A Strange Power . . .
The surge of power within Bing Xin-Yue felt unending, an unstoppable torrent coursing relentlessly through her being. In mere seconds, it penetrated a crucial juncture within her body, traversing her meridians at an astonishing speed, defying any attempts at description.
Bing Xin-Yue's cultivation differed markedly from that of Wen-Ren Chu-Chu. She was a seasoned grandmaster, with years of devoted practice in the Ling Xiao Ice Art. Her intimate understanding of her physical condition, martial prowess, and meridians was unparalleled. Despite the breathtaking velocity of the mysterious energy unleashed by Cha-Eun Xiao, she maintained her awareness of its trajectory. It traversed her meridians with precision, weaving an intricate network of spiritual energy within her.
Presently, the yin and yang, two pure energy streams, lay dormant within her.
Bing Xin-Yue found herself gripped by overwhelming trepidation.
[What manner of martial art is this?
How potent can it be?
To exert control over one's meridians with such swiftness!]
Her confidence in her martial arts expertise, honed through extensive experience and knowledge, was shattered by this inexplicable and wondrous power, wholly unfamiliar to her.
With the establishment of this spiritual network, the two distinct energies, yin and yang, began to intermingle.
Within her dantian, these disparate forces merged, giving rise to a billowing mass of rosy mist. Astonishingly, this pink mist came into contact with the ancient energy, swiftly quelling the original spiritual qi within her. The entire suppression process concluded in the blink of an eye.
Bing Xin-Yue made no attempt to resist the suppression; instead, she maintained her composure as her spiritual power remained still. The overwhelming power flowed through her meridians, threatening to obliterate any obstacles in its path.
After the first complete cycle, she discerned a notable change. Her meridians had become notably more pliable, and the once-pervasive cold qi within her body had significantly receded.
Recognizing this pleasant transformation, her spirits soared, and she couldn't help but exclaim to herself, "Feng Zhi-Ling can truly cure my illness! It not only works for Chu-Chu but also for me, even though I've reached a much higher level in the Ling Xiao Ice Art!"
As she ruminated on this, she became increasingly receptive to the power surging within her. It coursed through her body repeatedly, and gradually, she relaxed, surrendering herself to the experience. At the climax of her surrender, she ceased contemplating it altogether, as if she had entrusted her very life and essence to the ordinary man behind her.
Such audacity bordered on recklessness, for at this moment, regardless of her formidable abilities, Cha-Eun Xiao held the power to end her life with a mere thought. Furthermore, making her his slave would be a trivial endeavor.
Yet it became evident that Cha-Eun Xiao harbored no such sinister intentions. He continued to manipulate his spiritual qi with diligence, purifying Bing Xin-Yue's meridians. The icy cold qi within her was expelled by his East-rising Purple Qi and immediately absorbed into his dantian.
He grew increasingly certain that the negative energy within Bing Xin-Yue far surpassed that within Wen-Ren Chu-Chu, exceeding it by over a hundredfold. As this energy entered his dantian, it transformed into a potent, frigid power. With each cycle, this newfound energy amassed significantly within Cha-Eun Xiao, filling him with exhilaration.
This silent achievement benefited not only him but also Bing Xin-Yue, as he remained wholly engrossed in absorbing this energy. Initially, he felt as though the negative energy surged into his dantian like an unrelenting tide, yet he was aware that this represented only a fraction of what lay within Bing Xin-Yue.
If he were to draw out and absorb the entirety of this energy, the magnitude of it would be staggering.
The realization struck Cha-Eun Xiao like a bolt of lightning: the negative energy residing within Bing Xin-Yue represented less than a minuscule fraction, a mere 0.1 percent, of her true power. The sheer magnitude of her capabilities sent shivers down his spine.
As he pondered the extent of her prowess, a palpable sense of trepidation washed over him. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, and he finally gained a clear understanding of her capabilities.
It was no wonder that Jun Ying-Lian held Bing Xin-Yue in such high regard.
Unperturbed by these revelations, Cha-Eun Xiao maintained his focus on harnessing the East-rising Purple Qi and absorbing the frigid energy. He meticulously continued the process of purging the impurities from within Bing Xin-Yue.
However, after about an hour of concentrated effort, an abrupt quiver coursed through him. A sense of alarm gripped him as he discerned the emergence of another type of power, previously concealed within Bing Xin-Yue, and never before activated.
At this very moment, it was Cha-Eun Xiao's own spiritual power that awakened this dormant force.
A sense of unease gnawed at him. The newfound power surged with unchecked fervor, responding to his touch with an unrestrained intensity akin to the might of mountains and seas.
His composed countenance shifted dramatically, replaced by a profound fear that etched itself across his face.
Bing Xin-Yue, who had been silently observing the transformations within herself, shared in his anxiety and confusion.
"What is this?" Cha-Eun Xiao withdrew his martial art manipulation, wary of this unexpected and enigmatic power. He remained uncertain of its true potency and hesitated to take any hasty actions. Instead, he slowed its progression in an attempt to comprehend its nature.
As he withdrew his influence, the mysterious power unexpectedly followed the path he had established, surging towards Cha-Eun Xiao. It lingered within him for a fleeting moment before returning to its dormant state. Yet, Cha-Eun Xiao felt as though a colossal boulder had struck his chest, and the sensation of his internal organs on the brink of being torn asunder overwhelmed him. With a forceful cough, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Alarmed, Bing Xin-Yue sprang to her feet and inquired, "What is happening? What is this power?"
Cha-Eun Xiao gazed at her but found himself unable to articulate an explanation.
[This power originates from you... How can you not know what it is?
And yet, you ask me?
What in the world?]
They locked eyes, both equally perplexed by the sudden turn of events. Unbeknownst to Bing Xin-Yue, when she stood up, Cha-Eun Xiao's hand inadvertently brushed against her buttocks.
She could only experience shock and confusion in that moment, as she herself remained unaware of the origin of this strange power.
"Who on earth..." Cha-Eun Xiao began but stopped short, realizing the outlandish and implausible nature of his own conjecture.