Dao Heart Tower

Ye Qiu looked at the tall young woman standing on the tiger's back. For a moment, the whole scene felt like a dream.

He had believed her earlier. He had even thought she had chosen a big guy like Wu Xiaokai because her cultivation was low and she lacked a sense of security.

After all, Wu Xiaokai looked fierce.

And he was pretty fierce beneath the surface, too.

Body and Law Dual Cultivation.

He could hold his own against someone in Law Gathering!

But now...

The saying was right: the prettier a woman was, the better she was at disguising herself, and the easier she could fool people!

He walked over to Wu Xiaokai and said softly, "This girl is pretty formidable, huh?"

Wu Xiaokai's face lit up with pride. "You haven't seen anything yet. My Lingling hasn't even swung her big hammer. Once she gets that thing going, a mere Green Scaled Demon Tiger would be smashed to pieces."

Ye Qiu glanced at him. "What's Miss Luo's cultivation level?"

"Law Gathering Triple," Wu Xiaokai said. "But most people at Law Gathering Fifth Level can't even get close to her!"

Then Wu Xiaokai looked at Ye Qiu. "Brother Ye, I learned all this from you. If you're looking for a wife, you've got to find one who can fight and stand up for you when it counts!"

Ye Qiu looked at him, caught between laughter and tears. His feelings were a tangled mess. He lowered his voice. "But can you handle her?"

"Brother, I have to say something," Wu Xiaokai replied. "We marry wives so we can cherish them!"

Just then, Luo Ling called from up ahead, and Wu Xiaokai hurried over.

"Brother Kai, take a look. What should we do with it?" Luo Ling stepped down from the tiger's back and spoke gently. Compared with her domineering manner earlier, she seemed like a completely different person.

Two extremes.

Like something out of a dream...

Wu Xiaokai took out a Sharp Blade, its edge wickedly keen. "Leave it to me."

With that, he plunged the blade through the Demon Beast's throat, letting out the blood while it was still warm.

"You have to drain a wild beast's blood as soon as you kill it. Otherwise, the blood becomes much less effective. If it stays inside, it'll taint the meat, too, and the meat won't taste good."

"And the hide needs to come off early as well..."

Wu Xiaokai's movements were practiced. His blade spun a few times, then traced along its cuts. After a dazzling flurry of motion, he peeled away an intact Demon Hide.

Incredibly practiced!

He had grown up in the mountains and dealt with Demon Beasts year after year. To him, this was basic knowledge.

He made it look as natural as eating or drinking.

"Brother Kai, you're amazing!" Luo Ling's large eyes shone as she gave Wu Xiaokai a thumbs-up, showering him with praise.

The big man grinned and rolled up the tiger hide. "I'll have a cloak made for you from this. It'll look great... Actually, leopard print would be even better. We'll kill a leopard when we get the chance."

"Brother Kai, you're so good to me." Luo Ling's voice grew even more alluring, her manner bewitching.

Wu Xiaokai said proudly, "Of course... Cherishing our wives is a tradition in my family."

Luo Ling believed him.

Ye Qiu: "..."

Just look at them. Look at them!

Once again, life had become a knife—a Sharp Blade—and driven itself mercilessly into his armpit!

It hurt so much, yet he wanted to laugh...

Wu Xiaokai soon finished butchering the Demon Beast. He set aside its blood and a few special materials, kept the tiger hide for a cloak, and cut the meat into pieces, storing them one by one in his Storage Ring.

He put the especially nourishing part away separately!

Then he stood and looked at Ye Qiu. "Brother Ye, you seem particularly fond of Demon Beast Spirits. This tiger's spirit is yours."

Ye Qiu did not take it. He looked at Luo Ling instead. She was the one who had killed the tiger.

By rights, it belonged to her.

Luo Ling merely smiled. "My Brother Kai decides for us."

Ye Qiu: "..."

Look at that. Just look at her!

Wu Xiaokai pressed the Demon Beast Spirit into Ye Qiu's hand. "Don't be polite. We're practically family."

Ye Qiu fell silent.

They entered the Mountain Valley and dug several blood-colored crystals out of the tiger's cave.

According to Wu Xiaokai, these were Demon Blood Crystals. They were enormously beneficial for Body Refinement and worth a great deal.

There were fifteen in all.

They continued onward. Ye Qiu barely got involved along the way, because Luo Ling really was that strong.

A punch, a kick, even a shout from her could subdue a powerful Demon Beast.

What the hell kind of training was this?

Worse, those two seemed intent on flaunting their affection right in front of him, all tenderness and sweetness... Ye Qiu glanced at the sun overhead. Right then, he felt brighter than the sun itself.

His mood was thoroughly sour.

He finally endured until afternoon, when the three of them left the mountains and returned to the Academy.

"Brother Ye, come straight to my place," Wu Xiaokai said. "We'll continue the Medicinal Bath Body Forging from last time."

Ye Qiu refused outright, but Wu Xiaokai and Luo Ling insisted so warmly that he could not get out of it.

They entered Wu Xiaokai's courtyard. It had been tidied up, and everything looked fresh and new.

Wu Xiaokai prepared two tubs, one large and one small, filled them with water, then added the ingredients.

He gave Ye Qiu the small tub. Together, Wu Xiaokai and Luo Ling carried the large one into another room.

Ye Qiu had to admire the guy. It had only been a few days, and they had already gotten this far?

He climbed into the small tub, closed his eyes, and enjoyed the comfort of the bath.

At first, it was quite pleasant. But gradually, the sounds coming from next door took an unusual turn.

What the hell? Were they even taking a bath?

Wu Xiaokai really had some skills!

Ye Qiu shut out his six senses and withdrew into his own world. At long last, the medicine's effects were fully spent.

He climbed out of the wooden tub, dried himself, got dressed, and went into the courtyard, where he caught a distinctive aroma.

"Brother Ye, you're done... Come on, eat while it's hot. My Lingling simmered the tiger meat. It's good."

Ye Qiu glanced at him. The guy looked full of energy. Beside him, Luo Ling came out carrying a basin of soup, her face positively glowing.

Ye Qiu went over.

The tiger meat tasted good.

Ye Qiu did not drink the soup.

Wu Xiaokai finished it all.

It was soup made from the tiger's prized parts.

Still, he was not entirely satisfied. "Lingling, this soup's a little salty, and you cooked it a bit too long."

"Ah? Sorry, Brother Kai. It was my first time making this stuff. I'll be more careful next time."

Wu Xiaokai nodded. "Good girl."

Ye Qiu kept his head down, not daring to look up.

At last, dinner ended. Ye Qiu rose to leave, and Wu Xiaokai made no attempt to stop him. He hurried straight into the room with Luo Ling.

Ye Qiu cursed him under his breath. That little bastard—hadn't they just finished?

Was his appetite really that big?

Ye Qiu left the courtyard with mixed feelings... Then he made his way to the area around the Cultivation Tower.

This time, he went neither to the Trial Tower nor to the Gravity Tower. Instead, he stopped before a short tower.

A pitch-black stone stele stood in front of it, roughly as tall as a person. Three glowing words were written upon it:

Dao Heart Tower!