Qin Zhou was someone who hadn’t even faced the Heavenly Tribulation.

The Heavenly Dao was his former game guide spirit; now that it had developed sentience, it could be considered one of his own.

Setting that aside, Xiao Lu had no intention of striking Qin Zhou with lightning either; after all, both Qin Zhou and Yin He knew a thing or two about martial arts.

For others at the Nascent Soul stage, preparing numerous magical artifacts and tools is essential, for fear of not withstanding the heavenly thunder and failing to advance.

Qin Zhou, however, is different—he just needs to pop some pills.

Once he’s loaded up on pills, he levels up right on the spot.

What’s the difference between the Nascent Soul stage and the Golden Core stage? The Qi Sea becomes vaster, and his vision, hearing… all five senses seem sharper than before. It’s as if he’s been completely reborn.

There are likely many other benefits, but he doesn’t have time to savor them.

“Let’s try projecting your soul.” Wen Jue couldn’t wait any longer.

This body belonged to the young master of the Qin family. Previously, not knowing that the original owner was still alive, he had treated this as the village chief himself. But after learning that the body would eventually have to be returned, Wen Jue became even more curious about what Qin Zhou’s spiritual essence would look like.

Or rather, he was curious about what his true form would look like.

Qin Zhou thought for a moment, then asked earnestly, “I’ve never tried it before. How exactly does one project one’s spiritual essence?”

It was his first time cultivating, so he was still a bit unfamiliar with the process.

The other villagers from the Lu family froze for a moment at the sight. Lu Qi reacted the fastest; he smiled and nudged Wen Jue, “Lu Yi, you go teach him.”

Wen Jue didn’t mind. “If you want me to teach, I’ll teach.”

Without a second thought, he walked toward Qin Zhou, but as he approached, his footsteps suddenly halted.

Teach him how to project his spirit?

There are plenty of ways. Just demonstrate it directly.

But…

The best method would be to simply pull Qin Zhou’s spirit out of his Qi Sea. Once he understands that sensation, he’ll naturally get the hang of it.

But entering Qin Zhou’s Qi Sea…

Wen Jue turned around and saw Lu Qi winking at him; he couldn’t help but clear his throat.

“Village Chief, let’s go inside.”

Qin Zhou:?

“Is it that much trouble?” Qin Zhou furrowed his brow slightly, noticing Wen Jue hesitating to speak and the others all looking up at the sky. He had reached the Nascent Soul stage—surely he wouldn’t get stuck at the stage of projecting his spiritual essence?

“It’s no trouble. Come with me quickly.” Wen Jue pulled him toward the house.

Qin Zhou glanced at the villagers behind him, who were cautiously glancing up, and sensed that something was amiss.

Once inside, Wen Jue’s first move was to seal the room with a barrier.

“Come, sit cross-legged.” Wen Jue tossed a meditation cushion over.

Qin Zhou obediently sat down.

“In a moment, my spiritual essence will enter your Qi Sea. Do not resist me.” Wen Jue spoke with solemn conviction. “If you resist, I won’t be able to help you.”

Yet his eyes clearly sparkled with mischief and delight.

Qin Zhou remained silent for a moment; after all, Wen Jue wouldn’t harm him.

“Alright.”

“I’ll help you bring your spiritual essence out. Remember that sensation, and you’ll be able to do it yourself in the future.”

“Alright.”

After a brief explanation, Wen Jue said, “Breathe smoothly, relax, and try to enter a meditative state as deeply as possible.”

Qin Zhou followed his instructions. Before long, he sat quietly with his eyes closed, his breathing even.

Wen Jue also sat down cross-legged.

Being a spiritual essence form himself, he transformed into a beam of light with a single snap of his fingers and slipped into Qin Zhou’s dantian qi sea.

The Qi Sea, filled with spiritual energy, was essentially a distinct dimension located within a cultivator’s lower abdomen, in the dantian. It was the dwelling place of the Golden Core and the Primordial Infant, and also the cultivator’s vital point.

No outsider was ever permitted to enter this vital point.

Therefore, the moment Wen Jue’s spiritual essence entered the Qi Sea, Qin Zhou sensed it.

He could even clearly perceive the location of the Primordial Infant.

He focused his consciousness, and the sounds around him gradually faded away—

When he opened his eyes again, he was already in his spiritual essence form.

The environment before him momentarily left Qin Zhou dazed.

A vast space filled with spiritual energy stretched endlessly before him—enclosed yet boundless.

Qin Zhou sat cross-legged, suspended in midair. This was his Qi Sea.

“You woke up so quickly.” Wen Jue stood a meter away, floating in the air, his delight evident. “You’re more perceptive than I imagined.”

Qin Zhou truly didn’t look like that Young Master Qin.

He used to think he’d always look like Young Master Qin, so he’d come to like that face by association.

But now… the face before him was far more handsome. His features were sharp and defined, his jawline deep—he looked dashing from every angle. Moreover, he had short hair, and his attire was unlike anything Wen Jue had ever seen: not a one-piece robe, but separate pants and a shirt.

Is this how people from the Spirit Mountain Realm dress?

Wen Jue couldn’t help but lean in for a closer look.

Qin Zhou noticed his movement and looked down as well.

It was actually modern attire.

“This is your unconscious manifestation. It’s the form your soul originally took while inhabiting a body.”

“Hmm, it’s been a long time.”

With a thought, Qin Zhou transformed the clothes on his spiritual body into ancient robes. Better to do as the locals do.

Wen Jue raised her hand and touched the tips of his short hair, accidentally brushing against his ear. She smiled and then withdrew her hand. “So this is what you look like.”

“Am I ugly?” Qin Zhou suddenly realized that this might be the first time Wen Jue had seen his true face.

“Not ugly.” Wen Jue snorted. “If I thought you were ugly, I wouldn’t have accepted the hairpin you gave me back then.” After all, he hadn’t been able to see Qin Zhou’s face at all—it had been obscured by a cloud of white mist—yet he’d still taken the hairpin, hadn’t he?

“You’re more handsome than your current form,” Wen Jue added.

Qin Zhou raised an eyebrow.

Back to the matter at hand.

“What do we do next?”

Wen Jue: “Take you out. Once you get used to projecting your spirit, it’ll come naturally.”

“It’s not as complicated as I imagined.”

“Who said that? This is a hassle.” Wen Jue extended a finger and hooked Qin Zhou’s chin. “Do you know that an immortal’s Qi Sea isn’t supposed to be entered by others at will? This is the vital point. If I were to deal with you here, your soul would be instantly obliterated.”

Qin Zhou was forced to meet his gaze. “And then what?”

“How did you let me in?” Wen Jue’s lips were almost split into a grin.

“You’re the one who said you wanted to come in.” Qin Zhou sighed.

“Even if it’s me, you should have given it some thought.”

“Fine.”

Fine, my foot. He clearly hadn’t given it any thought at all.

What pleased Wen Jue was that Qin Zhou had no defenses against him. The fact that he could enter Qin Zhou’s Qi Sea unimpeded while Qin Zhou was unaware proved that Qin Zhou’s soul offered him not the slightest resistance.

Qin Zhou grew tired of tilting his head back, so he reached out and pulled Wen Jue into his embrace.

Wen Jue: “!”

Before he could react, Qin Zhou’s face had already loomed close before Wen Jue’s eyes.

The sensation of their lips touching was not unfamiliar.

The gentle kiss felt tender.

But with no one else around, the caress of their lips and teeth stirred passion, and the atmosphere gradually grew heated.

“Qin Zhou…”

“Mm.”

He didn’t know when he’d ended up sitting on top of him again, face to face.

Wen Jue’s chest rose and fell slightly as he panted softly, “Your hands…”

“Mm.”

Wen Jue’s eyes widened slightly, as if he couldn’t fathom this unfamiliar sensation. He lowered his head to rest against Qin Zhou’s shoulder, curling up into a ball and trembling ever so slightly.

“Qin Zhou…” The suppressed restraint buried in his shoulder sent a tingling sensation through his heart.

“Mm.” A smile flashed in Qin Zhou’s eyes, though his voice remained hoarse. “Good boy, it’s okay.”

Wen Jue’s eyes reddened slightly; he could only let out a soft, breathy moan.

After a bit of mischief in the Qi Sea, Qin Zhou dressed him properly again.

He could clearly reshape his spiritual form with a single thought, yet Wen Jue thoroughly enjoyed being cared for by him.

“If I told you I only came to teach you how to project your spiritual form, would you believe me?” Wen Jue looked up at him, like a sated kitten.

Qin Zhou fastened his outer robe for him. “I know you’re just here to teach me how to project my spirit. And to check on me in my spiritual sea while you’re at it.”

“I should be the first to see your true form,” Wen Jue said. “It’s not that I’m being competitive—I was the first villager here, after all. I arrived at the village first, so seeing your true form makes me the first.”

“Yes.”

Wen Jue emphasized, “I’m not… that kind of person.”

Qin Zhou laughed. “What kind of person?”

“You know… the kind who has designs on your body.” Wen Jue glanced at Qin Zhou’s… then quickly looked away.

“I know.” Judging by Wen Jue’s demeanor, he didn’t seem like the type who’d be familiar with matters of the Qi Sea and dual cultivation.

“Next time, I’ll be the one,” Wen Jue promised.

“Alright.” Qin Zhou said nothing of his own discomfort, simply doting on him as he reached out to stroke the mark on Wen Jue’s neck, his eyes darkening.

If Lu Yi hadn’t been more inexperienced than he’d imagined, he might have actually devoured him right then and there.

But looking back now, that sight had been too beautiful.

Just a little longer.

Savor the feast bit by bit.

“We should go out.”

Yun Jue nodded, just as he was about to lead Qin Zhou out.

But unexpectedly, Qin Zhou took his hand.

In the blink of an eye, the two had left the Qi sea.

Back in the room, the surroundings were completely different.

Wen Jue glanced at Qin Zhou, who was already standing beside him, then looked at the body of Young Master Qin still sitting in meditation on the cushion, and froze for a moment.

He was supposed to be the one teaching him how to project his spirit.

And this guy just picked it up like that?!

Wen Jue was speechless.

Well, if it’s Qin Zhou, I suppose it’s not that surprising.

“What about the body?”

“Just leave it in the village. With the Heavenly Dao watching over it, it should be fine.”

Hearing this, Wen Jue furrowed his brows. “You seem pretty familiar with the Heavenly Dao?”

It wasn’t surprising he’d think that. The fact that Qin Zhou had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage without a thunder tribulation was suspicious enough.

“We have a bit of a connection,” Qin Zhou said calmly. “It wants Zhutian Realm to regain its vitality, and it can only rely on us, can’t it?”

Wen Jue thought about it and agreed.

Relying on ‘us,’ huh.

He liked the word “us.”

With everything in place, the time had finally come to head for the Spirit Mountain Realm.

The entrance to the Spirit Mountain Realm lay above Kunxian Mountain, so naturally, the group had to make their way to the Immortal Restraint Prison.

Along the way, Shisi looked curious and was about to ask what had happened inside their Qi Seas, but Wen Jue quickly covered his mouth.

They played and joked all the way, and soon arrived at Kunxian Mountain.

The hole in the sky was still sealed by Wen Jue’s barrier.

“Xiao Lu, Zhanyu can’t handle the upheaval of his soul leaving his body—send him over whole.” Before they left, Qin Zhou instructed.

【Alright, but not the others】

In theory, transporting a person along with their soul isn’t possible. It would drain Xiao Lu’s energy. Fortunately, Zhanyu had little cultivation, so the energy required wasn’t high.

“Just take Zhanyu over.”

【Okay】

A flash of light, and Zhanyu’s body, along with his soul and the spiritual essences of the others, vanished from where they stood.

At the same time, a golden-red glow appeared in the sky above the Spirit Mountain Realm.

It seemed as though something… had returned.

Just as the cultivators of the Spirit Mountain Realm noticed this strange phenomenon and looked up in unison,

The golden-red light suddenly vanished into the horizon.

After passing through the long teleportation tunnel, Lu San was the first to wake up.

Lu San didn’t know where he was; when he opened his eyes, everything was pitch black.

Where… is this?

Lu San looked up—it was pitch black. The place he was in seemed to be a dim, small box, somewhat stifling.

It was also silent all around; there was hardly a sound.

Lu San reached out, trying to figure out where he was.

But as soon as he did, a creaking sound came from his shoulder.

He looked down.

His arm had turned into a series of disjointed segments.

Just like the little wooden doll the village chief had given Zhanyu when he was a child.

Lu San slowly retreated to a corner and sat down.

In the silence, he realized one thing.

On his first day in the Spirit Mountain Realm, he seemed to have gotten separated from the group.