55: Chapter 55 A captivating and mature beauty! The condition for helping you is…

Zhou Liangan's thoughts stirred, and a faint, almost imperceptible shimmer appeared at his fingertips. An ancient book with a gilded cover and peculiar patterns was precisely extracted by him.

On the cover, the six ancient Seal characters "Yin and Yang 108 Forms" shone brightly. This was precisely the Heaven Rank Hehuan Sect secret technique he had specially selected from the Eastern Heavenly King's treasury earlier; its appearance alone revealed its extraordinary nature.

The threshold for cultivating this secret technique was actually not high. As the name implied, the core was to master the 108 postures that fit the rotation of Yin and Yang.

It did not require arduous cultivation to polish one's Foundation; it focused on following the trend and balancing Yin and Yang.

Beside him, Dugu Yaoli, who was tightly bound by nine Immortal-Binding Ropes, suddenly had her gaze fall upon the ancient book. Her naturally jade-white, pretty face instantly flushed with two vibrant clouds of color, spreading from her cheeks to her earlobes, and even her slender neck was stained with a faint red.

Her pair of usually cold and sharp beautiful eyes were locked tightly onto Zhou Liangan. The shame and anger in the depths of her eyes burned like a prairie fire, growing ever more intense. Her full, delicate body, pulled into exquisite curves by the Immortal-Binding Ropes, subconsciously tensed up, yet she could not break free in the slightest. She could only let that shame and anger surge in her eyes, mixed with a few hints of undisguisable panic.

Zhou Liangan already possessed exceptional Comprehension Ability, and coupled with the clarity brought by the System's blessing, delving into these "Yin and Yang 108 Forms" was twice the result with half the effort.

In just three short hours, the obscure methods on the pages were completely understood by him, and even the several exquisite variations hidden within were clear in his heart.

He casually retrieved the ancient book back into the System space and turned his head to look at Dugu Yaoli, who was bound beside him. The original indifference in his eyes faded away completely, replaced by an increasingly intense heat, like a hunter locking onto a desired prey.

He slowly stood up and walked toward Dugu Yaoli with unhurried steps. The steady sound of his footsteps fell in the empty room, and every step felt like it was treading on the tip of Dugu Yaoli's heart.

Dugu Yaoli was bound so tightly by the Immortal-Binding Ropes that she could not move. Her full, graceful body could only twist in vain, the ropes sinking deep into her skin, outlining increasingly breathtaking curves. The look she cast at Zhou Liangan was full of panic and vigilance, her cherry lips tightly pursed, and even her delicate body was trembling slightly...

One day and one night.

When the first ray of morning light shone through the window lattice onto Zhou Liangan, he slowly opened his eyes. A sharp light flashed and vanished in his pupils. The surging Spiritual Qi within his body flowed wantonly like a rushing river, his Meridians were filled with warmth, and his sense of power was unprecedentedly full.

He lowered his head to feel the earth-shaking changes within his body, and an undisguisable joy instantly appeared on his face—Bone Forging Stage Nine!

He was only one line away from the Spirit Guiding Realm!

Even Zhou Liangan himself was somewhat surprised by this speed of Breakthrough, and what surprised him even more was the subsequent harvest of destiny points.

Zhou Liangan's thoughts stirred, and the System panel automatically appeared. When he saw the number in the destiny points column, the joy on his face became even stronger, even carrying a hint of astonishment.

Five thousand points!

In just one short night, he had actually accumulated a full five thousand destiny points. This abundant harvest far exceeded his expectations.

He swiped his fingertip lightly and directly opened the relevant information of the target character. Dugu Yaoli's panel was clearly listed before his eyes:

[Target: Dugu Yaoli]

[destiny points: 20000]

[Status: Not Conquered]

[Favorability: -50].

Looking at this base of twenty thousand destiny points, the smile on the corner of Zhou Liangan's mouth could no longer be hidden, and his eyes were full of playfulness.

This Dugu Yaoli was simply a walking destiny points power bank; as long as he conquered her properly... Hehehe...

He stretched, and his bones let out a crisp "crackling" sound, his whole body's muscles and bones feeling refreshed.

Remembering that Yong Ruxin had said she would stay in Jiangcheng for two days, and today was the second day, the time was quite ample; he did not need to rush at all.

After all, Yong Ruxin's status was not ordinary. She was not only the second Director dispatched by the authorities to Nanjiang Province, but also a bona fide powerhouse of the Meridian Opening Realm, whose strength was unfathomable.

With his current strength, even relying on the advantages of his Cultivation Technique and Martial Skills, it would be somewhat difficult to fight a Meridian Opening Realm powerhouse head-on. Only by breaking through to the Spirit Guiding Realm would he have the power to fight.

Once he stepped into the Spirit Guiding Realm, he would be able to use himself as a medium to communicate with the thin Spiritual Qi in the surrounding world. When unleashing Martial Skills then, he could mobilize the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi for his own use, and the power would increase by at least ten times.

By then, facing a Meridian Opening Realm powerhouse, he would have sufficient confidence to maneuver, or even win.

Thinking of this, a sharp gleam flashed in Zhou Liangan's eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he directly selected the Nine-Turn Spirit Fruit in the System mall. The moment three thousand destiny points were deducted, a spirit fruit that was emerald green, lustrous, and translucent appeared out of thin air before him, floating in mid-air.

Rich and mellow Spiritual Qi continuously emanated from the Nine-Turn Spirit Fruit, lingering around Zhou Liangan's body like a substance. Just by taking a shallow breath, the Spiritual Qi in his Meridians seemed to be summoned, crazily restless, and began to flow happily.

If it were any other Cultivator in the outside world who obtained such a treasure, they would certainly use it cautiously for Alchemy to maximize the medicinal effect. But Zhou Liangan was always wealthy and bold, not considering so much at all. He raised his hand, grabbed the Nine-Turn Spirit Fruit, and put it into his mouth without hesitation.

If those Cultivators in the outside world who sought it but could not obtain it saw this scene, they would probably be so angry they would vomit blood and cry out that it was a waste of a heavenly treasure. But such "spendthrift" operations were already routine for Zhou Liangan.

The Nine-Turn Spirit Fruit melted upon entering his mouth, turning into a pure, unparalleled torrent of Spiritual power, flowing down his throat directly into his Dantian, and then surging crazily toward his limbs and bones.

Zhou Liangan's mind stirred, and he immediately operated the Tianji Qiankun Technique, using this massive Spiritual power to fully impact the Meridians that had not yet been opened.

The requirements for the second level of the Tianji Qiankun Technique were extremely harsh; it required opening 108 Meridians, secretly matching the number of Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha. Previously, for the first level, he had only opened thirty-six. He had intended to rely on this Nine-Turn Spirit Fruit to complete the remaining seventy-two.

Facts proved that the medicinal effect of the Nine-Turn Spirit Fruit was indeed well-deserved. The pure Spiritual power was like the gentlest stream, slowly washing away the stagnation in his Meridians. The process of opening the Meridians was not only devoid of any pain, but instead brought an ultimate comfort, as if countless warm and soft jade hands were gently massaging his limbs and bones, making Zhou Liangan's whole body feel cozy, and a look of enjoyment appeared on his face unconsciously.

As the Spiritual power flowed, one blocked Meridian after another was opened in succession, the number climbing rapidly. In the blink of an eye, sixty-seven had been opened, with only the last five remaining from the target of seventy-two.

But just at this moment, the medicinal power of the Nine-Turn Spirit Fruit had already been exhausted, the momentum of the Spiritual power torrent gradually slowed down, and it looked like it was about to run out of steam.

Zhou Liangan's eyes narrowed. Without the slightest hesitation, he flipped his palm, and a Medicinal Pill that was entirely crimson and faintly emanating Dragon might appeared in his hand; it was precisely the one gifted to him by the Eastern Heavenly King, East Heavenly King, earlier.

The Heavenly Dragon Pill condensed from the Bloodline of a Five-Clawed Heavenly Dragon.

He swallowed the Medicinal Pill into his stomach without a second thought. The moment the pill entered his stomach, a power even thicker and more domineering than the Nine-Turn Spirit Fruit instantly erupted, sweeping through his whole body from the Dantian, carrying an irresistible force, helping him impact the last five Meridians.

In just a moment, the last five Meridians opened in response. The 108 Meridians were completely connected, as if forming a perfect closed loop, with Spiritual power flowing freely within them without any stagnation.

And the medicinal power of the Heavenly Dragon Pill was far from exhausted. The remaining power turned into streams of golden Qi, beginning to crazily wash through his body, cleansing his marrow and tempering his Physique.

A dazzling golden light gradually emanated from Zhou Liangan's body. A Dragon roar that shook the sky suddenly burst out from within him, the might of the Heavenly Dragon sweeping in all directions, causing even the surrounding space to ripple slightly.

His skin gradually revealed a layer of faint dark gold, with obscure and mysterious dragon-shaped patterns flowing on the surface. His Aura climbed steadily like riding a rocket, the barrier of Bone Forging Stage Nine broke in response, and he stepped steadily into the first level of the Spirit Guiding Realm!

Compared to the qualitative change brought about by opening the Meridians and cleansing the marrow, this Breakthrough in Realm was rather like a bonus surprise.

After all, whether it was the Nine-Turn Spirit Fruit or the Heavenly Dragon Pill, the vast majority of the medicinal effects were used on Meridian opening and Physique improvement. Even so, being able to break through to the Spirit Guiding Realm in one go was already a huge harvest.

When Zhou Liangan opened his eyes again, it was already deep night outside the window. The wall clock showed that it was exactly ten o'clock in the evening.

He stood up abruptly, clenching his fists tight. The surging power within his body was almost about to burst out. Compared to before, he not only had a soaring Realm, but his Physique had also been nourished by the Heavenly Dragon Bloodline, and his strength was already worlds apart.

A playful smile curled at the corner of his mouth, and he already had a decision in his heart—now that his strength was sufficient, it was time to meet the people from the authorities.

Zhou Liangan raised his hand to carefully put away the Xuanling Shield. This was a supreme treasure for saving his life. Although he now had the confidence to fight a Meridian Opening Realm powerhouse, having one more trump card was always an extra guarantee. He still understood the principle that being careful keeps one safe for ten thousand years.

With his mind made up, Zhou Liangan moved his body, turning into a streak of light, shuttling through the night like a ghost. In just a few short minutes, he had arrived at the Jiangcheng Sanatorium.

Jiangcheng was naturally nestled between mountains and rivers with beautiful scenery, and this sanatorium had an excellent location, situated on the mountainside by the river, surrounded by green mountains and green water. The air was filled with rich spiritual charm, far exceeding other places in Jiangcheng.

As soon as he stepped into the range of the sanatorium, Zhou Liangan keenly sensed the rich Spiritual Qi fluctuations in the air. He understood in his heart; no wonder those big shots in the secular world liked to come here to recuperate.

It turned out that this place hid a Spiritual Vein, with abundant Spiritual Qi, sufficient to nourish Meridians and warm the mortal body; prolonging life was naturally a given.

Just as Zhou Liangan walked into the gate of the sanatorium, two tall and sturdy men in black walked toward him. Their figures were as straight as pines, their eyes as sharp as eagles. They blocked his path directly, their tone cold and serious, "Sir, this is an exclusive sanatorium area. Unauthorized personnel are prohibited from visiting. Please leave immediately."

"I am looking for Yong Ruxin." Zhou Liangan's tone was calm, without the slightest ripple, stating his purpose straight to the point.

The two looked at each other, a trace of surprise flashing in their eyes, and then their gazes locked tightly onto Zhou Liangan, carrying a bit of scrutiny and vigilance, "Who are you?"

"Zhou Liangan." He calmly reported his name, his tone frank.

"Sir, please show your identification." The man in black on the left said expressionlessly, reaching out to make a gesture of asking for it.

Zhou Liangan rolled his eyes helplessly, took his special identification out of his pocket, and handed it over.

The man in black took the identification and took out a professional instrument the size of a palm. He swiped the identification lightly on the instrument, and Zhou Liangan's detailed information immediately appeared on the screen.

The two carefully compared the information on the screen with Zhou Liangan's Physique and appearance. After confirming there was no mistake, the vigilance on their faces faded slightly, and they nodded slightly to Zhou Liangan, "Mr. Zhou, please come in. Director Yong lives in Villa No. 2, and I will lead the way for you."

Zhou Liangan nodded slightly, calmly sizing up the two guards in front of him, secretly surprised in his heart.

The breath of these two was steady, their Qi and blood were full; they were clearly both Bone Forging Stage Nine Martial Artists. The Foundation of the authorities was indeed not to be underestimated.

The guard led Zhou Liangan up the mountain all the way. Along the way, the vegetation was lush, and the Spiritual Qi became increasingly rich. Occasionally, he could see a few guards also dressed in black patrolling in the dark, and their breath was not weak at all.

Very quickly, the two arrived at Villa No. 2. This was an independent two-story building, simple and atmospheric. The surroundings were quiet and silent. The guard, however, did not mean to leave, waiting until Zhou Liangan walked to the door and pressed the doorbell before quietly standing aside.

The villa door was quickly opened. Yong Ruxin stood at the entrance in a white dress, her figure graceful. The dress was simple and conservative, yet it still could not conceal her sexy, full, and mature Physique. Her waist was slender, her curves exquisite, and every movement exuded a gentleness and competence refined by time.

When she saw Zhou Liangan at the door, a flicker of surprise flashed through her beautiful eyes; clearly, she could hardly believe her own eyes.

It had only been two short days since they last met. When they last saw each other, Zhou Liangan's cultivation was only at the Bone Forging Seventh Stage. Though his Aura was steady, it was far from top-tier. Yet, seeing him again today, the Aura on him was completely different—condensed and majestic—he had clearly reached the Spirit Guiding Realm First Layer.

Such terrifying cultivation speed could only be achieved if he had obtained a massive Opportunity within the ruins.

Yong Ruxin stepped aside to invite Zhou Liangan into the villa. Only after the door was closed did the guards outside turn and leave.

The villa's interior was decorated with simple elegance. The living room was spacious and bright, and the air was filled with a faint, refreshing scent of tea that was soothing to the soul.

The two walked over to the sofa and sat down. Without any small talk, Yong Ruxin stared straight at Zhou Liangan and went straight to the point, "You are a smart person, so you should know how many factions are watching you right now. Whether it is the Zhou Family or the Su Family, they are merely secular families. You are now an Ancient Martial Artist; these secular families simply cannot protect you."

Zhou Liangan chuckled at these words, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a sip. The tea was mellow and left a sweet aftertaste. He set the cup down and met Yong Ruxin's gaze calmly, "Is Director Yong planning to recruit me?"

A faint smile curled the corners of Yong Ruxin's mouth. Her smile was gentle but carried a hint of unquestionable certainty, "I am merely pointing out a clear path for you. You are currently alone, without a sect or faction, yet you possess treasures from the ruins. You are like a piece of fat meat exposed to the elements, making all sorts of factions drool with greed. You wouldn't want to be targeted by others all day and have no peace, would you?"

Zhou Liangan had to admit that Yong Ruxin's words had indeed hit the nail on the head.

He now possessed heavy treasures and had no powerful backing. Those factions coveting the treasures from the ruins would sooner or later come knocking. Yong Ruxin's proposal was indeed the safest choice at the moment.

Zhou Liangan raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping lightly over Yong Ruxin's exquisite figure, his tone casual, "Director Yong should also know that I am used to being free and easy. I have always done things as I please, without any rules or regulations. If I join the official organization, I fear I might cause you quite a bit of trouble."

"Between smart people, there is naturally no need to beat around the bush." Yong Ruxin's smile remained unchanged, her tone still straightforward, "On the official side, we can be flexible with minor matters, but when it comes to righteousness and principles, we must not make mistakes. Of course, you also must not cause overly negative social impact externally; after all, the official organization has to be wary of public opinion. If a real error occurs, the official organization will certainly hold someone accountable, but how it is specifically handled will be up to me."

This statement already provided the greatest sincerity and convenience. Zhou Liangan understood this and chuckled, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness, "Director Yong, since you have put it this way, I truly seem to have no reason to refuse."

Yong Ruxin nodded slightly, a knowing smile appearing on her face, "In these two days, I have helped you smooth over quite a bit of trouble. You were the only one to walk out of the ruins alive; those Ancient Martial Artist families and underground organizations have long since marked you as a must-have target. If not for the official organization mediating, you would already be mired in trouble by now."

Zhou Liangan secretly complained to himself: I am afraid it is because you official people want to get the secrets from me that you are working so hard.

It was just unexpected that such an ethereal and otherworldly person, resembling an immortal, would have such a meticulous mind, planning every step, with every word carrying an ulterior motive. She was indeed a difficult character to deal with.

Zhou Liangan's smile remained unchanged as he went straight to the point, "Director Yong, if you have any requirements, you might as well state them directly; there is no need to be so indirect."

A flash of approval crossed Yong Ruxin's eyes; she was evidently satisfied with Zhou Liangan's straightforwardness and immediately said solemnly, "First, tell me the method to open the Nangong Family ancestral hall ruins; second, hand over three Heaven Rank Spirit Treasures; third, there will be a national young generation martial arts exchange meeting in a month, and you need to represent the Nanjiang Province to compete."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Liangan's brows instantly knitted into a frown.

There were fully over a thousand Heaven Rank Spirit Treasures lying in his System space, all of which he had painstakingly scraped from the Eastern Heavenly King's residence... ahem... painstakingly obtained. Asking him to hand over three for no reason was absolutely impossible.

Zhou Liangan feigned difficulty, his tone sincere, "Three Heaven Rank Spirit Treasures, I truly cannot produce them. To tell you the truth, this time entering the ruins, I only obtained two Heaven Rank Spirit Treasures in total. You can't expect me to empty out my entire savings, can you?"

He paused and then fixed his gaze on Yong Ruxin, asking with some confusion, "And that martial arts exchange meeting, it shouldn't just be the official organization having nothing better to do and wanting to watch the younger generation play a few exhibition matches, right?"

Yong Ruxin shook her head lightly and explained patiently, "This martial arts exchange meeting concerns the entry quotas for subsequent Spiritual Qi nodes. This not only affects the talent cultivation performance of each province but also directly impacts the allocation of subsequent cultivation resources. We Martial Artists of the older generation have already had our Realms set; fighting to the death has no great meaning. The future will ultimately be the world of you young people. Therefore, I hope you can charge into the top three at this exchange meeting."

Yong Ruxin was only thirty-five years old this year and could be considered a leader of the younger generation in the Ancient Martial Artist world. Yet, as she spoke, she carried a sense of old-fashioned composure that did not quite match her age.

Zhou Liangan pondered for a moment, quickly calculating the pros and cons in his heart, and finally nodded slowly, "As for the top three, I will do my best."

He had just entered the Spirit Guiding Realm First Layer and had the Dragon body to augment him. As long as he did not encounter top-tier geniuses, he was not without a chance at a top-three ranking.

Seeing this, a flash of satisfaction crossed Yong Ruxin's eyes, and she immediately followed up, "The method to open the Nangong Family ruins, the exploration route, and the internal floor plan—draw a copy for me."

Zhou Liangan looked up at Yong Ruxin, a helpless smile on his face, his tone calm, "To be honest, the Nangong Family Old Ancestor is hidden within the Nangong Family ruins. The moment I stepped out of the ruins, my memories regarding the ruins were sealed by him. Even if I wanted to draw it, I wouldn't know where to start. Whether you believe me or not depends on the wishes of Director Yong and the official organization."

These words were half-true and half-false. It both gave himself a way out and shut Yong Ruxin's mouth; it could be called airtight.

Naturally, Zhou Liangan could not just hand over his Opportunity so easily.

Looking at the calm Zhou Liangan before her, Yong Ruxin was speechless for a moment, secretly complaining that this kid was truly a slippery little fox, with a terrifyingly meticulous mind.

She rubbed her throbbing temples, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness, "These things are not what I want. With you stalling like this, those old guys in the official organization might not be willing to provide you with protection."

Zhou Liangan smiled, looking confident, "It doesn't matter. At worst, I will just stay near the Nangong Family ancestral hall and find a place to Cultivate in peace. With my current cultivation speed, it won't be long before I break through to the Meridian Opening Realm. When I leave then, who could stop me?"

A strange look flashed through Yong Ruxin's beautiful eyes. Her gaze toward Zhou Liangan became more serious, yet there was not a hint of hostility.

She knew in her heart that this kid's mental state was far more mature than he appeared, in no way inferior to those old monsters who had lived for hundreds of years.

Since he dared to come to her door on his own initiative, he must have been relying on something to be fearless, certain that she could not keep him.

Moreover, in just two short days, jumping four levels from the Bone Forging Seventh Stage straight to the Spirit Guiding Realm First Layer—such terrifying talent itself was worthy of the official organization's full effort to recruit him.

If Zhou Liangan really had the confidence to escape from her, then perhaps the Nanjiang Province really could ride his coattails to secure a top-three result at this young generation martial arts exchange meeting. For her, that would be a solid political achievement.

Thinking of this, the abacus in Yong Ruxin's mind was already set. She chuckled, her tone softening quite a bit, "Fine, since you have said so, I will report your exact words truthfully. As for whether those old guys believe it or not, there is nothing I can do."

Zhou Liangan stood up with a smile and nodded slightly to Yong Ruxin, "Then thank you for your trouble, Director Yong."

His gaze inadvertently swept over Yong Ruxin's sexy, full body, a hint of playfulness flashing in his eyes, his tone carrying a smile of certainty, "Director Yong, the Cultivation Technique you have been practicing recently seems to have developed some problems, right?"

Upon hearing this, Yong Ruxin's brows suddenly furrowed, her eyes full of surprise, "I have cultivated for many years, and my Cultivation Technique has always gone smoothly; I have never noticed any problems."

"Oh?" Zhou Liangan raised an eyebrow, his tone becoming increasingly certain, "Then recently, every time it hits the Zi hour, do you feel excruciating pain in your lower abdomen and Dantian, with your internal Spiritual Qi in utter chaos, and even operating your Cultivation Technique feels extremely sluggish? Am I right or wrong?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Yong Ruxin's brows instantly arched even higher. Her beautiful eyes were filled with shock and confusion, and her gaze toward Zhou Liangan carried a hint of disbelief, "How did you know about these things?"

These were all her secrets. Very few people knew about the issues with her Cultivation Technique. Zhou Liangan had only met her twice; how could he know about them so clearly?

Zhou Liangan chuckled, his tone light and breezy, looking confident, "Naturally, I saw it. Your Cultivation Technique's Aura is chaotic, and there is a blockage of Spiritual Qi in your Dantian. Anyone with a discerning eye can tell at a glance; it is just that others are not as sharp as I am."

These words were naturally a pretext. The real reason was that the Yu Family had a massive influence in the Ancient Martial Artist world, and investigating Yong Ruxin's background was nothing more than a simple task.

This information had been specifically collected for him by Yu Shuier, and it was perfect to use as leverage at this moment.

The shock in Yong Ruxin's eyes gradually faded, replaced by intense eagerness. She leaned forward slightly, her full figure outlining enticing curves, her tone carrying a hint of urgency, "Since you can see it, do you have a way to help me?"

These days, the excruciating pain in her Dantian every midnight made her miserable, and the chaotic Spiritual Qi caused her cultivation to stagnate. She had traveled everywhere seeking experts but had never found a solution. At this moment, Zhou Liangan's words undoubtedly brought her a glimmer of hope.

Zhou Liangan nodded with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of understanding, "There is naturally a way, but I also have a condition."

Yong Ruxin's heart tightened, and she subconsciously asked, "What condition?"

Zhou Liangan slowly walked a few steps closer, getting closer and closer to Yong Ruxin, the Aura on his body carrying the sharp spirit of a young man.

He leaned down close to Yong Ruxin's ear, his warm breath brushing against her ear, a playful smile curling his lips. He said slowly in a voice only the two of them could hear, "The Cultivation Technique I practice is quite special. To help you straighten out your technique and resolve the blockage in your Dantian, I need to borrow Director Yong's Dantian for a while."

As his voice fell, Yong Ruxin's pretty face instantly froze, followed immediately by a flush of deep crimson rising, her beautiful eyes filled with shame, anger, and astonishment...