AST 1284 – You Can’t Touch Me, Only I Can Touch You

“Erm… Can I still pursue you?” Qing Shui asked, a little hesitant.

This was something which Qing Shui asked after careful consideration. It made Tantai Xuan s.h.i.+ver before she looked at Qing Shui in disbelief. She wondered if she had heard wrongly and looked at Qing Shui, puzzled.

“You didn’t hear wrongly. It’s as you’ve heard. You’re a beautiful lady and have a good heart as well. Therefore, it’s very easy for people to take a liking to you. I just wonder if I have the right to,” Qing Shui smiled and said.

“Uh, this is the first time that you’ve praised me for my beauty, right?” After looking at Qing Shui for a moment, Tantai Xuan said something which caught Qing Shui by surprise. He wondered if it was because Tantai Xuan didn’t wish to face this problem.

He had first met Tantai Xuan when he first went to the Southern Sea but on their second encounter, he was sad to find that Tantai Xuan didn’t recognize him and could only be said to have a low impression of him. Back then, it did deal him a setback.

However, Qing Shui could understand it. Back then, he was probably n.o.body to her. However, that old person from Tantai Clan had a good eye and recognized him. Thereafter, he came with Tantai Xuan to the Western Oxhe Continent and they gradually and unknowingly, became friends.

If something like that hadn’t happened, there would probably just be some ambiguous feelings between them. Qing Shui had unintentionally hugged her and took her hand when performing the Nine Continents Steps. Although cultivators were not too particular about small interactions between men and women, it wasn’t the case for some women.

Tantai Xuan belonged to the latter and was a person who sought to be flawless. She didn’t wish to have even the tiniest bit of flaw in her life and thus had not come into contact with relations.h.i.+ps before now.

However, things were sometimes unexpected and beyond one’s control. If she was asked if she liked Qing Shui now, she could give an immediate reply that she didn’t. Of course, she didn’t hate him either. However, if she was asked which man was unforgettable to her, it would definitely be Qing Shui. He was a person she would never forget.

They say that if you like a person, if you can’t get the person to love you, then get the person to hate you. It’s because if the person hates you, at least he or she remembers you. Furthermore, sometimes love and hate can be reversed unknowingly.

Right now, Qing Shui also knew that Tantai Xuan didn’t like him but he felt that she didn’t detest him either. Or maybe she did. Another thing was that he wasn’t sure if she planned to get married or if she liked a man who had other women. Therefore, when Qing Shui encountered something like this, he would lack a little confidence. He always felt that because he had other women, he was in no position to talk about love and relations.h.i.+ps with her.

In that instant, Qing Shui’s emotions were conflicted. He didn’t know what he was thinking and felt that his character was a little conflicted. Sometimes, there were also instances that he would consider from the perspective of his previous life.

“There’s no need to praise beauty. If a person isn’t beautiful, no matter how many praises she is showered with, she won’t become beautiful,” Qing Shui said. He didn’t know if Tantai Xuan would answer his earlier question. If she didn’t, then Qing Shui won’t put her in a spot either.

Tantai Xuan thought of her own Master. Back when her Master had first seen Qing Shui from afar, her Master had given Qing Shui a good appraisal and had kept on encouraging her to go out with this man.

She wouldn’t feel that her Master had evil intentions in doing this. In this world, her Master was definitely the person who wanted the best for her. One reason she could meet Qing Shui so often was partially also due to her Master.

“You really want to pursue me?” Tantai Xuan smiled and looked at Qing Shui. Her gaze also gradually recovered to normal.

“Mmm! That’s right, I want to pursue you.” Qing Shui quickly nodded and said seriously.

“Why do you want to pursue me?” Tantai Xuan had now completely let down her guard.

“You’ve already seen me naked, so of course I’m yours now.” After giving it some thought, Qing Shui spoke seriously, giving a reason which almost made Tantai Xuan go crazy with anger.

Tantai Xuan blushed but was unable to calm her heart down. She threw Qing Shui an annoyed glance and said, “Alright, in the future, you’re mine. I’ll take up responsibility for you. In the future, you must listen to me, otherwise, I won’t want to keep you.”

“Alright, alright. If you wish to make use of me, please be gentle.” Qing Shui immediately took the opportunity to retort.

“B*stard, hooligan…”

Tantai Xuan looked at Qing Shui, her eyes red.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. This time around, I’m going to say it seriously. I want to pursue you.” Qing Shui knew that Tantai Xuan was angry earlier and it was nothing to make her angry a little bit more. However, he would shave to pacify her later and he must also provide serious a.s.surance. With regard to relations.h.i.+p, one must definitely be serious.

“Do you think that it feels good to be teasing me?” Tantai Xuan frowned and met Qing Shui’s gaze. How could this pure and transcendente lady be a match for Qing Shui? Qing Shui had his own theories and had put them into practice after he came to the world of the nine continents. Regardless if his way of thinking was correct, it was still effective.

“I’m serious. Actually, after something like that happened, I have been thinking about how I can pursue you. Look, I’ve been drawing your portraits all this time.” Qing Shui quickly took out a stack of portraits that were all of her.

He had used the portrait of beauty she was on as a reference. Moreover, Qing Shui’s drawing skills were quite good and he had drawn her to perfection. At the very least, his drawing was much better than even photographs from his previous life.

Tantai Xuan was stunned. Looking at the stack of portraits which really existed and she couldn’t even pick out any problems with the drawings. It was said that for one to be able to draw another person to this level, one must first have the target deeply imprinted in his bones and soul. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be possible for him to draw something like this.

She had not spent a lot of time together with him. Although he would also look at her occasionally, his gaze was clear and thus she didn’t reproach him either. Looking at these portraits, she was stunned.

She then lifted her head to look at Qing Shui. She noticed that his gaze was very clear and he also exuded a feeling that would make one quietly trust his words, even if they had only met for the first time. She realized that her good impression of his hadn’t been lost and hadn’t been affected in the least.

At the very start, she thought that it was because of Yu Ruyan but she now realized that it wasn’t completely so. She gradually realized that when a person remembers another and did so deeply, it was a start of some sort of emotions. The emotions would then slowly change as things happened. When one event or multiple events struck one deeply, then there would be an intrinsic change.

These portraits could be seen as something like that!

Qing Shui looked at Tantai Xuan. He could sense a hint of the changes she was going through but he didn’t feel embarra.s.sed. It was very fast for a man to like a woman. Actually, when that scene had happened, Qing Shui had already thought that he wanted to chase Tantai Xuan. However, he had not had the chance to do so.

Men like beautiful women, women with character, women with good disposition, dignified women and also women who were like demonesses. It would be best if the woman were to act like a demoness before themselves only.

Qing Shui felt that he was fickle as well. It was very simple to like a lady but he had a sense of responsibility which made him draw back almost all of his fickle att.i.tude. However, there would still be oversight. These oversights must be destined and Tantai Xuan was one of them.

Tantai Xuan paused for a moment before saying softly, “You aren’t allowed to touch me, only I can touch you, unless I’ve agreed to it.”

Qing Shui wanted to say more but hadn’t expected Tantai Xuan to give such a powerful reply. Qing Shui sensed that Tantai Xuan’s words seemed to be a little similar to what her Master seem had said.

“Then are we considered husband and wife now?” Qing Shui quickly asked.

“Dream on. We aren’t.”

“Then are we considered to be engaged?” Qing Shui asked again.

“Don’t be hoping to save yourself trouble. You said that you’ll be pursuing me. Why, are you thinking of carrying me straight to the bed now?” Right now, Tantai Xuan’s gaze was a little cold.

“That’s true. Whatever you say. I knew that would be a little too fast and it wouldn’t be fair to you. However, even if you were to touch me, I’ll have to give you a reminder.” Qing Shui once again demonstrated how shameless he could be.

Seeing Qing Shui acting this way, Tantai Xuan was helpless as well. With a blink, she took two steps forward, summoned her courage and wrapped her arms around Qing Shui’s neck and looked at him, blus.h.i.+ng.

Agitated, Qing Shui wrapped his arms around Tantai Xuan’s slender waist.

“You’re not allowed to touch me, only I can touch you. You’ve already forgotten what you said earlier?” Tantai Xuan looked at Qing Shui, her face flushed.

With her beautiful face in such close proximity that he could sense her breathing on his face, Qing Shui found it very hard for him to sit still.

Qing Shui quickly removed his hands but soon hugged her lightly again. He knew that since Tantai Xuan could say that earlier, she had basically already agreed. It could even be said that it was a done deal and she was his woman. However, due to the reservations she had as a woman, she was doing this.

Qing Shui hadn’t expected that a few portraits could have such a big effect. What he didn’t know was that Tantai Xuan also excelled in drawing but just did not have the same mastery as Qing Shui. Therefore, she knew what those drawings Qing Shui drew represented. Something at this level couldn’t be drawn just by imitating. A drawing can only be done well when the artist likes the object drawn. For him to be able to draw her so well, to be able to even bring out her charms and aura… This was why she believed in Qing Shui. She was suddenly struck with realization.

Qing Shui hugged Tantai Xuan, feeling satisfied. It was because she was one of the ladies on the Portraits of Beauty and he liked her as well. It was natural for men to like beautiful women. Another thing was about the twelve heavenly meridians. Qing Shui was also wondering if he would be able to clear all of his twelve heavenly meridians in the future.

He didn’t know if others could clear up their twelve heavenly meridians but at the very least, what he knew now was that other people didn’t have their twelve heavenly meridians cleared up. However, the ladies he had a relations.h.i.+p which would have one of the twelve heavenly meridians cleared up and thus have some increment to their spirit energy and abilities.

“Qing Shui, I feel weird!”

“What’s wrong?” Qing Shui asked softly.

“I realized that there are some additional things in my heart now.”

“Is the additional thing me, some concern, as well as some things which are indescribable?”

“Mmm! How did you know?!” Tantai Xuan lifted her head in astonishment.

“It’s because it’s the same for me. Another thing is, Xuan`er, you’re in love!” Qing Shui smiled and said.

Hearing the way Qing Shui addressed her, Tantai Xuan also felt a strange feeling appearing in her heart.

Not long later, Yu Ruyan came out. She smiled and looked at the two who were locked in an embrace. When Tantai Xuan saw Yu Ruyan, she quickly pushed away Qing Shui, feeling embarra.s.sed as her face turned flushed red.

Yu Ruyan smiled and went up to take Tantai Xuan’s hands, saying “I knew that such a day would happen. Sister Xuan, what you embarra.s.sed about? This is something happy. I was more afraid that you wouldn’t like him.”

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AST 1285 – Divine Beast’s Blood Essence, Marrow Nibbling Golden Dragon Silkworm, Dragon Elephant’s Power Up

When Tantai Xuan heard what Yu Ruyan said, she heaved a sigh of relief. She was also very clear that her relations.h.i.+p with Qing Shui had been set into stone, unless she decided not to get married to anyone. If she did decided to get married, she could only do so to Qing Shui. She suddenly thought of her Master. Was her Master’s words really spot on? Or was she affected by what her Master had said subconsciously?

However, these were no longer important. Tantai Xuan looked at the smiling Yu Ruyan who, as usual, didn’t seemed to go through any changes with her being in the picture. She had seen too many women like this. There were almost no men who were powerful that only had a single woman, and powerful women wouldn't be willing to marry an ordinary person. Therefore in the end, even powerful women would have no choice but to share a man with other women.

Only very, very few powerful men and powerful women would fall in love with each other and would accept only just one partner in their life. However, it was almost impossible to come across a case like this.

Qing Shui took Yu Ruyan’s hand in one of his, and Tantai Xuan’s with another. They then sat down on a long bench in the courtyard. Although the new year was over, the weather was still very cold. The morning sun shone down bright sunlight, making them feel very warm and comfortable.

The three of them were very quiet and they didn’t say anything. Unknowingly, the two ladies each rested their head on Qing Shui's shoulders. Two faint fragrances came from them and Qing Shui felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. He would never be able to enjoy such good fortune in his previous life. Even if he could do so with money, it was not worth anything when compared to the linking of the souls like what he experienced now.

“Qing Shui, is this place considered one of our homes?” Yu Ruyan lifted her head and looked at Qing Shui as she smiled gently.

“Of course. In the future, no matter what happens, this will be our home. As long as you wish, we can come here and stay here for a few days. This place has a very great memorability value.” Qing Shui said happily.

When the two ladies heard him saying memorability value, their thoughts strayed off. They quickly realized that it was different from what Qing Shui had meant, but they weren’t very sure whether or not he had intended it to be in that way.

“If Master knows about this, she’ll definitely tease me.” Tantai Xuan said, a little gloomy.

“Woman, you’re afraid of being teased by your Master just because you’ve got yourself a man? The two are not the same, right?” Qing Shui looked at Tantai Xuan, dispirited.

Seeing Qing Shui like this, Tantai Xuan smiled. “You’re not my man yet. I might end up divorcing you.”

“Oh, I understand now. You’re not happy that I’m not your man. Then let the three of us sleep together tonight.” Qing Shui looked at the two ladies and said slowly.

“Dream on. All men are rascals and their minds were filled with such filthy stuff.”

…

That night, Qing Shui entered the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal while Yu Ruyan and Tantai Xuan shared a room. He knew that the two ladies would definitely have a lot to say to each other.

After he entered the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal, Qing Shui started to practice the skills he was already very familiar with. It was almost starting to become a fixed ritual. He took out the bottle that contained the Divine Beast’s Blood Essence. Timewise, he should be able to use it now.

Qing Shui shook the bottle. There was only four drops of the Divine Beast’s Blood Essence inside. Through his spiritual sense, he could tell that they contained great power. Additionally, he also sensed a familiar power in it.

The adolescent Fire Dragon he met in the past and that huge green dragon he saw in his consciousness both had such an aura, but their auras weren’t as pure as this one was. After all, this was a blood essence. Another possibility was that the dragons he had encountered previously weren’t the most powerful type of dragons.

Since it was a blood essence of a dragon-type divine beast, then the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant must take one drop.

Marrow Nibbling Golden Silkworm!

Qing Shui suddenly thought of this little creature. Should he give one drop to it too? At the thought of this, he felt very excited and he quickly used his intent to call out the Marrow Nibbling Golden Silkworm.

The small thing now looked very majestic, with two sharp dragon horns and a golden s.h.i.+mmering body. Although its small eyes were only the size of a rice grain, it appeared very intelligent. It rolled happily on Qing Shui’s palm.

Qing Shui took out a drop of the Divine Beast’s Blood Essence and in that instant he did, a powerful aura spread out. After he sensed this powerful aura, Qing Shui hesitated whether he should let the Marrow Nibbling Golden Silkworm have it. After all, its small body was not as much as bigger than the drop of blood essence.

Qing Shui used his thoughts to ask the Marrow Nibbling Golden Silkworm if it would be in danger after it took the blood essence. The reply he got was the small fellow swallowing the one drop of Divine Beast’s Blood Essence in a single mouthful. Almost instantaneously, its body exuded a brilliant golden light and it disappeared, directly reappearing in his Central Palace Blood Essence Pool.

The moment it went into his Central Palace Blood Essence Pool, Qing Shui was stunned. The blood essence in his Central Palace Blood Essence Pool started to seethe. The pool was filled with Qing Shui’s blood essence and this seething motion caused all his blood appeared to be boiling and seething.

The Violet Golden Blood Thread seemed to be getting stronger and thicker now. To Qing Shui’s astonishment, his physical strength was gradually increasing.

What astonished Qing Shui was that his physical strength had increased by 2,000 nimbus. If his overall strength had increased by 2,000 nimbus, it wouldn’t be much. But to have his physical strength increased by 2,000 nimbus gave Qing Shui a great surprise. Earlier, he had felt that the blood vessels in his body seemed to have improved qualitatively. This was a result from the increase of the powers in his blood.

His overall abilities improved a little once again due to the power from his blood. One advantage was that it was easy to absorb and control, just like how a person’s physique had gone through an intrinsic improvement, and unknowingly felt the increment in strength.

The Marrow Nibbling Golden Dragon Silkworm in his Central Palace Blood Essence Pool seemed to have entered into a deep sleep. His entire Central Palace Blood Essence Pool seemed to be in a warm and seething state, as if it was tempering his blood automatically. He could only sense that there were only benefits and no bad effects. When he was about to leave, he saw that there were two Ice Silkworms which were being very active, as if enjoying themselves. They clearly seemed to have grown bigger as well.

After he ensured that the Ice Silkworms were fine, Qing Shui came out. The Marrow Nibbling Golden Dragon Silkworm seemed to be evolving. He wondered what new changes the Marrow Nibbling Golden Dragon Silkworm would go through this time around. It should get a lot more stronger as this little thing had the potential to become Qing Shui’s ultimate killing move.

Having gotten a lot more stronger, Qing Shui felt very satisfied. He called the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant over. This Heaven and Earth Battle Beast’s growth still seemed to be a little slow to Qing Shui and he felt that the blood of a divine beast might be able to let it attain a crucial breakthrough.

The Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant let out a low bellow when it sensed the Divine Beast’s Blood Essence, like a dragon but yet also like an elephant. Seeing this, Qing Shui no longer had any more hesitation. Right now, he needed to get stronger and also make the abilities of his demonic beasts grow stronger. It might be very soon before the Western Oxhe Continent engage in a battle with the barbarians in the south. It was said that most of those people would be able to drive demonic beasts to fight for them.

It was because they were close to demonic beasts and were seen as kindred by the demonic beasts. For humans, they were like high-grade demonic beasts.

After it took the Divine Beast’s Blood Essence, the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant instantly emitted brilliant golden light. As the Divine Beast’s Blood Essence was absorbed directly, the effects were instantaneous. It was just like how it was for the Marrow Nibbling Golden Dragon Silkworm which now seemed to also have the dragon bloodline.

Roar!

The Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant shone in a brilliant, golden light. Its body didn’t get any bigger, but the charm it exuded went through a tremendous change and was now more reserved. Compared to before, it now exuded a different aura that was like an ancient ferocious beast that felt a little savageous.

An aura that was so powerful as if it was going to tear the world apart and bring the skies down was exuded.

The golden light faded away and Qing Shui looked at the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant in satisfaction. Although the process was very short, the abilities of the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant was still very impressive.

His physical strength reached 90,000 nimbus, which was the equivalent to nine sun.

Qing Shui quickly read on.

Dragon Elephant Force: Pa.s.sive battle technique, permanently increases physical strength by 50 times!

This had increased as well! Qing Shui was very satisfied.

Mighty Elephant's Recklessness: Increases random attacks by three times for a maximum of 40 targets.

The number of targets for the attack had increased by another ten. This was the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant’s attack for large groups.

When killing a group of people, this was quite a good battle technique to use.

Mighty Elephant Stomp: At the great perfection stage. It increases physical attacks to five times as strong, and there was a certain chance for the surrounding targets’ limbs to get numb and render them unable to move.

Its prowess had increased. From the very start, Qing Shui liked the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant’s Vajra Subdues Demons and the Mighty Dragon Elephant Stomp the most. However, at a later time, they became a control-type techniques and were relatively weaker. However, after the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant’s blood had been awakened, their prowess went through a change once again. In the future, these techniques would s.h.i.+ne in the limelight.

Instantaneous Diamond Evasion: Instantly leaped across a distance within 3,000 meters!

Diamond Sword Qi: Instantly spew out Core Qi to attack the opponent and harbors powerful killing prowess. It can decrease the target’s speed by 20% for a period of 2 hours.

Vajra Subdues Demons: After the technique is performed, multiple targets within a 1,000 meter range would have their strength reduced by 10%. The number of targets cannot exceed 50 and the duration of the effects could last for 2 hours!

There were no changes to these three battle techniques, but Qing Shui was very satisfied.

Ferocious Dragon Elephant Attack: Launches an attack at one target in an instant. Can raise offensive power by five fold!

There were no changes to this either, and it made Qing Shui a little dejected.

Dark Infernal Flames: Dark Infernal Flames under the feet allows the Dragon Elephant's attack to possess a 20% armor-breaking offensive power. At the same time, it increases the Dragon Elephant's speed in the sky by two fold.

Dragon Scale Armor: Allows Dragon Elephant's defense to double. Having a powerful physical body and attacks were the foundation to the Dragon Elephant’s greatest abilities.

When Qing Shui saw the Dragon Scale Armor, he felt like shouting out loud. Right now, the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant was multiple times stronger than before and was about the same level as the Fire Bird. The Dragon Elephant was an existence which wouldn’t lose out even to a dragon.

When the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant got stronger, Qing Shui could feel that there was something new in his Dantian. It was the reciprocation from the Dragon Elephant. The Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant had a strength increment by four sun in total, and the reciprocation to Qing Shui was 8,000 nimbus. However, it was a pity that he was unable to absorb it immediately. He still needed to continue to temper his body.

After meeting Tantai Xuan’s Master, Qing Shui understood that there would always be someone stronger out there and the path of martial arts was endless. He wanted to continue to work hard and get stronger. After all, he still wanted to head to the other three continents in the future. He need to look for the person his mother had been thinking about, and there was another woman he wanted to look for–Demon Lord Palace’s Demon.

After he tempered his magic treasures once through, Qing Shui was surprised that the Coiled Dragon Statue had gone through an upgrade, doubling the defense of all demonic beasts, including the Fire Bird and the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant. It was a pity that there were no changes to the Spirit Gathering Lamp and the Heaven Shaking Drum.

Regardless, there was one which had improved and this was a good start. It meant that the other two would get an upgrade soon. As long as the Spirit Gathering Lamp and the Heaven Shaking Drum were brought up a notch higher, the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant’s and the Fire Bird’s attacking prowess would immediately be doubled…

Right now, the Golden Scaled Dragon Elephant’s strongest attack could reach 4,500 sun while the Fire Bird’s was 4,000 sun. If the Heaven Shaking Drum and the Spirit Gathering Lamp were to level up, the numbers would be doubled.

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