Chapter Five: Tip of the Needle Against the Blade of Wheat

Drawing back the curtains, sunlight rushed into the room in a competitive scramble.

Ye Manman grabbed a thin blanket to cover the snowy whiteness of her chest and cast a reproachful, side-eyed glance at Gu Liuyun.

"I am your fiancée, you know. Aren't you afraid of someone seeing everything?"

"Haven't you noticed yet?"

Gu Liuyun turned his head, casting a meaningful gaze toward her.

Ye Manman was stunned. She suddenly closed her eyes, focused her mind, and began to circulate the spiritual energy within her body.

Her cultivation level began to rise, starting from the fifth level of Qi Condensation.

Sixth level. Seventh level.

A moment later, she opened her moist, sparkling eyes in pleasant surprise. "What is happening? My cultivation speed has always been incredibly slow. How did I break through two levels in a row?"

She stared at Gu Liuyun with a probing look, knowing he must have the answer.

"The way of heaven dictates that for every gain, there is a loss."

"You possess an Innate Charm Body. With such a unique constitution, your cultivation speed is naturally slower than that of an ordinary person."

"But since you are my woman, I certainly cannot let you be surpassed in cultivation by Ye Qingqing."

Gu Liuyun placed his hands on Ye Manman’s shoulders, gently pushing her back, and took a moment to appreciate the scenery before his eyes. "Last night, I used a secret dual-cultivation technique to assist your practice. Consider this my engagement gift to you."

Hearing this, Ye Manman extended the tip of her pink, delicate tongue to lick her lips, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Brother Liuyun, isn't this gift a bit... light?"

This girl really had an insatiable appetite. Gu Liuyun’s mouth twitched. He swept his arm out, rolling her up in the quilt, person and all.

"This technique can only be used every so often, otherwise, it will be counterproductive."

With that, Gu Liuyun steadied his lower back and headed out to eat breakfast.

Inside the room, Ye Manman giggled incessantly. Outside the room, Gu Liuyun wore a matching smile.

He had held back half the truth in what he told Ye Manman. The reality was that for a male cultivator, an Innate Charm Body was essentially a natural "cauldron." Powerful figures from various sects abducted female cultivators with this physique not just for their beauty, but because they helped boost one's cultivation level. Their virgin blood, in particular, concentrated the power of primordial Yin, making it a supreme tonic.

The Ye family was a first-rate power in Cloud City, but there were always mountains beyond mountains and people beyond people. If other powerful factions learned that the Ye family possessed a woman with a Charm Body, it would inevitably trigger a bloodbath, and Ye Manman’s fate would be grim.

Gu Liuyun certainly wasn't going to let others benefit for free. Regardless of her original motives for being by his side, he would keep her close.

On another note, the stone with the seven-colored divine light mentioned by Old Master Ye was very likely the Ascension Stone. He had to enter the secret realm to investigate, and he needed the Ye family's support.

As his spiritual energy circulated, his cultivation had risen from the first level of Foundation Establishment to the fourth.

The primordial Yin energy that Ye Manman had accumulated over a dozen years had allowed him to jump three whole sub-levels. In this era of thin spiritual energy, such a speed was nothing short of breathtaking.

In the living room, the maid had already prepared breakfast. Ye Manman yawned as she came downstairs in pink cotton slippers, transforming back into her innocent and obedient persona. She had never spoken of her Charm Body to her family, maintaining the facade of a well-behaved, submissive girl.

At the same time, Ye Qingqing descended the stairs from the other side.

Their gazes met, sharp as needles.

"Move. Good dogs don't block the path," Ye Qingqing said coldly.

Ye Manman smiled faintly. "Sister, I return those words to you."

The two had always been in competition at home, and their relationship was extremely hostile.

"Don't think that just because you secured a spot for the secret realm, you can ride on top of me. Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson, you reckless girl!"

Ye Qingqing’s almond eyes widened in anger, and her green spiritual energy manifested into a flying sparrow, pecking toward Ye Manman’s chest. In the past, Ye Manman had suffered many setbacks at Ye Qingqing’s hands due to their difference in cultivation.

But today, things were different.

Ye Manman casually reached out, grabbed the green sparrow, and crushed it into nothingness!

"How is this possible!"

Ye Qingqing’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets. Gripping the railing, she shrieked, "How did you suddenly reach the seventh level of Qi Condensation?"

Ye Manman raised the corners of her lips, speaking in a sweet, obedient tone: "It’s all thanks to Brother Liuyun, who helped me improve using a dual-cultivation technique."

"It’s strange, though. Such an effective method, yet some people refused to let Brother Liuyun touch them for years."

"You..."

Ye Qingqing regretted her choices so deeply her insides felt twisted. How could she have known Gu Liuyun possessed such power? Yet, even now, she insisted on being stubborn.

"Do you think everyone is as shameless as you, jumping into bed just one day after meeting?"

"We’re getting married anyway, so say what you want."

Ye Manman walked into the dining room and hugged Gu Liuyun from behind. "If you prefer to rely on yourself, then take your time cultivating."

Watching their shameless display, Ye Qingqing was so angry she nearly vomited blood. But no matter how miserable she felt, the situation was already irreversible.

"Don't be happy too soon. I’ve already bought my own spot for the secret realm. The opportunities will be mine! We’ll see who has the last laugh!"

Leaving behind these harsh words, Ye Qingqing was too furious to eat and stomped up the stairs.

Having gained the upper hand, Ye Manman was in high spirits. She whispered softly into Gu Liuyun’s ear, "Brother, shall we continue after breakfast?"

Gu Liuyun narrowed his eyes...

After a few days of indulging in their affair, Ye Manman’s cultivation stabilized at the eighth level of Qi Condensation. The primordial Yin energy in her body had been exhausted, and the speed of their progress through dual cultivation had noticeably slowed.

Gu Liuyun’s cultivation was firmly anchored at the peak of the sixth level of Foundation Establishment, just one step away from the seventh. Cultivating this way was not much slower than swallowing medicinal pills, but it was just a little... taxing on the back.

"Second Miss, Young Master Gu, the secret realm is about to open. The Old Master sent me to tell you it’s time to depart."

The housekeeper’s voice rang out from outside the door. Gu Liuyun quickly released his grip on her willow-thin waist and moved backward.

With a soft sound, Ye Manman bit her lip and slumped onto the bed, breathing heavily.

"Understood. We’ll be right there."

The two scrambled to tidy up, bathed, and changed their clothes. Ten minutes later, Gu Liuyun and Ye Manman arrived at the back mountain, where a helicopter was waiting for them.

Gu Liuyun couldn't help but click his tongue; as expected of a cultivation clan, they were truly extravagant. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Gu Liuyun already possessed the ability to ride the clouds and mist, but because the government kept the existence of cultivators hidden from the public, no one was allowed to fly through the air.

The helicopter’s rotors roared to life, and they took off.

Magic City, Cloud Mist Mountain.

A massive barrier had already been erected around the vortex of the secret realm. Inside the barrier, white mist filled the air; ordinary people who wandered in would find themselves caught in a maze, only to inexplicably find themselves back where they started.

Beneath the deep blue vortex of the secret realm, more than twenty well-dressed young men and women had gathered, chatting in small groups.

The arrival of Gu Liuyun and Ye Manman, who had arrived late by helicopter, instantly drew the attention of the crowd.

A young man with a buzz cut and an earring raised an eyebrow. "Ye Qingqing, isn't that your useless fiancé? How did he end up with your sister?"

Ye Qingqing’s gaze was icy. "Why else? That vixen knows how to seduce people."

"Not only did she steal my fiancé, but she even took the spot for the realm."

The young man teased, "You aren't joking, are you? Doesn't your Ye family have two spots? And besides, what is there to fight over when it comes to a useless guy who can't cultivate?"

Speaking of this, Ye Qingqing’s face turned even uglier. She lowered her voice and said, "Zhu Yan, don't say things like that again. He isn't some useless guy; he’s a Foundation Establishment expert."

Zhu Yan was stunned, then immediately cast her a look one might give a fool.

"Ye Qingqing, have you lost your mind from the stress?"

"He looks so young; how could he possibly be a Foundation Establishment expert?"