In the past, whenever Lu Zhexuan came to consult with Chen Kuang to discuss the Dao, she never stayed more than a single day.
She would arrive in the morning and leave by dusk.
And because Chen Kuang was mindful of the fact that she was a woman, and also aware that she was self-conscious due to her Physique of Celestial Allure, he made a point of keeping things proper and aboveboard each time.
He always opened the courtyard gates and sat with her under the eaves at the tea table, discussing the Dao face to face, upright and dignified.
But this time, the two of them remained in that tightly sealed study, for seven whole days.
This was because the dual cultivation procedure recorded in the "Phoenix Codex Sutra" was incredibly elaborate and strict.
Chen Kuang had to cooperate step by step, practicing each portion countless times to ensure absolute precision. Only on the third day did he finally succeed in using his body as a furnace, refining True Yin and True Yang to produce True Lead and True Mercury.
And for the first three days, he and Lu Zhexuan were entirely preoccupied with studying every nuance of the cultivation technique.
In brief, the dual cultivation method could be summarized into three crucial steps.
"The first is: Five Hearts Facing Heaven, merging the macrocosmic orbit..."
Lu Zhexuan tried to maintain a serious expression as she softly explained:
"To allow both sides' Spiritual Energy to flow into one another, one must use your Golden Saliva to reach my Jade Nectar."
Starting with the hard stuff, huh...
Chen Kuang mulled it over and couldn't help but click his tongue.
Golden Saliva and Jade Nectar weren't literal spit. They were, in fact, the most vital acupoints of the Qi Opening Realm, the very beginning of all cultivation.
And their locations... were not conveniently accessible.
What made this step "difficult" wasn't the execution, it was overcoming shame.
Sure enough, just as Chen Kuang had anticipated, even though Lu Zhexuan had resolved herself, the two of them still spent an entire day just on this step.
Fortunately, Chen Kuang had always possessed strong self-restraint, especially when faced with someone bearing the Physique of Celestial Allure, he believed he could truly be said to sit in one's arms without disordering the heart.
The next step, naturally, was:
Yin as coal, Yang as copper; using the body as Heaven and Earth, forging a furnace within.
But for novices, this stage must not be rushed.
The third and most critical step was:
Mind and spirit becoming one, with no division between self and other.
"There really is such a thing as a spiritual union?"
Chen Kuang couldn't help but be surprised, and worried about the safety of it.
The importance of spiritual consciousness was self-evident. For two individuals to fully open their divine sense, allowing the other to blend and interweave with it, required total mutual trust.
In truth, this step was optional. Not completing it would reduce the effectiveness of dual cultivation by about 40%, but it wouldn't cause the entire method to fail.
However, only upon completing this step would the two be considered Dao Companions. From then on, every time they dual cultivated, they would be bound to each other.
Which is why most cultivators chose to skip it.
After all, a loss in effectiveness could always be made up through more sessions.
Of course, Chen Kuang wasn't worried that Lu Zhexuan might harm him. His cultivation far surpassed hers, not to mention his divine sense was far stronger than most.
What concerned him was that opening his spiritual consciousness might allow her to glimpse some of his memories.
If she discovered he was actually from two thousand years in the future, or worse, realized he came from another world entirely, that would be a serious problem.
Chen Kuang thought for a while. Looking at the Daoist nun before him, he spoke gently:
"You and I have not known each other for long. I do not wish to take advantage of someone in a vulnerable state. Let us set aside the spiritual union for now. Perhaps one day..."
He paused, then continued seriously:
"If one day, we can exchange hearts with full trust, and regard life and death as trivial, then, we can proceed with this final step."
Chen Kuang meant these words as a solemn promise.
If such a day ever truly arrived, he wouldn't even mind revealing the full truth of his origins to her.
Lu Zhexuan blinked slightly. Of course, she understood that this decision, especially given the difference in their cultivation, was meant to protect her.
It also proved she hadn't misjudged his character.
Her Physique of Celestial Allure had already been laid completely bare before Chen Kuang. If he'd harbored even the slightest ill intent, the two of them would now be enemies, swords drawn.
So, when he said he didn't wish to take advantage of someone in a vulnerable state, it wasn't just words.
Yet logically understanding this and emotionally accepting it were two different things.
Right now, Lu Zhexuan just felt an empty sourness in her chest, a hint of disappointment.
She even found herself secretly wishing that Chen Kuang would lose control for just one moment... just to prove he truly felt something for her.
But now it seemed more like he had simply understood her cultivation difficulties and chose to accommodate her.
Chen Kuang looked at her distant, distracted expression and asked softly:
"What does Fellow Daoist think?"
Fellow Daoist...
Just Fellow Daoist, after all.
Lu Zhexuan snapped back to her senses. She turned her head and leaned on his shoulder, not letting him see her face.
She pursed her lips. After a long pause, she finally mumbled:
"Alright."
Chen Kuang gently patted her back, offering a measure of comfort.
He'd noticed her subtle emotional shift, but could only smile helplessly in his heart.
No matter what, for now, he absolutely wouldn't share his deepest secret with anyone, even if that secret... might itself be a piece in someone else's larger scheme.
Besides, in his view, if Lu Zhexuan became trapped in emotions, she likely wouldn't be able to transcend and enter the Profound Realm either.
She still had 2,300 years ahead of her. One year was just a fleeting drop in that vast sea of time.
After three days of deepened familiarity, their breathing was practically synchronized. When it came time for the final stage, everything flowed naturally.
Chen Kuang also personally experienced the benefits of the Physique of Celestial Allure.
His cultivation had already reached the late stage of the Moon-Embracing Realm. Upon acquiring True Lead, he very nearly broke through on the spot.
At the same time, Music, time-space, and wisdom, one true path and two false, all resonated simultaneously, causing great phenomena to manifest.
In the mountains and forests of the western outskirts, the once-clear sky abruptly darkened, and a phantom Milky Way appeared, streaked with shades of blood.
Countless musical tones sounded out of nowhere, melodious and harmonious. Hundreds upon hundreds of golden lotuses bloomed, each one radiating infinite wisdom.
Chen Kuang hadn't expected such a huge disturbance, but on second thought, he chose not to suppress the phenomenon.
After all, his recent actions, such as his involvement in the Jade Cloud Sect incident, had already drawn attention. This would serve as a fitting deterrent.
But even as the phenomena faded, those three Dao paths continued to resonate anxiously, tugging at his consciousness.
Still, Chen Kuang remained unmoved, he did not choose any of them.
His mind was as clear as a polished mirror. He simply gained insight into the Dao of Time and Space, grasping a fleeting realization. He immediately closed his eyes and entered meditation.
Around him, a phantom of a sea of blood began to flicker faintly.
In that same moment, deep within his consciousness, he felt his Killing Sword suddenly shift, pointing in a new direction, as if guiding him.
When he opened his eyes again, he exhaled slowly, and the first thing he saw was the Daoist nun's face, so close it made him feel awkward.
Fortunately, Lu Zhexuan had also just broken through and was now stabilizing her cultivation, eyes closed in deep focus.
And her breakthrough... was astonishing.
Perhaps it was the Physique of Celestial Allure, perhaps it was her rock-solid foundation over the years, perhaps it was the boost from Chen Kuang's higher cultivation, or maybe all of the above, but she had leapt nine levels in one go, reaching the Half-Step Sea-Splitting Realm, an absurd level of progress!
"Such a supreme dual cultivation technique... truly leads straight to the Great Dao!"
Chen Kuang couldn't help but marvel.
Yet this process was so intricate and demanding, requiring constant composure while facing Lu Zhexuan's Physique of Celestial Allure, for any ordinary person, it would be absolute torment.