"The Spirit-Devouring Puppet Refining Method?"
Xiao Xun'er's delicate hands paused, and water slipped through her fingers, dripping onto the ground in tiny splashes.
A thoughtful look entered her eyes, tinged with recollection. "It was the devouring property of your Dou Qi that reminded me of this lost art of the Tunling Clan. Originally, I hoped it could make your Magic Core useful again."
Her voice was gentle, like a breeze brushing the surface of the lake in the stillness.
Xiao Qian nodded. "Refining a puppet is difficult to begin with. This technique does use a Magic Core to power the puppet, but it still requires Dou Qi to assist its movements. And you can't control a puppet whose Dou Qi far exceeds your own. It's something of a chicken rib-too little meat to enjoy, yet a shame to throw away."
"But it's just right for Jia Lie Ao."
He pointed at Jia Lie Ao, whom he had kicked unconscious beneath the tree, his gaze like that of someone inspecting an object about to be remodeled.
"Spirit-Devouring Puppet Refinement... I never wanted to do that. They forced my hand."
Xiao Xun'er lowered her eyes in thought for a moment, then slowly nodded. "I understand."
The golden light in her eyes finally began to fade, and the power that had rivaled a Dou Shi vanished with it.
The instant that golden light disappeared, even the air around them seemed to grow still, leaving only moonlight spilling over them.
"Mm."
The girl's body went limp, and she involuntarily leaned against Xiao Qian's chest.
Xiao Qian hastily steadied her, gently wrapping both arms around her slender, supple waist.
Her hair fluttered in the breeze and brushed his bare body, bringing faint tickles and a delicate fragrance.
It felt like a feather lightly grazing his skin, making his heart tremble.
Suddenly, an itch stirred within his heart as well, and an urge he had never felt before welled up inside him.
"It must be the lingering effects of that drug..."
Xiao Qian murmured inwardly and swallowed, his mouth and throat dry.
He tried to find a reasonable explanation for this strange feeling, only to discover that his heartbeat was growing faster and faster.
"What's... wrong with you...?"
Xiao Xun'er suddenly grew uneasy, her girlish intuition alerting her to a hint of danger.
She looked up, meeting a pair of burning eyes.
The flames smoldering in those eyes made her feel hot all over, somehow more unbearable than even the Child Flame of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame.
Her heartbeat involuntarily quickened as well, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.
"I..."
Without realizing it, Xiao Qian lowered his head, drawing closer to the girl's exquisitely beautiful face.
His breathing grew rapid, and Xiao Xun'er's lovely features were all he could see.
Xiao Xun'er instinctively drew her head back a little, feeling flustered, confused, and strangely moved.
A trace of panic and shyness showed in her eyes, yet she did not turn away.
This boy beneath the moon had just fought a bloody battle, taking on a Dou Shi with his meager Dou Qi and emerging victorious. What brilliance, what spirit he had shown.
She knew it was different from her use of a secret art. That had been his own strength.
"Has this blockhead finally caught on?"
Xiao Xun'er stared dazedly at Xiao Qian's approaching face, already feeling his warm breath against her youthful cheeks.
"But I... I can't... This wasn't what Father originally meant... I was supposed to subdue him, not... I..."
Countless thoughts filled her mind, tangling together.
No matter how many stray thoughts crowded her mind, how many misgivings lay in her heart, or how desperately reason tried to stop her, the girl merely leaned against the boy's chest without drawing away an inch.
"This is a dream."
She told herself that inwardly, her lashes trembling as she slowly closed her eyes.
In this moment: moonlit night, waterfall, lakeshore, clear wind.
In this instant: stirring hearts, falling in love, an embrace, a kiss.
It was clear wind and jade dew, a glorious sight in the mortal world, surpassing countless others.
Time seemed to stand still, leaving only the sound of their heartbeats echoing in each other's ears.
"I've finally stepped straight into trouble..."
Xiao Qian sighed inwardly, yet could not bear to leave the girl's cherry lips, gently savoring them without letting go.
He knew what this kiss meant. It meant he had fallen into the whirlpool of emotions he had always tried to escape.
As a staunch believer in the theory that women meant trouble, emotional entanglements were what he feared most.
Unfortunately, after years of uninterrupted nurturing of his meridians and the girl's ceaseless outpouring of affection, his defenses had long since worn thin.
If embracing and holding hands had already become part of everyday life, reaching this point had only been a matter of time.
He had resisted for six years. Today, under the drug's influence, his defenses finally collapsed.
"Wait, wait, you can't..."
Xiao Xun'er suddenly grabbed his hand and shoved him away, stopping that wicked claw from sliding any farther down.
Her face was as red as a ripe apple, and a trace of panic showed in her eyes.
Xiao Qian breathed deeply, even his exhalations scorching hot. He looked at Xiao Xun'er awkwardly, unsure what to say.
"How... how much did you all drink today...? This isn't like you..."
The girl sprang away from him as though frightened, awkwardly straightening her clothes. Her face was crimson; she wanted to flee, yet could not bear to leave the atmosphere of this moment behind.
Xiao Qian suddenly froze.
A golden chain abruptly appeared. Just as it had the previous six times, it emerged from Xiao Xun'er's body and flew into his, opening a new Dantian.
This was the first time it had appeared outside their meridian-nurturing sessions.
His eyes darkened, and all the feverish heat within him vanished in an instant.
His heart jolted. So nurturing his meridians still wasn't the key.
It was you.
Your feelings for me.
Was this the shackle of deep affection the prophecy spoke of?
In that instant, he suddenly understood many things. Once every other possibility had been eliminated, however unbelievable the final answer might be, he could only accept it.
"There are two Dantians left. I can still test it."
His heart grew heavy, and all that tenderness turned into an agitation that seemed to scorch his heart.
"Are you all right?"
Sensing the change in his mood, Xiao Xun'er hurriedly suppressed her embarrassment and sat beside him again, gently taking his hand.
Her delicate hand was slightly cool, seeming to convey a measure of stillness and carry her own serenity into his heart.
Even now, Xiao Qian remembered how mischievous and spirited the girl had been six years ago. Back then, he could never have imagined she would grow so serene, like a pool of clear spring water, graceful and soothing.
"I'm fine now. Thank you."
He slowly exhaled, as though breathing out all his pent-up gloom.
He had never liked worrying. He hated agonizing and fretting most of all, preferring to fight if he disagreed and charge straight into action. All that dithering and romance was far too troublesome.
"Everything else can wait. I'm going to work on Jia Lie Ao!"
Xiao Qian stood, took clean clothes from his Storage Ring, and put them on, turning a fierce gaze toward Jia Lie Ao.
"Mm, we've already... delayed quite a while. The Jia Lie Family should have reacted by now." Xiao Xun'er stood as well and stepped forward with practiced ease to smooth the creases in his clothes.
"About just now..."
Xiao Qian's heart softened, and he could not help wanting to say something, but the girl immediately covered his mouth with her delicate hand.
Xiao Xun'er's face reddened. "Don't say it! And don't ever bring it up again!"
"Oh, that suits me perfectly."
Xiao Qian shrugged, trying to ease the somewhat awkward atmosphere.
Xiao Xun'er stared blankly for a moment, then promptly stamped on his foot. "Hmph."
The little gesture carried a hint of playful indignation, as though they had returned to their usual easy rapport.
Xiao Qian laughed and stepped forward to take her hand.
The boat will straighten itself when it reaches the bridge. I can't be bothered to think about it now. Whatever happens, happens!
He led Xiao Xun'er over to Jia Lie Ao, preparing to begin refining the puppet.
"The Spirit-Devouring Puppet Refining Method requires a living creature. Devour its soul, replace its core with a Magic Core, then use Dou Qi to erode and refine it."
He stepped up to Jia Lie Ao and placed his right hand on his head. His eyes turned pitch-black, and black light poured down from his hand.
His expression grew solemn as he began to perform this cruel secret art.
"Aah-!"
Jia Lie Ao suddenly let out a piercing scream. The agony of having his soul devoured was beyond words.
His entire body convulsed incessantly as the invisible light of his soul was swallowed by the black radiance and mixed into Xiao Qian's Dou Qi.
The scene was horrifying, like a vision from hell.
The next moment, Xiao Qian took out an ordinary Magic Core and stuffed it into Jia Lie Bi's mouth, cutting off every sound.
Under the black light's control, the Magic Core automatically entered Jia Lie Ao's body and descended all the way to his Dantian.
His movements were methodical. Although he felt some revulsion toward this practice, he had to do it for the sake of revenge.
"Refining people directly into puppets is still a bit disgusting. I don't want to use my Magic Core this way. I'll have to improve it in the future."
Xiao Qian muttered under his breath, but his hands did not slow. Streams of black Dou Qi were driven into Jia Lie Ao's body, gradually replacing his original shinbones, controlled by the Magic Core's energy...
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