I slowly opened my eyes to the soft glow of dawn filtering through the window.
Xueyin was sleeping peacefully, her head resting on my right arm, while Xueyang leaned gently on my left. Their even, warm breaths brushed against my bare chest, a quiet rhythm that made my heart tighten slightly.
I turned my head carefully and pressed a gentle kiss to Xueyin's head, then to Xueyang's, gently as to not wake them abruptly. For a moment, the room was silent, filled only with the soft whispers of morning light and the faint rustle of their breathing.
Gradually, their eyes fluttered open.
Both sisters looked up at me, and sweet smiles spread across their faces simultaneously.
"Husband," they murmured, their voices soft but full of warmth. "Last night… it was intense. Husband, you're full of vigor. We'll follow you wherever you go."
I merely nodded, returning their smiles with quiet satisfaction.
Little did they realize that their devotion was no accident. My Milky Dao Seeds, enhanced by our all-night dual cultivation, had worked silently through the night. Countless seeds had been absorbed, embedding a loyalty imprint at its peak, binding them to me in body, energy, and heart.
With that, I carefully got out of bed, leaving the sisters still wrapped in sleep's soft warmth.
Outside the door, the Mistress was already waiting, her expression calm and knowing.
We exchanged a few brief words, and I handed over the agreed sum to redeem both sisters. She counted the spirit stones with practiced ease, then gave me a small, approving smile. "Consider it done. And… you may use this room for another three days," she added, her tone almost teasing, before she turned and left.
I returned to the room, finding Xueyin and Xueyang still lying on the bed. As my Perception Eyes swept over them, a surge of energy caught my attention. Both sisters had awakened their cultivation. Their auras shimmered distinctly, 3rd Stage Body Tempering. Such a jump was extraordinary; most mortals spent years reaching this stage.
I touched my chest, feeling the familiar currents of energy flowing through my body. A glance inward confirmed it: 6th Stage Body Tempering. A jump of two stages from before, last night's intense dual cultivation had accelerated our growth far beyond ordinary limits.
But the truth was clear. While the gains were impressive, my body still ached, every muscle and meridian reminding me of the price paid. Powerful cultivation came at a cost, and last night had demanded it fully.
Progress would require more than pills or solo practice; I would probably need new dual cultivation partners, capable of harmonizing with me and helping push my body and energy past its current limits without shattering under the strain.
The path forward was daunting, but the challenge sparked a quiet determination within me.
I quickly got back on my feet, brushing the lingering sleep from my mind. I leaned down and pressed a firm kiss to Xueyin's forehead, then another to Xueyang's, letting them feel the warmth and certainty in my actions.
"I'm going out to gather herbs and materials to refine more pills," I told them, my voice calm but resolute. "When I return, we'll continue our training and cultivation together."
They nodded softly, a mixture of trust and anticipation in their eyes, their fingers brushing mine in quiet affirmation.
I left the Velvet Bamboo Tower, and made my way through Sanlu Town, the early morning streets still waking with merchants and travelers.
First, I stopped by my old inn and spoke to the proprietor. With the spirit stones I had earned, I upgraded to a larger room, hopefully enough space to accommodate both sisters comfortably and allow us to cultivate without restriction.
Next is to gather more herbs to refine more pills. With the upgrade to my Perception Eyes, the world around me seemed sharper, every detail illuminated. Hidden herbs that would have gone unnoticed glimmered faintly, and rare materials tucked in crevices or beneath rocks revealed themselves as subtle pulses of energy.
Layer by layer, I moved through the forest and up the mountain, collecting herbs, roots, and other materials with effortless precision.
Before long, my satchel was brimming with ingredients, more than enough to refine a substantial batch of pills. Satisfied, I returned to Sanlu Town, heading straight for the inn.
Inside my newly upgraded room, I carefully arranged the tools and ingredients. With a deep breath, I lit the furnace and began refining once again, each step precise and methodical.
Today's batch would be stronger and more refined, crafted to support both my cultivation and that of Xueyin and Xueyang, paving the way for our next leap in power.
As the sky darkened and shadows lengthened over Sanlu Town, I finally stepped back from the furnace. The air was thick with the lingering scent of herbs and heated alchemical ingredients.
In front of me lay the results of the day's labor: fifty high-grade Qi Gathering Pills, fifty high-grade Body Tempering Pills, twenty peak-grade Qi Gathering Pills, twenty peak-grade Body Tempering Pills, and twenty high-grade Vitality-enhancing pills.
I carefully packed them and made my way to the cultivator-specialized shop. The shopkeeper's eyes lit up when he saw the quantities I carried.
With practiced efficiency, I sold all the high-grade pills along with some of the peak-grade pills, keeping only a few peak-grade Qi Gathering Pills and peak-grade Body Tempering Pills for myself.
The transaction earned me a substantial pile of spirit stones, more than enough to fund future alchemical experiments and supplies.
While at the shop, I also browsed the selection of cultivator tools, but my attention quickly shifted to more useful items. I purchased a couple Basic Storage Ring for additional storage, and mid-grade Lotus Rings, one for Xueyin, one for Xueyang, and the other two for Xiaoting and Yaolin.
These Lotus Rings weren't just for cultivation; their unique properties would enhance their bodies in a more sensual, stimulating way while simultaneously aiding their cultivation, making our dual cultivation sessions far more potent.
I also bought three mid-grade Iron Swords, thinking it was about time I began learning the Void-Striking Sword Manual. With these, I could practice my sword techniques and, eventually, teach Xueyin and Xueyang, helping them grow as both cultivators and companions in our journey.
Purchases in hand, I left the shop, anticipation buzzing in my chest. With tools, weapons, and resources ready, the next stage of our cultivation, and of our lives, was about to begin.
With that I hurried along the streets of Sanlu Town, my mind racing with a hundred thoughts at once. Xueyin and Xueyang waited for me at the Velvet Bamboo Tower, and I couldn't waste another moment. Yet as I moved, plans and ambitions swirled inside my head.
I wanted to visit Xuanlian City, drawn by the opportunities a true cultivation hub could offer. There, I could inquire about the mysterious dark metal, seek out rarer materials, and push my cultivation to greater heights.
A city of that scale would surely house unique manuals and forgotten techniques waiting to be discovered, and with more cultivators, merchants, and sect agents gathered in one place, it would also be the perfect ground to earn spirit stones and expand my horizons.
I thought of Xiaoting and Yaolin, hoping to bring them along and grew stronger with them along the way. Martial arts practice, pill refinement, dual cultivation… each thought pushed me forward, my heartbeat quickening in anticipation.
Before I knew it, I had arrived at the tower. I barely paused at the entrance, rushing inside and up the stairs. The private room door loomed ahead, and without hesitation, I opened it.
Inside, Xueyin and Xueyang were waiting, their translucent undergarments catching the soft light of the room. Their gazes met mine, filled with anticipation and warmth, and a small, inviting smile curved each of their lips. My pulse quickened at the sight, and I stepped forward, eager to continue where we had left off.
I quickly shed my robes, letting the cool air brush against my skin. Leaning close, I pressed my lips gently to Xueyin's, then Xueyang's, feeling the warmth and vitality radiating from both of them. There was no need for words, our connection was immediate, unspoken, and natural.
We began dual cultivation at once. My bare hands traced their energy paths, sensing the flow of qi through their bodies. My right hand on Xueyin, my left on Xueyang, I guided their meridians, synchronizing breaths, circulating energy, and harmonizing yin and yang between us.
I took out my Thick Dao Tool, and both of them watched with unmistakable anticipation, their attention fixed on every movement I made. Without hesitation, I began inserting my Thick Dao Tool into Xueyin, guiding the tool as qi flowed in a slow, deliberate rhythm.
The circulation was gentle and controlled, each pass smoothing turbulence into calm as warmth gathered and her breathing gradually deepened, the air between us growing thick with heat.
Then I turned to Xueyang, repeating the process, inserting my Thick Dao Tool with steady intent. Her qi responded more fiercely at first, the flow rougher, more restless, before settling under careful guidance. Sweat soon traced slow paths down their skin, heat rolling from their bodies as the circulation reached its peak.
When harmony was finally achieved, my Milky Dao Seeds release from my Thick Dao Tool inside her, thick, white, milky, complete, and firmly established, marking the end of the process and the beginning of something far deeper.
But the process did not end there. After the first resonance settled, I once again brought out my Thick Dao Tool, the air between us already heavy with anticipation. This time, their reactions were quicker, their bodies responding instinctively as qi flowed back into motion.
Full with excitement, I quickly inserted my Thick Dao Tool into Xueyin. The insertion is with practiced control, moving patiently, allowing warmth to build and layers of energy to overlap. Xueyin breathing grew uneven, heat rising once more as the meridians opened deeper than before, accepting the flow without resistance.
I moved my Thick Dao Tool with deliberate care, adjusting its path little by little, listening to the subtle responses of her qi. With every measured movement, the resonance deepened, her breaths turning softer yet more unsteady, as if her body and spirit were instinctively leaning into the connection.
Time passed in that quiet intensity, until the circulating energy finally reached perfect balance. In that moment, my Thick Dao Tool release Thick Dao Seeds inside her, settling gently yet firmly at her core. As it rooted itself, a subtle bond blossomed alongside it, not forced, but naturally accepted, imprinting a quiet loyalty and sense of closeness that flowed through her qi.
I still had countless Milky Dao Seeds within my Thick Dao Tool, its resonance steady and warm, and without wasting the moment I turned to Xueyang. I drew her closer, guiding her into the flow as I carefully inserted my Thick Dao Tool once more into her.
The movements were mostly gentle, but the turbulence in her qi caused occasional rough surges, forcing me to adjust again and again. Heat gathered quickly within her, coloring her cheeks as her breathing grew faster, each pulse of energy drawing a deeper response from her meridians.
As time passed, the intensity rose rather than faded. The once-unruly currents gradually aligned, responding to steady guidance and shared focus. When harmony was finally achieved, the qi condensed inward, settling with a quiet finality.
In that moment, Milky Dao Seeds released from my Thick Dao Tool inside Xueyang again, anchoring itself deep in her core. Along with stability came a subtle bond, warm, reassuring, and willingly accepted, leaving her energy calm, her presence attuned, and the connection between us unmistakably complete.
—
Twenty-five days pass in the blink of time, and it settled into a rhythm that soon became my life. When the three days at Velvet Bamboo Tower ended, Xueyin and Xueyang followed me back to the inn I had rented, but it didn't take long to realize the space was far too cramped for cultivation.
I decided to rent a small house on the outskirts of Sanlu Town, quiet and secluded, enough for us to stay for a full month without interruption. From that point on, the world narrowed into a cycle of effort, closeness, and steady growth.
Each morning I ventured into the forests and mountains, gathering herbs and rare materials with practiced efficiency. By afternoon, I was back in town refining pills, selling them discreetly, and securing a steady stream of spirit stones.
When night fell, we returned home, and cultivation resumed. Day after day, I inserted my Thick Dao Tool into Xueyin and Xueyang, with patience and control, releasing Milky Dao Seeds again and again inside Xueyin and Xueyang. With each session their energies growing denser, their connection to me deeper and more instinctive.
The bond between us strengthened quietly, built on lust, reliance, and shared progress rather than words.
During those twenty-five days, I also made a trip to Qingyuan Sect, hoping to see Xiaoting and Yaolin, only to learn they were away on a mission. They wouldn't return until the end of the month.
My cultivation also had surged forward, and I finally broke through to 7th Stage Body Tempering, a milestone that once felt far beyond my reach. Xueyin and Xueyang advanced as well, reaching 5th Stage Body Tempering, their foundations far sturdier than before.
We didn't neglect martial training either. Each day, under my guidance, the three of us practiced the Void-Striking Sword Arts, refining our movements from dawn until our qi began to wane.
Xueyin and Xueyang quickly grasped the fundamentals, their stances grew steadier, their footwork lighter, and their strikes increasingly precise.
With every session, their blades carried more intent, the flow between offense and movement becoming smoother and more instinctive.
We successfully mastered four of the six techniques from the first section of the manual.
By the end of the twenty-five days, I finally took stock of everything I had accumulated.
The numbers were modest by sect standards, but for an independent cultivator, they were more than enough to inspire confidence.
I had carefully prepared all that would be needed for the journey: high-grade spirit stones, a stock of refined pills and elixirs; Qi Gathering, Body Tempering, Vitality-Enhancing, and an assortment of talismans and utility seals. Basic storage rings were ready, and every tool had been crafted or refined with care, ensuring nothing would fail me on the road ahead.
They weren't flashy, but they were practical, exactly what a traveler needed when danger could appear without warning. With my resources organized and my preparations complete, I finally felt ready. The path ahead no longer felt uncertain. With this foundation beneath me, it was time to set out and begin my journey toward Xuanlian City.