From the early stage of Daluo to the mid-stage, Xihe had secluded herself in cultivation for 300,000 years.
Now, refining the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Pill to reach the late stage of Daluo, Xihe had only used 30,000 years. The difference between the two was evident.
The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Pill was only effective for the Daluo realm. Without hesitation, Xihe swallowed another pill. After another 30,000 years, her unstable late-stage cultivation stabilized, and she continued to consume the pills.
Of the five Nine Revolutions Mysterious Pills, she had taken three. In a mere 100,000 years, she had advanced from the mid-stage of Daluo to the perfection of the Da Luo Dao Fruit.
On the day she emerged from seclusion, the aura of Great Perfection of Daluo overflowed, and the Golden Crow Brothers came to congratulate her.
After sharing a meal together, Xihe quietly left the Celestial Court.
From the time she swore an oath to the Heavenly Dao until now, it had been two to three hundred thousand years since she last ventured out. She casually descended upon a battlefield. Tsk, the devastation here was even worse than before, and the Malignant Qi was heavier.
She had already contacted Jin Ling and knew her sister was safe, though still unconscious. With no urgency to return home, she decided to gather a batch of Spirit Pearls first to continue refining medicine for the two clans.
Her pills were not sold at high prices, but she insisted on bartering, exchanging them for rare treasures from the two clans.
If this continued, there would likely be few in the Primordial World wealthier than her…
Thinking of the scene of being surrounded by dazzling treasures, Xihe couldn’t help but curl the corners of her lips.
After a clear and a turbid Spirit Pearl appeared, the battlefield was purified. Just as Xihe collected the pearls and prepared to head to the next location, a white mist suddenly rose around her…
Xihe sneered, “Who dares to trifle with me?”
What a joke—she possessed the Great Dao Double Pupils. To think a mere Illusion Array could trap her? What a ridiculous notion in the Primordial World.
Just as she was about to activate her Great Dao Double Pupils, her eyes were physically covered. A figure appeared before her, and the familiar aura made her mind race to identify it. Before the image could fully form, her lips were kissed…
It was a kiss filled with longing—gentle, infatuated, and as if treating an incomparably precious treasure. Within its careful tenderness lay an inevitable greed.
Xihe didn’t know how she discerned so many emotions in that moment. She knew the normal reaction would be to make this presumptuous scoundrel perish, body and soul, and she was indeed prepared to do so. But the moment she gathered her spiritual energy, it was suppressed by the might of a Quasi-Saint.
The words “cannot defeat” were a rational conclusion, and “not wanting to die” was a subconscious reflex.
Seizing this moment of hesitation, the scoundrel invaded her territory, sucking until her tongue went numb.
Xihe was certain she felt nothing for this person, yet she couldn’t help but soften in his embrace.
Taking advantage of a brief pause, she forcefully pulled away and angrily demanded, “Tongtian, do you wish to die?”
“No!” the man whispered intimately by her ear.
“Then release me!”
“No. You cannot defeat me.” Tongtian shamelessly kissed the tip of her ear and chuckled teasingly.
Tongtian kissed her snow-white neck a few times, expecting Xihe to be furious. Instead, he found the person in his arms offering no resistance. Narrowing his eyes, he released her and studied her expression.
Xihe was surprisingly calm and asked him composedly, “Had enough?”
Tongtian tested the waters, “What if it’s not enough?”
“You may continue. Today, my cultivation is inferior to yours, so enduring this is only natural. But if the day comes when I have the opportunity, I will ensure your soul is scattered across the nine heavens.”
Tongtian gazed at Xihe for a long time, confirming her seriousness. A trace of desolation flickered in his eyes.
“Xihe, can you not like me?”
Xihe sneered, “I’ve told you before, because of the Great Dao Double Pupils, I can see things I shouldn’t. In my eyes, you’re nothing but a failed contender in the pursuit of the Dao. Why should I like you?”
“In other words, even if none of this were to happen, and you became a Heaven-Destined Saint, so what? I don’t believe attaining Sagehood is hopeless for me. You hold little value to me, so why should I engage in a romantic relationship with you? What would I gain from it?”
Tongtian was both angered and amused. What kind of nonsense was this?
Emotions arise from the heart, yet here she was, stringing together a list of benefits and analyzing them one by one.
Taking a deep breath, Tongtian realized he had been too hasty. Some things couldn’t be forced.
With a flick of his hand, a faint, illusory image of a small tree appeared. “Consider what just happened as a moment of cultivation deviation on my part. As an apology, will you forgive me?”
Xihe stared at the small tree, her eyes widening in disbelief. “The Yellow Center Plum Spiritual Root, one of the Ten Great Innate Spiritual Roots!”
With lightning speed, she swiftly accepted it, her heart surging with joy. This guy was truly too understanding. Not only was she no longer angry, but she also felt like hugging Tongtian and giving him a few kisses.
“Even a Saint would be moved by such a spiritual root. Using it as an apology gift is truly excessive. I’ll accept it, and I’ll allow you to kiss me a little longer. But remember, no taking it back later!”
Xihe wore an expression of sheer delight at having gained something for nothing, treating the intimacy as inconsequential.
Tongtian hadn’t expected such an unexpected reward. A meaningful smile spread across his handsome face. “I wouldn’t dare refuse!”
Xihe was pulled back into his embrace, but this kiss was far from gentle. Tongtian seemed as though he wanted to devour her whole.
His lips and teeth sucked at hers until it hurt.
Unable to bear it any longer, she pushed him away.
Tongtian chuckled softly, trailing kisses along her jawline, collarbone, and snow-white shoulders…
As her robes slipped halfway off, Xihe frowned. “Haven’t you had enough?” She was tempted to hit him.
Tongtian’s breathing grew uneven. He gently bit a mark into her snow-white shoulder before lifting his head, his eyes dark and intense. Silently, he began adjusting Xihe’s robes.
Xihe wore a strange expression. Although he was helping her dress, for some reason, she couldn’t shake the illusion that she was being stripped bare.
Once her robes were properly arranged, Xihe felt no trace of shyness, only the excitement of having scored a great deal.
She had said he could kiss her a little longer, and Tongtian had agreed. This established their own Karmic Ties. Even if Tongtian regretted giving her the spiritual root later, it would have nothing to do with her.
Pushing away the large hand lingering on her waist, Xihe spoke up, “If there’s nothing else, you should leave. I need to return to the Taiyin Star.”
Tongtian had anticipated this. “Changxi has a second Innate Spiritual Root. Perhaps it can directly replenish her origin and allow her to take form. Considering I’ve contributed in no small way, couldn’t I meet Changxi?”
Xihe didn’t refuse outright but gave Tongtian a thorough once-over. “Please address her as Fellow Daoist Changxi. If you dare lay a finger on my sister, I’ll hunt you down to the ends of heaven and earth and tear you apart.”
Tongtian was taken aback at first, then deeply frustrated by her stubbornness.
Who did he call “Changxi younger sister” for? This silly rabbit hadn’t considered it at all, instead misunderstanding his intentions as lustful.
This rabbit was simply… utterly adorable!
On the way back to Taiyin, Tongtian’s gaze remained fixed on Xihe. She paid it no mind, her heart filled with joy at the thought of her sister soon awakening.
The right eye of the great deity Pangu transformed into Taiyin, and from the Taiyin Origin grew the Moon Cassia Tree. It was upon this tree that she and her sister were born.
Although she did not know why Changxi was born with innate deficiencies, with the second Innate Spiritual Root in hand, she believed her sister’s foundation could certainly be replenished. Thinking of how her sister could stay by her side in the future, Xihe was happier than anyone else.
The Great Dao is boundless, but with her sister walking alongside her, she would never again feel the loneliness of enduring it alone!
As soon as the Primordial Five Elements Array was activated, Jin Ling immediately bowed with delight. “Master, you’ve returned!”
Xihe looked Jin Ling up and down.
“Not bad—you’ve reached the mid-stage of the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm. It seems you’ve just broken through, and your Dao Fruit is still somewhat unstable. Take this bottle of elixirs; they will help you swiftly advance to Taiyi Perfection. After that, you can venture out to seek opportunities to ascend to the Daluo realm!”
Holding the elixirs, Jin Ling was stunned. What did her master just say… that she could quickly advance to Taiyi Perfection?