Li Tao held her hands tightly because he knew she was fighting right now. This action boosted her confidence and the process went smoothly.
After 5 minutes, the light faded and both of them came into view.
Their temperament had undergone a noticeable change.
Murong Qing, in particular, felt different—not overwhelmingly divine, but refined… as if a layer of dust had been wiped away from a priceless jade.
She was still breathtaking, but now there was a faint, unexplainable aura surrounding her.
Li Tao was just a bit more handsome now so everyone ignored him and surrounded Murong Qing. The women immediately surrounded her, some even pinching her cheeks like she was a child. It was a wholesome moment. Everyone was happy.
____________________
[Ding! Murong Qing's favorability +2, rewarding 200 points.]
[Status Panel]
[Host: Li Tao]
[Realm: Peak External Energy (Stable)]
[Cultivation: Early Qi Refining (Partially Stabilized)]
[Items:
• Earth Immortal Pills x2 (Sealed)
• Marrow Washing Dan x5
• Dan Forging Pills x10
• Great Grand Master Dan x25]
[Points: 5,700]
[Note:
• High-tier items are sealed due to system grade restriction.
• Forced usage may cause system backlash.]
___________________________
Li Tao coughed, "Cough!!, We still need to follow another step before the process is complete."
Everyone came back to reality, they were already gleaming with joy brought by the current transformation. And their son/son-in-law said that there are good things left?
Murong Qing came and stood before him, her eyes were softer than before with a hint of love.
He winked at the Old Man and asked her to sit cross-legged in meditation form.
He bit his finger(acting) and recited a spell. After 30 seconds of chanting the atmosphere of the room reached its peak and he placed his hand over her head and shouted, "Transfer!!!!"
This time there was no light. Everyone thought that nothing happened then they felt their body sinking. The air in the room was filled with magical energy. It was extremely heavy, like mercury.
It gathered around Murong Qing, slowly integrating into her body.
This wasn't a breakthrough—
it was stabilization.
He stood there and unsealed his cultivation as well so he could hide his gain.
Both their auras fluctuated slightly, but the increase was controlled and gradual.
Li Tao's foundation stabilized first, followed by Murong Qing's.
Soon the rising atmosphere stopped as if capped by an invisible layer.
Li Tao knew there was a bottleneck between Body Training and Qi Refining realm.
He showed a struggling expression on his face and uttered, "Breakthrough!!"
{He is taking my credit but I like this boy, haha.}
The resistance gradually weakened, allowing her to step into the early stages of Qi Refining.
Li Tao's own cultivation settled slightly higher, but still within a stable range.
His cultivation was fixed at the peak of early stage of Qi refining, thanks to the double feedback.
He asked her in a soft voice, "Qing'er, How are you feeling?"
"Haha haha!!!." Grandpa Murong was laughing loudly, the villa was shaking.
Murong Leitian nudged him and he stopped it.
"Qing'er and Tao'er, come here and let Grandpa see." he signaled them to come near him.
Murong Qing found a way out. So, she stood up quickly while hiding her red face and ran towards her grandpa and hugged him.
Li Tao rubbed his nose and followed her.
Grandpa was so happy to see this grandson-in-law of his. He gets more and more pleasing to the eyes.
He held their hands and checked their bodies.
He checked his granddaughter first. He felt that her body had a mysterious energy within it. He tried to probe it with his qi but it started dissolving on contact.
He was amazed after seeing this,
He frowned slightly.
The energy within her body was unfamiliar—refined, yet difficult to analyze.
Even he, who stood at the peak of this world could not immediately understand its nature.
Then he checked Li Tao.
His cultivation had improved noticeably compared to before.
While not explosive, the change was far too fast to be considered normal.
Additionally, he had the same mysteries as his granddaughter within his body.
"Good, Good, Good," he said good three times and started laughing again.
"My granddaughter is not useless anymore. She will turn into a rising phoenix and create a new legend in this world."
Others were happy for them.
Suddenly he remembered something and said something to Housekeeper Long who went outside and brought a briefcase with him.
Grandpa placed it on the table and opened it. There were three things inside. The first one was a book, and the other two were jade bottles. He put his hand on Li Tao's shoulder and said, "Kid this the dowry I prepared for my granddaughter. This book is one of the highest skills in the Library of our Murong Family, it is called
Li Tao did not need them but he thanked the old man for his generosity to respect his efforts. Other members of the family were also jealous because they had to earn these resources to reach where they are today.
"When do you plan to hold the marriage?" Father Murong asked.
Li Tao looked at Murong Qing who was still blushing, then towards the members of the Li family who were smiling at him and said, "I will let you guys decide. Earlier the better."
He took hold of Murong Qing's hand and looked at everyone. She nodded as well.
Murong Leitian was satisfied with this son-in-law and laughed, "I bet you can't wait for it to happen. haha."
Li Tao was embarrassed after hearing it. He scratched his head.
____________________________
[Ding! Issuing Stage-2 of Main Mission.]
[Mission: Consummate your marriage with your partner.]
[Description: You have been engaged with your partners of destiny. This has made your fate entangled with each other. After consummating your marriage the fates will merge and create a magical effect.]
[Reward: The System will issue a big marriage red envelope.]
_____________________________
Li Tao took her to the front yard so he could talk to her and enhance their relationship. Elders were busy with dates etc.
He took her to his garden which was filled with flowers, it was all thanks to his mother who cultivated it.
He walked a few steps and asked, "I was not sure about our destiny so I did not say a few things before. Not because I don't trust you but because I did not want to cause you any harm."
Murong Qing looked at him with questioning eyes, "Is there any drawback to the technique we used? Or is this related to other girls."
Li Tao replied, "It is about you and this world."
"What I am about to say might sound absurd but it is 100% true, I cannot tell you the source but please trust me. And, I want you to keep everything to yourself." he stopped and waited for her reply.
Murong Qing looked in his eyes, 'Such pure eyes but, they are filled with pain and suffering.' she muttered.
"I trust you," she said with determination in her eyes along with some curiosity.
Li Tao continued, "I bought a dragon-shaped pendant from a stall a few days ago. It was supposed to be a gift for elders. A week ago, I accidentally dripped blood on that pendant and awakened an inheritance inside it. It was from a cultivator who practiced divination art. He assessed my talent and said 'You barely passed the line but I cannot pass you my core secrets'."
"His name was Li Sheng, he was once a powerful cultivator. Yes, a cultivator and not a practitioner. What he cultivated was a Heaven Defying technique called Destiny Slashing Art. Which could be cultivated as both martial arts and immortal arts. He passed it on to me along with some resources. I am not sure how he stored these resources but when I woke up they were on my bed. He left me with a message that he will leave a part of his power in me, If one day I can gain the qualification, this power will help me and my partner gain a solid foundation."
{Kid, how about writing some lines for me as well?}
Then he continued explaining how he managed to cultivate the first level of the technique and managed to observe luck vaguely which led to their engagement.
"What I did not tell you was, even though I do not have a talent for immortal arts, You have it. It is also the reason why you were unable to practice your whole life. Because you are a special body who is born to cultivate but you were born in the wrong world."
Li Tao stopped her so that she could absorb the disclosed facts.
Murong Qing was amazed by the amount of information and clubbed with what had happened today, she concluded that what he said was true.
She looked at him not knowing how to answer but her eyes had deep trust in them. She nodded.
[Ding! Partner's favorability +5.]
[Ding! Relationship level increased.]
[Reward: 500 points]
[Feedback efficiency slightly increased.]
*x6 for Ye Feng's chances.
Li Tao knew his plan worked, he explained further, "After me and you entered into a contract of destiny, I managed to pass the qualification criteria, thereby unlocking that seal. Now we are both cultivators of the Qi refining stage."
"This is all thanks to you. I may not fully understand your constitution yet… but I know one thing—
you were never meant to remain ordinary in this world."
_______________________________
20% Strain (locked checkpoint)