As the lingering glow of spiritual energy faded from the valley, Zhen Huan opened his eyes and looked down at his hands. A faint warmth pulsed beneath his skin, a testament to the newfound strength coursing through his meridians.
It feels good when I break through, he thought, flexing his fingers with a satisfied grin.
Footsteps crunched on the grass beside him.
Yun Sha walked up, arms folded, a curious glint in her eyes. "Didn't you just break through like… two days ago?"
Zhen Huan turned toward her, a boyish smile spreading across his face. "Ah yeah, but after fighting those foxes, I felt like I was on the edge. So I went for it."
Yun Sha raised an eyebrow. "But you didn't even sit down or enter meditation. You just… stood there and broke through."
Zhen Huan lifted his chin slightly, smugness gleaming in his eyes. "See, when we fight real battles and push ourselves to the limit, our body gets tempered. The pressure helps unlock our potential—so breakthroughs can happen even in the middle of battle."
Hehe… reading cultivation novels finally paid off.
Yun Sha narrowed her gaze. "So you're telling me we can just break through while fighting?"
"Yeah…" he replied, nodding confidently. Then he paused, looked thoughtful for a second, and added, "Well, sometimes. It depends on the moment, the state of the body, and… luck, maybe."
Yun Sha didn't argue. She simply turned and began walking again, think about the maps route towards spring, heading in the direction of the hidden spring deep within the valley.
Zhen Huan followed a few steps behind, his expression calm but inwardly curious. He put sword inside storage window. He spoke silently to the system in his mind.
System, tell me about the Three Layers of Inferno Slash.
As he walked, a glowing window appeared before his eyes, hovering just above eye level and moving in sync with his steps.
Name: Three Layers of Inferno Slash
Dao: Fire
Grade: Immortal (High-Tier)
Layers: Three
Description: Hidden – 3,000 XP Points Required to Unlock
Zhen Huan stared at the window, eyes gleaming.
Immortal Grade... That sounds really high-level. I wonder how powerful it actually is…
He smiled to himself, steps light with confidence as he walked deeper into the misty valley, the night stretching wide before them.
The silver moon hung high above the forest canopy, casting its gentle light over Zhen Huan and Yun Sha as they made their way through the wooded path. Shadows of trees swayed around them, and the cool night air carried the faint scent of damp earth and blooming grass.
As they walked, Yun Sha spoke without turning back. "You know, there's a spring ahead. It's a great place to cultivate."
Zhen Huan nodded casually. "Oh, really? Then you can cultivate there."
Yeah, you can… but if I try to cultivate without the system's approval, I'll get punished again.
They continued walking, the trees growing thicker around them. Minutes passed as they wove through the forest until they finally arrived at a serene spring hidden within a natural clearing. The water sparkled under the moonlight, clear as crystal, and ripples danced gently across its surface.
Yun Sha let out a soft gasp of delight and ran toward the spring. She crouched at the edge, dipping her fingers into the warm water.
"It feels so refreshing," she said with a smile. Then she looked back. "Hey, I'm going to take a bath here. You go sit somewhere farther away."
Zhen Huan turned and nodded. "Alright. I brought some spices with me, so I'll grill some meat."
The moment she heard the word "meat," Yun Sha sprang to her feet and turned toward him, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Wait—meat? And spices? I want some! I'll bathe after we eat!"
Zhen Huan chuckled and walked over to a nearby cluster of trees. He sat down and called back, "Then come here and help me."
Yun Sha quickly ran over and sat beside him. "Tell me what to do."
Zhen Huan summoned four pieces of cooked beast meat from his system storage. "I grilled these earlier. They're still fresh. We just need to reheat them and add some spices."
"Got it," Yun Sha said, reaching for the meat.
Zhen Huan then took out a small wooden box from his storage. "Here's the spice box. The names are labeled—just add what tastes good."
Yun Sha nodded eagerly and took the box. She sat beside him, humming lightly to herself as she opened the box and examined the spice bottles.
Meanwhile, Zhen Huan summoned the corpse of a Dewtail Fox and began skillfully carving it into slices. The air around them was peaceful, filled only with the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of crickets.
This is going to be fun. I haven't eaten properly in months, Yun Sha thought, focused on her task.
"Hey, add it properly," Zhen Huan muttered as he worked.
"Okay, leave it to me," she replied, smiling. In her excitement, she accidentally grabbed the wrong bottle—a small vial labeled Love Pill Powder. Without reading it, she added a generous amount to the meat, mistaking it for a sweet seasoning.
She handed him the meat with a grin. "I want to eat more, so make sure you cut it nicely."
Zhen Huan nodded without looking up. "Yeah, yeah."
Once the fox meat was sliced and the spices added, Yun Sha sealed the spice box and watched as Zhen Huan channeled fire from his palm. Flames danced across the meat as it sizzled and smoked, filling the clearing with a rich, savory aroma.
"It's done," he said, offering a piece to her.
Yun Sha took it eagerly and took a bite. Her eyes widened.
"It tastes amazing!" she exclaimed between bites.
Zhen Huan tried a piece as well and nodded. "Yeah, it's good."
They quickly devoured the last two pieces together. As the final bite disappeared, Zhen Huan stood and picked up the remaining uncooked meat.
"I'll cook the fox meat now. You go take your bath."
Yun Sha patted her stomach, satisfied. "Alright. Don't burn the rest."
With that, she stood and made her way back toward the spring, the moonlight trailing her steps. Zhen Huan remained behind, feeding a small flame to the next round of meat.
Yun Sha stepped in front of the moonlit spring, steam rising gently from its clear surface. With a deep breath, she undressed, folding her clothes neatly on a rock nearby, and slowly descended into the warm water. Her long black hair glistened in the silver light, cascading down her back like flowing ink.
As she immersed herself, a strange sensation crawled over her skin. A wave of unexpected heat surged through her veins, pooling in her chest and rushing to her head.
Why… why does my body feel so hot all of a sudden?
She leaned back in the water, her breath quickening, heart pounding. Fleeting, unbidden thoughts began clouding her mind—thoughts she didn't recognize as her own. Her cheeks flushed crimson.
What is happening to me?
—
Meanwhile, just beyond the trees, Zhen Huan crouched beside a small campfire, focused on preparing the fox meat. As he sifted through the spice box, his hand brushed against a small glass bottle marked with faint red script.
"Hmm?" he muttered, raising it closer to his eyes. The label became clearer: Love Pill Powder.
His eyes widened.
Wait… love pill?!
A sudden flush surged up his neck, and his breath caught. His limbs trembled, and a dizzy warmth spread through his chest, then lower.
Don't tell me… she used this by mistake…?
Before he could think further, a sharp cry echoed from the direction of the spring.
Without hesitation, Zhen Huan darted through the trees. Branches whipped past as he burst into the clearing—and froze.
Yun Sha stood shakily just outside the spring, water streaming from her bare skin. Her pink eyes were glazed, her face flushed, and her breathing uneven.
"Zhen… Huan…" she whispered, stepping toward him with slow, deliberate movements. "What… what's going on with me…?"
Zhen Huan's throat tightened. The effects of the pill were strong, clouding his senses, tempting him with every breath. He looked away, fists clenched.
"I—I don't know. Just stay there. You're not thinking clearly."
But Yun Sha continued forward. Her gaze locked on his, hazy with emotion and something deeper. Without warning, she wrapped her arms around him.
"Wait, don't—" Zhen Huan tried to speak, but her lips met his. The kiss sent a jolt down his spine.
He was losing control.
I have to resist… I can't let this happen.
Then—ding—a system prompt appeared before his eyes, glowing softly.
System Alert: A foreign substance has been detected in the host's body. Initiate detoxification? Y/N
Clinging to the last shred of his will, Zhen Huan answered in his thoughts.
Y–Yes!
The screen vanished, and a cool wave rushed through his body. The heat disappeared almost instantly, leaving only exhaustion and clarity.
Yun Sha swayed in his arms, her strength failing. She slumped forward, unconscious.
Zhen Huan caught her gently, kneeling with her in his arms as moonlight washed over them both.
That… was too close.