"Then… I'll listen to Senior Brother in everything." Luo Lingmiao did not withdraw her hand. Her eyes lowered, she softly murmured her response, almost in a daze.
"Alright, let's begin cultivating," Lu Bingxuan said as he retracted his hand and closed his eyes, diving into the study of the Xuanming True Art.
Why was he still sitting in the tub after completing the task? Lu Bingxuan felt staying inside the tub a little longer might alleviate some of the awkwardness.
Think about it: Your respected Senior Brother suddenly pulls out a bathtub and orders you to get in.
You misunderstand the situation, start undressing, only to be stopped. Then, for some reason, he climbs in too.
Moments later, your Senior Brother falls silent, as if lost in thought. After an uncomfortable pause, he suddenly transmits a profound technique to you.
Then, without explanation, he puts the tub away.
At that moment, you…
"Tsk, no matter how you think about it, it's so awkward you could dig out a three-bedroom apartment with a balcony from the sheer embarrassment."
"No, no, I have to stay focused. I'm a man who has been tortured by the system—I've developed an extraordinary mental fortitude!"
"Though Luo Lingmiao has her own remarkable qualities, now is not the time to get distracted by them!"
"Calm your breathing, clear your mind, ignore Luo Lingmiao—you've got this! Time to cultivate the Xuanming True Art!"
After clearing his thoughts, Lu Bingxuan skimmed through the Qi Refining section of the Xuanming True Art and began cultivating it.
Because he had previously cultivated the Lingyuan Scripture, switching techniques resulted in some losses in cultivation.
This wasn't due to his spiritual root but rather the vast difference between the two techniques.
Under the Lingyuan Scripture, his spiritual energy was at the eighth level of Qi Refining. However, according to the Xuanming True Art, it only corresponded to the third level of Qi Refining.
This meant that even at the Qi Refining stage, his spiritual energy reserves would be twice those of a typical cultivator.
And this "typical" cultivator was based on Changsheng Dao Sect's standard; compared to smaller sects, his reserves might even surpass those of some Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Even in its initial stages, this technique demonstrated its superiority. After all, running out of spiritual energy was one of the greatest dangers for cultivators. Without energy, no matter how exquisite a technique was, it couldn't be executed.
As he switched techniques, the spiritual energy from the Lingyuan Scripture was gradually transformed by extreme cold. The water-like attribute of the energy was stripped away, leaving behind a residual moisture that was expelled from his body.
Externally, this manifested as water droplets forming on Lu Bingxuan's skin, slowly dripping down.
At first, Luo Lingmiao was so engrossed in the Xuanming True Art that she didn't notice. But as the accumulating water dampened her seating area, she finally became aware.
Lu Bingxuan was practically turning into a waterlogged figure. As he cultivated more deeply, the moisture intensified, filling the tub and raising the water level.
"This…" Luo Lingmiao hesitated to say, "Senior Brother, you sure have a lot of water in you," but the thought seemed inappropriate.
The water level soon rose above her knees, making her a bit uneasy. However, she forced herself to focus on the Xuanming True Art, its allure helping her suppress her discomfort.
Immersed in her own cultivation, Luo Lingmiao found that the extreme cold in her meridians no longer caused the piercing pain it had the day before. This realization brought her relief.
She wasn't the type to seek pain for its own sake—she wasn't a masochist.
As her spiritual energy gradually transformed, she finally understood why Lu Bingxuan had been producing so much water.
By now, the tub's water level had risen to her chest, the rippling surface partially submerging her "icebergs," their curves becoming even more pronounced.
"It seems Senior Brother anticipated this. The bathtub's purpose was for this all along."
Internally, she was amazed, finally grasping why Lu Bingxuan had insisted on her meditating inside the tub.
"It seems Senior Brother even reserved extra space for water. But my cultivation… isn't nearly high enough."
Feeling she hadn't met his expectations, she blamed her meager Qi Refining first-level cultivation for failing to produce much water herself.
Then, as Lu Bingxuan continued cultivating, the cold energy he emitted spread through the water, naturally flowing into Luo Lingmiao. When she instinctively began absorbing it, her spirit root began transforming further.
Such a smooth process astonished her.
No wonder her master had instructed her to come without further guidance—her master must have known Senior Brother had his own methods.
She thought she had understood the purpose of the tub. But now she realized how shallow her thinking was.
Senior Brother's methods were unfathomable. His figure in her mind became even more profound, rivaling that of her master.
His method seemed even more effective than dual cultivation, a notion that made her sigh in relief.
Dual cultivation often referred to three scenarios: physical intimacy, the merging of spiritual energy, or the synchronization of souls.
To transform her spirit root, merging spiritual energy was optimal. However, her body couldn't withstand the extreme cold involved. This was why her master had hinted at the first option.
If Lu Bingxuan knew what she was thinking, he'd probably recoil in horror and desperately try to dispel her imagination. Such self-directed strategizing and overthinking were truly terrifying.
And if Wuyun knew, she'd probably be bewildered too: "Didn't I tell you to decide after meeting him? How did you end up in his tub already?"
As Luo Lingmiao progressed in her cultivation, her remaining black hair gradually turned snow white. When all her hair had changed, her spirit root's transformation was complete.
A faint chill emanated from her body, freezing the water into ice. But rather than feeling cold, Luo Lingmiao found the sensation remarkably soothing.
At the same time, she felt an increased blockage in her brow's spiritual palace. She realized that breaking through to Foundation Establishment would be significantly more challenging for her now.
The change caught Lu Bingxuan's attention, prompting him to open his eyes. Their gazes met, and he noted the sacred aura that her snow-white hair imparted to her.
"…Apologies, Senior Brother. My spirit root's transformation caused some loss of control." Luo Lingmiao avoided his gaze, turning her head shyly. Against her pale hair, the blush on her face stood out even more.
"No problem," Lu Bingxuan replied calmly, though he wanted to say, "What are you blushing for?" But he refrained, unwilling to ruin his image.
With a thought, he retracted the icy energy, melting the frozen water back into liquid. He then controlled the water with spiritual energy, guiding it out of the window and into the Moonsea.
After stowing away the tub, he added, "Since your spirit root has transformed, you…"
He paused. Initially, he intended to tell her to leave. But considering the system's penchant for throwing curveballs, he decided against it.
"Senior Brother, I'll first return to Wuyun Island to inform my master. Once that's settled, I'll move in here to cultivate alongside you," Luo Lingmiao said, interpreting his pause as an invitation.
"…Alright, go ahead," Lu Bingxuan replied.