Systemless Villain

Chapter 258 Dual Cultivation?

As they entered the cave, it felt like stepping into another world. A dazzling white light enveloped them, making them instinctively close their eyes.

After a few moments, they opened their eyes to an astonishing sight—a vast chamber within the cave, with towering white pillars reaching towards the ceiling. The ground beneath their feet had transformed into solid crystal rocks.

But what truly caught their attention were the five immense staircases ascending upwards, each towering over 20 meters tall, with massive steps.

Even from below, they could see a faint white glow emanating from the top of each staircase.

Everyone's faces were filled with wonder and amazement at the extraordinary sight before them. Even Alexia, who had been tense, seemed to soften at the breathtaking view.

"So, is this where the treasure is supposed to be? I don't see anything valuable here," Ju Yin remarked.

"Well, we've only just arrived; let's keep an open mind," Hou Dian replied.

While Ju Yin remained silent, the three of them proceeded to explore their surroundings, particularly drawn to the towering staircases that intrigued their curiosity.

On the other hand, Alexia remained rooted in place, under Ju Yin's watchful eye. Deep down, all she wanted was to flee from this place; simply being here filled her with dread for what might happen—she had never encountered such a nightmarish scenario before.

While she had to stay alert around Ju Yin with his aggressive and volatile demeanor, the other two appeared more composed. However, Hou Dian might pose a greater threat than she initially realized.

Meanwhile, Hou Dian and Lu Dan stood before the colossal staircase, each step towering over 20 meters high, emanating a strange energy.

Hou Dian turned to Lu Dan, "Why don't you give these stairs a try?" he suggested.

Lu Dan paused for a moment before agreeing, "Alright."

With that, he leaped directly from his standing position to the first step.

As he landed on the step, his eyes widened in shock, and his heart seemed to skip a beat. In the next instant, blood spurted from his mouth, and he was violently thrown backward, sprawled out on the ground with wide eyes.

Hou Dian immediately rushed to his side, concern etched on his brow. "Hey, are you alright? What happened?" he asked urgently.

With wide eyes and a trembling voice, Lu Dan whispered, "My... cultivation base..." his voice filled with horror.

"Your cultivation base?" Hou Dian furrowed his brow in confusion. But as he saw Lu Dan's expression of disbelief, he decided to investigate further by touching Lu Dan's chest.

To Hou Dian's astonishment, his own eyes widened in disbelief as he realized something. "Hey, weren't you at the 7th level of the Nascent Soul cultivation realm? How did you regress to the first level?" he asked incredulously.

"That cursed staircase! It must be the cause!" Lu Dan roared with anger, pointing accusingly at the giant staircase.

Hou Dian's expression turned grave; just stepping onto that staircase had caused Lu Dan's cultivation base to plummet by 7 levels. He couldn't fathom the consequences if it were him instead. Unconsciously, he swallowed hard, picturing his own peak Nascent Soul cultivation base reverting to the first level—it was a truly terrifying thought!

Ju Yin and Alexia could hear their conversation clearly. While Ju Yin was only mildly concerned, Alexia couldn't conceal her satisfaction; a small smirk played on her lips. Deep down, she felt grateful to that giant staircase.

"Hey hey hey, I haven't even introduced myself yet, and you boldly set foot on those sacred stairs?" A soft voice suddenly rang out, catching everyone off guard as they quickly searched for its source.

All eyes turned towards the giant staircase, where a strikingly beautiful woman sat perched on the first step.

Everyone couldn't help but be captivated by her presence, her beauty so mesmerizing that it defied description. However, Lu Dan remained grim, seemingly oblivious to her allure.

Though not physically tangible, the woman appeared ethereal, her features exquisite—a cascade of crimson hair framing her face, mesmerizing blue eyes, and flawless cream-colored skin.

"You're quite impolite," the woman chided gently.

Collecting themselves, everyone now hung on her every word.

Hou Dian couldn't help but wonder about her identity as he inquired, "I notice you're not physically tangible, yet your beauty remains unaffected. If I may ask, are you a guardian of this treasure trove?" his tone as soft as silk.

"A treasure trove?" the woman scoffed softly, her tone too lovely for disdain, "There's no treasure here. But rest assured, one of you will receive many 'good things'," she added cryptically.

"What is that, if I may ask?" Hou Dian inquired curiously.

The corner of the woman's mouth curved, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "There's already a woman here, and one man is still needed to inherit it. But since there are 3 men here, the other two must be eliminated," she stated, her tone turning cold as her smile took on an icy edge.

Hou Dian, Lu Dan, and Ju Yin exchanged glances at her words; it seemed their suspicions about the treasure in this place were indeed correct—it involved dual cultivation!

But they couldn't afford to be overly confident; Hou Dian decided to probe further. "May I inquire what you mean by that inheritance?" he asked with genuine curiosity.

"It's called 'Dual Cultivation,' where a pair of male and female practitioners work together to enhance their strength and cultivation," the woman explained calmly. Then, her smile turned mischievous as she continued, "However, it's not as straightforward as it sounds; the pair must engage in intimate relations to achieve true dual cultivation. That's the crux of this technique."

"When their hearts merge in spiritual unity and mutualism, it will create a new aspect of the dantian, expanding its capacity for absorbing Reiki. This technique is incredibly potent; it can even elevate one's innate talent. So, consider yourselves fortunate to have stumbled upon this place," she elaborated.

Hearing this, the three men couldn't contain their excitement. The opportunity to enhance their talents and expand their dantian alone fueled their determination to participate.

However, Alexia's eyes widened in shock at the woman's explanation. Dual cultivation, intimate relations... It was a nightmare for her, a married woman.

Despair and fear gripped her heart like a vice, shrouding her in darkness.

Yet, within the shadows of that fear, a spark of courage ignited within her. Seizing the opportunity amidst Ju Yin's distraction, Alexia bolted away with lightning speed, fleeing from the scene.

Realizing the sound of fast footsteps, Hou Dian swiftly turned to witness Alexia's fleeing form.

"Shit, she's making a run for it!" Ju Yin cursed under his breath.

However, Alexia had reached the end of the cave wall where she had entered earlier. Yet, there was no exit door in sight!

Frantically, she scoured the area for an escape route, but to no avail—it seemed they were truly trapped here.

Panic seized her, especially as the sound of rapid footsteps approached from behind.

But still, she found no way out!

Just as she was about to turn around, Ju Yin came charging towards her with clenched fists.

Bang!

His fist struck her body, causing her to gasp in pain, nearly spitting out blood.

Unable to endure the agony, she collapsed to her knees on the ground, her expression a mixture of fear and despair, especially as she looked up to see Ju Yin's wrathful expression.

"You won't get away, bitch!" he spat out coldly.

Without waiting for a response from Alexia, he seized her hair tightly, dragging her back towards the staircase.

"Let me go, you bastard!" Alexia groaned in agony, struggling to break free.

But Ju Yin's grip on her long, blonde locks was unyielding, and she was forcefully dragged and flung, crashing into the towering staircase.

As she lay there, powerless, Ju Yin turned to the woman with a determined gaze. "The woman's subdued; how do we commence this dual cultivation?"

Hou Dian also listened intently, awaiting the woman's guidance.

The woman grinned knowingly. "That's simple. But you won't proceed without my approval. See those giant stairs? Each step holds a remarkable reward. The first will elevate your cultivation base by a level, the second will enhance your innate talent, the third will bestow the 'Sword Heart', and as for the fourth and fifth... well, I suppose it wouldn't be as exciting if I revealed everything," she teased.

Hearing this, the three men fell silent in disbelief, particularly at the prospect of talent enhancement and the elusive 'Sword Heart,' a skill even the most accomplished swordsmen coveted. And there were still the fourth and fifth steps to consider.

Suppressing their excitement, Hou Dian inquired, "What's required of us? Will there be a test or something?" with eager anticipation.

The woman appeared to ponder for a moment. "Hmm, a test, huh? My form is too weak to create something challenging," she mused, before falling into deep thought.

Hou Dian, Ju Yin, and Lu Dan remained silent, patiently awaiting the woman's decision.

After a brief pause, the woman spoke again. "I've made up my mind; you simply need to... Impress me," she declared with a smirk. "I've been trapped here for far too long, and I'm dreadfully bored. Show me something captivating, regardless of how long it takes—be it a year, two years, or even a decade. If you fail to impress me, you won't receive the reward," she added, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.

Hou Dian pondered the challenge; it was more daunting than a physical altercation, as he had no idea what would captivate the woman. Nevertheless, he shook off his hesitation; he couldn't afford to remain idle.

"Very well, then. Watch closely!" he declared with unwavering resolve.

Lu Dan and Ju Yin made space for him, their curiosity piqued.

Stepping in front of the staircase, where the woman reclined above with her arm supporting her, Hou Dian began his demonstration. He stood with closed eyes, his hands outstretched, and a dark aura slowly enveloped his form.

In the next instant, a colossal figure materialized—a formidable entity with a ferocious countenance, six arms wielding an array of weapons, from swords to battle axes, hammers, and spears.

This was his martial spirit, Ashura the Warbringer, one of the many incarnations of Ashura. And it's an A-class.

Upon opening his eyes, his martial spirit dissipated, and he assumed a fighting stance. Instead of unleashing destructive techniques, he demonstrated martial arts with elegant and precise movements.

Each maneuver flowed seamlessly, accompanied by various effects such as bursts of fire and flashes of lightning, a fusion of multiple martial arts and inner strengths he had mastered, resulting in deadly yet aesthetically pleasing movements.

After a few minutes of executing his techniques, he concluded by leaping into the air and landing with a forceful strike of his palms against the ground, creating a perfect circular crack with small fractures radiating from it.

While Lu Dan and Ju Yin remained silent, Hou Dian's performance was truly impressive, and if presented to an audience, it would undoubtedly garner thunderous applause and admiration.

However, the woman's expression betrayed no hint of admiration, just a blank gaze devoid of expression.

"Boring," she remarked.

As those words hit him, Hou Dian felt as though he had been struck by lightning, his expression turning grim as he realized that his seemingly beautiful maneuvers were perceived as dull in the her eyes.

"At least give us a hint on how to impress you," he implored, frustration lacing his tone.

"Didn't I already say? I need entertainment, and what's that? I don't know. All I know is, I've been terribly bored being here for so long, and I need some sort of spark to rekindle my spirits. Well, you can consider it that way," the woman replied with a smirk.

Hou Dian fell silent, acknowledging the truth in the saying that guessing a woman's heart and mood is harder than fighting a general on the battlefield.

Just as he was about to speak, Ju Yin slapped his back with a grin. "Alright, it's my turn. Let the rookie take a shot," he said, his smirk bordering on arrogance.

Hou Dian scoffed but stepped aside, granting Ju Yin the stage.

Ju Yin scrutinized the woman carefully, noting her voluptuous figure with ample bosoms and shapely thighs, clearly visible through her revealing heavenly attire.

A grin spread across his face. "If I were to unzip my pants and show you my big missile, would you be impressed?" he taunted, his tone dripping with audacity.

Hou Dian and Lu Dan were taken aback by Ju Yin's blunt statement, not expecting him to be so direct.

"What the hell did you just say, Ju Yin? Are you out of your mind?" Hou Dian asked, furrowing his brow.

"Oh, just shut up, Hou Dian," Ju Yin retorted with a smirk, unfazed by his comrade's reproach.

On the other hand, the woman seemed to stroke her chin in thought. "Hmmm, who knows? I've been trapped here for too long, so I've forgotten some things," she said, a smile playing on her lips.

Upon hearing this, Ju Yin stroked his chin, appearing to contemplate before he said, "Forget it, that won't work. Instead..." he trailed off, a mischievous glint in his eye as he turned his attention to Alexia.

Sensing that gaze, hatred etched on Alexia's face, but then it turned to fear when the man walked towards her.

"What are you going to do, bastard?" Alexia's voice trembled with a mixture of anger and fear.

Ju Yin's smirk widened as he reached her, seizing her shirt collar without hesitation and ripping it apart in one swift motion, revealing Alexia's exposed body with a black bra covering her assets. Even from the cover, it could be seen that those mounds were G cups.

"Well, well, well. Look at what we have here. It's a shame to keep those beauties hidden," Ju Yin taunted, his gaze raking over her with undisguised hunger.