259: Chapter 259 Breakthrough in Cultivation Technique!

Soft brocade cushions were spread across the couch, flanked by two Everlasting Lamps whose clear flames emitted a soft glow.

As soon as Ye Changge entered the main chamber, he felt a rush of dense Spiritual Qi hit him in the face.

The Spiritual Qi was so abundant that a faint spiritual mist permeated the air; with every breath, the mist surged into his body through his nose and mouth, bringing a refreshing, cool sensation.

“As expected of a top-tier Immortal Cave...”

Ye Changge praised inwardly.

This concentration of Spiritual Qi was even more exaggerated than what the Disciple at the Management Office had described.

It likely had a Spiritual Qi supply on the level of a Third-grade Spiritual Vein's main trunk.

Xia Qingyue did not say much.

She walked to the Jade Couch, gently smoothed the wrinkles on the brocade cushion, and then sat down cross-legged.

She closed her eyes, formed hand seals, and slowly began to circulate the Supreme Forgetting Emotion Art within her body.

The dense Spiritual Qi in the Immortal Cave seemed to have found its home, spontaneously surging toward her body and forming a faint vortex around her.

Ye Changge did not disturb her, merely standing guard quietly by her side.

He knew she was adjusting her state.

This matter concerned whether she could Breakthrough the Bottleneck in one go, so there was no room for the slightest carelessness.

Time passed slowly.

The Immortal Cave was incredibly quiet, with only the occasional faint 'crackle' from the Everlasting Lamps and Xia Qingyue's steady breathing.

An unknown amount of time passed—

Perhaps one hour, perhaps two.

The aura around Xia Qingyue suddenly began to climb.

That spiritual power, cold as frost, was like a river bursting its banks, racing and roaring through her Meridians, emitting a faint humming sound.

The vortex around her suddenly expanded, frantically pulling the Spiritual Qi in the Immortal Cave into her body.

Seeing this, Ye Changge’s heart tightened.

It’s starting.

Another half-incense stick's time passed.

Xia Qingyue's breathing gradually calmed, and the aura around her body tended toward stability.

The signs of an imminent Breakthrough were temporarily suppressed by her, but Ye Changge could clearly perceive that the layer of the Bottleneck was already as thin as a sheet of paper.

Only the final... sliver remained.

Xia Qingyue slowly opened her eyes.

In those beautiful eyes, the coldness remained, but they held a bit more radiant luster than usual.

She looked at Ye Changge, her voice soft yet clear:

“Fellow Daoist Ye, I... am ready.”

As she said this, her voice carried a trace of an imperceptible tremble.

That maiden heart, which had never beaten for any man, was now thumping violently like a war drum, almost jumping out of her chest.

She lowered her gaze, not daring to look into Ye Changge's eyes.

She could feel her cheeks burning, her ears burning, and even her breathing becoming somewhat hurried.

She didn't know why.

Clearly, she had prepared herself; clearly, she had made the decision, but when the moment arrived...

She was still nervous.

Looking at this woman before him—cold and ethereal, yet currently too shy to even raise her head—Ye Changge's heart softened slightly.

He stepped forward, crouched down in front of her, met her eyes at the same level, and said warmly:

“Qingyue, just relax, there’s no need to be nervous. In a moment, simply focus on circulating your Cultivation Technique and feeling the changes of the Spiritual Qi in your body. Leave the rest... to me.”

His voice was deep and gentle, carrying a reassuring certainty.

Hearing this, the tension and panic in Xia Qingyue's heart inexplicably calmed down a bit.

She looked up and met those deep, bright eyes, seeing tenderness, encouragement, and a hint of... something she didn't quite understand.

But she knew it was well-intentioned and meant to put her at ease.

She nodded gently, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum:

“Mm... I understand. I will trouble... Fellow Daoist Ye.”

After speaking, she closed her eyes again, formed hand seals, and began to slowly circulate her internal technique.

Seeing this, Ye Changge thought to himself: I must settle this quickly.

With Xia Qingyue's cold and pure temperament, if things dragged on too long, she would likely get more nervous the more she thought about it, and the more nervous she got, the more she wouldn't be able to let go. That would make things even harder to handle.

It was better to cut the Gordian knot.

Steeling his heart, he stood up and walked to the edge of the Jade Couch.

Although Xia Qingyue had her eyes closed, she could clearly sense his approach.

Her heart beat even faster.

She could feel her cheeks burning—burning intensely, as if they were about to catch fire.

Then—

She felt a hand gently rest on the button of her moon-white dress.

With a soft 'click' sound.

The first button was undone.

Xia Qingyue's body trembled slightly, but she bit her lower lip and did not move.

Ye Changge did not stop.

His fingers were nimble and gentle, undoing the exquisite frog buttons one by one.

The moon-white dress spread open to both sides like flower petals, revealing the Inner Garment beneath.

The Inner Garment was as thin as a cicada's wing, through which her jade-white skin was faintly visible.

Ye Changge's movements paused for a moment.

Looking at the exquisitely curved body before him, wrapped in thin fabric, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

But he quickly collected his thoughts and continued his movements.

The ties of the Inner Garment were also undone.

The thin Inner Garment slipped down, revealing the final layer of Undergarments.

The Undergarment was also moon-white, embroidered with elegant orchid patterns; its soft texture clung tightly to her, outlining the budding curves of the young woman.

Ye Changge took a deep breath, suppressing the thumping in his heart, and reached out to remove the final Undergarment as well.

The fabric slipped from her shoulders like falling petals, revealing skin as white as jade and her delicate, graceful collarbones.

Xia Qingyue's body trembled slightly, her hands tightly clutching the brocade cushion beneath her, her knuckles turning white from the force.

She did not open her eyes, but she could feel that gaze falling upon her, carrying a warm, scrutinizing, yet incomparably focused intent.

She felt as if her heart was beating so fast it might stop.

Shame, tension, anticipation...

A variety of emotions intertwined, leaving her mind in a state of Chaos.

Ye Changge looked at her.

She sat there on the Jade Couch, her upper body bare, her skin like snow, shimmering with a lustrous glow under the soft light of the Everlasting Lamps.

Her jet-black hair was scattered over her shoulders, making her cold and peerless face seem all the more enchanting.

Her eyes were closed, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, her hands tightly clutching the cushion, her body leaning forward slightly as if she were desperately enduring something.

An indescribable surge of pity and tenderness suddenly rose in Ye Changge's heart.

He reached out, gently took her hand that was clutching the cushion, pried her fingers open one by one, and interlaced them with his own.

“Qingyue, relax a little.”

His voice was deep and gentle, like a spring breeze brushing across a lake.

Xia Qingyue's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Those beautiful eyes were misty and blurred; looking at the handsome face so close to hers, she bit her lip and gave a soft “Mm”.

Then, she released her other hand.

She allowed him to hold her hand, no longer resisting.

Ye Changge gently laid her down on the Jade Couch; the brocade cushion was soft and felt cool to the touch.