Song Shuhang silently stared at the whale-riding lamia in front of him. Looking at her being so happy left him with mixed feelings that he simply could not describe.

Speaking of which, there was really some kind of fate with him and ‘whales’.

His family lived on Baijing (White Whale) Street; he once had the daoist name Baijing (White Whale) Street’s Sabersman; he practiced the giant whale version of the ❮Thirty-Three Divine Beasts’ Technique❯; he once rode on a giant whale in the skies of the East China Sea; and now, his light of virtue was riding a giant whale over the ocean.

Fairy ＠#%× was just like a playful child. She pointed her finger towards the east, and the huge ‘Wailord’ rushed wildly eastwards, causing huge waves to appear as he moved.

However, there was no need to worry that she was going to run away, as after 15-16 breaths of time, she commanded the giant whale to run back.

Yup… run back, not swim back.

Sage Monarch Melon Eater’s body came with four clawed paws, allowing him to walk on the waves and run around.

The Great Northern Emperor rubbed his temples, and asked, “So what’s going on, little friend? Can I bother you to explain it to me?”

Song Shuhang sighed, and he told the whole story about ‘Sage Monarch Melon Eater’ to the Great Northern Emperor.

He mentioned the unfortunate Sage Monarch Melon Eater’s ‘incomplete’ cultivation technique together with the virtuous lamia’s instinctive reactions to his demonstrations, and how he pretty much caused Sage Monarch Melon Eater’s downfall.

The Great Northern Emperor: “…”

Song Shuhang asked, “Senior, do you have a way to separate the virtuous lamia from Fellow Daoist Melon Eater?”

The Great Northern Emperor said, “I’ve never delved too deep into the study of virtuous techniques. Nonetheless, rest assured, this ❮Virtuous Descent❯ is a secret technique that has a time limit. After a while, when the time limit of the secret technique is reached, they will naturally separate by themselves, so there’s no need to worry.”

Afterwards, the great emperor said, “Actually, with regards to Fairy ＠＃％×’s cultivation technique’s problem, you can actually ask me about it. I still know a little something about it.”

“Huh?” Song Shuhang looked at the Great Northern Emperor.

The Great Northern Emperor said, “Back then, Fairy ＠#%× was similarly stuck as an Eight Stage Profound Sage for a very long time. In fact, to progress forward, several fellow daoists of the ancient Heavenly City had to help her complete her cultivation technique. I, Cheng Lin, Slow-Witted Song, and the golden dragon all cooperated to complete the cultivation technique. Amongst us, the golden dragon had the highest talent. As such, she also created several secret techniques for Fairy ＠#%×’s cultivation technique, and one of those secret techniques can even be said to be a method of resurrection. Even this great emperor is envious of that golden dragon’s talent in this field.”

Song Shuhang said, “Heavens~”

Completing Fairy ＠#%×’s cultivation technique had actually required the assistance of several great figures from the ancient Heavenly City.

“When did you learn to talk in such a way? Your way of speaking has become poisonous, you should change such habits quickly.” The Great Northern Emperor rolled his eyes. He was quite sensitive to this word—that stupid turtle who was always around him would stare at the skies while screaming ‘heavens’ all day. As a result, he would often raise his head involuntarily to look at the sky whenever he heard the expression. Furthermore, whenever he was in a daze, pondering matters, or bored, he would suddenly look up at the sky. For the stupid tortoise, it was just a habit, but the great emperor himself had actually developed a ‘looking at the sky’ problem.

Song Shuhang responded, “I only say it occasionally, mostly because it sounds more elegant than the other curses like ‘f*ck’ and ‘shiet’.”

Great Northern Emperor said, “The sooner you change that habit, the better. Otherwise, one day you might develop the problem of ‘really looking at the skies’. At that time, it will be too late.”

“Really looking at the skies?” Song Shuhang habitually looked up at the sky, lost in thought.

The Great Northern Emperor: “…”

It looks like there’s no longer any saving him. Little friend Shuhang seems to have already contracted the ‘really looking at the skies’ disease. He has already developed the habit of looking up at the sky whenever he ponders things.

Song Shuhang asked, “Speaking of which, would you be open to helping Fellow Daoist Melon Eater reach the next stage in his cultivation?”

He felt that he had harmed ‘Fellow Daoist Melon Eater’, and felt slightly embarrassed in his heart. Therefore, he asked the Great Northern Emperor on his behalf.

As for whether the Great Northern Emperor would actually teach him, this was no longer something within Song Shuhang’s power. The most important thing in the world of cultivation were cultivation techniques. If one desired to acquire a cultivation technique, then they had to make mental preparations to be made to expend huge expenses.

Anyway, if the Great Northern Emperor really was in the mood to teach Sage Monarch Melon Eater, then the price would be paid by Sage Monarch Melon Eater himself.

“Teaching him the cultivation technique will not be possible. According to the agreement between me and the other fellow daoists, only Fairy ＠#％× has the authority to teach that cultivation technique to others. Even I and the others are only able to either use some of the virtuous secret techniques or develop other secret techniques with those as the basis. However… I can still provide this big whale with some pointers to guide him onto the correct way of practicing this secret technique,” the Great Northern Emperor said with a gentle smile.

After saying that, he looked towards ‘Sage Monarch Melon Eater’ in the distance.

This guy cultivated the ❮Dual System Virtue Technique❯. As such, his physical body and light of virtue have integrated into one, causing his body to be a treasure in itself.

The Great Northern Emperor said, “It’s a pity… Honestly, it would be better to cook this whale in several pots, steamed and braised, with some spicy and some not so much.”

Song Shuhang: “?”

❄️❄️❄️

As the sun rose in the morning, it began to emit its dazzling light and heat.

Now, the virtuous lamia and Sage Monarch Melon Eater were finally separated.

Song Shuhang and the Great Northern Emperor had sat on an island of ice as they waited until early in the morning. The island of ice had been directly condensed by the Great Northern Emperor.

The Great Northern Emperor said, “They’ve finally separated, this secret technique lasted slightly longer than I thought it would.”

Song Shuhang replied, “Well, at least they’re separated now.”

In fact, Song Shuhang actually hoped that the virtuous lamia and Sage Monarch Melon Eater would stay in that combined state for a little longer. Ever since early in the morning, he had been asking the Great Northern Emperor some small cultivation questions.

It might have been because the Great Northern Emperor was idle and bored, or perhaps because he wanted to give face to Fairy ＠#％×, but he answered each of Shuhang’s questions.

After several hours of exchanges, Song Shuhang had benefited greatly. Other than the slight chill that his butt had felt, everything else went great.

The virtuous lamia’s secret technique had finally reached its limit; her body left Sage Monarch Melon Eater, and she returned behind Song Shuhang.

However, Sage Monarch Melon Eater’s light of virtue continued to remain unstable. Only half a day later did his light of virtue stabilize and his body recover to how it originally was.

It seemed that neither of them experienced any abnormalities, thus allowing Song Shuhang to feel a wave of relief in his heart.

He turned his head again, and glanced at the virtuous lamia behind him.

In the next moment, the corner of his eye twitched.

Previously, when the virtuous lamia had returned, Song Shuhang hadn’t really paid much attention to her. But now that he took another glance at her, he found that a change had occurred to the virtuous lamia once again.

The lamia’s tail had moved lower again.

After receiving the virtue from the ‘Profound Sage Speech’, the lamia’s tail had already receded to her waist, revealing her lovely belly button. Now, the tail had receded once again, reaching an extremely scary position.

But that was not the most important thing…

Now, there was a mini whale below her tail.

The lamia’s tail slightly curled and coiled around the small fat whale.

The fat whale looked very pitiful…

Song Shuhang worriedly said, “Heavens, it couldn’t possibly be a part of Melon Eater’s body that she had taken out, right?”

The Great Northern Emperor also glanced at the change that occurred to the virtuous lamia, and said, “Relax, she only took a small part of his light of virtue with her. She didn’t take any part of his soul or consciousness, which means that your friend is completely unharmed. Actually, it could even be considered to be the lesson fee for this whale.”

The Great Northern Emperor had prepared to teach Melon Eater. Of course, he wasn’t doing it for free, and had planned on charging a fee that would satisfy him.

While they were talking, Sage Monarch Melon Eater’s eyes slowly opened.

Sage Monarch Melon Eater smiled bitterly, and said, “Has the secret technique finally ended? I feel like I want to die now.”

He was now fairly afraid of Song Shuhang as when his light of virtue used the secret technique, it didn’t need his cooperation at all. It seemed that when it came to their ❮Dual System Virtue Technique❯ cultivation techniques, Shuhang’s light of virtue occupied a ‘higher position’, while he occupied a ‘lower position’.

Song Shuhang said, “Apologies, Fellow Daoist Melon Eater. There seems to have been a small accident just now.”

Sage Monarch Melon Eater smiled bitterly.

“However, I have invited a senior who is willing to impart some guidance to you, Fellow Daoist.” Song Shuhang turned and introduced the Great Northern Emperor to Sage Monarch Melon Eater.

Sage Monarch Melon Eater glanced at the Great Northern Emperor. With just a single glance, he could already feel his heart being greatly pressured.

Though the other party was merely standing there, and hadn’t even released his aura, from Sage Monarch Melon Eater’s view, he looked like a giant capable of holding the sky, and though the size of that island was smaller than his own body, he still felt like nothing but a small bug in the presence of this being.

He got the impression that he was the mysterious senior that had previously appeared. At that time, he had been knocked into a daze by him with a single palm. That strength could only be described as overpowering.

Could he be a Ninth Stage Tribulation Transcender… or perhaps even stronger?

“Let me ask you something: do you practice the ❮Dual System Virtue Technique❯?” The Great Northern Emperor calmly asked Sage Monarch Melon Eater.

Sage Monarch Melon Eater responded, “As Senior has guessed, I do practice the ❮Dual System Virtue Technique❯!”

The Great Northern Emperor continued, “I can indeed guide you in your cultivation. Although I cannot directly teach you the second part of the cultivation technique, I am still permitted to teach you things that would allow you to break through your current realm without problems. As for after that, if you want to get the following part, it’s something that can be discussed later. Nevertheless, are you prepared to pay the price?”

Sage Monarch Melon Eater said, “As long as I can break through the constraints of my current realm, then even if I have to pay you all my belongings, this junior will not hesitate.”

“Very good, you have great awareness. However, I have no need for your possessions,” the Great Northern Emperor said. “What I need is your body’s blood essence—all of it.”

“Huh?” Sage Monarch Melon Eater was dumbfounded.

The Great Northern Emperor said, “Don’t panic, because if you truly desire to go further… Your physical body is merely a burden. To enter the Ninth Stage Realm, you must discard your physical body. With this being the case, you should simply give me all of your body’s blood essence so as to avoid wasting it.”

“…” Sage Monarch Melon Eater immediately turned silent.

Abandon my physical body?

The physical body was an extremely important part of a cultivator. If a cultivator abandoned their physical body, how could they cultivate?

Does this senior really want to guide me in my cultivation and not just covets my body?