After Transmigrating into a Book as Cannon Fodder, I Pampered the Villain - Chapter 65

Chapter 65: Habit

She wanted to try every interesting thing in the book.

Fortunately, the transition from Body Refinement (Zhu Ji) to Essence Refining (Lian Jing Hua Qi) does not require enduring a lightning tribulation; otherwise, Yu Yingxia would have been in a frantic mess.

Most people get stuck to some degree when breaking through, and even a genius like Yan Huaixi had never had it go this smoothly. Growing between minor stages is one thing, but every major realm breakthrough is usually a massive hurdle.

After telling Yu Yingxia to go consolidate her cultivation, Yan Huaixi stood at the door pondering for quite a while. Naturally, she wanted Yu Yingxia’s cultivation path to be as smooth as possible, but this level of ease suggested there was another cause.

Could it be… the technique she’s practicing?

Legend has it that when Yan Qingxu was at the peak of her prospects for immortality, she suddenly composed this manual, destroyed her own cultivation, and started over. Everyone thought she was mad. However, shortly after Yan Qingxu reappeared in the world, she had regained her original power and ascended to immortality soon after. Outsiders suspected she had never actually destroyed her cultivation and that it was all a ruse, but the Yan family head at the time knew the rumors were true.

Although Yan Qingxu never told her family if her abnormal recovery was linked to the technique, the patriarch guessed as much. Before ascending, she left the manual with the Yan family, but for centuries, no member of the family had been able to practice it. Many believed that by practicing this technique, one could glimpse the secret of immortality—and it was this very belief that eventually led to the clan’s destruction.

“So the legend was true?” Yan Huaixi had always been skeptical of the family heirloom. Now, it seemed there was weight to it. No wonder Yin Duo had gone to any lengths to steal it though how he managed to lose such a treasure to the mortal realm after all his scheming remained a mystery.

Yan Huaixi let out a cold laugh. According to Yingxia, the manual contained a wisp of the Ancestor’s divine sense. If Yin Duo had truly tried to force the technique, he might not have survived until now.

Perhaps it was all fate.

Her cold laughter made Xun Qing shiver. The child hugged her sister and crept quietly out of the courtyard. Yan Huaixi watched them leave but didn’t follow; with Yingxia occupied, she had no interest in playing babysitter.

Though Yingxia’s breakthrough was fast, consolidating her foundation would take time. By the time she finished, her life-bound artifact would likely be ready.

“My Lord.” Teng Yuelan entered the courtyard. “A secret report has arrived from the Tianqiu Sect.”

“What is it?” Yan Huaixi frowned slightly.

“Si Jinglan discovered traces of Yan Zheng’s activities within the Tianqiu Sect. Our external intelligence gatherers have confirmed this.”

“As expected.” Yan Huaixi wasn’t surprised. She had guessed those two were in cahoots long ago—well before she discovered Yan Zheng was using Yu Yingxia. Without an insider’s guidance, how could the Yan family, even in decline, have been wiped out overnight?

“Tell Si Jinglan to ignore Yan Zheng for now and focus on hiding herself. Yan Zheng’s abilities are peculiar; clashing with him now would be troublesome. Tell her to keep her focus on Fang Yuetong.”

“Understood.” Teng Yuelan acknowledged, but she hesitated as if she had more to say.

“Is there something else?” Yan Huaixi noticed the hesitation.

“It’s nothing major, but Si Jinglan sent a message regarding Fang Yuetong.”

“Her? Has she finally realized Yin Duo is a beast?” Yan Huaixi didn’t expect much, but she was slightly curious.

“Not quite. She just said that after Fang Yuetong realized you had deceived her, she was depressed for a long time—looking like a puppy kicked out of its home.” Teng Yuelan coughed awkwardly. These were Si Jinglan’s exact words; the girl was getting bolder, describing Fang Yuetong as a “puppy.” “Si Jinglan used this chance to get even closer to her. She says the plan can be executed soon.”

Teng Yuelan didn’t know what the “plan” was, assuming it was a secret between the Lord and the spy, so she didn’t ask. However, based on the girl’s tone, she suspected someone was about to be put through the wringer.

Little did she know, even Yan Huaixi didn’t know what the mischievous Si Jinglan was up to. But Si Jinglan’s cleverness often solved major headaches at critical moments, so Yan Huaixi allowed her to improvise.

“I see. Tell her to only contact me for major moves; I’ll pick her up then. For now, minimize contact. I’ve already alerted the Tianqiu Sect once; they’ll be extremely vigilant.”

“Yes, I’ve already told her. She has a sense of proportion.” Teng Yuelan smiled, then looked toward Yu Yingxia’s room. Her eyes suddenly widened in shock.

“Wait… My Lord… Has Miss Yu broken through?” The unstable spiritual fluctuations in the room had reached the Essence Refining stage.

Teng Yuelan was incredulous. She remembered that when Yu Yingxia first arrived, she wasn’t even at the middle stage of Body Refinement. How long had it been? She was already at Essence Refining? Was this a normal speed? Even the geniuses she knew took at least three years to make that jump!

“Are you certain there’s nothing wrong with her cultivation speed?” If it were just “fast,” she would praise her talent. But if it defied logic, she worried about “demonic paths” that boosted speed at the cost of one’s foundation.

“There shouldn’t be a problem,” Yan Huaixi said, shaking her head. “I checked her just now; everything is normal.”

But this speed made no sense… Suddenly, a thought occurred to Teng Yuelan, and she froze.

Wait. There is one way to boost cultivation that quickly.

Dual Cultivation!

Especially when one partner’s cultivation is vastly superior to the other’s. As long as it wasn’t a demonic “plucking” technique, the lower-level partner could skyrocket—especially when the gap was as large as Body Refinement vs. Dao Integration…

The rumors are true!

“I… I understand now,” Teng Yuelan said, her voice shifting with awkwardness.

Yan Huaixi glanced over and saw the avoidant look in her subordinate’s eyes. Having known each other for decades, she knew exactly what Teng Yuelan was thinking. Her face instantly flushed red.

To prevent her Lord from lashing out in embarrassment, Teng Yuelan quickly lowered her head and presented two entry tokens for a secret realm.

“These are the entry tokens for the Lost Realm of Souls. I have secured the slots.”

“So soon?” Yan Huaixi tactfully ignored the previous topic. “Is the opening time ahead of schedule this year?”

“Correct. The three major families reported intensified spiritual fluctuations at the entrance. Based on experience, it will open within the year.”

“That’s rare. Luckily, Yingxia broke through quickly, or she would have missed it.” The entry requirement was at least the Essence Refining stage. At a normal speed, Yu Yingxia would never have made it in time.

Well, not unless… she dual cultivated with me starting now.

Yan Huaixi felt her face grow even hotter. With their power gap, frequent dual cultivation would make breaking through a breeze. And Yingxia was clearly a “blank slate” regarding the unique dual cultivation methods of soul cultivators; she could be taught anything. For the sake of the secret realm, Yingxia surely wouldn’t refuse a “slightly” intimate training method.

If the Ancestor’s technique hadn’t worked so well, perhaps that plan would have actually happened.

The dangerous thought flashed through Yan Huaixi’s mind. No, doing that would just make me exactly like the version of me in the book. She tried to kill the thought, yet a wave of regret washed over her.

She had to admit to herself that regret was her true emotion. She had claimed she wasn’t that kind of person, but as time passed, she realized she couldn’t exonerate herself. The person in the book was the embodiment of her own desires.

She wanted to try every kind of “affair” mentioned in the book. And Yang Xunzhou knew little of soul cultivation, so she hadn’t described the Soul Domain much she likely didn’t know that doing those things within a Soul Domain offered a uniquely irresistible sensation.

Just like that day.

But I must learn restraint, she told herself. Her intuition said it wasn’t time to catch the rabbit yet; being too hasty would backfire.

She took the tokens from Teng Yuelan, playing with them absentmindedly, unaware that she had let out a sigh.

“My Lord? Is something troubling you?” Teng Yuelan asked.

“Nothing. Go attend to your business.” Yan Huaixi waved her off. Some thoughts were too embarrassing to share with others.

Half a month passed, and Yu Yingxia had fully consolidated her cultivation. To prepare for the secret realm, she began learning the basic techniques of the Essence Refining stage under Yan Huaixi the most important being flight via artifact.

Her life-bound weapon wasn’t ready yet. Whether the smith hit a snag or had a sudden burst of “inspiration,” the Forge Tower remained silent past the expected completion date. Yan Huaixi trusted Zhao Ying’s skill, so she assumed it was the latter. If so, the weapon would be extraordinary.

For now, Yu Yingxia used the spirit brush she used for her art. Following the flight technique, she stood shakily on the enlarged brush, only to expectedly fall off.

Yan Huaixi was right there, catching her in her arms the moment she slipped. Yu Yingxia’s face was pale from the scare, so Yan Huaixi held her a little tighter.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m right here. You won’t fall.” Because of the angle, Yan Huaixi’s breath brushed against Yu Yingxia’s ear. Her tone was tantalizingly soft, causing Yu Yingxia’s ears to redden.

Yu Yingxia shrank back slightly, but since she was trapped in the hug, she only nodded and looked away bashfully.

Learning to fly isn’t instant; everyone takes a few tumbles at the start. Despite her caution, Yu Yingxia fell several times. Fortunately, Yan Huaixi caught her every single time.

By the time she actually learned to fly, Yu Yingxia had first become quite accustomed to the feeling of Yan Huaixi’s arms.

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