How did I, a fake bodyguard, become a terrestrial immortal?

Zhao Mingtang threw herself into Lu Yang's arms again, her eyes gradually becoming hazy.

The dragon-locking energy she had just gathered completely spiraled out of control, and a pale red aura swirled between the two of them.

The lock mark on Zhao Mingtang's wrist grew hotter and hotter, as if it were trying to connect the two of them. Lu Yang held her shoulders and tried to push her away.

But as soon as the two separated, Zhao Mingtang's internal energy became even more chaotic.

Her face was pale, and her newly reconstructed meridians showed signs of collapse again.

At the very bottom of the stone wall, there are still a few lines of text that have not been read.

Using the light, Lu Yang continued reading: "With the dragon's guidance complete and yin and yang in balance, the seal can be firmly secured..."

The later records are incomplete, but combined with the previous secrets of the bedchamber, the two already understood most of what was left unwritten.

The stone chamber fell silent once more...

Zhao Mingtang leaned against Lu Yang's chest, her cheeks so red they looked like they could bleed.

She just turned eighteen this year and grew up in the Prince An's mansion, where everyone around her was very respectful of etiquette.

Although I had secretly read many tales of martial arts and chivalry, I never imagined that I would encounter such a thing on my first time away from home.

Lu Yang was also somewhat at a loss.

He only wanted to save one person, but how did the plot end up failing the censorship?

"Miss Zhao, are you still conscious?" Zhao Mingtang raised her head and glared at him. "I just lost control of my breathing, I haven't become an idiot."

Lu Yang breathed a slight sigh of relief, then looked at the stone wall again: "Should we look again to see if there are any other ways?"

Zhao Mingtang remained silent for a moment. As the person involved, she actually knew her own internal condition better than Lu Yang.

The foundation of the Hidden Dragon Technique has been completely destroyed. If the Dragon Locking Technique cannot complete the final step, not only will the newly condensed true energy dissipate, but the damaged meridians will also be difficult to restore.

Even if he survives by sheer luck, he will probably be unable to continue his cultivation in the future.

All of this was caused by her own rash cultivation, and Lu Yang has no responsibility to bear the consequences for her.

Zhao Mingtang's pretty face blossomed with joy as she looked at Lu Yang's handsome face, her voice even softening slightly: "I hope Master will have mercy on me..."

Zhao Mingtang tried to stand up straight, but her legs gave way and she was supported by Lu Yang again.

Looking at her delicate appearance, Lu Yang suddenly sighed: "Have you thought it through?"

Zhao Mingtang did not answer, but simply nodded slightly. The shyness in the girl's eyes had not completely disappeared, but there was no reluctance in her.

Lu Yang reached out and tucked the hair that had fallen across her cheek behind her ear.

The flame of the life-seeking lamp flickered gently, and the originally pale light gradually turned warm, casting the shadows of the two people onto the ancient mural.

On the ground, the sky had darkened without anyone noticing.

The evening clouds obscured the setting sun, and the wind blew in from outside Huai'an Village, stirring the branches and leaves of the old locust tree.

A light rain quietly arrived.

Rainwater fell on the green tiles, forming thin lines along the eaves, and then splashed on the stone steps in front of the ancestral hall.

At first, it was just a few drops.

Soon, like spring water overflowing a long dike, it gradually disturbed the originally calm surface of the pond.

Inside the underground stone chamber, the pale red aura of the dragon-locking energy slowly dissipated.

The dragon bowed its head.

Mountains and rivers meet.

As soon as Jinfeng Yulu met, they won but countless on earth.

She tied her long hair back up, but her fingertips were still trembling slightly, and the blush on her face lingered.

Lu Yang sat not far away, his gaze fixed on the mural, unusually silent.

The atmosphere between the two was somewhat subtle.

No one brought up what had just happened.

Zhao Mingtang took a deep breath and tried to circulate the Dragon Locking Technique.

The previously scattered breathing has now completely stabilized.

The pale red true energy circulated along the meridians, increasing in quantity several times over.

The cultivation bottleneck that had been hindering her for so long was unknowingly broken through.

Seventh-grade Bone Forging!

Before she left the Prince's mansion, she had only just entered the eighth rank.

Unexpectedly, after abolishing the Hidden Dragon Technique, he used the Dragon Locking Technique to advance to the eighth rank in one fell swoop.

This is not the biggest change.

Within that pale red true energy, a wisp of dark yellow aura, as thin as a spider's thread, appeared.

Although faint, it was surprisingly profound.

Zhao Mingtang tried to raise his hand.

She drew her longsword and lightly ran it across her fingers.

The sharp blade left only a faint white mark.

A look of surprise appeared in Zhao Mingtang's eyes: "Such strong defensive capabilities..."

She not only stabilized the Dragon Locking Technique, but also obtained a trace of Xuanwu aura from Lu Yang's body.

This wisp of power is far inferior to the Xuanwu Zhenyue Body, but it is enough to make her physical strength surpass that of an ordinary eighth-rank martial artist.

Seeing this scene, Lu Yang's feelings became even more complicated.

After all that work, Zhao Mingtang not only broke through his cultivation level, but also gained a bit of his own physique for free.

It seems I haven't gained anything.

It can't be said that nothing was gained...

Lu Yang quickly stopped thinking.

I can't think about it anymore.

If I think about it any further, it really won't pass the censorship!

Zhao Mingtang seemed to realize where that wisp of Xuanwu power came from, and her cheeks, which had just returned to normal, flushed red again.

She sheathed her sword and whispered, "About today's events..."

"Don't worry, I won't talk nonsense."

Lu Yang answered quickly.

Zhao Mingtang looked up at him.

For some reason, hearing that Lu Yang was prepared to never mention this matter again, she felt a strange sense of loss.

Before she could figure it out, she suddenly heard the sound of gravel rolling down from above.

"Young Master Lu!" Bai Yixin's voice came from above: "Are you all alright?"

Zhao Mingtang froze and quickly checked her clothes again.

Only after confirming there were no obvious flaws did she raise her head, feigning composure.

The villagers on the ground have gradually woken up. Under Bai Yixin's organization, everyone worked together to move the rubble blocking the cave entrance and finally cleared a gap that people could pass through.

A rope hangs down from above.

Lu Yang grabbed the rope and tested it, confirming that it was sturdy enough.

"You go up first."

Zhao Mingtang nodded, tied the longsword to his waist, and began climbing up the rope.

Having just broken through to the eighth rank, her body felt much lighter, and she quickly returned to the ground of the ancestral hall.

When Qingluo, who was guarding the cave entrance, saw her, her eyes instantly reddened.

"Princess!"

Two guards from the Prince An's residence also quickly stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

"Your subordinate failed in his duty of protection, allowing the princess to be placed in danger. Please punish me, Your Highness!"

Zhao Mingtang's composure completely froze.

She had previously told Lu Yang that her name was Zhao Tang and that her father only did some small business in Yong'an County.

Now, all of this has been exposed by that one word, "princess."

Lu Yang happened to climb out of the cave using the rope.

He paused for a moment upon hearing what the two guards said.

"Princess?"

Lu Yang looked at Zhao Mingtang, his expression gradually becoming strange.

"Your dad's business is quite large!"

Zhao Mingtang avoided his gaze and pretended not to hear.

Just as Qingluo was about to continue asking questions, she suddenly noticed that although her princess was not injured, her clothes had obviously been rearranged and the position of her hairpin was different from before.

What's even stranger is that she now exudes an unfamiliar masculine aura.

It seems to originate from the same source as Lu Yang, who just climbed up.

Qingluo opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't dare to ask any more questions.

Bai Yixin also noticed the anomaly.

Her gaze first fell on Zhao Mingtang's slightly flushed cheeks, then on Lu Yang's slightly disheveled clothes.

Bai Yixin didn't speak, but her gentle eyes slowly swept between the two of them.