The sphere of dissipating electricity and crackling lightning continued for several breaths.
Most of the mist dispersed, drastically reducing its effects of confusing divine sense and disrupting vision, but the fragrance that influenced thoughts and bewitched the heart remained just as potent.
Yet it had no effect on Su Hao.
"Heavenly Thunder Talismans, Lightning Strike Talismans, and Thunder Fire Talismans... Where did you get so many lightning-type talismans?"
Liu Mei revealed her battered form. The Crimson Powder Miasma contracted, covering her body like a flowing robe. She stared at Su Hao. "Why aren't you affected by the Crimson Powder Miasma?"
"Heh heh, no comment... But for you, with your mere Primal Yin Physique, dual cultivation with me would absolutely be the greatest fortune of your life.
"Too bad you don't know what's good for you."
Su Hao held the Spirit Snake Sword in one hand, while his left hand quietly gripped a black pointed cone half the size of his palm—the one-use magical artifact, the Body Breaking Cone!
A trace of arrogance entered his eyes.
The Primal Yin Physique and Primal Yang Physique were both merely blue talents, valued only for their rarity and special uses.
But they were absolutely no match for the orange talent, the Wood Emperor Physique.
The Wood Emperor Physique's special properties would benefit Liu Mei far more than the Primal Yang Physique could.
"Huh?" Liu Mei was amused. The instant she laughed, she suddenly launched an attack.
Su Hao calmly met her head-on, and the two clashed at close quarters.
Liu Mei was far from weak in close combat. Her body was soft and agile; she could even fold herself in half, twisting in ways that defied human anatomy, as though she had no bones.
"Crimson Flame Sword Art..."
The longer Liu Mei fought, the more alarmed she became. After several dangerously narrow evasions, she gained a profound understanding of how high Su Hao's talent for the Sword Path was.
She could even sense the rudimentary form of sword intent within it. He was more formidable than the several senior sisters at Joy Peak who also cultivated the Sword Path!
His sword force surged without end, like raging flames sweeping across the wilderness.
If this dragged on, Su Hao would definitely be the final victor!
A faint trace of regret surfaced in Liu Mei's heart. If only she had left herself more room when speaking and stalled this brat first...
Her hesitation vanished in a flash. A pair of blood-red, fang-shaped daggers had already appeared in her hands.
They shot toward Su Hao in an instant, like two scarlet little snakes. They crossed and crisscrossed in a flash, filling the sky with bloody shadows.
At that instant, Su Hao's power soared. His eyes turned blood-red, and his entire skin looked as though it had caught fire.
"Extreme Intent True Art!"
Liu Mei shrieked, her voice breaking, and her entire body trembled.
She had seen this technique before. Its side effects were severe, but it could rely on an explosive outburst to create a gap in strength between its user and an opponent within a short time.
Suddenly, Su Hao knocked the two daggers high into the air. They soared and fell into the grass.
The Spirit Snake Sword had gained several notches, but its sharpness remained unaffected. Its blade rested against Liu Mei's neck.
"Su Hao... I... I acknowledge you!"
Liu Mei's voice trembled. The Crimson Powder Miasma completely withdrew into her body, and she leaned weakly against the tree trunk, looking pitifully vulnerable.
One of the reasons she had been invincible among the outer disciples was the secret art of Joy Peak, the Crimson Powder Miasma. This miasma existed somewhere between a magical artifact and a spell, possessing tremendous potential for growth. Its current power was already no weaker than a mid-grade magical artifact.
Yet it was completely ineffective against Su Hao.
This was a situation Liu Mei had never encountered before. Only when facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator whose strength utterly overwhelmed hers had she ever felt so helpless.
"You acknowledge me?" Su Hao laughed. The sword's edge had already cut through Liu Mei's skin, and blood slowly trickled down.
Liu Mei trembled even more violently. Her foxlike eyes shimmered with seductive allure, but the fear in them was quickly suppressed, and she giggled. "Su Hao, as you said, you and I complement each other through yin and yang. Perfectly establishing our foundations together in the future is the superior path."
"But I can't just agree to dual cultivation with any man who says he wants to do it with me, can I?"
"So I was merely testing your strength. You truly gave me a tremendous shock!"
"With your aptitude and strength, you can definitely enter the top twenty among the inner disciples. And your potential is something those senior brothers and sisters lack."
"You're qualified to dual cultivate with me! I acknowledge you!"
"Our fates are similar. If we join hands and work as one from now on, we'll definitely reach the Great Dao and become an immortal couple."
Her voice was gentle as water, her eyes seductive and lively, while a faint fragrance lingered around her.
Without a sound, it bewitched people invisibly. Even a Level 10 Qi Refining cultivator would be affected.
Liu Mei had pushed the "Demonic Charm Technique" of the Wife-Pleasing Scripture to its utmost limit. Not to mention men—even women would fall prey to it.
Violent scenes of intimacy with Liu Mei repeatedly flashed through Su Hao's mind.
It was not merely the effect of the charm technique. It also arose from a man's instincts. Liu Mei's figure and beauty were peerless—what man under heaven wouldn't want to take her for himself and keep her as a plaything?
A flash of sword light appeared!
That beautiful head flew high into the air, its pretty face filled with terror, before rolling across the ground. Her soft, alluring body collapsed into a pool of blood.
"Hmph. Do you take me for an idiot?"
Su Hao took a deep breath. While still wavering, he directly activated the Body Breaking Cone, shattering Liu Mei's protective spiritual power. At the same time, he swung the Spirit Snake Sword and killed the number one beauty of Joy Peak!
Absorbing Talent Power: Primal Yin Physique (Blue), Water Spirit Body (White)
Name: Su Hao Realm: Qi Refining Level 8 Talents: Wood Emperor Physique (Orange), Hidden Kill (Purple), Apothecary (Blue), Fire Elemental Sword Physique (Blue), Sword Heart (Blue), Talisman Control (Blue), Lightning Palm (Blue), Frost Condensation (Blue), Primal Yang Physique (Blue), Primal Yin Physique (Blue), Golden Spirit Body (White), Water Spirit Body (White), Wood Affinity (White), Talent for the Sword Path (White), Martial General (White), Wisdom Heart (White), Bronze Rock Body (White), Innate Brute Strength (Gray)
"Special reaction detected in the special power within the host's body."
"Yin and yang take root in each other; yin absorbs yang, while yang warms yin..."
"Talent Primal Yang Physique (Blue) has disappeared. Talent Primal Yin Physique (Blue) has disappeared."
"Generating new talent: Innate Yin-Yang (Purple)"
Innate Yin-Yang: Born from the two qi of yin and yang, one of the origins of the Great Dao. Possesses the effects of harmonizing yin and yang and tempering spiritual power; cultivation efficiency increased by fifty percent!
The aura around Su Hao flickered erratically before ultimately merging into one. His aura became pure and peaceful, with faint black-and-white spiritual light shimmering around him.
Another purple talent!
Just now, Su Hao had actually felt regret over losing Liu Mei's assistance and the great benefit that came with it.
He had also worried that talents might be gender-specific, and that a man possessing the Primal Yin Physique might cause some sort of problem.
Now, it seemed he had been overthinking things.
The special talent entries could actually sense one another and automatically fuse and evolve!
It had directly achieved the ultimate goal of dual cultivation without the process of dual cultivation, eliminating the need for external assistance.
Crack, crack—the dry leaves shattered...
The noise startled Su Hao.
The frail Cui Ziming crawled toward the grass. When the noise rang out, he frantically quickened his crawl and screamed, "Don't kill me! Su Hao, don't kill me!"
The Spirit Snake Sword transformed into a nimble blue serpent and burrowed into Cui Ziming's body.
After twisting several times, it shattered Cui Ziming's heart, killing him instantly.
Absorbing Talent Power: Earth Spirit Body (White)
The effect of the Extreme Intent True Art had already begun to fade. His spiritual power was depleted, and a sense of weakness surged through him.
To be cautious, he prepared to use Corpse Dissolving Water to dispose of the bodies, then leave as quickly as possible.
Movement came from the distance. In the distant sky, a surging blood mist and several streaks of dazzling spiritual light were rushing toward this direction.