Chapter 757: The Azure Moon

Blazing Heat!

The gentle moonlight cascaded down, turning their garments into drifting ashes.

Yet, no calamity befell them, nor did any other peril arise. It was clear—the azure moon above radiated serenity, devoid of any ominous aura.

Yue Chan’s slender figure gleamed like ivory, flawless and translucent. Her dark tresses fluttered in the breeze, veiling half of her immaculate visage as she stood atop the rubble. Her celestial skin, jade-like bones, and luminous glow shimmered with a soft radiance.

Opposite her, Shi Hao stood equally unclothed, his robes incinerated by the ancient flames, revealing his robust physique. His body shimmered with a treasure-like brilliance, his black hair cascading freely, his eyes sparkling like the starry heavens.

Amidst the ruins of the Immortal Ancient era, the two faced each other, close enough to see everything clearly. The suddenness of this turn of events was staggering!

When Shi Hao noticed Yue Chan’s expression shift, her lips parting as if to scream, he was the first to shout, “Danger! Beware!” In a flash, he lunged forward, shielding her from the azure moonlight, positioning himself before her. One arm wrapped protectively around her pristine form.

They were unbearably close. The delicate fragrance of the maiden wafted through the air, intoxicating and sweet, diffusing under the moonlight—a scent that could bewitch the senses.

The abruptness of it all shattered Yue Chan’s usual serenity. Her flawless composure faltered as she gasped softly, retreating swiftly.

“No need to fear,” Shi Hao declared solemnly, leaving behind an afterimage as he closed the distance to her side. “I’ll face it. Stay close to me.”

“Release me!” Yue Chan’s jade-like cheeks flushed crimson. This scoundrel was clearly taking advantage of her, yet he spoke with such righteous conviction.

His audacity knew no bounds. Despite his earnest tone, his arm swiftly encircled her slender waist, his touch effortless and natural.

Yue Chan stiffened instantly. With both of them stripped bare, her skin as smooth as polished jade, the contact was unbearable.

With a swift motion, Yue Chan darted away like an ethereal spirit, her graceful silhouette retreating in a blur, putting distance between them.

“With me here, no harm shall befall you!”

To her dismay, Shi Hao pursued her relentlessly, his movements honed to perfection—his mastery of the Kun Peng technique and the divine art of shrinking distances allowing him to remain at her side, unwavering.

“Stay away from me!” Yue Chan’s fair cheeks burned with embarrassment and frustration. This was beyond humiliating—to arrive here only to face such an ordeal.

What infuriated her most was his shamelessness. Despite his stern expression, he walked beside her, his arm draped around her bare waist, sending tremors through her. Her eyes blazed with indignation.

“I won’t let you face danger alone. With me here, not a scratch shall mar you!” Shi Hao proclaimed, his voice resolute. His grip tightened, pulling her closer until they were nearly pressed together.

“You shameless, black-hearted rogue! Let go!” Yue Chan hissed, goosebumps rising along her waist, her cheeks aflame. The situation was mortifying, stirring both fury and shame.

“I refuse. In the face of peril, I must stand firm—shield you from harm!” Shi Hao declared, his tone unyielding.

“Who asked for your protection?!” Yue Chan’s face burned hotter, the intimacy of their bare proximity overwhelming.

She could feel the heat of his arm around her waist—and worse, the audacity of his wandering hand, tracing her abdomen before giving it a playful squeeze.

With a swift motion, Yue Chan shot backward like a loosed arrow, distorting the very air as she put hundreds of feet between them, desperate to escape his grasp.

Yet, to her astonishment, Shi Hao matched her speed effortlessly, remaining at her side as if tethered by fate.

Her eyes widened. His arm—still there, still wrapped around her waist, refusing to be shaken off.

Had the Kun Peng itself witnessed this, it might have sighed in disbelief. Its sacred technique, perfected by an outsider, defied all reason.

“Did you master divine arts just to flaunt them now?!” Yue Chan seethed, her voice laced with fury.

“To protect you!” Shi Hao boomed, his expression righteous.

“Perish!” Yue Chan snapped, her patience frayed. Radiant light erupted from her body, intricate runes swirling as divine armor materialized around her.

She cursed herself for not donning the sacred armor sooner.

But at that moment, the azure moon above pulsed with renewed intensity, an eerie aura emanating from it.

Shi Hao’s gaze snapped upward, his demeanor shifting to solemnity as he studied the celestial body, sensing the sudden shift in danger.

“Swoosh!”

A beam of moonlight lanced down—a streak of azure radiance, not blinding but condensed into a lethal ray.

“Hmm?” Shi Hao’s eyes narrowed. The beam targeted Yue Chan. Instantly, his playful demeanor vanished. He summoned a divine artifact, intercepting the attack.

“Swoosh!”

A second beam followed, striking at them both—one for each!

“Clang!”

In an instant, Shi Hao’s artifact shattered, melting into molten slag. This was no ordinary weapon—it was a divine whip, plundered from the bandits of the Firegrass Plains, a treasure of the gods.

Yet, it was obliterated in a heartbeat, its runes erased, reduced to worthless scrap.

Simultaneously, Yue Chan gasped as her enchanted robes twisted and warped. Had she not reacted swiftly, she too would have melted. She shed the armor just in time, watching it crumple to the ground—another divine relic reduced to ruin.

Now, Shi Hao’s protection was genuine. No longer teasing, he stood before Yue Chan, shielding her with his back to the azure moon.

Yet, as swiftly as they came, the beams vanished. The moon’s glow softened once more, its threat dissipating into mystery.

“What’s happening?” Shi Hao murmured.

Yue Chan, too, was baffled. Once again, she stood exposed, her flawless form gleaming under the moonlight—a sight that filled her with acute discomfort.

“Could it be… the moon is blessing us?” Shi Hao mused, glancing back at her.

“Nonsense!” Yue Chan shot him a glare, her eyes blazing.

The azure moon hung high, its glow gentle and hazy. No further anomalies occurred, but the proximity between them rekindled an awkward tension.

Shi Hao looked up, attuning his senses, then began chanting in the ancient tongue of the Immortal Era.

In an instant, he jolted—a ripple of emotion, a whisper of intent. The language of the ancients held power beyond mortal ken!

Soon, understanding dawned.

“It burned our clothes as a warning—to refrain from impropriety.”

“Wearing divine armor, wielding sacred weapons—it saw this as defiance, hence their destruction.”

Shi Hao relayed his insights to Yue Chan, sharing all he had gleaned from the moon’s cryptic message.

“So that’s it,” Yue Chan murmured. Swiftly, she donned a simple robe, covering herself.

Shi Hao sighed wistfully, his disappointment plain in his eyes and expression.

“You—what’s that look? Cover yourself!” Yue Chan snapped.

Now properly attired, the tension between them eased. Shi Hao refrained from further provocation, turning his focus to the matter at hand—harnessing the Azure Moon Flame.

“Your ancient chant was effective,” Yue Chan admitted. She, too, knew fragments of the tongue, passed down through her sect—the revered Bu Tian Sect, one of the oldest and mightiest lineages of the upper realm.

Their earlier exchanges on the road now deepened into earnest collaboration, sharing secrets of flame invocation and the sacred language without reservation.

For they realized—their knowledge complemented each other. Together, their understanding grew more complete.

“Though Daoist Qi’s reputation is tarnished, his methods are undeniable. He stole from countless schools, amassing more of the ancient tongue than even my Bu Tian Sect,” Yue Chan conceded, begrudgingly impressed.

Both were prodigies. With their shared foundation, their synergy was seamless, their mastery accelerating.

Repeatedly, they tested their connection with the azure moon—each attempt yielding greater resonance.

“Guard me. I begin now,” Yue Chan announced.

Instantly, her demeanor transformed. Serene as a goddess, her dark hair flowing, her eyes luminous, she stood poised beneath the heavens, facing the moon.

From her lips flowed the sacred chants, rising into the night sky.

Shi Hao stood vigil, murmuring the ancient words alongside her, strengthening the bond between Yue Chan and the celestial flame.

The effect was miraculous.

The azure moon descended, its glow intensifying, drawing near until it hovered mere feet above them.

This language—the tongue of the Immortal Era—was forged for communion with rare flames, to forge pacts. Now, it served its true purpose.

Up close, the moon was breathtaking, its radiance so pure it scarcely resembled flame.

Closer still it came, until it loomed directly overhead, bathing them in its light.

“Swoosh!”

Their robes dissolved once more, reduced to ash by the moon’s searing aura—no malice, merely its nature.

Neither dared react, standing bare as they continued their chants, deepening the connection.

The moon drew nearer still, its heat coaxing their skin to glow, divine patterns emerging in self-defense.

At last, they exhaled in relief. Success seemed assured—a harmony established with the Azure Moon Flame.

With tension ebbing, Shi Hao’s gaze inevitably wandered, drinking in the sight before him.

Beneath the azure moon, Yue Chan stood tall, her body a masterpiece of perfection—her hair luminous, her skin unblemished, her lips like rose petals, her neck swan-like.

Every curve was poetry—her full bosom, her slender waist, her long, shapely legs, all bathed in moonlight.

It was a vision to steal one’s breath, flawless and intoxicating.

Yue Chan glared. His audacity knew no bounds—to stare so brazenly! Yet, she could do nothing, for the ritual demanded her focus.

Then, to her outrage, he had the gall to accuse her.

“Avert your eyes! The sacred flame demands your attention!” Shi Hao intoned gravely.

“Who’s looking at you?!” Yue Chan fumed, her celestial composure shattered, her cheeks aflame.

Shi Hao cleared his throat, flexing his toned frame. “Alas, my peerless charm ensnares even the goddess of Bu Tian Sect.”

Yue Chan’s eyes blazed. How she longed to throttle him!

“It’s coming!” Shi Hao warned.

The azure moon descended, its glow enveloping Yue Chan’s radiant form, hovering just above her head—success within reach.

Yue Chan focused, her lips parting as she chanted, forging the final bond.

Yet, to her exasperation, Shi Hao—now unneeded—paced around her, his gaze roaming freely, painting her skin with fresh blushes.

“Must you stand so close?!” she hissed, her concentration fraying.

“Very well. But you must take responsibility—for you’ve seen all of me,” Shi Hao retorted.

Yue Chan’s lips parted, her teeth clenched. She could only glare in response.

“It’s working. Yue Chan nears success. Perhaps I, too, can claim that other ancient flame,” Shi Hao mused, anticipation gleaming in his eyes.

Yet, the present spectacle held equal allure—one he was loath to miss.