Chapter 62 A Second Blossom

The scene shifted. Luo Li, drenched in sweat, lay limp in Xiao Ming's arms, completely exhausted.

She buried her burning cheek against the side of Xiao Ming's neck, listening to his strong, steady heartbeat. A thousand thoughts swirled in her mind, a mixture of shyness and infatuation, eventually melting into an indescribable sense of peace and contentment.

Xiao Ming, feeling thoroughly satisfied, held the fragrant, soft body in his arms, his palm lingering affectionately on her smooth back.

"Revered Master, let's go soak in the Spirit Refining Heaven Pool," Xiao Ming said, his voice laced with the laziness of satiation. "The water in the Spirit Refining Heaven Pool will help you recover, and it can also help you refine your Physique and improve your cultivation."

Luo Li gave a soft "Mn," but did not move. At this moment, she was as docile as a cat being petted by its owner, unwilling to even budge; where was the dignity of a Soul Transformation expert now?

Xiao Ming couldn't help but chuckle softly, carefully lifting her up. The two of them stepped into the milky-white Spirit Refining Heaven Pool together.

The pool water was cool, instantly enveloping their weary bodies. Pure and obscure Spiritual Qi slowly surged toward Luo Li, nourishing her Meridians. Luo Li let out a comfortable sigh, slowly operating her Cultivation Technique, and began to actively absorb this power that was extremely compatible with her Physique.

Xiao Ming also operated his Cultivation Technique, absorbing the energy in the pool to consolidate his Nascent Soul Realm, but he could feel that his absorption speed and efficiency were far inferior to his Revered Master's.

Under the nourishment of the pool water, Luo Li recovered rapidly. To her pleasant surprise, she discovered that her Mystic Yin Body seemed to have undergone some sort of sublimation; the speed at which she absorbed Spiritual Qi had increased several times over. Her aura became increasingly icy and pure, and her skin glowed with a lustrous radiance, as if she had undergone a transformation. Her temperament was ethereal and peerless, save for the lingering hint of spring at the corners of her eyes and brows, which added a touch of breathtaking allure to her.

Xiao Ming naturally noticed the transformation in Luo Li's temperament and was secretly delighted. The pool water was misty, and the two figures in the water seemed close yet distant. He slowly moved closer, wrapping his arms around Luo Li's slender, willow-like waist from behind, resting his chin on her smooth shoulders and neck, his warm breath brushing against her ear.

"Revered Master... you are even more charming now!..." His voice carried a hint of hoarseness.

Hearing this, Luo Li's delicate body trembled subconsciously, and her breathing, which had just calmed down, became chaotic once more. She wanted to push him away, but in the end, it only transformed into a weak, soft rebuke: "Wicked Disciple... stop it..."

Xiao Ming chuckled softly, slowly turning her body in the water so she faced him. In the misty vapor, her cheeks still retained a flush of passion, and her eyes, brimming with moisture, made it impossible to look away.

"Revered Master..." His breathing grew heavy as he kissed her again. Unlike the assertiveness of the first time, this time there was more lingering tenderness.

The pool water rippled, waves spreading out in circles, reflecting their closely embraced figures. There was less of the initial assertiveness and panic, and more of a natural, tacit understanding and lingering affection. Surrounded by the Spiritual Qi of the spirit pool, it was as if only their intertwined breathing and heartbeats remained in the world, both immersed in this undisturbed tranquility.

After a long while, the waves gradually subsided. Their auras merged, and enveloped by the Spiritual Qi, they seemed to sink into a warm, deep sea, inseparable.

Eventually, they surfaced in each other's arms. Luo Li leaned lazily against Xiao Ming's chest, glowing with radiance, her aura full and refined. Her cultivation had quietly stabilized at the Mid Spirit Severing stage, just a hair's breadth away from the Late Stage. Xiao Ming also benefited greatly, his Nascent Soul Realm now completely consolidated.

Xiao Ming carefully picked up Luo Li and returned to the smooth boulder.

He lowered his head slightly, watching his Revered Master in his arms—her eyes flowing with emotion, her face like a peach blossom in her shyness. Love and pride intertwined in his heart. His fingertips lightly brushed her pink-glowing earlobe, and he chuckled softly: "Revered Master, if you had just now... been seen by those fellows outside who pine for you day and night..." He intentionally drew out his tone.

Luo Li let out a soft cry, a flash of shy anger passing through her eyes. She raised her hand to lightly punch him, pouting: "Wicked Disciple! If you dare to spout nonsense again!"

Xiao Ming easily caught her meddling hand and leaned close to her ear, his voice deep and filled with possessiveness: "Revered Master, how can this be nonsense? What this Disciple says... is all the truth. Tell me, if they knew that the ice-cold beauty whose hem they couldn't even touch was like this in their Disciple's arms, wouldn't they be maddeningly jealous?"

"You... Wicked Disciple!" Luo Li was so angry her cheeks turned crimson, yet she still leaned affectionately in his arms, only glaring at him with shy indignation. But looking at Xiao Ming's proud and annoying expression, and hearing the undisguised boasting and possessiveness in his words, deep down in her heart, a strange... secret joy arose. She forced herself to keep a straight face and spat: "Bah! What they do, what does it have to do with me! Wicked Disciple, you... if you don't shut up, I will..."

"You will what?" Xiao Ming raised an eyebrow, smiling even more ostentatiously. He tightened his arms, pulling Luo Li closer, his tone proud and filled with unquestionable dominance: "Let them be envious! Anyway, Revered Master belongs to this Disciple from the inside out. Others? They don't even have the qualifications to covet you!"

These words were too straightforward. Luo Li's pretty face burned, and her heart pounded like a deer in headlights. She raised her head slightly, shyly saying: "...Shameless!"

Hearing this, Xiao Ming was not angry but happy, laughing wildly.

"Come, Revered Master baby... give me a kiss!"

Meanwhile, not far outside the valley, two figures were lurking sneakily. They were none other than Tu Gang and Elder Yin Gu. Through a Sect mole, they had accidentally learned the news that Luo Li was coming here, and so they wanted to take this opportunity to eliminate this major threat.

They had just arrived outside the valley when they sensed that the area was shrouded in a powerful barrier. The scene inside was blurred, and they could only sense the surging Spiritual Qi and Luo Li's unique, icy aura.

Tu Gang's expression was exceptionally excited at this moment, the lewdness and greed in his eyes almost becoming tangible. He stared fixedly at the hazy barrier, his mind repeatedly fantasizing about the scene of capturing Luo Li and pressing her firmly beneath him to ravage her at will. Thinking of this, his blood boiled, and his fists clenched, cracking loudly.

"Old Ghost Tu, with the barrier here, forcefully breaking through will surely alert her. However, she seems to be at a critical moment of Cultivation, and her aura is fluctuating. Should we..." Elder Yin Gu said in a raspy voice, analyzing the situation, "Perhaps we should wait until her Cultivation ends, when her mind is relaxed, or when she voluntarily removes the barrier..."

"Wait? Then when the hell are we supposed to wait until!" Tu Gang growled, his patience already exhausted. He had tracked her here, not to stand guard outside the valley for Luo Li!

However, just as he, filled with fantasies, broke through the barrier with Elder Yin Gu.

An extremely high-pitched, yet melodious soft moan, filled with infinite passion and satisfaction, drifted ethereally and with absolute clarity into the ears of the two intruders!

'This voice...'

After hearing this melodious sound, Tu Gang first felt his blood boil and his whole body became unbearably hot, then he felt confused and puzzled, and finally, panting heavily, he flew into a rage!

He was too familiar with the owner of this voice! Even though the voice carried a seductiveness and laziness he had never heard before, that unique, cold tone—who else could it be but Peak Master Luo Li, whom he had been pining for?

Even a fool could tell that this was definitely not Cultivation! It was clearly the sound of a woman unable to control herself at the height of ecstasy!

Tu Gang's face instantly turned livid, then a dark, sickly green. An inexplicable rage, along with the crazy, jealous fire of unrequited desire, erupted in Tu Gang's chest like a volcano! His eyes instantly turned bloodshot, veins bulged on his forehead and neck, and the Devilish Qi he had been suppressing around him erupted uncontrollably, causing the surrounding mist to scatter and churn!

"Bitch... slut!" After perceiving and seeing the two people inside the valley, Tu Gang squeezed these words through his teeth, his voice distorted and trembling from extreme rage. "Acting like she keeps everyone at a distance in the Sect all day, yet in private, her cries are so lewd? Truly shameless!"

At this moment, his mind was already fantasizing about pinning that bitch Luo Li down and seeing her beg for mercy—how wonderful it would be!

Elder Yin Gu was also startled by this sudden sound and Tu Gang's rage, but then the ghostly fire in his eyes flickered, revealing a look of realization and mockery: "So that's it... Hehehe, Old Ghost Tu, it seems we have come at a very opportune time. She has just experienced ecstasy, her mind must be extremely relaxed; this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If we don't act now, when will we?"

"Do it!!" Tu Gang also reacted instantly, completely losing his reason. Jealousy and desire devoured his last shred of caution. His face was hideous, and he roared hoarsely: "Old Ghost Yin, don't forget what you promised me!"

Hearing this, Elder Yin Gu felt disdain in his heart, but his face remained calm. He smiled sinisterly: "Rest assured, Old Ghost Tu, once she is captured, she will be left for you to deal with!"

Tu Gang only then felt relieved, but he did not notice the disdain and contempt in Elder Yin Gu's eyes.