The soft touch brushed past like a feather, carrying the unique coolness of a young woman, fleeting in an instant.
Qian Renxue froze abruptly, as if struck by a Body Freezing Spell, her fingertips still suspended mid-air. Her cheeks flushed crimson in an instant, burning all the way to the roots of her ears.
She opened her mouth, but not a single word came out, her mind completely blank.
Su Yu hadn't expected this either, pausing for half a second before a thick amusement welled up in his eyes.
Deliberately raising his hand to touch the spot where she'd made contact, he teased:
"Sister, is this my reward? I like it very much! Thank you, sister!"
"You!"
Only then did Qian Renxue snap out of it, both embarrassed and angry, raising her hand to strike him.
But her hand halted abruptly mid-air, and she could only stomp her foot fiercely before turning her back to him, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum:
"Rogue! Lecher!"
Su Yu released his arms from around her and instead gently took her hand, his tone carrying a hint of apology:
"Alright, that was abrupt of me just now."
He picked up the jade box on the table and offered her the Holy Light Spirit Sprout glowing with golden light:
"This Immortal Herb is truly suitable for you."
"I know you're undercover in Heaven Dou City, your identity is special. You have to deal with various forces daily and can't spare much time to focus on cultivation. If this continues, your cultivation will inevitably stagnate."
Qian Renxue glanced down at the Immortal Herb shimmering with light in the jade box, then stole a look at her hand held in his. Her fingertips curled slightly, but she didn't pull away.
"This Holy Light Spirit Sprout not only nourishes your Sacred Soul, but most importantly, it consolidates your foundation and strengthens your vitality."
"As long as you absorb it, even if you can only dedicate an hour or two to cultivation daily, your Soul Power will steadily increase."
He paused, released her hand, and gently placed the jade box in her palm:
"For you, this should be more practical than anything else."
"...I understand."
Her voice was very low, her fingers clutching the jade box so tightly that its edges dug into her palm unnoticed.
"I'll go back now to absorb it. I have court attendance tomorrow, so I shouldn't delay any longer."
As Qian Renxue spoke, she turned away, her skirt brushing over the stone steps and stirring a faint breeze, her retreating figure carrying a hint of haste.
Seeing her about to step out of the courtyard, Su Yu quickly moved forward to block her path:
"What's the rush? You can absorb it right here. If anything goes wrong, I can assist you."
"But..."
Qian Renxue frowned, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment.
His eyes held an undeniable seriousness. After a moment's hesitation, she finally relented:
"Alright."
The two moved to the cultivation chamber in the Spirit Hall. Qian Renxue sat cross-legged on a soft cushion, opening the jade box to reveal the Holy Light Spirit Sprout glowing with a warm luster.
Su Yu stood nearby. "Just consume it directly. This Immortal Herb has a mild nature; there's no special method for taking it."
Qian Renxue nodded softly in response:
"Mm."
Pinching the Holy Light Spirit Sprout between her fingers, she applied slight pressure, feeling its cool texture spread from her fingertips.
Taking a deep breath, she placed the Immortal Herb in her mouth. Instead of the expected bitterness, it carried a refreshing sweetness that slid smoothly down her throat.
Instantly, a warm current erupted from her dantian, rapidly flowing throughout her body. The usually blocked Soul Power nodes seemed to clear in an instant, bringing a tingling, comfortable sensation.
She couldn't help but close her eyes as her Soul Power automatically circulated around her. Her robes billowed in the air currents, and her long hair floated gently.
Su Yu stood nearby, watching the Angel Mark gradually appear between her brows. A faint smile touched his lips:
"Absorb it peacefully. I'll stand guard here."
Qian Renxue didn't open her eyes, merely giving a soft "Mm" in response as the Soul Power fluctuations around her grew increasingly stronger.
Time flowed quietly, and the air in the cultivation chamber gradually took on a layer of sacred radiance.
Faint golden light began to shimmer around Qian Renxue, growing brighter and brighter as if countless tiny light feathers were swirling around her, emitting an awe-inspiring divine aura.
Suddenly, the space behind her rippled slightly - one pair, two pairs, three pairs... Six pure white wings slowly unfurled.
Golden edges flowed along the wings' borders, each feather clearly visible.
The Angel Avatar lowered its gaze, its face blurred yet radiating compassion. Its arms curved gently as if offering the most tender protection, virtually embracing Qian Renxue as she absorbed the Holy Light Spirit Sprout.
The posture was devout and solemn, as if guarding a priceless treasure.
With her eyes closed, Qian Renxue's long eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath her eyelids, her face bathed in a tranquil glow.
Against the backdrop of the massive angel wings, her figure appeared particularly slender.
The sacred aura surrounding her merged with the Angel Avatar, truly making her seem like a child protected by an angel - pure and transparent, making one dare not harbor any irreverent thoughts.
Only when the last trace of energy from the Holy Light Spirit Sprout was completely absorbed did the Six-Winged Angel Avatar behind Qian Renxue slowly retract, transforming into specks of golden light that merged into her body.
She slowly opened her eyes, a flash of golden light fleeting through them. Though the sacred aura around her had diminished considerably.
She seemed as if purified, gaining an ethereal quality.
Qian Renxue slowly opened her eyes, a transient golden light flashing through her light purple pupils.
Like star-forged glass, they appeared clearer and brighter than before.
Supporting herself on the ground to stand up, her wrist turned slightly with faint cracking sounds from her joints. The Soul Power fluctuations surrounding her had become several times more stable than before.
She looked at Su Yu, her gaze much softer, her tone less tsundere:
"Thank you."
"No need for formalities between us."
Su Yu stepped forward, his gaze falling on the Soul Power flowing around her.
"How do you feel now? How much has your Soul Power increased? Any changes to your Martial Soul?"
Qian Renxue closed her eyes, carefully sensing the surging power within her. After a moment, she opened them, a trace of surprise in her eyes:
"My Soul Power directly broke through two levels. I've reached the fortieth level now."
"My Spirit Form hasn't changed much, but I can clearly feel that the connection between us has grown tighter."
"As if... as if my Martial Soul has become part of my body. Channeling it feels much smoother than before."
As she spoke, her fingertips moved slightly, and the faint silhouette of a Six-Winged Angel appeared behind her. With each beat of its wings, the sacred aura it carried became noticeably denser than before.
"I knew it! When I first saw this Immortal Herb, I felt it was perfect for you!"
"Mm, thank you!"
"It's getting late, I should go. Court assembly will begin soon. Xue Ye has been keeping close watch these days!"
Saying this, she picked up the outer robe draped nearby and put it on. Her face underwent a series of changes, reverting to Xue Qinghe's appearance.
Qian Renxue had just stepped toward the door when she seemed to recall something, abruptly turning back.
The lamplight fell into her pale purple eyes, reflecting a rare softness, her tone carrying a hint of awkwardness:
"...You should rest early too. Don't always think about running outside—it's not safe out there."
"Mm, I know. But you're alone in Heaven Dou City—you must be even more careful in all matters."