Deep within the dense forests of Manzhou,Xia Li and Qiu Fu were resting inside a hollow tree.Qiu Fu kept her head lowered and said nothing. Xia Li rely sat with his eyes closed, regulating his breathing.Along the way, Xia Li had repeatedly run into the demon race's Human-Subjugation Army. They were able to pinpoint Qiu Fu's location with precision, and the two of them had fought nonstop just to break through.Fortunately, only a few probing vanguard units had been sent so far. It likely would not stay that easy for long.In order to survive, Qiu Fu had also killed quite a few of her own kind.That left her deeply uncomfortable.The Human-Subjugation Army was still searching for them. As for the human side, they had no clear information, but it certainly could not be any better."Xia Li, we're enemies of the whole world now. We have nowhere left to go. You should've handed over back then..."The more Qiu Fu thought about it, the more despair overwheld her.She was filled with guilt as well.When Xia Li had forcibly stuffed her into the Cave Heaven Gourd, she could have struggled harder.But in that mont, she had been moved by him and developed a desire to live she should never have allowed herself to feel."What whole world? It's just temporary adversity. Don't take us too seriously."Back then, Xia Li had also thought the Heaven Alliance was so unshakable force.The more he learned, the more he realized it was only that. A pack of old n endlessly scheming against juniors, all while fearing heavenly punishnt one day.If the Heaven Alliance were truly irresistible, it would have long since unified humanity with an iron fist. Why would it need so many plots and conspiracies?That ant so rule had to be balancing things behind the scenes.And finding that rule was the path to survival.Perhaps that rule was the Heavenly Dao itself.For high-level cultivators, forcefully killing soone favored by great destiny was practically a one-for-one trade. Unless they were sure the target truly possessed great destiny, it was a devastatingly poor exchange.Otherwise, why would the Heaven Alliance still be probing him rather than simply killing him outright? They were trying to determine whether trading one old powerhouse for him was worth it.Under that kind of weak balance, the enemies he encountered would still usually be at least one major realm above him, but at least it would not be a case of facing cannons while still a mosquito.That much left room to breathe.Until he found the true key to turning things around, he could only keep a low profile and focus on escape. Even resistance had to be carefully asured.As for what that key point actually was, Xia Li already had a clue.He had a faint feeling that once he ford his core, he would be able to break the stalemate."But where can we possibly go next? Where is there left for us?"Other than hiding forever, Qiu Fu saw no other choice."There is. Trust ."Xia Li possessed a real trump card:going back to Earth.On Earth, he was a mber of the Telekinesis Society, a genuine upper-class figure. Even the Heavenly Dao Computer had to show him special consideration.So as long as he did not court death and was willing to back down a little when necessary, nothing too serious would happen there.As for whether he could bring Qiu Fu with him, with a treasure like the Cave Heaven Gourd, it should be possible."All right... I trust you."Right now, Qiu Fu could only trust Xia Li, the man who had already saved her twice."Then stop making that long face and get so rest. We move again tomorrow. We're almost at Sunscorch Valley."As long as he could obtain the materials for a pre-engineered imitation-star golden core, Xia Li's combat power would surge massively.Earth had five kinds of ninth-grade golden cores.The imitation-star golden core might not be the best overall, but it was absolutely the one with the highest combat power.Once completed, he would be able to fight Nascent Soul cultivators head-on even without telekinesis.If pushed too far, he could force himself into overheated supernova form.At that point, even ordinary Soul Transformation cultivators would die there in hatred.That was the path of technological cultivation on Earth.The more top-end the configuration, the more absurd it beca.Top-end and standard issue were practically two different systems.Liked using overwhelming realms to bully the weak?Then don't bla him for going all in on technology.If soone fishing in a kiddie pool ran into a cheater, they had no room to complain."Mm... um, can I hold you while I sleep tonight?"Qiu Fu wanted to sleep in his arms.That would make her feel safe.But Xia Li shook his head at once.What he needed was her gratitude.He did not need anything more.Because he would not respond to it, and if things went any further, both of them would only suffer in the end."What are you afraid of?"But Qiu Fu was a demon, and like all demons, she possessed an almost instinctive sharpness.From the slightest change in Xia Li's expression, she could broadly guess his emotions.That was right.Faced with her request, Xia Li had shown worry and fear."I prefer the kind of friendship gentlen are supposed to have, light as water. If the mood is right, then maybe a fleeting affair is fine too. Go with the flow. No forcing things."
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In short:he would not take the initiative, and he would not take responsibility."Refusing to seek sothing just because you're afraid of losing it is cowardice."Qiu Fu was dissatisfied with Xia Li's view of relationships.Given their current circumstances, how far were they really from relying on each other through life and death?"The road ahead is still unclear. Let's talk about it later.""Between painless and regretless, it seems you'd rather regret it than suffer for it. As for , I'd rather cry more miserably than be left with regret."Qiu Fu yawned, then lay down directly with her head on Xia Li's lap.Xia Li wanted to push her away, but once his hand touched her, he could not bring himself to do it.That would be too cold.Which only threw him back into indecision.That cursed way he thought about feelings...But it was also what he was used to.So habits were not changed in a day."You're not at the point where you can make cry yet."Xia Li answered blandly."People who say things like that are always the ones who cry the hardest when the ti cos.""I only saved you because I'm trying to cash in a favor. Don't read too much into it.""Sure, sure. You're only cashing in a favor. Then when I die in front of you, just make sure you don't cry.""I probably would cry. That'd be a huge loss.""Now that's just ruining the mood."Qiu Fu knew Xia Li was refusing to build a deeper bond with her, but she did not force the issue.The fox clan leader had once told her that human emotions and demon emotions were different.Demon emotions were direct and blazing.Human emotions were bitter, restrained, and llow."Maybe."Xia Li fell silent.On this side of the world, there were two relationships that might have gone sowhere.Lin Ge had been the more proactive one, but Xia Li felt that sooner or later she would still fall victim to the Heaven Alliance, and he lacked the courage to protect her to the very end.As for Qiu Fu...Though Xia Li had taken the initiative with her, he had also prepared from the start for that investnt to fail.He handled everything by first rehearsing failure in his head, so he always reduced his losses in advance.And in all of that, feelings were naturally the hardest thing to asure in terms of profit and loss.They were also what hurt worst after failure.For Xia Li, who had awakened to find that every friend and family mber he once knew had already been buried, emotion was like a lingering poison.He desired it and feared it at the sa ti.Especially in a world where tomorrow was never guaranteed."Co to think of it, Qiu Fu, what exactly do you even like about ? Starting with looks alone, I'm hardly..."Halfway through the sentence, Xia Li realized Qiu Fu had already fallen fast asleep.Cultivators could go without sleep, but that did not an they had no need for it whatsoever.Mortals slept to recover physical fatigue.Cultivators slept so their divine souls could rest.During this ti spent running for their lives, Qiu Fu had remained constantly on guard and had not truly rested once.Xia Li, anwhile, had been sleeping quite well thanks to the Heaven Chip standing watch."What is there to like about soone like , with eyes only for profit and such a twisted relationship with emotion?""How strange."Xia Li could not understand what those who liked him were thinking.He only felt that they were blind.Or maybe just so pent up that they were willing to settle for him.That sa lack of confidence in love also left him deeply insecure in matters of affection.He always felt that anyone's fondness for him must have so ulterior motive.Ke Xiao had settled for him.Liu Sheng Chihaya had only been amusing herself.Liu Xiaoxiao simply admired strength.Lin Ge was drawn to him because he resembled her mother in so way.And Qiu Fu?That was gratitude and affection born from being saved twice.But gratitude and love were not the sa thing.No one would ever truly like him.No one...Even if they did for a ti, sooner or later they would be disappointed in him.[You are mistaken. I will love you forever.]Suddenly, an utterly ill-tid voice sounded in Xia Li's mind.It was the Heaven Chip, trying to comfort him.[Hah. That one I believe.]Xia Li laughed despite himself.More and more, he was beginning to understand those people who pursued Open Spirit Architecture.According to rumor, those people would willingly accept being taken over by an AI.[Additionally, according to sexual-attraction index scoring, your rating is A . Rejecting advances at just the right mont can stimulate further pursuit from the opposite sex. Displays resembling emotional wounds also increase the probability of initiative from the other party. Of these factors, "feigned retreat to entice pursuit" contributes a relatively high score.][The hell?!]Xia Li was speechless.That worked too?So in the end, he was the green-tea manipulator all along!If he said he hadn't done it on purpose, would anyone believe him?
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