Chapter 62 Part 1

“Xuxu, th-this… what kind of cultivation method is this? Why does it feel so… strange…” Lu Wuqi said softly. The itchiness wasn’t just on her earlobe, which Sheng Xu’s warm breath had sprayed, but also deep in her heart, where a restless desire was stirring.

“This is a cultivation method I had to learn from a very early age. You can use it to draw in the spiritual power inside me,” Sheng Xu said, half-truthfully.

It was indeed a cultivation method she had learned long ago, but it differed somewhat from the final improved version. Some parts that had originally been cut out per her own requests, she now recited honestly.

After all, Lu Wuqi had already confessed her love, and she had responded in kind. Using the pre-edited version of the cultivation method wasn’t such a bad idea, was it?

“No, I don’t want your spiritual power. That’s something you cultivated through hard work,” Lu Wuqi replied. Upon hearing Sheng Xu’s words, she immediately kicked out those untimely thoughts.

“Xuxu, I have a cultivation method I want to share with you too. If you learn it, it might speed up the conversion of spiritual power in your body,” Lu Wuqi said. “I’m serious. This isn’t a joke.”

“Alright, I’m listening,” Sheng Xu said as she leaned against Lu Wuqi and rested her chin on her shoulder. “Go ahead.”

Lu Wuqi slowly exhaled, calming her irregular heartbeat and breathing. Then, word by word, she recited the cultivation method the System had given her.

To ensure Sheng Xu didn’t miss anything, Lu Wuqi spoke very slowly—nearly half her usual speed.

At first, Sheng Xu didn’t pay it much mind, thinking Lu Wuqi’s phrasing was just to change the subject, so she only gave it half her attention.

But as Lu Wuqi recited each word and phrase, and Sheng Xu mentally repeated them in her head, the wondrous aspects of the cultivation method gradually revealed themselves. Her half-hearted focus quickly turned into full concentration, afraid to miss a single detail.

After reciting over a thousand characters, Sheng Xu’s mind was filled with those nearly tangible words. She instinctively began to comprehend and analyze what this so-called cultivation method was truly about.

Seeing Sheng Xu immersed in her thoughts, Lu Wuqi didn’t disturb her. Instead, she closed her eyes and started brewing some sleepiness.

She didn’t need Sheng Xu’s spiritual power. Cultivating was as simple as breathing for her—just a little time to settle it was enough.

There were still nearly three months until the Exchange Meeting. That was plenty of time for her to master mid-rank talismans. Unless the sect leaders and elders shamelessly bullied the weak with numbers, she could handle them all by herself.

And if they really threw shame to the wind, it wouldn’t be a problem. She had plenty of Level 8 Celestial Masters backing her. No sect or faction in the Mystic Gate would want to go against the official side completely.

Lu Wuqi worked hard to push the cultivation method she’d just heard out of her mind. After brainwashing herself for five or six minutes, she finally brewed up some drowsiness and slowly drifted off to sleep.

By the time Sheng Xu pulled her thoughts away from the wondrous cultivation method, she heard the steady breathing of the person beside her.

After a moment’s thought, Sheng Xu understood why Lu Wuqi had suddenly shared such an amazing cultivation method with her. A hint of helplessness appeared in her eyes.

“Wuqi, thank you,” Sheng Xu said softly.

Seeing no reaction from Lu Wuqi, Sheng Xu shifted slightly and gently brushed her lips against her cheek.

Sheng Xu still hadn’t fully grasped the purpose of this cultivation method, but she could sense that while she was immersed in reading and understanding it, her spiritual power had resonated.

Not only was her body absorbing external spiritual power, but the conversion speed of the two types of spiritual power inside her had also increased significantly.

If she could keep studying this cultivation method, she might just work hard enough to make those people drop their jaws at the Exchange Meeting.

–

After blocking Sheng Gan’s contact, Sheng Xu naturally ignored everything he’d said. She certainly wasn’t going to waste time meeting that Jia Qin at the Right Bank Cafe.

Since Lu Wuqi insisted on not learning that bizarre cultivation method, Sheng Xu could only shelve the idea for now. She’d bring it up again once she found the original version that allowed mutual enhancement.

As for the cultivation method Lu Wuqi had shared, after studying it seriously for half a month, Sheng Xu gained some insights and experiences.

She didn’t press Lu Wuqi for the method’s origin or other details. Instead, she just shared her own realizations with her.

Compared to Sheng Xu, who had grown up surrounded by all sorts of mystic texts, Lu Wuqi naturally had a poorer grasp of these convoluted cultivation methods. What she’d puzzled out over months of summarization wasn’t even as much as what Sheng Xu had figured out in half a month.

If not for that one incantation segment she couldn’t recite or write from memory, she would have asked Sheng Xu to help interpret it so they could study it together.

“Have I successfully drawn a superior talisman?” Sheng Xu set down her brush immediately upon seeing the golden light flash across the talisman paper. She picked it up for a close inspection.

“Ninety-seven percent completion. On the Mystic Gate’s trading app, you could easily trade it for two thousand bucks or four points,” Lu Wuqi said with a smile. “Xuxu, you’re amazing. You mastered it in less than a month—better than a lot of disciples in our Imprint Moon Sect.”

“Heh, isn’t it because I have a good teacher?” Sheng Xu laughed along, then quickly activated the Wind Control Talisman in her hand to test its real effects.

As the name implied, the Wind Control Talisman manipulated wind. In principle, it unleashed greater power in open spaces.

Thanks to the research of talisman cultivators, the Wind Control Talisman could now achieve many effects: wide-area gales or focused wind blades. Mid-rank and above could even simulate small tornadoes.

Of course, beyond the talisman’s own grade and completion rate, its effects also depended on the user’s spiritual power control. Poor control might only produce a gale lasting a few to dozens of seconds.

Sheng Xu activated a low-tier superior Wind Control Talisman with her spiritual power. Her control was excellent, quickly forming several wind blades that sliced off some leaves from the treetops. She then softened the blades into a gentle breeze, carrying the leaves smoothly back to her.

“Seems pretty good. It can last about twenty seconds,” Sheng Xu said, holding the leaves between her fingers to show Lu Wuqi her spoils.

“Very impressive indeed.” Lu Wuqi pulled a mid-rank Wind Control Talisman from her Qiankun Bag. “Want to try one I drew?”

“Sure.” Sheng Xu didn’t refuse and repeated the test.

This time, instead of a few leaves, dozens came down, swaying before miraculously forming the character for “Lu.”

Unfortunately, once the leaves formed the shape, the talisman’s effect ended. They all fell to the ground, and Sheng Xu used her Wind Control Technique to sweep them into the trash bin.

“Longer duration and much better precision,” Sheng Xu commented. “With more practice, it could last even longer.”

“Then practice more. I’ve drawn plenty of mid-rank talismans.” Lu Wuqi, as if prepared, quickly pulled out five identical ones.

“Once you’re bored of this, I have other types too. Just ask me for them,” Lu Wuqi said with a wink and a smile.

Sheng Xu hesitated slightly. “But do you have enough points left? Drawing mid-rank talismans uses up a lot of materials, and I don’t have a way to earn points yet.”

“You do. I can sell the low-tier talismans you’ve drawn. There are more and more low-level Celestial Masters these days, and talismans are great support tools for them. Better to activate with a bit of spiritual power than burn through a ton casting spells.”

Low-tier talismans were cheap, but with so many cash-strapped low-level Celestial Masters, sales were no issue. Whether Lu Wuqi’s or Sheng Xu’s, she’d bundle them up and hand them to Yin Bufu for sale.

Realizing she could support herself by drawing talismans eased Sheng Xu’s concerns a lot.

Lu Wuqi had originally planned to replenish Sheng Xu’s spiritual power every night like before, but after Sheng Xu discovered she could boost her spiritual power conversion with the System’s cultivation method, she refused. Her reason left Lu Wuqi unable to argue.

“Wuqi, you won’t accept my spiritual power, and I don’t want you wasting so much of yours on me either,” Sheng Xu had said at the time, pressing a finger to Lu Wuqi’s lips.

“The reason you refuse me is the same reason I refuse you. If you don’t mind cultivating that method together, then I won’t mind you replenishing my spiritual power.”

Of course, Lu Wuqi couldn’t agree outright. It was obvious who would lose more—she had no intention of being the one unilaterally draining someone else’s spiritual power and cultivation.

Naturally, skipping joint cultivation of that method didn’t affect their normal intimate activities at all.

Lu Wuqi had strong self-control, and Sheng Xu was very patient. But after a month of sharing a bed, their mutual kisses had deepened into something more.

Late August brought a thunderstorm. Occasional lightning pierced through the curtain gaps into the room.

Only a small nightlight illuminated the bedroom. At the first thunderclap, Lu Wuqi nervously kissed Sheng Xu’s earlobe, their breathing louder than the rain pattering against the window.

At the second booming thunder, a ambiguous sound escaped Sheng Xu’s gritted teeth, flushing their faces even redder.

The third strike was massive, the lightning seeming to tear the sky apart—too dazzling to look at directly. Sheng Xu shuddered harder in the room, her body trembling violently.

After the thunder came endless rain, which didn’t stop even as Sheng Xu pinned Lu Wuqi beneath her.

The next day dawned clear after the rain.

When they got out of bed, it was already 9:45 a.m.—two hours later than their usual wake-up time.

But considering they’d gone to sleep close to 3 a.m., they still hadn’t gotten a full eight hours.

“Xuxu.” Lu Wuqi opened her eyes and instinctively rubbed her face against Sheng Xu’s.

“I’m here…” Sheng Xu started, then realized her voice was a bit hoarse, different from her usual cool tone.

“Want to sleep more? It’s not even ten yet—just past nine,” Lu Wuqi asked.

Sheng Xu blinked, recalling last night’s events. A blush quickly crept up her cheeks.

“Cough, no need. Our spiritual power nourishes the body… Um, I’ve rested enough. It’s fine,” Sheng Xu said, her tone mixed with panic and a touch of shyness.

“Then skip morning sword practice and just work on drawing talismans?” Lu Wuqi suggested thoughtfully.

Spiritual power could repair the body, but certain overworked parts still needed time to recover. At least sword techniques, which required big movements and wrist precision, could wait.

Sheng Xu softly hummed in agreement. Glancing at the marks on Lu Wuqi’s body, she suddenly wanted to cover her face.

What was wrong with her last night? Why had she suddenly loved biting Wuqi so much? She’d left a trail of hickeys on her neck and hadn’t spared the areas below either.

While Sheng Xu reflected on herself, she’d forgotten to check her own body. Otherwise, seeing the dense hickeys on her own neck would have dispelled any guilt.