Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

Chapter 192

“Pah! You pervert!” Mo Zhuer cursed.

“A demoness calling me a pervert?” Xu Ming was momentarily stunned.

Seriously, what right did this demoness have to call him a pervert? He wasn’t a saint. In this situation, wasn’t it normal to have some thoughts? He hadn’t thrown her to the ground yet, which was already pretty restrained. Besides, didn’t she remember how she’d been flirting with him these past days? Now that was truly shameless.

“No excuses,” Mo Zhuer said firmly. “Stretch your hand out straight.”

Xu Ming decided not to argue with her, given that his life depended on her right now. Whether he could survive or not was entirely up to her.

He extended his hand, and Mo Zhuer placed her palm against his.

The moment their palms touched, both of them shuddered.

For Xu Ming, touching the delicate hand of a woman in this state made the tension in his heartstring almost unbearable.

For Mo Zhuer, under the influence of the Yuanyang Cauldron, how could she possibly remain unaffected by the primal desire radiating from Xu Ming? She was simply enduring it with all her might.

She couldn’t let herself lose control here. That would be way too easy for him.

Gathering her spiritual energy, she directed it into Xu Ming’s body. Xu Ming didn’t resist.

He felt her spiritual energy, cool like ice water, flowing into his veins and calming his blood and spiritual power. At the same time, his own boiling spiritual energy entered Mo Zhuer’s body, warming her icy bloodline.

“It’s working—it’s really working!”

Mo Zhuer realized that as long as she carefully controlled the balance of their energies, harmonizing yin and yang was indeed achievable.

They just needed to hold out for one hour.

But it required her full focus. She had to remain cautious every single moment.

Mo Zhuer’s spiritual energy naturally carried an allure for men, while Xu Ming’s vigorous life force had a similar effect on her current state. Balancing their energies was like walking a tightrope.

If anything went wrong and their spiritual energies mixed uncontrollably, it would be no different from locking a male and female beast in heat in the same cage. Rationality would be completely obliterated, and things would spiral out of control.

—

“Awoo…”

“Awoo…”

“This way! It should be here!”

At this critical moment, voices came from outside the cauldron. Mo Zhuer and Xu Ming froze.

It was Shen Shengsheng’s voice, followed by the sound of three women talking.

As the voices drew closer, panic set in for both Xu Ming and Mo Zhuer.

“Damn it!”

That momentary lapse of focus caused Mo Zhuer to lose control of her spiritual energy. Their energies merged uncontrollably.

Xu Ming slowly opened his eyes, which had turned bloodshot. His breathing was hot and heavy, as though his rationality had already been consumed.

Mo Zhuer’s body also burned with unbearable heat.

Xu Ming leaned closer to Mo Zhuer, who couldn’t stop herself from leaning in as well.

Both of them knew they shouldn’t, but no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t regain control.

“Mmph…”

By the time Xu Ming and Mo Zhuer realized what was happening, she was already sitting on his lap, their lips locked together.

“No, don’t…”

Mo Zhuer felt a surge of panic in her heart, but her dress was already slipping off.

“Xu Gongzi (Young Master), are you in there?”

“Xu Gongzi?”

Outside the Yuanyang Cauldron, three female disciples of the Tianxuan Sect called out repeatedly. They could sense the spiritual energy fluctuations inside the cauldron.

“Stop asking and open it already! What if Xu Gongzi is inside but just unconscious?” One of the female disciples struck the cauldron with her palm, trying to force it open.

But the cauldron remained completely unmoved.

In contrast, sounds of impact came from within the cauldron, one after another, as if something was forcefully colliding inside.

“What should we do?” one of the female cultivators asked anxiously. “Could it be that Xu Gongzi is thrashing about in pain inside?”

“Quick, go back to the sect and ask the elders and ‘Uncle’ Qin Qingwan to come!” another female cultivator suggested urgently.

“N-no need,” came Mo Zhuer’s faint voice from inside the cauldron. “I—I and… mmh… Xu Ming have already found a way to get out. N-no need to call for help.”

“Are you sure? Why does your breathing sound so labored, girl?” one of the Tianxuan Sect disciples asked with concern.

“I… I’m fine.” Mo Zhuer gritted her teeth, pressing against the Yuanyang Cauldron. “We’re breaking out of the cauldron. It’s just… exhausting. Give us a stick of incense… just one stick of incense, and we’ll be done.”

“Xu Gongzi? Are you truly alright? Xu Gongzi?” Another disciple still seemed uncertain.

“We’re fine. Just wait a moment,” Xu Ming’s voice came from within. “Although… it might take two sticks of incense.”

“You—” Mo Zhuer started to speak, but quickly bit her tongue.

The three female disciples exchanged glances, but ultimately decided to trust Xu Ming’s words.

—

Two sticks of incense later, the sounds from within the cauldron gradually ceased.

“Boom!”

Suddenly, there was a loud noise as Xu Ming forcefully blasted the cauldron open.

Mo Zhuer recited an incantation and swiftly stored the Yuanyang Cauldron into her pouch.

The two of them stood facing each other, both drenched in sweat, clearly having expended significant effort to break free.

Looking at the woman in front of him, Xu Ming felt a mix of emotions.

What surprised him even more was that after their “joint effort” inside the cauldron, the chaotic energy of his martial warrior true qi and spiritual power had inexplicably calmed down.

Xu Ming suddenly understood why Mo Zhuer had never shared the “solution” to his energy problem—it required dual cultivation!

Mo Zhuer’s face was flushed with embarrassment as she stretched out her pale hand toward Xu Ming, her voice cold. “The antidote! Give it to me!”

“There is no antidote,” Xu Ming said slowly.

“Don’t be so shameless!” Mo Zhuer clenched her delicate fists. “I helped you harmonize your energy! You—”

“There really is no antidote,” Xu Ming interrupted, shaking his head. “The truth is, you were never poisoned.”

“I wasn’t poisoned…” Mo Zhuer stared blankly at Xu Ming. “You’ve been lying to me this whole time?”

Xu Ming looked directly into her eyes. “Yes.”

“Pah! Despicable man!” Mo Zhuer spat on the ground, then turned and started to leave.

But after taking just one step, she winced in pain, clenching her fists tightly.

“By the way…” Mo Zhuer turned back, a sly smile on her face. “Don’t think one time is enough to solve your problem. Your martial warrior true qi and spiritual power haven’t been fully cured. If you want a permanent solution, come to the Western Region and help me with something!”

“…” Xu Ming stared at her. “You planned this all along, didn’t you?”

Mo Zhuer’s eyes curved into a smile. “Who says I didn’t? But you lied to me first, so what if I calculated against you?”

With that, Mo Zhuer stopped walking and flew off into the distance.

As Xu Ming watched her figure disappear, he held a white handkerchief in his hand. On the handkerchief was a blood-red plum blossom, freshly “painted” not long ago.