“Mr. Vermilion, thank you for everything this time…” Jared said softly. After a pause, the lazy voice of Vermilion Demon Lord drifted through his mind, “Kid, don’t celebrate yet. Those two geezers were just flunkies. Any organization that can field men like that must have far older monsters behind them. With your current cultivation, you’d better keep running when they show up.”
Jared’s lips curved. “Run? That word has never existed in my dictionary.”
“Yeah, right! If I hadn’t stepped in these past few times, you‘d already be fertilizer.” Vermilion Demon Lord had no qualms about exposing him.
Jared flushed, then turned into a ray of golden light, bursting out of the tower and landing inside the stone chamber.
“Jared!” Jhaelyn charged forward as the door swung wide.
The moment saw radiating vigor, held-up heart finally dropped, yet eyes still brimmed red. “You scared me half to death!”
Jemima barreled in right after; the two young women hugged Jared tight, heedless of anyone watching.
For days, they had lived in dread, dread that his wounds might claim him.
Saleto hurried in next. Sensing the aura of a Level Six Wandering Immortal rolling off Jared, his eyes nearly fell from their sockets. “Just a few days… And you achieved a breakthrough?!”
Each Level in the Wandering Immortal Realm was a sky-high hurdle. Ordinary cultivators might spend a decade and still fail to touch that threshold, yet Jared had vaulted two Levels while gravely injured. The speed upended everything Saleto believed about cultivation.
Jared only smiled and offered no explanation. “Thank you for looking after things, Mr. Saleto…”
A year outside equaled a century inside the Pentacarna Tower. Though Jared had spent only three days, nearly a full year had flowed for within.
Feeling waves of power coursing through him, looked at Jhaelyn and Jemima, and his eyes immediately softened.
He had noticed the moment broke through, though the girls said nothing, fatigue shadowed their brows, and their spiritual energy flow was sluggish.
They were clearly nursing hidden injuries from the clash with the Underworld Shadow Guards, yet they forced themselves to appear fine so would not worry.
“You two, come here,” Jared beckoned, his tone brooking no refusal yet brimming with concern.
Jhaelyn and Jemima exchanged a glance and obediently stepped in front of him.
Jemima instinctively tried to hide the bruise on wrist, but Jared caught hand in one swift motion.
“This little injury, were you planning to keep it from me?” His fingertip glided over the purplish mark, still laced with the Underworld Shadow Guard’s icy poison. “And Jhaelyn, the spiritual knot in your elixir field, did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
Jhaelyn‘s cheeks warmed. “It’s nothing serious, a few days‘ rest will fix it.”
“No,” Jared said. He shook his head.
A soft golden radiance blossomed in his palm, wrapping both women in gentle warmth. He murmured, “The negative energy in your meridians has sunk too deep, ordinary pills can’t purge it anymore.”
“I’ll guide it out with my Golden Dragon Bloodline and, while I’m at it…” He paused, watching their cheeks flush scarlet in an instant, then chuckled. “I’ll borrow the method of dual cultivation to help stabilize your cultivation levels.”
“D-Dual cultivation!” Jemima jerked hand back as though scalded, ears burning crimson.
“Jared, that’s… That’s too…” Jhaelyn lowered gaze, long lashes quivered while fingers twisted the hem of robe, yet did not flatly refuse. After all, Jared had mentioned dual cultivation in front of so many people, it was mortifying beyond words.
Off to the side, Flaxseed gave a loud snicker, folding his arms with open mischief. “Come on, Jared, if you want to get cozy with the ladies, just say so. We’re all man here, nobody’s fooling anybody.”
“You know nothing…” Jared shot back with a laugh. “Their frosty energy clashes with my Golden Dragon Bloodline. Only through dual cultivation can I guide it out completely. Besides, they’ve fought life and death beside me. Helping them rise in power, isn’t that the least I can do?”
Flaxseed cackled. “Fair point! Then hurry up! I’ll stand guard outside and make sure no one barges in!”
