The transition from the intense intimacy of Bibi Dong's bedchamber to the cool, quiet corridors of the Spirit Hall was stark. Evening had fully descended, casting long, deep shadows broken only by the intermittent glow of spirit lamps mounted on the walls.
Song Qing paused just outside his Teacher's door. Inside, he knew, she slept deeply, exhausted but undoubtedly content after their night of unrestrained passion. He had gently covered her magnificent, marked body with a thin silk blanket, allowing her the rest she sorely needed.
A faint smile touched his lips as he recalled their morning conversation. Her surprising vulnerability, her candid assessment of their situation, her slightly embarrassed but ultimately willing agreement to his audacious suggestion regarding Renxue… it was unexpectedly endearing. And her accurate prediction of his own dominant reaction had been both amusing and affirming.
'She understands me well,' he thought, a sense of satisfaction warming him. 'And her willingness… it opens up interesting possibilities.' The image of mother and daughter together, under his touch, flashed briefly in his mind again – scandalous, decadent, yet undeniably appealing. He filed the thought away, a plan for another time. The immediate priority was different.
He turned, his steps purposeful now, heading towards the domain he truly controlled within these walls – the Herbal Garden.
'Time to see to the little one,' he mused. 'Tonight, its transformation begins.' He thought briefly of Ah Yin, ever-present in the garden, her seductive deference a constant, low-level hum in the background of his plans. 'Her persistence is noteworthy, if ultimately futile in its aim.'
He reached the entrance to the Herbal Garden. Even in the deepening twilight, the air here felt different – cleaner, vibrant, humming with concentrated life energy. Spirit lamps cast a soft, ethereal glow over countless rows of impossibly rare and potent plants, their leaves and flowers seeming to drink in the light.
Ah Yin was there, as expected. Her voluptuous figure moved with a quiet, inherent grace among the precious herbs, her long blue hair swaying like silken water as she tended to a patch of glowing fungi. She looked up as he entered, her movements fluid, almost practiced in their subtle allure.
Nearby, curled amongst some soft moss, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion stirred. Its three eyes blinked open, focusing instantly on Song Qing. It scrambled to its paws, shaking its small, fluffy mane.
"Holy Son," Ah Yin greeted, her voice soft, respectful, yet carrying that undercurrent of warmth she always directed towards him. She straightened, her posture accentuating her curves.
"Ah Yin," Song Qing acknowledged with a nod.
Before he could say more, the little lion bounded over, emitting excited mental chirps. 'Song Qing! You're back! I waited!'
Song Qing sent a gentle mental affirmation back. 'I am here, little one. And tonight is the night.'
He turned his gaze back to Ah Yin, his expression becoming focused, business-like. "Tonight, we proceed. It is time to feed the little one the herbs we discussed."
Ah Yin's blue eyes widened slightly, then filled with understanding. "Yes, Holy Son."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion practically vibrated with excitement upon hearing this, its mental voice flooding Song Qing's mind. 'Herbs? Tonight? The special ones?! Truly?! Oh, thank you, Song Qing! Thank you! You're the best!' It began rubbing its head enthusiastically against Song Qing's legs, its small body radiating pure joy and anticipation.
Song Qing gave the lion's head an absent-minded pat, his focus already shifting to the task ahead. "Ah Yin," he commanded, gesturing towards a secluded clearing near the garden's energetic center, where the ambient life force felt strongest. "Clear a suitable space over there. Remove any distracting flora. Ensure nothing disturbs the process once it begins."
"Immediately, Holy Son," Ah Yin replied, bowing her head slightly. She moved with that captivating grace, her hands gently coaxing aside lesser plants, smoothing the earth, creating a perfect circle dedicated to the coming transformation.
Song Qing, meanwhile, began walking slowly through the rows, the excited lion trotting happily at his heels, occasionally bumping its head against his calf in gratitude. His emerald eyes scanned the myriad of glowing, pulsating, ethereally beautiful Immortal Herbs, each one a treasure that would make cultivators outside the Spirit Hall weep with envy.
'The combination needs to be precise,' his mind worked rapidly, cataloging the properties of the plants surrounding him. 'Control the innate fire attribute first, prevent backlash. The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower is paramount.' His gaze landed on a radiant, sun-shaped flower pulsing with gentle heat.
'Then, balance and enhance the light attribute. The Radiant Velvet Immortal Chrysanthemum.' He spotted its pristine white petals shimmering nearby.
'Awakening the Golden Dragon bloodline requires potent life force and draconic essence. Dragon Saliva Grass, definitely.' He identified the dew-kissed, serpentine herb. 'Augmented with… yes, essence from the Ageless Galaxy Vine for resilience, and a touch of Eight-Pointed Star Anise for elemental harmony.'
'Spiritual and mental fortitude are crucial for handling this influx of power.' His eyes searched. 'The Yearning Heartbroken Red is too specific, too emotional. Ah… the Soul Calming Divine Grass.' He located the rare, faintly shimmering grass he had painstakingly cultivated from ancient seeds. 'And the Thousand Year Profound Jade Ginseng for mental clarity and energy reserves.'
'For balance, the Mysterious Octagonal Ice Grass will temper the intense Yang energy of the Cockscomb Sunflower and the Scorching Yang Apricot.' He noted the frost-kissed herb. 'Yes, a small piece of the Apricot is necessary for the initial burst, but the balance is key.'
He continued his selection, plucking herbs with practiced ease, his connection to the garden allowing him to sense the peak potency of each specimen. Silken Swift Dragon Carrot essence for foundational strength, Great Spirit Ganoderma Mushroom for vitality… He gathered dozens more supplementary herbs – vitality boosters, essence concentrating roots, spirit stabilizing leaves – piling them carefully near the cleared circle Ah Yin had prepared.
The sheer value of the herbs he selected would be enough to bankrupt kingdoms, yet here they were, fodder for a young spirit beast under his care.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion watched with wide, fascinated eyes as the pile grew, its mental voice quiet now, filled with awe and understanding that something momentous was about to happen.
Once satisfied with the selection – well over fifty different types, each chosen for a specific synergistic purpose – Song Qing turned to the little lion.
"Alright, little one," he said, his tone gentle but firm. He indicated a specific cluster of milder, preparatory herbs. "Eat these first. Calm your energy, prepare your body."
The lion needed no second bidding. It eagerly began consuming the indicated herbs, its small body already beginning to glow faintly as the initial energies were absorbed.
Song Qing waited patiently until the first batch was consumed. Then, he gestured towards the more potent selection, guiding the lion mentally on the sequence.
As the lion began to ingest the truly powerful Immortal Herbs – the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, the Radiant Velvet Immortal Chrysanthemum, the Dragon Saliva Grass – its body began to react more intensely. A warm, golden-red light enveloped it, occasionally flashing with brilliant white. Faint waves of heat and light pulsed outwards.
Seeing the absorption underway, Song Qing took a deep breath and activated his own power.
The Primordial Life Tree Spirit manifested behind him, vast and ancient, its verdant aura washing over the garden. He channeled its power, focusing the Verdant Embrace ability. A soft, emerald light pulsed from his hands, bathing the Three-Eyed Golden Lion in pure, concentrated life energy.
The effects were immediate. The herbs' potency seemed to skyrocket, their energies merging more rapidly within the lion's small form. The golden-red and white light around it intensified, swirling together.
But Song Qing wasn't finished. He unleashed his Primordial Life Domain.
The entire Herbal Garden seemed to sigh in response. The inherent life energy surged exponentially, creating an environment hyper-conducive to growth and absorption. The very air shimmered with vitality.
Under the dual influence of the Verdant Embrace and the Primordial Life Domain, the lion's aura exploded outwards, becoming a dazzling sphere of interwoven gold, red, and white light. Faint draconic pressure began to emanate from it, ancient and powerful. Its small body seemed to visibly stretch and solidify, growing denser, stronger, aging at an unnatural rate.
'Accelerate the growth,' Song Qing focused his intent, pouring his spirit power into the process. 'Solidify the foundation. Awaken the dragon blood fully. Integrate the light and fire. Strengthen the spirit.'
He monitored the flow of energy, ensuring the balance held, preventing the potent herbs from overwhelming the young beast. It was a delicate, demanding process, requiring immense concentration and control.
It was during this peak moment of concentration that he felt a presence behind him.
Ah Yin.
"Holy Son," her voice was a soft murmur, filled with awe. "Your power is truly magnificent."
He felt, rather than saw, her approach.
"Allow my Blue Silver Domain to assist you," she continued smoothly. "Perhaps it can help stabilize the surrounding energies, lend support to your own domain."
Before he could respond, he felt her arms encircle him from behind. Her soft, voluptuous body pressed firmly against his back. A subtle wave of gentle, tenacious life energy – the Blue Silver Domain – pulsed outwards from her, attempting to mesh with his own overwhelming Primordial Life Domain.
It was like a gentle stream trying to merge with a raging ocean.
'Her domain offers nothing here,' Song Qing thought, a flicker of annoyance cutting through his concentration. The effect of her Blue Silver Domain was utterly negligible compared to his Primordial Life Domain, especially within his Herbal Garden. 'This is just another excuse…'
"Your domain provides no benefit here, Ah Yin," he stated coolly, his voice even, not turning around, his focus remaining entirely on the lion. "You may release me."
He felt her stiffen slightly behind him, but her arms did not loosen. If anything, she seemed to press herself closer, her full breasts pushing against his shoulder blades, her soft cheek resting near his shoulder. He could feel the gentle rise and fall of her breathing against his back. She remained silent, clearly choosing to ignore his dismissal.
'Stubborn woman,' he sighed internally. Arguing or forcing the issue now would only disrupt his concentration. He made a conscious decision to simply ignore her clinging presence, pouring all his focus back into the Three-Eyed Golden Lion and the critical transformation underway.
He maintained the Verdant Embrace and the Primordial Life Domain for a sustained period, carefully guiding the torrent of energy, watching as the lion's aura stabilized, becoming deeper, more potent.
The initial explosive growth began to slow, replaced by a steady, powerful absorption. The draconic pressure intensified, becoming palpable. The creature itself, though still curled up, looked visibly larger, its fur shimmering with an inner light that spoke of immense power contained within.
Satisfied that the crucial initial phase was complete and the enhancement process firmly locked in, Song Qing slowly, carefully withdrew his power. The immense pressure of the Primordial Life Domain receded, and the emerald glow of the Verdant Embrace faded, leaving only the pulsating aura around the lion itself.
It remained curled tightly, lost in deep meditation, its body radiating waves of power as it worked to integrate the immense energy gifted to it by the dozens of Immortal Herbs and Song Qing's own abilities.
'The foundation is set,' Song Qing assessed inwardly, observing the creature. 'The acceleration has taken hold. Twenty days… yes, that estimate feels right. It will need that long to fully digest and integrate this power. And when it emerges…' He allowed himself a moment of anticipation. 'It will be a true powerhouse. A twenty-thousand-year beast, with its Golden Dragon bloodline fully awakened and its growth potential permanently elevated, perhaps even comparable to human geniuses.'
He stood watching for another minute, ensuring the lion's meditative state was stable. Only then did he become fully aware again of the persistent warmth pressed against his back, the soft weight of arms still wrapped around his torso.
He turned his head slightly, his gaze cool.
"Ah Yin," he said, his voice calm, cutting through the tranquil atmosphere of the garden. "How long, precisely, did you intend to maintain this embrace?"
He felt her startle slightly behind him, as if pulled from a pleasant reverie. There was a moment's hesitation, a palpable reluctance, before her arms slowly, almost regretfully, unwound from around him. She took a small step back, resuming her posture of respectful deference, though her cheeks held a faint flush, and her eyes lingered on him perhaps a moment too long.