Chapter 89: The Cat Who Repaid a Kindness
After completing the mission, Qi Tian didn't bother saying goodbye to Ning Rongrong.
After all, with the mission reward [Divine Descent], he could possess her again at any time. For now, he simply instructed her on a few matters before leaving.
At midnight, Qi Tian's split soul returned, and a massive surge of soul power poured continuously into his body.
His soul power began to break through.
Zhu Zhuqing, nestled in his arms, was jolted awake. Her eyes widened as she stared at Qi Tian, who was in the middle of a breakthrough.
"Qi Tian… broke through again?" Zhu Zhuqing was stunned.
She had always believed herself to be a genius, yet after witnessing Qi Tian's cultivation speed, she finally realized she was nothing compared to him.
They were the same age, but Qi Tian was already at Rank 36, while she was only Rank 25.
'No… if I want to catch up to him—if I want to change the fate of the Zhu family—I have to work twice as hard!' Zhu Zhuqing thought firmly.
She had never forgotten that in five years, the Star Luo imperial succession battle would begin. If Dai Weisi won, he might send assassins after her.
If she wasn't strong enough by then, she wouldn't even be able to protect herself—and she would drag Qi Tian down with her.
Right then, Qi Tian's soul power surged again, breaking through from Rank 36 straight to Rank 37.
"What…? Two levels in a row?" Zhu Zhuqing didn't dare to move, terrified of disturbing Qi Tian's cultivation.
But soon enough, she grew numb.
Because Qi Tian's soul power didn't stop—it continued breaking through level after level, until it finally stabilized at Rank 40.
And at that moment, she suddenly caught a whiff of an incredibly pleasant fragrance—a rich, enchanting tulip scent.
It was coming from Qi Tian.
Qi Tian slowly opened his eyes after finishing his soul power adjustment. Seeing Zhu Zhuqing staring at him in shock, he asked softly, "What's wrong?"
"Is there something on my face? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Zhu Zhuqing opened her mouth. She originally wanted to ask how he managed to gain five whole levels in one night.
But she sensed this might be his secret, so she changed the subject. "You… smell really good!"
Zhu Zhuqing buried her face into his chest, inhaling deeply.
Only then did Qi Tian notice that his body was radiating a powerful tulip fragrance.
It was because Ning Rongrong had absorbed the Beautiful Silk Tulip. Her soul power had absorbed its "flavor," and the system-transferred soul power naturally carried the same scent.
Qi Tian frowned. This was not a good thing—odor could expose someone's whereabouts.
He activated the miniature Ice and Fire Well inside his body, attempting to cover the fragrance. Within moments, the scent rapidly faded.
After all, this was a miniature Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, said to dissolve a hundred poisons—covering a mere floral scent was nothing.
Qi Tian let out a sigh of relief before saying to her, "Zhuqing, I took an immortal herb. That's why my soul power increased so quickly."
"I have another immortal herb for you. With it, you should also be able to increase your soul power by six or seven levels."
"For… me?" Zhu Zhuqing lifted her head, her heart trembling with emotion.
Qi Tian was already willing to be honest with her—that alone warmed her deeply. But now, he actually wanted to give her such a heaven-defying herb?
"That's right. This herb was prepared specifically for you," Qi Tian said.
Zhu Zhuqing was incredibly moved, yet she didn't know how to express her gratitude.
Then she remembered the scenes from her dreams—and how Qi Tian seemed to like her and her sister's bodies so much.
Unable to repay him in any other way… she could only offer herself.
"Thank you, Qi Tian…" she whispered.
"Huh? The fragrance is gone…"
Zhu Zhuqing sniffed again, confused. She had clearly smelled it a moment ago.
She burrowed deeper into the blankets, trying to find where the scent had gone.
"Hmm?" Qi Tian's soul trembled.
Zhu Zhuqing somehow found a cat teaser stick—and began playing with it.
However, her movements were clumsy, like a kitten with no experience at all.
Qi Tian had no choice but to personally guide her, teaching the little kitten how to use her claws to catch it, how to bite it, and how to play properly.
Half an hour later, the kitten successfully captured the cat teaser.
Qi Tian could no longer hold himself back. The tulip fragrance burst forth again—and was "devoured" by this little kitten named Zhu Zhuqing.
"Zhuqing, you—" Qi Tian had just opened his mouth when Zhu Zhuqing interrupted him.
Her face was flushed bright red, completely unlike her usual cold and aloof self. She was so embarrassed she didn't dare look at him.
Burying her face into Qi Tian's chest, she whispered, "Don't say anything… Let's sleep. We still have to cultivate tomorrow…"
Qi Tian sighed softly and wrapped his arms around her, falling asleep in contentment.
---
At dawn the next morning, Qi Tian and Zhu Zhuqing woke up refreshed and energized.
Qi Tian wanted to test out the system reward—[Divine Descent].
"Zhuqing, I'm going to use a possession skill on you in a moment. Don't resist," Qi Tian said.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "Okay."
She already treated herself as Qi Tian's woman. Even though they hadn't taken that final step, their relationship was already as intimate as lovers.
Qi Tian activated the Divine Descent skill granted by the system, selecting Zhu Zhuqing as the target.
At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing felt Qi Tian's split soul entering her body. Without hesitation, she opened her mind completely.
Qi Tian's split soul settled into her. After half a year, he possessed Zhu Zhuqing once again.
But this time was different from before—he did not receive a system reward notification.
In other words, cultivating using Zhu Zhuqing's body now would no longer feed soul power back to him.
And giving Zhu Zhuqing immortal herbs wouldn't result in soul power duplication by the system.
'It seems… There are other uses for this,' Qi Tian thought.
He realized he could relinquish control over Zhu Zhuqing's body and simply attach himself to her—much like her current state—without taking over.
He took out an immortal herb from the Sea Calming Pearl.
The herb was shaped like a pure white, crystalline flower—clean and flawless like a white lotus and jade-like lotus root. It was the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone.
"This is the immortal herb you mentioned?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.
Qi Tian nodded. "Yes. It's called the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone. It nourishes the tendons and strengthens the bones, opening the meridians throughout the body."
After explaining, Qi Tian placed the herb in her hands.
She ate its petals, gently sucking the nectar, while he guided her soul power to absorb the medicinal essence.
The root of the herb was then returned to the small world inside the Sea Calming Pearl.
Before long, Zhu Zhuqing's soul power began fluctuating—rising steadily.
Rank 25… Rank 26… soon, she broke through to Rank 30, before finally stabilizing.
And there was still a large reserve of medicinal power hidden within her. Once she absorbed another soul ring, she would be able to break through several more levels in quick succession.
As the herb's energy circulated, her meridians were opened by the rushing soul power—even the Eight Extraordinary Meridians were being cleared.
Her skin also changed under the medicinal effects, glowing like polished white jade—smooth and pristine, no worse than Ning Rongrong's.
Qi Tian quietly enjoyed the soul power's nourishment to his own soul. He could feel his spiritual power increasing a bit.
End of Chapter