After a long while, seeing that Jing Mingxuan showed no reaction whatsoever, Su Muchan found it quite uninteresting.
It seemed this method wouldn't make her disciple speak.
Still, embracing her disciple from behind felt truly wonderful!
That broad back, those solid shoulders, that sturdy physique, and her disciple's unique masculine scent all utterly fascinated her.
Of course, most importantly, it gave her a profound sense of security.
Since her disciple didn't object, she would just do this every day from now on.
Hehe!
She still needed to think of another way, though; she had to get her disciple to talk, otherwise her curiosity would just keep piling up without any release.
Two hours later.
Jing Mingxuan felt the warm, soft sensation behind him disappear.
In his heart, he figured his Shizun must have grown tired of it, and thus sensibly stopped clinging to him.
Yet just as he thought this, he sensed something was amiss.
Although he didn't open his eyes and couldn't see what was ahead, he could feel something approaching.
He first used his magic power to sense his surroundings, only to find nothing at all in front of him.
Was it just his imagination?
Jing Mingxuan certainly didn't think so; this could only mean that whatever was ahead was capable of blocking his spiritual perception.
With a sudden jerk, he opened his eyes.
Su Muchan's glossy, tender cherry lips were right before him.
"Shizun... don't..."
It was already too late, however—the distance was simply too close.
The next instant, Su Muchan kissed his thick lips, her technique rather green and clumsy.
Jing Mingxuan's expression froze.
He had imagined countless scenarios for his first kiss with Su Muchan, but he never expected it to happen quite like this.
Gazing into Jing Mingxuan's slightly dazed, star-bright eyes filled with astonishment, Su Muchan gave a faint smile, wearing a triumphant and pleased expression.
Pulling back, she said, "Disciple! Can you tell me now?"
The corner of Jing Mingxuan's mouth twitched.
How was it that even now, this was still all Shizun could think about?!
Would she never let it go?
This time, instead of speaking, Jing Mingxuan directly covered his mouth and shook his head to signal no, lest his Shizun keep kissing him.
Su Muchan's expression turned cold, her gaze sharpening as she spoke in a chilling tone for the very first time: "Open your mouth!"
Jing Mingxuan shook his head even faster.
But the next moment, he felt an immensely powerful force restricting his movements.
Then, his mouth was forced open, and he watched as Su Muchan's peerlessly beautiful face slowly drew near.
Clearly she was the aggressor, yet Shizun managed to wear an expression of pure, unblemished innocence.
It was simply too tempting!
Damn it!
I won't hold back anymore!
With a flick of her finger, Su Muchan kissed Jing Mingxuan once again.
Compared to before, this time was much bolder, directly invading Jing Mingxuan's mouth.
A moment later, Su Muchan noticed something was wrong.
Because Jing Mingxuan didn't resist—on the contrary, he even took the initiative.
Su Muchan felt an indescribable surge of joy, yet she was also puzzled: how had her offensive turned out this way?
Shouldn't her disciple be resisting?
And finally, unable to bear it any longer, surrender to her and confess the secret he refused to share?
Why was it the exact opposite now?
At this thought, Su Muchan was overwhelmed by the sheer bliss.
She stopped thinking, emptied her mind, and gave herself over entirely to the sensation.
After a long while.
The two finally broke the kiss.
Jing Mingxuan looked at a thoroughly satisfied Su Muchan, feeling quite proud in his heart.
"Shizun! Isn't this going a bit too far?!"
Su Muchan pouted her little mouth and muttered, "Who told you not to tell me? Besides, as long as it's with you, I feel like I can do anything."
By the end, Su Muchan's face had flushed crimson, even the tips of her ears turning slightly red as she evidently realized how shaming her own words were.
"So that's how it is—then I suppose I don't need to hide it anymore!"
The moment Jing Mingxuan said this, Su Muchan immediately put on an expression full of eager anticipation.
"The newly added text on the first page of the Divine Book actually describes dual cultivation."
Chapter 14: Compatibility! Is He a Monster?
"Dual Cultivation? What is that?" Su Muchan's autumn-water-like eyes were filled with utter incomprehension.
Jing Mingxuan wasn't surprised by this at all; in fact, he figured it would be stranger if his Shizun actually knew what dual cultivation entailed.
"Simply put, it's two people practicing cultivation together."
Su Muchan let out a long "Oh," her pretty face stamped with utter innocence.
At that moment, the sense of guilt in Jing Mingxuan's heart maxed out completely.
While explaining dual cultivation this way wasn't strictly wrong, real dual cultivation was definitely not what he meant.
"Disciple! Aren't we two people? Does that mean we can start dual cultivation right now?"
Su Muchan blurted out.
"Yes!" Jing Mingxuan forced that word out with the utmost difficulty.
Su Muchan immediately grabbed Jing Mingxuan's hands and said with considerable excitement, "Then let's hurry up and start dual cultivation."
Jing Mingxuan was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected the progress to move quite this fast.
In that case, it wouldn't be long before Shizun found out the true nature of dual cultivation.
He couldn't begin to imagine what would happen when that day came.
It could turn out disastrously, or it could turn out wonderfully.
"Oh! Right! We've both already practiced the Divine Cultivation Method today, so I guess we can only dual cultivate tomorrow!" Su Muchan said with a deadpan earnestness.
Jing Mingxuan let out a long sigh of relief inwardly.
At the same time, it made him realize how to avoid dual cultivation: by practicing the Divine Cultivation Method beforehand.
Yet surprises always happened so abruptly; a line of glowing golden characters materialized right before them.
As she watched, Su Muchan's lips moved slightly as she read aloud, "Dual cultivation resets the cultivation timer; currently, the limit for the master and the master's disciple is one hour and three quarters."
Jing Mingxuan's expression completely froze.
He never expected the Divine Book to provide an assist at a time like this.
Wait!
Could this even be called an assist?
Wasn't this blatantly trying to make him and his Shizun sever their master-disciple relationship?!
For a moment, Jing Mingxuan couldn't think of any countermeasures.
What else could he do, then? Naturally, just accept his fate and enjoy it!
At least he would get to be the man who took his Shizun's first time.
Clutching this thought, Jing Mingxuan began studying the dual cultivation method that had just imprinted itself upon his mind.
A moment later, he was utterly dumbfounded!
Because this dual cultivation was completely different from what he had imagined; instead, for the time being, it was exactly as he had just explained it—simply two people cultivating together.
Holy crap!
Wasn't this playing him for a fool?
It had gotten his hopes up for nothing.
At that moment, a string of glowing golden characters generated in his mind.
"Currently, the compatibility between the master and the master's disciple is zero, hence it can only be dual cultivation in the literal sense. When the compatibility reaches 100, true dual cultivation can be unlocked, and at that time, the master's disciple will no longer experience an adverse reaction."
Jing Mingxuan was left speechless.
Was he supposed to say thank you for that?
Still, this was for the best; it instantly cleared his guilt-ridden conscience to zero.
Alas!
Having a Shizun who was so pure and naive wasn't always a good thing, either!
Finishing his inward lament, Jing Mingxuan promptly relayed the dual cultivation formula to Su Muchan.
After that, naturally, followed one hour and three quarters of dual cultivation.
Though it wasn't the kind of dual cultivation he had imagined, during this time, he and Su Muchan held hands with their fingers tightly interlocked, allowing him to fully appreciate his Shizun's slender, white, scallion-like fingers and soft, jade-like hands.
Two months later.
Finishing their dual cultivation session with his Shizun, Jing Mingxuan asked out of inner curiosity, "What is my compatibility with Shizun right now?"
In an instant, two golden digits appeared in his mind—50.
Immediately followed by a line of glowing golden small print.
"The emotional bond between the master and the master's disciple is exceedingly sincere, hence the compatibility is growing exceptionally fast; under normal circumstances, it should take at least a year to reach 50."
Jing Mingxuan was filled with joy.
Just as he intended to stand up, another line of glowing golden small print popped out.
"Master, your current cultivation has broken through to the Peak Ninth Layer of Qi Ocean Realm. If you wish to achieve the strongest Dao Entry Realm, you will need the following breakthrough materials..."
Jing Mingxuan scanned the list and found he basically had all of them.
The only thing he was temporarily lacking was the World Heart of a Minor World.
On second thought, wasn't he about to make a trip to the Myriad Beasts Minor World? He could completely acquire the World Heart of the Myriad Beasts Minor World there.
Having made up his mind, Jing Mingxuan gently released Su Muchan's soft little hand.
Tidying himself up slightly, he spoke up: "Shizun! Let's go."
Su Muchan nodded slightly. Although Jing Mingxuan hadn't explicitly stated where they were going, she knew in her heart there was only one destination: the teleportation array of the Myriad Beasts Minor World.
With a flick of her finger, the two appeared a hundred meters in front of the array.
Glancing over, right in front of the Myriad Beasts Minor World teleportation array stood another formation used for testing cultivation.
Su Muchan gave a soft murmur, "Disciple! This cultivation-testing formation is of the Great Emperor Tier."
Jing Mingxuan gave a very casual "Oh." Now possessing the cultivation of the Peak Ninth Layer of Qi Ocean Realm, he had long since cleared that threshold and no longer needed to concern himself with such matters.
"Young Master Jing, this old man truly didn't expect you to come today."
An elderly man clad in black brocade robes suddenly appeared before him.
His complexion was rosy and full, glowing with health; though his hair was completely white, he was spirited and full of vitality, possessing an ethereal, Dao-like air akin to an enlightened immortal.
Most importantly was the overwhelming aura of nobility emanating from him.
The corner of Jing Mingxuan's mouth curved into a faint smile; he was already starting to look forward to stepping this person beneath his feet and then entering the Myriad Beasts Minor World teleportation array.
That's right, this old man was none of other than the arrogant Great Elder of the Ye family from before.
The Great Elder of the Ye family furrowed his brow slightly.
Jing Mingxuan's failure to show any fear had already left him quite puzzled.
And now came something even more bewildering: Jing Mingxuan was actually smiling.
What was the meaning of this?
Could it be that this Jing brat had actually accomplished the little goal he had bragged about earlier and cultivated to the Fifth Layer of Qi Ocean Realm?
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
Breaking through four layers of cultivation in two months?
In his long cultivation career, he had never seen a single cultivator achieve such a feat.
Could he have used some crooked, heterodox methods to forcibly boost his cultivation?
With this in mind, the Great Elder of the Ye family probed very meticulously, confirming that Jing Mingxuan's aura was stable and didn't resemble someone who had forcibly elevated his cultivation. At that, he finally felt at ease!
"Eldest Young Master, he is the Great Elder of the Ye family," Jing Zi'ang said as he suddenly appeared.
Jing Mingxuan nodded slightly and said, "Great Elder of the Ye family, since I dared to come here, I naturally have accomplished the little goal I set back then. I wonder if you will honor your promise from before?"
"If you truly possess the cultivation of the Fifth Layer of Qi Ocean Realm, then naturally this old man will honor his promise." The Great Elder of the Ye family smiled from ear to ear, wearing the very picture of a man who would keep his word.
Jing Mingxuan also wore a faint smile. "Great Elder of the Ye family, with those words from you, sir, I can rest easy!"
The Great Elder of the Ye family felt a slight inward shock—could this Jing brat really have accomplished his little goal?
At that moment, Jing Mingxuan clapped his hands together, and with a crisp "slap," his entire body's aura surged violently, stirring up a massive gale all around him.
In a split second, it reached the aura exclusive to the Peak Ninth Layer of Qi Ocean Realm.
Everyone present was startled, their expressions dazed and their eyes filled with disbelief.
"The.... the.... the Peak Ninth Layer of Qi Ocean Realm?"
"Breaking through eight layers plus a peak in cultivation in two months—is that something a human can do?"
"Jing Mingxuan is really trying to defy the heavens!"
......
Exclamations of shock burst forth one after another.
The Great Elder of the Ye family narrowed his eyes, stunned for a moment. Naturally, he refused to believe this was real.
"This old man would love to believe it, but this is most likely an illusion trick played by your Shizun. After all, jumping to the Peak Ninth Layer of Qi Ocean Realm in two months is simply too absurd—truly unprecedented and unsurpassed."
Jing Mingxuan reined in his aura, which instantly settled back to a calm state, and said with a slight upward tilt of his lips, "Then what would make you believe it?"
The Great Elder of the Ye family panicked for a moment.
Scanning the area, his gaze finally landed on the cultivation-testing array.
As if grasping at a straw, he wore a triumphant look and said, "Go test yourself on that cultivation-testing array! That's a Great Emperor Tier formation; there's no way it can be influenced by your Shizun."
Most of the people nodded. In truth, they shared the same thought as the Great Elder of the Ye family, believing it impossible for Jing Mingxuan to possess the cultivation of the Peak Ninth Layer of Qi Ocean Realm.
"Fine!"
Jing Mingxuan's calm-as-ever reply forced murmurs to ripple through the crowd: could he really possess the cultivation of the Peak Ninth Layer of Qi Ocean Realm?
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, Jing Mingxuan's slender figure landed upon the temporarily vacant cultivation-testing array.
Instantly, a mystical, blinding white light erupted, dazzlingly bright.
Before long, the white light dissipated entirely, followed by a cold, ethereal and distant voice ringing out:
"Cultivation: Peak Ninth Layer of Qi Ocean Realm!"
The crowd was even more dumbfounded than before, falling into complete silence—including Jing Zi'ang, who had initially been somewhat more inclined to believe in Jing Mingxuan.
The Great Elder of the Ye family turned ashen; this slap to the face came as fast as a tornado.
"Going from the First Layer of Qi Ocean Realm to the Peak Ninth Layer of Qi Ocean Realm in just two months—this is too abstract!"
"Truly formidable! Is he a monster?"
"The Jing family is about to rise to prominence with unstoppable momentum!"
"It seems this female cultivator really knows her stuff when it comes to teaching disciples."
Although the Empress had taken all her newly accepted disciples away to the Empress's Dao Domain two months ago, everyone present still felt a profound sense of regret, wishing desperately that they had gone to participate in the Immortal Ascension Grand Ceremony's master-seeking ceremony back then.
They held absolute confidence that they would have successfully taken the female fiend as their master.
Jing Mingxuan, however, sneered at such notions.
In his view, unless someone knew Su Muchan's true character as he did, it would be impossible for anyone to willingly take Su Muchan as a master.
Whoosh!
Jing Mingxuan leaped up, tumbling smoothly back to the spot he had just left.
Then, with a gaze burning like torches, he stared at the nobly poised Great Elder of the Ye family ahead of him, smiled faintly, and said, "Great Elder of the Ye family, it's time for you to fulfill your promise!"
In an instant, countless gazes shifted toward the Great Elder of the Ye family.
Chapter 15: Emperor Beast
The Great Elder of the Ye family's expression froze.
He glared viciously at the beaming Jing Mingxuan, who was currently riding high on success.
He was truly riding a tiger and unable to dismount.
Moreover, if he didn't honor his promise, not only would his reputation be ruined and he'd be reviled by all, but Jing Mingxuan's Shizun would also force him to fulfill it by violent means.
Things had reached this point; he had no choice but to honor the promise to minimize his losses.
"This old man knows!"
The Great Elder of the Ye family shouted aloud, seemingly venting the fury bottled up in his heart.
Then, he walked briskly to the front of the Myriad Beasts Minor World's teleportation array, dropped flat onto the ground without a word, and announced, "Jing brat, it's your turn!"
This Great Elder of the Ye family was no fool!
Jing Mingxuan sighed inwardly.
Earlier, he had half-expected the man to fly into a rage out of humiliation.
Without any further hesitation, Jing Mingxuan walked up to the heels of the prostrate Great Elder of the Ye family.
At this moment, he had two choices.
First, he could very simply step right over the Great Elder of the Ye family to reach the interior of the Myriad Beasts Minor World's teleportation array.
Second, he could choose not to step on the Great Elder of the Ye family, giving him a graceful way out.
A high-emotional-intelligence approach would undoubtedly be the second choice, fostering a good relationship with the Ye family for the future.
But he was a villain, after all!
In the future, he was very likely to become an enemy to the entire world.
Besides, the Great Elder of the Ye family had ridiculed him first, and furthermore, he didn't think much of the Ye family anyway—so how could he possibly *not* step on him?
Having made up his mind, Jing Mingxuan stepped forward with his right foot, planting it heavily right on the calves of the Great Elder of the Ye family.
The Great Elder of the Ye family's eyes widened—not because he couldn't bear Jing Mingxuan's weight, but because he never expected Jing Mingxuan to actually step on him, and moreover, to step on him with such heavy force.
This brat was simply too lawless!
The Jing family!
Today's humiliation—he would double it and return it tenfold another day.
Feeling each step landing on his back, the Great Elder of the Ye family felt his eyes split with rage, his teeth clenched tightly, his expression exceedingly ferocious.
Time seemed to crawl with excruciating slowness; feeling the sensations coursing through his limbs and bones, the Great Elder of the Ye family broke out in cold sweat, repeatedly wondering when this would finally end.
Right at that moment, Jing Mingxuan planted a foot squarely on the back of the Great Elder of the Ye family's head, channeling his magical power so that both feet stepped firmly upon him.
Jing Zi'ang gazed blankly at this scene.
Although the current Jing family had not yet grown strong enough to crush the Ye family, this was the most satisfying thing he had ever hoped to witness in all his years of living.
The Eldest Young Master was truly bringing glory to the Jing family!
The expression of the Great Elder of the Ye family froze entirely.
Jing Mingxuan's arrogance and his relentless beating of a drowning dog completely exceeded his imagination.
By the time he snapped back to his senses, Jing Mingxuan was already standing inside the teleportation array of the Myriad Beasts Minor World, wearing a triumphant smile as he produced the Heavenly Beast Token.
Whoosh!
The activation sound of the teleportation array rang out; a pale blue light flashed, and Jing Mingxuan vanished from the spot.
Witnessing this, Su Muchan first glanced at Jing Zi'ang and said, "This Empress has laid down a defensive array within Tianyan City. Should any member of the Jing family suffer harm, the grand array will trigger."
These words were spoken not just for Jing Zi'ang to hear, but for everyone present—and for the Great Elder of the Ye family as well.
"Furthermore, my disciple asked me to inform you: if any of you dare to touch a member of the Jing family, no matter who you are or where you flee, you will be executed without fail!"
With those words spoken, awe struck deep into the hearts of everyone present.
Jing Zi'ang realized something and asked, "Are you leaving, too?"
"Mm! Going to where my disciple is," Su Muchan replied indifferently.
Everyone was utterly dumbfounded. Going to where Jing Mingxuan was—didn't that mean heading into the Myriad Beasts Minor World?
Yet without a Heavenly Beast Token, going there was simply impossible!
A sudden, sharp boom echoed out. The space ahead shattered into pieces, exposing the void within.
Accompanied by a rustling flurry of garments, Su Muchan's breathtaking, ethereal figure stepped right into the void.
Only then did everyone realize that the female fiend intended to cross the void by force, tracking Jing Mingxuan's aura to descend directly into the Myriad Beasts Minor World.
It wasn't an impossible feat, but the difficulty was immense, and one would face mortal peril at every turn.
Otherwise, the Heavenly Beast Token wouldn't be considered such an extremely precious entry pass.
The next instant, the shattered space rapidly healed, restoring itself to normal in no time.
Outwardly calm, Jing Zi'ang was a tempest of shock within.
He had known the Eldest Young Master's Shizun was formidable, capable of matching the Empress herself.
Yet his imagination had still fallen short.