Chapter 21: Cultivation

Chapter 21: Cultivation

In the small grove behind the Xiao family’s mountain.

Nearly a month had passed since the auction of the ten bottles of Essence-Enhancing Spirit Liquid.

As usual, Xiao Se was sparring with Hong Kui.

“Bursting Fist!”

“Sky-Splitting Kick!”

“Heavy Elbow Strike!”

Using the ethereal smoke step, Xiao Se closed in on Hong Kui’s body. His face was solemn as fists, elbows, and legs struck with lightning speed, yet each attack was effortlessly deflected by Hong Kui.

This was the first time in a month that Xiao Se had been close enough to reach Hong Kui’s body, so naturally, he would not let such a perfect opportunity slip by.

He unleashed every combat technique he had learned, even employing the Crane-Grasp Dragon Control that harnesses the opponent’s strength, yet all to no avail. Each time he nearly connected with Hong Kui, it felt as if striking a soft sponge.

The frustration of having strength but being unable to exert it was indescribable.

Through his spiritual perception, Xiao Se sensed that Hong Kui’s entire body was enveloped in a mysterious force field, resembling the psychokinetic powers from the Blue Star animations of his previous life.

With close-range attacks rendered ineffective, Xiao Se suddenly shifted tactics, leaping backward to create a ten-meter distance from Hong Kui.

Planting his feet firmly, arms slightly bent and raised, he conjured twin azure-white flames in his palms. Raising both arms overhead, the two flames slowly merged into a single fireball over a meter in diameter.

Lowering his arms until his palms were at waist level, Xiao Se willed the azure-white fireball to split into seven flaming swords, which then whirled around his body.

“Crimson Flame Swords!”

With a fierce shout, the seven azure-white flaming swords reversed direction under Xiao Se’s control and shot fiercely toward Hong Kui, carrying an overwhelming force.

The sudden appearance of seven flaming swords caught Hong Kui’s enchanting eyes off guard for a moment. Transforming into a ghostly figure, she effortlessly dodged every sword.

But as a high-level profound-tier combat skill, Crimson Flame Swords were not so easily dismissed.

After being evaded, the swords changed direction under Xiao Se’s command and shot at Hong Kui again.

Hong Kui continued to dodge, but the flaming swords were tenacious, seeming unwilling to relent until they struck their target, scattering through the air.

After a brief struggle with the flaming swords, Hong Kui’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, revealing impatience.

Raising a jade hand, she condensed a massive blood-red scythe, which spun to collide with the seven incoming flaming swords.

“Clang clang clang!”

A crisp metallic ringing resounded as the seven azure flames were repelled, accompanied by a burst of crimson light.

Xiao Se’s eyes scanned the deflected swords, astonished. He couldn’t help but ask, “Energy attacks can be deflected as well?”

Withdrawing her hand, Hong Kui twirled the scythe once more, smiling sweetly at Xiao Se. “Brother, it looks like you’re going to lose to me again this time.”

“It’s not over yet!”

Raising his right hand, palm up, a surge of azure-white fighting energy swirled around him. Seven flaming swords appeared again behind Xiao Se. Concentrating all his fighting energy into his right hand, and gripping his right elbow with his left, the seven swords merged into a single azure-blue flaming greatsword nearly three meters long.

“Crimson Flame Sword, Extreme Break!”

With a fierce shout in his heart, Xiao Se extended his sword finger. The azure-blue flaming greatsword roared through the air, surging toward Hong Kui with an unstoppable force.

Facing the heavy and thick fiery greatsword, Hong Kui’s alluring face showed a slight tightening of her smile.

Without any complex moves, her blood-red scythe dissolved into a streak of red light, condensing on her right ring finger. With a gentle tap, it met the tip of the flaming greatsword.

The sudden change caused Xiao Se’s pupils to contract. Veins bulging on the back of his hand, he transmitted his remaining fighting energy into the flaming greatsword.

“Crack.”

But the gap between them was too great. Cracks spread from the sword tip along the flaming greatsword.

“Boom!”

A muffled thunderous sound exploded between them as the greatsword shattered into hundreds of pieces, transforming back into the original azure-white beast flames that scattered before dissipating entirely.

The blast’s aftershock exhausted Xiao Se’s fighting energy, and his body was sent flying like a kite with a broken string. Just as he was about to crash into a large tree behind him, Hong Kui teleported instantly behind him and caught him.

Looking down at the pale and unconscious Xiao Se in her arms, Hong Kui examined him carefully and breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, he had only overexerted his fighting energy and sustained no injuries.

“You’re too much, to beat Brother into this state,” a gentle and weak voice echoed in Hong Kui’s mind — it was Lan Kui’s reproach.

Hearing this, Hong Kui felt a pang of guilt and explained, “Brother asked me to do this, but I’ll take responsibility.”

“Quickly take Brother for a medicinal bath,” Lan Kui’s tone softened, no longer scolding. She had been flustered due to concern and forgotten that Xiao Se had asked Hong Kui to spar with him in the first place.

“Alright.” Hong Kui nodded slightly and, without hesitation, scooped him up in a princess carry and sped toward the waterfall cave.

Inside the stone chamber within the cave, she fetched the bathtub Xiao Se had prepared earlier, filled it with water, and using telekinesis, instantly warmed the water to a suitable temperature before adding the Essence-Enhancing Spirit Liquid.

The spirit liquid had two remarkable uses: one, to be taken internally to greatly accelerate a fighter’s cultivation speed; the other, a medicinal bath that, while lessening cultivation speed improvement, effectively relieved fatigue, healed hidden injuries, and restored fighting energy.

Looking at Xiao Se’s tattered and bruised body, Hong Kui grew unusually shy.

“Brother is very tired now. Quickly undress him and put him in,” Lan Kui’s voice urged again in her mind.

Hearing this, Hong Kui’s cheeks flushed deeper. Though fiery and bold in nature, she had never experienced matters between a man and a woman. Tentatively, she asked, “Shall I let you do it?”

Lan Kui’s tone weakened, her lovely face hidden by a blush. After a long silence, she bit her lip and suddenly said, “I’ll do it, I’ll do it. For Brother, Hong Kui is willing to do anything.”

Hearing Lan Kui’s resolute declaration, Hong Kui sighed softly and murmured, “I’ll do it instead. I was born to protect you. Besides, if it’s Brother, a little embarrassment means nothing.”

As she spoke, Hong Kui slowly began to undress Xiao Se.

As his clothes were removed, a tall, well-proportioned, perfect body came into view. Breaking through her shy barrier, Hong Kui’s dark red eyes regarded him with curiosity. The Lan Kui hidden within her also blushed deeply and urged, “Hurry up and put Brother in,” before selectively slipping into slumber.

“Oh,” Hong Kui replied softly, gently placing Xiao Se into the bathtub.

(End of Chapter)