Chapter 85: 83. For the greater good, I choose to sacrifice!
"A Core Formation Stage cultivator stubs their toe on a table corner and cries out in pain—don't you think that's a rather flimsy excuse?"
Xu Yuan leaned close to Liu Ruoxue's ear and teased in a murmur.
"There is no pain—I... umm..."
Liu Ruoxue's eyes trembled, and she only got halfway through her words before she immediately bit down on her vermilion lips with her silver teeth.
The moment she began to speak, she almost cried out, so she quickly closed her mouth again.
However, her silence did not mean Xu Yuan would stop.
In his eyes, the Liu Ruoxue of now was still not perfect enough.
As a Dao Companion, she might be qualified, but it wasn't Liu Ruoxue the Dao Companion he wanted, but rather a single-edged sword that he could wield at will, that only showed its edge towards others.
So, what seemed like activities stemming from some wicked taste were, in truth, adjustments meant to quell her thoughts of rebellion.
Under the skill that came naturally with the Yang Charm Demon Body, Liu Ruoxue's teeth soon made a clattering sound as they collided from her trembling mouth.
...
Zhen Dan, outside the door, after not having received a response from Liu Ruoxue for a long time, could only return to his room in disappointment.
But no sooner had he left than the snow that was Liu Ruoxue began to melt into water.
The sound of rain was gentle and soothing.
Liu Ruoxue slumped in his embrace, her cherry lips unconsciously parting, her breath as fragrant as orchids.
Her clear eyes, once sharp as swords, had lost their previous insight and clarity; they were now half-open, their haziness akin to intoxicating wine, her skirt's ties undone, the plain-colored clothing voluntarily opening to either side, peach-colored hues spreading across her snow-white skin.
Xu Yuan wished he could test the effects of the last type of body fluid right there and then.
However, there was the matter of the United Heart Curse, as well as other people still present.
"If I remember correctly, the artifact known as 'Deceiving the Heavens to Cross the Sea' should currently be in possession of the Tower Master of Heavenly Machine Tower."
Xu Yuan decided that tomorrow he would gather his forces and confront the Heavenly Machine Tower.
"However, even though Dawn City has not stationed many strong cultivators there to put the Divine Emperor at ease, relying on Lin Qingque alone is still not adequate."
Xu Yuan stroked his chin, his gaze shifting towards another room.
That was where Tian Liuli was staying.
He could wait until the competition over succession finished and then use Jing Lixue's influence to deal with Heavenly Machine Tower, but by then, the Four Divine Beasts Formation would surely be out of his reach.
If he could obtain that Formation, Xu Yuan's ability to protect himself would see a tremendous increase, to the point that even consummating in front of Tian Liuli would pose no significant issue.
He could say that unless Dawn City was breached, he wouldn't face any trouble.
However, to claim the Formation core in such a major event that might involve cultivators of the Return to Void Stage, in front of so many cultivators under the heavens, he must have enough strength to back him up.
And at present, the biggest boost to his strength would come from the Dual Cultivation Method.
So, his intention to trouble the Heavenly Machine Tower was partly to seek news about the Outer Domain Demon and on the other hand, to acquire the 'Deceiving the Heavens to Cross the Sea' artifact as soon as possible.
Even if he couldn't get the Four Divine Beasts Quadrant Formation, just having the 'Deceiving the Heavens to Cross the Sea' would allow him to elevate his cultivation speed to a whole new level through the Dual Cultivation Method.
Thus, even if Lin Qingque and Tian Liuli could fight beyond their stages, as long as he advanced to a realm they couldn't challenge, that would suffice.
After sending Liu Ruoxue away, Xu Yuan carefully eliminated any trace of scent from his body, then he deactivated the mechanism that opened the secret passage.
Finally, he created an illusion that he was deeply immersed in critical cultivation inside his room, so that even if Liu Ruoxue came looking for him afterward, she would not disturb him, and only then did he cautiously leave the room.
The moonlight was cold and clear; the nocturnal curtain solitary, the corridor silent and tranquil.
Standing at the door to Tian Liuli's room, Xu Yuan took a deep breath before placing his hand on it. Instantly, he exerted his Dark Energy, silently shattering the latch inside.
As he pushed open the door, the seated Tian Liuli, who was meditating on the bed, just happened to open her eyes and looked at him indifferently.
"Is there something?"
She seemed to have guessed.
"Liuli, what do you mean by that? Can't I come to see you if there's nothing wrong?"
Xu Yuan wasn't too surprised either; he estimated that she had already guessed when he had made his move outside the door, voluntarily speaking up to help her out of a difficult situation.
"Oh?"
Tian Liuli started to laugh.
The hazy moonlight slipped through the crevices and fell upon her stunningly beautiful face, like a snowfall between her brows and eyes, scattering and swirling, noble and clear-cut.
"If there's nothing, then you should go back."
"You are wrong. There is something."
"Heh."
Tian Liuli laughed lightly as expected,
However, in the next moment, her smile froze on her face.
"What are you trying to do?"
Tian Liuli frowned as she watched Xu Yuan naturally grasp her bare foot.
"What am I trying to do?"
Xu Yuan, about to put her jade foot in his mouth, looked at her: "I'd like to, but the United Heart Curse is still in effect."
Tian Liuli didn't understand his meaning, but recalling past experiences, a blush quickly swept across the nape of her neck.
In their current relationship, she held a superior position, but if she were to be licked and enjoyed it, she couldn't guarantee what would happen next.
Initially, she thought having someone lick her feet would feel quite conquering, which is why she acted that way that night. But, when it actually happened, she realized she had been wrong.
It wasn't her conquering Xu Yuan; it was Xu Yuan conquering her.
"Why?"
Xu Yuan blinked, not understanding: "Didn't you enjoy that very much?"
"I didn't..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xu Yuan had already reached out to strip off her thin, snowy-white silk sock.
As the stocking slid off, the delicate and fair jade foot was exposed midair, its perfectly rounded and glistening toes curling from nervousness.
"You!"
Tian Liuli looked at him expressionlessly.
Her lips gradually turned a blood-red shade, her nostrils flared slightly, and blush inevitably crept across her pale cheeks as she struggled to maintain her composure.
She couldn't understand what he was truly trying to do.
From the moment he entered, he headed straight for her jade foot. Could it be that he thought such an action would make her agree to his request?
Xu Yuan looked at the small and exquisite jade foot in his hand, carved as if from cold jade; right now, it was struggling to stretch out straight, as if it were saying, I'm not afraid of you.
To be honest, he wasn't doing this because he liked it.
He did this only to get Tian Liuli to agree to help him, a sacrifice for the greater good.
"Mmh—"
It was like a brush sweeping across the bottom of her foot, a mere movement, and she couldn't help but tighten her facial muscles to hide her emotion, her toes round and clear like grapes bending and then stretching out again.
"You, let go! If there's something, mmh—"