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Top Floor of the Spirit Pagoda, Fire Basin.
"You're here?" Gu Yue smiled lightly.
"Yes. This trip was rushed. Qiangu Dongfeng recalled me—I'm not sure what his intentions are."
"You'll find out once you go back."
Gu Yue glanced out the window. The sun was setting again, its afterglow painting the sky just as it had before. She said, "Let's go rest. There are some things I'd like to ask you, actually."
"What things?" Bai Xu asked curiously.
"That soul cultivation technique you gave me—it seems I can practice it to some extent. Your assessment wasn't entirely accurate. I might not need to reach the Divine Origin Realm in spiritual power to start." Gu Yue's tone carried a meaningful hint.
Unaware of any underlying scheme, Bai Xu pondered and replied, "Is that so? Maybe I miscalculated. Let's go, then. I'll help you with your cultivation."
Following Gu Yue's lead, Bai Xu turned left and right, the gradually familiar scenery stirring unease in his heart. Standing outside the now-familiar room—one he had stayed in twice before—he hesitated, unwilling to take another step inside.
Gu Yue, however, walked in effortlessly. Turning back, she smiled and said, "Relax. I know what you're thinking. I haven't laid any binding formations like Gu Yuena did. I promised her."
Hearing this, Bai Xu finally eased his mind. After carefully checking the room and confirming there were no traps, he stepped inside. "I thought you might try the same trick again."
"Heh, I'm not that foolish." Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Gu Yue continued, "This technique requires condensing the soul into a sword, so it naturally places high demands on the soul. My spiritual power hasn't reached the Divine Origin Realm, yet I can form a rudimentary sword embryo. It just won't stabilize—something seems to be blocking it."
"Oh?" Bai Xu was puzzled. He hadn't encountered such issues.
"Enter my spiritual sea and take a look."
"Alright."
Gu Yue's words were earnest, revealing no signs of deception. Trusting her completely, Bai Xu immersed himself into her spiritual sea without reservation.
As before, the azure ocean was tranquil. The silver dragon gradually took on Gu Yue's form, her brow furrowed in concentration as she deciphered the cultivation method Bai Xu had taught her.
Suddenly, she stopped and asked, "Has your soul injury healed yet?"
"Not yet."
"So you still can't use spiritual power?"
"No." Bai Xu pressed, "Why did you stop? I need to see how you're forming the sword embryo to identify the problem."
"No need. Your initial assessment was correct—one must at least reach the Divine Origin Realm in spiritual power to practice this technique." A triumphant smile played on Gu Yue's lips.
!!!
Bai Xu's eyes widened slightly as realization struck. He tried to retreat, but in the next moment, Gu Yue's entire spiritual sea erupted in a dazzling display of nine-colored light. Hidden deep within the ocean were intricate soul-defense runes.
"You—!" Bai Xu was stunned.
Then came the familiar nine-colored chains—only this time, they bound his soul, dragging it out of her spiritual sea and suspending it mid-air.
"I can set up the formations now, can't I? I went through a lot of trouble to lure you in." Gu Yue gazed at Bai Xu's soul with a smug grin.
"You've learned to scheme now. I came here in good faith to help you, and you tricked me." Bai Xu feigned hurt, hoping to evoke guilt in her.
But Gu Yue saw right through it. "Seems your soul injury really hasn't healed. Otherwise, you could've severed these chains with that move of yours."
Bai Xu: "..."
Watching the formations gradually encircle his body, panic set in. "Gu Yue, listen to me. I promised Gu Yuena—"
"I know. You can't lay a hand on me, right? I promised her too. But now I'm the one doing things to you—what's the problem?" Her tone was deceptively innocent. "Besides, Bai Xu, you should know... I was here first. Why should she get what Gu Yuena and I can't?"
Bai Xu had no retort.
Whoosh!
Once again, Bai Xu found himself bound by the nine-colored chains and unceremoniously tossed onto the bed.
This bed again.
"The tone of our relationship keeps deviating. It shouldn't be like this," Bai Xu sighed.
"Then what should it be like? Do you want to be on top?"
"At least undo the chains—"
"Heh." Gu Yue smirked disdainfully before pressing her lips forcefully against his.
"Mmm—"
Suddenly, Gu Yue stiffened, clutching her head as she collapsed beside him.
Within the Spiritual Sea
"Gu Yue! You—how could you?!" Gu Yuena fought desperately for control, unwilling to let this happen.
"Why did you have to wake up now?" Gu Yue shot back, struggling to reclaim dominance.
"If you do this, what does that make us? Don't forget—this is my body!" Gu Yuena's roar turned the spiritual sea silver as the dragon within roared.
Bai Xu was dumbfounded. So Gu Yuena had been watching all along. The Gu Yue atop him writhed, battling for control.
Her finger flicked, incinerating the clothes on both of them.
"GU YUE!!!"
"I'll fuse you back into me!"
"Try it. Bai Xu's right here—let's see how he treats you!" Gu Yue gritted her teeth.
The words struck a nerve, freezing Gu Yuena for a split second.
Seizing the moment, Gu Yue briefly regained control.
Under Bai Xu's stunned gaze, their bodies melded together. Gu Yue's brows furrowed slightly, her eyes glistening. "It's only the second time... Why does it still hurt?"
"AAAAAH!!! GU YUE!!!"
In the spiritual sea, Gu Yuena was on the verge of madness. Gu Yue had done it—right in front of her, using her body.
Her mental state crumbled, her grip on their shared body weakening.
"Still holding on? Want to keep watching?" Gu Yue taunted between suppressed moans.
"Ah~ Mmm—"
As silence fell over the room, the rhythmic sounds of passion grew louder. Even Gu Yuena, forced to witness everything, gradually relinquished control, retreating into the depths of the spiritual sea. Her face flushed, her mind and body stirred.
She regretted it now. She never should have split into Gu Yue and Na'er.
Like sisters turned enemies, her heart ached.
The relationships between them had spiraled into chaos.
Gu Yue dispelled the chains, entwining herself with Bai Xu, matching his movements. Her initial goal had been achieved. No matter how much he resisted, Bai Xu was still a man who had never tasted forbidden fruit. Once he did, he'd crave it—just as she'd said. She would etch herself into his heart as something beautiful, unforgettable.
That was her plan.
"You've all gone too far. There'll be consequences." Bai Xu pressed her down, gazing at the silver-haired beauty beneath him.
"I'm not like her. Before, it was all for my goal. Now, I'm yours." Gu Yue wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a deep kiss, yielding to his every whim.
Sometimes, her initiative was terrifying.
Bai Xu traced the curve of her slender waist. Her silver hair cascaded like a waterfall across the bed, her cheeks flushed as she both took and gave.
"I'll leave my mark on you—something that belongs only to me."
*****
One Day Later.
The sun hung high, its light spilling into the room. The silver-haired woman lifted her gaze, her face tinged with shyness as she stopped the wandering hand at her waist. Exuding lazy elegance yet utterly powerless, she could do nothing as the two basked in the quiet aftermath.
"This is already the second time... Could I be pregnant?" Gu Yue whispered.
"Let nature take its course..."