Chapter 135: Xiao Xiyue: So this is the tribulation of love!

In the inky night sky, a silver moon hung high.Its faint moonlight bathed the pavilions of the Lu Family manor, as if draping them in a silvery veil. The entire Lu manor was shrouded in darkness and silence, except for one brilliantly lit courtyard within. Under that frosty luminescence, a figure in white dress resembling a celestial moon fairy drifted in, her garments fluttering in the night breeze. “Mmm~” Before she could descend, the celestial-like Xiao Xiyue suddenly heard a series of sounds – seemingly aggrieved yet alluring, mournful yet coquettish. The sounds made Xiao Xiyue’s jade-like countenance falter slightly as her heartbeat abruptly quickened. This increased heartbeat caused her Supreme Forgetfulness Technique to rapidly activate. “What sounds are these?” Xiao Xiyue’s brow furrowed slightly in bewilderment. Why would such simple sounds rouse such palpitations within her? The Supreme Forgetfulness Technique suppressed these inexplicable emotions. She then followed the sounds, glancing towards the rooms in the courtyard. The shadows reflected in the window allowed her to instantly guess the situation inside, causing her heart to “thump thump thump” once more. She realized her timing was inappropriate. Yet a sense of palpitation and stimulation arose, as if possessed, causing her to channel her spiritual power into her eyes to peer inside. Within the chambers, she saw several of the Lu Family madams she had met earlier that day, along with Lu Changsheng… In that instant, Xiao Xiyue felt as if struck by lightning. A blush of crimson suddenly flushed her exquisite face, nearly causing her to cry out. This one glance delivered an unprecedented, powerful impact to Xiao Xiyue. The state of mind just calmed by her Supreme Forgetfulness Technique erupted violently in that moment. Her spiritual roots trembled, the technique nearly failing as her jade-like form slightly softened. At fifteen, she had joined the immortal sect and devoted herself wholeheartedly to cultivation. Though aware of certain matters between men and women from books, she was essentially an unblemished white leaf. She had never witnessed such scenes before. Let alone something so stimulating and startling. Under the moonlight, Xiao Xiyue’s translucent jade-like skin shimmered against the cold lunar glow. Her face, as chaste and pristine as the celestial moon itself, now flushed a rosy hue – a ravishing, breathtaking beauty. Her heart surged with turmoil as she stood dazed and lost. “Could this be…the Trial of Desire I must face?” Xiao Xiyue lightly bit her lip as the Supreme Forgetfulness Technique activated, suppressing the surging tides within. Just then, the unprecedented, stimulating sight caused her heartbeat to race and body to soften. Yet simultaneously, the Supreme Forgetfulness Technique frantically spun. It was as if the unbreakable, formidable barriers within her had slightly loosened in that moment. Allowing her to vaguely realize the nature of her Trial of Desire. Sᴇaʀᴄh the n0vᴇl(ꜰ)ire.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality. Prior to this, she only knew that she needed to undergo such a trial. And that the trial manifested through Lu Changsheng – the catalyst for her breakthrough. But the specifics had remained unclear to her. For the word “desire” was far too broad – It could refer to familial love, friendship, romance, or intimacy between men and women. And each of those types of desire branched into many more permutations. Yet in this moment, she faintly understood. It referred to the desire between men and women. The desire encompassing sensual intimacy. And what she needed to do was repress that desire, forget that lust – To comprehend desire yet detach from it, experience yet remain indifferent. After realizing the nature of her Trial, Xiao Xiyue’s moonlike luminous eyes wavered uncertainly, flickering with turmoil. Not only was her heart in disarray, but her mind spun in confusion, leaving her dazed and lost. At the same time, within the courtyard chambers, the diligently occupied Lu Changsheng suddenly sensed a feeling of being watched. His brow furrowed slightly. Though his manor lacked a grand formation for protection, the outer courtyard had patrol guards while the inner courtyard was guarded by the Nine Netherworld Hounds. Ordinarily, no top experts could infiltrate undetected in the mortal realm. He glanced outward through the doors and windows. Immediately spotting a fairylike white figure. “Xiao Xiyue?” Lu Changsheng looked at the white figure with some surprise and doubt. He did not know why this Fairy Xiyue had come so late at night. Instead of cultivating or sleeping, she sought him out to talk? However, seeing it was just Xiao Xiyue watching and not some ill-intentioned person put Lu Changsheng at ease. Yet this moment of distraction caused Lu Lanshu to feel a sudden emptiness. Her usually dignified and elegant face now flushed with rosy allure. Turning her coy, half-lidded eyes towards her husband, she softly asked, “Husband, what is it?” The three other wives also looked towards Lu Changsheng. “It’s nothing.” Lu Changsheng saw Xiao Xiyue hastily depart as soon as he glanced outwards, so he did not dwell on it further. He figured Xiao Xiyue must have had something to discuss with him, which led to this awkward encounter. Moreover, he could hardly pause everything right now to go ask about her matter, could he? “Stick that pretty butt out!” *Smack!* Lu Changsheng struck out and continued his passionate endeavors. “Mmm~” Lu Lanshu arched her back, her dark tresses whipping wildly as a moan escaped her lips. As for Xiao Xiyue, she detected Lu Changsheng’s glance amidst her inner turmoil. Despite her cultivation of the Supreme Forgetfulness Technique and pure, inexperienced heart, in this situation her heart still palpitated. She fled the courtyard almost as if in retreat, drifting back to her own quarters. Back in her room, the rapidly spinning Supreme Forgetfulness Technique gradually restored the chilly composure to Xiao Xiyue’s exquisite face. Yet recalling that earlier scene still caused an instinctive, soul-deep shudder, her jade form flushing with feverish softness. “So this is my Trial of Desire? No wonder I could never fully grasp the Supreme Forgetfulness Technique.” “My current state is still far too lacking.” Xiao Xiyue murmured inwardly, gingerly touching her warm cheek. She did not understand what had overcome her earlier. Was she possessed by demons? Despite realizing what Lu Changsheng was engaged in, she still stole that glimpse. “If I could fully control and suppress these emotions, perhaps that would signify my mental state reaching completion, breaking through the illusion.” As the Supreme Forgetfulness Technique spun, Xiao Xiyue’s inner turmoil also gradually calmed. Yet the thought of completely mastering these emotions caused her to sigh lightly, gazing up at the bright moon hanging in the night sky. For some reason, the earlier scene resurfaced before her eyes once more, causing her newly settled heart to palpitate faintly. Xiao Xiyue did not dispel the blushing, scandalous image from her mind. Instead, she chose to face it directly, even attempting to envision herself in that position. Because for her, this too was a tempering of her mental state. If she could not master even these base emotions, how could she undergo the ‘Trial of Desire’ and break the illusion? An indeterminate time passed. Eventually, Xiao Xiyue found she could calmly, directly face that scene without the slightest ripple in her heart. She directly faced the impactful scene that shook her spiritual roots. By the time dawn arrived, Xiao Xiyue rose, lightly adjusting her dress and using a cleansing technique on herself. She prepared to seek out Lu Changsheng and lay everything regarding the Trial of Desire on the table, as well as explain last night’s events. “Daoist Lu.” Xiao Xiyue found Lu Changsheng in the front courtyard. Seeing him caused faint ripples to stir within her heart due to last night’s happenings. However, after a entire night of tempering her mental state, she did not outwardly show any significant change. “Daoist Xiao, let us depart after the morning meal,” Lu Changsheng calmly said, not mentioning last night’s incident. After all, such matters were rather awkward to discuss. It was best to act as if nothing had happened. “It is not that. I have something to discuss with Daoist Lu,” Xiao Xiyue softly shook her head, her expression serious. Seeing this, Lu Changsheng knew she must have an important matter to address – likely the reason she had sought him out last night. Lu Changsheng then invited Xiao Xiyue to a private pavilion and asked, “What matter does Daoist Xiao wish to speak about?” “Daoist Lu should be able to see that I have undergone an obvious change compared to ten years ago,” Xiao Xiyue said, looking at him. Lu Changsheng nodded, uncertain why she suddenly brought this up. “This change is due to the cultivation technique I practice,” Xiao Xiyue continued. During these past few days together, experiencing the mortal realm and observing its myriad states, she had been observing Lu Changsheng as well. Through her observations, Lu Changsheng had passed her test of sorts. Thus, she decided to reveal the matter of the Trial of Desire. And to fully explain it, she would need to lay out the background first. Lu Changsheng inwardly nodded. Just as he had guessed, Xiao Xiyue’s transformation stemmed from cultivating a certain technique. But he still did not understand why she raised this with him. Without waiting for him to speak, Xiao Xiyue went on, “The technique I cultivate is called the Supreme Forgetfulness Technique.” “To successfully cultivate it requires tempering the heart amidst the mundane, experiencing its joys and sorrows, in order to comprehend the profundities of ‘Supreme Forgetfulness’.” “My master refined a pill to bypass that step for me, allowing me to grasp this technique.” “However, my mental state remains deficient, unable to break through.” Xiao Xiyue gazed at Lu Changsheng as she slowly spoke. “The Supreme Forgetfulness Technique?” Lu Changsheng nodded slightly. He knew profound techniques often had such demanding requirements, making them immensely difficult to cultivate. Even the Seven Stars Great Freedom Sword Technique he practiced had similar requirements for mental state. Luckily his situation was special with the system, allowing him to bypass that aspect. “As my mental state remained deficient, I gradually realized I needed to undergo the ‘Trial of Desire’ to completely shatter the illusion and perfect my mental state.” “The main purpose of my leaving the mountain was to experience this Trial of Desire.” “And upon encountering Daoist Lu, I sensed the catalyst for my breakthrough may lie with you – that the ‘Trial of Desire’ would manifest through you.” “This is why I previously requested Daoist Lu to guide me.” Xiao Xiyue’s expression remained serene and composed as she spoke. “The Trial of Desire,” Lu Changsheng felt a flash of realization upon hearing those words. He had previously only known that Xiao Xiyue sought proximity to him, asking him to guide her, due to the Peach Blossom Gu. But he did not understand the specifics. Hearing Xiao Xiyue’s words, Lu Changsheng suddenly understood. The so-called ‘Trial of Desire’ must refer to experiencing matters of emotion and intimacy. Xiao Xiyue had descended from the mountain, prepared to undergo such experiences in order to break through her bottleneck. But upon encountering Lu Changsheng, the Peach Blossom Gu’s influence caused those emotions to manifest towards him. Xiao Xiyue herself sensed this, which is why at Ruyi Pavillion she constantly observed and scrutinized him. She also actively stated her intention to travel with no fixed destination, requesting Lu Changsheng to guide her. Her goal was to undergo this Trial of Desire through him, enabling her breakthrough. Now she had laid everything bare, no doubt expecting Lu Changsheng to assist somehow. “As a friend, it is only natural for me to help Daoist Xiao overcome her difficulties.” “I do not know how Daoist Xiao intends to undergo this Trial, but if I can provide any aid, I will do so.” Since she had spoken so openly, Lu Changsheng did not feel right refusing, responding accordingly. “I am also not entirely clear on the specifics of this Trial of Desire myself.” “Originally, when by your side Daoist Lu, my mind would be thrown into disarray, automatically activating my technique.” “So I wished to request your cooperation in an attempt, but after last night…” Xiao Xiyue’s chilly, ethereal beauty akin to a moon fairy spoke with serene purity of her situation. When she first chose to cultivate the Supreme Forgetfulness Technique, she had resolved herself with the mindset of ‘pursuing the Dao until death’. Now that the path lay before her, she would not dither like a young maiden. “Ah, this…” Hearing Xiao Xiyue’s words, Lu Changsheng was taken aback. Though he harbored thoughts about Xiao Xiyue, he had suppressed them due to her status and identity. But now she was essentially taking the initiative to throw herself at him with this Trial of Desire. In this situation, if he agreed to “cooperate”, and perhaps even push things further, he might be able to have Xiao Xiyue bear children before returning to the Blue Cloud Sect. However, Lu Changsheng did not actually intend to go that far. Her status as a Core Formation disciple gave him pause. “Regarding this Trial of Desire, I have some thoughts. It may not necessarily require my involvement. Daoist Xiao could perhaps attempt it this way…” After some contemplation, Lu Changsheng spoke tactfully. For such an effortless opportunity, if it were someone else, he would not refuse. But Xiao Xiyue’s status made her an existence he dared not provoke. Taking that path offered little benefit while risking grave consequences. So if she could resolve this Trial herself, owing him a favor, that would be for the best. “Is this really viable?” Xiao Xiyue fell silent for a moment after hearing Lu Changsheng’s words. Evidently, her heart was not as calm as outward appearances suggested. After all, her Supreme Forgetfulness Technique lost efficacy in Lu Changsheng’s presence, unable to achieve true single-minded focus. “Daoist Xiao can try,” Lu Changsheng handed her a meditation cushion. Their plans to travel to the city were also adjusted accordingly. Within her room, Xiao Xiyue sat serenely on the pink cushion. Suddenly, her beautiful brow furrowed slightly. Then, faint crimson tinged her pure, chilly countenance, with an alluring blush. The rosy hue visibly blossomed, rapidly suffusing her exquisite face with a scarlet flush. Her red lips parted as her breathing grew audibly strained. After several breaths, the rosy blush spread from her cheeks to her earlobes, causing her adorable translucent ears to redden completely. Her slender, swan-like neck also gradually flushed red. Beneath her moonwhite dress, her perfect, jade-like form began to tremble faintly. The beaded white shoes encasing her dainty, rounded feet also quivered restlessly. A moment later, a muffled celestial moan escaped the fairy’s throat, causing her brows to knit in anguish. She then looked dazed, lips parted, body crumpling to the floor. “Hah!” “Hah!” “Hah!” Xiao Xiyue’s dazed eyes gazed at the eaves as she carefully observed the changes in her mental state. In that overwhelming, dream-like instant, she realized her current state of mind bore similarities to when she witnessed the impactful scene that shook her spiritual roots last night. “To truly break through the illusion, I must be able to control these kinds of emotions.” Xiao Xiyue murmured inwardly. She could feel that this method did provide some assistance for her. A sense of inexplicable ease arose within her heart. The vexing distracting thoughts obstructing her breakthrough seemed to have lessened considerably. It was as if the barriers had loosened slightly. “But…it’s still not enough.” The Supreme Forgetfulness Technique spun as Xiao Xiyue’s serene, chilly eyes murmured to herself. Her jade-like arms pushed her up as she lightly adjusted her dress. Then Xiao Xiyue exited the room, once more seeking out Lu Changsheng.