The night passed, and with it came an unexpected stillness. The fierce winds and heavy rain had suddenly ceased, leaving the world bathed in a calm, almost unnatural silence.
The bedding in the room was in disarray, and clothes were scattered across the floor. It was obvious that the intensity of the night's activities had left its mark.
A pale-faced, exhausted young man lay on the bed, his body drained but somehow rejuvenated. Beside him, a woman with long, graceful legs and a content expression on her face lay in peaceful repose.
They were, of course, Asher and Ji Bingyu.
In the aftermath of their intense encounter, Ji Bingyu was glowing with satisfaction. Her cultivation had always been a source of pride, but she had not anticipated the outcome of this dual cultivation with Asher—especially one so unexpected.
Wushhh—
At that moment, Asher felt a sudden surge of energy flood into his consciousness. The Infatuation Spirit, ever subtle in its influence, whispered its message into his mind:
"You practiced dual cultivation with your Taoist companion. Your feelings for each other have strengthened. The bond forged has awakened new insights into your cultivation, and your spiritual root has been slightly enhanced."
"You have obtained the power of the opponent's Yuan Yin, and your cultivation has reached the second level of Qi training."
Asher's breath caught as he felt a rush of true energy coursing through his meridians, one by one, connecting and unblocking the previously stagnant pathways. His body was no longer as fragile as it once was. His cultivation had improved significantly, and he felt stronger, more attuned to the world around him.
What had once been a distant dream—a goal that would have taken years of hard work—had now been achieved with only a few sessions of dual cultivation.
Asher's heart raced. The Infatuation Spirit's influence was even more potent than he had anticipated.
"Wait… Swordsmanship experience? Improved spiritual root?" His mind reeled with the implications.
Suddenly, a realization struck him. The Infatuation Spirit was not simply about manipulating emotions and creating bonds. No, it was far more potent.
It was a means of extracting power, wisdom, and experiences from others—especially from those with significant cultivation. When it came to dual cultivation, the stronger the connection, the more benefits Asher could gain. Not only would his own cultivation be enhanced, but the Infatuation Spirit also allowed him to absorb valuable insights, wisdom, and even improvements to his spiritual abilities from his Taoist companions.
It was a mutual relationship, of course. Ji Bingyu would also gain benefits from him. But at this point, since Asher's cultivation was still low, he reaped the lion's share of the rewards.
"If this is the case, then the more Taoist companions I have, the faster my cultivation will progress…" Asher thought with a knowing smile.
The benefits of cultivating with many companions were becoming clearer. If he continued down this path, it wouldn't be long before his spiritual root could evolve from its current ninth-grade state to an eighth-grade, seventh-grade, or even a first-grade spiritual root. And with that, his chances of attaining immortality would increase exponentially.
Ji Bingyu stirred in her sleep, a smile gracing her lips as she unconsciously snuggled closer to Asher. It was clear that she, too, had gained something from this union, though she was still unaware of the full extent of what had transpired.
"Don't worry, Asher. I'll take care of you," Ji Bingyu murmured in her sleep, a look of contentment on her face. "Tomorrow… tomorrow we'll hold the wedding, and I'll announce it to the world."
Asher's mind flickered, a chuckle escaping his lips.
He had expected to be the one to lead their path, but here Ji Bingyu was, taking charge. In some ways, it felt as though the roles were reversed.
Though he had not been opposed to the idea of marrying Ji Bingyu—especially considering the benefits he would gain—there was an unexpected thrill in seeing her so eager to commit.
The rules of marriage in their world were simple. As long as they held a ceremony and received the blessings of those around them, they would be considered a Taoist couple. For Asher, it was a small but significant step. Dual cultivation was far easier when bound by such formalities.
Ji Bingyu rose from the bed with practiced ease, her physical vitality remaining untarnished despite the exhaustion of the previous night. As a ninth-level Qi cultivator, she had far greater stamina than Asher and appeared as though she had not even broken a sweat.
As she dressed, she spoke with a confident smile, "Since you didn't refuse, I'll take it as you've agreed. Now, rest. You were quite tired last night."
Asher lay back, still feeling the pulse of energy from the night's cultivation. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the calm settle over him.
Outside the room, in the hall, Mu Ziyan and Xia Jingyan stood in waiting, their expressions a mix of curiosity and amusement. The events of the previous night had left little to the imagination, and they had quietly observed the entire affair.
Mu Ziyan was the first to speak, her tone teasing yet admiring. "Sister Ji, you're so powerful. You acted so quickly to claim him for yourself! What a fierce woman you are—truly a role model for us all."
Ji Bingyu blushed but laughed softly. "What can I say? Such a handsome and capable man—he could easily have been snatched up by other women if I didn't act fast."
Xia Jingyan, however, was more skeptical. "But... Sister Ji, what's so special about him? He's not even that handsome, and his cultivation level is just at the first level of Qi training."
Ji Bingyu turned to her with a playful smile. "Everyone has their preferences, Sister Xia. I simply like him. That's all there is to it."
Mu Ziyan's grin widened. "Exactly, Sister Ji! Why should we be bound by conventional norms? If a man can have multiple wives, so can we. Why not live by our own rules, especially as cultivators?"
Ji Bingyu nodded, the fire of determination in her eyes. "Exactly. He's different from other men, and I feel something special. That's why I'm marrying him. Tomorrow, we'll have the ceremony, and no one can take him from me."
Xia Jingyan looked at Ji Bingyu in awe. She had always admired her strength, but this new side of her was a revelation. "Sister Ji, you're incredible. You don't hesitate. You go after what you want."
Mu Ziyan smiled. "That's why Sister Ji is our role model."
Ji Bingyu gave a small, satisfied nod, her eyes gleaming with a quiet confidence. "We cultivate to transcend the world. Why should we limit ourselves by it?"
As the others left to prepare for the upcoming ceremony, Asher lay back on his bed, a slight smile curving his lips. This unexpected development with Ji Bingyu had proven fruitful, and the Infatuation Spirit had already begun to show its potential.
His journey was just beginning, and with each passing day, his power—and influence—would grow exponentially. There was much more to be done. But for now, Asher allowed himself a moment of quiet satisfaction. His cultivation had already reached the second level of Qi training, and with Ji Bingyu by his side, his path was clearer than ever before.
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