Chapter 34: Cultivation Garden

Her arms remained wrapped around his neck, while his hands rested securely against her slender waist.

She stared into his crimson eyes for a few seconds before speaking again, trying to sound stern despite the smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"But make sure this never happens again, or I won’t forgive you."

"Haha... Never!" Veyron replied immediately. "And even if I do make the same mistake again, you can just beat me up like you usually do instead of refusing to talk to me. That would be much better."

His words caught Xialyn off guard, and she couldn’t help bursting into laughter.

"Really? You actually prefer getting beaten up by me?"

Veyron shrugged helplessly. "Of course! At least when you’re beating me up, I know you’re still paying attention to me."

That only made Xialyn laugh harder. She playfully pinched his cheek before resting her head against his chest again, clearly satisfied with his answer.

Veyron smiled as he held her close.

Honestly, he would much rather endure her usual playful beatings than suffer through her silent treatment. At least when she was hitting him, he could tease her and make her laugh. When she refused to speak to him, however, he had no idea what to do.

And that was something he definitely wanted to avoid in the future.

The two of them looked into each other’s eyes again. Xialyn continued gazing at Veyron, her beautiful purple eyes carrying an unspoken expectation, as though she was waiting for him to do something.

Veyron quickly understood what she wanted.

Thinking that this was the perfect moment, he slowly leaned closer to her, gradually bringing his face toward hers.

Xialyn’s heart began pounding wildly. It was beating so fast that she felt as though it might leap right out of her chest. Her cheeks grew warm, and she instinctively tightened her arms around his neck, unable to look away from his approaching face.

Ding!

[Xialyn’s bonding has increased by 5%!]

[Xialyn’s current bonding has reached 75%!]

Veyron noticed how rapidly her bonding was increasing. She was already in love with him, but with every passing moment, her feelings seemed to grow even deeper.

She was falling for him completely and utterly, becoming more attached to him than ever before.

However, something unexpected happened.

Even Veyron, who had considerable experience with women thanks to his playboy nature in his previous life, couldn’t keep his heart from beating faster.

The unfamiliar intensity of the moment caught him off guard, and for a brief instant, he found himself just as affected as Xialyn.

The same thing had happened when he was with his aunt. Only then did Veyron begin to understand what the System had meant when it said that bonding worked both ways.

Once a woman became part of his harem through a bond, their feelings and emotions could influence each other, allowing their connection to grow beyond what he had initially expected.

Yet, as he looked into Xialyn’s beautiful purple eyes, another thought crossed his mind.

Even without the effects of their bond, who could possibly resist women as breathtaking as these?

Each of them possessed a beauty that could easily captivate others, along with an innocent charm that made them even more irresistible. And on top of that, every one of them was an extraordinary genius in her own right.

Veyron couldn’t help but smile inwardly. Honestly, who wouldn’t fall for women like these?

Just as their lips were about to meet again, they suddenly heard someone coughing.

"Cough! Cough!"

Veyron was about to get furious at whoever had interrupted them at such a crucial moment. However, the moment he and Xialyn recognized the familiar voice, both of them immediately pulled apart, creating some distance between themselves.

Veyron turned around and found his aunt, Aveline, standing there with her arms folded beneath her chest. Her face was completely expressionless, and there wasn’t the slightest hint of anger in her eyes.

Yet, strangely enough, that only made Veyron more uneasy.

He couldn’t help gulping nervously. Although Aveline had already told him that she knew about Xialyn’s feelings for him and understood that he would have other women besides her, seeing her with such an expression was still unsettling.

He had never seen his aunt look at him like this before.

"Hahaha... Aunt, I was just about to head toward the Cultivation Garden. You didn’t have to come all the way back here," Veyron said with an awkward chuckle, trying to act as though nothing had happened.

Aveline raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Is that so? You seemed rather busy, though."

"Haha, Master, it’s not what you think!" Xialyn immediately jumped in, desperately trying to save herself from the awkward situation. "I was just checking Little Vey’s eyes. He had a bug in there!"

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized how terrible her excuse sounded.

Why did I say that?! Her cheeks flushed red as she desperately wished she could take those words back.

Aveline stared at the two of them for a moment before shaking her head with a helpless sigh.

"Enough, you two. Come on, Vey. Your Immortal Cave is ready. Follow me."

With that, she turned around and gestured for them to follow her, seemingly unwilling to entertain their ridiculous excuses any further.

Veyron turned toward Xialyn with an amused smile. Seeing his expression, her cheeks grew even redder, and she quickly lowered her head before hurrying after her master. Veyron chuckled softly and followed them.

....

Soon, the three of them arrived at an area filled with numerous cave-like structures built into the mountainside, extending deep into the territory of Jade Mist Peak.

These were the Immortal Caves, where disciples secluded themselves to focus entirely on their cultivation. Many disciples rented these caves using the Contribution Points they had earned through their efforts in the sect.

However, those who possessed sufficient Spirit Stones could also pay for their cultivation sessions directly, as Spirit Stones served as one of the primary currencies in the cultivation world.

Although the caves themselves weren’t particularly large, each one was surrounded by a dome-shaped Spirit Formation.

These formations gathered and concentrated the surrounding Spirit Energy, creating an ideal environment for cultivators to absorb it and improve their cultivation more efficiently.

Beyond the rows of Immortal Caves, the Cultivation Garden was a breathtaking sight, resembling a fairyland hidden among the mountains.

Lush green grass covered the ground, stretching across the garden like a soft emerald carpet. Small ponds were scattered throughout the area, their crystal-clear waters reflecting the surrounding scenery.

Pink cherry blossoms adorned the trees, and their delicate petals drifted gently through the air before settling on the grass and floating across the water’s surface.

The occasional breeze carried the sweet fragrance of the flowers throughout the garden, while colorful birds flew between the branches, filling the peaceful surroundings with their melodious songs.

Elegant cranes wandered near the ponds, some standing gracefully in the shallow water while others glided across the surface, leaving gentle ripples in their wake.

The entire place felt tranquil and almost otherworldly, a perfect sanctuary for cultivators seeking peace and concentration.

Despite the numerous disciples cultivating in the surrounding Immortal Caves, the garden retained its serene atmosphere, as though the natural beauty itself helped calm the mind.

Aveline, Veyron, and Xialyn soon arrived in front of one particular Immortal Cave.

**

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