“After I torture your little lover to death, I’ll slowly deal with you!”
“With the Moonlight Physique as a furnace, it will surely help me ascend to the Soul Transformation stage!”
Revealing his true face, Qin Shou launched an attack on Li Fan and Senior Sister Zhao.
Senior Sister Zhao, though at the peak of the Golden Core stage and a prodigious talent, had no trouble dealing with ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators.
However, faced with a genius like Qin Shou, she was clearly struggling.
Li Fan was more of a burden in this situation.
Every one of Qin Shou’s strikes targeted Li Fan, hiding behind Senior Sister Zhao. Already strained, Zhao had to hurriedly defend in order to protect her lover’s life.
Seeing that they were about to be defeated, Senior Sister Zhao and Li Fan had no choice but to rely on a magical artifact granted by their master, fighting while retreating into the depths of the ruins.
Using the hidden traps and strange beasts within the ruins, they temporarily managed to shake off Qin Shou.
“This is the Central Void Formation. Once it’s complete, we’ll have no chance of escape,” Senior Sister Zhao said, a trace of resolve flashing in her eyes.
“In a moment, I’ll go out and fight him to the death. You must escape and return to the sect. Reveal his true nature to our master.”
She drew her sword and was about to fly out when she suddenly noticed that the Heavenly Guide, a treasure from their master, was glowing once again.
“Wait, Senior Sister! It seems there’s still a way out!” Li Fan called out excitedly.
Following the light from the Heavenly Guide, the two of them found a secret chamber deep within the ruins.
Inside the chamber, there was a bizarrely large skeleton, several times the size of an ordinary human, with more than a thousand bones.
Though the bones appeared intact, there was a subtle sense of discord, as if they had come from different individuals.
Beside the skeleton, Li Fan found a storage ring.
Inside the ring, aside from a unique token inscribed with the word “Xuan”, there were several cultivation manuals.
“Heaven and Earth Converging Manual, Eternal Dominance Art…” Li Fan skimmed through the books, a glint of joy in his eyes.
“Senior Sister, look! This Heaven and Earth Converging Manual is a rare dual cultivation technique. According to its description, both parties will experience significant improvements after their first practice session. If we cultivate together, we might both break through…” Li Fan rambled on, but suddenly noticed that Senior Sister Zhao’s expression had darkened.
“Senior Sister Zhao, what’s wrong?” Li Fan asked, puzzled.
“This place must be a stronghold of the Xuantian Sect,” Senior Sister Zhao said gravely, staring at the enormous skeleton. “And this person was likely one of their so-called ‘Heavenly Kings’.”
“Xuantian Sect?” Li Fan frowned. “I’ve never heard of them. Why does it matter?”
Patiently, Senior Sister Zhao explained, “The Xuantian Sect was an ancient, evil sect that once ruled the world. Their leaders called themselves Heavenly Kings. They usurped the heavens’ mandate and committed all manner of atrocities. They were eventually overthrown by a coalition of cultivators. Though the Xuantian Sect was destroyed thousands of years ago, their remnants still persist.”
“The Ten Immortal Sects, including our Grand Dao Sect, remain highly vigilant against the Xuantian Sect.”
“The remnants of the Xuantian Sect must be eradicated without mercy.”
Li Fan understood her point, but he remained unconvinced. “The Xuantian Sect is the Xuantian Sect, but a technique is just a technique.”
“Can a cultivation technique even be categorized as good or evil?”
“We’re orthodox disciples of the Grand Dao Sect, not some Xuantian Sect remnants. What’s wrong with using their techniques to save our lives?”
Senior Sister Zhao remained frowning. “It’s not the same…”
Li Fan glanced outside, noticing the formation’s growing intensity.
“No matter what, it’s better than dying here. Besides, if we fall into Qin Shou’s hands, death would be a luxury,” Li Fan argued.
“At worst, once we survive this ordeal, we can abandon the technique.”
After much deliberation, with the formation’s pressure increasing, Senior Sister Zhao reluctantly nodded in agreement.
The two of them began studying the ‘Heaven and Earth Converging Manual’ together.
In the profound and exhilarating process of dual cultivation, they felt as if they were becoming one.
Their thoughts intertwined, merging seamlessly, with each moment surpassing the passage of countless years.
Their auras resonated in harmony, growing stronger together.
In the end, aided by the power of dual cultivation, Senior Sister Zhao successfully advanced to the Nascent Soul stage.
Li Fan, too, formed his Golden Core.
With her breakthrough, Senior Sister Zhao’s combat strength underwent a qualitative leap.
Taking advantage of the final moments before the formation fully took shape, the two of them broke through the array and confronted Qin Shou.
Qin Shou, exhausted from days of formation-setting, was visibly shaken by their dual breakthroughs, realizing his plans were about to fail.
Disoriented, he fumbled under Senior Sister Zhao’s relentless attacks.
Meanwhile, Li Fan’s taunts, delivered through soul transmissions, further incited Qin Shou’s rage.
“Senior Brother Qin, aren’t you curious how we managed to break through so quickly?”
“Hahaha, it’s all thanks to you!”
“At the brink of death, we found a dual cultivation technique inside the ruins.”
“You do know what dual cultivation means, don’t you, Senior Brother?”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk…”
“If it weren’t for you, I might’ve waited forever to fulfill my wish!”
Li Fan continued to mock Qin Shou, further unbalancing his mind.
As the two coordinated their attacks perfectly, Qin Shou couldn’t accept what he was seeing.
“You… deserve to die!”
Driven to madness, Qin Shou launched a suicidal assault on them.
Though initially overwhelmed, Senior Sister Zhao and Li Fan gradually adapted to his frenzied attacks.
Eventually, the balance shifted in their favor.
Realizing his injuries were severe and escape impossible, Qin Shou was filled with despair.
“Curse you both!”
With a venomous gaze, Qin Shou’s head was severed by Senior Sister Zhao’s sword, his eyes remaining wide in death.
Seeing their enemy defeated, Li Fan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“I was only trying to provoke him earlier. If my words offended you, please forgive me, Senior Sister,” Li Fan said apologetically.
“We’re already like husband and wife. No need for such formalities,” Senior Sister Zhao replied, frowning slightly.
Li Fan slapped his forehead. “How foolish of me!”
After cleaning up the scene, the two of them returned to the secret chamber.
Exhausted, Li Fan held Senior Sister Zhao and fell into a deep sleep.
When they woke, they hesitated before deciding to abandon the ‘Heaven and Earth Converging Manual’.
There were many other dual cultivation techniques; they didn’t need to stick to this one.
However, after a few attempts, they exchanged glances, their expressions slightly uneasy.