Shi Ji Moved, Actively Protecting Him

"Azure Stone Palace..."

Shi Ji's red lips parted slightly, unconsciously murmuring the name.

The scene before her, dreamlike and illusory, made her Dao Heart tremble slightly.

The once gloomy, terrifying dojo littered with white bones had completely vanished.

In its place stood a majestic immortal mountain, rising from the ground and piercing the clouds.

The mountain peaks were verdant, shrouded in immortal mist, with exotic flowers and jade grass carpeting the ground. Waterfalls and springs chimed, and countless immortal birds and auspicious beasts frolicked in the forest, exuding an air of peaceful, immortal grandeur.

The Spiritual Energy permeating the air was so dense it felt almost tangible. A single breath seemed to subtly increase her cultivation.

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy here was hundreds, even thousands of times richer than that of the barren Skeleton Mountain of the past!

It was probably not much inferior to the Jade Void Palace of the Chan Sect.

And all of this originated from the man before her.

With a casual wave of his hand, he had tossed aside countless heavenly treasures and earthly materials, coveted by even Saint's dojos, like mere garbage, to rebuild her mountain gate.

With a simple utterance of two words, he had domineeringly plundered the Spiritual Energy within hundreds of millions of miles, converging it all here.

He had even casually set up a sword formation, its power so immense that it would make a Quasi-Saint hesitate to approach.

Finally, he had jointly named this brand-new immortal blessed land after both of their names.

Azure Stone Palace.

It was his origin, and it was her name.

This was their home.

At the thought, an unprecedented warmth, mixed with endless sorrow and emotion, instantly shattered all of Shi Ji's psychological defenses.

Her eyes reddened without warning.

Crystal tears, like pearls from a broken string, slipped uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes.

Since her transformation, she had wandered the Primordial World alone, enduring cold stares and ostracism. After finally finding a cave dwelling to settle down, the Chan Sect had attacked her, nearly causing her to perish.

When had she ever experienced such warmth and protection?

When had anyone ever been willing to do so much for her?

Shi Ji strode quickly to Qin Feng, disregarding everything, and bowed deeply, performing a grand courtesy.

Her voice, thick with a nasal tone and uncontrollable sobs, echoed softly in the vast palace.

"For everything Brother Dao has done for me, Shi Ji... has no way to repay you."

This bow was not for the might of a powerful being, but for the tenderness and protection capable of melting eternal ice.

Qin Feng paused for a moment, then smiled helplessly.

He reached out, and a gentle force slowly helped Shi Ji to her feet.

Looking at her tear-streaked, on-the-verge-of-crying appearance, Qin Feng reached out and gently wiped away the tear tracks on her cheeks with his thumb.

"Since we are friends, why the need for thanks?"

His voice was still calm, but it carried an undeniable sincerity.

Friends...

These two words struck Shi Ji's heart like a primordial chaos thunderbolt, stirring up monstrous waves.

Yes, friends.

So, he had always considered her a friend.

That was why he had confronted the Chan Sect and forced back a Saint for her.

That was why he had poured out divine artifacts and rebuilt her dojo for her.

At this moment, Shi Ji's heart was completely filled with a happiness that made her feel somewhat dizzy.

Qin Feng supported her arm, helping her stand steady, then changed the subject, his expression becoming somewhat serious.

"Although today's 'exchange' with them seemed effortless, it wasn't without cost. I've gained some insights and need to go into seclusion for a period to consolidate them."

His aura was stable, but if one sensed carefully, they could detect the chaotic Dao Charm, which transcended the Heavenly Dao, in an active yet unstable state.

Clearly, confronting a Saint's decree and facing Yuanshi Tianzun had not been without its impact on him.

"I will entrust this place to your care for now."

Qin Feng's gaze swept across the new Azure Stone Palace, his tone carrying a hint of unquestionable trust.

This was not merely an entrustment, but a transfer of power.

He had handed over this immortal blessed land, comparable to a Saint's dojo, to Shi Ji without reservation.

Hearing that Qin Feng was going into seclusion, Shi Ji's heart, immersed in happiness, instantly tensed.

He was going into seclusion?

Was it because he was injured from the confrontation with Yuanshi Tianzun?

In an instant, endless worry and self-blame surged into her heart.

It's all my fault! If it weren't for me, why would Dao Brother have fallen out with the Chan Sect, why would it have alarmed a Saint, and why would he need to go into seclusion to consolidate his gains?

I can't be like before, just hiding behind him and passively accepting his protection.

I want to do something for him too!

This thought, like a prairie fire, instantly ignited in Shi Ji's heart.

Her eyes changed drastically at this moment.

Her original gentleness, dependence, and gratitude were replaced by an unprecedented firmness and resolve.

She raised her head, straightened her spine, and her phoenix eyes, filled with tears, stared intently at Qin Feng.

"Dao Brother, rest assured and go into seclusion!"

Shi Ji said without the slightest hesitation, her voice clear and resolute.

"Shi Ji is willing to protect you!"

She took a step forward, standing in front of Qin Feng, as if to shield him from all the storms of the outside world with her not-so-tall body.

At this moment, she was no longer a weakling passively receiving protection, but had proactively taken on the role of a guardian.

This was a fundamental shift in her mindset.

She looked at Qin Feng, word by word, and solemnly made her vow.

"As long as Shi Ji has a breath left, I will not let anyone disturb Dao Brother in the slightest!"

Her words were sonorous and powerful, each one containing her entire will and determination.

It was a resolve that, even if she died, her soul scattered, she would not retreat half a step.

Looking at the woman before him who seemed to have undergone a complete transformation in an instant, a flicker of surprise flashed in Qin Feng's eyes, which then turned into a gratified smile.

This, this was the Shi Ji he had hoped to see.

Not a weakling who struggled powerlessly against fate and could only weep.

But a strong person who dared to face the storms head-on and draw her sword to protect the one she loved.

"Good."

Qin Feng didn't say much, just nodded gently and uttered a single word.

But this one word gave Shi Ji more affirmation and strength than any flowery language.

He turned and walked towards a prepared quiet room deep within the palace.

His steps were calm, without the slightest hesitation or defensiveness.

Because he knew that from this moment on, behind him, there was a guardian willing to give everything for him.

Shi Ji stood there quietly, her gaze following that tall figure until he disappeared behind the stone door of the quiet room.

Buzz!

A profound restriction lit up, completely isolating the inside from the outside.

Shi Ji slowly withdrew her gaze and took a deep breath.

When she opened her eyes again, all the tenderness and emotion had disappeared, replaced by a calmness and vigilance as cold as ten thousand years of ice.

She took a step, and her figure instantly appeared outside the mountain gate of the Azure Stone Palace, sitting cross-legged on a bluestone.

Her divine sense, like an invisible net, instantly spread out, covering every corner of the entire Azure Stone Palace.

Her gaze, sharp as a falcon's, scanned every inch of the void in front of the mountain gate.

From today onwards, she was the guardian of the Azure Stone Palace.

And more importantly, she was Dao Brother Qin Feng's first line of defense.