Chapter 109 Zhang Ziying: Do Me a Favor

"The instructor touched on this briefly: the Heavenly Court and the Underworld certainly exist, but like the ancient grotto-heaven ruins, they do not exist within this spatial dimension."

"The 'borrowing of power' practiced by Taoists and masters of Yin and Yang is indeed derived from those divine, holy, immortal, and Buddhist beings. However, while their power and laws can traverse spatial dimensions, the divine beings themselves cannot."

"Because there are no channels for them to pass through, the situation on the Blue Earth Star—to use the professional terminology of the cultivation world—was known as the 'Severing of Heaven and Earth.'"

At this point, Zhang Ziying gathered her thoughts before continuing: "There is no Heavenly Court or Underworld on the Blue Earth Star, or rather, they cannot be contacted, and there is no clear separation between the realm of the living and the realm of the dead."

"The living and dead realms coexist right here on the Blue Earth Star, much like the Taiji diagram; there is Yin within Yang and Yang within Yin. They grow together and restrain one another, which is why those restless spirits must compete with the living for living space."

"Before the resurgence of spiritual energy, there were no gods, demons, immortals, or monsters on the Blue Earth Star. At most, there were some 'freaks,' whose mutations were not caused by spiritual energy but by radiation or viruses. Ghosts existed in a very specific way."

"In scientific terms, they were a type of electromagnetic wave. When a person dies, their soul leaves the body, but because there was no spiritual energy to sustain it, the soul would dissipate after a period, ceasing to exist in heaven or earth."

"During that time, if a living person encountered one and was affected by the ghost's magnetic field, the phenomenon known as 'being possessed' would occur."

"That is why, in the past, Taoists and Yin-Yang masters who lacked true cultivation but understood the techniques of 'borrowing power' could easily resolve these incidents using their rituals and items capable of restraining spirits."

Upon hearing this, Li Yunfei gained a general understanding of the situation on the Blue Earth Star, but a new question arose.

"According to you, if ghosts could not persist in the world during the era of depleted spiritual energy, how did those Yin soldiers and ghost generals from ancient battlefields survive?"

Zhang Ziying replied: "It was a matter of quantity. Quantitative changes lead to qualitative changes. Too many people died at once on those ancient battlefields. Combined with the dense, foul atmosphere of killing intent, malevolence, and resentment, those places became locations with unique magnetic fields."

"In such an environment, the spirits would not dissipate, yet they remained in a daze, instinctively tethered to the spot, not daring to leave until spiritual energy returned to the world and they naturally revived."

After listening to Zhang Ziying's explanation, Li Yunfei had no more questions, but suddenly, he felt a shiver of deep dread.

If the reason for the depletion of spiritual energy was the "Severing of Heaven and Earth," then does the current resurgence of spiritual energy mean that the connection between heaven and earth is being restored?

If so, can those beings from mythology—gods, demons, immortals, and Buddhas—come to the Blue Earth Star?

Is this good or bad for the people of Blue Earth?

In the eyes of those beings, what are the people of Blue Earth?

Believers? Subjects? Or...

Meat on the chopping block?

These thoughts flashed through his mind, leaving Li Yunfei feeling slightly uneasy.

However, he did not dwell on the fear. In the end, in the world of the extraordinary, power is what matters. Whether or not these entities appear, and regardless of their attitude toward the people of Blue Earth, as long as the people themselves grow strong enough to stand against them, there is nothing to fear.

Li Yunfei kept his concerns to himself, not wanting to disturb Zhang Ziying. Perhaps she was well aware of these possibilities, but there was no point in discussing a topic with no conclusion, as it would only invite unnecessary worry.

He pushed a plate of steak toward her, poured her a glass of red wine, and smiled. "Let's eat first. After dinner, I'll show you the gift I prepared."

Honghong jumped down from Zhang Ziying's lap, transformed back into her human form, and sat at the table. The three of them ate happily, like a small family.

A harmonious and warm atmosphere flowed between them, putting everyone in a pleasant mood.

As they finished eating, Zhang Ziying suddenly spoke up: "By the way, could you do me a favor?"

Li Yunfei, who was raising his glass to wash down the last bite of food, casually asked, "What favor?"

"Cultivate with me."

"Pfft... *cough, cough, cough*... What did you say?"

Li Yunfei sprayed his wine, staring at Zhang Ziying in utter shock, while Honghong looked on, equally stunned.

She looked at him with a playful, teasing smile. "I knew you’d react like that. What exactly is going through your head all day?"

Li Yunfei felt deflated. Her phrasing was simply too provocative! He wiped his lips with a napkin and waited for her to explain.

"This so-called dual cultivation..."

After hearing her explanation, Li Yunfei’s face was filled with regret, which made Zhang Ziying both amused and embarrassed. She huffed, "What? Are you disappointed that we won't be sleeping together?"

Li Yunfei held his thumb and forefinger together, leaving a tiny gap, and chuckled. "Just a little. Heh, just a tiny bit."

Honghong rolled her eyes at the two of them. "You two, that's enough! There's a child here!"

Li Yunfei glanced at her sideways and curled his lip. "A real child wouldn't understand any of this."

Honghong: "..."

As it turned out, the dual cultivation Zhang Ziying spoke of was not the physical kind. She was practicing the "He-Bi Heavenly Mystery Extraction Method" of the Qingcheng Sect. It could be practiced alone, but dual cultivation was much faster.

However, this was a high-level technique. It emphasized that men and women need not disrobe; it was a communion of spirit over thousands of miles and a connection of hearts.

It was a connection of minds, not bodies; of emotions, not appearances; of energy, not flesh.

The "extraction" mentioned was not the practice of taking Yin to nourish Yang or vice versa through physical intimacy. Rather, it was about drawing the energy of heaven and earth to nourish one's own, taking the essence and spirit of the cosmos to replenish one's own essence and spirit.

By using the transformations of heaven and earth, one constructs their own transformation; by using the life force of heaven and earth, one extends their own.

If the energy of heaven and earth is ceaseless, one's own energy is ceaseless; if the transformations of heaven and earth do not end, one's own do not end; if the life of heaven and earth does not fail, one's own life does not fail.

Because the life of heaven and earth is ever-renewing, one's own life becomes ever-renewing as well.

This was a highly sophisticated method, pointing directly toward the supreme state of "Unity of Heaven and Man." It was one of the most powerful techniques of the Qingcheng Sect, on par with the "Universe Reversion Art" practiced by He Ming.

If not for Zhang Ziying's top-tier talent and her connection to Liu Bin, she would never have been taught this technique, as those without sufficient aptitude could never master it.

Although the lack of physical intimacy was a slight disappointment, Li Yunfei agreed readily.

He planned that once he officially joined the Zixiao organization and attained a higher status, he would speak to Ziwei to have Zhang Ziying graduate early so she could cultivate by his side.

The dual cultivation method would benefit him as well, and benefit her even more—why wouldn't he agree?

In the future, he could spend his days helping Zixiao hunt Yin soldiers and ghosts to level up, and spend his nights in dual cultivation with Zhang Ziying, effectively increasing his power around the clock.

Most importantly, being together constantly, side by side, eventually, physical intimacy would be only a matter of time. Life would be wonderful.