Deception? What a load of nonsense!

"Sister Mu, are we getting down to business?" Wang Mu gestured towards Gu Yuqing. "If we delay any longer, she'll be even harder to save, won't she?"

Mu Hongyuan let out a light snort. "Only I can perform this Yin Yang Treasure Skill. You just need to assist me."

"How should I assist?"

"However you assisted me then is how you'll assist me now."

Wang Mu recalled the process of external dual cultivation with Mu Hongyuan, which had neutralized her Emotion Poison.

"Don't overthink it," Mu Hongyuan said. "Sister isn't like that shameless Yan Sword Immortal, letting you play around. Such a delicacy... and someone just gave it up. You can't blame Sister for that."

This demoness really misuses words.

With Heroine Yan, it was mutual affection, the genuine article.

'Play around'... what nonsense.

Wang Mu was speechless.

What 'gave it up myself'? If you were truly willing, wouldn't you have just castrated me?

How could Wang Mu not know Mu Hongyuan's temperament?

"After neutralizing the Emotion Poison, the more of it we neutralize, the more Mixed Element Power can be given to her, and the faster the process will be," Mu Hongyuan explained.

"Then what should I do?"

"How?" Mu Hongyuan narrowed her eyes. "Does Sister still need to teach you? Get over here now!"

"..." Wang Mu.

External dual cultivation, to put it bluntly, means everything *but* piercing that final layer... Of course, the official explanation is that through intimate contact, the Mixed Element Power of both parties merges to dissolve the Emotion Poison.

The Mixed Element Power within Wang Mu's body had reached a perfect state after he condensed the Five Elements Immortal Infant and practiced swordsmanship with Heroine Yan. This state was even better than Mu Hongyuan's, which she had cultivated through forceful means. It was merely that Mu Hongyuan's cultivation realm was too high. Moreover, the Five Elements Immortal Infant gathered the Power of the Five Elements, which in turn nourished the Yin and Yang Qi, making his Mixed Element Power even purer. When he operated the Great Yin-Yang Harmony Diagram, the Yin, Yang, and Five Elements within and around him harmonized, making him seem one with heaven and earth.

Wang Mu walked over to Mu Hongyuan. It had been some days since they last met; Sister Mu was as captivating as ever. The fragrance from Sister Mu was quite potent, not a subtle scent. Upon inhaling it, one couldn't help but take several more deep breaths, as if becoming addicted. Very enticing.

Just as Wang Mu reached out, he remembered Heroine Yan's words.

"Otherwise, the sword shatters and the man perishes..."

Subconsciously, he glanced down.

Well... this doesn't count as sword practice, does it?

"What's wrong? Can't bring yourself to do it?" Mu Hongyuan said with a smile in her eyes. "Did that Yan Sword Immortal threaten you? Brother Mu, how many positions did you and she try?"

"Yan Sword Immortal is so conservative; she probably couldn't let you enjoy yourself to the fullest, could she, Brother Mu?"

"..." Wang Mu.

She's too much, this demoness.

"We both cultivate the Great Yin-Yang Harmony Diagram. It details so many positions; have you used them all?" Mu Hongyuan reached out and beckoned to Wang Mu with a finger. "If you haven't, Sister here can explore them with you."

"It's fine."

"If you can't help it."

I'd have to be a fool to believe you! Wang Mu thought.

"Enough," Wang Mu said sternly. "We're wasting time."

"Then come on," Mu Hongyuan raised her eyebrows.

Wang Mu stepped forward, looking her up and down, his gaze finally resting on Mu Hongyuan's bare feet.

"You've reached the Ascension Realm," Wang Mu said. "Sister Mu, this habit of yours of going barefoot needs to change."

"Why? Worried I'll be taken advantage of?" Mu Hongyuan said, her eyes twinkling. "Jealous?"

"No, I'm worried you have athlete's foot and might infect others," Wang Mu said. "Athlete's foot from an Ascension Realm cultivator must be incredibly potent. Anyone below the Tribulation Crossing Realm would probably be poisoned to death."

"..." Mu Hongyuan.

Mu Hongyuan lifted her foot, aiming a fierce kick at Wang Mu.

Wang Mu's hand shot out, catching her foot as easily as an eagle snatching a chick. Holding it was like grasping a piece of Divine Grade Jade—an exquisite, indescribable sensation.

And so, external dual cultivation began.

Suddenly, in the previously quiet Refining Emotion Cave, the faint sound of a bell rang out, soft and gentle. Then, the chiming began to swell. At first, it was a slow melody, the bell's notes growing louder, occasionally interspersed with a rapid, extended tone. After a short while, the slow melody was no longer enough to satisfy the resounding Unrivaled Bell.

The tempo quickened. The bell, which had been chiming every five or six breaths, now rang every three or four. Finally, it chimed with every breath. The chiming, like a fierce gale and torrential rain, echoed incessantly.

JINGLE! JINGLE! JINGLE...

After reaching a final, piercing crescendo, the chiming abruptly ceased, only to resume moments later... slowly at first. A pattern of nine long chimes followed by one slow one, then eight long and two slow... The rhythm varied, shifting...

Streams of pure Mixed Element Power began to pour into the soul, which was enveloped in Mixed Element Divine Light, guiding the power into Gu Yuqing's body.

That body began to slowly emit an extraordinary glow.

「An unknown amount of time passed.」

Gu Yuqing felt her consciousness blur into a state of confusion. Yet, as her consciousness returned, she found herself perplexed.

I... didn't I die when my Nascent Soul self-destructed?

A unique energy within her body was gradually restoring her awareness, though she couldn't yet fully control her physical form.

Suddenly, the sound of flowing water reached her ears...

Is this the Nai River from the ancient legends of the Nine Provinces? After death, one crosses the Nai River, drinks the Forget River Water, and is then reincarnated... No, my Nascent Soul self-destructed, my spirit scattered. Reincarnation should be impossible...

What Nai River? What Forget River? Gu Yuqing wondered, feeling strange.

As her consciousness sharpened, she began to perceive more sounds.

Suddenly, a clear, crisp bell chimed, seemingly from afar.

Huh? Why does that chiming sound so familiar?

It's... it's the sound of Master's Unrivaled Bell!