Do they risk it and bet on the 80% that they would become invincible? Or do they bet on the 20% that they would become crippled trash?
"So what do we need in order to have a chance at succeeding this Dao Partner Art?" Scarlett asked softly.
She was curious about the technique itself.
If they gain a compound foundation that fused both of their cultivations into one after they trained in the art—and make both of them strong as one whole—it was indeed a highly powerful art.
So, what was the prerequisite?
Nothing would be so easy and free if it was so amazing, after all.
They just needed to reach the level 1 of the technique. They would then pass the dangerous part and set themselves apart from normal men. She also really wanted to cultivate it.
Ethan took one more banana chip and fed it into her rosy lips.
He said with a sigh, "We meet all the requirements to cultivate it. It is almost as if it is made for us in particular. The Dao Partner Art needs us both to be intimately familiar with each other for more than at least a decade, and we should also be in deep love."
Scarlett nodded, smiling slightly. "We meet both the requirements, sadly. Any other requirements?"
"That's nearly all," Ethan said, "The next thing is just to have sex, and since the woman is a virgin, the chance also increases a tiny bit.
"We also need to eat a Pill called the Pill of Union Understanding before having sex, though, but we already have all the materials to make it. It is nearly the same list of materials as the Pill of Comprehension. So that, too, isn't an issue."
Scarlett blushed slightly. No wonder he didn't take her virginity immediately after they settled in the cave; he had his reasons.
"So in the end," she said, "we have everything, but you are afraid we would fail…"
Sighing, Ethan nodded.
If they succeeded, they could ascend heaven in one step, but if they failed, they would forever become idiots who died in poverty while having a treasure in their backyard.
They won't have a good life living forward.
They had abandoned great luxuries when they moved away from Earth to the Immortal World.
And after all that, if they failed and had to live a normal life without even their abilities—which would all become nearly powerless if they become crippled—it would indeed be sad.
There was a whopping 20% chance of failing, and exactly that could happen if they were just a bit unlucky.
They will become normal humans stuck in the Black Forest, and they will have to go live in the Underground City for the rest of their lives.
Their world would shrink to this Black Forest—a prison—forever.
But if they didn't practice the technique, it would end up as one of their greatest regrets.
They spent nearly an hour without an answer and decided to keep that problem aside for now. But until it was all figured out, they wouldn't start building the equipment to create Colorless Essence.
They wouldn't start cultivating.
***
They were lying in each other's embrace in thought, and after a long and sweet silence, Ethan began to speak, choosing his words wisely.
"Scar, do you want to know something?"
Ethan gently fondled her breasts through the white t-shirt as he spoke, and her soft mounds sunk down under his grasp while her nipples poked up. It was an alluring sight against the soft fabric. One that made him want to pounce on her.
Scarlett was comfortably using his other hand as a pillow, so she didn't say no to his ministrations—nor did she order him around using his current Slave status. He had yet to remove that title from him, so he was pretty sure she would use it to make him work when she felt like it.
But she was enjoying him fondling her for now. She also seemed to be in a good mood.
"I do want to know something. What is this something?" she asked.
"You know, you are so beautiful. I adore you; you are my Queen. I'd die for you gladly." His voice was even softer, and Scarlett could feel something amiss. She didn't interrupt him, though.
She let him grope all he wanted.
He gently kissed the skin behind her ears while his breath hotly brushed against the side of her neck. It was a feeling of ecstasy.
It felt nice to hear his compliments, too, which she knew were probably sincere, but she was sure he would throw a bomb at her right about now. He had been too cautious when speaking to her… and there it is.
"There is also another technique that is similar to the Dao Partner Art. An exclusive technique that the Dimensional Immortal Sect's disciples can practice—you need the True Dimensional Physique to practice it. This Technique is also very strong.
"Before the sect was annihilated, this was the Technique that the sect members used against higher-stage cultivators. After all, their sect couldn't become such a big deal if their powers were all worthless against higher-stage cultivators."
Scarlett felt him sneak his hand into her t-shirt and grope her breasts directly. It felt nice.
"So you want to cultivate this technique. Hmm... and?"
Ethan cleared his throat. Chewing his words carefullyin his mind before he actually spoke.
"The Dao Partner Art had never been trained by anyone else, as it is something that the dying Senior Gu Yuntian created. But this Technique I am talking about was famous even before the sect was annihilated. It is a really powerful Technique, you see. One of the signature techniques of the sect."
Scarlett was growing a bit annoyed. "And? "
"This technique was created by the strongest cultivator in the Dimensional Immortal Sect. Gu Yuntian's master and the Sect Master of the Sect. The failure rate for practicing it is (0%), and I could practice it for sure whenever I feel like it. I certainly won't fail."
"AND?" Scarlett had held the hand inside her t-shirt in a vice grip already.
Ethan grimaced inwardly.
"The technique is named 'Bonded Sentience Art,'" he said, but her brown eyes were like two arrows piercing into him.
"AND?!"
"The technique would let me bond mentally with a beast and make it my Familiar. It will be able to enter and live inside my Dimensional Pocket, and it can also fight for me. The dumb animal would even gain sentience after bonding with me, and there are three levels to the technique."
He explained quick and soothingly.
The first level was called Sentiant Animal: the animal would become a part of his Dimensional Pocket after the technique succeeds, and it could also cultivate the immortal path from then onwards. The animal would also gain sentience.
Normal animals won't have a True Physique and won't be immensely strong, but they have stronger bodies than humans by nature, so… they would be helpful.
If he practiced it, he could bave a Familiar with him who would be his strong partner.
Especially if it was something like a bird.
The second level was called Human: the Beast would gain a human form, and then it would also unlock unique, innate abilities based on its own lineage.
He could also use its powers.
The third level was called Human and Beast.
This was the final stage where the Familiar and the Cultivator could become one and share each other's power.
He would even be able to transform into the form of his Familiar.
If it was a bird, he could gain its wings!
Even the Dao Partner Art had been inspired by the Bonded Sentience Art, and there was no fear of being crippled as it would surely not fail.
But using the ability would mean that he was going to be very intimate with the human-turned-beast after a certain point.
It would not only be his Familiar, but it would also be his partner.
It would be around him forever!
Especially after it gains the Human Form, their relationship probably won't be simple.
Scarlett thought of all the implications in a single second. Her eyes grew immensely cold.
"You want to practice it?" she asked.
"… Of course not. Why would I want to practice such a heretic art?" he said immediately.
Scarlett had already taken his hands away from her and was already distancing herself from him. Her nails were also sinking into his arms now.
She looked him dead in the eye, and he looked back.
"I know you want to practice it. Who are you trying to hide from?" Her eyes looked at him coolly. "But if you do practice it, never come back to become touchy with me. We'll be over then and there. I love you, I love you a lot, and I want you to be mine alone. I'd rather return and rot on Earth than share you with some… animal.
"We are practicing the Dao Partner Art. Now, here. If you don't do that, let's break up."
Ethan was a bit startled.
"That's too irrational. I won't practice the Bonded Sentience Art… It's a promise. We can train on the Dao Partner Art too but it doesn't have to be now."
Scarlett placed her forehead on his. "Here, now. If you don't do it now, I'll assume that's how much you care for me. Don't you dare cheat on me, don't you dare! What we have is sacred, and that remains between us."
"Scarr…" He dragged...
Then sighed.