9: Chapter 9 This is the real deal when it comes to dual cultivation (Part 2)

Yihong Pavilion, back garden secret chamber.

This was the place where Jiang Yingrao usually went into secluded cultivation.

The interior was decorated very elegantly, and a faint fragrance permeated the air.

"Then... let's begin." Jiang Yingrao stood by the bed, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

Although she was the Saintess of the Demonic Sect and was usually decisive and ruthless, this matter of Dual Cultivation was truly a first for her—like a bride mounting the sedan chair.

"Alright." Chen Shanzhi rubbed his hands together like a fly, looking at her with an excited expression.

Then, he pointed at Jiang Yingrao's intricate red gauze dress and then at himself. "Uh, aren't we going to take off our clothes?"

"Take off clothes? Take off your big head!"

Jiang Yingrao was stunned for a moment, then a flash of shame and anger crossed her face as she spat out fiercely.

"Who told you that Dual Cultivation requires taking off clothes? What kind of filthy things are filling that head of yours!"

She took a deep breath, calmed her emotions, and then explained:

"Our White Lotus Sect's Dual Cultivation method is an orthodox Daoist technique.

It uses the resonance of the Yin and Yang Gu to guide both parties' True Essence to circulate in their Meridians, complementing Yin and Yang to achieve the goal of increasing cultivation.

It's not the same thing at all as... those things written in those vulgar novels!"

"Huh? Is that so..."

A visible look of disappointment appeared on Chen Shanzhi's face.

The grand Demonic Sect in the game—their Dual Cultivation method didn't even require taking off clothes, let alone anything else.

It was simply a disgrace to the game's setting!

But well, there's plenty of time ahead.

There would always be opportunities for true Dual Cultivation in the future.

"Stop talking nonsense and sit properly."

Jiang Yingrao sat cross-legged on the bed and gestured for Chen Shanzhi to sit opposite her.

Then, her vermilion lips parted slightly as she recited a passage of obscure and profound Mind-Cultivation Technique mantras.

This was the Yin-Yang Symbiosis Art, specifically designed to accompany the Heart-Devouring Life-Sharing Gu.

Although Chen Shanzhi was a profligate, after his Transmigration, his memory seemed surprisingly good; he remembered it all after hearing it just once.

"Focus your mind, calm your breath, and concentrate on your Dantian."

Jiang Yingrao reached out her hands.

They were a pair of extremely beautiful hands, with slender fingers as smooth and white as scallion stalks.

Chen Shanzhi reached out and interlaced his fingers with hers.

Boom!

The moment their hands touched.

Chen Shanzhi felt an extremely massive and pure surge of True Essence pour into his body through the Laogong Point in his palm, like a river bursting its banks.

That True Essence carried Jiang Yingrao's unique fiery attribute, yet because of the attraction of the Yang Parasite, it became incredibly docile.

"Circulate the Mind-Cultivation Technique and guide the True Essence!" Jiang Yingrao shouted lowly.

Chen Shanzhi didn't dare to be negligent and hurriedly circulated the Yin-Yang Symbiosis Art.

That surge of True Essence circled through the five major apertures he had already broken through in his body.

Within those major apertures, the originally mixed and impure True Essence became incredibly pure after being transformed by this Cultivation Technique.

Then, the True Essence within his major apertures surged out and flowed back into Jiang Yingrao's body through his other hand.

One complete cycle like this constituted a Great Circulation.

For Chen Shanzhi, this feeling was simply exhilarating.

It was like drinking a glass of iced plum soup in the middle of summer; every pore was cheering with joy.

His True Essence was growing at a terrifying speed.

The originally solid barriers of his Apertures were as fragile as paper before this torrent.

But for Jiang Yingrao, the feeling was a bit... strange.

When Chen Shanzhi's True Essence, carrying the aura of the Yang Parasite, entered her body...

It was like a warm current rampaging through her Meridians, yet bringing an inexplicably strange sensation.

"Mmm..."

Jiang Yingrao kept her eyes tightly shut, her long eyelashes trembling violently.

This feeling was too shameful.

Although there was no physical contact, the blending of True Essence was deeper than any bodily touch, striking directly at the Soul.

It was as if her everything was being opened up to this man.

As the circulation grew faster and faster.

A dry heat rose within both of their bodies.

The sensation brought by the blending of True Essence caused Jiang Yingrao's breathing to gradually quicken, and her originally fair neck was stained with a layer of pink.

"Crack."

After an unknown amount of time, a soft sound suddenly came from within Chen Shanzhi's body, like a cork being pulled.

The sixth major Xuanguan Aperture in his body was naturally broken through!

The True Essence in his body instantly surged several times over, galloping and roaring within him.

Xuanguan Six Apertures, achieved!

"Phew~."

Chen Shanzhi exhaled a mouthful of turbid air and snapped his eyes open, a sharp light radiating from them.

This kind of rocket-like leveling speed was simply addictive.

He was about to thank Jiang Yingrao when he noticed something was wrong with the situation opposite him.

Jiang Yingrao was bowing her head, her hands propped on the bed, panting heavily.

Her forehead was covered in fine beads of fragrant sweat, and a few strands of hair were stuck to her face.

That originally seductive face was now so red it looked like it might bleed, and her gaze was blurred.

"Saintess, are you alright?" Chen Shanzhi asked with concern. "Are you having a Qi Deviation?"

Jiang Yingrao snapped her head up. Her blurred eyes instantly regained clarity, followed immediately by shame and indignation.

After just one session of True Essence Dual Cultivation, her body had actually...

For someone as proud as her, this was an absolute humiliation!

"Get out!"

Jiang Yingrao gave a delicate shout and fiercely flicked her sleeve.

A majestic surge of True Essence slammed directly into Chen Shanzhi's chest.

"Ouch!"

Before Chen Shanzhi could react, he was blasted out of the room like a ball, landing flat on his face.

"Are you crazy!" Chen Shanzhi scrambled up, brushed the dust off his buttocks, looking completely bewildered.

Wasn't everything fine just now? Why did she turn hostile as soon as she put on her pan... oh wait, why did she turn hostile as soon as the Dual Cultivation ended?

"My... my cultivation seems to have regressed a bit!"

Jiang Yingrao's voice, somewhat panicked yet feigning composure, came from inside the room:

"The drain this time was too great! Chen Shanzhi, let me tell you, if you don't catch that messenger and root out the Grand Elder's spies, don't even think about Dual Cultivation ever again!"

"Cultivation regressed?"

Chen Shanzhi scratched his head, feeling the abundant power within his body.

That's not right. This technique is clearly a win-win; how could it regress?

Women are truly incomprehensible.

"Fine, fine, fine, you just rest."

Chen Shanzhi didn't bother to argue; either way, he had gained a lot from this trip.

Not only was the intelligence delivered, but he had also broken through to the Xuanguan Six Apertures.

He was one step closer to the Xuanguan Seven Apertures.

"Once I reach the Seven Apertures, I'll be able to enter the Secret Realm."

Chen Shanzhi hummed a little tune and walked out in high spirits.

Inside the room, hearing the footsteps fade away, Jiang Yingrao collapsed weakly onto the bed.

She pulled the quilt over her head and let out a low moan of shame and anger.

"Damn Yang Parasite... Damn Chen Shanzhi..."

She gritted her teeth, feeling a strange sensation in her body she had never experienced before.

That feeling made her heart flutter with panic.

She had never performed Dual Cultivation before and had no idea her body would be so sensitive.

At the thought that she might have to perform Dual Cultivation with Chen Shanzhi many more times in the future, she felt a faint sense of anticipation in her heart.

"Pah, truly shameless."

Jiang Yingrao spat secretly, buried her head under the pillow, and refused to get up for a long time.