Chapter 25: Qi Luo Empress Awakens

Such powerful soul force, I thought it would take at least half a year to awaken...

In the depths of her sea of consciousness, Qi Luo Empress stretched lazily.

Did this brat eat some magic pill or something?

I've only slept a few days, yet his sea of consciousness has expanded a hundredfold or more?

And... what's with his cultivation level? He's already at late Foundation Establishment?

Through the soul link, she transmitted the information that she wanted to meet him.

Soon, Lu Chen's consciousness arrived in the depths of the sea of consciousness.

Empress sister, how did you wake up?

Huh? You're Lu Chen?

One could say cultivation is a beautifier for cultivators; this saying applies not only to female cultivators but also to male cultivators.

Seeing his now more heroic and handsome appearance, his physique completely unlike the sickly, kidney-deficient weakling he once was, the Empress's face was full of disbelief.

If it weren't for the soul contract still in place, she would have thought something had gone wrong.

It's me.

Late Foundation Establishment... it seems hiding the celestial phenomena for you earlier was worth it.

The Empress's tone remained as cold as ever, with a faint air of looking down on others.

Hearing what the other said, Lu Chen immediately recalled the previous phenomenon.

Thank you, Empress sister, for previously concealing the phenomenon for me; this kindness and favor cannot be repaid.

If possible, I am willing to repay the Empress sister with my body.

Lu Chen said, and in an instant steered the topic toward dual cultivation.

After all, this is one of the fastest means for him to break through his cultivation realm.

Oh? Upon hearing this, the Empress's face showed a hint of amusement.

She didn't expect that after a few days of not appearing, Lu Chen would become this proactive.

She still remembered how Lu Chen looked like a dying weakling during their last cultivation session.

The Empress suddenly thought of something and immediately shoved Lu Chen over in her sea of consciousness.

If that's the case, then let's begin.

Because of Lu Chen's cultivation increase, the Empress's soul power is now much stronger than before.

And her dual cultivation technique is closely related to her own soul power.

This dual cultivation session is destined to be sleepless and relentless.

However, since she almost drained Lu Chen to death last time, she still held back her power.

Empress sister, the dual cultivation is over; could you teach me some more techniques?

For example, the later volumes of the Ten Thousand Slaughter Magic Canon?

Lu Chen has long been coveting the later volumes of the Ten Thousand Slaughter Magic Canon.

Dual cultivation can only raise his realm; to consolidate it, he must practice the Ten Thousand Slaughter Magic Canon.

Don't ask, just continue. The Empress looked as if she were thoroughly enjoying it.

She used to be proud and solitary, never having enjoyed such an experience before.

Seeing her state, Lu Chen knew it was not appropriate to speak further, so he could only continue.

Empress sister, could you first give me the later volumes of the Ten Thousand Slaughter Magic Canon?

What a mood killer; with such a great physique, you're not interested in me but only in a cultivation manual.

But...

No 'buts'; if you're really tired of it, I can change my physique. Do you want something more voluptuous or more slender?

Two hours later, Lu Chen clutched his head and his consciousness returned to reality.

Although under the system's reversal, dual cultivation does not consume yang energy or cultivation.

But the consumption of physical and mental strength is real and substantial.

Over time, fatigue will still set in.

Moreover, the Empress's dual cultivation is so intense.

Master, how are you? Did you break through successfully?

Su Qian was still waiting outside at this time.

During this period she sensed that Lu Chen's aura was somewhat unstable, but she did not step forward to ask.

Success.

Before Lu Chen's words had even finished, a voice suddenly came from the depths of his mind: the Qi Luo Empress.

Master? She is a Condensed Spirit Realm cultivator, yet she actually addresses you as master.

What exactly has happened during this period?

Hearing the other's voice, he suddenly panicked a bit.

In an instant, a cold sweat involuntarily appeared on his back.

What's going on? How does the Empress know what's happening outside?

He was still thinking when he realized the Empress seemed to have guessed his thoughts.

Are you curious why I can suddenly see the outside situation?

Thanks to you, after your cultivation realm increased, my soul power also recovered greatly. Many things I couldn't do before are now possible.

This includes soul separation and being able to see the outside situation.

Would you like me to demonstrate it for you?

The Empress was speaking, and was about to guide her soul power to outside Lu Chen's body.

「Wait wait!! 」 Lu Chen hurriedly stopped.

If she really came out, being seen by Su Qian, who knows what trouble it would cause.

Given her strange personality, once she could separate her soul from her body, who knows what would happen.

「What's up, Master? 」 His recent action seemed somewhat mysterious to Su Qian.

「It's fine, you go out first; I'll regulate my breath for a moment. 」

He used the excuse that he had just broken through and needed to regulate his breath to send Su Qian out.

Seeing her leave, his face showed a hint of helplessness.

The next second, the Empress's soul body slowly floated out from his body.

At the same time, the Empress noticed his recent action and also proactively explained:

「Don't worry, my soul body cannot be seen by others. 」

「Although I only have a remnant soul left, as long as I don't actively expose myself in your world, no one can detect me. 」

For Lu Chen, he did not want others to know that a woman's remnant soul resided in his body.

If it consequently attracted some accident, it would not be worth the loss.

So, upon hearing the Empress's words, he immediately relaxed.

Afterwards, he suddenly thought of something.

Their contract was actually formed before the system binding; on this point he has no recourse against her.

And her existence can be considered a major variable.

Now her soul power has recovered; is it enough to dissolve the soul contract?

However...... even if not dissolved, for him it seems not necessarily a bad thing.

Although the existence of the Female Yama King is like raising an ancestor for oneself.

But after all, she once concealed an omen for him.

Although she demands a lot during dual cultivation, for him the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Moreover, given her strength, if she could become like Su Qian, that would be a great help.

Even if she can't do that, she still has countless cultivation techniques; just pulling out any one at random would be a top-tier existence unfindable even after searching the whole demonic cultivator realm.

Thinking of this, Lu Chen quickly abandoned the idea of dissolving the contract.

However, even so, he also intends to provoke her a bit to gauge her intentions.

If she has the idea of dissolving the soul contract, then he should prepare early.

After all, given her strength, once the soul contract is dissolved, who knows what would happen.

Immediately, he looked at the Empress and said:

「Since that's the case, is your soul power already sufficient to support dissolving the soul contract? 」

「Dissolve the soul contract? 」

Hearing Lu Chen's words, Qi Luo Empress's face flashed a moment of coldness.

If her mood hadn't been relatively okay beforehand, her endless killing intent would have burst forth.

「I've done so much for you, not only giving you cultivation techniques but also using my soul power to conceal heavenly omens for you, and yet you want to turn around and dissolve the soul contract with me? 」

The Empress felt that if she weren't merely a soul, she would definitely tear Lu Chen apart.

Wait until Lu Chen no longer thinks that way, then she would use a cultivation technique to restore him.

「Unthankful thing. 」

Her tone carried complaint, making Lu Chen feel somewhat guilty.

He really didn't expect that the self-proclaimed Demon Empress Qi Luo Empress would have such a simple mindset.

「Empress sister, just treat my previous words as if I didn't say them... 」