Bloodline Evolution and the Cat That Stole a Kiss

Seven days later, in Ling Qianyue's room.

Zhu Zhuqing and Ling Qianyue were circulating the Dual Star Cultivation Method, reconstructing the last of her seven acupoints—the Dazhui Acupoint.

As the method circulated, the air itself seemed to fill with faint fluctuations of Soul Power.

With the aid of this method, their Soul Power cultivation speed had increased by an astonishing 10% compared to before. Thus, during this period, Ling Qianyue's room had practically become their sacred cultivation ground. Most of the time, they sat side by side, immersed in cultivation together.

Compared to how she had once blushed shyly with her heart pounding like a drum, Zhu Zhuqing now appeared far more composed.

She was no longer as reserved about this relatively intimate contact with Ling Qianyue as she had been at first. Their bodies naturally drew close during cultivation, and the occasional touch of skin only sent warmth flowing through her heart rather than the former flustered panic.

When Zhu Zhuqing's Dazhui Acupoint was successfully reconstructed, starlight flickered at seven points along her spine.

The Big Dipper Seven Stars she had been visualizing in her mind suddenly shone brilliantly. A new force seemed to surge within her body, both familiar and unfamiliar, as though it came from the depths of her bloodline.

Zhu Zhuqing felt as if her soul had formed some wondrous connection with the starry sky, as though she could hear the whispers of the stars and sense their rhythm and cadence.

This new force circulated through her body, continuously strengthening her spirit, bones, and blood.

She suddenly opened her eyes and summoned her Martial Soul.

The Hell Spirit Cat was entirely black, covered in dazzling purple markings, with a pair of small wings on its back. Faint starlight now flowed around its tail, as though it were evolving into something else.

"Martial Soul Evolution!" Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up as the words flashed through her mind.

Ling Qianyue crouched down and studied it carefully, somewhat surprised.

"Zhu Qing, how do you feel?"

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze shifted slightly. She crouched down as well, leaning beside Ling Qianyue as she looked at the Hell Spirit Cat. "The seven acupoints each increased one of my seven abilities by 5%. When they finally connected as one just now, it felt as though a new force emerged within my body, causing some changes to my Martial Soul Origin. The starlight at the Hell Spirit Cat's tail proves it too. From what I can sense, it should be changing in the direction of the Starlight Tail Flame. My Martial Soul bloodline is growing stronger."

Ling Qianyue nodded and said sincerely, "That's a pretty good change. Congratulations."

Could the evolved Hell Spirit Cat still form a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with the White Tiger Martial Soul? A fish that leapt over the Dragon Gate became a dragon—it probably could no longer be compared to its former self, Ling Qianyue mused.

Zhu Zhuqing smiled and said softly, "Thank you, Qianyao."

"You don't need to thank me." Ling Qianyue rolled over and lay flat on the bed, his hands behind his head. "If I were to leave the Star Luo Empire, what would you choose?"

"I'll go with you." Zhu Zhuqing blurted it out almost without hesitation. "No matter where you go, I'll follow you."

"Oh?" Ling Qianyue closed his eyes, a faint smile on his lips. "You're not afraid of the Star Luo Imperial Family and your Zhu Family holding you accountable?"

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head and recalled the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul into her body. Looking seriously at Ling Qianyue, she said, "They don't get to decide my future. They can't keep me here. During these days of cultivating together, I've grown used to having you by my side. I've also come to understand what a true companion and someone to rely on really is."

"Then why should I—" Before Ling Qianyue could finish, Zhu Zhuqing interrupted him.

Her earlier motion of recalling her Martial Soul had actually been Martial Soul Possession. Taking advantage of Ling Qianyue closing his eyes to rest, Zhu Zhuqing completed the transformation.

The speed boost brought by the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul Possession allowed her to reach Ling Qianyue's bedside in nearly the blink of an eye. She tightly embraced him on the bed, resting her head against his chest. "Don't leave me behind. I only have you."

Ling Qianyue opened his eyes. Feeling Zhu Zhuqing's faintly trembling body in his arms, he let out a soft sigh, smoothed her hair, and patted her back.

"Got it. I won't leave you behind. Get up already, you're so heavy."

"Mhm."

Zhu Zhuqing got up. The corners of her eyes were slightly red, but a smile hung on her lips. "I'm very light."

Light? Ling Qianyue glanced at Zhu Zhuqing's chest, then immediately realized that his gaze might have been somewhat improper. He quickly looked away and coughed awkwardly.

"You!" Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed as she shot Ling Qianyue a reproachful glare. "It's late. I-I'm going to sleep first."

With that, she turned and fled the room as though in a panic.

"Click—"

After running into her own room, Zhu Zhuqing threw herself onto the soft couch, pulled the blanket over her head, and softly whimpered about something beneath it. Her jade-like feet, left exposed outside the blanket, kept kicking up and down as though venting the embarrassment and panic from that brief moment.

What did I just say? Only after quite a while did Zhu Zhuqing poke her head out from beneath the blanket and take a breath of fresh air. The blush on her cheeks had yet to fully fade, and her eyes held both annoyance and shyness.

She lay facedown on her pillow, smiling with her eyes closed.

Ling Qianyue's room.

He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. "This feeling... isn't bad."

Ling Qianyue shook his head and forcibly suppressed the upward curve of his lips, then immersed his mind in the Great Heavenly Star Array Diagram within his sea of consciousness.

Five months had already passed since his Martial Soul Awakening, and the Big Dipper Seven Stars had long since all been lit.

Ling Qianyue had also begun comprehending new stars. Within the heavens, four star sectors flickered, a total of twenty-eight constellations glowing with light.

He focused all his mental energy on the Eastern Star Sector. There, seven constellations connected in a line, like a winding Azure Dragon soaring into the sky: Horn, Neck, Base, Room, Heart, Tail, and Basket.

Among the seven constellations, the Horned Wood Dragon, Neck Gold Dragon, and Base Earth Badger had already been lit. The Pool of Bending, Shoulder Bone, and Three Miles of Hand acupoints on Ling Qianyue's left arm had also become Star Acupoints.

Unlike the enhancements brought by the Seven Stars, the Azure Dragon Constellation granted him greater flexibility and elemental affinity.

His consciousness gradually sank deeper.

The night was deep, and moonlight spilled like silver through the window lattice into Ling Qianyue's room.

"Tap, tap."

Amid barely audible footsteps, Ling Qianyue's door opened a crack, and a slender figure silently slipped inside.

Zhu Zhuqing crept to Ling Qianyue's bedside. Seeing him asleep with steady breathing, she could not resist moving closer and lying beside him.

Her pearly teeth lightly bit her lower lip as her gaze roamed over Ling Qianyue's handsome face before finally settling on his lips.

After a long while, as though she had made up her mind, she leaned down. Her heart pounded like a drum as her crimson lips descended.

"Mmph."

Zhu Zhuqing covered her burning cheeks, gently tucked Ling Qianyue's blanket around him, then turned and left.