Ning Fan gritted his teeth.

Cultivate!

As long as it didn't kill him, he would cultivate to the death!

When the white light finally faded.

When Ye Honglian appeared on the bed, she was utterly stunned. She stared blankly at Ning Fan, a faint look of lifelessness in her eyes.

"No, three times."

"Three times!"

Ye Honglian propped her hands against Ning Fan's chest. This wasn't merely engaging in worldly pleasures; even if it were just worldly pleasures, nearly an hour would be unbearable.

Moreover, this was cultivation.

"Promise me you won't die right in front of me, alright?"

If it were solely for the sake of dual cultivation, Ning Fan truly wanted to give up.

But...

Ning Fan gradually realized that if he shifted his attention away from the cultivation itself and focused elsewhere, he could endure a few more rounds.

"Fairy Sister, you are truly beautiful."

Ning Fan murmured.

A single sentence caused Ye Honglian's face to flush crimson. Even though the two had already dual cultivated several times, this was the first time she had heard Ning Fan speak such sweet words.

Dual cultivating while listening to sweet words.

Ye Honglian's heart fluttered intensely.

"Y-you little lecher."

"What nonsense are you saying!"

"It's true!"

Ning Fan continued.

He had no other choice.

To keep cultivating, he couldn't focus on the 'cultivation'. Instead, immersing himself in his partner allowed him to muster his spirits.

That's right.

This was also the first time Ning Fan had focused primarily on Ye Honglian during their sessions, appreciating her beauty.

For a moment.

Ning Fan felt as if all the exhaustion in his body had vanished, replaced by an abundance of vigor.

He could still go on. He could still do it!!!

"You..."

Ye Honglian seemed to be infected by Ning Fan's mood. During their previous sessions, she had deliberately warned herself-

"This is just cultivation."

But now, Ye Honglian clearly sensed Ning Fan's feelings.

How could she completely ignore such sincere emotion!?

For a time.

The intimate atmosphere swelled. This session was entirely different for both of them; they forgot about the cultivation itself and focused solely on each other.

A quarter of an hour passed.

Ning Fan and Ye Honglian felt their Yin and Yang nearing perfect harmony. Throughout the entire process, the circulation of their spiritual power was exceptionally smooth.

The next moment.

The spiritual power within their bodies merged seamlessly into one.

When the spiritual power returned to Ning Fan's body, he had no time to sense the extent of its growth.

He directly fell unconscious.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Ning Fan finally woke from his stupor. The moment he tried to move, he felt an intense, aching soreness throughout his body, as if he had been repeatedly beaten by several burly men.

His bones, meridians, and muscles-none were spared from the ache.

"Huu-"

Ning Fan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Only after sensing the surging spiritual power within his body did a smile finally surface on his face.

-Profound Extreme Realm, Third Layer.

Mid-stage!!

He originally thought the forced third session would yield poor results, given that both he and Ye Honglian had been pushing their absolute limits.

Yet, the effects were virtually identical to the first two times.

Ning Fan even felt that...

During this third session, the fusion of spiritual power between him and Ye Honglian was even smoother.

The first two sessions were like a mere exchange of spiritual power between two people. By the third time, their spiritual power had resonated to the point of becoming a single entity, able to fuse without hindrance.

"..."

Ning Fan stroked his chin, pondering carefully.

He had dual cultivated several times now.

While he didn't understand cultivation entirely, he had formed his own insights.

If one ignored the cultivation and just focused on the act, it remained merely an act. But if one focused solely on the cultivation as if fulfilling an obligation, the results wouldn't be optimal either.

Truly perfect dual cultivation occurred when both parties maintained their cultivation state while completely immersing themselves in the harmony of Yin and Yang-blending affection, emotion, and desire into one.

Achieving complete resonance.

"This is perfect cultivation,"

Ning Fan murmured, as if struck by an epiphany. The next moment, a thought came to him, and he muttered to himself,

"In that case, every main peak aside from the Long Bright Peak has strayed onto a deviant path. Exchanging Dao Companions breaks the resonance between two people."

"Although swapping companions allows one to enjoy the initial surge of cultivating with a new partner each time, it prevents the cultivators from ever achieving true harmony."

"It seems highly beneficial, but it is actually a crooked path."

"..."

Ning Fan's eyes lit up.

Of course.

This was merely his conjecture. Whether it was the absolute truth required further observation. However, the idea that cultivating in resonance enhanced the effects undoubtedly strengthened his resolve to choose the Long Bright Peak. He was definitely joining the Long Bright Peak!

"Husband, you're awake."

Yun Qingyao's gentle voice sounded. She was sitting at the edge of the bed, looking down at Ning Fan with a face full of care and affection.

She reached out and gently stroked his cheek.

"..."

Seeing Yun Qingyao completely unbothered and perfectly fine, the corners of Ning Fan's mouth couldn't help but twitch. Just what was going on with her!?

It was as if she hadn't cultivated at all!

Could it be...

Was Ye Honglian truly someone else entirely!?

But if Ye Honglian wasn't Yun Qingyao's second personality, it couldn't explain why Yun Qingyao's and Ning Fan's cultivation realms were completely identical.

The two of them even possessed the exact same cultivation methods and martial skills.

He didn't know.

But regardless, seeing Yun Qingyao so brimming with energy after every session made Ning Fan incredibly envious!!!

He also wanted limitless stamina!!!

If he had that, he truly could 'cultivate to the death as long as it didn't kill him.'

"Wife, what time is it now?"

Ning Fan reined in his thoughts and quickly asked.

"Husband, you were unconscious for a day and a half. There are less than twelve hours until the deadline for the disciple-snatching trial. There is plenty of time."

Yun Qingyao replied.

"H-help me up."

Ning Fan weakly raised his arm.