333: It's better to rely on yourself than on others.

Liu Rumei smiled charmingly, her eyes rippling with emotion.

"Delong, your Divine Might was world-shaking today; Rumei's heart was surging as I watched.

However, Shishi is right. The realm of water and fire sharing the same source is profound and extraordinary; it truly requires quiet contemplation."

Inside the quiet room of the Luoxia Peak courtyard.

Yao Delong sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed. His entire aura flowed harmoniously,

faintly flickering with alternating halos of crimson and azure, like a rhythmic breath.

The mysterious dao rhyme of 'water and fire from the same source, Yin and Yang complementing each other'—which he had realized during the fierce battle with Cang Yunyao earlier that day—

was currently flowing and settling within his heart.

The Blazing Sun Yuan Power of the Nine Yang Heaven Burning Art and the water-attribute Yuan Power converted from his Nascent Soul

were no longer as distinct and diametrically opposed as they once were.

They were like two great rivers that had originally flowed in parallel,

but had now found a point of convergence, beginning to permeate and nourish each other.

A trace of the flexibility and permeability of water techniques quietly merged into the crimson Blazing Sun Yuan Power,

adding a sense of endurance and an inextinguishable resilience to its violent burning power.

Meanwhile, that originally not-so-formidable water-attribute Yuan Power

was injected with the vigorous Life Qi and blazing characteristics of the Blazing Sun, becoming more vibrant and penetrative.

An unprecedented sense of control welled up spontaneously.

Yao Delong felt that his mastery over these two completely different powers within his body had reached a brand new height.

With a slight thought, the power of water and fire could be converted at will, and he could even simulate some of the other's characteristics.

Attempting to counter his fire control techniques with ordinary water spells would now be harder than reaching the heavens!

"Whew..."

After an unknown amount of time, Yao Delong slowly exhaled a long breath.

After leaving his body, that breath actually transformed into two tiny cyclones—one red and one blue—intertwining for a moment before slowly dissipating.

He opened his eyes, which contained a sharp inner light. He was in high spirits; although his cultivation hadn't surged,

his Foundation was now more solid, and his control over power was refined to the smallest detail.

Outside the window, the sky was full of stars, and the night was still.

"They should have all gone back by now, right?"

With a slight thought, Yao Delong quietly spread out his Divine Thought.

However, the result he perceived made him start slightly.

The auras of the three women—Lin Qingxue, Luo Miaomiao, and Liu Rumei—were all still within the courtyard!

They hadn't left; instead, they were quietly cultivating in their respective wings,

clearly acting as his Protectors, or perhaps... waiting.

A warm current surged into his heart. Yao Delong stood up and stretched his muscles.

On the System panel, the 3,840 yin yang points required to increase his Spiritual Power Affinity from 9 to 10 was still a massive number.

Although he had agreed on a deal for the nine nether soul nurturing flower with the witch Xin Yuelan, that item was exceptionally precious.

It was hard to guarantee that no accidents would occur during the transaction. It was better to rely on oneself than others; it was more practical and reliable to do the 'plowing' himself.

As the thought arose, a smile curled on Yao Delong's lips.

His figure slipped out of the quiet room as silently as a ghost, heading straight for the room where Lin Qingxue was.

Inside the room, Lin Qingxue sat on a prayer mat. She appeared to be in a meditative state of cultivation, but in reality, her mind was in turmoil.

Cang Yunyao's blunt words from earlier that day were like small thorns pricked into her heart.

It wasn't that she was unreasonable; she knew that a Prodigy like Yao Delong was destined not to have only her by his side.

But that selfish desire for exclusivity and that girlish jealousy were difficult to completely eliminate.

She had already sensed Yao Delong's aura approaching the door,

but she deliberately kept her eyes closed to feign cultivation, wanting to see how this 'unfaithful' Senior Brother would react.

Yao Delong pushed the door open and entered with gentle movements. Seeing his Junior Sister's cold and exquisite profile, he understood everything.

He walked over and sat down beside Lin Qingxue, his arm naturally wrapping around that slender, supple waist.

"Junior Sister..."

Yao Delong coughed twice on purpose, his voice carrying a hint of "weakness."

"Cough, cough... While fighting Senior Brother Zhuge today, I also suffered some internal injuries. My blood and Qi are churning, cough, cough..."

Before he could finish, Lin Qingxue snapped her beautiful eyes open, her gaze instantly filled with concern and anxiety.

"Senior Brother! What's wrong? Was the backlash from that final sword strike today really that severe? Quick, let me see!"

She subconsciously reached out to check Yao Delong's pulse.

However, when her gaze met Yao Delong's ruddy complexion and steady, long breath,

she immediately realized she had been tricked by this 'cunning' Senior Brother again!

Her pretty face turned red, and she tried to push him away in bashful annoyance. "Senior Brother! You're lying again!"

How could Yao Delong let go? Instead, he held her tighter and lowered his head,

accurately covering those alluring red lips that were slightly pouting from her annoyance.

"Mmph..."

Lin Qingxue struggled symbolically for a moment before softening within that familiar and domineering aura.

"Junior Sister, don't be angry. Senior Brother has come to help you... consolidate your cultivation."

Yao Delong's low voice carried a bewitching magic.

The fusion of ice and fire played out once again.

Different from the intensity of the past, this time Yao Delong deliberately guided the recently realized Blazing Sun Yuan Power,

which contained a trace of water's flexibility,

to intertwine, permeate, and harmonize with Lin Qingxue's pure and icy primal yin power.

Lin Qingxue soon became immersed in this wonderful Dual Cultivation experience where it felt as if their very Souls were resonating.

She only felt the Yuan Power within her body circulating more smoothly,

and there seemed to be an imperceptible, gentle Life Qi added to her icy power.

Half an hour later, the clouds cleared and the rain ceased.

The two embraced, their auras blending. Both felt refreshed; though their cultivation hadn't risen significantly,

their Foundations were more stable, and their understanding of their own power had deepened by a level.

Especially for Lin Qingxue, that bit of jealousy sparked by Cang Yunyao

had long since vanished in this intimate union, leaving only a heart full of sweetness and a sense of belonging.

[Ding! Completed deep Yin-Yang Harmony with the target!]

[Target's Cultivation Technique compatibility: Extremely High!]

[yin yang points +60! Current yin-yang value: 345 points!]

The System's notification sounded at the right time.

Yao Delong was deeply satisfied. Looking at his beautiful and moving Junior Sister in his arms,

he began to think about his other two "fertile fields." However, having just comforted one,

to immediately want to go and plow the other two—even with his thick skin, he felt a bit embarrassed to speak up.

Lin Qingxue was very intelligent. From Yao Delong's slightly wandering gaze and his brief hesitation in breathing, she guessed his thoughts.

She sighed softly in her heart, but she also understood the weight Luo Miaomiao and Liu Rumei held in Yao Delong's heart.

She raised her jade-like hand and gave the soft flesh at Yao Delong's waist a moderate pinch, giving him a reproachful look.

"Hmph! At least Senior Brother has a conscience and knew to come to Clear Snow first."

She paused, her voice carrying a hint of helplessness and indulgence.

"Go then. Don't keep Miaomiao and Rumei waiting too long."

Yao Delong felt as if he had been granted a great pardon. Moved, he couldn't help but plant a hard kiss on Lin Qingxue's smooth forehead.

"Junior Sister is the best!"

He didn't notice that in the shadows of the roof beams, a snow-white little dragon with crystalline scales—Qiong Shuang—

was covering her eyes with her two front claws, yet couldn't resist peeking through the gaps.

Her tiny body was slightly hot as she muttered in her heart,

"Big Brother... Big Brother and Sister Clear Snow... are... are Cultivating that strange technique again... How embarrassing..."