At the summit of Mount Lu, a hot spring bubbled with rising steam.
Roy leaned back against the rocky edge, eyes closed, savoring the soothing, massage-like flow of the spring water.
A faint herbal fragrance lingered in the water—fresh and unobtrusive—turning the spring into a medicinal bath. Though such things held little practical benefit for Roy's current body, soaking in it still left him feeling utterly relaxed.
Who knew why a hot spring existed at the summit of Mount Lu? Likely, the disciples of the Holy Cult Five Mountains had used magic to directly link the mountaintop to an underground spring, creating this marvelous spectacle where water emerged from the peak itself.
The faintest sound of footsteps approached, so light they left no trace upon snow—footsteps that even a martial arts master like Lu Yinghua would likely fail to detect. Yet after undergoing Spirit Origin Ascension, Roy's senses had sharpened exponentially. Even these noiseless steps rang in his ears like the tolling of a great bell.
Roy opened his eyes, his piercing dual-pupiled gaze locking onto the approaching figure. There, gliding toward him, was a woman of breathtaking beauty, her curves perfectly balanced like a masterpiece of nature.
"Your senses are truly remarkable, dear brother. My martial arts have reached the profound, and I prided myself on this lightness technique—believing even my fellow Campiones could never detect it. Yet you noticed me the moment I drew near."
The enchanting melody of Luo Hao's voice drifted through the air like an immortal's whisper.
Roy smiled but said nothing. In the past, he would never have been able to sense the sect leader's approach. But under Scáthach's tutelage and the enhancement of Spirit Origin Ascension, he had attained true martial awareness, reaching the pinnacle of combat prowess—a realm bordering on the divine.
A delicate, jade-like foot emerged from the faint mist, stepping gracefully as if treading upon moonlight before dipping into the warm spring waters. Through the rising steam, Roy saw the Sect Leader clad in a sheer gauze robe.
The fabric was so thin it was nearly transparent—to Roy's eyes, it might as well have been nonexistent, revealing Luo Hao's flawless skin glistening with droplets of sweat.
"I was raised in the Luo family, accustomed to being waited upon since childhood. Beyond martial arts, I have few indulgences, but I particularly enjoy soaking in a wooden tub after training. My subordinates, knowing my temperament, spared no expense to construct an array here at Mount Lu, carving out this secluded hot spring for my leisure. No man has ever set foot here—nor even a woman."
"...Yet from the moment we met, I felt an instant kinship with you, dear brother. So I thought it only fitting to bring you to my most cherished retreat, where we may stand before each other without pretense."
Luo Hao hesitated briefly before loosening the sash at her waist, letting the gauze robe slip away. Her slender, snow-white form was unveiled before Roy, poised like a proud winter plum blossom.
Her face was as radiant as a celestial lotus, her waist as supple as willow branches. Her jade-like skin, smooth and translucent, seemed as if it might bruise at the slightest touch.
In this moment, Luo Hao fully revealed herself as a woman, exuding an alluring charm that held Roy's gaze captive. The twin peaks of her snowy bosom stood proudly, commanding his unwavering attention.
"Elder sister, there's no need for this. After all, men and women should maintain propriety."
Though surprised by the sect leader's boldness, Roy was not one to lose control at the mere sight of a woman's body.
Yet soon, he noticed something amiss. Luo Hao's flawless skin had taken on a faint rosy hue, her ivory cheeks flushing—not from the heat of the spring, but from an instinctive reaction.
In other words, this sect leader was actually shy!
"I, Luo Hao, do not bow to Confucian propriety! And even if I bare myself before you, dear brother, it is only to demonstrate my martial valor!"
Had her face not been so red, her words might have carried more conviction.
Roy chuckled inwardly. At times like this, Luo Hao was unexpectedly endearing. Even now, she clung to her pride, insisting on "martial valor." Her obsession with saving face had truly reached a fanatical level.
However, Roy didn't press further on the topic. As a man, he wasn't at a disadvantage anyway. Moreover, being able to witness the sect leader's delicate form was likely an unprecedented honor that no man or woman had achieved in centuries—this could indeed be considered a special privilege.
"Come, little brother, try the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall I prepared!"
After Luo Hao's body submerged into the hot spring, she finally relaxed, her expression returning to its usual pride. With a graceful wave of her jade-like hand, a tray floated across the spring's surface toward Roy, carrying a renowned Fuzhou delicacy called Fushou Quan. Beside the bowl was a cup of clear sake.
Roy's appetite was immediately whetted. He took a quick bite and was overwhelmed by the rich, savory aroma—meaty yet not greasy, with layers of flavor that made it truly exceptional.
He praised sincerely, "...Sister's culinary skills are as peerless as your martial arts. After tasting dishes personally prepared by you, all other delicacies made by ordinary people will seem bland to me."
"If little brother enjoys it, why not stay a few more days at Mount Lu? I can prepare more meals for you with my own hands."
Hearing Roy compliment both her martial arts and cooking, Luo Hao revealed an exceptionally radiant smile.
Had it been anyone else offering such praise, Luo Hao would have dismissed it with disdain—she might even have considered it beneath her dignity to receive compliments from lesser beings and possibly killed the flatterer on the spot. Such was her mercurial temperament.
But Roy was different. As a fellow Campione whom Luo Hao acknowledged and respected, his praise was the rare kind that genuinely pleased her.
Watching Roy soak in the spring while savoring her delicacies, Luo Hao happily took a swig from her wine flask. Then, with a slight frown, she asked, "...I truly wonder how you completed that ritual, allowing Campione like us to break past our limits. After returning to Mount Lu, I studied various esoteric arts but found myself lost in a fog, unable to grasp even a hint of its workings."
"Breaking past the limits of a Campione? That ritual was actually a modified secret technique derived from Pandora's Circle of Usurpation."
Seeing Luo Hao bring up the ritual of Spirit Origin Ascension, Roy didn't hoard the knowledge but spoke truthfully.
Roy's ambitions were grand—he wouldn't cling selfishly to such a ritual. If anyone truly desired it, he wouldn't withhold it.
Even if the Campione of this world reached what was called their limits, they would still be bound by this world. Roy, however, was someone who could break free from those constraints. The so-called limits of a Campione weren't his ultimate goal—merely a stepping stone he would inevitably surpass.
If, despite holding every advantage and cheat-like abilities, he still feared others surpassing him and lacked even basic confidence, then Roy would be nothing more than a mediocrity.
And he was absolutely not a mediocrity.
"Pandora's Circle of Usurpation?"
Luo Hao's expression showed dawning comprehension. After a brief hesitation, she still asked, "...Might little brother be willing to instruct me?"
The sect leader's words made Roy pause, staring at Luo Hao in surprise.
Given Luo Hao's personality, she would actually use such a humble tone to seek guidance?!
Luo Hao could see what Roy was thinking, and she felt somewhat annoyed. "Though I may be arrogant, I'm not an ignorant fool who disregards everything. While I look down on Confucian rituals, I still respect some of its teachings. 'When three walk together, one must be my teacher'—I've recited that since childhood!"
Only then did Roy realize he might have misunderstood this sect leader.
Was Luo Hao born a Campione? Was she born the leader of the martial world? The holy sect's master? Of course not. She too had her moments of weakness, times when she humbly sought martial instruction. The Luo Hao of that era was definitely not like this—otherwise, she would have been struck down long ago. It was only after ascending to the pinnacle of martial arts and becoming a Campione that she gradually grew this arrogant and self-centered.
In the past, since no one in this world had earned her respect, she naturally appeared aloof and conceited. But upon realizing her own shortcomings, she knew when to seek guidance. This was Luo Hao's true nature—not some fool who scorned everything indiscriminately.
After a moment's contemplation, recognizing Luo Hao's humanity and warmth, Roy tentatively said, "...Actually, elder sister, if you truly desire that ritual, I'm not one to be stingy. It's just that while I know its specific usage, I haven't fully mastered it. I can't transcribe it into a magical tome—it can only be imparted through... well... the method of yin-yang union."
Roy wasn't lying. The "Spiritual Foundation Ascension" ritual had been taught to him by Aiwass—it wasn't his own creation.
Luo Hao froze momentarily before fury surged within her, thinking Roy was taking advantage to tease her. But seeing the sincerity on his face that suggested no deceit, her anger dissipated into silence. "...Yin-yang union... you mean... dual cultivation?"
"Exactly!"
"T-this... perhaps I should reconsider and try finding an alternative through taoist arts first."
Luo Hao's voice actually stammered. Had any Holy Cult Five Mountains disciples witnessed their sect leader like this, their eyes would have popped out of their heads.
The world believed Sect Leader Luo Hao disregarded propriety and was ruthless. Yet she was born during Emperor Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty—the peak of feudal etiquette. Even as a demonic sect leader now, as the eldest of the Luo family, she'd been steeped in feudal rites since childhood. Moreover, for over two hundred years, Luo Hao had remained a maiden. With subordinates too terrified to mention matters between men and women in her presence, through countless twists of fate, no one realized this holy sect leader was still very much a woman—one who could blush!
***
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