"Young master, what's this?" Xiaoqian asked curiously, resisting the bone-deep cold that seemed to seep into her very soul.
"This is the Netherworld Pearl. It contains nearly a thousand years' worth of baleful yin energy," Hao Shuai explained. "Now that you have a cultivation method, with the Netherworld Pearl's help, your cultivation should advance by leaps and bounds."
Hao Shuai had gotten the Netherworld Pearl earlier, in the Nine-Story Demon Tower in the Ghost Blows Out the Light world. He hadn't found much use for it, so he'd casually tossed it into his storage space, where it had gathered dust.
Now it was just the thing for Nie Xiaoqian to use in her cultivation.
Hao Shuai's explanation had enlightened Xiaoqian. Once she sensed the unceasing baleful yin energy within the Netherworld Pearl, she could no longer hide her joy. She took the initiative and threw her arms around Hao Shuai, offering him a sweet kiss.
Faced with such a generous reward, Hao Shuai naturally had no reason to refuse. He immediately went along with it.
After quite a while, Hao Shuai finally pushed away Xiaoqian, who had lost herself in the moment, and laughed. "All right. If you want to thank me, you can do it properly tonight."
As he spoke, Hao Shuai whispered a couple of words into Xiaoqian's ear.
"Young master..." Whatever Hao Shuai had said, Xiaoqian was now blushing from head to toe, pounding his chest in playful protest.
"It's settled, then," Hao Shuai said firmly. "I'll send you back first. Study the Netherworld Ghost Art carefully, and tonight I'll give you some proper guidance with your cultivation."
Without giving Xiaoqian time to change her mind, he sent her back into the Hundred Flower Painting.
After sending Xiaoqian away, Hao Shuai searched every nook and cranny of