541: Do the "real work"

Qiong Shuang, who was standing to the side, finally reached the end of her patience!

She stood with her arms crossed over her chest; that posture, combined with her cold and elegant "big sister" attire, created a powerful sense of contrast.

She rolled her eyes dramatically, and the cold, aloof aura she had been trying so hard to maintain instantly collapsed into nothingness.

"Can you two pick a better place to show off your love?! This Young Miss is an Ancient Heavenly Flood Dragon, I can't stomach this dog food!"

"If you keep flaunting it, this flood dragon is going to catch a cold—from how sickeningly sweet you two are being!"

With a look of utter despair, she pointed at her own luxurious gown covered in Qiong Shuang patterns. "Even with an ice attribute, I can't take it!"

Only then did Yao Delong snap out of his Junior Sister’s captivating mix of bashfulness and feigned anger (mostly because she was so beautiful).

He rubbed his nose awkwardly. Looking at the current human form of Qiong Shuang—with her jade-like skin, icy bones, and cold, peerless beauty...

...and then thinking back to her original form as that silly, greedy Little White Flood Dragon... yeah, the contrast was indeed quite massive.

He casually took a jade bottle from his storage ring and tossed it over.

"Qiong Shuang, be a good girl... uh... that, this bottle of 'Cold Jade Profound Marrow Pills' should be useful for your Glacial Demon Source.

You go play outside for a bit? I'm going to check on your Sister Clear Snow's dao foundation. After all, she's had several Breakthroughs in a row, so a solid Foundation is the key."

He tried to make his tone sound a bit more serious and proper.

Qiong Shuang caught the flying jade bottle of Medicinal Pills, and her eyes instantly lit up!

A small trace of "at least you know what's good for you" smugness flickered across her icy, elegant face.

But hearing that "checking the dao foundation" excuse, she almost snorted in laughter. Thinking back to before she had transformed...

...the "Spiritual Power Interaction" scene she had stumbled upon that would make anyone blush... Qiong Shuang was very clever. She immediately tucked the small jade bottle into her bosom.

Her mountain-like icy face struggled to maintain its composure, but the slight twitch at the corner of her mouth gave her away.

"Hmph! I get it, I get it! Burning the bridge after crossing it! This flood dragon is going to the Back Mountain Cold Pool to nurture her treasure. You two take your time 'checking'!"

"Take—care—of—your—health—!"

She intentionally dragged out her words, leaving behind a meaningful "take care" and a roll of her eyes...

...before transforming into a streak of icy-blue light and vanishing in an instant.

Only two people remained in the courtyard.

Lin Qingxue’s peerless face was now so red it looked like it could bleed, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly.

She glared at Yao Delong with a mix of shame and annoyance, her lips parting as she spoke in a soft, pouting voice that was as quiet as a mosquito:

"Senior Brother... you... you're so bad... every time you come to find your Junior Sister... it's... it's for that..."

That expression, that tone—it could practically melt steel into soft silk!

Yao Delong felt his bones grow light. He gave a mischievous grin and stepped closer, showing none of the poise expected of a Grandmaster: "What, Junior Sister... are you unwilling?"

His warm breath brushed against her ear.

Lin Qingxue’s heart beat like a drum. She was so ashamed she wanted to find a hole to crawl into, but her body felt as if it had been hit by a freezing spell.

She gave Yao Delong a frustrated glare, the resentment in her autumn-water eyes practically capable of stealing one's Soul.

Then, without saying a word, she simply stomped her foot and turned abruptly.

Her graceful figure was like a startled white deer. With a gust of fragrant wind, she lowered her head...

...and quickly "slipped" into the quiet room deep within the Immortal Cave.

Although she moved quickly, her small, translucent white earlobes were so red they looked like they were about to catch fire.

Yao Delong understood perfectly. The smile on his face became even more radiant and unrestrained, and he felt as if his whole body had lost three pounds of weight.

He followed her inside with impatient haste, not forgetting to wave his hand as he went.

Several streaks of pure Yuan Power transformed into Restriction light, sealing the entire quiet room so tightly that not even the thoughts of a fly could escape!

... (Omitted here is the description of the "dao foundation stabilization" process lasting more than an hour, totaling tens of thousands of words) ... Finally.

The heavy stone door of the quiet room slid open silently to both sides.

Yao Delong strode out with a refreshed spirit and the vigor of a dragon or tiger!

His entire face was glowing with a red light of satisfaction and joy that came from the depths of his Soul!

Even every strand of his hair seemed to radiate high spirits!

It wasn't just because of a certain harmonious and fulfilling two-way "exercise," but also because during the "Deep Spiritual Power Exchange" just now...

...the System's familiar and wonderful notification sound had clearly flowed through his mind:

[Ding! Achieved Dao Rhyme Resonance with target Lin Qingxue; compatibility is extremely high. Obtained +80 'yin-yang value'!]

He checked the invisible panel within himself and saw that the original 90 yin-yang value...

...had now become 170! A proper harvest!

Immediately after, Lin Qingxue also floated out of the quiet room. Her aura was noticeably more rounded and clear, her face as beautiful as a peach or plum...

...and her eyes held a more moist, gentle luster than before.

She tidied her slightly messy hair and smoothed the remaining wrinkles in her clothes.

She was like a peerless flower that had been nourished by rain and dew, becoming even more brilliantly beautiful.

Seeing Yao Delong’s extremely comfortable appearance and thinking of the "deep-level Yuan Power entanglement" triggered to "stabilize the dao foundation"... Lin Qingxue’s heart, which had just calmed down, sped up again.

She couldn't help but show that expression of "wanting to complain but unable to get angry, eventually turning into a mix of helplessness and sweetness."

"Your cultivation... has improved again, right?" Yao Delong asked with a smile, asking something he already knew.

Lin Qingxue felt the Yuan Power in her body, which was indeed purer and more robust than before.

She also felt the fluctuations she was suppressing, which had clearly strengthened and were faintly touching the threshold of Soul Transformation... She finally gave a faint smile. That smile was like the first melting of ice and snow, breathtakingly beautiful.

"Mhm... thanks to that miraculous 'secret technique' of yours, Senior Brother..."

She spoke softly, her voice carrying the soft, seductive raspiness that follows such events. Lin Qingxue gave Yao Delong a glare filled with both annoyance and joy.

That charming yet cold demeanor almost made Old Yao want to act again.

However, he didn't forget his official business, mainly fearing a "social death" scene if the "lightbulb" flood dragon found them.

"Haha, Junior Sister's Foundation is solid, and your potential is limitless! To stabilize your Foundation and comprehend this Realm..."

"...it's best to go look deep within the Scripture Pavilion... specifically, find the 'Frost-Slaying Sword Manual' volume. It's perfect for your Ice-Fire Profound Veins!"

He put on a look of sincere guidance, like a Grandmaster instructing a junior.

"As for me... cough, cough, I suddenly remembered there are two troublesome outer Disciples who need to be disciplined tomorrow... Senior Brother will take his leave first! Cultivate well!"

Without waiting for Lin Qingxue to see his fabricated expression, his figure flickered. Like a heartless scumbag who just leaves after the deed...

...he vanished directly on the spot, leaving behind only a ripple of sharp air where space had been slightly sliced open.

Heavenly Sword Peak · Outside Liu Rumei’s Immortal Cave

The stone walls were covered in cold, fierce sword mark inscriptions. Yao Delong stood silently in mid-air, his Divine Thought spreading out like mercury to probe the Guardian Restriction.

Scorching!

Inside the Immortal Cave, a familiar Vermilion Bird flame aura surged and coiled, powerful and fierce!

In the center, a sexy and bombshell figure sat cross-legged. Blazing fires swirled around her, condensing into the phantom of a Flame Sparrow about to take flight!

The Sword Intent in the air was condensed but not released, carrying a sharp edge that suggested burning one's bridges. She was at the critical barrier of breaking through to the Late Golden Core Stage!

"Just after breaking through to the Late Golden Core Stage, Rumei took a Profound Dao Pill to immediately break through again... she really is impatient."

Yao Delong gave an understanding smile.

"Fortunately, this Foundation is much more solid than last time. Although she's in a hurry, her strength isn't loose. When the time is right, she'll break through naturally. No need for outside interference."

He tapped his fingertip lightly on the Restriction's light curtain, leaving behind a gentle Sword Intent that contained a hint of life's continuous flow...

...to nourish her mind and body. Then, without looking further, he silently rose into the air and departed.