Everyone, let me ask you a question. What exactly does dual cultivation feel like?
In cultivation novels, dual cultivation is often used as a euphemism to allude to certain activities and avoid censorship. For ordinary cultivators, or for galgame masters, dual cultivation often signifies the storyline when the final CG is unlocked, and also frequently represents a state where emotions reach ultimate fulfillment.
However, for powerful beings whose lifespans are so long that their perception of time is completely different from ordinary people, such matters seem to exist merely as a way to reminisce about the years before they fully detached from the mortal coil.
If this dual cultivation only remained at its literal meaning, without crossing the line even half a step, would it truly count as a significant emotional breakthrough for the two individuals involved?
At least for True Monarch Liuyun Suyu, it certainly did.
Under the pretense of helping to harmonize their cultivation techniques, True Monarch Liuyun Suyu and Gu Chengming spent a relatively intimate period of time together.
Gu Chengming's hand was held in True Monarch Liuyun Suyu's palm. Her fingertips were cool, and true essence seeped in through the gaps between her fingers, slowly circulating along Gu Chengming's meridians. The intent of cloud and moon flowed in with it, like moonlight spilling from a gap in the clouds.
Gu Chengming could feel that force clearing blockages, straightening out his channels, and consolidating all the disparate elements related to Flowing Cloud Following Moon within him.
This scene was actually no different from proper “dual cultivation”—if one could ignore the Flowing Cloud Following Moon beside Gu Chengming, visible only to him. The phantom of Flowing Cloud Following Moon was in its CG activation state, its translucent form pressed against his back, fingers interlocking with his.
Gu Chengming couldn't see what was behind him, but he could clearly feel the phantom's body temperature. The girl's presence was a bit too strong.
True Monarch Liuyun Suyu concentrated on channeling true essence, while Gu Chengming closed his eyes and cultivated, earnestly trying to comprehend the true meaning of cloud and moon.
That's why he couldn't explain why his forehead was sweating, because True Monarch Liuyun Suyu's actions were truly not out of line; at most, it was just holding hands.
But he couldn't stop Flowing Cloud Following Moon from acting mischievously on him. The phantom of the girl pressed closer and closer, finally settling directly between his legs.
The next moment, Gu Chengming's back stiffened into a straight line.
Yet, True Monarch Liuyun Suyu sat directly opposite him, one in front and one behind, one moon and one flowing cloud, sandwiching Gu Chengming in a delicate formation.
The one in front diligently channeled true essence, as for the other one...
Gu Chengming lowered his eyelids, not daring to open his eyes.
Flowing Cloud Following Moon gently tightened her interlocked fingers, and perhaps because only Gu Chengming could see her, she behaved quite brazenly, even giving Gu Chengming the feeling of a 'mother-in-law' being overly familiar.
Fortunately, this cultivation session eventually came to an end. After a little less than an hour, True Monarch Liuyun Suyu's fingertips paused slightly, and the true essence circulating in Gu Chengming's meridians receded like an ebb tide.
She released his hand.
A strip of coolness spread across the back of Gu Chengming's hand.
"How was it?" True Monarch Liuyun Suyu tilted her head, observing him.
Gu Chengming's face was pale at this moment, his forehead covered in a fine sheen of sweat, and the clothes on his back were largely damp. He exuded a sense of exhaustion, as if he had just been thoroughly beaten.
The True Monarch blinked. Just now, she had merely helped him sort out the intent of cloud and moon. Although she had used the excuse of cultivation to act intimately, she did harbor some personal motives, and her demeanor had been a bit too affectionate. She hadn't expected her young friend to react so strongly.
She suddenly grew uneasy, beginning to scrutinize herself: Was the hand-holding too long? Was the proximity too close? Would the posture of channeling true essence be indecent if others saw it?
Could it be that the boundaries between men and women for the younger generation in this world have become so strict?
True Monarch Liuyun Suyu's ears quietly flushed. She lowered her eyes, and the budding thoughts were suppressed.
"If my young friend found me too abrupt just now," the True Monarch said, carefully choosing her words, "you can let me know in advance next time." Gu Chengming: "?"
He reacted for half a breath before coming to his senses, hastily waving his hand, "Senior, you overthink things. This junior merely had difficulty digesting the true meaning of cloud and moon, and for no other reason." The hint of shyness in True Monarch Liuyun Suyu's eyes immediately eased, and her lips curled into a subtle smile.
Good, she let out a breath. If it wasn't an offense, then her young friend must have truly struggled to comprehend the true meaning.
As she thought this, the secret delight in her heart—that "perhaps Gu Chengming wasn't repulsed"—became a little more genuine.
The moonlight illuminated the side room like water. True Monarch Liuyun Suyu rose, tidied her robe sleeves, and pushed the half-eaten plate of melon seeds towards Gu Chengming.
"Since we've spoken," her tone was a little more relaxed than before, as if she had regained the composure befitting a Sixth Realm cultivator, "we'll stop here for today. Young friend, rest well. If you have any difficulties tomorrow, feel free to seek me out."
As she reached the door, she paused, turning slightly as if to speak, her moon-white sleeve gently fluttering against the doorframe. But she merely nodded and departed.
The moonlight was shut out, with only a sliver seeping through the gap, barely illuminating the half-eaten plate of melon seeds before Gu Chengming.
Gu Chengming was actually a bit annoyed. After all, what Flowing Cloud Following Moon had just done was indeed too out of line, and it was entirely without his consent.
The air behind him rippled slightly. The phantom of Flowing Cloud Following Moon slowly manifested from behind him, its translucent outline blurring like mist in the candlelight. Gu Chengming was just about to lecture her: "You just—"
Before he could finish, she hugged him, her cheek resting against his shoulder as she slowly leaned close to his ear. Her breath was like moonlight.
"Daddy." The candlelight flickered at that word, and the copper bell hanging from the eaves silently turned halfway.
【Huiyuan Sword Manual: ?】
【Hundred Bones Resonating was rather disdainful: How embarrassing, even Emperor Gu got called Daddy.】
【Qingxin Art was slightly vexed: Why did she use the move I was preparing to use ahead of time?】
【Huiyuan Sword Manual: ???】
The night wind carried the distant mountain's moist air over the window lattice, brushed past Gu Chengming's lingering irritation, and silently surged out through the door crack, chasing after the dissipating moonlight.
...
Alright, this Flowing Cloud Following Moon Sword Art has indeed "super-evolved" a bit.
Gu Chengming lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking this.
He couldn't be blamed for the current situation; anyone else would likely be unable to withstand such an offensive.
Since he couldn't resist, he could only calmly watch the CG.
Matters concerning the Flowing Cloud Following Moon Sword Art were temporarily concluded; the child departed, fully satisfied.
In a sense, the CG for this Flowing Cloud Following Moon Sword Art was somewhat like opening a Laboratory of Love in reality.
Does anyone understand AR?
If the Laboratory of Love was VR, then Flowing Cloud Following Moon's CG 【I Will Love You Until the End of Time】 was AR.
The former offered stronger immersion, while the latter provided greater stimulation.
From this perspective, Miss Flowing Cloud Following Moon could be considered an epic curve-overtaker.
Although matters concerning the Cloud Moon Sect were not yet concluded.
But after the reminder from True Monarch Liuyun Suyu, Gu Chengming also realized that it was time to seize the opportunity for revenge.
The map upgrade was currently nearing its end, and this period was clearly for settling his new and old scores. He had always been one to repay grievances, and now that he had the chance for revenge, he naturally intended to get things done while there was no risk.
With this in mind, he decided to first bid farewell to True Monarch Liuyun Suyu.
Cloud Moon Sect, side hall.
On the low table sat a pot of "Yunji White," with freshly steamed date paste cakes beside it. As Gu Chengming pushed the door open, True Monarch Liuyun Suyu had just closed the teapot lid, straightening her back in the process.
"Young friend, you've come," True Monarch Liuyun Suyu said with a hint of eagerness.
"This junior apologizes for the intrusion."
"It's fine," True Monarch Liuyun Suyu shifted half an inch to the right. "Sit."
Gu Chengming took his seat and spoke directly, "This junior will be departing in the next couple of days. There's an old score I need to settle." True Monarch Liuyun Suyu's hand, holding the teapot, paused slightly, not a drop of tea spilling into the cup.
Gu Chengming briefly explained his grievances with Lord Fubai. True Monarch Liuyun Suyu hummed in acknowledgment, then asked, "How much does my young friend know about the origins of the Jiao race?"
"I only know that they are an ancient demon race, and at the founding of Daqian, they signed a covenant with the imperial family, allowing them to guard the East Sea in exchange for legitimacy."
"That's roughly it," True Monarch Liuyun Suyu nodded. "However, the covenant is a recent rule. The roots of this race go back further, to ancient times."
"The Jiao race is not a recent emergence. Their clan is as ancient as the mountains and seas, having occupied the Four Seas long before Penglai split into sects."
"Deep within the East Sea lies a naturally formed secret realm called the 'Dragon Transformation Pool'," True Monarch Liuyun Suyu continued. "The spiritual energy in the pool surges from beneath the sea eye, opening once every hundred years, and carries with it a wisp of a Dao Throne's root."
"Thus, within the Jiao race, there is almost always a Sixth Realm true dragon presiding."
Gu Chengming nodded; he was aware of this. Back then, the other party hadn't come to bother him, seemingly because they were going to the Dragon Transformation Pool to seek an opportunity.
However, this also made him a little puzzled. From the sound of it, these Dao Thrones seemed to be inherited, and the Myriad Thief Sect was the same.
But the problem was that the Myriad Thief Sect's Old Ancestor had carved out his own Dao Throne, so it was easy for him to keep that Dao Throne passed down. But how did the Jiao race manage it?
Unaware of what Gu Chengming was thinking, True Monarch Liuyun Suyu continued her thoughts, "The ancient cultivation world's assessment of this race has always been unflattering: vengeful, and bloodthirsty."
"Elevating a race to the position of an auspicious omen is tantamount to acknowledging that its destiny is on par with the imperial dynasty's national destiny," True Monarch Liuyun Suyu shook her head. "I can't quite understand what His Majesty the Emperor of Daqian is doing at the moment."
Gu Chengming's heart stirred slightly. Ji Yixi had previously hinted that "the Emperor's seclusion might not be simple."
True Monarch Liuyun Suyu shook her head, clearly not intending to dwell on the matter further, and redirected the conversation back to Lord Fubai.
"A Fifth Realm Jiao-dragon is the most cunning. Dealing with him on dry land is but a matter of a single sword strike. But if he dives into the sea, that's a different calculation."
"The sea eyes connect to outer realms, and beneath the surface, everywhere is the Jiao race's territory. Even a Sixth Realm True Monarch would need to expend some effort to forcibly drag a Fifth Realm Jiao-dragon out of the sea."
Gu Chengming nodded, "This junior already has a plan."
True Monarch Liuyun Suyu looked up at him, pondered for a moment, then seemed to steel herself.
"If my young friend doesn't mind me being meddlesome, I can step in to help."
Gu Chengming was stunned. The Moon in the Clouds Dao Throne was a path to survival carved out of the superposition state of "Die Together." Although the True Monarch herself had emerged, half of that karma had not yet been fully settled, and the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth had just begun to unfold at this very juncture.
If she were to casually descend into the sea and slay a Jiao-dragon True Monarch, the karmic debt she had accumulated earlier would very likely follow this nascent killing karma and fall directly upon her.
A Sixth Realm killing a Fifth Realm is merely a matter of a sword being raised and then falling.
The Heavenly Dao settling accounts, however, was another matter entirely.
Gu Chengming didn't allow her to continue. He put down his teacup, rose from his seat, and bowed.
"Senior, I appreciate your kindness, but if this debt is not settled by my own sword, I fear I will never again have the face to meet old acquaintances."
"Furthermore, this junior has recently gained some insights in swordsmanship that have yet to be solidified, and I was just worrying about not having a suitable whetstone. The old Jiao, after being injured and heading out to sea, can be considered to have delivered himself to my doorstep."
The True Monarch had originally intended to persuade him further. Indeed, slaying an injured Jiao-dragon would be no more complicated for her than boiling water for tea. Why must her young friend insist on taking this risk himself?
But the words caught in her throat. She recalled when she had descended into the sea to slay a Jiao back then, that old friend from Penglai had worn a similar expression, adamantly refusing her help.
A cultivator's own debts, if others take them on once, a part is lost; twice or thrice, and the debt is no longer truly theirs. She had always understood this principle, but it was the first time in her life she had been on the receiving end of a refusal, and she found herself unsure what expression to make.
The hint of worry lingering at the True Monarch's lips slowly transformed into a faint smile.
"In that case," she slipped a very thin jade slip from her wrist. Moonlight patterns flowed across it as she pressed it into Gu Chengming's palm. "Take this item and keep it."
"Sealed within is a wisp of my aura," she said, tapping the edge of the jade slip with her fingertip. "Crush it, and I will be able to follow that wisp of aura to find you."
She paused, seemingly wanting to subtly retract the eagerness she had just offered, yet fearing that retracting it too obviously would seem uninteresting. The words reached her lips, then she swallowed them back, as if remembering something else.
"Be careful on your way." Gu Chengming nodded in acknowledgment.
A little less than an hour later, Gu Chengming rose to take his leave.
True Monarch Liuyun Suyu escorted him to the hall door, her sleeve brushing against the doorframe. She seemed to have something to say, but in the end, merely nodded.
Gu Chengming stepped out of the hall door, his figure vanishing in an instant at the end of the corridor.
...
True Monarch Liuyun Suyu stood by the door for a while before returning to the table.
The plate of date paste cakes, arranged in neat rows, was still on the table, perfectly stacked, not even a corner touched.
She stared at the plate of cakes for a moment, then picked one up and brought it to her mouth.
"...Indeed, I put out a bit too many."
She picked up another one, but instead of eating it, she merely turned it over in her palm. The pastry was then enveloped by a wisp of moonlight from her fingers and stored within her sleeve's storage pouch.
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