The remaining small part of the meeting Hua Ziyan spent sitting on Wu Long’s lap, her arms wrapped around his neck while his were around her waist, and one caressing her thigh as he exchanged intimate kisses with her.

He helped her clean up and wear spare robes, as he did the same.

There was not much to clean up to begin with since any Harmonic Qi released during Dual Cultivation with same or compatible techniques would turn into pure energy after a short while if not sustained longer on purpose for more excitement and atmosphere, and would be then refined by the partners.

Thus all the liquids they both released were turning into streams of glowing bright orange-red and dark blue Harmonic Qi which were absorbed into their bodies.

Though Wu Long’s Yang Qi that was streaming to Hua Ziyan was closer to golden in color than orange-red since he already used the Golden Yang Dragon Body Art for some time.

Wu Long saved up Hua Ziyan’s Yin Qi, sealing it with the Chaos Refining Body Tempering Art rather than using it, as it was not enough for him to form a foundation crystal and yet too useful due to its unique properties to use it on simple cultivation. Although he would have used other Yin Qi for the Spiritual Qi War Art.

The improvement in Spiritual Qi in the atmosphere and his cultivation base now allowed him to potentially practice the 24th layer of that technique, something which was previously impossible.

As they walked out, he could feel a gaze on him and looking to its source chuckled as he saw slightly red Xue Bing.

It was true that he shielded all perception with his formation, but she could still detect Hua Ziyan’s emotions. And though she was not very experienced in the affairs between men and women she was not completely clueless. 𝑖.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Her eyes seemed to express her disbelief at the two who nonchalantly walked among others as if they simply participated in the general meeting like the rest.

Hua Ziyan meanwhile chuckled as she found it a little funny to walk among the completely oblivious people after such an experience.

The next morning, all of the participants of the Winter Forest Hunt numbering in hundreds were escorted by the joint force of Sect Protectors numbering in thousands with Elders of the Frozen Garden Palace taking charge.

Their destination was outside of the Frozen Garden Palace, moving toward the depths of the snowy Spiritual Land of the Sect.

The procession was quite large but as they were all cultivators at the very least in the Revolving Qi Realm they moved swiftly, some of them using movement formations.

“Greetings Prime Disciple Xue”

Hua Ziyan noticed Xue Bing among the procession not far from them and called out with a smile, receiving a somewhat awkward nod.

“Greetings, Prime Disciple Hua, Daoist Wu”

As Hua Ziyan raised her eyebrows in surprise, Xue Bing looked around, checking if anyone was paying attention to them.

Wu Long chuckled and a formless Spiritual Qi veil covered the three as Xue Bing first seemed to attempt analyzing it, but quickly concluding what it was turned to Hua Ziyan.

“Um, I don’t know if it is rude to ask, but do you always do it in public like that?”

“Do wha-…?…!!! Y-you s-saw us?”

Hua Ziyan first nonchalantly started asking but then as the realization hit her, widened her eyes with a slightly panicked expression.

“N-no, I didn’t but… the emotional fluctuations…”

“…”

Hua Ziyan’s face reddened as she internally screamed from embarrassment. It was one thing to not be ashamed of her identity as a Dual Cultivator, and completely different if she was caught doing something like that in a public place.

She then seemed to realize something and turned to Wu Long who had a wide smile on his face.

“You knew! … well, of course you did, but why didn’t you tell me?”

“Haha, I wanted to see the reaction”

“… Sister Mengqi was right after all, you really are meanie sometimes…”

She sighed pursing her lips and lightly puffing her cheeks.

‘Haha, so cute’

Wu Long chuckled as he never saw Hua Ziyan get like this before.

Xue Bing looked at the two with an interested look.

“Ah! Sorry for not answering… no, we don’t do it that often… but it was a boring meeting with no real value… and we are Dual Cultivators so it is natural…”

Hua Ziyan finally remembered that it all started with Xue Bing’s question as she noticed her curious gaze.

“Hmm, I see… but… is it not uncomfortable to do it not in the bed?”

“Eh? Well… there are much know-how to Dual Cultivation which allows for different situations much like other types of cultivation”

Hua Ziyan who did not expect such a question, immediately became more confident as it was an area she was proficient in with Wu Long occasionally adding to their conversation.

The two continued to talk, as Xue Bing started asking more and more questions Hua Ziyan was eager to answer since they concerned similar things.

Because the Spiritual Land was incredibly vast, this trip took two days as they did not have the superior movement techniques Wu Long’s side possessed and everyone moved at the speed of the slowest participants.

During their travel Wu Long noticed some that the route was largely cleared of Demonic Beasts as occasionally groups of Sect Protectors of the Spiritual Land owners joined into the mix.

They also constantly received communication from the groups observing the Demonic Beast tide, which grew to unprecedented proportions and was threatening to start its movement ahead of the anticipated time.

“As was mentioned in the general meeting, it is not just an event to showcase the prowess of the younger generation.

If not properly contained this wave would stream toward mortal settlements neighboring our Spiritual Land, and after laying waste to them would travel beyond.

The consequences of even a small failure would be catastrophic. Know your responsibility!”

Grand Elder Qu who was in charge of the entire procession spoke with her voice amplified with Spiritual Qi.

Most of the younger generation had dismissive expressions on their faces at this statement, but she did not seem to expect any other response either, even if she was not happy about it.

Her speech was mostly for the Sect Protectors of the various Sects that would serve as failsafe precautions against the setbacks of the younger generation.

The latter were told exactly the opposite, that there were other people beside them and not to risk it, retreating or sending out a signal asking for help in case of trouble.

As everyone was readying themselves, since these words were said before going into the Winter Forest and thus signaled that they were close , the procession turned around a rather steep great hill and arrived at a cliff.

Below was a valley of colossal rock formations covered in ice, which from the distance looked like a vast forest of giant trees, all of it located in a large canyon which stretched up into a ginormous mountain. The place they stood at was on one side of the canyon, with the near vertical and quite smooth slopes down.

“This is it, the Winter Forest”

Grand Elder Qu said solemnly as the people who saw it for the first time widened their eyes at the sight.

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