496: Chapter 496 Yiyi's Introduction

In a cold Immortal Cave at Qingmu Cliff.

Several night-luminescent pearls were embedded in the stone walls, their cold light casting the entire Immortal Cave as if shrouded in frost.

Jin Qiushui sat upright on a jade platform, her plain white Daoist robe draped down, unblemished by a speck of dust. She was lightly tapping the edge of the jade platform with her fingertips, one tap after another, the sound echoing in the empty Immortal Cave.

Junior Sister Tang Yuanxiang stood respectfully below, her head bowed, not daring to look directly into those light gray eyes.

"Speak of the matter regarding the Erosion Source Blood Tree in the wasteland."

Jin Qiushui's voice was indifferent, revealing no joy or anger.

Junior Sister Tang Yuanxiang reported everything that happened in the wasteland truthfully.

A seventh-tier Erosion Source Blood Tree had been reduced to grayish-white debris with a single palm strike; the one who struck was a "Void Tempering Cultivator who looked like a little girl"; there were also a man and a woman accompanying her, and that man, in a green shirt, was open and upright, with a calm demeanor, appearing to be the leader of the three. She paused, then carefully added, "Those three... do not look like local Cultivators of Fusang Province, but rather like they came from outside the province."

Jin Qiushui's light gray eyes narrowed slightly, and she did not respond.

Junior Sister Tang Yuanxiang bit the bullet and continued, "That blood tree could have been exchanged for quite a few resources... and some Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, and Heaven And Earth Treasures on this disciple were also—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Jin Qiushui shot her a cold glance, and she immediately shut her mouth, a thin layer of sweat breaking out on her back.

Jin Qiushui withdrew her gaze and said indifferently, "Consider those things the price for your life. Someone capable of destroying a seventh-tier Erosion Source Blood Tree with one palm strike could also take your life in a single stroke. Given that these three saved your life, let this matter end here."

Junior Sister Tang Yuanxiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and was about to take her leave, but Jin Qiushui's next words made her back go cold.

"But they destroyed the Erosion Source Blood Tree under the jurisdiction of Qingmu Cliff, and after all, it is outsiders running wild in our Sect's territory. Saving your life is one thing, but damaging our Sect's interests is another. If these three are still in Fusang Province, this Seat will let them know—Qingmu Cliff is not a place where just anyone can act presumptuously."

"Yes, this disciple understands."

Junior Sister Tang Yuanxiang lowered her head, not daring to respond.

"Go and prepare. In a few days, accompany me to Yingxian Peak to visit the Golden Crow Saintess. Some things must be done."

"Yes."

Junior Sister Tang Yuanxiang bowed and exited the Immortal Cave. Jin Qiushui sat alone on the jade platform, her gaze piercing through the stone walls, looking far off in the direction of Yingxian Peak, no emotion visible in her light gray eyes.

Yingxian Peak.

Inside the guest room, Ling Hao's Chaotic Spiritual Qi circulated through Saintess Yan Xueyuan's lower body Meridians, completing a cycle within her body.

After days of Dual Cultivation nourishment, once the Meridians were cleared, the woody inner walls radiated a warm luster under the repeated infiltration of Yang Qi, no longer as stiff as they were at the beginning.

[Name: Saintess Yan Xueyuan]

[Age: 9586]

[Spiritual Root: Chaotic Wood Spiritual Root]

[Physique: Heaven-Connecting Transformation Physique]

[Cultivation: Body Integration Stage]

[Favorability: 100]

[Status: One Body Two Hearts — Ancient Demon Heart, Mahayana Heart]

The fact that her favorability could reach the maximum value from a negative number was the result of Ling Hao's continuous efforts over the past few days.

He looked at Saintess Yan Xueyuan beneath him, and she was also looking at him with a dazed, infatuated expression.

For these past few days, Ling Hao had used Dual Cultivation every day to comb through and nourish her newly formed Meridians. The first few times, she still resisted, turning her head away to avoid looking at his face, biting her lip, and afterwards, she would curl up in the corner of the couch, wrapping herself tightly in the quilt, revealing only a pair of red eyes glaring at him.

But the body does not lie.

The better the Meridians were cleared, the clearer her perception of Spiritual Qi became, and that unprecedented "real sense of being alive" was slowly dismantling her mental defenses bit by bit.

Sometimes, Ling Hao would tease her, "Flat as a tree trunk, I can't grab onto anything."

Saintess Yan Xueyuan would then grab a pillow and throw it at him, calling him a bastard.

From resistance to numb acceptance, from passive waiting to developing a physiological dependence, and then to starting to become confused—it had only been a few short days.

Saintess Yan Xueyuan no longer scolded Ling Hao. She only bit her lip and turned her face away, letting him do as he pleased.

Later, Saintess Yan Xueyuan's arms unconsciously wrapped around Ling Hao's back. She didn't even realize it herself until she suddenly woke up afterwards, her whole body stiffening.

Later still, Saintess Yan Xueyuan would actively lean over as soon as Ling Hao finished speaking, and then, with a blushing face, whisper, "It is just for Cultivation."

Ling Hao did not expose her.

Outside the window, the bright moon rose in the east.

Another day ended, and just as Ling Hao was about to get up, Saintess Yan Xueyuan unconsciously snuggled into his embrace in her sleep, her face pressed against his chest, like a small animal that had found a heat source.

This movement was entirely instinctive; even she herself did not know. After a moment, she woke up with a start, and upon realizing what she was doing, her whole body stiffened. She wanted to pull away, but her body would not obey, and instead, she shrank another inch into his arms.

Ling Hao chuckled, "What, you won't scold me anymore?"

Saintess Yan Xueyuan blushed to the roots of her ears, buried her face deeply into his chest, and muffled, "You bastard."

But this time, the tail end of "bastard" was soft, carrying a trace of attachment she herself had not even noticed.

Saintess Yan Xueyuan suddenly raised her head and asked him, "Did you have other methods before?"

Only now do you know to ask? What were you doing before? Ling Hao rubbed his nose, "Yes."

"Then why did you—"

"I originally thought this was the best way, and it could serve as a lesson for you as well. But I didn't expect this to be the most painful."

"Fortunately, later on, by using Yang Qi and Chaotic Spiritual Qi to completely clear your Meridians, your body has gradually recovered to that of a normal person. Otherwise..."

Saintess Yan Xueyuan directly bit down on Ling Hao's shoulder.

Outside the guest room.

Gan Yiyi was carrying tea, snacks, Spirit Fruits, and clothing, pacing outside the door.

The night wind made her thin, frail body tremble slightly, but she had no intention of leaving. She did not dare to knock on the door, only standing there like an abandoned little beast.

For several days in a row, every time she came, she found the guest room sealed by a Formation and unable to be entered. She was just about to turn and leave.

Suddenly, the guest room door opened, and a gust of wind pulled Gan Yiyi, who was about to turn and leave, into the room.

Gan Yiyi was so frightened that her whole body shuddered, and the tray in her hand nearly fell to the ground. She looked up and saw Ling Hao standing behind Saintess Yan Xueyuan, and also saw the messy bedding on the couch, as well as Saintess Yan Xueyuan's disheveled long hair and flushed cheeks.

She was about to scream, but heard Saintess Yan Xueyuan say coldly, "Don't make a fuss. He... he is helping me treat my injuries."

Gan Yiyi was stunned. She looked closely at Saintess Yan Xueyuan; her Saintess had a rosy complexion, and the pallor and cold hardness of the past had faded from her brows and eyes, replaced by a soft luster she had never seen before.

Underneath her disheveled collar, there were faint red marks on her collarbone, and a few more on the side of her neck. Although she had not experienced intimate matters, she knew what those were.