"Today's cultivation ends here. You can help me next time." Xiao Yan tidied Yun Yun's silky hair, wrapped an arm around her slender waist, and gently laid her down on the stone bed.
This process was far from easy.
Yun Yun clung to Xiao Yan like glue, her snow-white limbs squirming incessantly, sending waves of heat through him at every moment.
Moreover, if not for Xiao Yan holding her down, Yun Yun might have already stripped off her blue Sea Heart Armor to relieve the burning sensation on her body.
Jumping off the stone bed, Xiao Yan stood by the edge, watching Yun Yun as she rubbed against herself. Slowly, he chanted:
"No birth, no death; no virtue, no merit.
A single thought sparks fate; a single step empties into Zen."
As Three Realizations of the Bodhi activated, a holy golden light suddenly bloomed in Xiao Yan's hands, its radiance instantly draping the cave in a golden veil.
Xiao Yan extended his arm forward, and the brilliant golden light poured toward Yun Yun, who was writhing in discomfort on the stone bed.
Within a couple of breaths, the golden light completely enveloped Yun Yun. Under its soothing influence, her restless movements gradually stilled, and she lay quietly on the stone bed.
The enchanting flush on her delicate face faded, and under the golden light's glow, Yun Yun—already dignified and noble in bearing—now exuded an unprecedented aura of sanctity.
Her long, shapely legs pressed tightly together, the high heels she had been wearing long since kicked off somewhere, revealing a pair of exquisite jade-like feet.
Those snow-white, crystalline feet were as smooth as polished jade, as soft as satin. The flesh on their backs was so fair it seemed almost translucent, faintly revealing faint blue veins beneath. Her toenails were a pale red, like ten tiny petals.
Faced with such a defenseless beauty, most men would have instantly turned into wolves, pinning her down without hesitation.
But Xiao Yan, having endured extreme temptation earlier and cultivated Three Realizations of the Bodhi, was no longer the same person who had entered the cave.
As he gazed at Yun Yun lying there peacefully, he merely admired her beauty in his heart, free of any impure thoughts.
His hand slowly traced through the air, moving from the crown of Yun Yun's head down to her feet. Wherever his palm passed, strands of golden light infused into her body.
The secret technique Three Realizations of the Bodhi had marrow-cleansing benefits for others, making it especially suitable for cultivators like Yun Yun.
Though the Yunlan Sect, where Yun Yun belonged, only dominated the Jia Ma Empire, the sect's Life-Death Gate was truly a rare training ground.
The Life-Death Gate served as the resting place for successive generations of Yunlan Sect leaders and the final trial for each successor before assuming the position of sect master.
To safely enter the Life-Death Gate, one needed at least the strength of a Dou Ling. And those who successfully passed its trials would inevitably experience a dramatic surge in power.
Xiao Yan recalled Nalan Yanran, who had humiliated the Yunlan Sect. In her despair, she entered the Life-Death Gate as a Da Dou Shi and, after just three years, emerged with her cultivation soaring from Da Dou Shi to the peak of Dou Wang.
Such rapid advancement was rare even in the talent-rich Jia Nan Academy.
However, it was only the speed of progression that was extraordinary.
Because the power was inherited rather than earned through true tempering, her Dou Qi was unstable, far inferior to the solid foundation of Jia Nan Academy's geniuses, who had tempered themselves in the Sky Burning Qi Training Tower's inner flames.
As the sect master of Yunlan, Yun Yun had reached the three-star Dou Huang level at a young age, naturally benefiting from the Life-Death Gate as well.
At this stage, her cultivation showed no obvious flaws. But when she reached the threshold of breaking through to Dou Zong, the difficulty would multiply, far surpassing that of an ordinary peak Dou Huang.
While cleansing Yun Yun's meridians, Xiao Yan gained a thorough understanding of her physical condition.
Considering this, it made sense why Yun Shan had struggled to break through to Dou Zong on his own—it was also due to the Life-Death Gate's drawbacks.
His Dou Qi was far weaker than that of other peak Dou Huangs. In his desperate attempt to break through, had it not been for the Soul Palace's Protector Wu intervening, he would have died from severe injuries in seclusion.
Perhaps Yun Potian, after traveling the world and witnessing the vastness of the Dou Qi continent and its countless experts, had only intended for his sect to maintain control over the Jia Ma Empire's limited territory.
In a remote place like the Jia Ma Empire, the strength of a Dou Huang was sufficient.
But this was merely Xiao Yan's speculation.
It was also possible that Yun Potian lacked the ability to construct a more perfect trial ground, one that could pass on more condensed Dou Qi to his successors.
Having created numerous Dou Techniques, cultivation methods, and secret arts, Xiao Yan understood this deeply.
Even with his own extraordinary comprehension, progress was rarely instantaneous. Often, he had to revise and refine his techniques during actual practice—let alone Yun Potian. Flaws were inevitable.
Wave after wave of golden light combed through Yun Yun's graceful body. As the warm golden currents seeped into her, her breathing noticeably quickened.
The rise and fall of her chest was so pronounced that Xiao Yan wondered several times if the Sea Heart Armor might burst open.
Fortunately, the armor was resilient and form-fitting, clinging snugly to her delicate skin without any mishaps.
In her dazed state, Yun Yun felt as though countless warm, snake-like currents were slithering through her meridians.
Through internal vision, she discovered that these golden serpents were causing her Dou Qi to shrink.
Thankfully, they didn't harm her. Instead, her Dou Qi became unprecedentedly condensed after the contraction.
Meanwhile, the dimmed golden serpents, seemingly having expended energy, burrowed directly into her meridians.
As they did, a sharp pain flared, followed by Yun Yun realizing that both her meridians and bones were strengthening in succession.
After several waves of this process, most of the burning heat in her body dissipated. Yet, her limbs remained weak and limp, devoid of strength. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
The first thing she saw was Xiao Yan, his hands glowing with golden light, projecting golden energy toward her from a distance. Yun Yun parted her lips slightly.
Before she could speak, Xiao Yan interrupted her: "Stay calm."
Yun Yun pressed her lips together, her long eyelashes fluttering before lazily closing again. She fully immersed herself in the warm, comforting sensation of the golden serpents moving within her.
As her Dou Qi shrank and condensed, the cultivation method she practiced automatically activated, absorbing the surrounding energy of heaven and earth.
Because her Dou Qi had been refined, Yun Yun's body craved energy intensely, and her cultivation method soon reached an unprecedented speed.
Moreover, with the help of the golden energy serpents inside her, Yun Yun was astonished to find that refining energy was far easier than before.
By the time Xiao Yan completed the marrow cleansing, Yun Yun's body had transformed into a vortex, devouring the surrounding energy of heaven and earth with terrifying hunger.
(End of Chapter)
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