Chapter 752: A Union of Flesh and Blood

“You’re shameless,” Yue Chan teased.

The silver moon hung high in the sky, its radiant glow casting a soft, mist-like veil over the crystalline lake, lending the scene an ethereal tranquility.

She stood upon the serene night waters, her battle robes shimmering, sleeves fluttering like an otherworldly spirit. Her eyes, dark as gemstones, gleamed with an almost divine brilliance.

The scene was peaceful, serene, and breathtaking—yet Shi Hao had no mind to appreciate it. He was enduring the most excruciating torment, teetering on the brink of annihilation.

“Adversity reveals true bonds. Though we’ve had misunderstandings, they’ve been resolved. Since we’ve both descended to the lower realm, we should support each other,” Shi Hao declared without a hint of shame—though, even if he had blushed, it wouldn’t have been visible, given his battered body.

His primordial spirit had fragmented into divine radiance, manifesting as cauldrons, bells, towers, and swords—sacred forms that barely held back the encroaching destruction. But this balance was fragile. A single disruption, and he would scatter into dazzling sparks, reduced to ashes.

“You once imprisoned me, offended me so deeply. Now, without even begging for mercy, you expect my help?” Yue Chan’s lips curled slightly, her tone laced with mockery—or perhaps indifference.

“Before my death, I released you without hesitation in Stone Village, wishing you well. Doesn’t that speak for itself?” Shi Hao reminded her.

It was true. On the verge of death, he had instructed his kin—like the Golden Furred Monkey—to free Yue Chan should he perish, ensuring she faced no further harm.

Under the luminous moon, Yue Chan stood in silence, her flawless skin glowing faintly. She remained motionless for a long while.

“How did you enter?” she finally asked.

“With a black metal token,” Shi Hao admitted, sensing an opportunity. From the start, she had shown no intent to kill.

“Was it you who breached the Celestial Pass and ascended the Heavenly Staircase?” Her lashes were long, her lips crimson. Though ethereally pure, an inadvertent allure flickered in her demeanor.

That day, she had witnessed the event but couldn’t confirm whether it was Shi Hao, disguised, surpassing ancient deities and triumphantly ascending the stairs.

“Yes,” Shi Hao answered.

At that moment, his divine sense fragmented into countless tiny bells, resonating in unison. Cauldrons, towers, and swords shimmered in harmony—yet the situation was dire. The seed within him bore the terrifying demonic power of the Golden Bodhi Fruit, ravaging his vitality and threatening to erase his very soul.

This fruit’s potency dwarfed that of the Blood Soul Grass by hundreds of times. Though reputed to strengthen the spirit, its energy was nearly impossible for humans to assimilate—making it lethally volatile.

Now, Yue Chan held the perfect opportunity. A single strike would shatter Shi Hao’s fragile equilibrium, obliterating both body and soul.

Tense, Shi Hao readied his defensive talisman, poised to activate its protective barrier at any moment.

Yue Chan glided across the moonlit lake, transcendent and untouchable, like a celestial immortal reborn. Yet her expression remained inscrutable, her thoughts hidden.

The tension was palpable.

Shi Hao watched her closely, nerves taut.

Finally, she raised an arm, radiant with sigils, and aimed at him.

Shi Hao’s heart lurched, every hair standing on end.

*Whoosh!*

A brilliant light shot forth, suffused with immense power, illuminating the void.

For a heartbeat, Shi Hao nearly unleashed his talisman—but he hesitated.

The light carried no malice. Instead, it cascaded like divine nectar, seeping into his body, reviving his desiccated form. His wounds pulsed, mending as vigorous vitality surged through him, reconnecting shattered bones.

A sacred cocoon of mist enveloped him, marking his metamorphosis.

Then, Yue Chan’s brow glowed. A luminous sigil emerged, taking the form of a dancing fairy—radiant, mysterious.

Holy light poured forth, bathing Shi Hao’s spirit in purity. This was spiritual essence, untainted and sublime—something only one like Yue Chan, with her transcendent divine sense, could wield.

With her aid, Shi Hao stabilized. His flesh ceased crumbling, his bones reforged, and his spirit escaped peril.

Enshrouded in mist, he hovered by the immortal pool, refining the seed’s residual power. Freed from danger, he now absorbed the golden sap of the Tribulation Divine Lotus, drawing it from the pool into his body.

Golden radiance engulfed him as his body regenerated, bones knitting, flesh renewing. The lotus lived up to its legend, nearly guiding him into enlightenment.

“Ah, I see now. The Golden Bodhi Fruit grants immunity to magic, while its seed nurtures growth,” Shi Hao realized.

The fruit’s flesh and seed were inseparable—dividing them diminished their power. Initially unaware of the seed’s role, his near-death ordeal had yielded unexpected gains.

In time, he fully assimilated the fruit and seed, merging them into his flesh. His magic immunity now lasted longer, and he sensed an enduring, evolving force within—a foundation for future growth.

This would remain potent even as he advanced, never rendered obsolete.

*A trump card!*

His eyes blazed like torches. With mastery, this ability could rival even supreme treasures.

His journey across the Bloody Plains, escorting Yun Xi for tens of thousands of miles, had ended in betrayal—yet the rewards were immense.

“The Confluence of Ten Thousand Rivers, the great battle of the three thousand provinces, where prodigies and young supremes clash—I await it eagerly,” he murmured, brimming with confidence.

He focused, healing fully. Golden sap flowed into him, mending his bones until they gleamed, translucent and flawless. His flesh, too, reforged, brimming with explosive strength.

All wounds vanished. His body, now unblemished, shone like divine metal.

At last recovered, Shi Hao exhaled in relief and stepped from the water, facing Yue Chan.

She turned sharply. “Put on your clothes!”

Unfazed, Shi Hao retrieved a battle robe from his spatial pouch. “Thank you, *wife*,” he said, grinning.

Yue Chan whirled, eyes flashing coldly.

Shi Hao scratched his head. “I owe you. Name your price—anything within my power.”

“Unnecessary,” she replied airily.

Surprised, he pressed, “No, you must demand something.”

Yet she remained serene, shaking her head.

Pondering, Shi Hao realized her shrewdness—she sought no debt, no leverage. But he wouldn’t forget. Should she ever need aid, he’d intervene without hesitation.

“Wife, you’re too clever. Trying to corner me?” he mused, half-expecting her to ask for help against her main body.

Yue Chan scoffed. “You overthink everything.”

“Ah, headaches,” he grumbled.

Then, solemnly, he met her gaze. “I’ve decided to repay you with the utmost sincerity.”

Curious, she arched a brow. “How?”

“Naturally, by giving all I have. Therefore—I offer myself in marriage!” he declared, deadpan.

Yue Chan stared, stunned. Had she misjudged the depths of his audacity?

Her saintly aura intensified, icy and untouchable. “Enough nonsense!”

“I’m serious. Today, I’ve nothing else to give but myself,” he insisted, shameless.

Her frosty demeanor didn’t faze him. In a flash, blending the Kun Peng Art with the Shrinking Earth technique, he appeared beside her, clasping her hand. “We’re old partners, rekindling our bond!”

Yue Chan could only marvel at his boundless cheek.

Bathed in moonlight, her hair luminous, her beauty peerless, she stood like a painting—yet even her icy glare couldn’t shake him loose.

The scoundrel simply refused to let go.