Chapter 26 Dual Cultivation and Unity of Dao, Immense Power

At the Tingfeng Cliff Immortal Cave in the East Mountain Spirit Garden, the stone door slowly pushed open as Lin Yue stepped inside, and a breeze carrying the fragrance of mountain plants rushed into the hall ahead of him.

The three people in the hall looked up almost simultaneously, their gazes falling on him with different emotions.

A He was the first to move.

She lifted her skirt and ran to him, her large amber eyes shining like starlight, her voice full of irrepressible joy and concern: "Husband! You're back! I heard about the match; you beat that wicked Zhao Dezhu! Are you hurt? Are you tired?"

She had been tending to the herbs in the Spirit Garden when a familiar Utility Disciple ran over excitedly and vividly described how Lin Yue had crushed Zhao Dezhu in three rounds and countered his underhanded move in one stroke.

The young girl’s heart had been racing as she listened, both overjoyed by his victory and fearful he might have been injured, so she had been waiting in the hall early, eagerly anticipating his return.

Seeing her eyes full of dependence and joy, Lin Yue felt a warmth in his heart. He reached out to stroke her soft hair, his fingertips brushing the green vine hairpin at her temple, and said softly, "Don't worry, he was just a clown and couldn't hurt me at all. What about you? You've been busy in the Spirit Garden for half the day; are you tired?"

As he rubbed her hair, A He's face turned red instantly. She shook her head gently but unconsciously leaned closer to him like a docile kitten clinging to its master.

On the other side of the hall, Su Qingyuan sheathed her crimson-patterned flying sword and stood still.

Her light purple dress complemented her upright posture. Her phoenix eyes were still covered with their usual coldness, but deep within them, waves of irrepressible emotion were surging.

Born a princess of the Great Liang imperial family, she had been accustomed to power struggles since childhood and was naturally drawn to the strong. Only a true powerhouse could make her proud heart yield.

Although her opinion of Lin Yue had changed before, she had only seen him as a Cultivator with some opportunities and tricks. But today she heard that he had not only mastered the Five Elements Medicine Planting Technique to the Peak of the fifth level but had also counter-killed Zhao Dezhu, who was at the Eighth Level of Qi Refining, in a single move.

That hidden ruthlessness and composure were like a wildfire, instantly scorching the wasteland of her heart.

She looked at Lin Yue's back. Even though he still stooped his body to act like an old man, he possessed an irrepressible aura of a powerhouse. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around her sword hilt, and her cheeks actually flushed with a hint of heat.

She turned her face away, pretending to nonchalantly wipe the blade, but her ears were pricked up, catching every word of his conversation with A He. That secret fascination in her heart began to spread quietly like vines.

This man was far more profound than she had imagined.

At the door of the alchemy room, Luo Ningshuang's cold eyes showed less of her usual wariness and aloofness and more complex contemplation. She leaned against the doorframe, her dark eyes resting quietly on Lin Yue, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the pestle.

With the Baicao Valley destroyed, her Dantian crippled, and her Meridians shattered, she had survived until now with revenge as her only obsession. But she knew better than anyone that with her strength alone, trying to challenge Elder Wu of the Alchemy Hall was like an egg striking a stone.

She once thought Lin Yue was just a down-and-out Cultivator who got lucky, but he had repeatedly shattered her perceptions—the lost Qinggang Seven Mysteries Array, the mysterious means to repair Magical Artifacts, the Heaven-Defying alchemy texts, and now he had displayed the strength and technical mastery to crush Zhao Dezhu.

This man was like a bottomless ancient well; you never knew what kind of surprise he would bring next.

Perhaps... he really could help her avenge that blood feud.

Once this thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed. Looking at Lin Yue, for the first time, an emotion called "expectation" appeared in her cold eyes.

[bite! Detected that partner A He’s admiration, dependence, and love for the host have reached their Peak. Current favorability +20, favorability 90! Dual Cultivation conditions met!]

[bite! Detected that partner Su Qingyuan’s recognition of the host’s strength has significantly increased. Favorability +10, current favorability 70!]

[bite! Detected that partner Luo Ningshuang’s trust and expectation for the host have increased. Favorability +15, current favorability 55!]

A series of System notification tones rang in his mind. Lin Yue's heart skipped a beat, and as his gaze fell on the blushing A He in front of him, a burning light instantly ignited in his eyes.

90 favorability points.

The System rules stated clearly that when favorability reached 90 or higher, one could engage in Dual Cultivation with a partner and receive feedback from the partner’s abilities.

He had waited for this day for too long.

Lin Yue reached out and gently took A He’s cool little hand. Under her surprised gaze, he leaned down and whispered into her ear in a voice only the two of them could hear: "A He, come with me to the Spirit Spring Stone Chamber in the inner room. There's something your husband wants to do with you."

As the warm breath brushed past her ear, A He's body instantly froze. Her small face turned completely red, the blush spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears and even staining her neck with a beautiful crimson hue.

How could she not understand the meaning behind Lin Yue’s words?

She was his lawfully wedded wife. From the day she married him, she knew this day would come sooner or later.

In the young girl’s heart, there was both the shyness of a girl in love and a heart full of joy and willingness.

She looked up, meeting Lin Yue's burning gaze, and gently gripped his palm. Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, but it carried an incredibly firm sincerity: "I am already husband's wife. Whatever husband wants... A He is willing."

As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Yue felt a surge of heat rush through his entire body from his lower abdomen. He could no longer restrain himself. Holding A He’s hand, he turned and walked toward the Spirit Spring Stone Chamber at the deepest part of the Immortal Cave.

The stone door slowly closed behind them, isolating everything from the outside.

Inside the stone chamber, the naturally flowing spirit spring emitted a faint white mist. The warm water vapor filled the air, carrying pure Spiritual Qi.

Beside the spring lay smooth Warm Jade, its surface moistened by the spring water until it was sleek and delicate, glowing with a faint, soft light.

Lin Yue held A He’s hand as they sat by the spirit spring. The warmth of the jade spread through A He’s fingertips, dispelling the last of her tension.

Faint spiritual power swirled around his fingertips as he gently wrapped it around the girl's wrist. His movements were as light as if he were afraid of breaking a fragile piece of glass.

"Relax, just follow my spiritual power." Lin Yue's voice was wrapped in the water vapor of the spirit spring, so gentle it could melt frost.

A He nodded heavily, her long eyelashes trembling slightly as she closed her eyes.

She opened her own spiritual power to him without reservation—that light green spiritual power, carrying the vitality of the azure vine, had barely touched Lin Yue's aura before it began to flow joyfully through his Meridians as if it had found its home.

His Hundred Meridians Unblocked Physique instantly operated at full capacity. Lin Yue clearly sensed the hidden, burgeoning youthful vitality within A He’s body; it was the endless life Origin unique to the Azure Vine Mysterious Water Spiritual Root.

His gaze was burning as he looked at the blushing face of the person in his arms. Feeling the warmth and softness coming from her body, he felt as if his whole being was about to catch fire.

A He let out a soft moan and collapsed into Lin Yue's arms. She unconsciously wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in the crook of his neck, feeling the aura coming from him that made her feel incredibly safe.

When passion is at its Peak, it is naturally beyond words.

...

In the outer hall, Su Qingyuan could no longer continue her sword practice. Having grown up in the deep palace, though she was inexperienced in the ways of the world, she was not ignorant. How could she not understand the meaning behind those sounds?

But the more she didn't want to listen, the more the sounds drifted into her ears, making her feel uneasy all over, and a strange, inexplicable sourness and throb rose in her heart.

Finally, she couldn't help herself. She turned her head and looked at Luo Ningshuang, who was still pretending to grind medicinal ingredients but whose earlobes had already turned red. With a bit of awkward annoyance, she asked in a low voice, "What... what are they doing in there?"

Luo Ningshuang's hand holding the pestle stopped abruptly. She looked up at her, a hint of playfulness flashing in her cold eyes, and then she rolled her eyes irritably, her tone cool: "If you want to know, just lift the curtain and go see for yourself. Why ask me?"

This one sentence left Su Qingyuan speechless. Her cheeks were so red they looked ready to bleed. She glared at Luo Ningshuang fiercely but didn't dare ask again, so she could only turn her head away in frustration. However, the strange feeling in her heart only grew stronger.

Seeing her like this, a very faint smile couldn't help but appear at the corner of Luo Ningshuang's mouth. But then, her gaze fell on the closed stone door of the stone chamber, and her eyes became complex again.

A He's wood-element life Spiritual Qi perfectly complemented Lin Yue's spiritual power, nourishing and fulfilling each other.

This was by no means a common cultivation method of taking and supplementing, but a true, mutually beneficial Dao of Dual Cultivation.

This man really had never lied to them.

Inside the stone chamber, at the very moment when their spiritual powers flowed most smoothly and their union reached its Peak, the familiar, crisp System notification tones suddenly rang in Lin Yue's mind one after another, shaking his soul:

[bite! The host and partner A He have completed their first Dual Cultivation. The depth of the bond between both parties has significantly increased!]

[Detected that A He’s love for the host is maxed out. A Soul Bond has been permanently established! The symbiosis effect between the host and A He has doubled, and the feedback ratio from the partner’s cultivation has increased to 100%!]

[Issuing basic Dual Cultivation rewards: Host's cultivation has broken through to the Peak Ninth Level of Qi Refining! Spiritual Vein blockage rate reduced to 30%!]

[Issuing basic Dual Cultivation rewards: Partner A He’s cultivation has broken through to the Seventh Level of Qi Refining! Azure Vine Mysterious Water Spiritual Root has completely awakened!]

[Detected that A He’s Azure Vine Mysterious Water Spiritual Root attribute activation is +30%, and her affinity with all things has been significantly strengthened! — Can directly communicate with all spirits, accurately perceive the growth needs of spirit plants, and significantly enhance the effect of nourishing Spirit Medicine growth. Can accelerate the growth of Spirit Medicines under a thousand years old without any side effects!]

[Extra reward: Host has unlocked the natal Divine Ability "Ten Thousand Jun Force"! Upon first entering this Realm, the host possesses ten thousand jun of immense strength. The Physical Body strength has advanced another level, and the host can withstand a full-strength strike from a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator! If this skill is practiced to its limit, it can move mountains, fill seas, and be indestructible!]

[bite! Congratulations to the host. A He’s Spiritual Root has completely awakened, triggering the "Symbiotic Cultivation" advancement mechanism! Every time A He breaks through a major Realm in the future, the host’s Spiritual Vein blockage rate will be permanently reduced by 10% until the Spiritual Veins are completely clear!]

After a series of rewards were bestowed, Lin Yue felt a surge of majestic spiritual power explode from the depths of his Dantian. Through his Hundred Meridians Unblocked Physique, it raced wildly through his Meridians!

The barrier that had been stuck at the Middle Stage of the Ninth Level of Qi Refining was like paper, instantly shattered! Peak Ninth Level of Qi Refining!

That majestic power not only nourished his Meridians and Dantian but also poured into his entire body, perfectly fusing with the newly unlocked "Ten Thousand Jun Force."

He could clearly feel a terrifying power hidden within his Physical Body, as if a single punch could shatter this entire cliff!

And the A He in his arms also underwent a transformative metamorphosis at this moment.

Her cultivation advanced rapidly, breaking through from the Qi Refining Level 4 to the Fifth, Sixth, and finally stopping steadily at the Seventh Level of Qi Refining!

With the Azure Vine Mysterious Water Spiritual Root completely awakened, the girl was surrounded by a rich aura of life. Her originally delicate face was now even more vibrant with spiritual energy. The greenness in her eyes had faded a bit, replaced by more agility and gentleness, making her breathtakingly beautiful.

Long after, the ripples of the spirit spring gradually calmed down, and the ambiguous atmosphere in the stone chamber also slowly dissipated.

A He snuggled in Lin Yue's arms, her cheeks still flushed, and her long eyelashes still carried undried water vapor. Like a satisfied kitten, she leaned obediently against his chest, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat, her heart full of inseparable sweetness and peace.

Lin Yue lowered his head and gently planted a kiss on her smooth forehead. His fingertips lightly brushed through her long hair, his voice so gentle it could drip water: "Silly girl, you must be exhausted."

A He shook her head gently and snuggled further into his arms. Her voice was soft and waxy, with a hint of post-activity hoarseness: "I'm not tired... As long as I can be with husband, A He isn't tired at all."

She looked up at Lin Yue, her amber eyes full of inseparable love and dependence.

From the day she was chosen by him at the Marriage Office, her life had been completely changed by this man.

He gave her a new life, gave her dignity, and gave her warmth and care she had never experienced before. Now, he had even included her in his path of the Dao, sharing life and death with him, bound together for a lifetime.

Feeling the heart of the person in his arms, Lin Yue felt a sense of comfort.

He knew this was only the beginning.

A He had completely awakened, and the mental defenses of Su Qingyuan and Luo Ningshuang were also breaking down step by step.

Ren Yanran's challenge in three days was just another stepping stone on his path to rising. Elder Wu of the Alchemy Hall had destroyed the original host's Spiritual Veins and caused him ten years of suffering; it was time to slowly settle this account.

He looked down at the already sleeping A He in his arms. A sharp, cold glint flashed in his eyes, which was then replaced by tenderness.