Growing up

After absorbing that enormous ribbon of energy, the cocoon of light in the dense forest deepened in color. A few mysterious runes also appeared on its surface, giving off a faint radiance that looked quite extraordinary.

But that was all. The "hatching" Liu Yu had imagined did not happen. Seeing this, he withdrew his gaze, took a cold jade bottle from his Storage Ring, poured out a seventh-rank Explosive Origin Pill, swallowed it, and resumed his quiet cultivation.

The Explosive Origin Pill was a mid-grade seventh-rank pill specifically intended for a Dou Zong's regular cultivation. It could accelerate the cultivation of Dou Zong experts, but its domineering medicinal power could only be endured by those at the Dou Zong level or above.

As far as Liu Yu remembered, the pill formula for this cultivation-accelerating pill should have been lost on the Dou Qi Continent. He possessed it because the Alchemy granted by the system included every pill formula from the first through ninth ranks on the Dou Qi Continent.

Of course, that did not rule out certain hidden sects, ancient clans, or the Pill Tower possessing it. It simply was not circulating on the market.

A month passed in the blink of an eye while Liu Yu quietly cultivated, and the cocoon of light stirred again. The radiance of its runes grew increasingly intense, and faint, hairline cracks began spreading across it.

Suddenly, the entire forest shuddered violently, instantly rousing Liu Yu from his cultivation. Before his eyes, the purple cocoon erupted with dazzling light!

"Coming out now?" Liu Yu murmured.

As the light on the cocoon grew brighter, a faint cracking sound rang out. The tiny fissures on its surface silently split open, and countless rays of dazzling purple light shot skyward through them, striking the invisible spatial seal. Ripples spread through space, staining it purple.

Within that enormous purple pillar of light, a hazy, slender figure flickered in and out of view, inviting the imagination to wander.

The pillar lingered for a moment before finally fading away, fully revealing the figure within to Liu Yu.

An utterly perfect naked body was wreathed in faint purple light, lending it a hazy beauty. Long, silky purple hair fell loosely to her pert **. That mature body, enough to stir the most primal desires, and that bewitching face with its faintly familiar features left even Liu Yu astonished. The contrast was anything but small!

On the ground where the pillar had faded, Zi Yan seemed to awaken from a long dream. She languidly stretched her alluring body, perfectly accentuating her already mouthwatering curves, then lazily opened her enchanting purple eyes. Every shifting glance brimmed with seductive charm.

Seeing Liu Yu looking like a "lecher," Zi Yan grew playful. She deliberately thrust out her ample chest, then, as though that was not enough, slowly rose and swayed her mature, seductive figure as she sauntered toward him. (Liu Yu: ...)

Liu Yu had been enjoying the view, but the sight of the tall purple-haired beauty approaching him—especially those gently bobbing **—somehow left him a little dazed. He was already thoroughly accustomed to such sights, yet his heart still stirred restlessly. Perhaps it was the thrill... Ah, such were men...

Reaching Liu Yu's side, Zi Yan looked down at him as he sat cross-legged on the lotus seat. Seeing that her boss was utterly bewitched by her, a heart-stealing smile spread across her enchanting face.

Then she leaned down gently and wrapped her fair arms around Liu Yu's neck. Her high nose brushed his cheek almost casually, and her breath was fragrant as orchids. "Boss, do you like it?"

Was she teasing me? Be that as it may, Liu Yu answered honestly, "I do!"

"Heehee!"

Zi Yan's lips curved into a lovely smile. She had thought her boss would stubbornly deny it! It seemed he really did like it!

Forced to admire that quivering mass, Liu Yu inwardly murmured, What a sin.

Just as Zi Yan was about to continue teasing him, her soft body suddenly trembled. An unusual green light surged out of her, and beneath its glow, her body shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye. Within a few breaths, the shapely beauty had turned back into a petite little girl.

Looking at Zi Yan's adorable face, as exquisite as carved jade, Liu Yu chuckled. He swiftly took a robe from his Storage Ring and slipped it over her, shaking his head. Heaven punished you, didn't it? A lackey actually trying to seduce her boss... (Zi Yan: ...)

Zi Yan was stunned by her transformation. Her two little willow-leaf brows immediately shot up. Why?! I don't want to be small!

Seeing the somewhat gloating Liu Yu before her, Zi Yan's anger boiled over. She threw herself onto him in a fury, fiercely kneading his cheeks with her little hands as she grumbled indignantly, "Find me a way! I want to change back!"

"Isn't this pretty nice? You're so cute!" Liu Yu gently brushed her little hands aside and pinched her tender, fair cheek with a smile.

"Tch, you big pervert! Why pretend to be a gentleman? Your eyes nearly fell out from staring just now! Hurry up and refine that pill that makes me grow up, or I won't let you look anymore!" Zi Yan eyed the insincere Liu Yu with considerable disdain and threatened him outright.

"Ahem, what do you know? That's called appreciation! Besides, it wasn't as though I asked to look!" Liu Yu declared righteously. His reputation was at stake; he could not be careless.

"Ah! I don't care! Stupid Liu Yu! Bad Liu Yu! Perverted Liu Yu! Hurry up and help me change back..." Zi Yan completely ignored his shamelessness and threw a tantrum.

"Is that how you ask your boss for something? I was going to give you a Transformation Pill, but now... Hmph!" Liu Yu turned his head aside to express his displeasure.

A Transformation Pill?! Zi Yan was startled, then filled with indescribable joy. Her purple eyes shone as she wheedled, "Boss~ Give it to me~"

As she spoke, Zi Yan climbed onto Liu Yu and whispered something in his ear. His expression changed involuntarily, though it quickly returned to normal.

"What kind of person do you take me for? As my lackey, you would have received this Transformation Pill sooner or later. But what is this supposed to mean? Am I that sort of person?" Liu Yu's expression suddenly turned rather stern as he scolded her, though no one knew what he was thinking inside...

"Boss, I was wrong, all right? I'll definitely listen to you from now on. About that Transformation Pill..." Zi Yan was truly speechless. What a shameless jerk! Still, she patiently put on a pitiful look and pleaded.

Looking at Zi Yan like this, Liu Yu finally took a jade box from his Storage Ring.

The instant Zi Yan saw the jade box, she snatched it from him and eagerly opened it. Inside was a pill the size of a longan, with green currents interweaving within it. On closer inspection, it looked as though a little green snake was swimming inside.

The moment the box opened, the Transformation Pill lying inside rose into the air. But Zi Yan remained unhurried. She gently closed her little hand, and space immediately writhed, freezing the pill in midair. She then reached out and caught it.

Seeing how much spirit the pill possessed, Zi Yan felt rather delighted. This should be the seventh-rank Transformation Pill! Surely Boss wouldn't deceive me. Otherwise... Zi Yan shot Liu Yu a "fierce" glance, then stuffed the Transformation Pill straight into her little mouth.

Liu Yu could only marvel at how quickly Zi Yan changed her tune. A thousand words could be summed up in one remark: impressive!

The instant Zi Yan swallowed the Transformation Pill, the green light that had shrunk her appeared again. This time, however, it enveloped her entire body. An enormous surge of energy poured from her petite frame, shining together with the green light. In mere moments, her body began slowly growing.

It's changing her already? Probably because she took transformation grass before, and now this Transformation Pill has reacted with it, helping her absorb the medicinal power. That must be why she's growing up so quickly, Liu Yu mused.

Before long, the petite Zi Yan once again possessed that tall, breathtakingly beautiful figure. Once her body had finished taking shape, the green light did not disperse. Instead, as it shone ever brighter, pure energy continuously surged toward her from the world around them.

"What luck! She only just advanced, and her strength is already rising again!" Liu Yu murmured as he watched the gradually forming energy vortex.

Fortunately, this increase in strength was relatively quick. After only half a day, the energy vortex dispersed, and the green light vanished immediately afterward. The mature, voluptuous Zi Yan appeared before Liu Yu once again, though this time she had a robe on.

Yet why did this barely covered appearance feel even more alluring? That snow-white skin flickering into view, and those two blood-stirring crimson *...

Sensing that she had turned back into a grown beauty, Zi Yan felt a little jubilant. What was more, her strength had increased again! She wondered whether she could beat her boss now...

At that thought, the look Zi Yan gave Liu Yu grew rather intriguing. If I could pin Boss down and give him a good thrashing, that would feel amazing!

Zi Yan had always been the sort to put an idea into practice immediately. She suddenly gave Liu Yu a seductive smile, then vanished in an instant.

Seeing Zi Yan disappear, Liu Yu suddenly felt uneasy. He tried to locate her by sensing spatial fluctuations, only to discover that there was not the slightest disturbance anywhere in the forest's space!

The Ancient Void Dragons truly are a race blessed by heaven! Their talent for space is terrifying! And Zi Yan is royalty, the only daughter of the Half-Emperor Dragon Emperor Zhu Kun, which makes her even more frightening!

Though Liu Yu marveled at Zi Yan's talent, he was not helpless. Vast soul power poured from between his brows, instantly enveloping the entire forest. In a flash, he caught Zi Yan's location. However... his expression grew a little strange, and he tilted his head up.

The instant Liu Yu looked up, a mature body slowly emerged from the space above him. Everything that robe could no longer conceal was laid bare before his eyes...

Thanks to reader 20201117235013378 for the two monthly votes.

Thanks to readers Divine Moon at Dawn, An Tu, and reader 20230524080647426 for their monthly votes.