Ji Lingxi rolled her eyes, but could not help the blush that adorned her cheeks, antic.i.p.ation rising within her being.
"If it can help him repel some of the damage, I"d be more than happy to do so…"
Shangguan Lingxiu knew about the red light on Ji Lingxi, so it had been without hesitation that she said something like this.
It wasn"t only Shangguan Lingxiu; Yun Yang, who had not planned to take Ji Lingxi along, was tempted by the suggestion as well. He could not help considering the plausibility of this course of action.
"You"ve spent the whole day outwitting that Mr. Nian today. Have some rest and a good meal before you go." Shangguan Lingxiu left to prepare the meal.
"Are you really so confident? I want to know the truth!" Ji Lingxi stared at Yun Yang, concern spilling through her gaze.
"Confidence…" started Yun Yang, "If was only me, I don"t have much of it. However, if you were to help me, it multiplies."
"No problem! Just tell me how I can help!" Ji Lingxi was ecstatic, feeling that she was finally of value and had some use after cultivating so hard, for so long.
Ji Lingxi was genuinely happy that Yun Yang said that he needed her help in doing something.
"I can actually finally do something for him?"
"I"m not just an insignificant existence behind his shadow, never being able to handle reality!"
Although Ji Lingxi"s current cultivation base was above that of Yun Yang"s, she was the weaker one no matter how she put up a tough front and oppressed him with practices when they were together, subconsciously becoming the one to be taken care of.
Ji Lingxi could not figure it out either.
"I"m not bad, I"m better than Yun Yang. Why do I need his care everywhere?"
Truth be told, Ji Lingxi liked being taken care of like this very much.
Yun Yang pulled her into the room and retrieved seven Eastern Amethysts, saying with a smile, "What I very much need you to help me do now is to wholly absorb the energy in these crystals and complete this process in the fastest and safest way possible."
"What are all these? Resources? Energy crystals?" Ji Lingxi was curious.
"I"m not particularly sure what they are, but for now, they"re rare gems," said Yun Yang, "Cultivate your art later, I"ll help you. When our mystical Qi converges at their maximum point, gather two flows of internal energy to circulate in one cosmic orbit and enhance your cultivation base as much as you can. We must escalate our abilities further during these two days of respite. Then, we depart!"
As he spoke, Yun Yang went into action. He first set up a simple illusion formation and arranged the seven Eastern Amethysts with the Big Dipper shape in the center of the formation. Then, he connected them with a golden thread while another end of the thread was held in his palm.
This made a mini convergence formation of spiritual Qi. With the golden thread acting as a lead, it would become an optimum spiritual Qi channel with the triggering of mystical Qi.
"Come!"
The two of them sat cross-legged, facing each other across the purple crystals.
One of Yun Yang"s hands held onto the golden thread while another palm of his was connected with Ji Lingxi"s. He said softly, "Exercise your cultivation method wholeheartedly. Use the mystical Yin energy to activate the Amethyst"s spiritual Qi. Don"t slack, you must give it your all."
Ji Lingxi followed through the instructions, delivering her mystical Qi slowly. She then realized with surprise that once her mystical Qi came into contact with the purple crystal, spiritual Qi rose from it with a soft buzz.
Almost at the same time, Yun Yang activated his mystical Qi from the Endless Divine Art. Using the golden thread as a medium, the flowing spiritual Qi from the Eastern Amethyst was received and directed into his meridians. It made a cycle through his meridians and bones swiftly before it went through Yun Yang"s right palm into Ji Lingxi"s hand.
Ji Lingxi felt a tidal force of spiritual energy surging into her palm before her meridians expanded instantly. The spiritual energy then transformed into rich spiritual Qi as it settled into her meridians. In the blink of an eye, she felt almost saturated with spiritual Qi.
Ji Lingxi worked quickly, accelerating her already fully flowing cultivation method and directing a part of the surging energy into her dantian for personal use, and recycled part of the spiritual Qi from her left hand into the next orbit.
Yun Yang was doing the same with himself.
The seven pieces of Eastern Amethysts glowed brightly, the radiance effervescent.
As Ji Lingxi was astounded by the powerful purple crystals, she was also filled with many questions.
Her cultivation method was no longer of the Ji Family"s arcane magic, where she had come from. It was the magical art left by her useless father. Not only was it powerful, but its level was also far above the cultivation method of this realm. Even when Yun Yang possessed the secret ident.i.ty of Supreme Cloud, his cultivation method was still of this realm. It could never be on par to the one Ji Lingxi was currently cultivating!
The reality now, however, was when Yun Yang and her cultivation methods combined and formed a big cycle, it was not at all incompatible – it was inexplicably well matched! Their speed of absorbing spiritual Qi had more than doubled; it was simply amazing!
As the spiritual Qi surged within their meridians, the speed accelerated. It was fast but stable, not at all disturbed.
They had only worked this way for an hour but Ji Lingxi was already feeling that the spiritual Qi in her dantian saturated to its limit; she had to further condense it or else she would not be able to continue and their efforts would be futile.
It begged the question – how did Yun Yang know that their cultivation methods could fit each other so congruently and work like this?
She remembered that she had never mentioned her cultivation method"s characteristics to him.
It was bewildering and unbelievable!
The spiritual Qi washed over both of them again and again. Both of them could feel their capabilities growing slowly but surely. Eventually, the two of them entered a state of cultivation oblivion, thinking of nothing but advancement.
…
Shangguan Lingxiu came to the door quietly only to see the billowing spiritual Qi in the room, but not Yun Yang and Ji Lingxi. Shocked by their cultivation progress, she knew that she could not disturb them. She finally sighed after staring at the room for a moment and moved a chair to the door. Watching the outside scenery, she fell into a trance.
After a long, long time, Shangguan Lingxiu suddenly activated her cultivation base and concentrated it on the length of her five fingers. Gripping the hilt of her sword, she clenched them harshly.
When she finally eased her grip, a faint handprint was etched on the hilt, accompanied by a pulsing ache within her fingers. She could not help recall the fact that Ji Lingxi had twisted the same sword easily without a sound before rubbing the sword into a pile of metal shards a few days ago.
"Too far… we"re too far apart… How can the differences be so vast?"
Shangguan Lingxiu chuckled depreciatingly and mumbled, "How can I keep up with his pace then?"