Feng Chan's body was broken.
He could feel the sharp sting of fractured ribs with every breath.
Blood crusted his lips. His limbs refused to move.
But his eyes—his eyes were fixed on her.
Ying Yue.
She stood like a spirit from a higher realm, untouched by the dirt of the world. The glow of the ancient temple behind her danced across her flawless skin, and the wind teased strands of her silver-tipped hair.
> "You're dying,"
she said flatly, as if it were an undeniable truth.
He tried to respond, but only blood came from his mouth.
Ying Yue walked forward slowly. Her every step echoed like a divine hymn. She knelt beside him, placed two fingers on his wrist, and her brows furrowed.
> "Your spiritual veins are shattered… You shouldn't be alive."
Feng Chan forced a pained smile.
> "I'm… stubborn like that."
For the first time, a flicker of emotion passed through her eyes. Surprise. Maybe… curiosity.
She stood and turned toward the temple gates.
> "You're lucky. The ancient inheritance within this place… it's unlike anything the cultivation world has ever known."
She paused.
> "But it's sealed by a forbidden technique. One that can only be activated by dual cultivation between two compatible souls."
Feng Chan blinked.
> "Dual… cultivation?"
Ying Yue turned her head slightly, and for the first time, a faint flush touched her pale cheeks. But her voice remained calm.
> "Don't misunderstand. This isn't a union of pleasure. It is a ritual to synchronize two spirits through shared energy, intent… and contact."
> "If done incorrectly… both may die."
Feng Chan struggled to sit up, wincing in agony.
> "Then let's do it. I have nothing left to lose."
Ying Yue's eyes narrowed.
> "I didn't agree."
She stepped closer, and her aura flared—a pressure so intense it pushed Feng Chan's soul to the edge of collapse.
> "Touch me without permission, and you'll beg for death."
Despite the pain, Feng Chan met her eyes.
> "Then give me permission."
Silence stretched.
The ancient temple doors creaked open behind her. A golden light spilled outward, revealing glowing runes and a hovering orb of violet fire.
Ying Yue exhaled slowly.
> "If you survive this ritual, we will part ways. You will never speak of what happened here. And you will never seek me again."
> "Seven years from now… if you rise to the top of any sect in the mainland—only then will I give you a second chance."
Feng Chan nodded.
> "Deal."
---
The Ritual Begins
Ying Yue raised her hand, and the ground beneath them shimmered with celestial patterns.
Spiritual energy coiled around them, forming a yin-yang symbol.
She stepped forward, placing her hand gently on Feng Chan's chest.
His eyes widened—not from desire, but from the surge of power that rushed into his shattered meridians.
Their souls touched.
Golden light erupted around them, as symbols spun across their skin, glowing briefly before sinking deep into their flesh.
Pain lanced through Feng Chan's body.
His mind screamed.
But then… everything went quiet.
---
When the light faded, Feng Chan lay breathing heavily on the stone floor.
His wounds were healed. His body felt reborn.
Spirit Realm – 1st Layer, 7th Stage.
He had jumped seven small realms in one night.
Ying Yue was already dressed and distant, her aura cold once more.
> "Leave. We have no further connection."
Feng Chan looked at her, a quiet intensity in his eyes.
> "You saved my life. I won't forget."
She didn't respond. She simply turned and disappeared into the shadows of the temple.