My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1412 Attack
After a fierce battle, the situation in Yun Kingdom temporarily stabilized. Zhou Xing abolished the kneeling ceremony and handed the imperial seal to Ling Xue for safekeeping, saying, "With you here, I feel at ease in this world." Ling Xue accepted the imperial seal, her eyes filled with determination.

The two rode together on a white horse, traveling incognito to inspect the hardships of the people. Seeing the suffering of the people, they secretly vowed to change it.

However, the peaceful days did not last long. News of a barbarian invasion arrived from the northern frontier. Ling Xue, clad in silver armor, led her army into battle. At the front lines, she played her sect's summoning melody, the melodious flute echoing across the battlefield. Zhou Xing, meanwhile, observed the battle from the city tower, secretly setting up an ancient demon-sealing array. As the flute played its fourth note, a gust of wind whipped up the dragon pattern on his sleeve, as if echoing the momentum of the battle.

The atmosphere at the victory banquet was initially very harmonious. However, the Imperial Advisor suddenly launched an attack. Twelve sealing nails flew from his sleeve, aimed directly at Zhou Xing and Ling Xue. Ling Xue reacted quickly, throwing out an ice hairpin to deflect the hidden weapons. Zhou Xing dipped his finger in wine and drew the location of the Imperial Advisor's true form on the table. Their eyes met, and simultaneously they teleported to a secret chamber beneath the palace, engaging the Imperial Advisor in a thrilling duel.

The final battle unfolded on the night of the Lantern Festival. Zhou Xing pretended to admire the lantern festival, but in reality, he infused the dragon's soul into thousands of Kongming lanterns. The lanterns slowly rose, carrying the power of the dragon's soul, and drifted in all directions. Ling Xue, meanwhile, set up an ice prism array at the lantern riddle site on Mount Ao, reflecting moonlight to form demon-slaying rays.

The remnant soul of the Demon Emperor has appeared, casting a shadow of gloom over the entire Yun Kingdom. Zhou Xing, having exhausted his cultivation to rebuild the nation's destiny, his white hair dances wildly in the wind. Ling Xue burns her divine soul to mend the gaps in the formation, the Haoqing Sect mark on her forehead shining like a star. The two stand back to back, battling the demonic shadow, the mountains and rivers beneath their feet shattering and reforming inch by inch.

After the calamity clouds dissipated, the Cloud Kingdom returned to its former peace. Historical records state that "the two saints, Ren and Xuan, joined hands to subdue the demon," and two wordless steles stand in the Imperial Garden. Only every year on the day of the Awakening of Insects, dew, a mixture of ice and fire, seeps from the steles, as if recounting the thrilling story of their ordeal. Zhou Xing and Ling Xue successfully survived their 350th tribulation, and their love grew even stronger during this ordeal, allowing them to continue their journey towards ascension to the Upper Realm.

Zhou Xing slowly awoke, feeling a chilling, gloomy atmosphere permeated by a decaying aura. He found himself in an ancient tomb, the bronze lamp in his hand emitting a faint, eerie green light. He subconsciously glanced at his attire and realized he had become the mysterious tomb guardian of the Dragon Kingdom, the jade pendant hanging at his waist inscribed with the words "Suppressing the Underworld," emitting a soft, ghostly glow.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached, and Ling Xue rushed into the tomb chamber, carrying a blood-stained broken sword. Her face was ashen, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth; she was clearly seriously injured. Behind her, a group of black-clad assassins pursued her relentlessly like ghosts.

Seeing Zhou Xing, Ling Xue clung to him like a lifeline, quickly hiding behind him. Zhou Xing was startled, but quickly regained his composure. The assassins hesitated for a moment upon seeing Zhou Xing. In desperation, Zhou Xing tore off the jade pendant from his waist and threw it. The pendant arced through the air, triggering a mechanism in the tomb. Instantly, countless hidden crossbows shot out from the walls, forcing the assassins back.

However, Ling Xue, due to the severity of her injuries and exhaustion, fainted. In the instant she lost consciousness, a bead of blood from her neck seeped into the jade pendant she carried, and the inscription "Heavenly Mandate" appeared on the pendant, shimmering with a mysterious light.

Zhou Xing dared not delay and quickly dragged Ling Xue into the inner layer of the coffin. He carefully examined Ling Xue's wounds and found that her meridians had been severely corroded by the cold poison. Zhou Xing frowned, remembering his identity as the tomb keeper, perhaps he could find some way to counteract the cold poison.

He perused the ancient texts in the tomb and finally discovered a "Millennial Corpse Pill" hidden deep within, which might save Ling Xue's life. So, he left a note informing Ling Xue of his whereabouts and then ventured alone into the tomb to search for the Corpse Pill.

Ling Xue slowly awoke in the inner lining of the coffin and saw the note left by Zhou Xing, feeling a surge of anxiety. Following the trail of blood, she found Zhou Xing. At that moment, Zhou Xing was being consumed by the backlash of the corpse poison, his body trembling uncontrollably, his face contorted in pain.

Ling Xue was frantic. She gritted her teeth and fed Zhou Xing her heart's blood. Miraculously, the two blood mingled, awakening the remnant soul of the tomb's occupant. The remnant soul slowly emerged and revealed a shocking secret. It turned out that the Dragon Kingdom's royal family were actually corpse puppets, their true national destiny sealed within the Nine Netherworld Coffin, and that the two of them were the reincarnations of ascension beings from the outside world.

Just then, a commotion arose outside, and the royal guards surrounded the tomb. Ling Xue remained fearless. Holding her broken sword, she unleashed a demonic technique, instantly freezing half of the tomb chamber. The guards watched in horror, hesitant to approach.

However, Zhou Xing and Ling Xue knew they couldn't remain trapped here indefinitely. To break the deadlock, Zhou Xing decided to consume half of a Corpse Pill. As the Corpse Pill entered his body, a powerful force surged within him. His left eye transformed into a Nether Eye capable of discerning fate, and through the wall, he saw the blood-red constellations outside, with nine tribulation lightning bolts brewing in the clouds.

Zhou Xing and Ling Xue realized they had fallen into a huge conspiracy. In order to escape their predicament, they decided to disguise themselves as eunuchs and palace maids and infiltrate the sacrificial ceremony.

The atmosphere at the sacrificial ceremony was solemn and dignified. The emperor sat on the high platform, receiving the worship of the crowd. Zhou Xing and Ling Xue exchanged a glance, secretly plotting. Zhou Xing suddenly made his move, using his Netherworld Eye to manipulate the corpses and create chaos. Ling Xue then seized the opportunity to use her Corpse Pill to destroy the altar.

Instantly, the dragon's energy spiraled out of control, plunging the scene into chaos. Taking advantage of the confusion, the two escaped into the underground dragon's lair. Inside, they discovered a five-clawed golden dragon with chains piercing its collarbone. The golden dragon weakly proclaimed, "The emperor used the dragon vein to create an immortal corpse. The true chosen one must simultaneously sever the shackles of the nation's destiny and the Heavenly Dao."

Just then, the royal ancestor arrived with the world-destroying lightning tribulation. Zhou Xing knew his time was running out, so he resolutely burned the lifespan of the tomb guardian to activate the ancient restrictions within the tomb. Ling Xue stepped onto the blood-bone steps formed by Zhou Xing and rushed into the thunderclouds. The demonic runes on her forehead and the heavenly runes within the lightning tribulation devoured each other, unleashing a powerful force.

In the fierce battle, the thunderstorm tore open a spatial rift. Seeing Ling Xue in danger, Zhou Xing didn't hesitate to push her back into the real world, while he himself fell into the chaotic sea. In the instant of his fall, he heard Ling Xue's roar, "The Pure Brightness Never Fades!"

After returning to the mortal world, Ling Xue forcibly merged with the Dao to save Zhou Xing. However, her physical body gradually turned into glass. Dragging her broken body, she slaughtered all the royal elders and, using the imperial seal as a medium, infused her divine soul into the lamp left behind by Zhou Xing.

In the chaotic sea, Zhou Xing saw projections of three thousand minor worlds in the void. He frantically searched for Ling Xue's whereabouts. Finally, amidst a flash of lightning, he spotted a lantern interwoven with ice and fire. Overjoyed, he swam vigorously towards the lantern.

The moment Zhou Xing touched the lantern, time rewound. He returned to the moment he first entered the Dragon Tomb, only this time, Ling Xue's jade pendant was stained with blood beforehand, and the calamity patterns of the Haoqing Sect appeared simultaneously on both of their palms.

Having learned from their previous experience, they handled the crisis with greater composure. Zhou Xing deliberately triggered the explosion of the Corpse Pill, using the shockwave to collapse the core array eye of the Dragon Tomb. Ling Xue seized the opportunity to summon the Nine Heavens Thunderfire to purify the corrupted dragon vein. Amidst the ruins, the two intertwined their fingers. Zhou Xing handed the Netherworld Lamp, a legacy passed down from the tomb guardian, to Ling Xue, saying, "The light of this lamp is yours to extinguish." Ling Xue accepted the lamp, gazing deeply at Zhou Xing. Just then, the lamp's flame reflected the mark of their twin soul contract in their pupils.

After enduring countless tribulations, Zhou Xing and Ling Xue finally completed their 351st trial. A guiding light descended from the sky, a signal for their ascension to the upper realm. However, Zhou Xing redirected the light into the Netherworld Lamp. Looking at Ling Xue, he resolutely said, "I offer these 351 tribulations as a dowry, in exchange for sharing the remaining tribulations with you."

Tears welled in Ling Xue's eyes. She nodded, and together with Zhou Xing, they gave up their chance to ascend immediately. The two of them carried the Netherworld Lamp and wandered through various small worlds. The glow of the Netherworld Lamp gradually turned seven-colored, and the four innate Dao patterns "Haoqing Yongzhen" quietly appeared at the bottom of the lamp base.

On a stormy night in a modern city, two people, soaked to the bone, huddled in a phone booth. Suddenly, Ling Xue's hair began to freeze, and Zhou Xing smiled as he melted it with his body heat. The faint rumble of the 352nd tribulation lightning bolt echoed across the sky. The two smiled at each other and walked hand in hand into the new ordeal. Their love grew stronger with each trial, and their legendary story would continue to be written amidst these endless tribulations.

Zhou Xing slowly awoke, finding himself surrounded by a misty, chilling atmosphere. He discovered he was in an ancient dragon pool, dressed in a long black robe, with a jade pendant engraved with the words "Dragon Abyss" hanging from his waist, emitting a faint, eerie light. His mission was to guard the golden dragon slumbering in the pool, awaiting its transformation and tribulation.

Just then, a clear, melodious tinkling of jade pendants rang out, and Ling Xue, lifting her blood-stained skirt, rushed into the poolside. A phoenix feather, once tucked into her hair, was now broken, and blood streamed down her cheeks, dripping into the pool and creating crimson blooms on the surface. Behind her, a group of black-clad assassins pursued her relentlessly like ghosts.

Sensing their shared bloodline, the golden dragon suddenly leaped from the pool. In an instant, a torrential downpour began, and the pool water transformed into a colossal wave that swept towards the assassins. The assassins screamed in terror as they were swallowed by the wave.

Due to the severity of her injuries and exhaustion, Ling Xue fainted. In the instant she lost consciousness, a bead of blood from her neck seeped into the phoenix feather fragment, and the inscription "Heaven's Mandate" appeared on the fragment, shimmering with a mysterious light.

In desperation, Zhou Xing tore off the jade pendant from his waist and threw it at the enemy leader. The jade pendant triggered the Dragon Pool's restriction; a flash of light appeared, the ground cracked open, and the assassins were swallowed up.

Zhou Xing dared not delay and quickly dragged Ling Xue into the water-repelling cave at the bottom of the pool. He carefully examined Ling Xue's wounds and found that her heart had been corroded by demonic energy, the wounds were horrific. Zhou Xing frowned, remembering his identity as the guardian of the Dragon Pool, perhaps he could find some way to suppress the demonic energy.

He perused the ancient texts in the Dragon Pool and finally discovered that a thousand-year-old ice essence was hidden at the bottom of the pool, which might be able to save Ling Xue's life. So, he left a note informing Ling Xue of his whereabouts, and then dived into the bottom of the pool alone to search for the ice essence.

Ling Xue slowly awoke in the water-avoiding cave and saw the note left by Zhou Xing, which filled her with anxiety. Following the trail of blood, she found Zhou Xing. At that moment, Zhou Xing was being ravaged by the backlash of the cold poison; his body trembled uncontrollably, and his face was contorted with pain.

Ling Xue was frantic with worry. She gritted her teeth and fed Zhou Xing her heart's blood. Miraculously, the mingling of their blood awakened the spirit of the Dragon Pool. The spirit slowly emerged and revealed a shocking secret. It turned out that the Dragon Kingdom's royal family was actually possessed by a dragon demon, and the true destiny of the nation was sealed within the Golden Dragon's Reverse Scale. The two of them were actually the reincarnations of ascension beings from the outside world.

Just then, a commotion arose outside, and the royal guards surrounded Dragon Pool. Ling Xue remained fearless; wielding a phoenix feather, she unleashed a demonic technique, instantly freezing half of Dragon Pool. The guards watched in terror, hesitant to advance.

However, Zhou Xing and Ling Xue knew they couldn't remain trapped here indefinitely. To break the deadlock, Zhou Xing decided to consume half of the Ice Soul. As the Ice Soul entered his body, a powerful force surged within him. His right eye transformed into a dragon's eye, capable of discerning cause and effect. Through the wall, he saw the blood-red constellations outside, with nine tribulation lightning bolts brewing in the clouds.

Zhou Xing and Ling Xue realize they've fallen into a massive conspiracy. To escape their predicament, they decide to disguise themselves as priests and saintesses and infiltrate the dragon-worshiping ceremony.

The atmosphere at the Dragon Worship Ceremony was solemn and dignified. The emperor sat on the high platform, receiving the worship of the crowd. Zhou Xing and Ling Xue exchanged a glance, secretly plotting. Zhou Xing suddenly made his move, using his Dragon Eye to manipulate the water veins and create chaos. Ling Xue seized the opportunity to destroy the altar with her Ice Soul.

Instantly, the dragon's energy spiraled out of control, plunging the scene into chaos. Taking advantage of the confusion, the two escaped into the underground dragon tomb. Inside, they discovered a black dragon with chains piercing its collarbone. The black dragon weakly said, "The emperor used the essence of the dragon race to refine an elixir of immortality. The true chosen one must simultaneously sever the shackles of the nation's destiny and the Heavenly Dao."

Just then, the royal ancestor arrived with the world-destroying lightning tribulation. Zhou Xing knew his time was running out, so he resolutely burned his guardian's lifespan to activate the ancient restrictions of the Dragon Pool. Ling Xue stepped onto the blood-bone steps formed by Zhou Xing and rushed into the thunderclouds. The demonic runes on her forehead and the heavenly runes in the lightning tribulation devoured each other, unleashing a powerful force.

In the fierce battle, the thunderstorm tore open a spatial rift. Seeing Ling Xue in danger, Zhou Xing didn't hesitate to push her back into the real world, while he himself fell into the chaotic sea. In the instant of his fall, he heard Ling Xue's roar, "The Pure Brightness Never Fades!"

After returning to the mortal world, Ling Xue forcibly merged with the Dao to save Zhou Xing. However, her physical body gradually turned to stone. Dragging her mangled body, she slaughtered all the royal elders and, using the imperial seal as a medium, infused her divine soul into the lamp left behind by Zhou Xing.

In the chaotic sea, Zhou Xing saw projections of three thousand minor worlds in the void. He frantically searched for Ling Xue's whereabouts. Finally, amidst a flash of lightning, he spotted a lantern interwoven with ice and fire. Overjoyed, he swam vigorously towards the lantern.

The moment Zhou Xing touched the lantern, time rewound. He returned to the moment he first entered the Dragon Pool, only this time, Ling Xue's phoenix feathers were stained with blood ahead of time, and the calamity patterns of the Haoqing Sect appeared on both of their palms at the same time.

Having learned from their previous experience, they handled the crisis with greater composure. Zhou Xing deliberately triggered the Ice Soul Explosion, using the shockwave to collapse the core array eye of the Dragon Pool. Ling Xue then seized the opportunity to summon the Nine Heavens Thunderfire to purify the polluted dragon vein.