Li Xunmiao grabbed Gu Ze’s wrist and sat up, her gaze blazing.
Her hand was still slender and soft, yet with just this seemingly playful grip, Gu Ze found himself completely unable to break free.
After taking the Dragon Blood Divine Pill, Li Xunmiao’s strength had increased—and he was actually the first one to experience it? Was this what they meant by “living close at hand”… only to get beaten up?
“Master touched my lips while I was asleep. C-could it be that you wanted to… steal a kiss from Xunmiao?” Li Xunmiao’s pretty face flushed red, her voice coming out in broken fragments as she asked.
The atmosphere had already been a little suggestive, and her words only made it hotter.
“I just wanted to feed you a pill to help circulate your Qi and blood. You misunderstood me—and you even bit me,” Gu Ze explained. He forced himself to sound calm, though his face was also a little red.
If he wanted to kiss Li Xunmiao, he would definitely do it openly and honestly.
Preferably somewhere the entire Cloudsea Immortal Pavilion could see, publicly telling all the Xiu Shi that this future peerless girl already belonged to someone.
If he said he felt nothing for Li Xunmiao, even he wouldn’t believe it.
“Hmph~ Anyway, I heard that a girl’s lips aren’t something you can touch casually. But I like Master the most, so if it’s Master who wants to touch them, that’s fine.” Li Xunmiao held Gu Ze’s right hand with both of hers, gently kneading it in her palms.
The teasing intent was obvious. Gu Ze even caught a fleeting trace of seductive charm flash through the girl’s eyes.
He rubbed his eyes, wanting to make sure he hadn’t imagined it. Yet the girl instantly looked completely innocent again, her expression pure and lovely.
She was like a clear lotus in a pond, untouched by dust.
Gu Ze had long since realized that although he cultivated the Dao, his heart was far from lofty. Not only did he get tempted by girls who came close to him, he was also greedy enough to dream of a harem.
He was even a little lustful. That was only human nature.
But right now, his strength was insufficient. Wanting the happiness of having everything was nothing more than a delusion.
Gu Ze’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as the desire in his eyes gradually faded.
He needed to secure more Jiyuan for Li Xunmiao. That was Gu Ze’s only way to surpass all the various geniuses.
Even if Li Xunmiao became stronger and stronger—strong enough that Gu Ze could no longer control her—she was still one of his own.
He did not believe that one day Li Xunmiao would point the Zangtian Sword at him.
“Xunmiao, although you’re only at Qi Refinement Layer Seven right now, your strength far surpasses others of the same level.”
“Even I’m not your opponent. I want to take advantage of this opportunity at Dan Yin Peak and have you spar with their disciples to verify your strength,” Gu Ze said seriously.
They had already obtained the divine pill, so by all rights they could leave. But Gu Ze wanted to stay a few more days.
Li Xunmiao, however, only heard the first half.
She leaned in closer, her upturned eyes seeming to form a vortex that could pull Gu Ze in and swallow the reflection of the boy within them. “I… am I… stronger than Master?”
Something was wrong. Gu Ze felt Li Xunmiao’s weight press toward him. Flustered, he hurriedly tried to recover. “Ahem, that’s without using Artifacts. Don’t forget I still have the Chilong Rope.”
A trace of regret flashed through Li Xunmiao’s eyes.
“Hmph~ Master promised Xunmiao he wouldn’t use that Artifact to bully me.” She emphasized it again, still keeping half her body’s weight pressed against Gu Ze.
In the end, Li Xunmiao finally let go of Gu Ze’s wrist, and the aggressively invasive aura around her dissipated.
That was close. Gu Ze secretly let out a breath.
He rubbed his already reddened wrist, thinking that he had felt he was already greedy enough for Li Xunmiao’s beauty.
On ordinary days, when Li Xunmiao took the initiative to get close to him, Gu Ze would shamelessly not refuse.
But Li Xunmiao clearly felt that this level still wasn’t enough.
Maybe when it came to desire, men and women were the same. What made it even more pitiful was that Li Xunmiao was at the age of first love, craving affection even more.
The two of them spent a somewhat oppressive morning.
***
At a martial arena on Dan Yin Peak.
Gu Ze asked Qiaogu to arrange a platform for them. Li Xunmiao’s robes fluttered as she stood alone on the stage, looking as if she were cut off from the mortal world, waiting for challenges from Dan Yin Peak’s disciples.
To the Xiu Shi of Dan Yin Peak, disciples from Biluo Peak were rare to begin with.
What’s more, the one on stage was such a cold and stunningly beautiful Shimei. Even going up just to get beaten was worth the price of admission, so naturally many people tried to challenge her.
The result was exactly that—purely getting beaten.
Li Xunmiao didn’t even use a sword. For cultivators of the same level, just blocking her punching wind and whipping kicks was already difficult.
Those at slightly higher levels, Qi Refinement Layer Eight or Nine, were also defeated within a few moves, unable to even touch the corner of Li Xunmiao’s robe.
Very quickly, news spread among the Dan Shi that there was an undefeated god of war from Biluo Peak at the martial arena.
“As expected of Qingquan Immortal Venerable’s disciple. Li Xunmiao should be invincible among her peers.”
“I saw her use a sword back at Weijin Mountain. Watching for so long now, she hasn’t drawn her sword once. She hasn’t even gone all out yet.”
“She’s completely at ease even against Qi Refinement Layer Nine opponents. I’m afraid even someone at Lianqi Da Yuanman would have trouble standing up to her…”
Below the stage, Gu Ze was grinning from ear to ear.
Challenging the platform wasn’t something just anyone could do.
Winning brought rewards; losing brought punishment. But Li Xunmiao wouldn’t lose, so the two of them were simply fleecing the alchemists.
They won refining materials from quite a few disciples, making up for Gu Ze’s recent expenses. Even his Storage Bag had grown much fuller.
“Shimei, keep it up.”
He only needed to cheer a little from below, and Li Xunmiao’s fighting spirit would surge even higher.
“These opponents don’t even count as a warm-up,” Li Xunmiao sighed, clearly finding them rather boring.
After all, Dan Yin Peak was full of Dan Shi. Very few were particularly strong in combat.
It was just an unfiltered remark, her speaking her thoughts out loud.
But to the ears of Dan Yin Peak’s disciples, it sounded like blatant mockery.
“Hmph. Junior Sister Li, since you’re so arrogant, don’t blame me for using some methods unique to alchemists.” A Qi Refinement Layer Nine iron-faced Dan Shi stepped onto the stage, several pills pinched between his fingers.
A green-faced demonic general mask covered his face. His build was burly, clearly a body cultivator who had tempered himself with pills—his strength was formidable.
“Please enlighten me,” Li Xunmiao said with a slight nod. The moment her words fell, she was already charging forward.
The Dan Shi quickly retreated, tossing out one yellow and one green poison pill. They exploded in midair, smoke instantly enveloping Li Xunmiao’s body.
“Heh heh. As long as my pill poison touches the body, it can paralyze a person and slow the circulation of Lingqi. You… what the—?! Why aren’t you affected at all?”
He curled his lips in a smug smile, having thought Li Xunmiao completely unguarded and victory already in hand.
But the girl’s figure was as graceful as a startled swan. Her Dragon Qi erupted, instantly blasting the poisonous fog apart.
The Dan Shi’s expression changed slightly, but he quickly steadied himself and swallowed two scarlet pills.
In an instant, his muscles bulged all over, wind gathering beneath his feet. Each punch he threw carried the weight of a thousand jin.
Li Xunmiao dodged lightly, temporarily avoiding his edge.
Even in a head-on clash she wouldn’t lose, but she clearly had an easier way to win.
She circulated the Yellow Springs Qi, letting it coil around the Dan Shi’s body.
He lunged forward, trying to slap the Yellow Springs Qi away, but the moment he made contact, ninety percent of his Qi and blood were drained from his body, leaving him even weaker than before he had taken the pills.
“This… this isn’t right.” He had originally planned to weaken his opponent and strengthen himself to secure victory. That was how he always fought.
While his mind was still tangled in confusion over why Li Xunmiao wasn’t affected by the poison, he was already kicked off the stage.
The mask on his face shattered into two pieces, revealing a face full of frustration.
Qiaogu stood nearby with his arms crossed, secretly shocked.
“Immune to all poisons, and the Yellow Springs Qi she cultivates can instantly sever a person’s life force. Junior Sister Li really was holding back before…”
He shook his head, becoming even more determined to go out traveling the world.
If just one Biluo Peak could produce such a stunning genius, then the world beyond the Cloudsea Immortal Pavilion must be even more filled with dazzling stars.