As they spoke, the two had already returned to the wooden cabin. The moment he pushed open the door, Lin Yuan's gaze was drawn to something on the low table by the window—a white jade bowl filled with pale golden liquid, with several emerald-green leaves floating in it. A faint, refreshing fragrance greeted him when he leaned closer.
"This is the Soul Condensing Dew Biji sent over this morning. It was brewed from the Water of Life from the Lake of Life and Thousand-Year Spirit Leaves. It can help stabilize your Soul Power." Gu Yue Na picked up the white jade bowl and held it out to Lin Yuan. "Drink it while it's hot. It won't work as well once it cools."
Lin Yuan took the bowl and took a small sip. The warm liquid slid down his throat with a hint of sweetness, merging with the warmth of the Golden Jade Fruit within him and transforming into gentler energy that slowly seeped into his dantian. His eyes lit up. In just a few gulps, he drained the Soul Condensing Dew, even eating the leaves at the bottom of the bowl.
"Delicious!" Lin Yuan handed the empty bowl back to Gu Yue Na and licked his lips. "It's much sweeter than the Golden Jade Fruit!"
Gu Yue Na smiled as she took the bowl and set it on the low table. "If you like it, Biji will bring some every day from now on. But now, we should continue cultivating. This morning's Pressure Resistance Training was only the beginning. This afternoon, we'll be training Soul Power control."
Lin Yuan immediately straightened up and nodded seriously. "Sister Nana, I'm ready!"
Gu Yue Na led him to the clearing outside the wooden cabin and raised a hand, making a grasping motion toward the air. In the next instant, ten glistening white Soul Crystals appeared out of nowhere and floated before Lin Yuan. These Soul Crystals were common materials in the Star Dou Great Forest. Though they contained faint Soul Power, they were extremely unstable and would shatter with even a little too much force.
"Watch carefully, Xiao Yuan." Gu Yue Na lightly tapped the air with a finger, and one Soul Crystal slowly drifted before Lin Yuan. "Your task is to use Soul Power to wrap these ten Soul Crystals and keep them floating in midair. You can't let them shatter within half an hour, and your Soul Power can't spill beyond their surfaces. If one breaks, you'll add another quarter hour. If you make it through, Sister Nana can give you a kiss."
Lin Yuan's eyes immediately lit up. His little face was filled with excitement, and even his voice sounded brighter than before. "Really? If I do it, Sister Nana will kiss me?"
Seeing his expression, Gu Yue Na could not help curling her lips. She reached out and gently tapped his forehead. "Of course it's true. But don't think it'll be easy. Soul Crystals are fragile and sensitive. Wrap them too tightly, and you'll crush them. Too loosely, and they'll fall. The force has to be just right."
Lin Yuan nodded hard, his gaze fixed on the ten glistening white Soul Crystals hovering before him. He took a deep breath and followed the method Gu Yue Na had taught him, slowly drawing upon the Soul Power that had recovered in his dantian. Carefully, he extended a strand of multicolored golden Soul Power toward the nearest Soul Crystal.
The instant his Soul Power touched the crystal, Lin Yuan held his breath. He could clearly sense how fragile its surface was, as though the slightest increase in force would make it crack. Bit by bit, he adjusted the strength of his Soul Power, gently wrapping the Soul Crystal in multicolored golden light before slowly lifting it upward.
"Very good. Maintain that amount of force." Gu Yue Na's encouraging voice sounded at just the right moment. "Now try making it move. Slowly float it over to you."
Lin Yuan bit down on his lower lip and focused all his attention on controlling his Soul Power. The wrapped Soul Crystal slowly rose into the air and drifted toward him. But just as it drew near, his Soul Power wavered slightly, and the crystal tilted with it. His heart tightened. He hurriedly steadied himself and made slight adjustments to the distribution of his Soul Power, allowing the crystal to regain its balance.
After the first attempt, Lin Yuan gradually got the hang of it. He separated another strand of Soul Power to wrap the second Soul Crystal. This time, he was more practiced than before. Though there were still a few stutters along the way, he successfully suspended both Soul Crystals in the air before him.
But when he tried for the third one, trouble arose. Controlling two strands of Soul Power at once was already difficult for him. The moment the third strand extended outward, it lightly collided with the previous ones. One of the Soul Crystals gave a crack, and a fine fracture appeared on its surface.
"One broke." Gu Yue Na reminded him softly, though there was no reproach in her tone. "As agreed, you need to add another quarter hour. Xiao Yuan, don't rush. First think about how to keep multiple strands of Soul Power from interfering with one another."
The excitement on Lin Yuan's face faded somewhat, but he did not lose heart. Looking at the crack in the Soul Crystal, he silently noted his earlier mistake and adjusted himself again. This time, he did not rush to wrap more crystals. Instead, he first circulated two strands of Soul Power in his palm, trying to keep them from touching like two parallel lines, before slowly merging a third strand into them.
Time passed little by little. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, scattering mottled shadows over the clearing. Sweat once again beaded on Lin Yuan's forehead, and his little face was drawn taut, but he remained focused on controlling the Soul Crystals before him. From three to five, then to eight—each additional crystal made his breathing heavier, yet the determination in his eyes never diminished.
Finally, when the tenth Soul Crystal was wrapped in pale purple Soul Power and hovered steadily in midair, Lin Yuan could not help letting out a quiet breath. He carefully maintained the balance of his Soul Power and looked toward Gu Yue Na, his eyes full of anticipation. "Sister Nana, I did it! None of the ten broke!"
"According to our agreement, the time only starts once all ten Soul Crystals are floating in the air. Since one broke earlier, this assessment begins now, with an additional quarter hour added." Gu Yue Na stepped forward and raised a hand to wipe the sweat from Lin Yuan's face. "It's only just begun. Don't relax yet. The Soul Crystals haven't remained steady for half an hour."
Lin Yuan's newly relaxed shoulders instantly tensed again. He quickly pulled back his gaze and stared fixedly at the ten floating Soul Crystals before him. Multicolored golden Soul Power wrapped around the gleaming white crystals like a string of exquisite wind chimes hanging in midair. But he knew that with even the slightest distraction, those "wind chimes" would shatter into powder.
Soul Power slowly circulated through his meridians, every strand precisely divided as he carefully kept their paths from crossing. At first, things remained steady, but as time passed, the soreness in his hands became increasingly obvious, and exhaustion from maintaining such intense concentration began to surge forth. Several times, one of the outermost Soul Crystals suddenly dipped slightly, forcing him to immediately use his Soul Power to lift it back up, each time breaking him out in a cold sweat.
"Don't stare at only one spot. Use your peripheral vision to watch the condition of every Soul Crystal." Gu Yue Na's voice came at just the right time, carrying a gentle reassurance. "Your Soul Power is still recovering, so don't force yourself. Try using your breathing to adjust your rhythm. Let your Soul Power rise and fall with each breath. It'll be easier."
Lin Yuan obediently adjusted his breathing. When he inhaled, his Soul Power slowed its circulation. When he exhaled, it gently supported the Soul Crystals. Sure enough, his formerly tense state gradually relaxed, and the Soul Crystals swayed much less frequently. He could even spare a little attention to observe the thickness of the Soul Power around each crystal, smoothing out the uneven areas.
A quarter hour, half an hour... When the final second passed, Lin Yuan nearly collapsed at once. He withdrew his Soul Power, and the ten Soul Crystals gently landed in his palms. He looked up at Gu Yue Na, his smile especially brilliant. "Sister Nana, I made it!"
Gu Yue Na slowly walked forward and gently cupped Lin Yuan's little face. Her soft lips pressed a light kiss to his forehead. "You did very well. You can rest now."
The soft touch on his forehead made Lin Yuan freeze instantly. His little face flushed red at a visible speed, and even the tips of his ears turned faintly pink. The hand holding the Soul Crystals unconsciously tightened, his fingers turning slightly white as his breathing grew hurried.
"Then... then I'm going to rest!" Lin Yuan suddenly backed away half a step and turned his face aside, not daring to look Gu Yue Na in the eyes again. With that, he turned and ran toward the wooden cabin.
Watching Lin Yuan's retreating figure, Gu Yue Na could not help laughing softly. She followed behind at an unhurried pace. When she reached the cabin door, she saw Lin Yuan leaning by the window, a lingering blush still on his side profile.
Hearing her footsteps, Lin Yuan's body suddenly stiffened, but he did not dare turn around. He could only pretend to stare blankly at the Lake of Life outside the window. Only when Gu Yue Na's skirt lightly brushed his ankle did he mutter softly, "Sister Nana, why did you come in too?"
"This is my residence too. Am I not allowed to come in? Or is our Xiao Yuan embarrassed?" Gu Yue Na sat beside Lin Yuan and chuckled.
Lin Yuan's ears reddened further. He lowered his face even more, his voice barely louder than a mosquito's. "Not at all... It's just that the kiss on my forehead felt different from before."
"How was it different?" Gu Yue Na deliberately teased him. She reached out and turned his little face toward her, looking into his evasive violet eyes. "Were Sister's lips not soft enough, or not sweet enough?"
"Neither!" Lin Yuan hurriedly protested, grabbing Gu Yue Na's hand in his panic. "It's... it's that my heart was beating too fast. Faster than when I was cultivating under pressure. It felt like it was going to jump out." As he spoke, he pressed Gu Yue Na's hand against his chest, letting her feel the frantic rhythm.
The heartbeat beneath her palm was fast and powerful, and Gu Yue Na's heart softened with it. She leaned down toward Lin Yuan, her warm breath brushing past his ear. "That's because Xiao Yuan likes Sister Nana, isn't it?"
Lin Yuan's cheeks instantly turned so red they seemed ready to bleed, but he did not deny it again. He simply nodded heavily, burying his little head against her neck as he muttered, "Mm, I like Sister Nana. I want to be with Sister Nana forever."
In the end, he still had a child's body. Even with the Dragon God Bloodline and Golden Jade Fruit supporting him, the intense cultivation and emotional fluctuations soon brought a wave of sleepiness over him. Lin Yuan rubbed his face against Gu Yue Na's neck, his voice gradually becoming indistinct. "Sister Nana... I'm a little sleepy... I want to lean against you and sleep for a while..."
Gu Yue Na gently patted his back and said softly, "Sleep. Sister will hold you." With that, she carefully lifted Lin Yuan into her arms and slowly walked toward the bed. When she bent down to place him on the soft beast-fur bedding, she deliberately adjusted his position so he lay on his side, with half his body leaning toward where she was about to lie down.
After finishing all that, Gu Yue Na removed her outer dress and slowly lay down beside Lin Yuan. Carefully, she gathered him into her embrace, pressing his back against her chest while one hand rested lightly over his waist and abdomen.
After an unknown amount of time, Biji's gentle voice came from outside the wooden cabin. "My Lord, Di Tian has returned. He also brought back the Spirit Devouring Engraving Knife Xiao Yuan wanted."
Gu Yue Na carefully withdrew her hand, afraid of waking Lin Yuan. She slowly got up, tucked in the corners of his blanket, then quietly walked to the door and said in a low voice, "Have him wait outside. Don't disturb Xiao Yuan."
"Yes." Biji's voice quickly faded into the distance.
Gu Yue Na returned to the bedside. Only after seeing that Lin Yuan was still sleeping peacefully did she quietly close the room door and head toward the Lake of Life.
By the lake, Di Tian stood holding a pitch-black engraving knife. The knife widened from top to bottom. Its uppermost end was a sharp-looking point, while below it was a blade roughly half an inch wide. The entire body was ancient and dark, with faint patterns engraved upon it. It emitted both a subtle archaic aura and a trace of gloomy heaviness.
"You got the engraving knife?" Gu Yue Na walked forward, her gaze falling on the Spirit Devouring Engraving Knife.
"I got it." Di Tian nodded and handed the knife over, his tone carrying some confusion. "No one competed with me at the auction, so this engraving knife only cost one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins in the end. I really can't see what's so special about it that Xiao Yuan values it so highly. And according to the auctioneer, it's a cursed engraving knife that will backlash against its holder..."
The moment Gu Yue Na took the Spirit Devouring Engraving Knife and touched its body, she sensed a weak yet icy chill climbing upward from the point of contact. That aura carried a faint, devouring malice. She frowned slightly, and a layer of pale silver radiance appeared in her palm, instantly crushing the icy aura.
"This engraving knife is quite good. It was forged from Living Being Gold." Gu Yue Na gently brushed the ancient patterns on its body, understanding appearing in her eyes.
"Living Being Gold? Isn't that the ring of green metal containing pure life force that condenses around the core spring of the Lake of Life?" Di Tian's pupils contracted slightly, his tone filled with surprise. "But this engraving knife is entirely black, without the slightest trace of life force. Instead, it's wrapped in an icy backlash power. No matter how I look at it, it doesn't resemble Living Being Gold."
Gu Yue Na ran a finger lightly over the knife's body. Divine power seeped into it, temporarily suppressing the icy aura. A faint green glow deep within the knife emerged in response. "Injecting evil intent and a curse into Living Being Gold—someone was certainly imaginative. He must have sensed the immense energy within the Living Being Gold, but had no idea how to bring out its true potential."
Meanwhile, Lin Yuan shifted slightly in the wooden cabin. His nose seemed to still catch Gu Yue Na's crisp fragrance, but the empty feeling in his arms made him slowly open his eyes in a daze.
He rubbed his sleepy violet eyes and looked around. The bedside was empty, the cabin door stood slightly ajar, and he could vaguely hear the rustling of wind through leaves outside. He pushed himself up. Just as his little feet touched the soft beast-fur carpet, he suddenly remembered something. His eyes instantly brightened, and more than half his sleepiness vanished.
"Uncle Di Tian should have brought the engraving knife back, right?" he muttered softly. He quickly slipped on his robe and ran toward the door without even putting on shoes, his feet bare.
The moment he pushed the door open a crack, he saw the figures beside the Lake of Life. Gu Yue Na stood with her back to him, seemingly holding something in her hand, while Di Tian and Biji waited quietly nearby. Lin Yuan softened his footsteps and quietly circled behind Gu Yue Na, rising onto his tiptoes to get a clear look at what she held.
As if she had expected it, Gu Yue Na turned around and opened her arms, steadily catching the pouncing Lin Yuan in a full embrace. Seeing his bare little feet, a helpless smile flashed through her eyes. She raised Lin Yuan slightly, letting him settle securely in the crook of her arm, then lifted the pitch-black engraving knife with her other hand. "I guessed you'd come looking for it once you woke up. Di Tian just brought this back. Let Sister Nana see how you plan to use this engraving knife."
Lin Yuan stared at the engraving knife, and his violet eyes instantly shone with astonishing brightness. His little body leaned slightly forward in her arms as he eagerly stretched out a hand. "Sister Nana, give it to me!"
"Be careful. There's a curse in this engraving knife." Gu Yue Na gently held the knife out before him, her hand still carrying a faint coolness from suppressing the icy aura. "I examined it earlier. There's a curse condensed from evil intent hidden inside its body. If an ordinary soul master touches it, their Soul Power will be devoured bit by bit. In serious cases, it can even backlash against their mind."
Lin Yuan did not care in the slightest. His little hand firmly gripped the engraving knife's handle. In the next moment, his spiritual power covered the Spirit Devouring Engraving Knife. He was not afraid of its backlash. Though his physical constitution could not be considered exceptional, it was still far stronger than that of geniuses at the same level. More importantly, he possessed the Dragon God Martial Soul, Dragon God Bloodline, Dragon God Core, and the Quasi-Supreme Artifact Nine-Colored Dragon God Spear. To him, this little evil curse was nothing more than something he could destroy with a casual wave of his hand.
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