11: Chapter 11 Dual Cultivation for Healing Poison and Fusion of Spiritual Power: Binding a Top-Grade Hidden Spiritual Root Daoist Partner!

Days passed peacefully just like that.

Shen Qingyan was diligent and dutiful, keeping the shop in perfect order. She was careful and accurate in sorting medicinal herbs, which saved Ye Linchuan a lot of worry.

She did not speak much and was always quietly doing her work.

Occasionally, the look she gave Ye Linchuan carried gratitude and a cautious sense of reliance.

Ye Linchuan also kept his distance, spending most of his time in the back quiet room, practicing Alchemy or Talisman Making.

Shen Qingyan had a Spiritual Root, but he was not impatient.

Some things needed to happen naturally.

On this afternoon, Ye Linchuan was processing medicinal herbs in the pill room when Shen Qingyan knocked on the door gently.

"Alchemist Ye,"

Her voice was soft, "The Soul-Calming Flowers and Three-Leaf Greens in the shop are almost used up."

"I just heard Fellow Daoist Chen say that there are wild ones at Luoxia Slope; the quality is good, and the price is cheaper than in the market."

"Do you think... do you need me to go take a look?"

Ye Linchuan did not stop his work, "Luoxia Slope is already near the outskirts of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range. Yao Beasts occasionally appear there, so it is not safe for you to go alone."

Shen Qingyan hurriedly said, "Qingyan will be careful. I will only walk around the outer edges of the slope and will absolutely not go deep inside."

"If I can gather some, it can also save the shop some cost."

Her eyes were earnest; she wanted to prove her worth.

Ye Linchuan glanced at her. Seeing her determined expression, he nodded, "Very well, you may go and take a look. You must prioritize safety and return before sunset."

"Take this Warning Talisman. If there is danger, activate it immediately, and I will sense it."

He handed over a Dust-Avoiding Talisman he had slightly modified, adding a faint Spiritual Qi mark.

"Thank you, Alchemist Ye!"

Shen Qingyan carefully put away the Talisman, a faint smile appearing on her face, and turned to leave.

...

At sunset, Shen Qingyan had not returned.

Ye Linchuan frowned slightly and walked to the front of the shop.

He waited for another stick of incense's time, but still saw no sign of her.

No longer hesitating, he left the shop and walked quickly toward the west.

Not far from the west gate, he saw Shen Qingyan by the path ahead, carrying a half-filled herb basket, walking with a staggering gait.

Her left hand was clutching her right shoulder, blood seeping between her fingers. Her breathing was rapid, and her eyes were somewhat unfocused.

"Alchemist... Alchemist Ye..."

Upon seeing him, Shen Qingyan's body went limp, and she fell forward.

Ye Linchuan dashed forward to catch her, feeling that her skin was burning hot, "What happened?"

"I... was gathering herbs on the slope when I disturbed a nest of Iron-Armored Cattle. While running away, I was scratched by a calf's horn..."

Shen Qingyan's voice was weak and intermittent, "The wound is not deep, but... but while running, it seems I was... pricked by something on my lower leg."

"I didn't pay attention at the time, but now my whole body is burning, and I have no strength..."

Ye Linchuan felt a jolt in his heart and immediately checked her lower leg.

Indeed...

On the outer side of her left lower leg, he found a tiny red dot.

The surrounding skin had turned an abnormal pink and was slightly swollen.

"It is the tail stinger of a Red-Refining Bee!" Ye Linchuan's expression sank.

The Red-Refining Bee was a First-Order Low Grade Yao insect; its toxicity was not strong.

But the tail stinger carried a peculiar aphrodisiac toxin. Those struck would feel their whole body heat up, with their Qi and blood churning.

If not guided out in time or if a specific antidote was not taken, the result would be damaged Meridians at best, or death by burning desire at worst.

"Don't speak, hold on."

Ye Linchuan scooped her up, put the herb basket into his Storage Pouch, and used a lightness technique to rush back to the shop at top speed.

He returned to the back courtyard room and laid her on the bed.

Shen Qingyan was already delirious, her body burning hot, her pink lips slightly parted, moaning unconsciously as her hands began to tear at her own clothes.

"Hot... so hot..."

Ye Linchuan's eyes were grave.

Although there was an antidote for the Red-Refining Bee toxin in the market, it was too late to go buy it now.

Moreover, this toxin was strange; the antidote also required special techniques to dissolve the medicinal power, making the process troublesome.

The fastest and most direct method was to use pure Yang Spiritual Qi to guide it, and through the method of Dual Cultivation, extract, neutralize, and dissolve the toxin.

This method required the two people's Spiritual Qi to merge, without any reservation.

Looking at Shen Qingyan, who was writhing in pain on the bed with her clothes half-undone, Ye Linchuan knew he had to make a decision immediately.

Saving her was the priority!

"Qingyan, forgive me."

He did not hesitate any longer, stepped forward to lift her up, and pressed one hand against her back.

Pure Spiritual Qi was slowly injected, protecting her heart Meridians.

At the same time, his other hand quickly pulled down the clothes on her right shoulder, revealing the wound.

The wound was not deep, but triggered by the Red-Refining Bee toxin, the blood flowed ceaselessly and the color had darkened.

Ye Linchuan first used his Spiritual Qi to seal the blood vessels around the wound, then quickly cleaned it, applied medicine, and bandaged it.

After treating the wound on her shoulder, he finally looked at the Red-Refining Bee needle hole.

The needle hole was tiny, but the surrounding pink had spread out.

He took a deep breath, circulated his Spiritual Qi, and a faint light appeared at his fingertips.

He gently tapped several acupoints around the needle hole to temporarily suppress the spread of the toxin.

"Mmm..."

Shen Qingyan seemed to feel a trace of coolness, letting out a soft moan as her hazy eyes opened a sliver.

She saw Ye Linchuan close by, her eyes shimmering with moisture, and instinctively leaned toward him, "Alchemist Ye... it's so uncomfortable..."

"I know, endure it for a moment, I am helping you."

Ye Linchuan's voice was steady, carrying a reassuring power.

He helped her sit steadily, sat cross-legged behind her, and pressed both palms against her back.

"Qingyan, next I will use Spiritual Qi to help you guide the toxin out. The process might be a bit... special."

"You need to relax your mind, trust me, and follow my guidance to circulate the Spiritual Qi within you. Do you understand?"

Shen Qingyan managed to focus a sliver of her consciousness, nodded with difficulty, her voice as thin as a thread, "Qingyan... trusts you."

"Good."

Ye Linchuan closed his eyes and circulated the Guiyuan Technique.

Spiritual Qi gently surged into Shen Qingyan's body, traveling along specific Meridians.

First, it protected her Dantian and heart Meridians, then slowly approached the place where the bee toxin was entrenched.

The Red-Refining Bee toxin was extremely Yang and extremely dry; upon encountering Spiritual Qi, it was like boiling oil splashed with water, suddenly counterattacking!

"Ah!"

Shen Qingyan cried out in pain, her body trembling violently.

"Hold on!"

Ye Linchuan shouted in a low voice, increasing the output of his Spiritual Qi.

He forcibly wrapped up the mass of dry, hot toxin and began to guide and dissolve it according to the method recorded in the Dual Cultivation technique.

His Spiritual Qi began to make contact, probe, and merge with the weak Wood-attribute Spiritual Qi in Shen Qingyan's body.

Because it was to heal and save a life, both of them had no impure thoughts (at least Ye Linchuan did), and the merger of their Spiritual Qi was unexpectedly smooth.

Under the guidance of their merged Spiritual Qi, the Red-Refining Bee toxin was extracted bit by bit.

Then, using Ye Linchuan's body as a bridge, it was extracted, broken down, and transformed into the purest Yuan Yang Qi.

Part of it dissipated into the air, while part of it actually fed back into their bodies.

With the ebb and flow, the dry heat in Shen Qingyan's body quickly subsided, her complexion regained some rosiness, and her consciousness gradually became clear.

As for Ye Linchuan, he felt a stream of pure Yuan Yang Qi flow into his own Meridians, merging with his own Spiritual Qi like water and milk!

What shocked him even more was that as their Spiritual Qi merged deeper, their auras intertwined, becoming indistinguishable from one another...

"Boom!"

Deep in his mind, the dormant System panel suddenly erupted with a brilliant golden light!

[Detected that the host has merged spirit and flesh with a woman possessing a 'Hidden Spiritual Root'. Dao Companion module officially activated!]

[Dao Companion: Shen Qingyan (Bound)]

[Spiritual Root: Wood-type Hidden Spiritual Root (Not yet awakened, currently manifested as Low Grade Wood Spiritual Root)]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Layer 1]

[Favorability: 80 (Deeply Affectionate)]

[Bonus 1: Wood-type Talisman/Medicinal Pill comprehension efficiency increased by 15%]

[Bonus 2: Cultivation speed of both Dao Companions increased by 10% (can increase with Favorability)]

[Special Note: The Hidden Spiritual Root is a special mutated Spiritual Root. After Awakening, the potential is immense. When the Dao Companion's Favorability reaches 100 (Life and Death Devotion) and specific conditions are met, you can attempt to guide its Awakening.]

"Hidden Spiritual Root?!"

Ye Linchuan's heart was shaken violently, and he almost lost control of his Spiritual Qi.

The so-called Hidden Spiritual Root referred to a Spiritual Root of extremely high quality that was dormant for some reason, with poor external manifestations.

Once awakened, it would be like a Dragon emerging from the abyss!

No wonder her Low Grade Wood Spiritual Root had Spiritual Qi that was purer than ordinary Low Grade ones.

The Dao Companion module activated by the System brought tangible benefits.

The 15% increase in Wood-type comprehension was a huge help for his research into Wood-attribute Medicinal Pills and Talismans.

The 10% increase in cultivation speed for both sides was even more astonishing.

"And if the Hidden Spiritual Root could be awakened..." Ye Linchuan's heart surged with excitement.

That meant Shen Qingyan's future achievements could far exceed expectations.

And as her Dao Companion, he would surely benefit greatly.

"Favorability..."

Ye Linchuan looked at the [80 (Deeply Affectionate)] text on the panel.

From taking her in, to her encounter with danger while gathering herbs, to this moment of unreserved healing and the merging of Spiritual Qi...

This favorability, amidst the resonance of spirit and flesh, had quietly deepened.

Just as he was distracted by checking the System, the stream of pure Yuan Yang Qi in his body, converted from the bee toxin, had accumulated to its peak and completely merged with his own Spiritual Qi.

Boom!

The Spiritual Qi in his Dantian surged wildly, his limbs and bones felt incomparably comfortable, and his Meridians quietly widened.

The total amount and purity of his Spiritual Qi had fiercely broken through a certain limit!

Qi Refining Layer 3, achieved naturally!

Ye Linchuan opened his eyes, a flash of bright light passing through his pupils and vanishing.

He didn't expect that saving Shen Qingyan would actually allow him to break through directly to Qi Refining Layer 3!

At this moment, the bee toxin in Shen Qingyan's body had been completely dissolved.

Under their guidance, the Spiritual Qi was circulating through the Minor Heavenly Cycle on its own, nourishing the injured area.

She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze clear, but her cheeks were even redder than before.

Because she also clearly felt the intimacy without any barriers during the earlier merger of their Spiritual Qi.

And... the trembling and climax brought about by the complete union of their auras at the final moment.

"Alchemist Ye... is the... is the toxin gone?"

Her voice was like a mosquito's hum; she dared not look at him.

"Yes, it is gone."

"The wound on your shoulder is also fine; just rest for a few days and you will be well."

Ye Linchuan withdrew his palms, his voice steady, but if one listened carefully, there was a trace of imperceptible fluctuation.

The room became quiet.

Only the red candle occasionally crackled, and the atmosphere was subtle.

Shen Qingyan lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of the quilt, her ears bright red.

The process of detoxification just now was, after all, to save her life.

But that deep-to-the-bone merger of Spiritual Qi and intimate contact had far exceeded the boundaries of ordinary men and women.

Ye Linchuan looked at her shy and bewildered appearance, and the soft spot in his heart was touched once again.

He reached out and gently took hold of her hand that was twisting the quilt.

Shen Qingyan trembled all over, but did not pull back.

"Qingyan,"

His voice was low, "Just now, to save you, it was unavoidable..."

"But since it has come to this, are you willing to accompany me from now on, become my Dao Companion, and seek longevity together?"

Shen Qingyan raised her head, her eyes shimmering with moisture; there was shyness, there was timidity, but more than that, there was a sense of peace.

She looked at the man who gave her this promise, nodded forcefully, tears falling silently, "Qingyan is willing. From now on... I will follow you through life and death, never to leave or abandon you!"

Ye Linchuan's heart settled, and he reached out to pull her into his embrace.

Shen Qingyan's body stiffened at first, then slowly relaxed, burying her face in Ye Linchuan's chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.

Her heart, which had always been drifting without a home, had finally found a place to belong.

The red candle flickered, illuminating their embracing figures.

Immediately, their auras merged again, and Ye Linchuan felt his Spiritual Qi quietly increasing!