As Yu Tianheng's frantic calls grew louder and closer, echoing just outside the door, Ye Yin initiated his final, decisive move. In the hallway, Yu Tianheng, who had been about to give up and check the next floor, froze. He had heard something—a faint, muffled sound from within the room he was just about to pass.
It was a sharp, involuntary gasp.
"Ah!"
Dugu Yan's voice, though faint, cut through the heavy door.
"Yan Yan!" Yu Tianheng's tone shifted from desperate to stern, his suspicion instantly piqued. "Yan Yan, is that you?" he shouted, his voice laced with authority. "Where are you, Yan Yan!"
Inside the room, Dugu Yan's body trembled uncontrollably. The intense sensations finally subsided, and she lowered her snake-like form to the ground, her strength giving out as she coiled upon the floor. At the same moment, Ye Yin's body shuddered violently, marking the end of their intimate encounter. A strange warmth suddenly spread through Dugu Yan's body, a feeling oddly similar to the time she had consumed the marrow cleansing and soul cleansing fruits. A potent, life-giving energy flowed through her, both startling and invigorating.
Ye Yin recovered almost instantly, his expression calm and unbothered. "Yu Tianheng is right outside," he stated casually. "He's about to knock."
As if on cue, a series of heavy pounds rattled the door. "Bang, bang, bang."
"Yan Yan, are you inside?" Yu Tianheng's anxious voice was now impossible to ignore. "Just tell me!"
While Ye Yin calmly adjusted his clothes and pulled up his pants, listening intently to the commotion outside, Dugu Yan's heart hammered against her ribs. Panic seized her. How could she possibly face Yu Tianheng now? What could she say?
"What should I do?" she whispered frantically, turning to glare at the source of her predicament. "This is all your fault!" Her eyes burned with a mixture of fear and resentment.
[Resentment from Dugu Yan +9!]
"All my fault?" Ye Yin raised a single eyebrow, a faint smirk playing on his lips. He leaned closer, his voice a low whisper. "Are you telling me you didn't enjoy it?"
Dugu Yan's face flushed a deep red. She couldn't bring herself to answer, her silence and furious glare providing all the resentment he needed.
[Resentment from Dugu Yan +20!]
Unfazed, Ye Yin calmly reached into his storage and produced a rare spiritual herb. It was a beautiful, deep purple mushroom with nine distinct, leaf-like caps that seemed to glow with a faint inner light. "Eat this," he said, holding out the Nine-Leaf Purple Ganoderma. "It strengthens one's foundation and cultivates their origin energy. More importantly, it can significantly improve your cultivation aptitude. After you consume it, there's a high probability you'll break through to the next rank. I estimate you could reach Level 43 or maybe even Level 44."
He placed the precious herb in her hand. "I'll guard the door and deal with Yu Tianheng. You just focus on cultivating."
Looking from the priceless herb in her hand to Ye Yin's confident eyes, Dugu Yan made a split-second decision. She chose to trust him. Without another word of protest, she popped the Nine-Leaf Purple Ganoderma into her mouth and swallowed it. The herb melted instantly, releasing a torrent of pure energy. She quickly sat down cross-legged and began to meditate, her consciousness gradually sinking into a deep state as she focused all her effort on absorbing the medicinal power.
Outside, Yu Tianheng's patience had run out. "Yan Yan! Answer me, Yan Yan!" he roared, now convinced something was wrong. He decided he was done waiting.
A brilliant blue light erupted from between his eyebrows, spreading across his entire body in an instant. Cracking arcs of violent blue lightning coiled around his arms, burning his sleeves to cinders as they transformed into powerful, scale-covered dragon claws. Four Spirit Rings—two yellow and two purple—rose from beneath his feet, pulsating with raw power. The overwhelming aura of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan saturated the air, pressing against the door and seeping into the room.
Just as he raised his draconic hand to smash the door to pieces, it swung open.
Ye Yin stood in the doorway, his expression perfectly calm. He looked at Yu Tianheng's enraged, transformed state and spoke with a stern, rebuking tone. "Yu Tianheng. Dugu Yan is in the middle of a critical cultivation breakthrough. She cannot be disturbed." He paused, letting the words sink in. "Are you really going to interfere with her cultivation?"
Instantly, all the power and rage drained from Yu Tianheng. The lightning fizzled out, and his dragon arms reverted to normal. "No, no, of course not," he stammered. "Is… Is Yan Yan really cultivating?"
He peered past Ye Yin into the room. He saw Dugu Yan sitting cross-legged on the floor, her eyes closed in deep concentration. Behind her, the ethereal phantom of a massive Jade Phosphor Serpent was slowly taking shape, and her entire spiritual aura was rising at a visible rate.
Everything looked normal, yet Yu Tianheng couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong. It was the smell. There was a peculiar scent lingering in the air, a musky, intimate odor that he couldn't quite place, but it certainly wasn't the scent of cultivation. Seeing Dugu Yan so focused, however, he couldn't pinpoint any other problems.
"Next time, don't just start shouting and yelling," Ye Yin continued, his tone sharp and accusatory. "You even used your Spirit Possession. What exactly were you trying to do?" He stepped forward, forcing Yu Tianheng to take a step back. "Don't you know this is a quiet room? It's specifically meant for people to rest or cultivate without being disturbed. But here you are, screaming your head off and preparing to break down the door?"
Ye Yin's voice rose, filled with indignation. "Do you have any idea how precious the medicinal material I gave Dugu Yan is? This kind of spiritual herb is exceedingly rare. There was only one in existence, and it has the power to help Dugu Yan undergo a complete transformation, raising her spirit power by several levels in one go! Your recklessness could have ruined everything!"
He stared daggers at the stunned Yu Tianheng. "Tell me, how are you going to compensate for this?"
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