(1)Xiao Yang squatted beside the spiritual spring of the Ten Thousand Poison Cavern, furiously splashing cold water onto himself."That woman definitely did it on purpose..."It had been three days since the "Love Thread Gu" incident, yet the pink glow on his skin still hadn't completely faded. Even worse, now whenever he got within ten feet of Ye Qingxuan, his crotch would automatically pitch a tent.
[Ding! Friendly Reminder][Lust Resistance can be increased with Bond Level][Current Progress: 12%]
"Increase my ass!" Xiao Yang smacked the water surface in frustration. "This damn system is just trying to make me a stud horse!"
Pfft—A delicate giggle sounded behind him. Xiao Yang turned sharply to see a sultry woman in a sheer red veil leaning against a tree.
Her honey-toned skin and golden-red eyes shimmered like twin flames, her high ponytail swaying gently with laughter—each flick sending off tiny sparks.
She was none other than Yan Hongling, top disciple of the Blazing Heaven Valley.
"Junior Brother~" she licked her lips seductively, "Playing with water all alone in broad daylight? Feeling lonely?"
(2)Xiao Yang instinctively covered his vital area. "S-Senior Sister, I—"
"Just call me Hongling~" With a blur, Yan Hongling appeared right in front of him. Her slender fingers lifted his chin. "Heard you got hit with the Love Thread Gu? Perfect timing—our Blazing Heaven Valley's 'Flame Tempering Technique' is just the thing to cleanse poisons~"
As she spoke, her generous curves pressed against his chest, barely restrained by her thin veil. Even through their clothes, Xiao Yang could feel the scorching heat radiating from her body.
"N-No need... Senior Sister Ye said I need to—"
"That ice-cold woman? What does she know?" Yan Hongling suddenly grabbed his wrist. "Come on~ Let this sister take you somewhere fun~"
Before Xiao Yang could react, she pulled him into the air. Flames bloomed beneath her feet, lifting them toward the direction of Blazing Heaven Valley.
"W-Wait! I haven't put on my pants—"
"Who needs pants~?" She winked. "You'll be taking them off soon anyway~"
(3)Blazing Heaven Valley – Subterranean Fire Realm.
Xiao Yang was tossed into a bubbling lava pool. His clothes vaporized instantly.
"WHAT THE HELL—HOT HOT HOT!!"He flailed around, trying to climb out—only to be pinned down by Yan Hongling's foot.
"Don't move. Circulate your qi!"
"Circulate my ass! I'm about to be roasted alive!!"
Strangely, right after he shouted that, the searing pain began to fade...
[Ding! Fire attribute body tempering detected][Yan Hongling Bond Activated...][Current Bond Level: 15%][Gained Ability: Fire Resistance (Beginner)]
Yan Hongling raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Huh? Didn't turn into roast chicken?"
She dove into the lava, her body gliding through it like a mermaid. Her veil disintegrated in the heat, revealing her bronze-toned skin. Xiao Yang then noticed a living fire-whip coiled around her waist like a snake, slithering sensually across her body.
"Looks like the rumors are true~" She whispered into his ear, "You really are something special~"
(4)Just as Xiao Yang debated pretending to faint, the lava began to surge violently!
"Not good! Core fire's going berserk!" Yan Hongling's expression darkened. She grabbed Xiao Yang's waist tightly. "Hold on to me!"
A second later, a massive dragon made of pure molten lava burst from the pool!
"ROOOAR—!"
Scorching heat surged at them. Xiao Yang raised his arm instinctively—and something bizarre happened. The deadly flames were absorbed into his skin the moment they touched him!
[Ding! Yan Hongling Bond +20%][Gained Ability: Flame Absorption (Beginner)]
"You..." Yan Hongling's eyes widened. "You absorbed the essence of the Earthfire?!"
Xiao Yang stared at his glowing red arms, utterly dumbfounded. "I... I don't even know how..."
The lava dragon, enraged, lunged at them with a deafening roar.
Yan Hongling's eyes hardened. "No choice... I'll have to use that technique..."
She suddenly kissed him.
(5)A rush of searing energy exploded between their lips. Xiao Yang felt his blood boiling as poison patterns and flame marks on his body intertwined into a strange net.
[Warning!][Dual Cultivation Energy Detected][Ye Qingxuan Bond -10%][Yan Hongling Bond +30%]
"Mm... wai—" Xiao Yang tried to push her away, only to find his hands wrapping tightly around her waist. Worse still, the Love Thread Gu in his body was now going berserk, causing... certain reactions again.
The lava dragon shrieked in agony. Its massive body cracked and crumbled, dissolving into pure fire essence that flowed into the two of them.
"Haaah..." Yan Hongling finally pulled away, eyes smoldering. "Junior Brother... you're even tastier than I imagined..."
Xiao Yang stared in horror as a pure white flame formed in his palm.
"T-This is...?"
"The embryonic form of the Purifying White Flame~" Yan Hongling purred, curling lazily in his arms. "Looks like we'll need to... dual cultivate often~"
(6)When Xiao Yang returned to the Ten Thousand Poison Cavern wearing the red robe "generously provided" by Yan Hongling, he was met with the icy gaze of Ye Qingxuan.
"Had fun?" The silver needle in her hand gleamed ominously.
Xiao Yang broke into a cold sweat. "Saintess! Let me explain—"
"No need." Ye Qingxuan smiled sweetly. "I just developed a new Gu poison. I needed someone to test its fire resistance..."
[Ding! Lethal threat detected][Recommended Action: RUN]
Xiao Yang: "..."What kind of hellish love triangle is this?!
(7)That night, Xiao Yang had a nightmare.
In it, Ye Qingxuan and Yan Hongling each grabbed one of his hands—one said she'd turn him into a poison puppet, the other wanted to roast him into jerky.
As the two argued, a cold voice rang out:"Man. You smell like... swords."
Xiao Yang turned his head and saw a stunning silver-haired woman, a sword on her back, standing under the moonlight. Her eyes shimmered with danger.
[Ding! New Bond Target Detected][Lin Hanyi (Sword Immortal · Frosted Thread)][Bond Pre-Activation in Progress...]
Xiao Yang jolted awake—only to find... his pants were soaked again.