NOVPUBThe process of transferring spiritual energy was rather… monotonous.
However, Mu Zhi’an was a patient man. In fact, he was quite enjoying himself.
An hour passed.
He was still full of energy, his arms wrapped around the Jade Empress’s soft and supple body, his expression bored.
She lay in his arms, her cheek pressed against his chest, her eyes closed, savoring the spiritual energy she had received from his Innate Celestial Vessel.
Her face, usually pale, now had a healthy flush, her hair slightly disheveled, her beauty more alluring than her usual coldness.
She opened her eyes, gazing at him silently.
Even she, a being of her stature, was surprised.
She had known his Innate Celestial Vessel was a treasure… but experiencing it firsthand… it was even more impressive than she had imagined.
The Innate Celestial Vessel… it was an incredibly rare physique, even in the vast world of Xianxia.
Of course, rare didn’t mean nonexistent.
The Nine Realms were vast, beyond the imagination of most cultivators. There were countless physiques that weren’t even recorded in ancient texts.
However, most cultivators never left the Eastern Realm, so their knowledge was limited.
And even those who possessed the same physique as Mu Zhi’an wouldn’t have such a potent vessel.
As the direct recipient of his spiritual energy, she could clearly sense its power.
It contained a sliver of Heavenly Dao Aura, granting her destiny… and a portion of the Reincarnated Empress’s spiritual energy from one of her past lives, as well as energy that enhanced his own physique.
And his vessel’s capacity to transfer spiritual energy was also astonishing.
All the opportunities he’s encountered… they’ve all enhanced his Innate Celestial Vessel… She stared at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of sympathy and amusement.
As she pondered this, he was thinking about something completely different.
He was a simple man, his thoughts straightforward. He just wanted to help her, to contribute in any way he could.
He savored the feel of her body in his arms, then he suddenly felt a surge of information entering his mind.
He instinctively tried to resist, but her voice, clear and melodious, echoed in his ears, “Relax. It’s likely a Heaven-Grade technique from the Innate Dao Body.”
Every Holy Maiden of the Jade Pool Sacred Land possessed the Innate Dao Body, and those who cultivated with them would receive a Heaven-Grade technique perfectly suited to their needs.
It seemed the benefits of the Innate Dao Body were already manifesting.
He relaxed his mind, allowing the information to flow into his consciousness.
“The Eight Desolate Dream Diagram.”
A emotionless voice echoed in his mind, and images of the technique’s movements appeared before him.
It doesn’t seem to enhance the Innate Celestial Vessel… He thought, relieved, as he savored the feel of her body in his arms, his eyes closed, studying the Heaven-Grade technique.
The Eight Desolate Dream Diagram was similar to the “celestial realm” cultivators could create after reaching Nascent Soul. It created a diagram depicting the eight desolate mountains and rivers, trapping its target within.
And within the diagram, the target would be forced to dream… dreams controlled by the user.
This technique is pretty broken… He thought.
If he encountered someone stronger than him, he could use the diagram to trap them temporarily while he escaped.
And those who were weaker than him… well, they were in for a rough time.
The Innate Dao Body truly was a powerful physique.
And the technique wasn’t even at its peak yet. With more cultivation, it would be further enhanced by her Innate Dao Body.
As he pondered this, she spoke, her voice soft, “This Innate Celestial Vessel is truly fascinating… a Core Formation cultivator with a Nascent Soul level vessel… if he reaches Soul Transformation, it might even be beneficial to a Dao Integration expert.”
She could sense the spiritual energy within her body, the energy she had received from his vessel.
Though she hadn’t restored her vessel yet, she could still use this spiritual energy directly.
It was a unique ability of the Innate Celestial Vessel.
“Have you ever met a Soul Transformation cultivator with the Innate Celestial Vessel, Fairy Sister?” he asked, his gaze fixed on her.
She shook her head. “The Innate Celestial Vessel is a special physique. Reaching Soul Transformation with it… it’s incredibly rare. In fact, you’re the only one I’ve ever met.”
And his vessel… it was truly unique.
“If I ever reach Soul Transformation, I’ll do my best to assist you, Fairy Sister,” he said, pulling her closer, his voice filled with sincerity.
She chuckled. “It might not take that long.”
Her green eyes held a mischievous glint.
He was confused.
“Your current vessel is useless for my cultivation, but it allows me to use my techniques temporarily. That’s enough for now,” she explained.
“However, the spiritual energy of a Core Formation cultivator… it’s not enough.”
“One time… it’s not enough.” She looked at him, her gaze soft.
“So you’re saying…?” He had a bad feeling about this.
“Remember what I said when you suggested I suppress our enemies?”
She reached out, her hand caressing his cheek, her breath warm on his skin, her fragrance intoxicating.
“You have to take responsibility and see this plan through to the end.”
He glanced at the vines that had silently wrapped around his wrists, then at her.
She was smiling, her lips curved into a playful smirk, her demeanor a stark contrast to her usual aloofness. However, her green eyes held a dangerous glint.
“…!”
He was lost in thought.
He had thought he had gotten the better of her…
But seeing the amusement in her eyes, he realized something.
It seems I’m the one who’s been played…
…
Time passed, and it was now the dead of night.
He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, pondering life.
For the first time in his life, he felt what it was like to have an empty Innate Celestial Vessel.
He wasn’t tired. His Core Formation “Dao” enhanced his physique, allowing him to recover quickly from any exertion.
However, he had never imagined his Innate Celestial Vessel would ever be depleted.
“Are you tired?” she asked, her gaze soft, her alluring figure concealed by the blanket, her aura returning to its usual ethereal and unattainable state.
However, a faint blush still lingered on her cheeks.
He shook his head, smiling at her. “I’m not tired. Just surprised.”
He had thought she was the passive type, but it turned out…
… Appearances could be deceiving.
Who would have thought that the aloof and ethereal Jade Empress could be so… passionate…?
He sat up, pulling her closer, his arm wrapping around her waist.
“Do you have enough spiritual energy now?” he whispered in her ear.
“It should be enough… I just need to replenish it every few days until the Heavenly Phoenix Fruit ripens,” she replied.
Though her voice was calm, her cheeks flushed as he breathed softly against her skin.
He had been bored earlier, but now, seeing her like this… his heart pounded.
He leaned in, kissing her delicate cheek.
However, he paused, as if sensing something, and glanced towards the window.
He could sense a surge of spiritual energy gathering in that direction, flowing towards them.
She looked up, her cheeks still flushed, her gaze following his.
After a moment of silence, she murmured, “I miscalculated.”
This vast amount of spiritual energy… it was heading towards Mu Zhi’an.
She had known his Innate Celestial Vessel was special, but she had never imagined it would absorb spiritual energy from the environment so aggressively when it was depleted.
At this rate… not only would she sense it, but so would everyone in the Jade Pool Sacred Land, even those in Sacred King City…
…
Within the main hall of the Jade Pool Sacred Land, the Jade Pool Empress Mother was chatting with Yao Xin.
The Empress Mother, her beauty mature and alluring, sat gracefully on her throne, her posture elegant, her figure untouched by time.
If she were to walk alongside the Jade Pool Holy Maiden and Yao Xin, those who didn’t know them would think they were sisters.
The only difference was that she possessed a mature sensuality that the younger fairies lacked.
“Empress Mother, did the Jade Empress use the Pure World Seed to suppress those three Nascent Soul experts tonight?” Yao Xin asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
The Jade Pool Empress Mother nodded. “The vines that absorb spiritual energy… it must have been the Pure World Seed.”
She knew a little about the Jade Empress’s techniques.
“But she doesn’t have any spiritual energy. How did she do it?” Yao Xin asked.
The Jade Pool Empress Mother smiled, but didn’t answer.
She was also puzzled.
A vessel was essential for a cultivator. How had the Jade Empress fought without one?
A secret technique…?
As she pondered this, she suddenly looked up, her gaze drawn towards the Jade Empress’s chambers.
She could sense a surge of spiritual energy flowing towards the chambers.
Has the Jade Empress’s vessel been restored? Is she absorbing spiritual energy from the environment…?
She quickly dismissed the thought.
It’s impossible. If she had restored her vessel, her Primordial Spirit Tribulation would have descended…
And she couldn’t possibly have restored her vessel before consuming the Heavenly Phoenix Fruit—
Her thoughts were interrupted as she sensed a faint, alluring fragrance emanating from the chambers.
It was the fragrance of Mu Zhi’an’s spiritual energy, the energy that had overflowed after their cultivation.
Her eyes narrowed, her mind racing.
After a long silence, she closed her eyes, her fingers tracing a pattern in the air, as if calculating something.
She then opened her eyes, her gaze fixed on the Jade Empress’s chambers, her voice barely a whisper. “The Innate Celestial Vessel…?”
It clearly wasn’t the Jade Empress’s physique.
Then who…?
Who else was in the Jade Empress’s chambers besides her?
Realization dawned.
Why had the Jade Empress asked him to stay with her?
Why had she been able to suppress those three Nascent Soul experts?
It wasn’t simply because he had saved her.
It was because… he was likely an Innate Celestial Vessel!
She stared at the Jade Empress’s chambers, a knowing glint in her eyes.
…
That night, the surge of spiritual energy flowing towards the Jade Empress’s chambers was sensed not only by those in the Jade Pool Sacred Land, but also by several perceptive cultivators in Sacred King City.
Many speculated that the Jade Empress had restored her vessel and was absorbing spiritual energy from the environment.
However, some elders from ancient families disagreed.
If she had restored her vessel, her Primordial Spirit Tribulation would have descended. It wouldn’t be so quiet. 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝘣.𝘤𝘰𝑚
Clearly, it wasn’t her vessel that was absorbing the spiritual energy.
Then what was it…?
As they discussed this, Wang Meng, an elder of the Wang Family, stared at the Jade Pool Sacred Land, his eyes narrowed.
“Did you discover something, Elder?” the woman in the red dress beside him asked.
He turned to her, his voice trembling with excitement.
“… I know how the Jade Empress was able to use her spiritual energy.”
