Chapter 217 (continued)

Even if it's eating people for justice, to save oneself, or even to protect others...

For Lianxin, all of this was extremely painful.

Just like a Huaxia person who could have gradually improved their cultivation level through pure cultivation, but because they entered the evil path, they had to improve their cultivation level by eating some filthy things raw.

This is not just a collapse of faith, but also having to endure constant nausea.

Even if he eventually adapts like the Flower of Evil, he still endures countless pains and torments.

"Isn't there any other way?" Li Yang asked. "For example, to purify what we've ingested?"

"What a joke!" said the Flower of Evil. "He ate a God King. Even if he can't eat too much, he has already laid a foundation. Right now, he just hasn't digested it yet. Once he's fully digested it... well, he should be at least at the fourth or Fifth Grade Realm."

Li Yang: "..."

Although she had always hoped that Lianxin could improve her cultivation level, she didn't want it to be in this way.

The Flower of Evil continued, "He must be at least at the Fourth Grade Realm, right? Think about it, he already has Star Soul, how can he purify it?"

Undeterred, Li Yang asked again, "Is there really no way?"

"There's no way!" the Flower of Evil declared confidently. "Even if he self-destructs his Star Soul, he'll only die."

Li Yang's heart felt like it was being stabbed again and again by countless needles.

"It's really alright," the Flower of Evil naturally sensed Li Yang's emotions and said, "If I had been able to devour a God King level being back then, I wouldn't have had to spend hundreds of thousands of years to advance to Divine Venerable... cough..."

He realized this would expose his stupidity—after all, it was rather embarrassing to take hundreds of thousands of years to ascend to the Divine Venerable.

But the words have already been spoken, and there's no going back.

Fortunately, Li Yang didn't care about any of that; her heart was filled with that foolish lotus Lianxin that wasn't Pure Lianxin!

Lianxin could sense Li Yang's anxiety. A warmth welled up in his heart, and his intense discomfort seemed to subside somewhat. He said, "Fellow Daoist, it's alright..."

Upon hearing his voice, Li Yang felt a surge of bittersweet emotion.

"Actually, there is a way, which is..." Lianxin paused for a moment, then said, "I just won't go into cultivation."

Li Yang: "!"

The Flower of Evil exclaimed, "Are you insane? Do you really want to stay stuck at the Fourth Grade Realm forever just to avoid being devoured?"

But soon, he realized that this fool Lianxin was actually capable of doing it.

After all, for 900,000 years, he hadn't eaten a single bite, remaining at the level of the Gradeless Realm.

"But..." Li Yang felt even heavier in her heart.

Although this 900,000-year-old Lianxin has never cultivated, Li Yang knows that it yearns for cultivation and desires to improve its realm.

If he didn't yearn for it, why would he be so fixated on returning to the Lotus Domain?

Lianlian's biggest motivation for returning to the Lotus Domain was to find a cultivation method that suited him.

But now, to help her, he'd rather remain at the Fourth Grade Realm forever.

The Flower of Evil revealed another cruel truth. "You're too naive. Once you reach a certain level, you won't be in the Gradeless Realm anymore! You'll slowly lose your Ninth Grade Rank, and not only will you be unable to feign death like before... you won't even be able to remain in Li Yang's Spirit Sea..."

Li Yang was taken aback, but quickly understood the meaning of "Flower of Evil".

This is similar to a student from a wealthy but strict family who relies on his parents' social status at school.

But once he enters society, he will need to work hard and rely on his own abilities to establish a new social status.

Before cultivating, Lianxin possessed a natural Ninth Grade status, a privilege inherited from the Lotus Domain.

However, after cultivation, the Ninth Grade rank will be replaced by the current realm, which is the Fourth Grade Realm.

If Lianxin doesn't want to cultivate by devouring, she will remain at the Fourth Grade Realm forever.

Lianxin was clearly aware of what the Flower of Evil had said. He replied, "I will not be a burden to you, fellow Daoist. As long as I return to the Lotus Domain, the Symbiotic Contract will be dissolved."

Originally Ninth-Grade Lianxin, after signing Symbiotic Contract with Li Yang benefited from it, occasionally borrowing his Ninth Grade status.

But now that Lianxin has decided to stay at the Fourth Grade, then this Symbiotic Contract is actually putting Li Yang in danger.

The Ninth-Grade Lianxin can feign death, making it difficult for anyone below the Divine Venerable Realm to sense, thus ensuring its safety.

Once the Fourth Grade Lianxin loses its ability to feign death, even a Fifth Grade Realm can easily sense it. At that point, they might even be able to indirectly kill Li Yang by killing the Lianxin.

Not to mention, those at the Fourth Grade Realm have a limited lifespan!

Therefore, Lianxin was to break the Symbiotic Contract with Li Yang so that she wouldn't be a burden to her.

The Flower of Evil said with exasperation, "What's wrong with eating something you don't like? Who doesn't suffer during cultivation? Only by enduring the bitterest of hardships can one become a lotus among lotuses!"

Even with the Flower of Evil causing trouble, Li Yang couldn't laugh.

Lianxin chuckled softly and said, "Yes, I've always been useless; I can't endure this hardship..."

Li Yang quickly said, "Don't talk about yourself like that! It's only crazy to force yourself to endure hardship! You're right! Cultivation is all about finding what suits you. Once it suits you, even if it seems like a lot of suffering to others, you won't feel it's suffering!"

[Lifespan increased by one year.]

[Lifespan increased by one year.]

Looking at those pitiful one or two years, Li Yang felt incredibly heartbroken.

"Fellow Daoist, it's alright," Lianxin said gently again, "I'm resisting it now, but perhaps one day I'll be able to adapt to devouring..."

He tried his best to Li Yang, but he couldn't say anything more.

The Flower of Flower of Evil, ever the sore spot, said, "That's right, didn't you say before that you would never eat people? But you made an exception for Li Yang!"

Li Yang: "..."

The Flower of Evil added, "Don't worry, Li Yang will face many more dangers in the future, maybe you..."

"That's enough!" Li Yang couldn't listen to it anymore.

What exactly is this silly flower trying to say?

It made her feel suffocated.

Lianxin thought about it carefully for a while and said to Li Yang, "Fellow Daoist, what the Flower of Evil said makes sense. I also thought I would never eat people, but when I sensed that you were in danger, I didn't hesitate at all. I only wanted to help you... At that moment, I didn't feel that eating people was so bitter."

He spoke with sincerity, but Li Yang felt a mix of emotions upon hearing it.

Her nose tingled with emotion, deeply moved by Lianlian's candid words, yet at the same time, she couldn't help but feel sad.

Li Yang said softly, "Don't worry, I... won't let this happen again."

The Flower of Evil, utterly oblivious, spoke again, "Wait, you're still in a bit of danger... Otherwise, how will this foolish Lianxin cultivate..."

"Shut up!" Li Yang and Lianxin said at the same time.

Because Lianxin's voice was lower than before, she spoke with more force this time.

Flower of Evil: "..."

My good intentions were completely wasted; I'm so annoyed by this person and this lotus!

Li Yang has basically figured out the situation regarding Lianxin.

Although it was very bad, thankfully there was no immediate danger to his life.

As for cultivation, Li Yang wasn't as rigid as the Flower of Evil.

As the saying goes, there's always a way out.

Just because the Flower of Evil is unaware doesn't mean others are unaware.

She can think about it slowly after returning to the Huaxia Heavenly Palace. She can also ask her fellow disciples for advice. With everyone working together, there might be a turning point!

In the realm of spiritual practice, when it comes to "naturalness," no one can compare to the Nature Department.

Furthermore, Li Yang felt that Sister Longevity might have a way, but unfortunately, her lifespan was limited and she was unable to find out.

The quest to eliminate the Heart Worm is still pending.

Maybe this is the Heart Worm of the Lianxin.

Once it's removed, Lianlian will be fine!

Because Lianxin had not yet digested what he had eaten, he could stay in Li Yang's Spirit Sea for a short time.

Of course, even if he had to come out, Li Yang could put him in the Spirit-Dwelling Box, but the two of them wouldn't be able to talk all the time anymore.

Their exchange was brief, Li Yang temporarily relaxed, turning her attention back to the outside world.

Although they defeated the God King of Time, the crisis was not yet over.

Li Yang did not touch the Authority of Time that had fallen to the ground.

The Flower of Evil had long coveted the Authority of Time, urging Li Yang, "Take it quickly! With your talent for cultivation, as long as you seclude yourself in this Realm Domain of Time for a while, you can become the new God King of Time!"

Li Yang looked at the Authority of Time lying on the ground.

The Authority of Time, in theory, has no concrete form.

Because Li Yang cultivated the Power of Time, he was able to see this abstract concept of existence.

In Li Yang's eyes, it was a crystal-clear form.

Its shape also resembles a handy dagger; because of its many facets, it refracts a dazzling light, making it very beautiful.

As long as she takes up the Authority of Time, she can become the new God King of Time.

The God King of Time has always been very mysterious because she extracted too many Spacetime Puppet, making her own existence quite elusive.

The reason she always wore a hood was to conceal her appearance.

Let alone the Divine Venerable Realm, even at the Master Realm, one can easily conjure up a face that no one can see through.

But the God King of Time couldn't do that, because she couldn't fix her face in one place.

If she weren't wearing a hood, her ever-changing appearance... would be truly eye-catching.

Given this premise, as long as Li Yang can inherit the Authority of Time, she can play the role of the God King of Time.

The Flower of Evil was calculating for her. "There are still twenty-two Master Realm beings of the Nature Department in the Upper Three Realms. If you want to bring them all back, the God King of Time... has the best chance!"

Li Yang pointed out incisively, "The premise is that we can deceive Daowu and Kongzhi."

The probability is very low.

It's too low to be worth the risk.

Li Yang was able to deceive the Divine Venerable Realm by posing as the Bone Peach Mother Tree because the Bone Peach Mother Tree was unfamiliar to them, and the Bone Peach Mother Tree's fabricated resume by Li Yang was very realistic.