Chapter 145: Side by Side

Walking side by side, those simple words from the two caused the hearts of many nearby Transcendents to shatter!

“No hope, absolutely no hope,” Puyang Bo muttered beside them. “Listen to this, all of you, just listen… What a coincidence? Really such a coincidence? I can’t take it anymore. Sigh, why is it that those I like never like me back?”

“Because your eyes are too high and your legs too short,” Zhang Peng laughed beside him. “You’ve always been looking for a wife, right? What about those mortal beauties? There are plenty of them.”

“What I want is to grow old together, do you understand?” Puyang Bo glared.

Female Transcendents were rare to begin with.

Pretty female Transcendents were even harder to chase.

“I don’t understand, but I do know… if you keep this up, you’ll probably still be alone when your hair turns white,” Zhang Peng teased.

“Never mind you, I’m just not in the mood to talk. Right now, I deeply admire Dongbo Shidi. Shidi, congratulations, you’re truly amazing. When can you teach me a few tricks so I can finally win over a female Transcendent?” Puyang Bo called out.

Dongbo Xueying was taken aback.

“It’s not like that. Snowy Eagle and I already knew each other back when we were mortals,” Yu Jingqiu quickly explained.

“Oh, so you two already knew each other back in the mortal world? No wonder your bond is so special. Looks like the rest of us Transcendents don’t stand a chance anymore,” Yu Feng said.

“Of course we don’t,” Puyang Bo scoffed. “Many Transcendents already had wives before, only for them to age and pass away. Losing to Dongbo Shidi, I admit defeat willingly. Dongbo is a good person, and so young… Oh, thinking carefully, isn’t Dongbo Shidi actually three years younger than Yu Shixiong?”

“That’s right,” Dongbo Xueying nodded.

“But when Snowy Eagle first became famous in Qinghe Prefecture, after slaying Xiang Pangyun, I was still just a Silver Moon Mage,” Yu Jingqiu gazed at Dongbo Xueying, her eyes sparkling.

Her feelings for Dongbo Xueying were complicated.

Back then, when she was in despair, he saved her, leaving a deep impression in her heart, one she could never forget. Later, she often heard news about Dongbo Xueying, especially when she thought he had died, she grieved for a long time.

Later, in the Xia Capital, she saw Dongbo Xueying become a Transcendent! And even shine brightly during the Transcendent Life-and-Death Battle.

A genius!

Incredible!

The one she admired most in her heart was Dongbo Xueying. Although there were even more powerful Transcendents, even Demigods among them, she had watched Dongbo Xueying rise steadily, so this feeling of ‘admiration’ naturally grew within her. Especially when she saw Dongbo Xueying flying high with other Transcendents, chatting and laughing, she felt a tinge of bitterness.

Because she didn’t even have the qualification to stand beside him. Because she wasn’t yet a Transcendent!

She didn’t seek out Dongbo Xueying, instead burying herself in her studies. Finally, sixteen years after that Transcendent Life-and-Death Battle, she finally broke through and became a Transcendent herself!

On that day, at Chi Qiu Bai’s estate, when their eyes met, she felt immeasurable joy.

Because… she could finally stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

“Perhaps Dongbo Shidi was brilliant in his youth, but now his cultivation path has gone astray,” Situ Hong suddenly spoke, appearing deeply pained.

“Gone astray?” Yu Jingqiu was surprised.

“Yes, he has destroyed his own future. He will inevitably fade into obscurity, with no prospects ahead. At best, he’ll become a weak Saint-level Transcendent, which has greatly angered the Demigods. Currently, in our Chiyun Mountain world, he ranks last. With you, Jingqiu Shimei, arriving, he now ranks eleventh,” Situ Hong said. “What a pity! Once so promising, now… it’s truly lamentable.”

Yu Jingqiu found it hard to believe. Could the Dongbo Xueying she admired have truly angered the Demigods so much and destroyed his own future?

“It was merely a difference in philosophy. The Demigods were indeed furious,” Dongbo Xueying nodded, then glanced at Situ Hong and sneered, “Situ Hong, weren’t you the one who said I wasn’t worthy to be your junior brother? That having me as a junior brother disgraced you?”

Yu Jingqiu was stunned.

She wasn’t foolish; she immediately sensed the tension between the two.

“Sigh,” Situ Hong shook his head. “Dongbo Shidi, you are still a member of our Chiyun Mountain, naturally my junior brother. What I said before… was meant to motivate you, just like Master Sikong Yang scolded you repeatedly, all hoping you’d turn back from your misguided path. Alas, now it seems you’ve no intention of doing so. I won’t play the villain anymore.”

“Keep pretending, go on,” Puyang Bo scoffed beside them. “Now that you’ve noticed Dongbo Shidi and Yu Shimei getting close, you’re putting on an act?”

“Puyang Shidi, I’m not pretending!” Situ Hong sighed. “These years, Dongbo ranks last, and you second to last… you both seem unfazed, but I, as the eldest senior brother, am deeply worried for you.”

After witnessing Dongbo Xueying and Yu Jingqiu’s conversation, Situ Hong immediately realized their relationship was not ordinary.

Therefore, to win Yu Jingqiu’s heart, he needed to change his plan.

How swiftly a Transcendent’s mind worked—he quickly decided on a new strategy.

“Hmph, this foolish, conceited boy, Dongbo Xueying. I’ll play nice for now… once I win over Jingqiu Shimei and have her on my side, I’ll kick you far away,” Situ Hong secretly thought.

“Funny,” Dongbo Xueying suddenly smiled.

Everyone turned to look at Dongbo Xueying.

“When it comes to hypocrisy,” Dongbo Xueying stared at Situ Hong, “no one in our Chiyun Mountain world compares to you!”

Situ Hong’s heart burned with anger, but he maintained a smile on the surface: “Fine, fine, just assume I continue to look down on you! I do look down on you, for you’re so wayward and lax in your cultivation, angering even the Demigods. How could I possibly respect you? If you want my respect, start over! Then Master Sikong Yang will give you another chance!”

“Snowy Eagle Shixiong, walk with me a bit. I’m still not very familiar with Chiyun Mountain world,” Yu Jingqiu said, sensing the uncomfortable atmosphere. After all, she had just arrived here and only really knew Yuan Qing and Dongbo Xueying, not many of the other senior brothers and sisters.

“Alright,” Dongbo Xueying nodded.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The two immediately flew off side by side.

Situ Hong’s face turned somewhat pale.

“Hmph,” Zhuo Yi coldly snorted, then flew toward her bamboo pavilion.

“Someone should check their own age before competing with Dongbo Shidi! Their face is thicker than most,” Puyang Bo scoffed, then flew off with Yu Feng, Zhang Peng, and others.

“Just wait. Today was only my first meeting with Jingqiu Shimei, and she’s not close to me yet… but we’ll be together in Chiyun Mountain world for a long time,” Situ Hong secretly thought. He had full confidence. He looked down on all other men in Chiyun Mountain world, and as for Dongbo Xueying? In his eyes, Dongbo ranked last, utterly unworthy of competing with him!

…

Dongbo Xueying and Yu Jingqiu flew side by side through Chiyun Mountain world, mountains stretching endlessly, mist drifting between them like a dream.

“How beautiful,” Yu Jingqiu exclaimed in admiration.

“I never imagined,” Dongbo Xueying smiled, “that from our first encounter during that Iron Rank mission, we’d now be flying side by side through Chiyun Mountain world.”

Yu Jingqiu gently nodded.

Everything felt like a dream.

Back then, she had been a weak mage hiding beneath Dongbo Xueying’s protection in a collapsing hall. Now, she had become a powerful Transcendent herself, though Dongbo Xueying had clearly advanced much further.

“Snowy Eagle Shixiong, can you tell me… how did you end up angering the Demigods?” Yu Jingqiu asked.