System Rewards, Seclusion to Break Through

Yunxiao's voice suddenly rose several octaves.

She stood frozen in place, her red lips slightly parted, shock filling her beautiful eyes.

Qiongxiao's words echoed in her ears, lingering long after they were spoken.

Dao Companions were more or less like mortal husband and wife?

There was nothing wrong with the part about living together. Cultivators simply cultivated together.

But why did the rest involve having children?!

She knew little about anything beyond cultivation, but she had heard a thing or two about mortals having children.

Did that mean she would have to... with Lu Changsheng?

Yunxiao was completely stunned.

Just then, Bixiao came over, drawn by Yunxiao's sudden shriek.

"Second Sister, what happened?"

Bixiao asked curiously.

But how could Bixiao know what was going on when even Qiongxiao didn't?

At that moment, Qiongxiao was just as confused.

"I don't know either. Big Sister just asked me about Dao Companions."

"I only said Dao Companions had children just like mortal couples, and then Big Sister..."

Before she could finish, Bixiao's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Second Sister, if you don't know, don't make things up."

"Dao Companions aren't exactly like mortal couples. There are some differences."

"What differences?"

Yunxiao suddenly asked.

Qiongxiao stared at Yunxiao in astonishment, utterly bewildered.

Bixiao, meanwhile, didn't notice anything amiss and simply continued.

"Big Sister, you've come to the right person."

"Mortal couples have children, but they don't just start by having a baby."

"There's a gradual process of developing feelings first."

Bixiao shared her understanding of Dao Companions.

"If I had to compare them, Dao Companions are probably like mortals dating."

"As their feelings deepen, they'll hold hands, hug, kiss, and so on. Only then do they have children."

Qiongxiao was taken aback and instinctively asked,

"How do you know all that?"

"That's none of your business."

Bixiao lifted her chin, looking rather pleased with herself.

"What, are you proud of yourself?"

A cold voice suddenly rang out.

Yunxiao had come back to her senses and snapped,

"Instead of focusing on cultivation, you're thinking about all sorts of nonsense all day."

After being scolded, Bixiao pouted and muttered under her breath,

"You're the one who asked, Big Sister."

Her voice was quiet, but there was no way it could escape Yunxiao's ears.

Yunxiao furrowed her delicate brows.

"I only wanted to see just how distracted you were."

"Go temper the materials needed for the formation at once. You are not to leave the cave even for a moment until you break through to the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm during this seclusion!"

Bixiao could only walk deeper into the cave, looking aggrieved.

"Qiongxiao, go with Bixiao. Finish preparing the formation as soon as possible, and get ready to enter seclusion."

Yunxiao urged Qiongxiao as well.

Qiongxiao gave Yunxiao a meaningful look.

On the surface, Yunxiao seemed to be scolding Bixiao for letting thoughts of Dao Companions distract her.

But why did Qiongxiao feel that Yunxiao had become a little different since she and Bixiao returned?

For a moment, she couldn't figure out what had happened.

Never mind. Maybe she was overthinking it.

After hesitating briefly, Qiongxiao went after Bixiao.

Left alone, Yunxiao watched Qiongxiao and Bixiao disappear from sight, then let out a long breath.

That was close. She'd almost given herself away.

If Bixiao found out about her and Lu Changsheng, who knew what kind of commotion she'd cause?

The good news was that Dao Companions didn't need to have children or anything like that.

But what was all this about holding hands, kissing, and all those other intimate gestures?

After much thought, Yunxiao clenched her jade-like hand.

What am I thinking, worrying about Dao Companions?

The priority now is to cultivate in seclusion, reach the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal Peak as soon as possible, and break through to Daluo Golden Immortal, bringing fame to the Interception Sect!

As for Lu Changsheng, I'll see whether he can break through to Taiyi Golden Immortal in a thousand years.

Having made up her mind, Yunxiao immediately steadied her breath and focused on completing the formation.

Meanwhile.

After returning to his cave, Lu Changsheng still felt as if none of it were real.

Before leaving his cave, he had been a battered Earth Immortal Peak with nothing to his name.

Now, he had successfully become Dao Companions with Yunxiao and activated the system.

Thinking of this, Lu Changsheng couldn't help but smile.

He really had gone to Three Immortal Island for Bixiao at first. Who could've guessed that, somehow, he'd ended up confessing to Yunxiao?

He hadn't intended to become Dao Companions with Yunxiao.

But whatever the case, the outcome was good.

For now, he needed to figure out how this system worked.

After all, he couldn't rapidly increase his cultivation without the system's rewards.

As the thought crossed his mind, a translucent panel materialized before him.

[Host: Lu Changsheng]

[Cultivation: Earth Immortal Peak]

[Dao Companion: Yunxiao (Taiyi Golden Immortal), Current Affection: 0 (Neutral)]

[Magic Treasure: Ling Yun Jian (Xiantian Lingbao)]

[Cultivation Techniques and Divine Abilities: Nine Heavens Thunder Eyes (Not Yet Mastered)]

[System Functions Unlocked: None]

After reading through the panel, Lu Changsheng looked puzzled.

It only recorded his current status. It didn't say what would earn him a reward.

[When the Host or his Dao Companion increases their cultivation, or when his Dao Companion's affection reaches the next stage, this system will issue the Host a reward.]

After hearing the system's explanation, Lu Changsheng looked again at the third entry on the panel.

Yunxiao's affection was only at zero right now?

But on second thought, that made sense.

After all, they had only met twice. How much affection could a Taiyi Golden Immortal have for an Earth Immortal?

Still, the system's method of granting rewards for increasing affection was pretty good.

Next, his gaze shifted to the last entry on the panel.

What did it mean that no functions were unlocked?

[To unlock more system permissions, the Host must work hard to increase his cultivation or his Dao Companion's affection.]

It seemed he still couldn't get around improving his cultivation and increasing his Dao Companion's affection.

He needed to think of a way to deepen his relationship with Yunxiao.

But before that, his priority was to heal his injuries and improve his cultivation.

He took out the Three Revolutions Green Spirit Pill from the Beginner's Gift Pack and swallowed it without hesitation.

The pill's effects erupted at once. A vast healing power surged through his body, and everywhere its medicinal power passed, his injuries healed at an astonishing rate.

In just a few breaths, the severe injuries he'd suffered while attempting to break through to Heaven Immortal were completely healed.

Lu Changsheng let out a long breath. As expected, the system's rewards were extraordinary.

Next, he would improve his innate potential and attempt to break through to Heaven Immortal again.

With a thought, a fist-sized Blood-colored Fruit appeared in his palm.

It was the Xuanhuang Lingxue Guo!

The moment it appeared, a bloody glow enveloped the entire cave.

Within that bloody light lay an indescribable Profound Power.

Lu Changsheng immediately swallowed the Xuanhuang Lingxue Guo.

In an instant, all the bloody light in the cave converged on him.

As the crimson radiance entered his body, Lu Changsheng could clearly feel the changes taking place within him.

His innate potential was improving.

The corners of his mouth lifted in a faint smile.

Defying fate and changing my destiny starts now!