Leyvi's first attempt at using Spiritual Touch shocked Barbara to her core.
It was already considered remarkable if a spiritual cultivator could grab and lift a small object on their first try. Yet the man before her had effortlessly lifted her entire body without the slightest strain.
Most cultivators at this stage would fail many times, their invisible hands crumbling apart or the objects slipping free from their grasp. Even Soul Formation Realm experts, after unlocking Spiritual Touch, required repeated practice before mastering such control.
But Leyvi? He made it look easy.
"Hahaha! Barbara, look at you. You're flying now. You've beaten the flying restriction!" Leyvi laughed as he carried her around the chamber on a massive, unseen palm, moving with leisurely confidence as if this was nothing new.
Barbara chuckled, though her heart was still pounding. How is this flying? This feels no different than if you were carrying me on your back.
"Hmm..." Leyvi tilted his head, concentrating on the sensation. "It feels similar to using my real hand, but not exactly. How do I put it... like I'm holding a heavy doll. And having an extra limb? That feels strange. Hahaha!"
He'd conjured and controlled vines with his Qi countless times before. Those lacked a sense of touch, feeling mechanical. This was new, an extension of himself that could feel.
Barbara nodded, still amazed. "That's right. From all the reports I've read, the feeling should be close to your natural sense of touch, but it changes depending on the size of what you conjure. Since most people instinctively use a hand for this ability, I assume you made a large hand, right? So it makes sense it feels like you're holding a heavy doll."
Leyvi blinked as a realization struck him. Within his invisible hand, he could feel Barbara's curves and softness almost as clearly as if he were touching her with his real hands. Uhh… this isn't good, right? She's a maiden after all. If it were someone bold like Nala, maybe it wouldn't matter, but Barbara…
"Ahem… I see." He cleared his throat. "If that's the case, then I owe you an apology for holding you like this. Since it feels no different from using my real hands, I suppose this is… inappropriate." Gently, he lowered her onto the bed.
Barbara froze, heat flooding her cheeks. Oh my lord, this is so embarrassing! He wouldn't think I'm fat, would he? Ahh… How am I ever going to get married like this?
She shook herself out of her thoughts. Hang in there, Barbara. I can't just sit here dazing like a lovestruck fool. I need to collect the data first. If my instincts are right, he's about to break every record there is!
Switching back to her scholarly mode, Barbara quickly brought out her instruments and began measuring the extent of Leyvi's Spiritual Touch.
Her hypothesis was almost entirely correct. For someone who had just unlocked the ability, Leyvi's performance was overwhelming. In every aspect—size, strength, endurance, defense, reach, reflex, and speed—he eclipsed all known records. The only category where he wasn't at the top was the number of spiritual hands he could conjure simultaneously.
As usual, the same trouble he faced when trying to manipulate multiple vines or clay golems appeared here as well. No matter the size, he could only form and control two invisible hands at a time. If he wanted to handle more, he would likely need specialized control training similar to what he had done with his Qi. That had already taken him a couple of years.
For comparison, Barbara told him that most others who had just learned to use Spiritual Touch could immediately conjure and control many small invisible hands at once, allowing them to perform multiple small actions simultaneously.
Leyvi scratched his head in thought. Since this issue was not limited to his Qi, it confirmed that he was probably born with low multitasking and control talent. With continuous training, he could improve to a certain degree, but he was aware he would never reach the level of those with natural ability in that aspect.
Still, this was not a problem for him. He was content and grateful for everything he had now. As someone who had grown up thinking he was an average cultivator with no real talent, discovering his great potential as a spiritual cultivator was already an enormous joy. Of course, his greatest joy was having Anda as his wife. Nothing could surpass that.
A few days later, Barbara finally completed her data collection. Leyvi let out a relieved sigh. In this respect, Barbara and Sawi were almost identical. They tested everything repeatedly and thoroughly, completely absorbed in their task to ensure reliable data. So exhausting.
By now, they had grown much more comfortable with each other. Barbara was completely different from when they had first stayed in the chamber together, when she would get flustered to the point of affecting her research. Now she still got flustered, but it no longer interfered with her work.
"Hooray! We're finally done for now! Spiritual Touch acquired! Training with it can wait until later. It's time to spend time with the ladies for a month. Barbara, let's go get some fresh air. We've been in here for eight months. You must be bored to death staring at my goofy face every day. Hahaha!" Leyvi laughed. His laughter filled the chamber.
At first, he thought Anda would visit the chamber every three months like she promised, but she never came. It seemed she was busy with her own alchemy. Leyvi couldn't help suspecting that putting a bed in this chamber was just her evil plot to set up steamy moments between him and Barbara.
This panda. She would set up her own husband for her harem plan. Leyvi could already imagine Anda's mischievous smile and laugh when he asked her about this later.
"Not really... I had fun," Barbara muttered softly, barely audible to Leyvi. She even felt a little sad that their time alone together was over.
Leyvi leaned closer. "Huh? What did you say?" he asked, his tone curious.
She smiled, masking her feelings. "I said doing research is fun," she replied, her voice steadier now.
"Hahaha! That is so like you. Then how about this? After this break, will you help me again?"
Barbara's face lit up instantly. Her heart skipped with excitement.
"I've reached the Spiritual Touch Realm, but I still need a lot of training. Not just for Spiritual Touch, but for Spiritual Sense and Spiritual Pressure as well. I'm sure there's a lot of data you can gather. I'm the perfect lab rat for you after all. Hahaha!"
He had expected his spiritual cultivation to take a few years to reach the Spiritual Touch Realm, but thanks to Barbara, it had shortened to only eight months. Of course, he wanted her help for his next training, luring her with more research opportunities.
"Yes! Yes! I'll join you again!" Barbara replied excitedly, hopping in place like a cute little rabbit.
Leyvi smiled in satisfaction, gloating inwardly. See? I knew I could lure her easily with research. Maybe I can reach Anda's level as a manipulator master. Hahaha!
"Great! That's a promise. Let's go out. Maybe Ava is worried about you outside," Leyvi said as he removed the clay wall sealing the entrance.
"Eh? Why would Ava be worried about me? I wasn't doing anything dangerous in here," Barbara said, puzzled.
"Hahaha! Did you forget already? I'm supposed to be a sex fiend," Leyvi replied with a grin.
Barbara froze for a moment. She had completely forgotten about that. But Ava couldn't possibly be worried about that… right?
As soon as the entrance was unsealed, a blur shot inside like lightning and stopped next to Barbara.
"Barbara, are you alright!? Did that sex fiend do something inappropriate to you? Are you still a virgin? Were you stressed being alone with him? Tell me, Barbara! If he did anything, I'll help you beat him up!" Ava grabbed Barbara's shoulders, firing off a barrage of questions.
Leyvi couldn't help but smile wryly. He already knew Ava had been training near his isolated chamber, keeping an eye on Barbara. As expected, she rushed in the moment he removed the seal.
"A-Ava… calm… calm down… don't shake… shake me…" Barbara struggled to speak as Ava shook her shoulders.
"Ah, right! Sorry, Barbara." Ava finally stopped and scratched her head awkwardly.
Barbara pouted, her cheeks puffed. "Ava, you always do this when you're excited. I'm a delicate lady, you know. I can't handle your strength. What if I broke? I wouldn't be able to get married later. Oh, my life."
"Haha, sorry, sorry. I was just worried this sex fiend here might've laid his fiendish hands on you. You're still a virgin, right?" Ava asked without hesitation.
Leyvi glanced at his hands. Which part of these looks fiendish? They seem pretty normal to me.
"What are you saying, Ava! Of course I'm still a virgin!" Barbara blurted out, her face bright red.
A spark of determination lit Barbara's eyes. That's right! I need to clear up Ava's misunderstanding about Leyvi. Poor guy, constantly called a sex fiend. He's not like that at all, she thought, her resolve firming.
"Ava, we need to talk about something important! Let's go!" she declared. She grabbed Ava's delicate hand and tugged her out of the chamber, her mission clear in her mind.