Yang Guo: I'm invincible in the opening battle against Aunt Guo!

Seven days is not a long time.

It's not short at all!

Eventually, the due date will come.

Seven days passed quietly, like the tides outside Peach Blossom Island, in one cycle after another.

Inside Rongxuan's master bedroom, luminous pearls were embedded in the lamps at the four corners of the bed, emitting a softer and warmer glow than in the secret room.

The agarwood burned quietly, its wisps of smoke rising gently, yet unable to dispel the lingering, ambiguous atmosphere that remained after the enchanting affair.

On the large brocade couch, the cloud-patterned quilt was in disarray.

Huang Rong turned to the side, her silky black hair spread out beside the pillow, covering most of her face.

She was only loosely wrapped in a moon-white nightgown, the neckline slightly open, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin and delicate collarbone, on which faint red marks could be seen.

The hem of her nightgown was rolled up to her thighs, revealing a pair of long, straight, and smooth legs that were crossed without any concealment, gleaming with an ivory-like luster under the pearlescent light.

Her eyes were closed, but her long eyelashes trembled violently. Although her breathing had calmed down, the rise and fall of her chest was still slightly more rapid than usual.

The poison that had plagued her for seven days was finally completely refined and disappeared by the immense power of the "Yin Yang Harmony Chapter" after its final violent eruption.

Instead, there is a surge of pure internal energy that fills every part of the body and is ready to burst forth.

And a sense of emptiness and ease, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

However, the heart is far more chaotic than the meridians.

These seven days.

From initial shame and indignation, forced to endure, to later half-hearted resistance and complex emotions, until last night's final few rounds of cultivation on this bed that belonged to her and her Jing-gege...

She could no longer find the words to describe the experience of those seven days.

His body remembered the internal energy generated by each use of the technique, and his strength soared from the early stage of the Grandmaster to the threshold of the middle stage of the Grandmaster.

Her skin became increasingly moisturized and smooth, and compared to her haggard appearance seven days ago, her complexion gained a more stunning radiance and a languid charm.

But all of this was obtained through detoxification.

Behind her, the young man's warm breath lingered, not yet gone.

Yang Guo lay flat on the outside of the couch, also wearing only a thin undergarment.

He stared at the brocade curtain embroidered with twin lotus blossoms above his head, his eyes clear and unwavering.

Within his body, an unprecedentedly powerful force was surging and roaring, and the barrier of the Innate Realm shattered for the last time before dawn!

not only that.

Just as he advanced to the mid-stage of the Innate Realm, the silent system notification sounded precisely on time—

[Ding! Host has achieved the special achievement "Seven-Day Detoxification, Yin and Yang Perfection", triggering the ultimate sign-in reward!]

[Congratulations, host! You have obtained:]

1. The mid-stage Innate Realm is completely stabilized and directly elevated to the peak of the mid-stage Innate Realm!

2. The ultimate insight of "Yin Yang Harmony Chapter" - "Yin and Yang complement each other, creating endless life" (Dual cultivation effect is permanently increased by 30%, and can slowly improve aptitude).

3. Special Physique Awakening: Innate Dao Body (Beginner) - Cultivation speed doubles, sensitivity to spiritual energy of heaven and earth is greatly enhanced, and injury recovery is accelerated.

A surge of pure energy, like a tsunami, poured in from nowhere, instantly solidifying and elevating the initial stage of the mid-stage of the Innate Realm, until the person stood firmly at the peak of the mid-stage of the Innate Realm!

A fifteen-year-old at the mid-stage of the Innate Realm!

If this news were to spread throughout the martial arts world, it would be enough to create a huge uproar, making those so-called geniuses pale in comparison.

Despite his elation, Yang Guo remained deeply apprehensive.

With the tip of his left hand, he silently grasped a cold object in his sleeve.

That was the [Yanluo Token] I received when I checked in yesterday, a hidden weapon coated with a deadly poison that kills instantly upon contact with blood.

System annotation: A surprise attack can harm even a grandmaster.

The detoxification process is now complete.

So, how will Aunt Guo, whose thoughts are unpredictable yet whose strength far surpasses his own, treat him, the boy who knows her biggest secret and with whom he has had intimate relations?

Is it because of the "life-saving grace" and "assistance in cultivation" during those seven days that you chose to cover it up?

Or was it for the sake of that inviolable reputation and loyalty to Guo Jing that he... harbored the intention to silence them?

He could sense that Huang Rong's breathing behind him was steady, but with a very subtle disturbance.

That wasn't caused by the practice of the technique, but rather by a sign of intense emotional fluctuations.

He had to be on guard.

After all, there have been too many rounds of entanglement over these seven days.

According to his estimate, Huang Rong's weight has increased by at least one pound!

Time flowed slowly in silence, each breath seemingly stretched out.

Finally, Huang Rong slowly turned around.

She sat up, oblivious to the fact that her nightgown had slipped off her shoulders, and quietly looked at Yang Guo with her eyes, which had regained their clarity but were still filled with too many complex emotions.

Deep within his eyes, a chilling, sharp, and tangible killing intent flashed and disappeared!

The master's aura permeated the room silently, and the air in the master bedroom seemed to freeze instantly, making it suffocating.

Yang Guo's body tensed up suddenly, his fingertips gripping the [Yanluo Decree] ready to strike, and his true essence, which was at the mid-stage of the Innate Realm, was also secretly circulating within him. Although he knew he was no match for the Yanluo Decree, he had no reason to sit and wait for death.

However, that murderous intent came quickly and went even faster.

The coldness in Huang Rong's eyes quickly melted away, transforming into a complex emotion that was difficult to describe.

She recalled the boy's passivity and fear when they first met at sea, and his bold actions when he "offered" her black stockings in the secret room.

He recalled how, despite the immense benefits he had gained over the past seven days, he had always adhered to his duty of "healing poison" and had repeatedly used his exquisite internal energy to guide her focus in refining the poison.

She recalled the last time last night, the vibrant energy he exuded when he broke through to the Innate Realm, and the fleeting dependence he felt when he held her tightly, a dependence that even he himself might not have noticed.

Without him, he might have exploded and died during the first poisoning episode.

Without these seven days... how could I have broken through the early stage of Grandmaster, touched the threshold of the middle stage, and become stronger and more handsome than before?

Kill him?

How can I bring myself to do it?

How can he justify the "efforts" he put in over those seven days?

A barely audible sigh dissipated into the lingering fragrance of sandalwood.

"Guo'er," Huang Rong said, her voice hoarse from the aftermath, yet unusually calm—a calmness that sent chills down one's spine. "The poison is gone."

Yang Guo released the hidden weapon from his sleeve, sat up, and bowed respectfully: "Congratulations on Aunt Guo's recovery."

"What happened in these seven days..."

Huang Rong paused, her gaze shifting to the gradually brightening sky outside the window. As if using all her strength, she slowly spoke:

"I had no choice but to do this, solely to find an antidote and survive. From today onward, you must... completely forget it. From this day forward, you will never again step into the secret room, much less... this bedroom. In your heart, I will always be just your Aunt Guo. Do you understand?"

This is a warning, but more importantly, it sets the final line.

She wanted him to treat everything that had happened in those seven days as a dream and bury it completely.

Yang Guo raised his head to meet her gaze, his eyes clear and open:

"Don't worry, Aunt Guo. In my heart, I am only grateful to Uncle Guo and Aunt Guo for taking me in and teaching me. Everything else was just a temporary measure to detoxify me, and I have long forgotten about it."

His answer was crisp and his attitude impeccable, as if he had truly erased that unbearable experience from his memory.

Huang Rong stared at him for a moment, and the tension in her heart finally eased slightly, but she also felt a strange emptiness.

She nodded, ceasing to dwell on the matter, and turned her gaze to him, carefully sensing him. A look of surprise reappeared in her beautiful eyes.

"Your internal energy..." She frowned slightly, "has actually reached the peak of the mid-stage of the Innate Realm? This rate of improvement..."

Even with her extensive knowledge, she was astonished by this incredible progress.

In just seven days, he went from a third-rate genius to the peak of the mid-stage of the Innate Realm. This is beyond the description of a genius; it is simply monstrous!

Yang Guo's mind raced.

The system's affairs must never be revealed, but the dual cultivation technique can reveal part of the truth, explaining both the explosive increase in cultivation and perhaps...

He showed just the right amount of hesitation, then whispered, "I dare not hide it from Aunt Guo. The extraordinary skill that Guo'er acquired in his early years is actually... actually a secret technique of dual cultivation."

This technique is profound and mysterious. When a man and woman's yin and yang energies are in harmony, if the technique is used in perfect sync, it can greatly enhance the internal energy of both parties and improve their aptitude. The fact that Guo'er was able to detoxify Aunt Guo this time is also due to the miraculous effects of this technique. Guo'er's rapid progress in cultivation is all because of this.

He attributed most of the credit to the technique itself, and pointed out that it benefited both parties.

Dual cultivation secret technique!

Huang Rong's cheeks flushed instantly. Although she had guessed it before, she still felt incredibly embarrassed when Yang Guo confirmed it with his own words.

So it turns out... so those blush-inducing yet cultivation-boosting experiences weren't entirely due to the poison, but also because of this miraculous technique!

No wonder I was able to benefit so much and reach the mid-stage of Grandmaster.

A thought flashed through her mind: Since it's a dual cultivation technique, what if... in the future... she occasionally... helped him cultivate as well...?

The thought had barely formed when she ruthlessly suppressed it, her face flushing even more.

Huang Rong, how could you be so shameless!

The poison has been neutralized, how can we...?

She hurriedly looked away, not daring to look at Yang Guo again.

The room was quiet for a moment, with only the morning light filtering through the window curtains, gradually dispelling the gloom.

Seeing that the time was right, Yang Guo stood up, picked up his outer robe, and prepared to put it on, saying in a low voice:

"If Aunt Guo has no further instructions, I will take my leave now."

"Wait a minute," Huang Rong suddenly called out to him.

Yang Guo paused, then turned around to look.

Huang Rong had suppressed her unusual expression and returned to her usual dignified demeanor, though her eyes still seemed somewhat unfocused.

She hesitated, as if carefully choosing her words, and after a long while, she slowly said:

"Guo'er, you possess exceptional talent and a calm demeanor. Now that you have reached the Innate Realm, ordinary martial arts may not be enough to fully display your abilities. Would you... be willing to formally become my disciple?"

A hint of surprise appeared in Yang Guo's eyes: "Aunt Guo is willing to take me as her disciple?"

"This is no ordinary master-disciple relationship." Huang Rong shook her head, looking at him with a complicated expression. "Your identity is special, and your relationship with Brother Jing is not close. It would be inappropriate for you to perform the three kneelings and nine kowtows. How about... you become my 'guest disciple'? I will teach you the essential martial arts of Peach Blossom Island and the way of life. You can call me 'guest master'. In this way, we can fulfill the duty of teaching and learning without overstepping the bounds."

Qian's disciple, Qian's master.

A subtle and intimate form of address, less rigid in its hierarchy, and more imbued with a special bond.

Yang Guo instantly understood the deeper meaning—she was using another method to draw him into a closer network of relationships, both as compensation and to intimacy, perhaps…

It might also be a way to leave room for possible changes in the future, leaving some room for interpretation and explanation.

He immediately cupped his hands, bowed deeply, and said sincerely, "Disciple Yang Guo greets Master Gan!"

Looking at his tall and handsome figure and profile, Huang Rong felt a sense of emptiness in her heart being filled by something.

A slight smile played on her lips, revealing a genuine, relaxed expression she hadn't shown in seven days: "Very well. From this day forward, you are a disciple of Peach Blossom Island, my adopted disciple, Huang Rong's disciple. I hope you will diligently cultivate your martial arts, discern right from wrong, and live up to... the expectations of me and your Uncle Guo."

"This disciple will certainly remember Master's teachings!"

As dawn broke, the light shone through the window and fell precisely on the two of them.

The young man stood tall and elegant, his respectful demeanor tinged with a youthful vigor; the woman sat gracefully on the couch, her languid demeanor exuding a mature charm.

The secret bond forged during those seven absurd days seemed to be quietly covered by the title of "master and apprentice," yet in their tacit silence, it became even more complex and difficult to describe.

Yang Guo took his leave and gently closed the door behind him.

Huang Rong sat alone in the gradually brightening bedroom, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the still warm brocade quilt, lost in thought.

With no more toxins troubling the body, internal energy is abundant, and the complexion is radiant.

But in a corner of her heart, it felt as if a piece had been dug out, or as if something scalding hot had been stuffed in, making her feel a strange sense of loneliness and restlessness in the approaching night when there was no "treatment" appointment.

She shook her head, forcing herself to stop thinking about it.

Since you have accepted me as your disciple, I will teach you diligently from now on.

As for the rest... let's leave it to fate.

However, since that "dual cultivation technique" is so effective, it seems... not entirely impossible to use it occasionally to help him improve his cultivation.

This thought, like a tenacious seed, quietly took root deep within her heart.