Xuefeng lay on the polished, leaf-patterned floor, his breathing ragged and mind still swimming from the Queen's "gift." A thought drifted through the haze: I can't believe I survived that… Yet, paradoxically, he felt stronger than ever, as though crackling energy pulsed beneath his skin.
Your acting and your little deceptions worked out quite well, Ling purred in his mind. Not only did you enjoy yourself, but you reached the Spirit King stage. More importantly, you achieved the first level of Elemental Cultivation. Congratulations.
Xuefeng pushed up onto his elbows, regarding the half-darkened chamber with cautious relief. Elemental Cultivation? What's that supposed to mean? He hastily fastened his pants, noticing how the Queen had left him oddly clean, as if wanting no trace of their encounter to remain.
