Even so, this feeling of being moved lasted only for a fleeting moment.
She hadn’t even felt true emotion for Xiao Qingxuan, the Destined Female Lead. Even towards Little Ying, who had developed feelings for her, she only offered an ambiguous promise, let alone Pei Ruyi.
From the beginning to the end, Pei Ruyi was nothing more than a “rehearsal substitute” to stimulate Xiao Qingxuan.
It was better… to cut off Pei Ruyi’s hopes early.
Otherwise, the deeper she fell, the more painful it would be for them later.
With this thought, Ye Luqing had a plan for today’s session.
She stood up, walked over to Pei Ruyi, and pinched her chin.
“Senior Sister Pei…” Her voice dropped low, laced with deliberate coldness. “You seem to have forgotten. Our relationship isn’t one for caring.”
Pei Ruyi’s breathing instantly became erratic. A flicker of panic, and a hint of disappointment she hadn’t even noticed herself, flashed in her icy blue eyes.
“Come in.”
Hearing this, Pei Ruyi looked up, following the voice. Ye Luqing leaned against the doorframe of the main room. Inside was pitch black, as if threatening to swallow her whole.
She bit her lip gently. Even knowing that entering would further shake her Sword Heart, she still couldn’t resist Ye Luqing’s command.
Besides, she had asked for this. Being ordered around was her own choice.
Entering the room, Pei Ruyi inhaled lightly. The air was filled with Xiao Qingxuan’s scent, making her a bit nervous.
“Let’s continue from where we left off yesterday,” Ye Luqing said directly, getting straight to the point.
She had been delayed last night, so she planned to wrap this up quickly this morning.
After acquiring that sword sheath, she had new ideas and her to-do list had grown.
Pei Ruyi hesitated inwardly but still skillfully transformed into the stool.
Before putting on the blindfold that sealed her senses, Ye Luqing seemed to remember something.
“Right, give me your Storage Dharma Artifact.”
Though she didn’t know what Ye Luqing intended, Pei Ruyi handed over the jade pendant at her waist.
Ye Luqing activated the pendant and took out several spirit swords from within.
The sword-striking play from yesterday had been quite effective, so she planned to replicate it.
The Corruption Value was currently at 60%. She would push hard over the next few days to secure the second talent before the Grand Tournament began.
However, her own Jade Spirit Sword didn’t lack sword qi at the moment, and using Pei Ruyi’s own swords might yield even better results.
After taking out the spirit swords, Ye Luqing applied the same configuration as yesterday, sealing Pei Ruyi’s five senses down to just touch and hearing.
“Now, which sword to choose…”
Like Xiao Qingxuan, Pei Ruyi, a Sword Cultivator, possessed more than a few spirit swords.
Lifebound Spirit Sword, daily sword, spare spirit swords… a Sword Cultivator could never carry just one blade.
A sweep of her gaze, and the Blackening Value System displayed the value of these spirit swords.
She couldn’t compare to a Daughter of Destiny like Xiao Qingxuan; Pei Ruyi’s best sword was only Profound Rank Superior.
Breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage and becoming a Direct Disciple of a Void Comprehension Elder had just happened. As a former Inner Sect Disciple, her resources were still somewhat limited.
“Let’s try these three first.”
She picked out three spirit swords—two were Profound-Tier Superior, one was Profound-Tier Mid-Grade.
The Profound-Tier Mid-Grade one was the sword Pei Ruyi had used during their spar in the arena that day, and was also her usual sword. It likely held some sentimental value.
She picked up this sword and aimed it at Pei Ruyi’s body.
Slap—
A crisp sound echoed through the room. The flat of the blade landed on Pei Ruyi’s back, simultaneously siphoning away the sword qi within her body.
“Nngh…” A charming, soft moan escaped Pei Ruyi.
This was one of Ye Luqing’s methods. She was conditioning Pei Ruyi to associate the sensation of having her true qi and strength drained with her own downfall. In the future, even without the sword strikes, simply absorbing true qi from Pei Ruyi’s Dantian Qi Sea would evoke that sense of corrupt pleasure and forbidden guilt.
A quarter-hour later, Ye Luqing opened the system to check Pei Ruyi’s values.
【Name: Pei Ruyi】
【Cultivation: Early Nascent Soul Stage】
【Blackening Value: 10%】
【Devilification Value: None】
【Corruption Value: 65% (Second Stage)】
“Only a 5% increase…”
The system had actually notified her of the 65% Corruption Value a few minutes ago. So, this sword had reached its limit in increasing the value.
She put Pei Ruyi’s usual sword back into the jade pendant and turned her attention to the other two.
Both were Profound-Tier Superior spirit swords. One resembled black ice, a near-transparent crystalline blade that naturally exuded faint, visible threads of pale white cold mist coiling around it, without any conscious effort.
The other was entirely deep green, its cyan-jade metallic body traced with crimson patterns of flowing light. It felt faintly warm to the touch.
Ye Luqing settled her gaze on the first spirit sword. Through its body, she could sense a faint, tangible connection between this sword and Pei Ruyi.
‘This must be Pei Ruyi’s Lifebound Spirit Sword…’
For a Sword Cultivator, the Lifebound Spirit Sword was akin to their lifeblood, typically kept in the most secure place and rarely revealed.
If a Lifebound Spirit Sword shattered, it would inevitably cause a severe backlash.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved Ye Luqing’s lips. Pei Ruyi had handed this over so easily. It was practically giving her life directly into Ye Luqing’s hands.
Her fingers traced the fair, still slightly reddened back. A Sword Cultivator’s physique was excellent. Striking with the flat of a sword couldn’t even cause a flesh wound; it was more like a spicy condiment for a certain kind of play.
But when her fingers touched those spots, she could feel Pei Ruyi’s muscles tense, and the burning sensation of true qi surging beneath her skin, as if craving more.
“Then let’s use this one.”
She chose Pei Ruyi’s Lifebound Spirit Sword. A few strikes later, the effect was indeed noticeable.
【Detected Pei Ruyi’s Corruption Value has risen to 70% (Second Stage)】
Ye Luqing nodded slightly. As expected of a Lifebound artifact—just a few strikes increased it by 5%.
A while later, Pei Ruyi’s final Corruption Value settled at 77%, a total increase of 12%.
Thus, Ye Luqing looked at the last sword, the green one.
She picked up this green spirit sword. The moment it touched her hand, a continuous warmth emanated from it.
The first was her daily sword, the second her Lifebound Spirit Sword.
So, what was this one?
She guessed this green spirit sword had been a gift from someone to Pei Ruyi.
Unlike the other two, this sword had been carefully stored in a sword case.
The jade-green blade was pristine and new, showing almost no signs of use.
If it was a gift, the effectiveness of this sword in increasing Corruption Value likely depended on how important the giver was to Pei Ruyi.
The more Pei Ruyi cared for that person, the more the Corruption Value would increase.
Thinking this, Ye Luqing gently toyed with the sword, a smile of burgeoning interest slowly curling on her lips.
“Heh…”
Based on her understanding of Pei Ruyi and Heavenly Sword Peak, there were only a few possible candidates for the giver.
If it was indeed a gift from that person, the Corruption Value increase this time… might truly be substantial…
