Chapter 425: Overlord, Third Level Breakthrough

That was why, when Marcus tried to take away her final layer of resistance, Anya hesitated. She resisted.

Her family had always placed great hopes on her. Ever since she was young, Phoenix Cry had been her future, her responsibility, and the path everyone expected her to walk. But when she looked at Marcus, the man she loved more than anything, she found herself unable to reject him. She did not want to oppose him, not even a little. More than that, becoming his woman had long been the deepest wish hidden in her heart.

’Marcus, I want to be with you. Right now.’

The thought settled firmly inside her. She would not regret giving up Phoenix Cry if it meant staying by his side. After all, mastering Phoenix Cry might still take years. Looking at Marcus now, seeing the desire in his eyes and how much he wanted her, Anya no longer wanted misunderstandings between them. She did not want another accident, another missed chance.

Besides, she knew her family would never easily accept him. Marcus came from an ordinary background, and the Lynns would certainly object. If she truly wanted to stay with him, then becoming his woman first was the clearest way to show her determination. Only then could she make it impossible for anyone to separate them.

The decision was made.

Lying beneath him, her clothes already gone and her flawless body exposed to his gaze, Anya was overwhelmed by embarrassment and nervousness. Yet for his sake, she slowly let go of her resistance. The hands that had been covering her chest lowered, and she moved closer to help him remove his clothes.

The sight of his strong body and the familiar scent that surrounded him only made her feelings stronger. The love she had buried for so long surged through her heart, carrying desire with it. At that moment, all she wanted was to melt into his embrace, to feel his warmth around her, to belong completely to him. Any remaining strength to resist had long since disappeared.

Marcus could feel her affection, but he had no idea what she was giving up for him. All he saw was Anya, his first love, the girl who occupied the deepest place in his heart. One of Crestwood University’s Four Campus Queens, the most mysterious and noble among them, was now kneeling beside him with shy devotion, helping him undress with the care and tenderness of a loving wife.

She was beautiful, gentle, and completely sincere. For a moment, Marcus almost found it hard to believe. This daughter of the Lynn family, this noble young woman who seemed untouchable to everyone else, was treating him with such warmth and affection. She was trying so hard to make him happy.

"Anya..."

His feelings for her deepened even further. Especially now, with her cheeks flushed pink and her delicate face glowing with both nervousness and affection, she looked so beautiful that it made his chest ache. When she finished removing his shirt, Marcus could no longer hold back. Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her softly before whispering, "Anya... I love you more every day."

The desire in his heart burned hotter. "I’m so lucky to have you."

"Marcus..."

Hearing those sincere words, Anya felt her eyes grow moist once again. "Marcus... no matter what happens, I want to be with you. I want to be your woman. I’ll belong only to you..." Though shy, her voice carried undeniable determination. As she spoke, she reached down and helped him remove the last of his clothing.

"Anya..."

Marcus’s restraint finally snapped. The desire he had been suppressing surged through him, and once she finished, he gently removed the last barrier between them.

"Anya. I want you to be my woman."

His voice was soft, his eyes filled with affection as he slowly lowered himself over her.

"Marcus..."

A quiet sound escaped her lips. The moment she had imagined countless times was finally here. Watching him draw closer made her even more nervous, but when his body settled against hers, she wrapped her pale arms around his back and closed her eyes. Trusting him completely, she surrendered herself to him without reservation. Her body was already trembling with anticipation. She was ready.

They kissed. Their hands wandered. Slowly, their hearts and bodies grew closer until, at last, Marcus crossed the final distance between them and fully claimed the woman he had nearly lost forever.

"Ah..."

Even though Anya had prepared herself mentally, she still gasped at the unfamiliar sensation. There was discomfort, but it was quickly drowned beneath the overwhelming happiness filling her heart. She knew she would never forget this moment. ’Marcus... I’m finally your woman.’ Even if circumstances forced her into the shadows one day, even if she could never stand openly at his side, she would still choose him.

"Anya..."

Seeing the faint pain on her face made Marcus’s heart tighten. At the same time, Human Rock began circulating automatically. The mysterious dual cultivation technique eased her discomfort, allowing them to gradually adjust to one another. Before long, the awkwardness faded, and they found a natural rhythm together. As their passion deepened, they lost themselves in one another.

"Mm... Marcus..."

Anya’s soft voice filled the room.

Then something unexpected happened. At the point where they were connected, a strange yet powerful energy suddenly flowed into her body. Marcus recognized it instantly. Human Rock. The technique always reacted strongly when it encountered a woman’s untouched essence. Before Anya could even process what was happening, the energy spread through her body like a warm mist, reaching every corner of her being.

Then, suddenly, something awakened. A crimson energy that had remained dormant for years burst to life within her. The moment it encountered Human Rock, it began absorbing the energy eagerly, growing stronger and brighter with every passing second.

Anya’s eyes widened. ’What’s happening?’

She immediately recognized the crimson power. It was her Phoenix Cry energy. For as long as she could remember, that energy had remained dormant. Until reaching the stage known as Phoenix Rebirth, it was supposed to stay inactive, unable to grow or be used. It might as well not have existed at all. Yet now it blazed like a living flame.

For a moment, panic flashed through her. Was this an energy deviation? Her father had warned her countless times. If she lost her virginity before mastering Phoenix Cry, the technique would become corrupted. The energy would dissipate completely, and she would lose any chance of continuing her martial arts path. But this was nothing like the outcome she had been told to expect. Phoenix Cry was supposed to quietly fade away. There should have been no violent reaction, no awakening, no sudden surge of power.

"Marcus..."

She wanted to tell him what was happening. She wanted to explain the strange changes inside her body. But the warmth surrounding her, his affection, and the overwhelming sensations crashing through her mind made it impossible to focus. The energy flowing from him felt gentle and comforting, like sunlight after a long winter. It spread through her body with a soothing warmth that made her instinctively want more. More closeness. More affection. More of him. The words she wanted to say dissolved before reaching her lips. All she could do was hold onto him.

Eventually, her body trembled. The pure essence she had cultivated for more than twenty years was finally released. "Marcus..." She clung to him tightly as a soft cry escaped her lips. The feeling was overwhelming.

"So good..."

Marcus couldn’t stop himself from saying it aloud. Inside his body, Human Rock reacted fiercely, absorbing every trace of the essence Anya had released. The energy surged through his meridians. Immediately, Marcus realized just how extraordinary she was. The amount of energy contained within her essence far exceeded anything he had expected. She truly had been practicing martial arts. Just like Chloe.

At that moment, Marcus finally understood the true nature of Human Rock. The stronger the woman’s inner energy, the greater the benefits gained through dual cultivation. And Anya’s reserves were astonishing. As wave after wave of energy poured into him, a thought suddenly appeared in his mind. ’Maybe today... Human Rock will break through again.’

Filled with excitement, Marcus kissed her deeply. Although Anya had already reached her limit once, his own desire had not faded. He continued holding her close, unwilling to let the moment end. He knew Human Rock would protect her. Lily had already proven that. The longer the technique operated, the greater the benefits for both of them. Under Human Rock’s influence, Anya recovered far faster than normal. Though exhausted, she still wrapped her arms around him and responded to his affection.

Yet a trace of worry remained in her heart. Because as more of Marcus’s energy entered her body, her crimson Phoenix Cry energy grew brighter and brighter. The glow became so intense that a faint red radiance began appearing beneath her skin.

"M-Marcus..."

Fighting through the haze clouding her thoughts, she finally managed to speak. "My energy... something strange is happening. Am I suffering an energy deviation...?" She was not worried about herself. She was worried that whatever was happening might somehow hurt him. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Don’t worry, baby."

Marcus lifted his head and looked into her anxious eyes. After gently kissing her lips, he smiled reassuringly. The moment Human Rock had entered her body and awakened the crimson energy, he had already sensed it. Although he didn’t know exactly what the power was, Human Rock allowed him to feel that everything remained stable. Nothing was out of control. More importantly, the crimson energy was responding perfectly to Human Rock’s influence. There was no danger. "It’s dual cultivation," he said confidently before pulling her closer.

His reassurance worked immediately. Anya trusted him completely. If Marcus said everything was fine, then she believed him. The last traces of anxiety disappeared.

Time passed. Again and again, waves of pleasure washed over her. "Husband... Anya... can’t... again..." Her voice had become soft and breathless. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes unfocused, and she looked impossibly beautiful.

"Baby... I want you..."

At last, Marcus could no longer hold back. As Anya reached her limit once more, he released his own powerful solar essence at the same time.

"Ah!"

The two held each other tightly as the overwhelming sensation swept through them.

Within Marcus, Human Rock absorbed everything it had gained from Anya’s repeated releases. The technique surged through his body like a raging river.

Pop. Pop. Pop.

Several acupoints opened one after another. The bottleneck shattered. Human Rock had finally entered its third level.

Overlord.

Marcus could feel it clearly. Anya’s powerful inner energy had provided the final push needed for the breakthrough. A surge of excitement filled his heart. The third level of Human Rock meant he could finally access the final pages of the technique. The last section contained ten ultimate skills that had remained beyond his reach until now. And after all this time, they were finally within his grasp.