After a brief moment of stunned surprise, immense joy surged through her heart. Her eyes lit up instantly, the tears retreated, and she nodded vigorously. “I… I am willing!”
Her voice trembled with excitement, yet a relieved smile spread across her face. The earlier shyness and nervousness vanished completely, replaced by resolve and anticipation.
Seeing this, Chen Ping raised his hand and laid down an isolating formation, completely sealing the interior of the cave from the outside world. It prevented both the wind and snow from intruding and blocked all auras.
“This place is simple, but it will suffice for now,” he said. Then he sat cross-legged, a gentle chaos immortal power radiating from his body. “Come here.”
Ling Shuang took a deep breath to suppress the fluttering in her heart. She walked slowly to Chen Ping, then sat cross-legged facing him.
She closed her eyes and gently removed her plain white sword robes, revealing a graceful and exquisite figure. Her skin, reflected against the ice crystals, resembled congealed white jade, glowing with a faint lustre.
“Miss Ling Shuang, you must prepare yourself. I can be quite intense.”
With those words from Chen Ping, he began.
Ling Shuang’s entire body trembled. Their auras had already merged. Chen Ping’s chaos immortal power was vast and encompassing, nourishing her meridians while guiding her sword essence to become even purer.
In turn, Ling Shuang’s sharp and pure sword essence stimulated Chen Ping’s immortal power, making it more agile and lively.
Inside the cave, the two forces intertwined and coiled together, forming a faint halo of light that enveloped them both.
On the ground covered with ice crystals, subtle spiritual energy patterns quietly emerged. The surrounding heavenly spiritual energy was drawn in, flowing continuously into their bodies.
Ling Shuang felt a warm comfort throughout her body. The spiritual power depleted from resisting the blizzard rapidly recovered. Her meridians grew broader and tougher. Even the bottleneck that had long hindered her cultivation showed faint signs of loosening.
She could clearly sense Chen Ping’s immortal power flowing gently within her, carrying a reassuring strength that made her involuntarily immerse herself in it.
Chen Ping also noticed something unusual.
Ling Shuang’s sword essence carried a unique quality. During their dual cultivation, their powers nourished and promoted each other, causing both their realms to rise steadily.
The chaos fire lotus in his dantian and his true dragon vital blood circulated more smoothly after absorbing the pure energy from her sword essence. His immortal power grew even more condensed.
A night passed quietly.
When the first rays of morning light filtered through cracks in the ice into the cave, the formation slowly dissipated. Two dazzling beams of light burst from Chen Ping and Ling Shuang, then quickly converged.
Chen Ping opened his eyes slowly, brilliant light flashing within them.
After one night of dual cultivation, his First Grade Heavenly Immortal realm had become more stable. His total immortal power had increased further, and his command of chaos laws felt even more natural.
Ling Shuang also opened her eyes. Her aura was now far stronger than before.
Her gaze was brighter, her skin more radiant. Her overall temperament retained its cool detachment yet gained a touch of alluring charm.
“How do you feel, Miss Ling Shuang?” Chen Ping asked.
“I feel wonderful,” Ling Shuang replied softly, her cheeks slightly flushed as she quickly dressed. “Only my legs are a bit sore and swollen.”
“That is normal at first. It will improve with time.”
After saying this, Chen Ping helped Ling Shuang to her feet, and they prepared to continue the journey.
The two glanced towards the Red Cloud Demon Lord in the corner. He remained seated with eyes closed, regulating his breathing. He appeared completely unaware of the previous night’s events, though the fluctuations of demonic essence around him were now more stable.
Only Chen Ping knew that the Red Cloud Demon Lord was long accustomed to such things.
Back when the Red Cloud Demon Lord had resided in his sea of consciousness, he had witnessed far too much.
After a brief rest, the three set off once more towards the Eternal Ice Plain.
In the following days, each evening when they stopped to rest, Ling Shuang would proactively approach Chen Ping. The two would tacitly engage in dual cultivation.
As the sessions increased, their coordination grew ever more harmonious, and their feelings for each other deepened.
Ling Shuang was no longer as shy as at the beginning. Occasionally she would even take the initiative to lean against Chen Ping, discussing insights on cultivation or sharing secrets of the Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect.
Chen Ping enjoyed exchanging ideas with her. Coming from a renowned sect, Ling Shuang possessed broad knowledge and deep understanding of the cultivation world in the Tenth Heaven. Her occasional remarks often brought new inspiration to Chen Ping.
The improvement in strength from dual cultivation was remarkable. Chen Ping’s cultivation steadily advanced towards the Second Grade Heavenly Immortal realm, while Ling Shuang surged forward, now only one step away from the Sixth Grade Heavenly Immortal realm.
The Red Cloud Demon Lord maintained his silence throughout, turning a blind eye to their intimacy. His heart held only concern for Ling Yue and urgency for the Blood Soul Cold Lotus.
He could sense the rapid rise in strength of Chen Ping and Ling Shuang. Far from feeling discontent, he felt even more reassured. Only greater power could carve a path through the Eternal Ice Plain.
As they ventured deeper into the extreme north, the surrounding environment grew increasingly harsh.
The blizzard became so fierce it nearly obscured vision. Ice laws in the world thickened to an almost tangible density. The air carried a piercing chill that ordinary Heavenly Immortal cultivators could not withstand.
Yet, after days of dual cultivation and with Chen Ping’s chaos immortal power protecting them, the trio faced few major obstacles.
On this day, Ling Shuang pointed towards a boundless white wasteland ahead, her tone grave. “Senior Chen, Fellow Daoist Red Cloud, what lies before us is the core region of the Eternal Ice Plain.”
“Once we pass this point and continue deeper, we will enter the territory controlled by the Beiming Divine Clan.”
Chen Ping looked up. The ice plain ahead stretched flat and endless, covered in thick layers of ice. Beneath the surface, faint dark purple patterns could be seen, emanating a dangerous aura.
The blizzard in the sky raged even more violently, carrying blades of ice that whistled through the air with power comparable to strikes from Heavenly Immortal cultivators.
“We have finally arrived.”
Resolve flashed in the eyes of the Red Cloud Demon Lord. His tightly clenched fists trembled slightly. “Ling Yue, wait just a few more days. I will certainly retrieve the Blood Soul Cold Lotus for you!”
Chen Ping patted his shoulder. “Rest assured. I am here.”
He turned to Ling Shuang beside him, his gaze carrying a hint of gentleness. “From here on, we may face tough battles. Are you afraid?”
Ling Shuang shook her head. Firm light shone in her eyes. “With Senior here, I am not afraid. No matter how many dangers lie ahead, I will fight shoulder to shoulder with you.”
Chen Ping gave a faint smile and said no more.
