180: Add some points to the "Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique"

Instantly, a surge of Yin-Yang Harmony power, far purer and more majestic than during their usual Dual Cultivation, erupted!

This power did not just come from Yao Delong's own Yuan Power;

instead, the System directly used Yin-Yang Harmony to guide the most primal Yin and Yang Qi of heaven and earth,

pouring it through their most intimate contact into Liu Rumei's Dantian and Qi Sea without any resistance!

"Mnh... ah—!" Liu Rumei felt an indescribable,

warm, and vast power, like a flood breaking through a dam, instantly surge into her body!

This power was incredibly pure, carrying a mysterious dao rhyme that nourished all things and balanced Yin and Yang, perfectly merging with her own fire-attribute Spiritual Qi!

The spiritual power within her body became like an ignited volcano,

circulating, compressing, and transforming at an unprecedented speed!

The Foundation Establishment Mid-stage Bottleneck that had troubled her for so long

was pierced as easily as thin paper under the impact of this vast power!

Boom!

A powerful aura belonging to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage

erupted from Liu Rumei's body without any hindrance!

She was bathed in brilliant red light, with faint phantom images of red lotuses appearing, and her Sword Intent became even more condensed and pure!

[Ding! Completed Yin-Yang Harmony with target Liu Rumei!

Absorbed a large amount of Taiyin Power! Target's fire-attribute Cultivation Technique compatibility is average!

yin yang points +30! Current yin yang points: 254!]

This hearty session of Dual Cultivation lasted for a full day and night.

When everything returned to peace, Liu Rumei curled up in Yao Delong's arms like a lazy kitten,

her skin glowing with a charming blush, her breath long and powerful, having firmly stepped into the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

Her beautiful eyes were half-open, filled with post-satisfaction laziness and deep affection, as she gazed foolishly at Yao Delong's well-defined profile.

"Delong..." Her voice carried a hint of post-coital raspiness, adding to her allure,

"Where... where have you been lately? There was no news for over a month. Meier was so worried."

Yao Delong was stroking the beauty's smooth back, and his movements paused slightly upon hearing this.

Looking for his Junior Sister in Canglan City? He couldn't mention that.

His mind raced, and his face took on a perfectly timed expression of "exhaustion" and "solemnity."

"Sigh,"

He gave a soft sigh, his tone heavy,

"It's a long story. After the selection that day, I was summoned in secret by the Sect Head.

Then... I was sent to carry out an extremely dangerous Sect mission,

going deep into the borders of the Ba Xia Dynasty to investigate anomalies in an ancient ruin.

During that time, I encountered several waves of demonic Cultivators and narrowly escaped death multiple times. Even my transmission Jade Slip was destroyed, making it impossible to contact the outside world.

It wasn't until a few days ago that I luckily finished the mission and was able to return to the Sect."

Meanwhile, inside the Dragon Head Peak main hall.

White Cloud Master, who was reviewing dossiers, suddenly let out a loud sneeze without warning: "A-choo!"

He paused, his brow furrowing slightly.

The vast Divine Sense of a Integration Realm Cultivator instinctively swept over his surroundings, confirming there were no evil spirits or assassination attempts.

"Strange..." White Cloud Master rubbed his nose, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes,

"Could some old fellow be talking about me behind my back? Or... has a Karma line become entangled?"

He pinched his fingers to divine for a moment, but only felt that the heavenly secrets were in Chaos, leaving him without a clue.

He could only shake his head and continue burying himself in his paperwork,

completely unaware that he had just taken a large, round blame-pot for a certain "hard-working" Disciple.

Yao Delong continued his half-true fabrication, stretching out the timeline of his trip to find his Junior Sister,

omitting the part about Canglan City and emphasizing the danger of the process and his own "near-death experiences."

His tone was low, and a perfectly timed hint of lingering fear and exhaustion showed in his eyes.

Liu Rumei listened quietly, leaning against his chest, her small hand unconsciously drawing circles on his chest.

A woman's intuition gave her a faint feeling that her Junior Martial Uncle was holding something back,

and there seemed to be something she couldn't understand hidden deep in his eyes.

But when she looked up and saw the genuine exhaustion on Yao Delong's face—

After all, who wouldn't be tired after a day and night of Dual Cultivation?

—and the "dangers" he had faced for survival, the slight doubt in her heart was instantly replaced by heartache and worry.

'Junior Martial Uncle now has heaven-defying cultivation and peerless talent, and he is a Core Disciple of the Inner Sect.

I wonder how many favored daughters of heaven will fall for him...'

Liu Rumei sighed inwardly, a hint of bitterness welling up, but it was mostly a clear-headed realization.

'As long as Junior Martial Uncle has me in his heart, treats me well,

is willing to help my cultivation, and protects me... why should I look too deeply into anything else?'

Having understood this, Liu Rumei felt enlightened.

She no longer obsessed over the truth or falsehood of Yao Delong's words. Instead, she reached out with both arms,

hugged him tighter, and pressed her small face against his solid chest.

Listening to that powerful heartbeat, her voice was tender yet firm:

"Junior Martial Uncle has worked hard... It's good that you're back.

In the future... don't go on such dangerous missions anymore. Meier will worry."

Feeling the unreserved trust and dependence of the beauty in his arms, Yao Delong felt a warmth in his heart, along with a hint of guilt.

He tightened his arms, his chin resting gently on the top of Liu Rumei's fragrant head, and said softly:

"Mhm, I know. In the future... I'll try to make you worry less."

The tenderness in the Heavenly Sword Peak courtyard did not last long.

Once Liu Rumei's Realm had completely stabilized at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, Yao Delong took his leave under her reluctant gaze.

A purple-gold light streaked across the sky, and in just a moment,

it landed back at Luoxia Peak, in his luxurious courtyard that the Sect had specially renovated, filled with Spiritual Qi and complete with pavilions and gardens.

Several Outer Sect Disciples responsible for cleaning saw the light land,

and seeing it was Yao Delong, they immediately stopped their work and bowed, their voices filled with awe: "Greetings, Senior Brother Yao!"

Yao Delong nodded slightly and didn't stop his pace,

heading straight for the cultivation quiet room deep in the courtyard, which was shrouded in multiple layers of Restrictions.

Time was tight for him now; the Inner Sect Grand Competition was imminent. He had to transform his newly acquired Legacy into actual combat power as quickly as possible!

The heavy stone door closed silently behind him, isolating him from all the noise of the outside world.

Inside the quiet room, the Spiritual Qi was so dense it had almost liquefied. The ground was inscribed with Spirit Gathering Array patterns, with only a simple, ancient prayer mat in the center.

Yao Delong sat cross-legged, his mind sinking into his Sea of Consciousness. The five Earth Rank Legacies were like five brilliant stars, floating quietly.

He first turned his gaze toward the most dazzling reddish-gold Jade Slip—the Nine Yang Heaven Burning Art (Peak Earth Rank)!

"System, use the skill mastery card. Target: Nine Yang Heaven Burning Art!"

[Ding! Detected that the host possesses a skill mastery card (Earth Rank). Confirming use on the Nine Yang Heaven Burning Art (Peak Earth Rank)!]

[Use successful! Nine Yang Heaven Burning Art Realm increased to: Perfection!]

Boom—!

The moment the command was given, an indescribable, terrifying heatwave erupted from within Yao Delong's body without warning!

His entire being seemed to transform into a core of molten lava about to explode!

In his Sea of Consciousness, that dark-gold Golden Core began to spin wildly!

The originally deep and heavy dark-gold color became like gold thrown into a furnace,

melting and transforming at a speed visible to the naked eye!

The dark gold faded, replaced by a purer, more blazing,

golden-red hue that seemed to contain the will to incinerate all things, rapidly spreading to cover the entire Golden Core!

Buzz—!

The Golden Core vibrated violently, letting out a roar like a great bronze bell!

With every vibration, it gushed out Pure Yang Yuan Power as surging and majestic as a tsunami!

This Yuan Power was no longer the previous gold, but had turned into viscous, heavy, golden-red lava that emitted a terrifyingly high temperature!

It galloped through Yao Delong's wide and tough Meridians. Everywhere it passed,

the walls of his Meridians were repeatedly flushed and tempered, becoming even tougher and wider, faintly glowing with a golden-red luster as if they could withstand the flow of actual lava!

"Ugh... ah!" Even with Yao Delong's current physique and will, he couldn't help but let out a low groan.

That Yuan Power was like actual lava surging through his body, bringing not just power,

but also extreme heat and pain that felt as if it would incinerate his internal organs!

If he hadn't already mastered the Great Sun Body Forging Art and possessed a Physical Body strength far exceeding those of the same rank,

he might have already been burned to ashes from the inside out by this violent power!