Chapter 247

Chapter 247: I Want to See What This Woman Can Do (4000 words, Combined Chapters)

Xu Ming had just stepped out of the Three Stone Peak when he saw Mo Zhu’er walking towards him.

Xu Ming furrowed his brows slightly and stepped forward.

“Ah, Master Xu has emerged~ How do you feel?” Mo Zhu’er smiled at Xu Ming, her eyes twinkling seductively like they were pulling threads.

“How did you know all this?” Xu Ming asked.

“All what?” Mo Zhu’er tilted her head, looking puzzled, appearing somewhat cute.

“Oh~” As if realizing what Xu Ming was referring to, Mo Zhu’er exclaimed with “sudden understanding,” “Master Xu is talking about those people imprisoned in the mountain cave. But how would I know about those people?”

Xu Ming: “…”

At this moment, Xu Ming realized that his question seemed rather foolish.

As the Holy Maiden of the Black Lotus Sect, Mo Zhu’er surely knew the truth since the Black Lotus Sect had been tasked by Sect Leader Xia He of Heavenly Profound Gate to cooperate through her.

Otherwise, how could Mo Zhu’er assist Xia He? “Master Xu seems a bit different.” While Xu Ming was lost in thought, Mo Zhu’er leaned closer, sniffing at Xu Ming. “Mm~ Master Xu’s Sword Qi feels sharper than before, and your presence is more oppressive. The Dao luck around you is also quite strong. Looks like Master Xu has good fortune. You managed to gain something even in there?”

“What’s your purpose?” Xu Ming asked directly, ignoring Mo Zhu’er sniffing around him like a kitten.

“Here? Are you sure?” Mo Zhu’er teased, glancing behind Xu Ming. “I just saw Xia He flying towards the Three Stone Peak. Though I don’t know what happened to you inside, if we’re discovered nearby by Xia He, it wouldn’t be good.”

“Let’s go to my courtyard.”

Xu Ming glanced at Mo Zhu’er and flew toward his courtyard.

“Tsk, so cold to me usually, but so intense during cultivation.” Mo Zhu’er pouted but was already used to Xu Ming’s cold demeanor, lightly following behind him.

Upon arriving at Xu Ming’s courtyard, Mo Zhu’er activated the protective array, cutting off all external detection. No sound could escape from within.

But Mo Zhu’er still felt uneasy and inserted additional array flags at the four corners of the courtyard, setting up another barrier against detection.

“Now you can speak. What’s your purpose?” Xu Ming stared straight into Mo Zhu’er’s eyes.

“Before I reveal my purpose, why doesn’t Master Xu tell me what happened in the Three Stone Peak?” Mo Zhu’er smiled, genuinely curious.

Logically speaking, what opportunities could that place possibly hold? After Xu Ming came out, his strength seemed to have increased significantly; he was almost about to break through the Sea Observing Realm.

“Shouldn’t everything I encountered be part of your plan?” Xu Ming asked.

Mo Zhu’er gave an adorable glare, “Look what you’re saying, Master Xu. How could what you encountered be part of my plan? I’m not the Lord of Tianji City, and even the Lord of Tianji City couldn’t predict such intricate details.

All I wanted was for you to meet those old folks locked beneath the Three Stone Peak.

Those old ones must have sensed changes in the Three Stone Peak’s array and guessed what Xia He intended to do.

After you met them, they’d definitely tell you what the Sect Leader might do, perhaps even beg you to rescue them.

That’s why I said, after meeting them, Master Xu would believe me.

Then, after leaving the Three Stone Peak, you’d cooperate with me.

That’s my plan.

What? Did Master Xu encounter something else?”

Xu Ming chuckled, “Do you really not know or pretend not to? I almost died there.”

“???” Mo Zhu’er looked completely baffled. “If Master Xu followed my instructions, avoided touching anything, and just followed the guidance of the stone I gave you, how could you encounter danger?”

“…”

Seeing Mo Zhu’er’s puzzled face, Xu Ming felt she might truly not know.

“At the time, I entered the Three Stone Peak as per your method, but then I got lost. But then…”

Xu Ming recounted the events that occurred in the Three Stone Peak to see her reaction.

“That’s how it went. I learned the techniques taught by fifteen cultivators from a sword cultivator named Jiang Yu, and in exchange, we need to figure out a way to seize the Heavenly Profound Mirror and smash it onto the Three Stone Peak.”

Xu Ming concealed the fact that the fifteen chambers contained vast amounts of spiritual energy, allowing him to temporarily enter the Jade Pudding Realm.

This was his trump card, meant to surprise.

Xu Ming didn’t fully trust Mo Zhu’er.

“I didn’t know there would be so many monster beasts in their prison. I also didn’t expect Xu Chang to still possess such formidable Sword Qi, capable of threatening transactions with you.”

Mo Zhu’er explained, looking somewhat anxious, fearing Xu Ming might think she intended harm.

“I understand.”

Xu Ming nodded, then stood up, grabbed a teapot, filled it with water from the courtyard, placed it on the table, added tea leaves, and under the influence of the central array on the stone table, the teapot slowly boiled.

Mo Zhu’er could only sit beside, watching Xu Ming leisurely prepare tea, no longer as relaxed as before.

“Don’t worry. I haven’t suspected you of using someone else’s hand to kill me. If you leaked any information to Xia He, he could have waited for me at the Three Stone Peak and killed me.

I believe my survival holds significant value to you.

At least now, you want to cooperate with me. We’re on the same boat.”

After brewing the tea, Xu Ming rinsed the cups and poured one for Mo Zhu’er.

“You know that.” Mo Zhu’er’s eyes curved, seemingly unconcerned but inwardly relieved.

“So, now you should tell me, what’s your purpose?” Xu Ming looked up and asked, “The deal between Xia He and your Black Lotus Sect isn’t trivial. By disrupting Xia He’s deal, you’ve technically betrayed the Black Lotus Sect, right? Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

“Death? Hahahaha…”

Mo Zhu’er paused briefly, then burst into laughter.

“Death, for us cultivators, is terrifying. We work hard, fight tirelessly, obtain just a tiny bit of opportunity, and then die, leaving treasures for others. That’s painful, isn’t it? Most cultivators fear death, and so do I.”

“But…” Mo Zhu’er picked up the teacup, sipping it, “Compared to death, I hate having my fate controlled by others even more! To take control of one’s own destiny, one must continuously enhance oneself, always consider oneself, and constantly take risks.”

Mo Zhu’er set down the cup, her alluring eyes staring intently at Xu Ming:

“And now, that’s exactly what I’m doing.

So…

I want the Dragon Vein of Heavenly Profound Gate!”

Xu Ming: “…”

Though Xu Ming didn’t know much about the cultivation world, he understood the concept of Dragon Veins.

Mundane dynasties have Dragon Veins.

The capitals of mundane dynasties are generally built atop the heads of Dragon Veins, stabilizing the dynasty’s fortune.

If a mundane dynasty’s Dragon Vein encounters problems, its national fortune will plummet, various misfortunes will occur—natural disasters and human calamities alike—and the dynasty is destined to decline.

This is why, during wars between nations, most people first consider ways to disrupt the enemy’s capital.

For sects, Dragon Veins exist similarly.

Most sects are built along mountains. Connected peaks form ranges, and the spiritual energies produced by multiple ranges intermingle, eventually converging into the sect, forming its Dragon Vein.

Once formed, a Dragon Vein cannot change.

Likewise, if a sect’s Dragon Vein encounters issues, all the spiritual energies within the sect will dissipate, and the sect’s fortune will vanish rapidly.

There are only two outcomes for such a sect.

One is to relocate, find new blessed lands, and start anew.

The other is direct dissolution, everyone going their separate ways.

After all, with the sect’s fortune scattered, the protective arrays gone, and surrounding spiritual energies depleted, how can cultivation continue?

Hearing Mo Zhu’er’s request, Xu Ming hesitated.

If Qingwan weren’t in the Heavenly Profound Gate, he wouldn’t have so many qualms.

But Qingwan had lived in the Heavenly Profound Gate for nearly eleven years since she was six, certainly having affection for the place.

It was like her second home.

If the Heavenly Profound Gate fell and he was an accomplice, how would she feel?

“Xu Ming, I know what you’re hesitating about.”

Looking at Xu Ming’s furrowed brow, Mo Zhu’er spoke irritably, dropping the respectful title “Master.”

“Is your childhood sweetheart so important to you? I’m not asking for her life. Where can’t Qin Qingwan cultivate? Without the Heavenly Profound Gate, she can join another sect.

Now, are you hesitating just because of your childhood sweetheart’s feelings?

Have you considered whether you alone can stop Xia He?”

As she spoke, Mo Zhu’er stood up, standing beside Xu Ming, her soft bosom pressing against his back, elastic cotton deforming under pressure: “Xu Ming, you can’t. You need me. Without me, you won’t obtain the Heavenly Profound Mirror, and you might not even protect your childhood sweetheart.”

Mo Zhu’er’s cheek pressed against Xu Ming’s side, her pale delicate hands slipping into his collar, exploring downwards.

“How? Would you rather watch your childhood sweetheart die before your eyes?”

As Mo Zhu’er finished speaking, her hands were tightly seized by Xu Ming.

“Think carefully. I believe you’ll give me a satisfactory answer.” Mo Zhu’er nibbled on Xu Ming’s ear, whispering now, “It’s time to cultivate. You wouldn’t want your spiritual energy and True Qi to conflict during battle, would you?”

Mo Zhu’er released some spiritual energy.

Having dual-cultivated twice with Mo Zhu’er, their energies were already intertwined. Not to mention the irresistible allure of Mo Zhu’er’s Luoshui Body, especially after Xu Ming had tasted it.

Xu Ming’s consciousness gradually succumbed to Mo Zhu’er’s influence. His breathing became heavier.

Xu Ming knew he was being influenced by Mo Zhu’er again.

But Xu Ming found himself unable to control his desires.

Compared to the first and second times, this time Xu Ming succumbed faster.

A voice kept repeating in Xu Ming’s mind—”Since we’ve done it twice, what’s the third time?” “Cultivating with her is solely to better combat Xia He, not due to personal desire.” “Everything you do is for Qingwan.”

When the last voice in Xu Ming’s mind faded, his rationality disappeared completely.

Xu Ming suddenly grabbed Mo Zhu’er’s wrist, causing her to lose balance and land on him.

Perhaps Xu Ming harbored some resentment towards Mo Zhu’er, unleashing everything after losing control.

The sound of tearing clothes echoed through the courtyard, scraps of fabric falling to the ground, revealing Mo Zhu’er’s snow-white thighs.

Mo Zhu’er bit her lips tightly, raising her head.

Half an hour later, Mo Zhu’er retrieved a set of clothes from her storage bag and dressed herself properly.

Regaining his rationality, Xu Ming looked at the mess on the ground and the overturned teacup, unsure if the stains were tea.

Despite feeling refreshed from organizing his spiritual energy and True Qi, Xu Ming’s headache persisted.

He succumbed faster this time, becoming increasingly resistant to Mo Zhu’er—a worrying sign!

Xu Ming even suspected if Mo Zhu’er might one day completely control him.

“I’m leaving~” Mo Zhu’er smiled at Xu Ming, “Your performance today satisfies me~ Don’t worry, I’ll quickly find the lower volume of the ‘Harmonious Path,’ and together we’ll ascend the Great Way.”

Mo Zhu’er tried to kiss Xu Ming on the cheek, but he dodged. Unperturbed, Mo Zhu’er hummed twice, retrieved the array flags, and left the courtyard.

However, once outside the courtyard and out of Xu Ming’s sight, Mo Zhu’er’s legs buckled. She clenched her teeth and leaned against a tree, her cheeks flushed red.

“Did I anger him? Was I too rough?”

“Qin Qingwan!” Mo Zhu’er gripped the bark tightly, “Humph! I want to see what this woman can do to deserve your attention!”