Chapter 19: A body as alluring as silk, love as soft as cotton

Bai Qianqian took the technique Lin Xinyi handed over and casually placed it by the bed.

However, she carefully folded the garment Lin Xinyi had just removed and placed it neatly by her pillow.

“This robe is one of my favorites. It adjusts its size to fit the wearer. Why not try it on?”

Lin Xinyi asked.

“No need. It feels very nice to the touch, and I’m content just having it by my pillow…”

“Fine, as you wish,” Lin Xinyi replied.

After carefully placing the robe by the pillow, Bai Qianqian finally picked up the technique next to her.

She looked at the simple, bold characters: Heartless Sword Formula.

A flash of disdain, nearly impossible to detect, flickered in Bai Qianqian’s eyes.

However, seeing Lin Xinyi’s expectant expression, she opened the manual and began to read.

The moment she opened it, the contents flooded into her mind like a forced transmission of text.

‘It’s done…’

A wicked smile tugged at the corners of Lin Xinyi’s mouth.

To ensure Bai Qianqian didn’t notice the flaws in the technique, she had used a transmission jade slip.

Once opened, the knowledge would be carved directly into the mind, making it impossible to forget.

‘Even if it’s a flawed technique, it should be a world-opening experience for a mortal who has never encountered anything before.’

Lin Xinyi felt a surge of pride.

She waited eagerly to see the girl’s shocked expression when she first felt the spiritual energy.

However, while Bai Qianqian glanced toward her, she remained far calmer than Lin Xinyi had anticipated.

“This technique is amazing. It feels wonderful…”

Bai Qianqian flipped through a few more pages and gave a somewhat wooden, perfunctory compliment.

She then began to regulate her breathing according to the instructions.

Lin Xinyi watched as a cold mist gradually formed around the girl’s body.

She had only read it once, yet she had already reached the level of minor mastery.

Such talent was terrifying.

‘The Three Thousand Dao Seeds in her body are truly something to covet…’

Although this was exactly what she wanted, seeing the girl succeed so effortlessly stirred a hint of jealousy in Lin Xinyi’s heart.

She herself had been hailed as a genius, yet it had taken her nearly 100 years of bitter cultivation to reach the Nascent Soul Realm.

Even then, she had to master techniques step by step.

“My body feels light…”

Bai Qianqian slowly stepped off the bed.

Snowflakes actually began to drift around her.

Lin Xinyi smirked.

So what if she was a terrifying prodigy?

She was still dancing in the palm of her hand.

‘The moment she has even the slightest emotional fluctuation, she’ll descend into qi deviation.’

Lin Xinyi’s smile grew darker.

She looked forward to the girl falling into the demonic path, plagued by inner demons, her meridians shattering until she begged for death.

“Is this book the same?”

After sensing the strange power within her, Bai Qianqian showed a bit of surprise, but there was no great upheaval.

She didn’t even show the excitement a child would have when encountering something new.

Lin Xinyi had expected her to scream and fuss over the sensation of spiritual power.

Seeing her so unexpectedly calm drained much of the joy Lin Xinyi felt from her successful scheme.

‘She must be forcing herself to act composed. How cute…’

Lin Xinyi assumed the girl was just putting on a front.

When she had met her ten years ago in her past life, the girl had always been calm and steady.

Could her mind have matured this quickly in just ten years?

Lin Xinyi decided she should offer some words of encouragement or concern to further lower the girl’s guard.

“Your talent is quite high. If that’s the case, we can take a break. Maybe—”

Before Lin Xinyi could finish her words of concern, a strange fragrance, like peach blossoms, drifted around them.

She looked down to see that Bai Qianqian had, at some point, finished reading the Jade Maiden Record of Dual Cultivation as well.

‘No way… She learned that in a single glance too?!’

If the previous feat was within expectations, this was absolutely shocking.

Even with the Three Thousand Dao Seeds—the culmination of the 3,000 Great Daos—to deduce and digest a technique, it should take some time.

After all, the girl was currently just a mortal.

“You… how exactly did you do it?”

Lin Xinyi grabbed the girl’s shoulders in shock, only to find a flush creeping onto Bai Qianqian’s face.

The girl’s eyes avoided hers.

Lin Xinyi realized immediately that since she had reached minor mastery in the Jade Maiden Record of Dual Cultivation instantly, her body hadn’t had time to adapt.

‘Honestly, what am I jealous for? Isn’t this exactly what I wanted…?’

A small smirk curved onto Lin Xinyi’s lips.

She used a finger to gently tilt up that soft chin, observing Bai Qianqian’s reddening face.

The girl seemed to be enduring something, her teeth clenched tight.

Lin Xinyi smiled; this reaction was also within her predictions.

“What is it? My dear disciple, your face looks quite pained.”

“Master… it’s so hot…”

Bai Qianqian’s gaze was hazy.

She even tugged at the corner of her clothes.

The three techniques Lin Xinyi had chosen were carefully selected.

The Heartless Sword Formula forbade emotion, while the Jade Maiden Record of Dual Cultivation focused entirely on passion.

The girl wouldn’t even be able to control her own body.

“You must endure it. This, too, is part of cultivation.”

On the surface, Lin Xinyi offered gentle comfort, but she was secretly preparing to watch the show.

With the two techniques conflicting, if the girl cultivated normally, it might have taken months to see results.

Now, her ability to learn instantly had become a lethal poison.

‘Go ahead, let me enjoy your distress to the fullest.’

Bai Qianqian appeared to be overwhelmed by the heat, but Lin Xinyi, blinded by the joy of her plan succeeding, failed to notice that the girl’s eyes remained clear.

It was as if this entire display of passion was merely a performance.

‘Can I move closer without suspicion…?’

Inside Bai Qianqian’s body, the Three Thousand Dao Seeds were constantly repairing and circulating the 3,000 Great Daos.

The originally flawed techniques were being perfected in this moment, becoming even more suited to her body.

The original side effects were being diluted until they were almost negligible.

Despite this, Bai Qianqian kept her eyes hazy and directly hugged Lin Xinyi.

“Oh? This is quite rude of you.”

Lin Xinyi spoke the words, but she was very satisfied with the reaction.

It wouldn’t be long before the agitation from the Jade Maiden Record caused her entire body to feel like it was burning, while the Heartless Sword Formula would backfire, shattering her meridians and turning her into a cripple.

“You smell so good…”

Bai Qianqian gripped the thin layer of clothing on the woman’s body, burying her head against Lin Xinyi’s abdomen.

Such a violent reaction convinced Lin Xinyi that the girl had completely fallen into the trap.

“Master, I want…”

“What do you want?”

Lin Xinyi pinched the soft cheek with her fingertips as if playing with a pet.

Bai Qianqian paused for a moment, appearing to hesitate, but the hesitation didn’t last long.

“I want that pill from last time… the one that makes the pain go away!”

“Though you look quite cute in pain, I suppose I am a soft-hearted Master,” Lin Xinyi said.

Satisfied by the girl’s begging, which fed her deep desire for revenge, Lin Xinyi took out another Soul-Confusing Pill from her storage space.

“Do you want it?”

Seeing the pill between Lin Xinyi’s fingers, Bai Qianqian slowly lowered her head to hide the smile tugging at her lips.

When she looked up again, her eyes were full of intoxication.

She slowly stood on her tiptoes, her tongue darting out to touch the pill before she took it from Lin Xinyi’s hand with her mouth.

Lin Xinyi slowly let the pill enter the girl’s mouth, her fingers being lightly grazed by the soft tongue in the process.

In Lin Xinyi’s mind, Bai Qianqian had been completely relegated to the status of a pet.

“That’s more like it. Just be a good girl.”

Seeing the girl swallow the pill, Lin Xinyi watched her footsteps become unsteady.

She reached out and gently stroked the soft, smooth hair.

“Your future days are destined to be spent in confusion and unconsciousness. Don’t forget to keep cultivating when you wake up.”

As soon as Lin Xinyi finished speaking, Bai Qianqian collapsed.

Although Lin Xinyi could have caught her, she let the girl fall to the floor.

She used the tip of her foot to give the girl a light kick.

After confirming there was no response, she finally dropped her “good person” persona.

“This is much more interesting than simply killing her. But for the Immortal Venerable to stay hidden even after all this… has she given up?”

Lin Xinyi looked around, but Luo Qingyao still showed no sign of appearing.

Lin Xinyi decided to ignore her; even if the woman came out, she couldn’t do anything anyway.

“Hmm? I didn’t remove the spiritual seal last night, and the spiritual tea is still hot? Perfect. Drinking tea in the morning isn’t a bad idea.”

Lin Xinyi noticed the tea in the pot was still simmering.

The spiritual energy within it seemed even denser.

Thinking she had nothing better to do, she figured a sip of tea would be refreshing.

Lin Xinyi no longer cared about her sudden blackout the previous night.

She picked up a cup, took a light sip, and set it back on the table.

“I’ve had too much spiritual tea; the taste is starting to feel average. Next time, I should try some mortal tea. Wait… why does my head feel so dizzy this morning…?”