The sleazy man stared closer, noticing his boss's eyes wide with terror, devoid of life. As the corpse crumpled to the ground, he turned shakily, spotting the purple Dou Zhi Qi in the white-robed woman's delicate hand. Realization hit him, but it was too late. With the same horrified expression, he collapsed, a purple dot on his chest.
On Xiao Heng's side, the black-faced man, a Six-Star Da Dou Shi, was no match for Xiao Heng's superior techniques and methods. In less than three moves, he fell to the Crimson Dragon Fang. A pale blue figure darted through the fray, and the man's ten lackeys soon lay headless.
Next came the looting. The two Da Dou Shi and the One-Star Dou Ling had some valuables, but the rest were penniless. Xiao Heng flicked his finger, sending thirteen wisps of Devouring Blue Flame onto the corpses. As they turned to ash, a pure energy droplet formed in his hand—enough to boost him several stars. Not a bad haul, he thought.
"Let's go," Xiao Yi Xian said.
"Onward!" They spurred their horses toward Zi Lei City in the Chu Yun Empire's south, planning to catch a flying magical beast to You Ming City, fifty kilometers from the Nether Poison Swamp—their final destination. There, Xiao Yi Xian could harness abundant toxins to rapidly enhance her strength. The three-day ride to Zi Lei City gave Xiao Heng time to cultivate.
___
In a forest, Xiao Heng and Xiao Yi Xian perched on massive tree branches, their horses tied below. Xiao Heng absorbed the energy droplet to boost his cultivation, while Xiao Yi Xian mixed fifth- and fourth-tier poisonous herbs with other ingredients to concoct a more potent poison.
By dawn, Xiao Heng had consumed all the droplets, advancing from Five-Star to Nine-Star Da Dou Shi. Xiao Yi Xian's Dou Zhi Qi had also grown.
"How much did those poisons help?" Xiao Heng asked.
"Two stars. I'm now a Five-Star Dou Wang," Xiao Yi Xian said, smiling. The enhanced toxicity of her concoction had pushed her an extra star.
"Let's hit Zi Lei City and rest there." Xiao Heng leaped onto his horse. Xiao Yi Xian, in white high heels, glided gracefully to her saddle.
"Yah!" They galloped toward Zi Lei City. Two days later, they reached the largest city in Chu Yun's south, its purple walls gleaming. The city lord, Kǎ kǎ luó of the Solaris Clan, was a One-Star Dou Huang with lightning Dou Zhi Qi, famed for holding his own against a Three-Star Dou Huang.
After paying the entry fee, they entered. With Xiao Yi Xian at Five-Star Dou Wang and Xiao Heng at Nine-Star Da Dou Shi, their strength was modest here. They inquired about the flying magical beast's departure point and headed straight there.
Luck was on their side—they caught the last flight to You Ming City. Paying for a windowed private cabin, they boarded the Thick-Winged Bird.
"It's a five-day trip to You Ming City. Finally, some rest," Xiao Heng said, sprawling on the cabin's large bed.
"Nonstop travel's exhausting," Xiao Yi Xian agreed, lying beside him.
Inhaling deeply, Xiao Heng caught her scent, a mix of fragrance and sweat, uniquely alluring. After a moment of intimacy, they fell into a deep sleep.
___
A day later, both were refreshed. Xiao Yi Xian had a small poison reserve left, enough for a day or two. Xiao Heng began refining a third-grade Qi Recovery Pill. Blue flames danced in his hand, slapped into the cyan cauldron to raise its temperature. He tossed in a purple third-tier herb.
The flames steadily burned the herb, with Xiao Heng carefully increasing the heat. Extracting the herb's essence went smoothly, as did processing a third-tier wood-attribute magic core. But the final fusion failed, causing the cauldron to explode. By the third day, his second attempt succeeded, producing a Qi Recovery Pill suitable for Da Dou Shi and Dou Shi.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yi Xian's poison reserves ran dry. She started refining with a purple two-spout cauldron bought in Zi Lei City—cheap for a basic model. Blue flames flickered inside, forming a white droplet. She successfully crafted Blood-Coagulating Powder.
"Xiao Heng, I did it!" Xiao Yi Xian exclaimed, thrilled.
"Keep it up! You'll be a first-grade alchemist in no time," Xiao Heng said, cultivating. He was nearing the peak of Nine-Star Da Dou Shi.
The days on the flying beast were undisturbed, the third-grade pill refining causing little commotion. The biggest disruption was the sultry moans from the next cabin, their seductive cadence disturbing their cultivation and alchemy. Day or night, the woman's intermittent, tantalizing voice echoed through the poorly insulated walls—likely designed to promote such "services."
"Ugh, Xiao Heng, I can't focus!" Xiao Yi Xian snapped, irritated by the moans.
"Then don't. We're a day from You Ming City. We'll fly to the Nether Poison Swamp fast," Xiao Heng said.
"Idling's boring. Let's show these fools what real strength looks like." He pulled Xiao Yi Xian into his arms, his pent-up desire flaring. Had she not been refining, he'd have acted sooner. Time to let loose.
Her purple dress fell to the floor. The sound of skin against skin rang out all night, the air thick with sweat.
___
Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Heng leaned shoulder-to-shoulder, him toying with her white hair, her body glistening with sweat.
"I'll get a bucket of water for a wash," Xiao Heng said.
"Alright."
The beast's staff promptly delivered a large bucket of clear water outside the cabin. Xiao Heng flicked a wisp of Devouring Blue Flame above it, heating it in under a minute.
"Perfect temperature. Go ahead," he said.
"Coming." Xiao Yi Xian's fair skin gleamed as she stepped into the tub, washing off the sweat. Soon, the tub felt cramped.
___
You Ming City arrived. They disembarked, browsed the city, bought herbs, and left through the gates. Five kilometers out, Xiao Yi Xian wrapped her arms around Xiao Heng and soared toward the Nether Poison Swamp.