Dual Cultivation's Boon

Zhen's ultimate ice erupted from beneath her feet, taking on the shape of a majestic dragon.

An explosive boom reverberated in the shop. The ice dragon dragon crashed into the ceiling as it flew into the sky above. With extreme composure as her ice dragon ascended, Zhen's feet were firmly planted while she had har hands behind her back.

Throwing the soul core into the air, the Bagua with the snake emblem on the center emitted a green light, stretching into the form of a gigantic snake.

The light faded to reveal the deadly but pristine albino divine beast. Jumping on top of its head, the Poison Devouring Python flew, giving chase to the dragon above.

The winds roared while Zhen and her dragon traversed the clouds on high speed. Zhen flinched at the cannonball of pure, verdant corrosion was shot into her direction.

With swift maneuverability Zhen's dragon veered off to the side, evading the oncoming poison.

Bao grinned, his friend's construct was as agile as he could remember. Time to see how agile it could really get. The python's mouth opened, another ball of condensed poison coalesced in its center. Once it reached the size of a small boulder, the python fired off the ball of corrosion. His attacks unrelenting, Bao's python followed it up with another two in quick succession.

The three oncoming attacks were sparsed, leaving Zhen's dragon with no room to evade. No matter, if evasion won't do then how about brute force?

Zhen's turned around to stand its ground. In the realm of divine beasts, few can match dragons in terms of raw power. A construct her dragon maybe, Zhen made sure it was a reputation it could embody.

"Oh no." The smirk was wiped off Bao's face as soon as she witnessed the mouth of the dragon overflowing with ice.

As the dragon roared, it unleashed a ray of vicious ice, destroying all three corrosive balls in one continuous swipe.

"Would it hurt you to play along even just for a little bit, Zhen?" The disappointed Bao said.

"I am playing along, otherwise this match of ours would have been over."

"Hah, that arrogance." Bao chuckled. "And you wonder why Qiuyue turned out the way she did."

"Do not speak of that woman in my presence."

In anger at Qiuyue's name being uttered, Zhen manifested a massive array of swords behind her.

"My apologies, does her betrayal still sting after hundreds of years?" Bao question, believing that some friendships must be tested to their limit.

Zhen exhaled. Bao was still as insufferable as ever. With a wave of her hand, countless swords swarmed Bao.

The oncoming onslaught of blades failed to reach their target as all melted with a green sizzle, Bao's confidence made it seem that he was repelling her blades with his smirk alone. It was a qi technique invisible to the human eye but can be sensed with someone in the same realm.

A qi technique name, [Poison Erosion Sphere] in which Bao's poison qi, reaching its max potency throughout millennia now has the power to corrode and disintegrate in an area around him.

"Oho, the poison of your sphere has increased its toxicity. Impressive." Zhen commended.

Bao fiddled with his nails, regaining his smirk, "Of course, I did not simply dawdle with my thumbs while you were gone. How about you, do you have any surprises that you can impart with this new disciple of yours? Show me what sets her apart from the last. Thrill me. "

Thrill? Sure. Zhen was about to give Bao one shocking surprise.

Zhen kneeled. In her median, the release of stored qi essence surged within. Zhen was now ready to reveal the true apex of dual cultivation. With but a touch of her hand, Zhen infused her dragon with lightning, traveling from the dragon's head all the way to its tail to form an amalgamation - a dragon made out of ice and lightning.

With the mastery of Dual Cultivation comes the ability to let you borrow your partner's qi element for a short interval. The infusion of power power can only last for an hour, but the hail of elements you can throw at your enemies would be enough to devastate them. Fire, wind, gravity, Zhen can unleash a salvo of elements towards Bao, but she reckoned one element would suffice. Zhen's dragon prepared for another breath attack, her ice ray imbibed with only lightning would in theory be enough to power through Bao's sphere. A theory that Zhen would very much love to test.

From the dragon's thunderous roar came lighting entwined with ice. Blasted from the heavens, the spectators below were at awe at the concentrated ray of weather calamity aimed at the gargantuan albino snake.

As someone who had also mastered dual cultivation, Bao infused his sphere with fire. Zhen only used one extra element, so would he.

Swallowed by the stream of lightning and ice, the devastating power of the former slowly chipped away at Bao's sphere. It took all of his focus and qi for his sphere not to break.

After one whole minute of catastrophic breathing, the dragon ceased its attack.

There was Bao, his robe tattered from the vestiges of lightning that passed through his defenses. Yes, Zhen's ice was a poor match against his corrosion, but the might of lightning was something even Bao's fire wasn't able to completely hold at bay.

Zhen moved her dragon closer, "You look like you can use a new set of clothes, Bao. What do you say we put an end to this?"

Bao sighed, followed by a smile. The defeat was not bitter at all since he was able to at least have fun.

"Indeed. Come, let us discuss over tea how this new disciple of yours is a massive slut for attaining the prerequisites of mastering dual cultivation this early."

Being branded as a slut was the hallmark of a true dual cultivator, for one must attune and store plenty of other's qi essence in order to manifest this lending of power.

"Heh, calling my disciple a slut does not mean much when it comes from a man-whore."

"Zhen, how long have you known me to think that I regard slut in a derogatory manner?"

Even the man-whore was compliment in Bao's ears. If they compared sluttines, Bao would come out on top, for he was a glutton that would devour both genders.

Bao smirked. It looks like Zhen struck gold with this disciple. Not only can she inherit Zhen's ice, but also her mastery of dual cultivation. Where Qiuyue failed, this Xiao prospered.

Yes, it is important to amass plenty of partners but to truly make their qi essence as your own, oneness must be shared between the two of them. Qiuyue's knack for violence combined with her arrogance never allowed for such opportunities.

+++

In the hallway of the auction house, Luqing and Yanmei blocked a certain married couple's path.

"Hand over the scroll and no one will get hurt!"

Luqing's declaration of violence made Liuming hide behind her wife. The memory of being sent flying by a single punch was still fresh in the redhead's mind.

From an over the top threat followed by a painful groan, Yanmei's elbow was buried in Luqing's stomach.

"Countless times I have reminded you never to act like a brute!" From scowl to smile, Yanmei's expression changed faster than one would swap clothes. "It is a pleasure to meet you again, there was a grave emergency last time, forgive me I had to take Xiao with me. Now, I would like to invite you to share dinner with us."

The other side of Xiao's harem. Lin's interest was piqued.

"What if I told you that we don't want to have dinner with you, are you going to force us?" Lin tested the waters. Just because Yanmei was part of Xiao's harem, it was no guarantee that they would get along.

"No, there shall be no forcing. I know for a fact that Xiao would be sad if discord grew among her harem. If you do now want to share cups with us then we will be on our merry way."

It was the answer that Yanmei wanted to hear. But what about her wife? This decision wasn't simply hers alone to make.

Lin glanced at the redhead hiding behind her shoulder, Lin inquired, "What do you think?"

Although Liuming was curious about Yanmei, the violent woman beside her frightened her to no end. Like what Yanmei said, Xiao would be sad if they ended up fighting.

With a hesitant nod, Liuming agreed.