Chapter 312 - 311: Crazy Leveling Up

When Jiang Qiu’s soul returned from the Consciousness Realm, the bathwater had yet to cool, but Snow was already asleep on his chest. Her back was bare, her skin smooth and delicate.

He looked down. She hadn’t taken off her mask; it was as if it had become one with her face. It was clear that after this bath, the state of her soul was more complete. She had undergone some kind of metamorphosis.

A closer inspection revealed she had officially begun her training in the Hundred Ghosts Communication Technique, entering the Spirit Body Realm. A continuous stream of Spirit Charm was now flowing from her body into his, as if a barrier between them had been broken.

Her talent became even more apparent. Even in her sleep, her body unconsciously absorbed the Nether Dark Spirit Charm from the air and water.

’She’s clearly a peerless genius, yet she’s been twisted into this state.’ With a soft sigh, Jiang Qiu scooped Snow up, supporting her back and legs, and carried her out of the bath. ’The Hundred Ghosts Communication Technique really is a miraculous Great Daoist Technique. Heh, if you cultivate it to the very end, do the two people truly merge into one?’

DRIP, DRIP. Water trickled from her feet. Jiang Qiu dried Snow off, found a long dress for her, and placed her on the bed. He then changed into a black shirt left behind by Bell Fish.

Now that he was out of that state of epiphany, the strange, twisted feeling caused by the Yin Yang Great Realm’s Law had vanished completely. The Dragon Race bloodline surged within Jiang Qiu, dispelling all desire.

He inspected his body. A new vacancy for a fourth Jade Sinew had appeared within him. It was the outline of a soul, but it wasn’t filled yet.

Perhaps the emergence of those desires was a necessary part of the path to forging the fourth Jade Sinew. That recent epiphany could be considered the formal completion of the casting process.

’Although, in this world, it’s supposed to be called a Cultivation Dish, the Hundred Ghosts Communication Technique is just that miraculous—extremely similar to a Jade Sinew.’

’It seems that once the cultivation is complete, the space for that fourth Jade Sinew will be filled.’

"Sigh... this world is truly hard to accept." Shaking his head, Jiang Qiu closed his eyes to rest his mind, sitting on the edge of the bed to watch over Snow. ’First, I’ll wait until this matter with the Duel is resolved.’

At some point, while she was unconscious in the bath, Snow felt something calling to her. At that moment, it felt as if she could fly, soaring from one place to another.

She saw a dragon—a massive dragon. Its eyes were like the sun and moon in the heavens, and its body was infinitely vast. It seemed as if a single one of its claws could shatter the stars.

Just a single glance, and she felt her body plunge into an abyss. Endless fear welled up from the depths of her heart, and she began to tremble.

Then, the dragon vanished. A warm current flowed in from the outside, enveloping her soul and gently lowering it to the ground. Her consciousness gradually faded, only to slowly return.

She opened her eyes. The jade panels on the bedroom walls glowed faintly. A soft blanket was tucked around her. Senior Brother Bai Mo sat at the head of the bed, his eyes closed in meditation.

She studied him carefully. The Dragon Form on his mask looked just like the one she had seen *in her dream*. But he hadn’t opened his eyes yet, so she couldn’t see the sun and moon within them.

’Is Senior Brother a dragon?’

’But didn’t the Yin Net say that the Dragon Race only exists in legends, that it’s impossible to see them anymore?’

"Senior Brother..."

Snow carefully slipped out of bed. Pursing her lips, she reached out. Before she could touch Jiang Qiu’s arm, his draconic eyes snapped open, blazing with golden light. "You’re awake?"

Snow froze. In that instant, she was certain: Senior Brother was the dragon from her dream. He just hadn’t revealed his true form.

But the feeling was fleeting. Looking closer, she saw that Jiang Qiu’s mask was just an ordinary Dragon-shaped Mask. His eyes, though bright, weren’t glowing, and they lacked the unique, oppressive aura of the Dragon Race.

"Senior Brother, why do you wear a Dragon-shaped Mask?"

Snow asked cautiously, tilting her head back to look at Jiang Qiu. She seemed to want to stare a little longer but didn’t dare to truly meet his gaze. In reality, the fact that she dared to study him at all was an unprecedented step forward, not that she realized it herself.

She also hadn’t noticed that her cultivation speed had imperceptibly increased.

"I liked it, so I chose it."

Jiang Qiu’s answer was brisk; he hadn’t given it much thought. He had simply taken a liking to the Dragon-shaped Mask at first glance, and besides, Bell Fish had said the mask base wouldn’t affect the cultivation process.

He studied Snow for a moment, clearly sensing that she was less distant than the day before. In other words, she had grown closer to him.

’It seemed taking a bath together had advanced their relationship a step.’

’Being completely open with each other really is the best way to deepen a connection.’

As the thought crossed his mind, Jiang Qiu mused, ’To get Snow’s cultivation up to speed, we should probably bathe more often. Maybe the essence of the Hundred Ghosts Communication Technique is for two people to become infinitely close. I just wonder... how close is the limit...’

A short while later, he used the Yin Net to summon an attendant to deliver today’s breakfast: two golden Fragrances. They were lit and absorbed. A wonderful morning.

Jiang Qiu suddenly felt a shift in his own state of mind. The Yin Yang Great Realm no longer seemed so bizarre; he was growing accustomed to it. Or perhaps, he had finally confirmed the world’s existence from an observer’s point of view.

Yesterday’s epiphany had been like unlocking a shackle, freeing a part of his mind. Even his connection with Snow had grown more profound.

It felt wonderful to have his rationality restored.

After breakfast, Jiang Qiu resumed cultivating with Snow. She held the Nether Dark Ore in both hands to absorb it, while Jiang Qiu held her hands. As expected, the absorption efficiency increased dramatically. Nether Dark Spirit Charm flooded into their bodies as if from a bursting dam.

There were no distracting thoughts, only an invigorating rush.

VMM—

A moment later, Snow advanced to the Second-Layer of the Spirit Body Realm. Jiang Qiu raised an eyebrow. He could clearly feel that a significant portion of the Nether Dark Ore’s Spirit Charm was gone.

They cultivated for another two hours.

VMM—

Snow advanced to the Third-Layer of the Spirit Body Realm as easily as drinking water. She felt no discomfort. He could even sense her soul solidifying, her body subtly developing, and her aura undergoing a slight transformation.

’Cultivating this fast?’

Jiang Qiu frowned, then calmed his mind and continued the cultivation.

VMM—

Snow advanced to the Fourth-Layer of the Spirit Body Realm, putting her on par with that Ghost Head. Jiang Qiu froze for a second. He looked at the Nether Dark Ore again and saw that another portion of its Spirit Charm was gone, causing it to dim.

VMM—

VMM—

VMM—

By the end of the day, Snow had completely drained the ten-catty Nether Dark Ore, advancing directly to the Perfect Spirit Body Realm. Her soul had solidified to the point where it was like mist condensing into water.

Her body had also matured, growing noticeably. When she opened her eyes again, a cool light flashed within them. On her mask, the verdant green base was lush, and its white flowers were whiter than Snow.

After a single cultivation session, she seemed to have matured twice over, both in physical age and personal aura. It was as if something truly formidable had awakened within her.

The so-called Nether Dark Ore was merely the key to unlocking a seal!