Chaotic World Book

The oars of the boat churned through the waves, splashing with a pattering sound.

It harmonized with the rhythm of the tide, subtly in tune with the mysterious forces of heaven and earth.

A giant turtle lay sprawled in the sea, gazing upwards at the sky, where fiery clouds stretched across Changkong like a bird of flame soaring with spread wings.

If a sailor beheld the sight, he might be reminded of the powerful and fierce Four Symbols Sect, the heaven-scorching Vermilion Bird, and the mysterious and profound Xuanwu.

According to rumors deliberately spread by the Four Symbols Sect, both these figures had broken through to the Third Layer Secret Treasure and were now among the ranks of the Heavenly List. The news shocked the world. Who else but a state or race-level power could boast of two from the Heavenly List?

It could truly be said that dual stars outshone the world, and in that moment, the demonic grew while the path of righteousness faded.

Only in the heart of the blind man, were they all pointless playthings.

The Vermilion Bird, too feeble to resist, had her heart effortlessly stolen by a young man. The great demon, such an easy prey—and the Xuanwu was even more noteworthy.

At least the Vermilion Bird had the decency not to get intimate with a young man in her true form. On the surface, it was only right for the Vermilion Bird Venerable, who was bullied by the Holy Daughter, to appear as the lowly Winged Fire Snake or the Room Fire Pig. As long as she did not abandon the dignity of the Vermilion Bird, one could argue Zhao Changhe had not truly won over the Vermilion Bird. In her heart, the Sect still seemed to hold greater importance.

The Xuanwu, however, was different, not caring what was important—she only sought pleasure, dignity be damned.

The first encounter was profound, and their interactions turned intimate.

However, that glance over the shoulder while propping up on the boat's side, was so enchanting it made even the blind man's heart tremble.

It had to be acknowledged that Guigui, quirky though she might be, was undoubtedly a peerless beauty, especially at such a moment. The allure that she exuded, like a fully blossomed rose, could accelerate one's heartbeat tenfold.

The blind man chose to look away. After all, I am blind.

What's there to look at when people would say you're even watching while defecating?

As she was leaving, she even heard San Niang taking the initiative to bring up what the Vermilion Bird had once refused, "You... don't forget the Dual Cultivation Technique."

I've never seen such a generous offer.

The original yin in Dual Cultivation was always one of the most crucial elements, particularly when the cultivation of the original yin's owner was a level higher. It was a boost akin to Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

When Zhao Changhe leapt from a bright but not top-notch talent to the first among Hidden Dragons, what exactly happened during that time? While the grassland training was important, what mattered more was the Dual Cultivation with Yue Hongling. Her perfectly matched original yin allowed him a glimpse into the Secret Treasure.

Now, Zhao Changhe was at the Second Layer Secret Treasure, and San Niang at the Third.

Once they initiated the Dual Cultivation Technique, the vast and pure energy flowed back and forth, making Zhao Changhe feel as if he were soaking in the same Xuanwu jelly from before, the energy nearly insatiable.

Hmm, is this a trait of the Xuanwu?

Originally, accumulation at this stage would've taken years, but Zhao Changhe felt as if his "Experience Bar" had surged a great deal within an hour. The spiraling mix of True Qi and Evil Qi within his body visibly thickened like entwined dragons and snakes, exuding an explosive sense of power and the faint illusion of breaching the Spirit Platform.

It pointed towards a vital combination of body and soul, becoming clearer.

The threshold to the Third Layer Secret Treasure seemed vaguely visible, within reach and not too distant.

...

"Damn you, young thief, I fell for your trap."

Afterwards, San Niang lay naked and exhausted in the soft, fragrant bed, too tired to even lift a finger.

They had said there was a problem with him, and indeed there was, because no normal man could be so intense.

They started after lunch when everyone was well fed, and now the sky had darkened; San Niang wondered if she had dehydrated, her voice raspy. She didn't know if Tang En and the others had tried to call them for dinner, or if every sound had been drowned out, how embarrassing for Guigui.

At this point, she refused to do anything else; nothing was better than lying down to rest.

Zhao Changhe found her slouched posture amusing. At times San Niang gave him a sense of modernity, resembling a down-to-earth girl who just wanted to slack off and laugh while loving money. Each time she forced the Venerable demeanor, it seemed like a cute, dumpling-faced Jenny, entirely different from the intimidating presence of the Vermilion Bird's piercing gaze.

Previously he thought San Niang's pirate demeanor did not suit her usual persona, but now it seemed like there was no discrepancy; in the end, she was nothing but a carefree senior sister... someone who could join you with a jug of wine in hand, laughing and chatting merrily.

Provided she was willing to open her heart and laugh, Zhao Changhe did not wish to see her trapped between grudges and lost in confusion as before.

He dressed himself, sat beside her, and patted her. Her flesh rippled like water.

San Niang turned her head with an angry glare, "Daring to hit me, huh?"

"No, no." Zhao Changhe reached out and smoothed her disheveled hair, saying softly, "Shall I get you something to eat?"

"I don't want to eat, I'm tired."

"How about I lift you up high?"

"Get lost."

Zhao Changhe picked up a small piece of mango from the table and held it to San Niang's mouth, "Ah~"

Immediately, San Niang stretched out her neck, bit into the mango, and then 'hmmphed' before lying flat again.

"So, have I been neglecting my duties?" Zhao Changhe asked with a smile.

San Niang mumbled, "It's passable, keep working hard in the future."

After thinking a moment, she added, "Remember the hierarchy of our sect..."

Zhao Changhe thought she was about to put on airs again and was about to let her know the meaning of hierarchy, but then he heard San Niang continue, "From now on, act according to the standards, give your full effort for me, and only half as much for your Qing'er, got it?"

Zhao Changhe, "???"

"Eh." San Niang suddenly turned over and tugged at his sleeve, "Who feels better, me or Qing'er?"

Zhao Changhe covered his face, "You might as well ask who is prettier, who asks this?"

"Oh, then who is prettier?"

"..." Zhao Changhe was about to slap himself, "Both are pretty, both are pretty."

San Niang grabbed his collar tightly, grinding her teeth, "Got your hands on me and now you won't even say some sweet-nothings? She's not here, would it kill you to just say I'm prettier than her?"

Zhao Changhe was unwilling to speak ill of Huangfu Qing behind her back, as it would spell doom if she found out, so he could only offer a wry smile, "But what I said is the truth..."

"Don't you know that I don't wish to hear that 'truth'?"

"..."

"I knew it, men are all the same." San Niang turned away angrily, showing him her smooth back, "Without a satisfactory answer, don't even think about touching me during this journey."

Zhao Changhe said helplessly, "You, a Venerable, comparing yourself to a subordinate for what..."

Behind his back, where he couldn't see, San Niang's eyes were rolling, "You're right, that thing is ugly, weak, and stupid, there's nothing to compare. Alright, between me and the Holy Daughter, who's prettier?"

Zhao Changhe, "?"

"What's wrong, can't compare this either?"

"It's not that, Chichi is just a Holy Daughter of the Azure Dragon and White Tiger divisions, not of the entire Sect. Her status still isn't as high as yours, no need to compare, really."

"Don't you know that she's not only treated like a Sect Holy Daughter but is even a Quasi-Sect Master?" San Niang snorted, "Especially this time going out to sea, do you really think I came here eagerly just to follow the Vermilion Bird's orders? I came to assist the Holy Daughter to see if she's fit to be a Sect Hierarch."

"Uh..." Actually, Zhao Changhe wanted to say that he felt from the beginning she wasn't here to assist Chichi at all, she never mentioned it... but she probably did come to assist Chichi, searching for pirates was also for the sake of finding the target island, him becoming the main character was something San Niang hadn't anticipated.

San Niang's eyes continued to roll, "So, comparing me with her now, isn't it a well-matched comparison?"

Zhao Changhe was dumbfounded, he could only vaguely say, "Chichi is young, she definitely doesn't have the charm that you do..."

To say it bluntly, he was still saying each had their strengths, Chichi is youthful and beautiful... San Niang obviously caught on but pretended to be satisfied anyway and nodded, "That earns you a pass."

Just as Zhao Changhe heaved a sigh of relief, San Niang conjured a water orb, upon which floated the image of his apologetic and eager face as he had spoken, saying, "Chichi is young, she definitely doesn't have the charm that you do..." The voice was crystal clear and pitch-perfect.

Zhao Changhe was stunned, "What is this?"

His first reaction wasn't "the world is becoming more magical," but rather if Chichi saw this water orb, he'd be done for...

San Niang turned her head, smiling cheekily, "This is a Divine Skill, Secret Technique, the Water Mirror Technique, I figured out just now. Want to learn it? I'm not teaching you."

Only then did Zhao Changhe realize, right... like the Sea Emperor's summoning water people, it's completely beyond the realm of "martial arts." This is an Immortal Technique!