The two of them were trapped in this secluded paradise-like place. Having paid homage to heaven and earth and sworn a blood oath, some things happened as a matter of course. Thus, their days, originally peaceful and tender, gained an occasional sweetness.
Neither of them was particularly demonstrative by nature. Even after confirming their feelings and engaging in dual cultivation, they simply enjoyed this gentle warmth.
Mo Tiange was quite satisfied with this kind of life. She didn't feel too lonely, nor did it affect her cultivation. They were together, keeping each other company, able to discuss cultivation and exchange thoughts.
However, not long after they were together, Qin Xi discovered something had changed.
Then Mo Tiange also felt as if something was stirring restlessly within her Dantian.
They both noticed the other's restlessness.
Mo Tiange asked first, "Is something wrong with you?"
Qin Xi, frowning deeply, nodded and also asked, "What about you? Do you also feel..."
"Mm," Mo Tiange replied, somewhat troubled. "What should we do about this? Will the Spiritual Qi obtained this way be unstable?"
"How could it be?" This question made Qin Xi smile. If there were problems, why would so many people in the cultivation world practice dual cultivation? "Don't overthink it. Just focus on your cultivation." He paused, then added, "Originally, I planned to attempt Nascent Soul Formation a bit later, but now I can't wait any longer."
"Ah?"
"The Spiritual Qi within my body is now surging wildly. My Dantian and meridians can no longer contain it. If I let this Spiritual Qi run rampant, it would actually be harmful. So, I must form my Nascent Soul."
"Oh..." Mo Tiange understood. When Spiritual Qi accumulates to a certain point and the body can no longer contain it, it automatically demands a breakthrough. Presumably, he had now reached that stage.
"When will you form your Nascent Soul?"
Qin Xi thought for a moment. "In three days. This surge of Spiritual Qi can't be suppressed for much longer."
"So soon?"
Qin Xi patted her head and smiled. "No choice. I didn't expect that after dual cultivation... suddenly receiving so much Spiritual Qi. You're probably not feeling too comfortable either. Why not take the opportunity while I'm forming my Nascent Soul to go into seclusion yourself? You might even be able to break through to the mid-stage of Core Formation in one go."
"Mm." Mo Tiange nodded, accepting his suggestion. It had been six or seven years since she formed her Core. She had been in an adaptation period all this time. Now that her Life-Bound Artifact was complete and she was gradually gaining insights into various techniques, it was time to continue her seclusion.
Achieving a breakthrough to the mid-stage of Core Formation in one go would still be very difficult. Ordinary cultivators typically spent around a hundred years in the early Core Formation stage. Even genius cultivators needed thirty or forty years. Of course, it wasn't completely hopeless. The dense Spiritual Qi in the Void Heaven Realm, the countless Qingyun Pills, plus the Yang Spiritual Qi she received from Qin Xi... If her cultivation went smoothly, she might truly be able to charge into the mid-stage of Core Formation during this period. But if she did, there might again be concerns about an unstable realm...
However, regardless, with her Spiritual Qi feeling unstable, she also had to enter seclusion.
Having agreed on this, the two spent the next three days preparing for their respective seclusions.
Over the years of tending the medicine fields, they had refined many pills, so there was no need to concoct any last-minute. The preparations were therefore simple, mainly just rearranging the cultivation chambers.
Nascent Soul Formation was different from ordinary cultivation. It absolutely could not be disturbed, not even by Mo Tiange merely watching from the side. So, a separate cultivation chamber was necessary.
For this purpose, Mo Tiange specifically gave Qin Xi a Spirit Gathering Formation set from the Xuanji Formation Book for him to arrange in the separate cultivation chamber. While the formations Qin Xi used were good, in this area he was ultimately not as skilled as Mo Tiange. The Xuanji Formation Book could be said to be the most outstanding formation manual in the Tianji Region. With this item, Mo Tiange's formation attainments would rank among the best even in the entire Tianji Region.
It took only one day to complete all the preparations. For the remaining two days, the two did nothing else but stroll and chat, relaxing their minds. State of mind was very important for Nascent Soul Formation, and mood was part of that state.
On the third day, Qin Xi checked the time and finally said, "It's almost time."
Seeing his serious expression, Mo Tiange couldn't help but ask, "Are you... alright?"
Qin Xi looked down at her. "What do you mean, alright?"
Mo Tiange thought for a moment, then offered reassurance. "Your cultivation is now complete, your Spiritual Qi is abundant. Forming your Nascent Soul is a natural progression. There's no need to be nervous."
Qin Xi paused, then smiled. "Are you afraid that because I failed to form my Nascent Soul three times before, I have lingering shadows in my heart?"
"..." Mo Tiange smiled somewhat sheepishly. "I've never formed a Nascent Soul, so I can't offer you any advice..."
Before she could finish, Qin Xi sighed and reached out to embrace her.
Mo Tiange thought for a moment, swallowed the rest of her words, and also reached out to wrap her arms around his waist.
The two embraced in silence for a while. Then Qin Xi spoke, his voice gentle. "I understand your concern. Don't worry, I know what I need to do."
"...Mm." Mo Tiange responded softly. She knew he had always been decisive. Now that his inner demons were broken, he was clear about what to do. Yet, she couldn't help but worry.
This was a feeling she had never experienced before. It wasn't that she had never worried about others—her mother when she was young, later her second uncle—but even when she worried about those two, it wasn't this feeling of constantly keeping them on her mind. She had always thought her emotions were calm. Only now did she realize that while calm, they could also be intense.
She couldn't help but hold him tighter. Not out of fear of loss, but from a desire to be closer.
Beneath her cheek, Qin Xi's chest rose and fell, making her feel warm and secure.
Time passed bit by bit. She didn't know how long it had been before she finally released him. "You... should go in."
But Qin Xi didn't move, still holding her waist firmly.
"...Senior Brother?"
After a long while, he let out a long sigh. "For the first time, I feel somewhat reluctant to go into seclusion."
Mo Tiange didn't speak, but a smile involuntarily appeared on her face. This feeling of having her affections reciprocated was truly wonderful.
"What are you afraid of?" she said softly. "When you come out, I'll still be here."
"But... we won't see each other for several years." His voice was low.
These words made Mo Tiange pause for a moment, then she also sighed. This was the life of a cultivator. Unless in the future their cultivation levels were close and they practiced the same technique, they couldn't avoid situations where one of them went into seclusion for years without meeting.
She didn't think two people needed to be glued together all the time, but the feeling of separating for several years, or even several decades, from time to time was indeed not very pleasant.
However, no matter what the future held, separation for Nascent Soul Formation was necessary. Thinking of this, Mo Tiange urged him again. "It's getting late. Aren't you going in?"
Qin Xi still didn't move.
Mo Tiange grew a little anxious. This time, he hadn't chosen the timing for Nascent Soul Formation himself; his body had reached its limit. If he delayed too long, she didn't know if there would be negative consequences. She pushed him. "Senior Brother!"
Qin Xi shifted slightly. "What did you call me?"
Mo Tiange was taken aback. "What?"
"I just remembered, we're already husband and wife. Shouldn't you change how you address me?"
The sudden change of topic left Mo Tiange somewhat unable to adapt. "But you were originally my Senior Brother... What else should I call you?"
Qin Xi looked down and chuckled softly. "Although not many in the Xuanqing Sect call me Senior Brother, there are still a few... I want an address that belongs to you alone."
The intimacy in his words made Mo Tiange's face burn. "What are you saying?"
Qin Xi leaned closer, looking into her eyes, and said softly, "Call me husband, alright?"
"..." Mo Tiange felt her face was very hot. After controlling herself for a long time, she finally squeezed out two words. "No."
Qin Xi raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled. "Why?"
"No means no." This... although she knew they were already husband and wife, she just couldn't bring herself to say those two words. They were too intimate...
"Just once? Not even once?"
"No." Mo Tiange resolutely turned her head away. No, she couldn't say it.
Qin Xi persisted, turning her head back. "I'm about to go into seclusion. We won't see each other for several years. You won't even call me once?"
"...No."
"Really no?"
"No."
Seeing her stubborn refusal, Qin Xi could only sigh. "Alright, if you won't say it, that's fine. But you should at least give me something."
"..."
Seeing her lack of response, Qin Xi continued to gaze at her.
Mo Tiange gritted her teeth, pulled his head down, and quickly pressed her lips against his. "There, is that enough... Mmm..."
Before she could finish, he quickly pulled her back. This time it wasn't a light, dragonfly skimming the water touch, but a deep kiss with intertwined lips and tongues.
"You..." She wanted to speak, but as soon as she opened her mouth, it was blocked. His tongue slipped between her lips and teeth, entwining tightly with hers. Her breathing became rapid in an instant.
"Don't speak." Qin Xi murmured between her lips, kissing her again. One arm wrapped around her waist, pressing her tightly against him, while the other hand explored her waist.
Mo Tiange knew what he wanted to do. She thought it was too impulsive, but she didn't firmly stop him. Although they had long been prepared for frequent separations, they had just gotten married...
After swearing the Blood Oath, they had also been intimate, but that first time had been almost a disaster. Both having lived half their lives, their understanding of intimacy was vague. They only had a general idea of how to proceed, so how could they know how to enjoy the beauty of physical intimacy?
After that, although they would kiss, embrace, and entangle, they hadn't been that intimate again.
And those kisses, embraces, and entanglements had actually felt wonderful to them.
He finally found her belt, untied it, and skillfully removed her garments one by one.
"Senior Brother..." The moment her back touched the table surface, Mo Tiange tried hard to prop herself up, saying urgently, "You should go... into seclusion..."
"I said, don't speak." Qin Xi lowered his head and kissed her again. Clothing fell from their fingers.
Beneath the concealment of the Daoist robe was the woman's soft, graceful curves. Her skin exposed to the air made her feel somewhat uneasy. He noticed her unease, soothingly took her hand, and placed gentle kisses on her collarbone. From the gentle collarbone to the delicate shoulder line, finally stopping at her chest.
"Senior Brother..." she gasped.
This time, Qin Xi didn't respond. He distractedly pulled off his own robes and held her waist...
Mo Tiange clenched her teeth, but there was no expected pain. She was somewhat confused, then heard Qin Xi's soft chuckle in her ear. "Focus."
Before she could think further, a tidal wave of sensation engulfed them...
An unknown amount of time later, the two gradually calmed.
Qin Xi sighed, put on his outer robe, first helped her dress, then straightened his own clothes.
Once both were properly dressed, he hugged her again, reluctant to let go. "I... am going..."
"Mm." Mo Tiange looked up at him. "Go with peace of mind. I'll always be here."