Chapter 13: I swear

“Eat slower, don’t rush.”

Inside a private room at a restaurant, Qin Qingyue watched Jiang Huai, who was wolfing down his food, with a hint of indulgence in her gaze. She took a delicate sip of tea, then stuck out her rosy tongue in distaste.

The tea in the mortal world just wasn’t good, especially the free kind.

Her Dragon Palace was filled with Beast meat and the finest teas, but Jiang Huai had no luck enjoying any of it.

All those meats and teas carried innate spiritual power. As a mortal, if he ate them, he’d be unable to digest them and would die from his body bursting apart.

That’s why she simply took him to a slightly more upscale place for a meal.

“What do you know? Do you have any idea what it’s like to eat pastries every single day?”

“Ever since I sank into the river, I haven’t had a hot meal.” Jiang Huai mumbled with his mouth full, still eating the delicacies on his plate.

His time spent in the Dragon Palace had been sheer torment for his stomach.

Qin Qingyue thought for a moment and said,

“Once you start cultivating in the future, you’ll be able to eat as much meat as you want in the Dragon Palace.”

Jiang Huai’s movements paused. He slowly put down his bowl and chopsticks and asked,

“I can cultivate?”

If he could, he would choose the path of cultivation without hesitation, becoming an Immortal who could roam the North Sea at dawn and Cangwu at dusk.

What is freedom? Obviously, in this world of cultivation, ordinary people could hardly speak of freedom in front of cultivators.

A flick of the finger and you’re gone—where does freedom come from in that?

If he had great power, then last night he wouldn’t have been pinned down by Qin Qingyue, unable to move, played with from start to finish like some toy at her mercy.

“Of course you can. Otherwise, with a mortal’s lifespan, how could you keep me company?” Qin Qingyue rested her chin on her hand and raised her brows.

“I mean, do I have the talent to cultivate?” Jiang Huai asked.

There had to be some difference in talent on the path of cultivation, right? Otherwise, why didn’t all mortals cultivate?

“You have the talent to cultivate. Didn’t Wu Zhaohua tell you?” Qin Qingyue asked, puzzled.

Come to think of it, Jiang Huai’s talent was sufficient for cultivation, and it was actually quite good.

That tenacious fate of his was a unique advantage, extremely useful on the road to Immortality.

“No, Wu Zhaohua never mentioned anything like that.”

“My life in the small town was just like…” Jiang Huai trailed off.

Just like an ordinary married couple, except she often got sick and he had to go out and work.

“Hmph, of course she didn’t want to tell you about cultivation, afraid you’d leave her!”

“I’m telling you, Wu Zhaohua is only using you, her intentions aren’t good.” Qin Qingyue pouted, guessing maliciously.

Rather than improving herself, it was better to slander her rival!

Jiang Huai shook his head, indicating that Wu Zhaohua wasn’t like that.

He remembered that time when she had softened and let him leave the old house—it was clearly for his own good.

After all these years together, he could still tell what kind of person Wu Zhaohua was.

“Then how should I cultivate? Do I start from Qi Refining?” After eating and drinking his fill, he turned to Qin Qingyue.

Cultivation—he wanted to walk the path of cultivation and finally live a life of true freedom.

He had to hold his fate in his own hands.

“If you want to start Qi Refining, then go back to the Dragon Palace. I’ll prepare Immortal Material for you.”

“If you try Qi Refining in the mortal world, you’ll only end up doing Turbid Qi Refining, drawing in thin and chaotic spiritual energy. Your Qi Sea will be small and unstable, your spiritual power muddy and sluggish.”

“But back in the Dragon Palace, I’ll get you Jade Liquid Qi Refining, where the spiritual energy is pure and dense, flowing like a gentle stream, almost liquefied, warm and smooth as jade.” Qin Qingyue explained in detail.

Since he was going to be her husband for life, naturally she couldn’t let Jiang Huai suffer—she’d give him the very best.

Aside from the legendary Innate Primordial Qi, Jade Liquid Qi Refining was already the best method.

“If Jade Liquid Qi Refining requires Immortal Material, then how did you do Jade Liquid Qi Refining back then?” Jiang Huai asked curiously.

Logically, given Qin Qingyue’s circumstances at the time, with no sect backing her, where would she have gotten Immortal Material?

Qin Qingyue lifted her chin proudly, revealing two sharp Dragon teeth as she smiled:

“Because I’m of the Dragon Race. I was born able to do Jade Liquid Qi Refining.”

“Every part of a Dragon is a treasure. You’ll understand in time.”

Jiang Huai gave Qin Qingyue a strange look, feeling something was off.

What did she mean, every part of a Dragon is a treasure? Why could Dragons naturally do Jade Liquid Qi Refining?

“You mean, this is how you do Jade Liquid Qi Refining, right?”

Jiang Huai still stood at the doorway, watching Qin Qingyue warily as he asked.

What was this Demon Dragon up to? She just sat down on the jade bed, her Profound Armor falling away, revealing snowy white legs.

Then she told him this was the only way to do Jade Liquid Qi Refining?

Qin Qingyue looked at Jiang Huai with utter seriousness and said,

“That’s right, this is Jade Liquid Qi Refining.”

“You have to come and take it yourself.”

As long as he kissed her and received her “gift,” he could use it to cultivate.

“I don’t know about this… Are you tricking me?” Jiang Huai asked, half in doubt.

Qin Qingyue’s Dragon Tail swayed impatiently behind her, urging him on:

“Why would I lie to you? We Dragons are born able to do Jade Liquid Qi Refining!”

“Didn’t you want to cultivate? All you have to do is take a mouthful and draw the energy into your body.”

“I, Qin Qingyue, swear a Heaven Dao Oath—if I’m lying to you, let me suffer Five Thunders Striking the Crown!”

A Heaven Dao Oath meant nothing to ordinary people, but for someone at the Da Cheng stage, it was extremely important and not made lightly.

Once made, the Dao would inevitably hold her accountable.

Her words showed her resolve—she truly wasn’t trying to trick Jiang Huai.

“Fine, we’ve already done this much anyway.”

“I’ll trust you this once.”

Under the predatory gaze of Qin Qingyue’s Dragon Eyes, Jiang Huai had no choice but to walk toward her step by step.

He felt as if his Profound Robe was squirming on his body, about to vanish at any moment.

“And then?”

“Then you kneel.” Qin Qingyue said seriously to Jiang Huai.

“As long as you take this step, you’ll get the best cultivation resources and be ahead of everyone else!”

Jiang Huai thought for a moment, but instead of kneeling, he slowly squatted down and leaned in.

Just as he was about to kiss her, he looked up and asked, “You really aren’t tricking me?”

A body at the Da Cheng stage was already fundamentally different from a mortal’s—spotless, flawless, as translucent as jade, and fragrant.

“Stop talking, hurry up.” Qin Qingyue’s voice trembled with excitement, and she reached out to stroke Jiang Huai’s head.

Thinking of future freedom, thinking of better cultivation, Jiang Huai gritted his teeth…

“Right…”

Qin Qingyue gently caressed Jiang Huai’s hair, her slender fingers weaving through his locks.

A moment later, Jiang Huai wiped his mouth and mumbled,

“Is this it? Should I start cultivating now?”

“Wait, this isn’t enough yet.” Qin Qingyue somehow produced a huge basin filled with unknown Immortal Material.

“You just need to sit inside and cultivate. Remember, don’t let go.”

Jiang Huai’s expression was odd, but he still mumbled unclearly,

“Don’t tell me these are the Immortal Materials? Are you really not tricking me?”

“Of course not! Hurry up and go sit down to cultivate.”

“I need to step out for a bit.”

With that, Qin Qingyue hurried out of the Dragon Palace.

Jiang Huai watched her hasty departure, lost in thought.

Outside the Dragon Palace, thunder rumbled as Five Thunders Striking the Crown descended. Qin Qingyue stood with her hands behind her back, facing it calmly.

“Mere Five Thunders Striking the Crown—a minor tribulation, nothing more.”