed a red jade phoenix bracelet. He put it on Feng Xue'er's wrist and gave her a soft smile. Xue'er smiled beautifully and hugged his arm as they went back to the rest.
Cross kissed Xue'er and sat in a chair, looking at the people passing by on the streets. Xue'er transformed into a golden Phoenix and shrank down, laying in his lap. Cross softly stroked her feathers as he continued refining endlessly, locking it to be on all the time.
Xue'er slowly fell asleep as Cross rubbed her neck and stomach feathers.
A while later
Long Chen and Yu Qingxuan appeared with serious expressions. Cross smiled and said calmly "Yes?" Long Chen said "You're gonna want to come take a look at this." Cross sighed and held Xue'er in his arms softly, so as to not wake her up as he followed the duo to a tree.
He touched the blood and licked it before chuckling darkly with an enraged expression. Long Chen frowned and said "You know?" Cross said angrily "Know." Yu Qingxuan said "What are we going to do??"
Cross took a deep breath and stroked Xue'er's feathers as he said "Get me everything you know on the Dark Elves here." he looked at an old man and said "Can you do that?" the old man nodded and a few minutes later, he handed Cross a jade token.
Cross read the Jade token and grinded his teeth as he put the jade token back in the old man's hands. He gently gave Yu Qingxuan Xue'er and suppressed his rage as he said softly "Please don't wake her, she's very tired." Yu Qingxuan smiled slightly and nodded.
Cross turned around and walked away, clenching his fists in rage. He stepped on the void and disappeared. These fucking Dark Elves were about to get a mouthful from the enraged King!