158: Chapter 155 The Soul Clan Makes Another Move

Cao Ying had finished refining the Fallen Heart Flame, and everything returned to tranquility.

The high temperature in the secret chamber slowly subsided, leaving only the sound of their intertwined breathing.

Ling Yuan tightened his arms, his palm pressed against Cao Ying's smooth back; he could feel her heartbeat racing as if a rabbit were trapped inside her chest.

Although her eyes were tightly shut, her eyelashes fluttered gently every few seconds, and the flush on her ears had spread to the side of her neck—the signs of her feigned sleep were obvious.

Cao Ying was pretending to sleep, and Ling Yuan had long since seen through her little ruse, but he didn't expose her, choosing instead to accompany her quietly to see how long she could keep it up.

It had to be said that Cao Ying's beauty was truly top-tier, and her face was perfect.

Her long legs were shapely and straight, her skin glowing like fine porcelain. When she had clung to his waist earlier, her ankles had brushed against his side, soft as water.

Truly, a pair of legs to play with for a lifetime.

Sensing the gaze resting on her, Cao Ying's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her earlobes quietly flushed a deep crimson.

Her heart was full of shyness and confusion; not knowing how to face Ling Yuan, she could only bite the bullet and maintain her feigned sleep.

Ling Yuan chuckled softly, "You certainly have patience..."

Ling Yuan felt a mischievous urge, so he began his own actions.

Now, Cao Ying could no longer keep up the pretense. She opened her eyes abruptly, a soft cry stifled in her throat, the corners of her eyes glistening with moisture.

Ling Yuan: "Not pretending anymore?"

Cao Ying blushed, unsure if it was from shyness or Ling Yuan's actions.

"Brother Ling Yuan, don't look at me like that, I'm quite shy."

Ling Yuan chuckled, "I thought you were quite bold..."

Cao Ying whispered in defense, "That was the fire poison backlash from the Burning Technique; I couldn't control myself at all."

"Then should we just pretend it never happened?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Ying immediately grew anxious and hurriedly said, "No!"

Having finally obtained Ling Yuan, how could she be willing to let it be treated as if it never happened?

Seeing the playful smile on his lips, she realized he was deliberately teasing her. Both angry and shy, she lightly punched his arm.

Ling Yuan asked why she gave herself to him.

With the lingering flush still at the corners of her eyes, Cao Ying rolled her eyes, her expression a mix of maidenly charm and alluring seductiveness: "Of course, it's because I like you, Brother Ling Yuan."

A combination of purity and allure—that is exactly what Cao Ying is.

Her declaration of liking Ling Yuan now was not without truth.

With great talent, a good background, and good looks—which girl wouldn't be moved by an exceptional man like Ling Yuan?

Cao Ying had always been in the Spirit Realm, and apart from Alchemy, the only man she had interacted with was Ling Yuan.

Ling Yuan was so good to her, nurturing her, providing her with cultivation resources and Heavenly Flames. Over time, feelings had already taken root and sprouted in her heart.

When she returned to the Cao Family, her parents often instilled their own thoughts into her.

They said that the Cao Family's ability to stand firm in the Central Plains depended entirely on the protection of the Ling Clan, and the entire clan was grateful to Ling Yuan.

They also said that Ling Yuan spent so much effort cultivating her because he must be interested in her. Girls should know how to be proactive; if they could really make it work, she would be able to use the Ling Clan's Alchemy resources at will in the future.

The Cao Family wanted to cling tightly to the Ling Clan's thigh, making this relationship even more secure.

And the only path to that was Cao Ying.

"Ying'er, our Cao Family's rapid development is all thanks to Young Clan Leader Ling. You must know how to be grateful."

"He spent so much cost to Cultivate you; he must like you."

"Don't you love Alchemy the most? If this works out, more resources will be tilted towards you, and you can reach Ninth-Grade Alchemist faster."

That was how Cao Can persuaded his daughter.

This led to the fifteen or sixteen-year-old Cao Ying already having thoughts in this direction.

Previously, when she tried to probe Ling Yuan with words, Ling Yuan always said she was too young.

Now that she was eighteen and an adult, and with the perfect opportunity of refining the Heavenly Flame, Cao Ying naturally wanted to do what adults do.

...

In the past, Cao Ying did nothing but Alchemy and Cultivate. Now, after being intimate with Ling Yuan, she had gained another hobby.

Whenever Ling Yuan wasn't with Zi Yan, she would seize every opportunity to be with him.

Sometimes pure, sometimes seductive, she would change into a colorful dress and lean close to him to talk, her breath fragrant like orchids, enticing one to lose their composure.

Especially when those long legs were draped over Ling Yuan's, it always stirred Ling Yuan's interest, making him want to hoist them up and keep rocking.

She was simply a little enchantress.

Seeing Cao Ying becoming more and more like Zi Yan, with a tendency to neglect her goals for pleasure.

Ling Yuan thought about sending her to the Medicine Clan for advanced training.

Anyway, in a while, he would have to enter the Demon Lightning Pool to Cultivate and wouldn't have time to accompany her every day, so he might as well take this opportunity to send her to the Medicine Clan for training.

When he mentioned this to Cao Ying, her face fell immediately, and she hugged his arm, shaking it back and forth:

"I don't want to leave my husband, I don't want to go that far away."

That coquettish voice could make any man's bones melt.

Ling Yuan had long since developed some immunity to her coquettish behavior.

"Then should I give the spot to someone else?"

Cao Ying's face showed conflict.

She was reluctant to leave Ling Yuan, but she also wouldn't give up the opportunity to learn advanced Alchemy.

Ling Yuan's plan to send her away would not change.

The pleasures between a man and a woman were certainly enjoyable, but only by growing stronger could things last longer.

"Be good. While I am Cultivating inside the Demon Lightning Pool, go to the Medicine Clan and study hard. Learn their techniques early, and come back sooner."

"Alright..."

Just like that, Ling Yuan finally sent this tormenting little enchantress away.

In the secret chamber, Ling Yuan condensed another Clone.

Four condensed in the Spirit Realm, two in the Heaven Realm; counting them up, Ling Yuan now had six Clones.

One Clone was biding its time in Dou Huang City, and it had already reached the Seven-star Dou Zun Realm.

He had five by his side.

Five times the cultivation speed was truly satisfying.

For others, the further they progressed, the harder it was to achieve a Breakthrough.

But for one cultivating the Myriad Body Origin-Returning Art, there was absolutely no such trouble.

The higher the Realm of the main body, the faster the cultivation speed of the Clones would become.

Just like Ling Mie, who had been in seclusion in the Spirit Realm for the past few years; all seven Clones had already broken through to the Dou Sheng Realm and were currently in seclusion for the origin-returning process, aiming to break through to the Seven-Star Dou Sheng Late Stage.

In the past, this would have been unthinkable.

...

After condensing the Clone, Ling Yuan continued to refine Puppets, intending to let them absorb the power of lightning inside.

He could only enter once, so he had to ruthlessly squeeze out every last bit of value.

Meanwhile, the Hun Clan, which had been silent for a period of time, made its move again after the major Dou Di Clans had relaxed their vigilance.

In a hidden space somewhere in the Central Plains, there was a sudden fluctuation.

This was the entrance and exit to the Soul Realm, and the Soul Realm, which had been closed for a long time, opened once again.

An Elder of the Hun Clan emerged from within.

His Soul perception swept across a thousand miles, and after confirming that no one was spying, he sent a signal inside.

The next moment, upon receiving the signal, over a hundred figures in black robes filed out of the Soul Realm.

Among the hundred or so experts, none had a strength lower than Dou Zun.

Without needing an order from the Elder, they tacitly dispersed in all directions, their figures instantly merging into the Void Realm.