543: It's getting late!

Yao Delong naturally received her with composure. How formidable was his physical body now at the Late Stage Soul Transformation?

He could easily crush even diamond. Luo Miaomiao's level of force,

not only couldn't harm him in the slightest, but instead further ignited his desire to conquer and plunder.

An hour's time flowed by like a murmuring stream amidst their fervent entanglement.

The turbulent Spiritual Qi within the Secret Chamber finally settled.

Luo Miaomiao, drenched in fragrant sweat, collapsed softly onto a pile of soft ice-silk cushions, her skin glowing with a captivating rosy hue.

Panting lightly, she closed her eyes to conduct internal observation. Indeed, the Spiritual Qi throughout her body felt a trace more refined and robust than before.

Within the Qi Sea of her Dantian, that azure profound core spun with increasing crystal clarity—

Yet that barrier, seemingly thin as a cicada's wing yet firm as a rock, lying between her and the Nascent Soul,

remained utterly unmoved, without even the slightest sign of loosening!

"Still not working..."

She opened her eyes, her voice carrying a barely perceptible rasp and a hint of disappointment. Her dewy eyes looked at Yao Delong with grievance,

"Delong, is it... is it that I'm too useless?"

The Nascent Soul barrier is not formed in a day. Though Dual Cultivation is beneficial, the chasm between Realms has already taken shape.

She could feel the water-elemental power within her body growing ever more refined and vast, yet she was just missing that final push!

Missing that key which could completely push open the great door!

At the same time, a crisp notification sounded within Yao Delong's Sea of Consciousness:

[Ding! Completed dao rhyme resonance with target Luo Miaomiao. Compatibility extremely high. Obtained 'yin-yang value' +70 points!]

Total yin-yang value: 170 → 240 points!

For the current Yao Delong, the feedback attainable from Luo Miaomiao's Golden Core Perfection cultivation was already extremely minimal.

This bit of Dual Cultivation "gain" at most saved him from three to five days of bitter, solitary meditation. A flicker of regret passed through his eyes,

but it was outweighed by a greater sense of tenderness for the girl before him. He reached out, his calloused fingers gently brushing aside the sweat-dampened strands of hair clinging to her temple.

"What foolish talk is that!" Yao Delong's tone was uncharacteristically solemn,

"Miaomiao, your talent is astonishing. The obstacle to breaking through to Nascent Soul is not a feat accomplished in a single day. It's just..."

He deliberately paused. Luo Miaomiao's heart immediately leapt into her throat.

"Perhaps... the time is not yet ripe?" Yao Delong's gaze flickered slightly, as if pondering something,

"Or perhaps... the force of Yin and Yang stimulation is still not fierce enough?"

Luo Miaomiao's face flushed even redder, this time her bashfulness tinged with a hint of reproach:

"Not fierce enough?! My life was almost..."

Yao Delong chuckled softly, not letting her finish that shameful outburst.

He changed the subject instead: "Alright, enough of these wild thoughts. This Bottleneck, Senior Brother will keep it in mind for you. Sooner or later, I'll smash through it for you!"

Then, he composed his expression and earnestly began to address the cultivation doubts Luo Miaomiao had accumulated over the past half-year.

With his current Late Stage Soul Transformation perspective and deep understanding of water-elemental power, guiding a highly talented Golden Core Cultivator,

every word he spoke could point directly to the Origin, causing Luo Miaomiao to sometimes frown in deep thought, and other times have sudden epiphanies,

her eyes sparkling with joyful light, having long since forgotten her earlier disappointment.

Half a day later.

Yao Delong, having placated the still-reluctant Luo Miaomiao, left Spirit Water Peak.

He did not return to his Immortal Cave. Without a second thought, he headed straight for Senior Sister Cang Yunyao's residence—this one was a true mother lode!

Unexpectedly, he arrived to find the place empty. Cang Yunyao's Immortal Cave had all its Restrictions fully activated, and she was nowhere to be found.

"Hmm... In long-term seclusion, or out on a mission?"

Yao Delong stood atop the peak, gazing out at the Sect's endless mountain ranges, making calculations in his heart:

"yin-yang value has accumulated to 240 points... Getting closer and closer to Void Refining... It's about time to make a trip outside the Sect."

Having made up his mind, he decided to set off within the next few days!

His goals were to gather intelligence on the movements of those two persistent old demons (Hundred Refinements and Kuangji),

and to incidentally fulfill his promise to take the artifact spirit Senior "You Yuan" out to "get some fresh air."

A streak of light flashed as Yao Delong turned back towards his own peak.

Just as he landed in the small courtyard before his Immortal Cave, his gaze swept casually and his footsteps halted!

There, seated quietly upon the ancient bluestone he often used to dry Spiritual Plants beside the bamboo fence, was a graceful figure.

Moonlight cascaded like water over her ice-blue Daoist robe, the whole person emanating a faint glow that was both coolly aloof and tense.

Lin Shishi?! She actually... came this early?

Clearly, her internal struggle was intense, as even the nearly imperceptible spatial ripple from Yao Delong's landing failed to startle her.

The corner of Yao Delong's mouth lifted in an amused arc. It seemed this Junior Sister Lin was much more "eager" than he had anticipated.

"Junior Sister Lin?" His clear, laughter-tinged voice was like a pebble dropped into a calm lake.

"Ah!"

Lin Shishi jerked her head up like a startled fawn. Recognizing Yao Delong,

her exquisitely beautiful face instantly flushed crimson, even her crystalline earlobes turning a deep, blood-red!

Flustered, she didn't know where to put her hands and feet. Her voice was as small as a mosquito's hum:

"Yao... Yao Senior Brother... you're back..." Mentally cursing herself:

How mortifying! Why couldn't I control my feet and just come running here!

Yao Delong's smile widened. In one step, he was before her. Without the slightest hesitation,

he reached out with extreme naturalness, his warm, large hand enveloping Lin Shishi's cool, slightly trembling jade-like hand!

Lin Shishi's entire body stiffened, as if pierced by a fine electric current!

She wanted to withdraw her hand, but that feeble force was completely enveloped by the solid strength of Yao Delong's palm.

She struggled no more, only her thick lashes fluttering lightly as she lowered her gaze, staring at their joined hands,

her heart almost leaping out of her throat. Coming this early... he should... understand my meaning, right?

Seeing she didn't resist, Yao Delong understood perfectly. This posture of feigned resistance yet willing acceptance... was a fruit already fully ripe!

"What are you standing there dumbfounded for?" He chuckled softly, his voice carrying an irresistible magnetism,

"The hour... is not early." Before his words faded, the arm encircling Lin Shishi's slender waist exerted a slight force!

"Ah!" Lin Shishi gasped in surprise as her body was lifted completely into a horizontal carry!

Yao Delong, holding this cool yet soft beauty, took a step with his foot!

Space twisted slightly. Their figures instantly vanished from the spot,

directly teleporting into the depths of the Immortal Cave, into that long-prepared Secret Chamber—lit by warm jade spirit marrow and sealed against all Divine Thought prying!

Under the gentle glow of the warm jade, Lin Shishi's cheeks flushed an even deeper red. Placed by Yao Delong upon the jade couch spread with soft beast-fur felt,

she instinctively shielded her chest with her hands. Her pair of autumn-water eyes were tightly shut, long lashes trembling violently,

her breathing rapid, clearly having reached the peak of tension! She resembled a jade-carved beauty wound taut.

"Shishi,"

Yao Delong leaned closer, his warm breath brushing past her ear. His voice was low, filled with a soothing power,

"Relax... The path of the great Dao lies in the communion of hearts and minds. Only through the interaction of Yin and Yang can the opportunity for endless vitality arise. A tense spirit will only hinder the flow of Dao essence..."

That magnetic, reassuring voice seemed to possess magic. Lin Shishi's taut body actually began to relax somewhat.

Hesitantly, she finally mustered her courage and opened those shimmering, watery eyes—

brimming with infinite shyness—to gaze dazedly at the handsome face so close at hand.

His gaze was deep and focused, utterly devoid of mockery,

instead radiating a strange, mesmerizing sense of solace... Was this truly a discussion of the Dao?