Watching Pei Ruyi’s receding figure, Ye Luqing sank into deep thought.
When that thought had surfaced in her mind, she herself found it incredible.
Why was she so fixated on Pei Ruyi?
Because of Xiao Qingxuan?
Yes, but also no.
Fundamentally, what she was fixated on wasn’t the person, but a sense of security in this world.
Judging from their initial attitude after their first meeting and the memory of that world-shocking kowtow, Pei Ruyi hadn’t had a good relationship with the Original Host before. There were no feelings to speak of between them.
One could even say that the relationship between Pei Ruyi and the Original Host was antagonistic.
Under these circumstances, the affection Ye Luqing, who had crossed over, cultivated in Pei Ruyi was necessarily something belonging solely to herself, emotions with no connection at all to the Original Host.
However, the trigger for this incident was indeed Xiao Qingxuan’s “concern” for her that morning.
She was inevitably influenced by it, perhaps without even realizing how deep that influence ran.
“Damned Destined Female Lead, still trying to ruin my Dao Heart…” she muttered softly.
Although it was just an unintentional act, seeing someone else being loved inevitably stirred a desire to be loved herself.
Ye Luqing returned inside, opened the system panel, and checked Pei Ruyi’s Corruption Value data.
[Name: Pei Ruyi]
[Cultivation: Early Nascent Soul Stage]
[Blackening Value: 9%]
[Devilification Value: 0%]
[Corruption Value: 60% (Second Stage)]
Ye Luqing nodded with satisfaction. The last wave had a better effect than she imagined; the Corruption Value had risen by a full 12%.
At this rate, she might be able to obtain the other party’s second-stage talent before the Grand Tournament.
But just as her finger was about to swipe the system panel closed, it abruptly stopped at the “Blackening Value” column.
?
9%?
Was that right?
Why did Pei Ruyi have a Blackening Value?
Her first thought was that the damn system was pulling some trick again.
“System!”
As if sensing Ye Luqing’s question, the system immediately provided an answer.
[Under the host’s training, Pei Ruyi has developed a twisted affection for the host, and has thus been registered into the Blackening Value. A joyous occasion indeed.]
Ye Luqing was stunned.
Right. Blackening Value was just a label the system had created specifically for Xiao Qingxuan, but its core wasn’t exclusive to Xiao Qingxuan.
“A twisted love, huh…”
Ye Luqing lowered her head, a helpless curve forming at the corner of her mouth.
What she wanted was simply to be loved, even if it was twisted.
“Then… can Pei Ruyi’s Blackening Value also be converted into points?”
If it could be synchronized with the Blackening Value shop, then the Blackening Value from others could also be put to use.
[It can indeed be exchanged for points at a ratio of 1:10.]
[However, host, are you sure you want to do this?]
Hearing the system, Ye Luqing immediately calmed down.
Her main task at the moment was to achieve the goal of Xiao Qingxuan’s Blackening Value reaching 400%. There was truly no need to create extra complications beyond that.
Raising the Blackening Value progress by 10% would only net her 100 points, but a high Blackening Value could be life-threatening.
She still remembered Xiao Qingxuan’s state when it was nearing 200%. That cold, bone-chilling killing intent, even now, recalling it made her whole body tremble.
“Understood.”
Ye Luqing waved her hand, and the system interface instantly vanished.
She returned to her room, looking at the damp floor in the center. The air seemed to still hold Pei Ruyi’s scent.
She walked to the bedside and threw herself backward onto it, her cyan hair fanning out across the sheets.
‘Although there’s no need to actively stimulate it, teasing a little when I’m short on points isn’t out of the question,’ she thought to herself.
‘Anyway, Blackening Value can still go down.’
At least Xiao Qingxuan’s Blackening Value had been fluctuating wildly, dropping a few points from over a hundred after obtaining the Dream-Building Lotus.
She opened the Blackening Value shop. After buying the Lewd Trio, she only had 370 points left, just enough to buy things at the Profound-Tier level.
Even if others’ Blackening Value wasn’t converted to points, it at least served as a danger warning.
She just needed to keep the Blackening Value’s magnitude in check, ensuring it didn’t exceed a certain critical point.
…………
Evening
Ye Luqing arrived at the White Jade Platform on Azure Sky Peak as promised. Unlike yesterday, Ying Qianqian had arrived even earlier today.
However, atop the jade platform, besides Ying Qianqian, there was another person.
“Little Qianqian, are you sure you want to refuse me?”
“If you and I team up, we have a chance at reaching the top four, you know.”
Opposite Ying Qianqian stood a petite, pretty girl with white hair tied up, her purple eyes carrying a hint of surprise.
Ye Luqing had some impression of this girl.
Tao Xiaoxian, formerly ranked third among the Inner Sect Disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak, now ranked second among the Inner Sect.
“I already told you, I’m participating in the Duo Tournament with Senior Sister Ye.” Ying Qianqian’s brow was slightly furrowed.
“Tch.” Tao Xiaoxian raised an eyebrow, a look of displeasure on her face.
“If you don’t want to, fine. But what’s the point of making up such a ridiculous excuse to brush me off?”
“Or are you planning to use Senior Sister Ye to pressure me?”
A double Support lineup participating in the Duo Tournament of the Grand Competition was something unheard of.
Sure, Ye Luqing’s Profound Yellow Mountain-Suppressing Art could indeed overpower enemies below the Nascent Soul realm, but that was only in the singles arena.
The Duo Tournament was far more complex than singles in every aspect; the teamwork between the two cultivators was paramount.
Two Formation Cultivators competing together? Forget the top four, making it into the top forty would be difficult.
‘Besides… Senior Sister Xiao is still in the sect right now. Who would dare invite Senior Sister Ye to team up?’ Tao Xiaoxian thought to herself.
Three years ago, after Xiao Qingxuan and Ye Luqing achieved results in the Duo Tournament, the very next year people had come seeking Ye Luqing, the ace Support, to form a team.
And not just a few—there were even senior brothers and sisters at the Peak Nascent Soul stage.
And the result? Every single one of them was hunted down by Senior Sister Xiao with her sword. Under the beautiful name of “fair competition,” who wasn’t hacked into serious injury by Senior Sister Xiao, to the point of withdrawing from the tournament?
If her guess was correct, even though Senior Sister Xiao was overqualified and couldn’t compete, no one would dare invite Senior Sister Ye again.
After all, Senior Sister Xiao was already at the Half-Step Spirit Transformation stage. Taking one of her swords wasn’t about a serious injury—it was about getting a chance to reincarnate.
Just as the two were locked in argument, a voice came to Ying Qianqian’s rescue.
“Junior Sister Tao, Little Ying has indeed made a prior arrangement to team up with me.”
Hearing this, both of them turned their heads simultaneously and said in unison:
“Senior Sister Ye?”
Ye Luqing was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised by the level of rapport between these two.
Ying Qianqian quickly moved to Ye Luqing’s side and said apologetically:
“Sorry, Senior Sister Ye, I didn’t explain it clearly to her.”
Tao Xiaoxian wasn’t the first to come looking for her about the Duo Tournament. As a Direct Disciple of Azure Sky Peak, she had already received several invitations from other peaks, some even from Nascent Soul cultivators.
On the other side, Tao Xiaoxian also bounded over to Ye Luqing.
She looked at Ye Luqing with some surprise, not expecting that what Ying Qianqian said was true.
But at the same time, a mischievous idea instantly formed in her mind.
“Little Qianqian, in that case, I won’t force you to team up with me.”
“We’ll be opponents, so it’s possible we’ll meet in the Duo Tournament.”
“How about a bet? Let’s see whose team goes further?”
She looked at the two of them with raised eyebrows, seeming full of confidence.
Ye Luqing also raised an eyebrow. Their goal had always been to win the championship; she didn’t mind collecting an extra wager from Tao Xiaoxian.
Even so, she intended to ask Little Ying’s opinion first, as these two seemed to be at odds.
“State the bet?”
Tao Xiaoxian cleared her throat and looked at Ye Luqing with a grin.
“If my team wins, Senior Sister Ye has to make Osmanthus Cakes for me.”
Ye Luqing was taken aback, not quite understanding Tao Xiaoxian’s intent.
That simple? She just wanted to eat her pastries?
However, her next sentence came like a sudden clap of thunder on flat ground.
Tao Xiaoxian turned her head and pointed at Ying Qianqian standing nearby.
“As for you, if you lose…”
“I want you to perform ‘Dual Cultivation’ with me and assist my cultivation!”
