Chapter 85: The Power of Attributes! Cultivation Without Interruption!

Cao Xuan also sat up. They say a woman at thirty is like a wolf, at forty a tiger, but his master now seemed as ravenous as ever. Earlier, he had taken the initiative, and once he had finished inscribing the sub-symbols from the "Heavenly Talisman Secret Canon," connecting their grand cycle, Yu Wan immediately grasped the secret behind dual cultivation.

In truth, even if they simply embraced without moving, the grand cycle could still operate. In fact, when cultivating with Li Yao, most of their time was spent just holding each other motionless. Though cultivators possessed stamina far beyond ordinary people, they weren’t perpetual motion machines. Sometimes, the lingering sensation during pauses was just as intoxicating.

Yu Wan had not noticed that Cao Xuan was not cultivating the "Rune Cloud Formula." She only knew that now, connected to him through the grand cycle, she was able to regulate her own essence, energy, and spirit. At her level, progress often depended on mysterious insight. This was not a game; there were no panels or data to tell her how much of each she possessed. But after joining with Cao Xuan, it was as if she had a mirror inside herself—a reference point.

Yu Wan realized that if her energy was at ten, her essence was at seven, and her spirit at eight. "I thought I was already close to the Golden Core, but I’m still so far away!" she sighed.

To Cao Xuan, Yu Wan was still his master; blushing, he said, "Master, maybe we should get dressed first!"

Yu Wan smiled, "What, are you shy now? Last night you were so bold, but now you're afraid?" She blushed herself, recalling how she had become more passionate later on, even biting him several times.

"Your cultivation method truly makes it hard to restrain oneself!" Her eyes suddenly brightened. "I understand now—this method, sweating together, enhances ‘essence’; once united, the grand cycle boosts ‘energy’; when the mind is stirred, it strengthens ‘spirit’!"

Her expression grew astonished as she patted his shoulder. "Disciple, I never expected you to be such a genius! No, you’ve always been a genius—what I mean is, your cultivation method is truly brilliant!"

Cao Xuan could only remind himself not to stare, but reason dictated he should appreciate the view—it would be a waste not to look. So he openly admired his master, inwardly thinking, "So that's why this trait is so effective!"

Primitive movement aligns with the heavenly way; in this world of cultivation, it’s even more apparent. Of course, a suitable method is required. If not for the "Heavenly Talisman Secret Canon" and its ability to inscribe talismans and form a grand cycle, most people would merely be making children, and those with cultivation might only improve their ‘essence’ a little.

But Yu Wan was different. She possessed a trait that could purify true essence, which delighted Cao Xuan. Normally, after cultivating with Li Yao, each had to retreat and refine the foreign true essence within their bodies. But with Yu Wan, her body acted as a filter; any essence entering from Cao Xuan, or transferred from her, passed through this portal and, after circulating through their respective methods, became pure and their own.

Cao Xuan and Li Yao would often accumulate a great deal of foreign essence in their bodies, eventually forcing them to stop cultivation. But with Yu Wan, there was no such concern; they could simply indulge in the pleasures of dual cultivation.

This allowed both to tackle the more elusive aspects of ‘essence’ and ‘spirit’. Cao Xuan mused that if he hadn’t had the Foundation Establishment Pill, allowing him to regulate his essence, energy, and spirit, he too would have been stuck at the peak of Foundation Establishment like Yu Wan.

After a night of cultivation, Cao Xuan found that although he thought he had reached the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment and balanced his essence, energy, and spirit, thanks to his master’s trait, all three had advanced further.

"Could it be that, just as there’s a hidden tenth layer in the Qi Refining stage, there’s also a hidden realm in Foundation Establishment?" he wondered. "It’s said that the peak of Foundation Establishment, just before breaking through to Golden Core, is the ‘False Core’ stage. But in reality, none have truly reached it."

"And after defying my master, I’ve inadvertently attained this state!"

As Cao Xuan pondered, Yu Wan’s heart was equally unsettled.

"So this is how Li Yao has been cultivating all year! If I had discovered this earlier, would I not have already broken through to Golden Core?"

Her heart trembled as she looked at Cao Xuan’s strong physique, blushing slightly. Who said only men were pleasing to the eye? Women enjoyed beauty too. Her earlier teasing was simply a desire to savor the experience, to linger in his presence.

During the past century, after her Dao companion and senior brother passed away, her cultivation had been smooth, eventually becoming the head of Talisman Peak. She thought she had long lost interest in matters between men and women, yet here she was, feeling like a young girl again.

Last night, Cao Xuan gained some benefit, but Yu Wan's harvest was far greater. The "Heavenly Talisman Secret Canon," as the top Foundation Establishment method, with Cao Xuan’s help, had propelled her cultivation as if switching from walking to racing in a sports car.

Moreover, the trait was in her body; while Cao Xuan benefitted, she gained even more. The law of mutual action—if Cao Xuan felt the butterfly portal’s comfort, Yu Wan experienced the same.

After secretly admiring Cao Xuan, she began to contemplate while operating the "Rune Cloud Formula" to sort herself out.

"Ah, my cultivation speed has dropped by more than tenfold. Now I can only sense spiritual essence; ‘essence’ and ‘spirit’ are completely out of reach!"

No matter how she cultivated, it felt wrong. She realized her current practice was like returning to arduous solitary cultivation, barely able to train ‘essence’ and ‘spirit’ while focusing on ‘energy’.

Once she understood, she opened her eyes and stared directly at Cao Xuan.

Noticing his master’s sudden gaze, Cao Xuan quickly looked up at the cabin ceiling. "Hmm, this cabin is really well decorated!"

Yu Wan’s eyes were seductive, her voice soft, "Xuan’er~"

Cao Xuan shivered. "Ma…Master, please don’t! I’m scared!"

Yu Wan pounced like a hungry tiger. "Since we've found the trick, we can’t waste a moment!"

"Let’s strive to adjust our realms to their peak and break through to Golden Core before entering Azure Cloud Mist Cave!"

Cao Xuan’s legs suddenly felt weak. Trembling, he said, "Master, I don’t think my waist can take it!"

"There are still five days before we reach Central State’s Azure Cloud Sect. Maybe we should just cultivate without any other actions?"

Yu Wan licked her lips. "What do you think?"