Chapter 4: Dual Cultivation
The Bond of Dual Cultivation
The girl lay on the soft moss, her breathing steady but weak. Xiao Feng knelt beside her, his silver eyes studying her delicate features. Though her beauty was undeniable, his gaze held no lust or pity—only curiosity and cold calculation.
"System," he said, his voice low, "activate Dual Cultivation."
[System Notification]
Dual Cultivation activated. Host and partner will engage in the fusion of body and qi. This process will heal the partner's injuries, strengthen both participants, and increase their cultivation potential.
As the system guided him, Xiao Feng leaned closer, his hands brushing against her cold skin. She stirred faintly, her violet eyes fluttering open for a moment before closing again. Her body, though fragile, radiated a faint energy that resonated with his own.
He hesitated briefly, his logical mind analyzing every detail. He felt no emotional connection to this girl, only the allure of the power this process promised. His lips curled into a smirk. "If this is what it takes to grow stronger, so be it."
He pressed his hands gently against her abdomen, guiding his qi into her body. The process began with a surge of warmth that spread between them, their energies intertwining like two rivers converging into one.
As the connection deepened, the act became more intimate. Their bodies moved in harmony, guided by instinct and the system's influence. Each touch, each exchange of energy, sent waves of power coursing through their veins.
Xiao Feng felt her vitality returning, her qi replenishing with each passing moment. The process was intense, a fusion of both physical and spiritual energy that pushed them beyond their limits.
The girl's face, once pale and lifeless, began to flush with color. Her breathing grew steadier, her body responding instinctively to the ancient technique.
Time seemed to blur, the world around them fading into nothingness as the act reached its peak. Xiao Feng felt a surge of energy explode within him, a torrent of raw power that threatened to overwhelm his senses.
When it was over, he pulled away, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. The girl lay beside him, her body glowing faintly with renewed vitality.
[System Notification]
Dual Cultivation completed.
Partner has fully recovered and gained a significant increase in martial power.
Partner will feel a natural attraction toward the host due to the bond formed during the process.
Xiao Feng glanced at the system notification and scoffed, dismissing it with a wave of his hand. "Attraction or not, it doesn't concern me," he muttered. His focus wasn't on forming relationships—it was on power.
He sat cross-legged beside the girl, closing his eyes and stabilizing the immense energy coursing through him. The qi he had absorbed during the process was wild and untamed, threatening to overflow if he didn't take control.
With a deep breath, he began to cultivate. His body became still, his mind focused entirely on guiding the chaotic energy into his dantian. The process was both painful and exhilarating, the sheer magnitude of power pushing him closer to a breakthrough.
Around him, the air grew heavy, charged with a palpable energy. Light and dark qi swirled around him like twin serpents, their movements mesmerizing and dangerous. The surrounding forest seemed to hold its breath as every ounce of ambient qi was drawn toward Xiao Feng, forming a vortex that centered on his body.
The Girl Awakens
The girl stirred, her violet eyes fluttering open. For a moment, she was disoriented, her mind struggling to comprehend what had happened. She sat up slowly, her hands instinctively moving to her abdomen, where her injuries had been.
To her astonishment, the wounds were gone. Her body felt light, powerful even, as though she had been reborn.
"What… happened?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Her gaze shifted, and she froze.
There, not far from her, sat a young man in meditation. His long white hair shimmered like silver threads, cascading down his back. His features were ethereal, a perfect blend of elegance and strength. But what truly captured her attention was the phenomenon surrounding him.
Light and dark energy danced around him in a mesmerizing display, their movements wild yet harmonious. The qi in the air was being drawn toward him in waves, converging on his body and disappearing into him like water into a bottomless well.
Her heart skipped a beat. "Who… is he?"
The sheer power emanating from him was unlike anything she had ever felt. It wasn't just his beauty that left her speechless; it was the overwhelming presence he exuded, a presence that made her feel both awe and fear.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to calm herself. The energy in the air was so rich, so dense, that she couldn't help but absorb some of it. Instinctively, she began to cultivate, her body responding to the opportunity.
As she entered a meditative state, her qi flowed smoothly, more vibrant and powerful than ever before. The benefits of the dual cultivation were evident, her strength growing by leaps and bounds.
A Quiet Moment
Time passed in silence, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of distant birds.
Xiao Feng opened his eyes, his silver gaze sharp and piercing. He felt stronger, more stable, the energy within him fully absorbed and integrated.
He glanced at the girl, who was still cultivating, and nodded to himself. Her aura had grown noticeably stronger, a testament to the power of their bond.
"Good," he muttered. "At least she's not entirely useless."
For now, he would let her grow. This was just the beginning. The path ahead was long, and he would need all the power—and all the tools—he could gather to carve his name into the heavens.