Chapter 0: Zhao Xinting’s Whereabouts
After spending 5,000 Merit points to redeem and consume a ‘Demon Heart Fruit’ from the system store, Qin Gou’s Faceless Hermit bloodline immediately grew from the nascent stage to the fledgling stage.
Not only did he gain an extra position for storing others’ appearances, but the healing speed of his own injuries also slightly improved.
“Master.”
Ye Qishuang, appearing and disappearing without a trace, suddenly materialized before Qin Gou, a gentle smile gracing her lips. “This Palace suddenly remembered something very important. Although our master and disciple have successfully linked our spirits and flesh through the Blood Oath Great Array, we have never truly experienced the pleasure of dual cultivation! Now that we can cultivate together without the need for that shameful act of intercourse, it will not only preserve your majesty, Master, but also bring great benefits. There’s no time like the present, and this is an auspicious hour, why not…”
“Don’t even think about it!”
Qin Gou refused without the slightest hesitation, his voice stern. “You wench, you recklessly unleashed the Blood Oath Great Array back then, nearly plunging both your Master and yourself into Eternal damnation. I haven’t even dealt with you for that yet, and you dare to suggest dual cultivation with me? I know that with your current cultivation, if you were to force the issue, I would be at your mercy. Let me tell you now, that will only make me furious, uncontrollably furious!”
“Oh. Speaking of which, I just met Eldest Senior Brother. He seems to have entered the Mortal Transformation stage. I originally planned to report this entire matter to you, Master, but you got angry and scared Xiao Shuang’er so much that she forgot everything. What should I do? This Palace is truly useless, unable to even handle such a small matter.” Ye Qishuang fixed Qin Gou with a wronged gaze, her pearly teeth gently biting her tender crimson lips.
“You scoundrel wench, why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Qin Gou immediately stood up, his tone shifting abruptly, his expression turning tender. “Look at you, you’re a Dharma Aspect True Person, when are you ever this forgetful? It must be a persistent side effect of the Blood Oath Great Array. Why don’t you quickly dual cultivate with Master to completely resolve this hidden danger? At such a crucial juncture, we can’t afford to be concerned with appearances. Otherwise, the thought of my Xiao Shuang’er possibly falling gravely ill in the future would leave Master restless.”
As he spoke, Qin Gou slowly unbuttoned his robes.
Ye Qishuang’s pretty face flushed with shyness. She shot Qin Gou a chiding glance. “Master, you don’t need to take them off.”
Qin Gou’s face reddened, and he argued awkwardly, “Master is hot.”
Following that, the two went to Qin Gou’s bed, their bodies pressed tightly together, even able to easily feel each other’s warmth and their gradually accelerating heartbeats.
At first, Qin Gou merely felt a faint, ethereal scent, as delicate as orchids, invigorating his spirit. Gradually, he felt Ye Qishuang’s formidable spiritual power easily flowing into his body, spreading through his limbs and bones. Although it was their differing spiritual energies, there was no resistance at all.
Under Ye Qishuang’s guidance, Qin Gou closed his eyes. The two simultaneously fell into a peculiar state of semi-consciousness, their cultivation techniques operating on their own. A large amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth was absorbed into their Dantian at a speed several times faster than their individual cultivation, gradually transforming and merging, leaving their entire bodies feeling comfortable and invigorated.
Half an hour later.
Ye Qishuang woke up before Qin Gou. She instinctively leaned closer to Qin Gou’s face. Just as she was about to steal a kiss, she stopped herself, a wry smile tinged with a thousand mixed emotions appearing at the corner of her mouth. She shook her head with a sense of loss, “Stone maiden Ye Qishuang, why are you so greedy? Don’t push your luck. You’re not even considered a complete woman, how can you possibly have the right? You’ve lost completely since the day you were born.”
After Qin Gou woke up, he felt the evident increase in his spiritual power and couldn’t help but sigh at the potency of this dual cultivation method. Suddenly, he felt a burning, stinging pain on the back of his right hand. He looked closely and saw a strange mark, like a blood flower, flash and disappear.
“Master, this is one of the benefits of the Blood Oath Great Array, the ‘Spirit Blood Seal’. With this, no matter how far apart we are, you can temporarily summon my spiritual consciousness to descend and assist you. I can also summon your spiritual consciousness. However, after this ‘Spirit Blood Seal’ is used once, it requires several rounds of dual cultivation to recover,” Ye Qishuang explained softly and considerately to Qin Gou.
Qin Gou rubbed the back of his right hand and nodded slightly. “It truly lives up to the saying, ‘danger is often accompanied by opportunity’. Although the Blood Oath Great Array is extremely unstable and carries great risks, it’s not entirely without its benefits.”
Having obtained what she wanted, Ye Qishuang, being very sensible, stopped being willful and immediately stated truthfully, “Master, Eldest Senior Brother has now left the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace.”
“Elaborate on the specific circumstances.”
“According to my investigation, shortly after Eldest Senior Brother entered the Mortal Transformation stage, he was captured by Xiao Chui Zi, my subordinate, by mistake and brought back. He has been residing in the Mystic Maiden Palace for many days, but he has been under Xiao Chui Zi’s control, which is why he hasn’t caused any major trouble.”
Ye Qishuang said with a hint of shame in her tone, “Just a short while ago, I personally handed over the transit token to Eldest Senior Brother, allowing him to leave freely. Because if I had brought him directly before you, Master, and pushed Eldest Senior Brother too far, forcing him to break the seal and escape the Mortal Transformation stage, it would not only have caused collateral damage, bringing no peace to everyone in the Mystic Maiden Palace, but I also wouldn’t have had the confidence to keep him here.”
“It’s not your fault,” Qin Gou said, reaching out to gently smooth Ye Qishuang’s slightly messy hair. “Do you know what place Zhao Xinting went to?”
“I didn’t ask. Even if I had, he wouldn’t have told me the truth.”
Qin Gou shook his head, unwilling to accept this.
A sly, spiritual smile flickered across Ye Qishuang’s lips. “Therefore, I followed him all the way and have completely confirmed Eldest Senior Brother’s escape direction. He went to the Tian Kun Dynasty!”
“Are you sure?” Qin Gou’s eyes lit up.
Ye Qishuang was full of confidence and stated with certainty, “In that direction, besides the Tian Kun Dynasty, there are only some minor sects under the Mystic Maiden Palace. Eldest Senior Brother has had enough bad luck in the Mystic Maiden Palace recently, so he definitely wouldn’t go to those sects to suffer more.”
“This is heaven helping me. However, your news seems a bit outdated.” Qin Gou smiled playfully and teased, “There is no longer a Tian Kun Dynasty in this world. The place Zhao Xinting is heading to is called the Arc Moon Dynasty.”
