''Mhm...''
Inside Tian Yun's room, Kierra and Yu Chen were nearly hugging each other, standing. This was the first time Yu Chen had hugged anyone other than her parents eight hundred years ago, not to mention in her underwear.
Kierra's body was extremely soft to the touch, refreshingly cold, and had an intoxicating scent that could captivate just about any soul in this realm. Worse, their heights were similar, so Yu Chen was able to admire Kierra's divine face in close proximity.
Needless to say, the martial master of Qinling Peak was beyond flustered.
''Stop moving.''
Kierra, on the other hand, couldn't properly focus on making a mana circle because of how much Yu Chen was wiggling her body. It didn't help that the woman didn't have an ounce of mana, so Kierra had to slowly and carefully introduce the foreign energy into her body.
gulp—!
Yu Chen gulped nervously and began to calm herself down. This was just a trial, yes. A trial to become a wizard...
''...''
''...''
Silence filled the room.
Kierra closed her eyes to focus. It turns out that doing this was much harder than she'd expected, but it was definitely possible—everything was—for the best wizard in the universe.
The archwizard's mana began to sip into Yu Chen's body. Slowly, from the skin to the blood vessels, filling her entire body.
Yu Chen herself also felt this. She quickly snapped out of her trance and started to embrace the energy spreading inside her body. It felt as though she was having a cold bath—a refreshing one.
'So this is mana... incredible.'
They spent five more minutes like that before Kierra decided that it was enough. Now was the real deal—making a mana circle.
''Endure it for a bit.''
Kierra announced simply and went on to fully hug Yu Chen, touching her forehead with the other's while the rest of their bodies squished against each other.
''!!''
Before Yu Chen could be flustered and become even hornier, a scorching sensation hit her chest. More precisely, something extremely hot was surrounding her thumping heart. The identity of it was, of course, the mana circle.
Yu Chen steadied her breath once more, trying her best to keep her body, especially her qi, stabilized so as not to hinder Kierra in any way.
Fortunately, both were masters at controlling their respective types of energy, so there was no hiccup. It didn't take long for Kierra to complete the mana circle.
''Well, there you go.'' Kierra pulled away.
Yu Chen looked blankly at her hands. She could now control both energies at the same time, although she was significantly less proficient in doing so for one than the other. There was just one problem.
''...Kierra.'' Yu Chen called. ''How... how do I use mana?''
'I feel like meeting those idiot disciples again.'
Kierra sighed in her heart. It wasn't a bad feeling, though.
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
''Be honored.'' She said. ''This divine body—the strongest and most supreme archwizard in existence—will personally teach you magic.''
Yu Chen was momentarily shocked by the sudden display of pride. ''Y-Yes.''
''Put your clothes on,'' Kierra replied.
As Kierra was going to Tian Yun's bed to take her clothes, Yu Chen hurriedly stopped her. ''Wait, Kierra.''
''What?''
''L-Let us learn in this state.'' Yu Chen said. ''Later, I will help refine your qi as well. Then, you would have to take off your clothes again, which surely would be an inconvenience?''
'Why a question?'
Kierra smelled something suspicious, but she was ultimately convinced by the idea of starting her cultivation journey.
''Fine.'' Kierra walked closer to Yu Chen again. ''Put out your hand.''
''Alright.''
Kierra grabbed Yu Chen's outstretched hand; this was mostly for safeguarding purposes. ''Now, gather mana into your palm.''
''Mhm...''
''Good, now is the real part. Imagine a ball of fire appearing on top of your palm.''
PUFF—!
''...!''
Yu Chen stared in shock as a small fireball suddenly willed itself into existence, burning magically in the air. This felt a bit similar to using qi, but also different; it was much more 'free'. Not to mention the fact that she had only been able to use the dark element until now.
''Amazing, isn't it?'' Kierra's blood-red lips curled up a bit after seeing Yu Chen's sparking eyes.
''...Please teach me more.'' Yu Chen immediately replied after realizing the potential of mana.
At this moment, Yu Chen thought for the first time in her life—
'I could reach the top with this!'
''Phew...''
A little bit over an hour later, Yu Chen was sitting on the chair, exhausted. But on her face was a satisfied smile.
It had been so long since she was so enthusiastic about learning something. Yes, ever since her master, Tian Yun, caught the disease...
Yu Chen's smile grew wider as she stared at her master lying on the bed. She could finally see her healthy tomorrow.
''Rest a bit.'' Kierra sat on the chair near Yu Chen and calmly pulled out a book from her storage space to read.
''...Alright.''
Silence fell.
As there was nothing to do, Yu Chen's eyes couldn't help but dart to Kierra, who still only had her underwear and thigh highs on. Her brain couldn't help but want to admire that body more and more.
Yu Chen couldn't help it!
In the first place, while everyone else got a Tao companion, she stubbornly refused any and all advances from everyone for eight hundred years, focusing solely on cultivation.
Now? She was kind of frustrated, even though she hated to admit it. It didn't help that Kierra was just too charming.
In an effort to divert the 'excitement' away, Yu Chen spoke up. ''Kierra, may I ask, what book are you reading?''
''...An advance book on ancient magical formulas,'' Kierra replied after a brief pause.
''...I see.''
In reality, it was just a comedy-fiction book. Kierra loved these kinds of stories; they helped her relax.
''...''
''...''
Shortly after, Yu Chen recovered from the mana exhaustion.
''Kierra, I am ready.'' She stood up.
''Alright.'' Kierra replied.
Yu Chen led Kierra to the middle of the room and made her sit in a lotus position.
''I will begin now.''
Yu Chen said with the utmost serious face before wrapping her arms around Kierra's slender waist, pulling in closer and closer until it became a back hug.
(つ,,>﹏<,,)つ
Feeling Yu Chen's hot breaths at the back of her head, Kierra spoke up. ''...Is this absolutely necessary?''
''...Yes.''
Yu Chen lied as she breathed. In fact, she was also bullshitting when she said that they needed to remove their clothes for this.
In reality, Yu Chen just needed to put her hands on Kierra's back to help refine her qi; clothed or not, it didn't matter.
'This is not good.'
Yu Chen was panicking in her heart. She didn't know why she even did this in the first place. Was she too lonely...?
Nevertheless, what she needed to do now was clear.
While feeling Kierra's body to her heart's content, Yu Chen began to deliver her own qi into the archwizard's body, just as she did for her.
The process was, more or less, the same. Kierra could faintly feel qi before this, so things went a little bit smoother than earlier, however.
With Yu Chen's help and Kierra's unparalleled talent in controlling energies, the archwizard's body was able to easily absorb qi from the surroundings and the woman hugging her.
''You certainly have talent in cultivation, Kierra.'' Yu Chen spoke up.
It wasn't a lie.
In just a few moments, Kierra was able to open several meridians in her arms and legs, jumping straight from a 'mortal' to a novice cultivator in the middle of the Qi Refinement stage.
There was just one problem.
'Isn't this too fast...?'
At this rate, Kierra would reach the next stage in no time.
Cultivation could not be rushed. One needed time to let the body adjust to its newfound power, so they would eventually have to stop when Kierra reached the Foundation Establishment stage, which meant...
'We won't be able to stay like this...!'
Worse, if Kierra got the hang of this, no, she definitely would, and then Yu Chen wouldn't be able to hug her in the name of helping anymore!
At this moment, Yu Chen only had one wish—for Kierra to slow down!