Veil of the Shattered Heavens

The sun dipped low as Xuan Li and Mei Xue walked down the dirt path leading toward the next city. The road ahead stretched far, the journey still long and demanding. Xuan Li broke the silence, muttering to himself, "To reach Tianluo Kingdom, we have to cross the next city and then the mountain range and the Forest of Veiled Shadows."

Mei Xue nodded thoughtfully. "I've heard of that forest. It lies on the border between the two nations. It's said to be extremely dangerous—so much so that even warriors at the mid to late stages of level-one dare not act carelessly within its depths."

She turned to look at Xuan Li, expecting some concern or caution in his expression. Instead, his eyes gleamed with curiosity and excitement, a sparkle that almost made him seem like a child about to receive a new toy. Mei Xue blinked in surprise, thinking, "What's with Xuan Li? Most people would show concern or fear at the mention of that forest. But he looks... thrilled. It's almost unsettling."

Xuan Li, oblivious to her thoughts, mused to himself, "If what Mei Xue says is true, then I must hurry to that forest. It sounds like the perfect place to test myself."

Suddenly, he turned to her and asked, "Mei Xue, can you move faster than this?"

Mei Xue smirked, a hint of pride flashing across her face. "I was waiting for you to say that. I'm an early-stage warrior who specializes in speed."

Xuan Li nodded casually. "Okay."

Mei Xue blinked, slightly annoyed at his lack of reaction. "Is that all you're going to say?" she thought. Determined to impress him, she enveloped herself in a crackling aura of thunder. With a loud boom, she shot forward, leaving Xuan Li several meters behind.

Turning her head slightly, she smirked. "Xuan Li, you might surpass me in combat and power, but when it comes to speed, I'll take the lead."

Xuan Li, watching her streak ahead, smiled faintly. "Oh, you have a thunder ability. It's high-tier. Nice."

Mei Xue frowned, slightly flustered by his lack of enthusiasm. "Just you wait, Xuan Li," she thought, increasing her speed further. "I'll show you what I can really do."

But before she could revel in her lead, she felt a faint tremor in the air. A blue glow surrounded Xuan Li as he activated his technique. "Mei Xue," he called out, his voice steady. "Here I come."

A deafening boom followed, and in an instant, Xuan Li dashed forward, the faint blue glow of his cosmic energy shimmering like starlight. Mei Xue blinked in shock as she saw a shadow pass her, leaving her far behind. Realizing it was Xuan Li, her eyes widened in disbelief. "What... what is that technique?" she muttered. Gritting her teeth, she growled, "Damn it! I'm not going to lose."

Her eyes sparked with thunder energy, and her speed increased fivefold as she pushed herself to the limit. Ahead of her, Xuan Li glanced back with a teasing smile. "Catch me if you can, Mei Xue."

Mei Xue smirked despite her frustration. "Don't get cocky, Xuan Li. I'll overtake you."

The two of them raced through the path, their competitive spirits igniting like flames. The sound of thunder and the hum of cosmic energy filled the air as they weaved through trees and crossed fields. By nightfall, Xuan Li stood at the gates of the city of Qinghe, his breathing calm and steady.

Turning back, he saw Mei Xue arriving moments later, gasping for breath as she collapsed to the ground. "Are you okay, Mei Xue?" he asked, his tone laced with a hint of amusement.

Mei Xue nodded, muttering between breaths, "Next time, I'll definitely beat you."

Xuan Li chuckled. "Sure. But for now, let's rest."

The two entered the bustling city and quickly found an inn. However, as Xuan Li spoke with the innkeeper, his voice suddenly rose in disbelief. "What? There's only one room available?"

Mei Xue turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "What's the problem? We'll share the room." Leaning closer, she whispered in his ear, "Are you intimidated by my appearance?"

Xuan Li's face remained expressionless as he replied, "It's not that. It's just... I have a habit of practicing my cultivation at night, and I didn't want to disturb your privacy."

Hearing this, Mei Xue's annoyance flickered for a moment. Forcing a smile, she replied, "Don't worry about it. I'm fine." But inwardly, she thought, "Huh? He's completely unfazed by me? Even though my appearance is considered top-tier? I'm glad he doesn't have any indecent thoughts, but... for some reason, it's still irritating."

On the other hand, Xuan Li was struggling to maintain his calm. "That was close," he thought. "I almost gave away that I was unintentionally drawn to her beauty. Thanks to Master's teaching, I remembered to keep my face blank and play it cool. Master, you're truly my savior."

Inside the locket, Verdris felt an inexplicable chill and sighed.

The room they were assigned had two beds, much to Xuan Li's relief. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he sighed in contentment. "At least there are two beds," he thought.

A sudden growling sound broke the silence. Xuan Li turned to see Mei Xue blushing furiously, clutching her stomach. "Ah, sorry, Mei Xue. You must be hungry after all that running. Wait here." He reached into his bag and handed her a piece of bread.

Mei Xue accepted it hesitantly, then noticed he was eating the same bread. She thought, "He doesn't treat me differently because I'm a noble. He treats me as an equal... Wait."

Standing abruptly, she asked, "Is this all you're having for dinner?"

Xuan Li nodded. "What's wrong with that?"

Mei Xue sighed deeply. "Are you really a warrior on a journey? You don't even know how to cook a basic meal?"

Xuan Li lowered his head in embarrassment. "I... I never learned."

Seeing his reaction, Mei Xue sighed again. "Give me some coins."

Xuan Li handed her a gold coin, asking, "What are you going to do with it?"

"Cook us a proper meal," she replied. "Don't worry, I'll handle it."

After a while, Mei Xue returned with fresh ingredients and cooked a delicious meal. As they ate, Xuan Li complimented her cooking. "This is great, Mei Xue. Thank you."

After dinner, Xuan Li stood up. "Alright, I'm going to practice now."

Mei Xue nodded. "I'll join you."

The two sat cross-legged on their respective beds. Mei Xue's body became enveloped in a golden glow as her heavenly aura circulated. Meanwhile, Xuan Li's Primordial Core began radiating a black and white cosmic energy. The two energies clashed, creating an intense pressure in the room.

Mei Xue winced, feeling the opposing energy affect her cultivation. Verdris observed from within the locket, sighing. "Two opposing origins... When they interact, this kind of friction is inevitable. The girl's heavenly aura will weaken in the presence of Xuan Li's cosmic energy. For now, it's manageable, but when they grow stronger, the clash between their energies will become catastrophic."

Releasing a faint wave of power, Verdris stabilized the space around Xuan Li and Mei Xue. The cosmic energy receded, allowing Mei Xue to continue her practice without discomfort. "This should suffice for now," Verdris thought.

The night passed in quiet cultivation, the two companions unaware of the deeper connection and challenges their opposing auras would bring in the future.