Chapter 20: Transcendence

Hearing Xiao Che's words, Xia Qingyue tried to channel profound energy into her hands. Immediately, her heart fluttered once more, because the profound energy flowed much more smoothly than usual, and its speed was nearly twenty to thirty percent faster.

Seeing Xia Qingyue's reaction, Xiao Che nodded in satisfaction. "Does it feel much smoother and faster?" he asked. "If I were to draw out all the cold energy from your body and unblock your meridians, your body temperature would be normal even without using the Ice Cloud Arts. All negative side effects would disappear, and the speed of your profound energy execution would be nearly fifty percent faster. What's more, from this day forward, your cultivation speed for the Ice Cloud Arts would increase by at least thirty percent! Oh, I'm just saying this casually; you can take it or leave it. After all, there's no way you'd ever let me do it."

As he spoke, Xiao Che began packing up the items he had brought from the infirmary.

"You just said... that my cultivation speed for the Ice Cloud Arts would increase by thirty percent?" Xia Qingyue suddenly turned her head. Xiao Che's words completely stunned her, leaving her wanting to believe but unable to accept it.

A pill that could accelerate one's progress by ten to twenty percent over a year or two was already considered an undisputed treasure of the world, capable of inciting widespread bloody conflict. Yet, what Xiao Che implied... was a *permanent* increase of thirty percent!

Such a claim was more than just astonishing! If any item or condition could permanently boost a person's profound cultivation speed by such a significant margin—thirty percent—Xia Qingyue had no doubt that heroes from across the world would flock together, vying intensely to seize it.

"Yes," Xiao Che affirmed, nodding. "Believe it or not."

Xiao Che's indifferent "believe it or not" attitude, coupled with the tangible improvements she had personally experienced from his treatment, paradoxically made Xia Qingyue trust him even more. Facing his astonishing claims, uttered so casually, she found herself unable to harbor much doubt. This feeling itself deeply surprised her. The formidable Ice Cloud Immortal Palace had stood on the Azure Wind Continent for a millennium, yet had never heard of such astonishingly effective methods. How could a mere sixteen-year-old boy from the small Flowing Cloud City, with crippled profound veins, assert such a thing so confidently—and compel her to subtly believe him, against her will?

"If what you say is truly possible... then why would you claim I wouldn't agree to it?" Xia Qingyue inquired.

"Well..." Xiao Che twisted his lips, then said earnestly, "It's quite simple; you'll understand if you just think about it. To dispel the cold energy from your entire body and unblock the congealed meridians, I'd definitely need to apply needles to your body. And naturally, if I'm applying needles, you'd have to remove your clothes—at least expose your entire back to me... You don't even let me touch your hand; do you really think you'd be willing to undress in front of me?"

Xia Qingyue was speechless.

"Alright, the silver needles have been used, and I should return them to the infirmary now." Xiao Che gave Xia Qingyue a slight smile. "No need to thank me; after all, you're my wife. You ran to bring me a blanket in the middle of the night last night, so it's only right that I do something for you."

Watching Xiao Che pack his items, Xia Qingyue's expression flickered, and she finally spoke again. "I've always been aware of the accumulated cold energy within me. I also know that the early stages of the Ice Cloud Arts cause some meridians to congeal. Dispersing this cold energy and unblocking the meridians would indeed relieve physical discomfort and somewhat aid in the exertion of profound energy... but what does that have to do with increasing the speed of profound energy cultivation?"

"This involves very complex medical principles... very, very complex, so I'd rather not elaborate. Even if I did, you wouldn't understand," Xiao Che mumbled vaguely. Cold sweat almost broke out on his forehead. He had thought his previous words and the acupuncture had successfully bluffed Xia Qingyue, but to his surprise, she still questioned him, full of doubt, and had directly hit upon the crucial point... because increasing cultivation speed truly had nothing to do with cold energy or meridians.

Fortunately, Xia Qingyue didn't press the matter further. Just as Xiao Che finished re-tying the bundle, she spoke again. "Where did you learn all this? With your acupuncture technique, you'd be perfectly qualified to join one of the great medical sects! If you truly possess the abilities you claim, then not only this small Flowing Cloud City, but the entire Azure Wind Continent would know your name. How could you have remained obscure, known only as a cripple?"

"Join those medical sects?" Xiao Che curled his lip in disdain, then turned his face to her and calmly stated, "My master taught me all this."

"Your... master?" Xia Qingyue's delicate brows twitched. She had never heard of Xiao Che having a master.

"My master was a truly great healer, who spent his life traveling to treat illnesses and save countless lives," Xiao Che recounted. "I met him when I was very young. He taught me the methods of diagnosis, acupuncture, moxibustion, and massage. He taught me the principles of medicine, pharmacology, and toxicology, and how to identify all the world's herbs, poisons, and insects. I am his sole successor, and his kindness to me is as vast as a mountain, something I can never repay... Yet, he left me not long ago, leaving me with no way to find him. That is why I possess some medical skills. As for anything else, please don't ask. I prefer not to dwell on my master's affairs. And the fact that I have medical skills is unknown to outsiders, even my grandfather and my aunt are unaware. You are the only person who knows, apart from myself."

As he recalled his deceased master, a look of sorrow and remembrance involuntarily surfaced on Xiao Che's face. This was his most genuine emotion, devoid of any falsehood or pretense. This authenticity, in turn, affected Xia Qingyue, leading her to fully believe Xiao Che's words. She said softly, "To possess such astonishingly skilled needle techniques at such a young age, it seems your master must indeed have been a truly great healer."

"He was the greatest healer in the world, bar none!" Xiao Che declared with absolute conviction.

Xiao Che's unwavering conviction subtly diminished Xia Qingyue's lingering doubts. After a moment of hesitation, she finally made a decision. "...Then, are you absolutely certain that what you said about permanently increasing my cultivation speed by thirty percent... is true?"

"Since I've stated it, I wouldn't tarnish my master's medical reputation. Hmm? You're not actually... considering trying it, are you?" Xiao Che turned to face her, his expression filled with surprise.

Xia Qingyue let out a small, subtle breath, then averted her gaze slightly. "Are you certain it's only my back that needs to be exposed?"

Xiao Che's eyes lit up. He leaned forward, grinning. "If you insist on exposing everything, that's perfectly fine too..." he teased.

Xia Qingyue's brows furrowed. With a flick of her red sleeve, a sudden gust of cold wind made Xiao Che shiver. She walked towards the bed and said coolly, "Begin. Let me see if your medical skills are as miraculous as you claim... But if you dare to harbor any improper thoughts, I assure you, I will not spare you."

"You could kill me with a single slap; even if I wanted to, I wouldn't dare," Xiao Che chuckled mischievously.

He took out the silver needle box and scarlet sun flower juice he had just put away. Walking to the bedside, he faced Xia Qingyue, who was already seated on the bed, and said with utmost seriousness, "Remove your clothes!"

These three seemingly innocent words were uttered by Xiao Che in a way that made them sound like a bully coercing an honorable woman.

One could only imagine Xia Qingyue's internal reaction upon hearing those three words, given her usual pristine purity, akin to an aloof, clean lotus... However, the allure of a permanent thirty percent increase in cultivation speed was simply too immense—so great that no profound practitioner could possibly resist it! If it truly succeeded, it would mean that with identical talent, comprehension, profound arts, profound skills, environment, and resources, three years of cultivation would yield the same progress as four years for someone else! Over a century, this would translate to thirty years of extra progress!

Xiao Che accurately surmised that even if it meant disrobing, Xia Qingyue wouldn't refuse. She was clearly a young woman who pursued greater profound power; otherwise, she wouldn't have joined the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, willingly accepting the consequence of severing her emotions and desires.

If what he claimed was true, then the cost would be entirely worth it... especially since it only involved exposing her back. Thinking this, Xia Qingyue turned her back to Xiao Che. Her chest rose and fell faintly, her heart already as tranquil as a still mirror. She closed her eyes, unbuttoned her garment, and her vibrant red robe slowly slid down her fragrant shoulders and graceful arms. Instantly, her flawless, dazzlingly fair jade back was revealed without concealment before Xiao Che's eyes.

She pulled the brocade quilt over her chest, while the fallen red robe concealed her full, alluring hips, leaving only the graceful curve of her jade-like back exposed—slender yet not bony, truly radiant and peerless. Her shoulder and neck skin, in particular, was exquisitely delicate and flawless, like lustrous jade. Xiao Che stared, momentarily stunned.

"Begin immediately! And no improper thoughts!" Xia Qingyue closed her eyes, her voice cold.

"Isn't a woman's body meant for her husband to see?" Xiao Che mumbled quietly. Then, he sealed his lips and picked up a silver needle. The moment the needle was in his hand, his expression became serious.

Feeling Xiao Che's now steady breathing behind her, Xia Qingyue, who had been about to speak, fell silent and subtly closed her eyes. Even though she still found it hard to believe Xiao Che's claims were true, the allure of a thirty percent increase in cultivation speed was too powerful for anyone to resist, even if the possibility was minuscule.

The air stirred faintly. With a flick of Xiao Che's wrist, a silver needle lightly pricked the Tianzong acupoint on Xia Qingyue's jade-like back, his finger not touching an inch of her skin.

Xiao Che began to move his fingers with astounding speed, picking up one silver needle after another and swiftly, precisely pricking Xia Qingyue's back. He moved so fast that only a continuous, flickering blur could be seen.

Xia Qingyue closed her eyes, her attention focused entirely on her back. She began to perceive that each silver needle's insertion was accompanied by faint wisps of profound energy. This realization instantly stirred something within her...

She was well aware of Xiao Che's physical condition; with crippled profound veins, he could only remain at the first level of the Initial Profound Realm. The profound energy he could exert was the most basic, most minuscule. Yet, the profound energy accompanying each silver needle, though tiny to her, was evidently exerted with nearly the maximum intensity possible for someone at the first level of the Initial Profound Realm!

She didn't know why Xiao Che would infuse the silver needles with profound energy. But it clearly meant that he was putting his full strength into every single insertion.

She hadn't noticed this earlier with the eight needles applied to her hands because they had been completed too quickly, and her attention had been focused solely on Xiao Che's technique. This current realization, however, caused a ripple of unease in her heart.

By now, twenty-three needles had been inserted into her back, and Xiao Che's speed had visibly slowed. If Xia Qingyue were to turn her head, she would see his face slightly flushed and beaded with sweat.