"The selection is simple; there are three stages. A Cultivation test, a Spirit Root test, and a combat test." Yun Xi tells him.
"I see… and the requirements?"
"You need to pass each test before advancing to the next. For the Cultivation test, it's based on age. The Azure Cloud Sect only accepts new disciples up to twenty-three years old."
"From what I know, fifteen to seventeen requires at minimum the Third Stage of the Elementary Spirit Realm, eighteen to twenty the Fifth Stage, and twenty-one to twenty-three the Seventh Stage."
"Then are you confident about the selection?"
"I don't know. Honestly, I'm barely above average for my age compared to others. If there's a limit on how many they'll accept, I probably—"
Her shoulders dropped, her gaze drifting down as the words trailed from her lips.
Ling Tian's hands were already moving, his fingers hooking beneath her arms, lifting her from her seat and turning her until she faced him.
"Xi'er, you need not worry about any of that. You are Ling Tian's woman now, and I will make you exceptional. Do you trust me?"
Faced with that unwavering confidence, Yun Xi felt the tension bleed from her shoulders, something warm and certain settling in its place.
"Mm… I believe you." She leaned into him, her arms wrapping around his waist.
They remained like that for a while. In the quiet of it, Ling Tian turned his attention inward.
System, how much does a pill that upgrades spiritual roots cost?
[Spiritual Root Advancement Pill, Elementary Grade - Flawless will cost you 500 lust points.]
Buy two of them. And what kind of bloodline and physique fits Yun Xi the best?
[You bought two Elementary Spiritual Root Advancement Pill - Flawless Purity, -1000 lust points.]
[This will be the most fit bloodline and physique for Yun Xi.]
[Item: Sea Princess Bloodline]
[Description: A legendary ruler of the sea, she was a human-mermaid hybrid that had sea dragon god blood flowing in her body, gifted by the sea dragon god himself. She is also the owner of the legendary spear, The Trident.]
[Mortal Grade - Low]
[Price: 2500]
[Item: Sea Princess Physique]
[Description: A legendary ruler of the sea, she was a human-mermaid hybrid that had the sea dragon god's physique, gifted by the sea dragon god himself. He is also the owner of the legendary spear, The Trident.]
[Mortal Grade - Low]
[Price: 2500]
System, I just noticed, why are all the bloodlines and physiques all in Mortal Grade - Low, while all the pills are all in flawless?
[In the Lust Store, every pill is of the highest possible quality for maximum effect, which is why they are all of flawless purity. As for bloodlines and physiques, each one is unique. However, due to the restrictions of this world, all begin at Mortal Grade. Host need not concern himself over this, as the store carries pills capable of advancing them further, along with the recipes to craft such pills.]
I see, so if I find a capable woman that have talent in alchemy, I can have all the pills without spending lust points.
Alright then, buy the Sea Princess Bloodline and Physique.
[You bought Sea Princess Bloodline. -2500 lust points.]
[You bought Sea Princess Physique. -2500 lust points.]
After he was done with that, he grabbed Yun Xi plump butt and stand up from the tub while lifting her with him.
"Let's go, we need to prepare for the selection."
****
In the room, both are now clothed and sit on the bed facing each other.
"Xi'er," he took her in his arms and sealed their lips with a kiss before pulling away. "If I do anything to you, do you promise not to ask questions?"
With those words, her confusion only deepened further.
What did Ling Tian mean by doing something? And why couldn't she ask questions?
"Ah..." Ling Tian realized this confusion and lowered his head.
"I have something that can increase your spiritual roots grade and help you cultivate faster, but it can only be used with you... I need you to promise me not to ask any questions."
Yun Xi hesitated, thinking it was some kind of joke, but as soon as he saw Ling Tian's serious look, her heart raced.
Something capable of enhancing someone's talent? Is it about what he told me in the bath? Did he really have something that incredible?
"I already said I believe you. Whatever you do to me, it's for my benefit, right? Don't worry, I promise, Tian," she replied, her heart full of confidence in Ting Tian.
"Good." Ling Tian moved his head until his forehead touched her.
Then, using the Mind Transmission Technique, the Yin-Yang Harem Scripture flows into her mind. She was shock she didn't know that there was such a cultivation method that was full of pleasure.
"Tian.. this—" Before she could finish, Ling Tian bought out two pills.
"Next, eat this."
She looked at the two pills in his hand. She was about to ask what it was, but she had already promised, and she believed that Ling Tian wouldn't do anything bad to her.
She grabbed the pill and ate it one by one. Then she feels a flow of dark blue spiritual energy swirling around her in tightening rings, growing denser with every passing second before rushing inward and flooding through her.
She could feel that her spiritual roots were getting stronger. She was about to say something, but Ling Tian had already moved.
Grabbing Yun Xi, he pulled her dress down her shoulders, revealing her modest breasts, whose pink nipples poked gently as they were freed from the fabric covering them.
Suppressing the impulse to seize them then and there, he drew her into an embrace instead.
"What comes next will hurt... do you think you can endure it?"
Yun Xi flinched at those words, yet clenched her jaw.
"I... I believe so," she murmured, keenly aware of his firm hands braced against her back. At that moment, a torrent of energy surged from his palms, cascading across her entire body.
"Mmph... Ahhh!" A violent shudder tore through her slight frame, her whimper of pain twisting into a raw cry of agony as though every bone and sinew within her was being shattered apart.
Ling Tian's chest tightened, yet his hands never faltered, allowing the process to run its course.
This was the world of cultivation — merciless and indifferent. Those born weak and untalented were destined for nothing but an early grave.