141 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

### Chapter 141: Misstep "Get out." Xiang Shiyan immediately uttered the word coldly upon hearing the term "dual cultivation." A sense of absurdity and awkwardness hit her belatedly—no wonder she was a formidable villain, her thought process was truly incomprehensible. How, on earth, did the prior conversation relate to dual cultivation? "How unreasonable, at least let me finish," grumbled Xuan Jiu, nibbling at her face in irritation. The dragon’s long snout, resembling both a deer’s and a snake’s, playfully nipped at Xiang Shiyan’s face, leaving odd red marks on one side. It wasn’t particularly painful. She glanced back at the void space, only to feel something cool and soft brushing against her face and hair. The black dragon’s mane swept across her face too. Turning towards the mirror, she saw Xuan Jiu rubbing her chin against the top of her head, almost as if showing affection, which unexpectedly stirred her heart. The dragon’s body, impervious to all sorts of magic and weapons, was soft when relaxed, yet could harden as firm as back scales if she wished. However, the soft spot underneath her chin was her only weakness. Surprisingly, Xuan Jiu hadn't raised her defenses, allowing Xiang Shiyan to feel the belly-like texture. Xuan Jiu gently tempted, "Your cultivation is hindered by your bloodline. Absorbing my scales could help you break through to the Great Ascension stage, but if it triggers a bloodline awakening, your future cultivation will be even harder. I can’t imagine Yu Ming Jun is the type to deceive with sweet talk. Instead, why not cultivate with me? I could help you change your path, saving you quite the trouble." "Do you even listen to what you're saying? Is this something that can be decided based merely on mutual benefits?" Xiang Shiyan clenched her fists. She originally wasn’t bothered by her delayed cultivation, but wasn't her urgency now because she wanted to confront Xuan Jiu? Dual cultivation, with power growing together—what good would it do if only the strong grow stronger? Moreover, this wasn't something that could be cleared up in just a few sentences. "Let’s not even mention that dual cultivation is a side path..." Xiang Shiyan initially wanted to say it was something only lovers could do but suddenly changed her tune, "I need an emotional lead, yet you just want someone to circulate spiritual power with, so it wouldn't make a difference if it were someone else. That's not fair." "How can you say there's no affection involved? From the first sight, I've been smitten with Yu Ming Jun. Have I not always assisted you with all my might whenever we met?" Xiang Shiyan frowned deeply. In her memory, she and Xuan Jiu had only met three or four times, and each meeting didn't end pleasantly. Yet the other seemed to paint it as something harmonious. On second thought, with Xuan Jiu’s cheeky demeanor, Xiang Shiyan wasn't sure what was really going on in her mind. Perhaps Xuan Jiu found teasing her amusing, though Xiang Shiyan herself found it consistently unpleasant. Still, it was true that Xuan Jiu had helped her on many occasions. Naturally, Xiang Shiyan assumed it was simply because she wanted to achieve her own goals conveniently. However, the ambiguous attitude she exhibited left room for deeper contemplation. Xiang Shiyan had initially thought this peerless expert was merely toying with her out of boredom, but now that she suggested dual cultivation, Xiang Shiyan couldn't help but take it seriously. Previously, she had considered Xuan Jiu as someone who spoke without filters, fond of making playful remarks. Now faced with direct, unabashed proposals of affection, she found herself unable to simply ignore it. The nature of dragons, being lascivious, probably made them find interest in her attractive yet otherwise useless appearance. Throughout her life, Xiang Shiyan had been often coveted for her looks, but this was the first time she encountered such straightforward pursuit from someone of the same gender... Could it truly be called pursuit? To put it bluntly, dealing with the mysterious black dragon felt more mentally exhausting than fending off those persistent male cultivators. What should she say when she eventually reconnects with the system and has to explain the original work's villain's enthusiastic proposal for dual cultivation? Just imagining others' possible reactions made her shudder. Xiang Shiyan was stern: "I've yet to settle scores with you for taking one of my disciple's eyes. How dare you bring this up? Release me at once; there's no room for negotiation." She assumed that her firm stance would embarrass Xuan Jiu into anger. Unexpectedly, Xuan Jiu swayed her head, seemingly at a loss for how to respond. Hehe was surprised that the master still remembered the incident. Although it might have been merely a pretext to refuse "Xuan Jiu," it was apparent that even after half a year, Xiang Shiyan still held the loss of her eye close to her heart, which pleased her immensely. On the other hand, as the one whose confession was rejected, Hehe was unsure whether to be angry or delighted. The Yuhu clan's strength lies in their cultivation challenges, with most cultivating the Way of Affection. Xiang Shiyan's adoption of the Way of Heartlessness deviated from her predecessors. If she could maintain her Dao heart for three hundred years, it would naturally be good. Hence, Hehe proposed the method of dual cultivation, hoping to exploit the loophole of having heartlessness with physical reality, enabling Xiang Shiyan to continue her path without worrying about her bloodline. Of course, it wasn't as if she had no personal motive... Hehe didn’t feel she was taking advantage; rather, she considered herself righteously guiding her master back onto the right path. She had just settled Huai Ye in her room and partially detached her consciousness to control the black dragon's projection in Xiang Shiyan's room. A righteous female cultivator, currently entangled unclothed by a dragon, had the composure to reprimand, "If you genuinely seek love, then why do you consistently play tricks on me? Surely, it’s nothing more than lust at first sight. Please refrain from mentioning this again and release me now." Hehe never liked her own kind; those with cold, hard shells were less interesting than birds or humans. Curling around Xiang Shiyan’s hips and waist, Hehe found satisfaction. The woman’s struggles were futile, as her spiritual apertures sealed off by Hehe the previous night had not fully reopened, preventing her from exhibiting her usual power. Xiang Shiyan’s skin was delicate, though marked with various scars from over the years, it was exceptionally smooth. Without much excess flesh, her body wasn’t particularly toned, but it was supple, partly due to spiritual refinement rather than deliberate training. The dragon’s tail coiled around her thigh, even squeezing out some softness. Her body, often wrapped in somber robes, was shapely and pleasantly soft. Enveloping her, Hehe felt like she was cradling a warm cloud, warming her heart thoroughly—Xiang Shiyan was warm-bodied due to her beast lineage, though possibly cooler than humans because of her ice spiritual root's constant refinement, she was perfectly warm for a dragon with a cold constitution. The human woman's body was soft, akin to cotton. Hehe had never tasted human flesh but occasionally wondered what it might feel like. She imagined Xiang Shiyan must taste like creamy custard. Contemplating the myriad methods humans had for savoring different flavors, Hehe remotely controlled the black dragon to gently scratch Xiang Shiyan’s back with her claws. Never having been teased in such a manner, Xiang Shiyan, sensitive to touch, couldn’t help but shudder in irritation, glaring at the golden dragon eyes in the mirror. The black dragon sneered, "Yu Ming Jun's Way of Heartlessness isn't quite refined yet. It’s merely a method of yin-yang union. If you are truly heartless, what harm is there in enjoying a moment with me?" "You, libertine! Not a word more!" Xiang Shiyan struggled to reach the ground with her toes, feeling unsafe suspended in the air by the dragon. Once her toes touched the ground, she immediately used spiritual power to pull herself to the ground, stomping on the dragon tail that had been sweeping across her body. Seeing her truly furious and cursing, Hehe had no choice but to release Xiang Shiyan with regret. Her master’s spiritual resistance intensified, and the projection was about to dissipate; with her tail pinned, Hehe retreated to Xiang Shiyan's bed, coiling herself into a heap, lazily raising her head to say, “Don’t be mad. Please consider it further before giving me an answer next time.” “No need to wait. I can answer now—not going to happen. Sidepaths lead to unstable foundations and offer me no benefit. Let me reiterate, a genuine-hearted person wouldn’t behave so roguishly.” Xiang Shiyan glanced irritably at the black dragon yawning on her bed in the mirror, annoyed yet helpless. She bent down to collect her clothes but paused, noting the marks on her skin, her face tightening again. “When will these marks disappear?” “Even for me, leaving marks imbued with spiritual power without you noticing isn’t easy. Rest assured, they’re merely adornments.” Her face instantly darkened. “If they serve no purpose, what’s the meaning?” Upon hearing this, the black dragon scattered Xiang Shiyan’s water mirror used to locate her, vanishing from her sight but leaving her voice echoing in the room, “Have you ever heard of scent glands?” Xiang Shiyan felt a pang of anxiety, thinking the issue she prudently avoided was being mentioned. She wondered how Xuan Jiu knew about it, growing pale with embarrassment. Then she heard a girlish voice in the emptiness, "A rabbit has a gland under its chin that emits a scent only others of its kind can detect. They use it to mark their territory and drive off competitors. But since I have no kin, and there are too many coveting you, I had to use this simple method to let others know you're taken." Xiang Shiyan's head ached. "Stop your madness and erase them." "No can do. Your disciples and nephews are still watching you closely. What if you get deceived while I’m not paying attention?” It was a small matter, and after Xiang Shiyan confirmed there were no deeper traps hidden, she paid little mind to the marks left on her body—after all, she wouldn’t let anyone see them, and she certainly wouldn’t let that unreasonable libertine see them again. Once Xiang Shiyan was fully dressed, Xuan Jiu lazily remarked, “Ah, taking this form really is tiring…” Just as she was about to leave, something occurred to her. “The Tianji Sect disciple who switched bodies with Yu Ming Jun’s apprentice might not last much longer if things keep going like this.” “Shouldn't she have seized the opportunity last night—?" Xiang Shiyan began, puzzled, before a jolt resonated from her dantian. The room fell silent, and Xuan Jiu had vanished without a trace. "..." Fu Zhi returned to her quarters at Yu Cang Mountain near noon, having been sent by Sect Master Li Hua to assist another sect in chaos. Exhausted, she entered her room only to find Xiang Shiyan sitting there with a displeased expression. The woman typically wore a stern demeanor, showing only the faintest traces of gentleness when comforting young disciples. Most of the time, she was expressionless, but her current displeasure was so obvious that Fu Zhi could discern it at a glance. Their eyes met, and Fu Zhi felt a shiver run through her. Her identity had been exposed to Xiang Shiyan in order to save Huai Ye; at that time, saving lives took precedence over confronting her. Now that things had settled, Fu Zhi had anticipated Xiang Shiyan would come to find her. With deliberate grace, the young girl bowed. “Aunt Xiang.” She offered Xiang Shiyan a cue to dismiss her, but the other wasn’t deterred. Taking control, Xiang Shiyan gestured to the chair beside her. “Sit. I have something to discuss with you.” Fu Zhi wished that Xiang Shiyan would simply be decisive and send her away. But as the woman’s expression softened, Fu Zhi became more apprehensive, nervously sitting down and clenching her hands around her garments. She fixed her eyes on Xiang Shiyan, awaiting her interrogation. “The other day, you approached me, claiming to be Fu Zhi, a junior elder of the Tianji Sect, even producing a token to verify your identity. Given the sincerity in your plea and the urgency of the situation, I reluctantly believed you. I didn’t have time to inquire further then, but scrutinized closely, regardless of your reasoning, placing spies in other sects is simply inexcusable…” Xiang Shiyan’s voice trailed off, observing the tension in the young girl before her. The body Fu Zhi inhabited was that of a girl in her early teens, bearing a simple, honest face. Though she had grown quickly recently, shedding much of her baby fat, she nonetheless exuded an innocent and wholesome appearance. Yet Fu Zhi’s true self was unlike this façade, nothing like her past appearance as "Qian Dani." In the original narrative, Fu Zhi was depicted as a woman with remarkable beauty and ethereal grace, pure and elegant like a lotus emerging from water. Her temperament was gentle and serene, akin to the Qian niece Xiang Shiyan knew. However, her current body looked different: there was a quietude, almost deathly calmness in those eyes that was unlike the lively gaze of a young girl. That day at the Tianji Sect’s affairs division, Xiang Shiyan caught a fleeting glimpse and found it hard to reconcile the frail woman shielded by Xu Xiao from the novel, or even from the fragmented memories she’d seen, with the newly appointed leader of Tianji. The true form deep within the sect’s recesses was already emaciated, so pale and weak that Xiang Shiyan couldn’t bring herself to be too harsh. She wasn’t sure where Fu Zhi had been before; her hair clung to her back, soaking wet, dripping onto her robes that stuck to her body, making her seem as if she’d just been pulled from the water, tense and fragile. This anomaly puzzled Xiang Shiyan. How could the girl feigning calmness before her, with lively eyes, be the same as the woman nearing her end? Fu Zhi’s throat felt dry. She could easily handle calculating fortunes with birth charts or turtle shell divination, but debating with other sect leaders was a skill she hadn’t been taught, especially against someone as expressionless as an ice shell like Xiang Shiyan. This matter wasn’t so easily brushed aside. If Xiang Shiyan took her grievances to Tianji Sect, making it public in the cultivation world, revealing the sect’s possession of such a miraculous body-swapping pool, it would send everyone into panic, threatening the neutral standing of Tianji Sect. Last night’s incident, a host’s failure to keep guests safe, naturally warranted an accountability demand from Taixu Sect. The sect was already in a precarious position, and Fu Zhi couldn’t afford to create additional trouble for Tianji Sect. Still, she sincerely wished that sitting across from Xiang Shiyan was her older and more mature cousin, Mu Hua, instead of herself—a timid ghost losing words in front of strangers. Thus, the girl took a deep breath and spoke earnestly, “It was an oversight not informing Yu Cang Mountain, but please believe our actions had justified reasons.” Surprised at the gravity in her demeanor, Xiang Shiyan wondered, did Fu Zhi truly plan to disclose their internal secrets to her? “My master foretold a calamity within the next century for the cultivation world. However, the heavens blessed us, resulting in the birth of the destined child who is to bring peace. This individual, carrying the great destiny of the world, is a disciple of Yu Cang Mountain.” Furrowing her brows, Fu Zhi spoke, her tone like that of a street fortune-teller. "..." Xiang Shiyan frowned. She was well aware that Qin Miao was the destined child. She also knew that beyond the world's fortune, this world had been specially created for Qin Miao, born of "Heaven’s" grace. If he wasn’t the destined one, who could be? Nonetheless, hearing Fu Zhi reveal this so easily to her made Xiang Shiyan uneasy. Not only would announcing Qin Miao prematurely possibly attract disaster to his budding destiny, but in the original work, Tianji Sect only declared his fate to the public when Qin Miao had already made a name resolving several events and clinching the top spot on the Qianlong Rankings, causing widespread shock. If the prophecy were to be broadcast now, the cultivation world might indeed be stirred, but only because everyone would think the Tianji priests had finally lost it. Without the context, Xiang Shiyan wouldn’t have believed such mad talk either. What Fu Zhi told her sounded entirely false, as if concocted to absolve Tianji Sect of any blame. “Heaven’s mysteries shouldn't be revealed openly; this matter should have remained confidential. But since he is your direct disciple and fearing a possible misunderstanding, that’s why I broke protocol and disclosed this.” Even whispered, Xiang Shiyan sensed the girl’s voice quivering. Xiang Shiyan scoffed at notions of destiny, yet she smiled faintly, offering the girl some face by leaning in, “Oh? How intriguing, do tell.” “The destined child is none other than your second disciple, Hehe.” The slight curve of Xiang Shiyan’s lips fell. Not blinking, she replied warmly, “...Are you sure you haven’t divined the wrong person?”