Before Xuan could even finish reading the description, Yuelan dunked her face into the pond and began gulping down the water.
"Yuelan..." Xuan muttered, but as he was about to tell her to stop, she suddenly grabbed him by the collar and pulled, tossing him straight into the pond.
"Heh." Yuelan grinned. "Just relax. This is one of those legendary treasures you find on top of mountain peaks."
The pond wasn't that deep, and the moment he fell inside, he felt his body grow much lighter. Yet the water didn't change at all or grow filthy. It remained the same as it was when they first saw it.
Therefore, Xuan simply sat in it, then sighed.
He understood what she meant by legendary treasure.
Some people might seek immortality or even a slightly longer lifespan, and they would go to any extent to do so.
In the first place, to reach this peak, one must climb several hundred kilometers. It was a chore in and of itself, and obviously, those who reached the peak got rewarded with a nice drink as well as an overpowered material.
Though... I guess it wouldn't hurt to give it a sip, Xuan thought, his brow twitching.
He leaned in and began drinking the water. To his surprise, it tasted like coconut juice, but much richer.
And after a few sips, the first pop-up came.
<+1 Year Lifespan>
It felt like his body was moving on its own, and because of that...
<+1 Year Lifespan>
<+1 Year Lifespan>
<+1 Year Lifespan>
.
.
.
<+1 Year Lifespan>
Xuan laid back in the pond, feeling as if his stomach was about to burst. Yuelan was the same, so she joined him in the pond, floating aimlessly.
"I... I think we should've taken our time drinking it," Yuelan mumbled. "I won't be able to move for a week... where's my computer when I need it?"
Xuan rolled his eyes, but just as he was about to step out of the pond, his body shuddered, and he was suddenly pulled underneath the water.
He glanced around, and it was almost like he was in some vast ocean, as he couldn't even see the bottom of this pond.
Even so, he was startled, but no matter how many times he tried to activate his Void Step skill, it just didn't work—almost like his Qi was not circulating.
Thankfully, he could hold his breath for a long time, so surviving wasn't a problem. He was just confused as to how this seemingly shallow pond turned out to be so large.
He continued sinking, yet he soon spotted a figure from above, and it was none other than Yuelan, who had sunk too.
She flailed around, but upon seeing him, she calmed down and purposefully sank faster, reaching him within seconds.
He rolled his eyes.
After all, that seemed to be where they were being forced to go.
Yuelan agreed right after, and just like that, they sank faster. The water pressure was growing, but since they were cultivators, their durability was more than enough to handle it.
And after exactly 10 minutes, they caught sight of the bottom.
There were two glowing pearls lying on the pond floor. One was white, and the other black. From the looks of things, they were the two objects responsible for bringing Xuan and Yuelan down here.
They landed, then slowly walked up to the pearls and crouched down, inspecting them right away.
—Yin Pearl (Black): Greatly enhances spiritual awareness, improves affinity with Yin-type energies such as moonlight, ice, water, and illusions. Boosts mental clarity, resistance to spiritual attacks, and increases passive regeneration of Qi.
—Yang Pearl (White): Vastly strengthens physical resilience, improves affinity with Yang-type energies such as sunlight, fire, lightning, and vitality. Boosts physical regeneration, stamina, and enhances Qi circulation speed.
Bonus Effects when consumed together by a linked pair:
Mental and emotional connection is permanently deepened.
Fusion skills cost less Qi.
If one partner is wounded or dying, the other can transfer a portion of their life force to stabilize them.
Limited ability to circulate Qi between each other during combat or cultivation for increased synergy.
Xuan was speechless at the sight, and clearly, Yuelan was too.
But she was speechless for a whole different reason.
Obviously, he wasn't going to leave this kind of treasure behind.
After all, the boons were simply overpowered.
So with a nod of confirmation, the two reached out for the pearls. Naturally, Yuelan picked the black pearl since it was extremely beneficial for her. As for Xuan, he picked the white pearl.
Since it boosted physical abilities, it was exactly what he needed.
Yuelan sat down on the floor, and Xuan sat right behind her. Their backs touched, and then, without a countdown, the two popped the pearls into their mouths.
The pearls traveled down their throats and dissolved. Xuan felt a fiery taste, almost like he had swallowed a whole bottle of hot sauce.
As for Yuelan, it was much cooler, like ice cream.
They didn't have to do anything, as the energy that escaped those marbles guided itself, traveling through their meridians and enhancing their bodies.
And that was when the true pain of the marble consumption finally hit them.