Chapter 135 - A New Day
Cale lay down beside her, pulling Niva’s exhausted body closer to his own. His arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her into a comfortable spooning position where she fit against him.
"Do you even know how many days have passed?" he asked softly, his voice curious.
"D-days?" she responded with shock, her mind clearly still foggy from exhaustion and the lingering effects of the yang pill.
"Around five, if I’m not wrong," Cale replied, a slight smile in his voice. "Heh, you sure can maintain stable thoughts. Even I’m getting sleepy now."
He tightened his embrace, his other arm beginning to gently caress her body. His fingers slid over her smooth skin, tracing the curve of her hips, following the line down to her slim waist. Then, without warning, he firmly grasped one of her nipples, pinching it softly before grasping it lightly, drawing a small gasp from her.
She was already asleep moments later, her breathing evening out into the deep rhythms.
A few more hours passed.
Cale woke up and reached instinctively for the mounds he was grabbing before sleeping, only to find his grasp closing on empty air. A disappointed expression immediately took over his face as he realized the space was cold — she’d likely been gone for some time.
Getting up slowly, his naked body still glistening slightly from their extended exertion, he dragged himself toward the cave’s opening. The barrier had dissolved at some point, leaving the entrance completely open. Anyone who happened to pass would have seen his "absolute glory," though the thought bothered him more than he’d admit.
He stopped when he heard a soft thud from outside.
Niva emerged into view, wearing a light dress that was admittedly a little too short, though it was still better than shorts for a girl. Her dark brown hair was loose, falling in curls over her shoulders, giving her an adorably tomboyish appearance.
"Ah... Y-you’re awake... hmm," she said shyly, immediately pulling at the hem of her dress in an attempt to cover herself more adequately.
"Heh, what’s the point of hiding, oh dear~" Cale smirked, moving silently behind her before wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, pulling her back against his still-naked chest.
But then something caught his attention.
"You... your cultivation has increased, huh?" he said, his perception immediately picking up on the subtle changes in her aura.
"Even your mana capacity has likely increased a bit."
She got shocked too, her eyes widening as she turned inward to sense her own power levels.
"R-really! I didn’t notice, but now that you say it..." she trailed off, feeling the increased reserves of both qi and mana flowing through her meridians.
Cale’s eyes flickered as several system notifications cascaded across his vision:
[New Harem Member: Niva Xercs]
[Rewarded Dao of Dual Cultivation ]
[Ability Copied: Mana comprehension]
[Congratulations! A sliver of Hosts fate and luck has increase due to intimate encounter with a Fated One!]
’Heh, so it works like that too? That’s definitely interesting.’
The notifications continued:
[DUAL CULTIVATION HAS EVOLVED TO HEAVENLY DUAL CULTIVATION]
[HEAVENLY DUAL CULTIVATION]
An evolved form of Dual Cultivation that allows the Host and his cultivation partners to share cultivation energy and benefits through intimacy.
Unlike ordinary Dual Cultivation, physical intimacy is no longer always necessary!
[PASSIVE DUAL CULTIVATION]
When the Host and a compatible cultivation partner are within a certain range of each other, their cultivation energies will automatically begin to harmonize. Both parties will experience increased cultivation speed, energy recovery, and comprehension. The Host will receive the greater share of the benefits due to the superior compatibility of Heavenly Dual Cultivation.
[HEAVENLY HARMONIZATION]
Intimate cultivation allows both parties to establish a deeper connection, greatly amplifying the flow of cultivation energy compared to passive dual cultivation. Both parties will benefit from the process, with the Host receiving the larger portion of the cultivation gains.
[MULTI-PARTNER HARMONIZATION]
The Host may simultaneously establish a cultivation link with multiple compatible partners. The more compatible members participating in Heavenly Dual Cultivation, the greater the cultivation efficiency of the entire network.
Cultivation Speed: Increases with the number of compatible members.
Energy Recovery: Increases with the number of active links.
Comprehension: Increases when multiple members cultivate together.
Note: The benefits are subject to compatibility. Higher compatibility results in greater effects.
- - -
Cale observed that Niva, despite being embraced from behind by his completely naked body, wasn’t minding it at all. She seemed comfortable, even peaceful, in his arms.
"You’ve given me more benefits than I ever thought," he said with a smirk. "Heh, you sure are a lucky charm."
"Hmm," was all she could manage, her voice soft and content as she simply enjoyed the hug, nodding shyly against his shoulder.
He turned her around to face him and kissed her. She responded immediately, not denying him, meeting his lips with her own. Their kiss deepened — deep and messy, breaking apart with a wet pop as their lips separated, both still shiny with moisture.
He pressed her back against the cave wall, his large hands cupping her soft, warm butt cheeks possessively, squeezing and spreading them slightly while his tongue dove deep into her mouth again, tasting her. Their tongues tangled wetly, his fingers digging into her flesh as the kiss became almost desperate in its intensity.
It only broke when both of them remembered to breathe, gasping for air against each other’s lips.
He looked at her, still smiling, his expression turning both tender and calculating.
"I have this ability, you know," he said softly. "One where I can increase my and my partner’s cultivation... for that, well, we have to have sex."
"I-is that so...?" she asked, her eyes widening slightly. Then realization seemed to dawn on her. "But... how can such an absurd ability... no wait, don’t tell me this is why all those women, even the princess, fawn over you?"
"Heh, you think all my worth is in the bed?" he laughed, tightening his hug around her. "They don’t even know this at all. You’re the first."
His soul armor materialized around his body automatically, covering the nakedness that had suddenly become awkward in the moment of revelation.
"I-I’m the first?" she asked, shock in her voice.
"Hmm, hmm," he nodded, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"How long are you going to cling to me?" she spoke with forced anger, though her body language betrayed her — she actually didn’t want to separate! Women are always like that.
"Let’s go. Others might be searching for us."
Cale sighed heavily, stepping back slightly though his arms remained around her waist.
"Sigh... there’s that Wang Yunfeng too, huh," he muttered, walking with her toward the cave’s entrance and stretching as they emerged into the daylight. "Five days sure were short."
He looked at her seriously.
"Alright, get ready. After we eat something, we leave and go find them. That man is likely fighting our group or maybe will be in some hours."
"Hmm," she nodded in agreement, already moving to gather their supplies.
As they prepared to depart, Cale’s expression grew contemplative.
"Heh, another one in the group," he muttered to himself, not quite aware he was speaking aloud. "Am I seriously following my father’s footsteps? Even though my system has blessed me, I can’t just keep... fucking just to increase my realm. That’s the worst way with no proper foundation, even as an Emperor, a Grandmaster could easily kill me."
He understood, on a fundamental level, that power without solid cultivation base was just asking for disaster. The Heavenly Dual Cultivation was a tool, powerful yes, but ultimately supplementary to real work.
They both ate some food quickly, packing everything they’d accumulated. Then Cale carried Niva in his arms, launching into the air and flying swiftly through the vast plains toward where their group was waiting.
The wind rushed past them as they soared across the landscape, Cale’s mind already working through multiple layers of strategy and consequence.