Yuchu's logic in doing this doesn't seem to make sense, at least based on the information Xu Yuan has obtained so far.
Making inferences with insufficient information is meaningless, and this matter is not of vital importance; finding the source of the Illusionary Realm and breaking out of the illusion is the key.
So life cohabiting went on day by day.
Inheriting Jing He's cultivation allowed Xu Yuan to truly experience what cultivating felt like.
He didn't need to sleep at night and didn't feel tired at all, gaining an extra third of the day to do his own things.
Using his identity as a second-generation core disciple, Xu Yuan memorized a top-level Cultivation Technique named "Restoring Yang Technique" from the tenth floor of Wenyuan Pavilion.
This was information extracted from the mouths of those dandies; Jing He's current practice was this very book.
Ultimately, an orphan's situation couldn't compare with those dandies who had the support of nine other seniors.
They had almost unlimited supply of cultivation resources and could pick any Cultivation Technique or Secret Technique from the sect at will.
There were many Cultivation Techniques within the Sect better than the Restoring Yang Technique, but with Jing He's current identity, Xu Yuan could at most only reach the tenth floor of Wenyuan Pavilion, not even able to meet the scantily-clad young madam from the thirteenth floor.
However, Yuchu allowing him into this Secret Realm had indeed presented him with an opportunity.
If he lacked Cultivation Techniques or Secret Techniques, he could pick almost any from below the tenth floor of Qionghua Sect's Wenyuan Pavilion at will.
But the question is, did he lack Cultivation Techniques?
He did not.
The techniques from the Prime Minister's Mansion were more numerous and of a higher quality than those in Wenyuan Pavilion, refined over ten thousand years.
Of course, that was not an absolute statement.
In all eras, there were extraordinarily talented individuals who created their own Cultivation Techniques, which naturally had their advantages.
Such as the Restoring Yang Technique.
While studying the Restoring Yang Technique, he also continued searching for the source within the Dome Palace.
Half a month flashed by with no progress, but during these days, Xu Yuan clarified something he had always been curious about.
What exactly set the internal structures of a Sect like Qionghua apart from other Sects?
Although lacking a direct lineage, Qionghua Sect could still be considered the spiritual successor of the highly revered Hehuan Sect.
Using his cultivation to eavesdrop on disciples' conversations, Xu Yuan indeed discovered many differences but nothing as exaggerated as he'd imagined.
The Sect's monthly dual cultivation ceremonies were not to impart.
Dual cultivation comes in many forms; some respectable and some not so much.
The respectable Dual Cultivation Techniques don't need to be elaborated upon much—they require undressing.
The less respectable mostly involve only cultivating and transmitting Qi.
Strengthening through the circulation of the same type of Qi or through the gender differences in qi circulation due to Yin and Yang.
The dual cultivation ceremony is of this type.
When it comes to relationships between male and female disciples, things here are a bit different from the conservative outside world, more similar to the modern era of a previous life.
Some senior brother would dump a senior sister and immediately start a relationship with another.
A certain senior sister maintained a dual cultivation relationship with two junior brothers at the same time, the respectable kind.
The Dome Palace was truly vast, with endless gossip among thousands of disciples.
Of course, aside from these relatively normal affairs, there were also some abnormal ones.
While searching for the source with Tianyan, Xu Yuan came across some frivolous young disciples due to his cultivation level, watching them with great interest each time; meanwhile, Tianyan suffered greatly.
She was afflicted with a charm poison and couldn't bear to see such things.
Each time, after Xu Yuan watched with rapt attention, Tianyan had to suppress her agitation, angrily casting several Heavenly Word Mantras.
Aside from these observations, however, no clues about breaking the illusion were found.
They couldn't see the sapling of the Enchantress Divine Sakura Tree.
After trying various methods, there remained no hope; the higher-ups of Qionghua Sect were extremely secretive about this sacred tree.
Having no other choice, Xu Yuan and Tianyan could only try to coax their "beloved friends and family."
These dandies turned out to be more reliable than Xu Yuan expected.
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Tianyan merely broached the subject of the Enchantress Divine Sakura Tree, and the group of dandies clamored on their own to see it with their own eyes, without any need for guidance.
Bai Fan, the Sect Master of Qionghua Sect's own son, was the inside man responsible for temporarily shutting down the Formation; Yun Xi, Great Elder's daughter, was in charge of stealing the Soul Key Seal to guide everyone past the spiritual puppet inspection, and Tang Jiuqing, the Sixth Elder's disciple, was tasked with luring away the guards from the inner treasury.
Everything was well planned.
The next day, everyone gathered to wait for news, only to receive the tragic update brought by the second disciple of the steward Elder.
Don't wait any longer, all three of them are gone, the valiant have become martyrs.
Bai Fan was hung up by his Sect Master father and lashed with the Qingqiong Whip, Tang Jiuqing was punished and sent to confinement in Youbi Pavilion, and Yun Xi, being a girl, got off somewhat easier, only being confined to her own quarters.
Upon hearing this news, Xu Yuan was just about to regroup and replan, when all these rich second-generations started to beat a retreat.
Their reaction left Xu Yuan utterly silent.
Ah?
What's this?
It wasn't over before it had even started?
Being hung up and whipped won't kill you, your Sect Master father possesses at least the strength of a Saint, even Xu Changge knew how to control his strength when disciplining him, wouldn't he know how?
If you're locked up, just bang your head against the wall.
Being grounded is even more convenient, the legs are on your own body, just run out.
And the rest of you,
How did you become such cowards without even being whipped?
Where were the promised spoiled brats, the rich heirs?
Is this all?
After a brief silence, Xu Yuan spoke, but because of his persona, he had to do so in an indirect manner.
But after saying a few words, he realized it was useless to say more,
because the "backbone" of these "beloved friends and relatives," who were supposed to be prodigals, was temporarily broken.
डायबिटीज का एक प्राकृतिक उपाय जो आपकी समस्या हल सकता है
यह प्रोस्टेटाइटिस और बार-बार पेशाब आने का दुश्मन है
Thus, Xu Yuan's last quick path to approaching the Enchantress Divine Sakura Tree sapling was also blocked.
Realizing that matters were urgent, Xu Yuan was in no hurry at all.
Because he gradually recognized the greatest opportunity his arrival in this Illusionary Realm afforded him.
Time.
His time in this Cang Yuan world was too short, and although he read a vast amount of books, it was only a drop in the ocean compared to a whole world.
Whenever he encountered something he didn't understand, outside he would either ask Ran Qingmo or Old Man Luo, and now inside this Illusionary Realm, he still had to ask Tianyan.
Xu Yuan began to borrow and read books.
The first month in the Illusionary Realm passed by quickly.
And during this month,
Xu Yuan gradually let go of some of the restrictions he had imposed on Tianyan.
No matter the outside world, no matter the past or the future, right now the two were truly in the same boat.
Because,
their beloved friends and relatives brought them a piece of news:
Qionghua Sect,
was selecting a Saintess.
Then…
Then Tianyan discovered that she couldn't completely cleanse the charm poison from her body.
Even with Xu Yuan's help, she couldn't get it all out.
The charm poison was rooted in her body like maggots in bone.
Nevertheless, under conditions without irritation, the Washboard Saintess's combat power was restored to about seventy percent of its normal state.
Upon hearing Qionghua Sect was selecting a Saintess, Xu Yuan immediately started his new round of practical combat training.
Of course, to avoid suspicion, he could only partner with Tianyan.
Tianyan agreed readily.
Improving Xu Yuan's combat strength in the Illusionary Realm was beneficial for both of them.
And besides,
she was genuinely interested in beating up Xu Yuan.
///143///
Summer passed and autumn arrived, a season had gone by.
The Qionghua mountain ranges stretched on with peaks rising steeply, one after another.
Apart from the Dome Palace on the main peak, the rest of the mountains were dotted with man-made structures, where people from the various Mianyan Sect families mostly resided.
The people of the sect here did not fancy living in cave dwellings but preferred to reside in elegant courtyards and pavilions, much like the outer world families.
The residence of Xu Yuan was situated at the top of a hillside.
Not large, it was roughly about an acre in size, surrounded by a flat lawn where a crooked peach tree was planted, creating a beautiful scene.
From the bamboo tower in the southwest of the courtyard, one could see a secluded pond down in the hollow of the mountain.
The wind caressed the grassy land gently.
Two figures descended from the sky and quietly landed on the grass in front of the house's door.
With his face swollen and bruised, Xu Yuan glanced back at the girl in light red palace attire who seemed unconcerned.
Noticing his gaze, Tianyan immediately asked with slight concern,
"Jing He, did I go too hard again?"
"….…"
Xu Yuan humphed softly without responding and walked straight into his residence after deactivating its protective restrictions.
To improve the effectiveness of the training, he and Tianyan had been sparring without using any cultivation techniques.
Without using cultivation techniques, he couldn't beat Tianyan.
However, having a top-notch fighter like Tianyan as a sparring partner had greatly improved Xu Yuan's combat abilities.
It was a much greater improvement than what he had experienced in the Wuxuan Institute.
It was just unfortunate that compared to the muscular titans in the institute, Tianyan, the woman, sometimes let some personal grudges slip into her blows.
The courtyard was quiet, the only sounds were their footsteps, no other noise could be heard.
On both sides of the stone path grew the bluish aromatic grass and purple flowers that Tianyan had planted when she had the time.
Xu Yuan liked to read books in his spare time, while Tianyan enjoyed tinkering with these flowers and plants.
All summer long, their yard was a mass of blue and purple, with waves of fragrance that were ever so pleasant.
"I'm about to make a breakthrough."
The girl's voice was very soft and very sudden.
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan immediately stopped in his tracks and turned back to look.
The girl, barefoot, stood quietly by his side, looking down at the flowers and grass she had planted on the path as if those words hadn't come from her.
"….…"
After a long silence,
Xu Yuan finally spoke slowly,
"What…
did you say?"
Tianyan slowly raised her eyes to meet his,
"I said, I'm about to advance to Third Grade."
"That quick?"
"I was originally at the Origin Initial level, advancing to Third Grade doesn't require me to comprehend the Dao anew, it's just a matter of accumulating Origin Qi."
Her words were casual.
Having inherited a cultivation base with the peak of Fourth Grade Integration Body and being at the Origin Initial level, her advancement to Third Grade presented no bottlenecks for her, as simple as drinking water.
Xu Yuan remained silent upon hearing this.
Tianyan's advancement to Third Grade was both a good and bad thing for him.
In the current situation, the stronger Tianyan became, the higher the chances of them surviving in this Illusionary Realm.
But likewise, the stronger Tianyan became, his advantage in cultivation strength over her would gradually vanish.
Now, when operating the Revival Technique, without using the newly developed trump card, the outcome of a fight between him and Tianyan was around seventy-thirty in his favor.
If Tianyan became a Third Grade, it would be like a mother spanking her child.
After a quiet moment,
Xu Yuan sighed softly and said in a low voice,
"Then I'll congratulate you in advance."
Tianyan stared at Xu Yuan, her golden eyes twinkling with mirth,
"Aren't you scared?"
"Of course I am,"
Xu Yuan shrugged and continued walking forward, "But there's nothing I can do about it.
I'm just a pseudo-Third Grade who hasn't even grasped the 'Dao'.
The stronger you are, the greater our chances of surviving."
Third Grade Great Masters comprehend the Dao, Second Grade Origin Initials fuse the Dao into themselves to enter the realm, First Grade Mortal Transcendance expands the Dao beyond the body.
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In the real world, Xu Yuan was merely a Seventh Grade; the 'Dao' was something far too remote for him, equivalent to asking a freshman in college to research nuclear fusion.
Now, they didn't know how much longer they would have to stay in this Illusionary Realm, and Tianyan's strength was sure to keep growing; he wouldn't be able to suppress her forever.
Hearing this, Tianyan appeared slightly surprised, crossing her arms and gently tapping her cheek with a slender jade finger:
"I thought you knew about this and would pull some tricks on me."
"Tricks?" Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow.
Tianyan matter-of-factly said, "Detonating the prohibitions inside my body, plunging me into a state of deep intoxication where I can't cultivate and the like."
"We are allies now."
"Don't you have any idea what kind of person you are?"
"….." Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan smacked his lips, then raised his hand to pat Tianyan's shoulder.
Tianyan did not dodge or avoid his gesture.
She had gotten used to this action from him after so long.
While she was thinking,
Tianyan suddenly felt the prohibitions within her being gradually dissolved by Xu Yuan.
Her gaze at Xu Yuan turned curious.
Concerning the future, the two reached a consensus to jointly remove the enchanting poison in her body, but the price was that she let himself plant a prohibition on her.
Latter on, when they discovered that the poison from the Enchantress Divine Flower could not be completely removed, this bastard immediately switched to another type of prohibition.
A prohibition called the "Love Provocation Curse."
This kind of prohibition is often used in Dual Cultivation Cauldrons.
It is a wicked Secret Technique that Xu Yuan found in the fifth layer of Wenyuan Pavilion.
As a Secret Technique of the fifth layer of Wenyuan Pavilion, apart from being difficult to dispel once planted, it had no other benefits.
The effects of provoking love were weak, and any Fifth Grade Soul Condensation Realm technique could neutralize the charm within it.
But nowadays, Tianyan's body contained the poison from the Enchantress Divine Flower and the toxin causing celestial seduction that could not be removed.
The Love Provocation Curse acted merely as a fuse; once ignited, it could cause the Enchantress Divine Flower poison and the celestial seduction toxin to explosively spread throughout her body.
But now, it was directly dissolved by him.
Tianyan stared at Xu Yuan, her voice filled with confusion:
"What are you doing….."
आसनसोल के विशेषज्ञो ने खोजा, डायबिटीज को जड़ से ख़त्म का तरीका
यह प्रोस्टेटाइटिस और बार-बार पेशाब आने का दुश्मन है
Xu Yuan withdrew his hand, speaking softly:
"Use men whom you trust, do not trust men whom you employ."
"…."
Tianyan didn't speak, but she eyed him with an extremely distrustful expression.
After being inseparable for several months, any trust between them had long since dissipated.
She was certain that this man was not so kind-hearted.
She suspected he was setting another trap for her.
Letting out a small sigh, Xu Yuan said in a low voice:
"We have been living together for almost three months now.
This is a gesture of my sincerity to you."
"Sincerity?"
"Since you took the initiative to inform me about this matter, naturally I should show some response."
"Really?"
"Really." Xu Yuan looked intently at Tianyan, speaking earnestly.
A breeze fluttered through the girl's soft, black hair,
Then,
she suddenly smiled:
"Are you…
afraid that I will take revenge on you after I break through my realm?"
Xu Yuan firmly denied: "Why should I fear?
You can't kill me."
In the brilliant sunshine,
Tianyan's beautiful eyes curved into two crystal-clear crescent moons:
"Indeed, I can't kill you, but thankfully you taught me one thing.
Do you want to know what it is?"
"..."
Xu Yuan countered.
"It wasn't me who taught it, it was Ran Qingmo."
"But I learned it from you."
"..."
"..."
Five days later,
Tianyan broke through to Third Grade.
////144///
In the Qionghua Realm, upon the boundless grassland, two figures were faintly visible.
One figure stood suspended in the air,
while the other lay in a large crater on the ground.
All around, within a several hundred-zhang radius, was the disarray left by the aftermath of battle.
Xu Yuan clutched Jing He's jade sword, Thousand Thorns, and bit by bit, he shifted his body out of the pit, looking up at the girl in the sky who seemed untouched by a speck of dust.
With the light of the dome behind her, her palace dress fluttered as if she were a banished fairy, her whole body emanating a golden halo like that of a celestial fairy descending to the mortal world.
Xu Yuan gripped the jade sword in his hand a little tighter.
No way to win.
Absolutely no way to win.
Ever since Tianyan broke through to become a Third Grade Great Master, the battles against him had become overwhelmingly powerful.
The skirmish had lasted a quarter of an hour, and already he felt like a punching bag, while Tianyan hadn't even had a corner of her clothing touched.
Tianyan, from her superior vantage point, spoke in a light and graceful tone, with a hint of disdain:
"You're done after just a quarter of an hour?
That's disappointing.
I thought maybe you'd surprise me today."
"…."
Xu Yuan rolled his eyes at her words.
Ever since breaking through to Third Grade, Tianyan had gradually started to talk more trash during their bouts.
Not just physical attacks, she also enjoyed psychological taunts.
After biting his tongue and swallowing his anger for an entire summer, it was clear this woman had accumulated quite a bit of resentment.
Now with roles reversed, the two returned to how they used to be in the outside world.
It was just unfortunate that Tianyan's verbal attacks fell somewhat short.
At least, they were not as good as those internet warriors from his previous life's online games.
There was some room for her manners to degenerate.
Carrying the jade sword, Thousand Thorns, Xu Yuan sighed and shook his head:
"Little sister, to strut like this after winning against someone with less than half a year's cultivation, I really don't know where you get the face for it.
Is this all the Heaven's Watchtower Master has taught you over these years?
Tsk tsk…"
"…."
The girl in the sky clenched her fists tightly, stared at him for several breaths, exhaled, and then suddenly broke into a smile:
"Talking tough, aren't you."
With that said,
she uttered a single word.
"Instant."
A surge of Origin Qi,
and in a flash, the distance of over ten zhang vanished as the slender figure of the girl appeared abruptly before Xu Yuan.
Tianyan's "Instant" Heavenly Word Mantra was somewhat similar to his Step Void Slash, but the "Instant" Mantra caused a faint ripple of Origin Qi.
Xu Yuan's gaze sharpened; he had been expecting Tianyan to close in as soon as he spoke trash.
It was Tianyan's habit.
When words failed her, she resorted to fists.
Literal fists.
And Tianyan, who had cultivated the Yantian Art, was undoubtedly a mage in the most traditional sense, with undoubtedly the weakest close-combat capability.
But using fists to hit him was the most satisfying for her.
Cultivation technique circulating, streaks of fiery red patterns immediately emerged all around Xu Yuan.
The Returning Sun Art, Six Yang Gang.
Once the technique was activated, fiery red patterns mingled with waves of heat that seemed to burn everything spread out from around Xu Yuan.
Tianyan stood her ground and calmly uttered a single word:
"Seal."
Now restored to Third Grade, she could use the Heavenly Word Mantra without needing to form a seal.
As the word was spoken,
Xu Yuan suddenly felt the smoothly flowing Origin Qi within him being disturbed and blocked by an invisible force.
If he didn't stop circulating the Origin Qi, he risked going berserk!
He hurriedly ceased the circulation of the technique, and the fiery red patterns that had just spread out dissipated into the air with a "pop".
And at the same time,
Tianyan swiftly extended a slender hand, striking towards Xu Yuan's chest, but he blocked it with the jade sword.
Although he was less skilled, as a Third Grade cultivator, he was still amongst the best.
Xu Yuan stared at Tianyan and laughed:
"Men and women should not touch hands when giving or receiving objects, Tianyan."
Tianyan exhaled:
"Xu Changtian, if you were as tough as your mouth, I might have really saved some effort."
"Have you tried my strength?" asked Xu Yuan.
"….."
Confused by his challenge, the girl said nothing more and simply uttered another word:
"Break."
Time seemed to freeze.
"Buzz——"
Intense force caused the jade sword to hum, almost slipping from his grasp.
Seeing this, Xu Yuan's expression darkened, and he sought to retreat quickly.
But…
"Swift."
In an instant, Tianyan's figure was already at his side.
Boom!
A loud blast!
The ground cracked like a spider web, and the jade sword, glowing with a fiery red light, slipped from an insufficient grip and shot out, creating a massive crater around them in an instant.
The roar echoed across the entire grassland, and dust flew everywhere.
In a flash, a figure was sent flying!
Flying back several tens of meters and regaining composure midair, Xu Yuan made a gesture without any hesitation.
The sword that had left his hand was summoned back into his grasp through the air.
He landed steadily and was about to make another move,
but the very next moment,
"Cough ah…"
A mouthful of burning hot blood poured out from his mouth, and he embedded the sword into the ground to maintain his posture.
At this time, the ground that had been shattered by their clash had begun to raise dust leisurely.
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Xu Yuan pulled the sword out of the ground and, with a serious look, stared intently at the rising dust cloud not far away.
Suddenly,
"Buzz——"
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Tianyan waved her sleeve, and a gust of wind pressure spread from the center of the dust cloud, dispersing sand and stones in an instant, revealing the girl in the light red dress, untouched by dust.
She looked at him and asked with a smile:
"Do we continue today?
If we do, you may not be able to get out of bed tomorrow."
Xu Yuan grinned, placing the jade sword down:
"Don't be hasty, the move I'm about to use is something I can't control," Xu Yuan said.
"If I'm not careful, it could kill someone."
Tianyan's delicate brows slightly raised as she uttered two words:
"Really?"
Having said that, she smiled and gestured for Xu Yuan to come forward.
Xu Yuan took a deep breath.
Now that Tianyan's "Seal" Heavenly Word Mantra had just been used, there would likely be about ten breaths of time where she couldn't use it again.
This move should be able to injure her.
With that thought,
Xu Yuan unleashed the trump card he had been brewing for some time.
Step Void Slash!
Beneath Xu Yuan's feet, the earth sank, and his figure vanished instantly above the boundless grassland.
Seeing this, Tianyan's golden eyes narrowed slightly.
He was gone.
Even her Sky Pupil couldn't see the slightest trace!
Although she didn't think highly of Xu Yuan's strength, Tianyan became instantly alert after witnessing this:
"Shield!"
"Swift!"
As the words fell, Tianyan was about to leave that place.
But the next moment, the vanished Xu Yuan suddenly appeared near her!
The red glow that had once adorned his jade sword was gone, replaced by a eerie light of blood ink!
Step Void Slash crossed a hundred meters, and just as Xu Yuan appeared,
With sword horizontal, he executed a sweeping slash.
The sword blade pulled a blood and ink colored arc through the pristine air, engulfing Tianyan's slender figure in a sky-covering wave!
A single technique from the Blood Ink Sword Technique recorded in the Blood Essence Meteoring Art.
Blood Ink Jade · Waltz.
Where the Blood Ink Sword Technique passed, the lush green grass instantly withered and died, and it seemed as if the world itself dimmed for a moment!
Witnessing this, Tianyan's breathing hitched slightly.
The scent of death instantly enveloped her, reaching into every part of her being.
In the past, even if Xu Yuan could shatter Tianyan's "Shield" Heavenly Word Mantra, the golden shield lights would break apart like glittering dots.
But this time, the blood-ink sword arc interwove with the golden shield light, and the layers of golden light shattered as easily as a knife through tofu.
Then,
Tianyan's delicate body was instantly split into two, and then gradually turned into specks of starlight that dissipated into the air…
This terrifying sword technique didn't cause any damage to the terrain; the blood-ink color's quiet arc lingered in the air for less than a breath before vanishing into nothingness.
After executing this sword strike, Xu Yuan collapsed onto the ground, his entire body devoid of strength.
And the next moment,
Tianyan reappeared in the air, her Origin Qi in disarray.
She, had her Qi breached.
आसनसोल के विशेषज्ञो ने खोजा, डायबिटीज को जड़ से ख़त्म का तरीका
यह प्रोस्टेटाइटिस और बार-बार पेशाब आने का दुश्मन है
After several breaths of silence,
Without a word, she landed beside Xu Yuan, staring at him with a slightly irate look, and spoke emphatically, "Xu Changtian, have you lost your mind?!"
With a weak smile, Xu Yuan replied, his voice tinged with exhaustion, "What's wrong, almost died?
I did warn you to be careful."
"Are you an idiot?
Your move is strong, but it can't kill me,"
Tianyan said with some amusement in her eyes, her chest heaving gently as she chided softly,
"If I had used the Heavenly Word Mantra to disrupt you just now, you would be dead, you know that?"
She had instinctively thought of using the Heavenly Word Mantra to disrupt him, and then realized that if she did, the bastard would have simply exploded.
The mantra she had wanted to say was swallowed back down, and instead she had to use the secret technique from the Yantian Art's life and death chapter to substitute death.
After scolding,
The young girl's lips overflowed with a trace of fresh blood.
Silently wiping at the corner of her mouth, her lips were stained a vivid red.
Frustrated, Tianyan continued to scold:
"Sparring with you was meant to test techniques, not to seek death!
"Are you stupid?
You dare to fight in real combat when you haven't even mastered circulating your Qi?!"
Having said that, she stomped directly onto Xu Yuan's thigh.
This stomp, though Tianyan wasn't wearing shoes, she infused it with Origin Qi, causing Xu Yuan to grimace in pain.
However, after a moment's pause, he just asked with a smile,
"So, how was it?
My technique should be capable of slaying a Third Grade, right?"
The Blood Essence Meteoring Art, worthy of being a Blood Rank cultivation technique, cut through the "Shield" Zhen Yan from the Heavenly Word Mantra as if it were vegetables.
At his words, Tianyan's eyebrows shot up, and her chest fluctuated fiercely once more:
"Heh, indeed it can, but what would you have done if you hadn't killed the target?"
Xu Yuan was unapologetically brazen:
"What else could I do but wait to be slaughtered?"
Tianyan narrowed her eyes and snorted coldly:
"That's all the ambition you have."
Xu Yuan looked up to the vast azure sky with contentment in his voice,
"Little sister, I'm only a Seventh Grade without even a grasp of 'the Path', having the opportunity to kill a Third Grade above my level makes me quite satisfied already."
"Thump!"
Tianyan kicked him again: "Don't call me little sister."
Xu Yuan shook his head with a smile, fixing his gaze on Tianyan's gradually reddening cheeks:
"You should first suppress the poison from the Enchantress Divine Flower; you look like you're about to fall ill again, and you still care what I say."
Tianyan stared at Xu Yuan for several breaths:
"Xu Changtian, your verbal skills are really something else."
"Thanks for the compliment."
"Thump!"
"Hiss…"
"…"
"…"
After a brief period of breath regulation, Tianyan carried Xu Yuan back to his private courtyard using Origin Qi.
Lying in bed and having taken several Elixir Medicines that Bai Fan had sent, it took Xu Yuan about an hour to barely be able to walk on the ground.
In the courtyard there was an elegant pavilion.
Taking advantage of the last light of the day, Xu Yuan was reading ancient texts inside the pavilion, while the palace-dressed young girl tended to her flowers and plants in the courtyard.
The rising sun set in the west, the evening sun colored everything red.
All was quiet and harmonious, just like the past several months.
///145///
Two decades later,
above the grasslands.
Blood Ink Jade·Round Dance!
The sword blade concealed a blood-black divine light, drawing a piece of ink in the air.
Compared to the first time, Xu Yuan's grasp of this astonishing sword technique had obviously improved several levels, but regrettably, this time Xu Yuan couldn't even touch the hem of Tianyan's clothes.
With a single "Shun" Zhen Yan, he instantly teleported over twenty meters away, and Xu Yuan's sword technique struck only the air.
The young girl stood in mid-air, looking at the fading heart-throbbing sword mark in the sky, and gently shook her head, laughing,
"You idiot, don't use this move on me in the future, it's useless."
Xu Yuan held his sword, his face showing a hint of helplessness.
Just as the Saint's Remnant Soul had previously said to him, cultivation alone cannot decide everything; intelligence and combat talent can both influence the outcome of a battle.
Nobody is a fool, especially not Tianyan.
Xu Yuan could strike a hard blow right at the end of an invulnerable frame for the main character of a plot, and naturally, others could do the same.
The preparatory stance of Step Void Slash is far too obvious; on first sight it is indeed very strong, but if one is familiar with this technique, its threat level would drastically decrease.
However, this preparatory stance serves as a guide for the Step Void Slash, just as Tianyan previously needed to form seals to use Heavenly Word Mantra.
For now, Xu Yuan couldn't compensate for this weakness.
Gently landing on the ground from mid-air,
Tianyan stepped lightly on the lawn, glancing at Xu Yuan:
"You've made some progress today, at least you can now control the flow of Origin Qi in your moves.
You still have some energy left, shall we continue?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan shook his head:
"Not today; I should go back and use cultivation techniques to recover Origin Qi.
Continuing now would affect tomorrow's training."
Unlike the first time he executed Blood Ink Jade·Round Dance, he was now able to roughly control the power of this sword technique.
The first time Xu Yuan used up all his Origin Qi to execute that strike, and the result was clear: the power had spilt over excessively.
The power of a secret combat technique naturally isn't fixed like in a game; the amount of Origin Qi channeled affects its might.
Given the strength of the Blood Ink Jade Sword technique, if used properly, perhaps only one-fifth or even one-sixth of the Origin Qi would be needed to kill a Third Grade, without the need to drain all Origin Qi in one go.
This was what Tianyan had taught him.
A real Third Grade expert could precisely control every wisp of Origin Qi inside their body, whereas Xu Yuan still wasted a lot in every battle, at least half of it.
However, now that he was practicing with Tianyan, he was working hard to resolve this issue.
Upon hearing his response, Tianyan asked:
"You only focus on healing with your cultivation every day, not on Qi refinement?"
Xu Yuan shrugged, not concealing the truth:
"My cultivation level is growing by itself every day; I don't need to actively cultivate."
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"What?" Tianyan looked puzzled.
Xu Yuan shrugged: "It's probably due to this body of Jing He.
It's synchronizing the cultivation from ten thousand years ago; otherwise, I wouldn't have so much spare time to do other things every day."
Tianyan frowned upon hearing this, then smiled slightly:
"That's good, your cultivation level is almost at the peak of Third Grade.
Maybe in the future, you could directly break through to Second Grade.
This is good for us."
Xu Yuan straightened his clothes and responded with a smile,
"You can do it too, it's just that you are stuck with your own body."
Tianyan snorted lightly, appearing disdainful:
"I don't need that.
If I had any other person's physique, my Yantian Art wouldn't even work."
Hearing this, Xu Yuan glanced in the direction of the Qionghua main peak:
"By the way, it seems that Bai Fan and his people have all forgotten what Cultivation Technique you practice."
In these days, these young nobles would often come to find them.
For sightseeing, spring outings, hunting expeditions, and aside from that, they would also invite them to the martial arts field for sparring and practice.
डायबिटीज का एक प्राकृतिक उपाय जो आपकी समस्या हल सकता है
संभोग 2 घंटे तक चलेगा; सोने से पहले बस ये करो
In order to avoid exposing their strength, Xu Yuan always excused himself under the pretext of practicing a secret technique, keeping his distance from them, but Tianyan went over often.
Bai Fan and the others showed no suspicions about the way she used the Yantian Art against her opponents.
Tianyan contemplated for a moment and then said softly,
"This Yuchu's identity has already been compromised by me, naturally, the details about her identity will be directly erased."
Xu Yuan shook his head lightly:
"Let's head back for now…"
As he was speaking,
Xu Yuan noticed Tianyan suddenly furrowing her brows and looking up toward the distant sky.
About to ask, Xu Yuan also sensed a fluctuation of Origin Qi coming from afar.
Channelling Origin Qi into his eyes and looking up, he saw two people flying leisurely towards the main peak in the sky.
The distance was too great, their speed too slow to discern their cultivation levels, but given they could fly, they had to be strong.
An old and a young man; Xu Yuan recognized the elder, a law enforcement Elder from the Punishment Hall, but the young man beside him was a stranger to Xu Yuan.
With his hair disheveled, dressed in a loose-fitting white robe that hung casually, a cloth bag slung across his back, and a carefree azure embroidered spring saber in hand, he had an air of unrestrained freedom about him.
After watching for a while,
Xu Yuan recalled where he had seen this white-robed young man's attire, thanks to the books he had been reading these days.
Taiqing Tao Palace.
Withdrawing his gaze, Xu Yuan looked to Tianyan:
"It seems that this person is from Taiqing Tao Palace."
Tianyan likewise withdrew her attention:
"Yes, I know."
"What could someone from Taiqing Tao Palace be doing here at this time?" Xu Yuan mused with a trace of contemplation.
Without the Enchantress Divine Sakura Tree, Qionghua Sect's strength had not reached its peak, and could at best be considered safe in their own corner, far weaker than at the time of their annihilation.
///146///
Yet, the Taiqing Tao Palace had become the second largest sect in the world today.
At this point in time, what do the people from the Taiqing Tao Palace want to do by coming to the Qionghua Realm?
Tianyan shook her head and smiled faintly,
"Compared to what they might be here to do, I'm more curious about the world outside the Qionghua Realm within this Illusionary Realm."
Hearing this, Xu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
The Qionghua Realm was vast.
Although not as expansive as before the illusion took effect, it still possessed one-fifth of its original size.
Maintaining such a scale of the Illusionary Realm was already terrifying, but if the space outside the Qionghua Realm was also an illusionary space, they might be able to walk away directly, avoiding becoming the Enchantress Divine Sakura Tree and Leech King.
With this thought, Xu Yuan gently shook his head,
"It's useless to think about this.
The Illusionary Realm's source is most likely this Qionghua Realm.
Even if we got out, we'd eventually have to come back."
Tianyan glanced at the sky and sighed softly,
"This Illusionary Realm is truly bizarre…"
"Indeed, it's bizarre.
Let's hurry up and find a way out," Xu Yuan said.
"I don't want to spend a lifetime here with you."
"Heh." Tianyan gave him a sidelong glance.
…
…
The arrival of that young and outstanding member of the Taiqing Tao Palace did not affect Xu Yuan and Tianyan's daily life; in fact, for the past few days, they had not even set foot on Qionghua's main peak and had remained between the mansion and the grasslands.
About four or five days passed,
In the master bedroom,
Tianyan sat cross-legged on the large bed, quietly breathing in and out in meditation, with only the rustling sound of Xu Yuan flipping through pages occasionally breaking the silence.
Suddenly,
"Dang——"
the melodious sound of a bell echoed from the summit of Qionghua's main peak.
The sound spread from near to far, startling the birds into flight and resonating through the entire Qionghua mountain range without end.
Xu Yuan's focus wavered as he read, and he placed the book on the red sandalwood desk, furrowing his brows immediately.
Tianyan took a few deep breaths, stopping the flow of her cultivation technique.
They exchanged a silent look, both eyes reflecting a touch of gravity.
The Tianqiong Bell on Qionghua's main peak was only struck on important days or for major events of the Qionghua Sect.
Depending on the significance of the occasion, the number of bell tolls would increase progressively,
one, three, six, nine, thirteen.
The prolonged sound of the bell continued to resonate, and silence began to spread within the room.
Three times.
The Tianqiong Bell tolled three times, and according to the sect's rules and etiquette, it was also rung three times for the Saintess's coronation ceremony.
Without a change in expression, Tianyan leapt down from the bed, straightened her dress, and spoke softly,
"Let's go."
No matter how many times the Tianqiong Bell was rung, its resounding meant that the core disciples of the Qionghua Sect were to gather at the Qionghua Hall.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Xu Yuan stood up and whispered,
"It's probably not the Saintess coronation ceremony."
"Why not?" Tianyan's mood was visibly not good as she glanced at him, "The Saintess of the Qionghua Sect is directly appointed by the Sect Masters and Elders, not selected."
Xu Yuan gently shook his head and whispered back,
"Based on your previous cultivation level and talent, no matter how you look at it, the position of Saintess would not be yours.
You haven't reported your breakthrough to Third Grade, and even for an appointment, it would still need to be acceptable to everyone."
Jing He was twenty-five years old this year, at the peak of Third Grade.
Yuchu was also twenty-three years old, but she was only a Fourth Grade Integration Body.
Such a cultivation level was rare within the Qionghua Sect, but it was not unique.
Tianyan's beautiful eyes flickered for a moment before she exhaled deeply,
"Then what do you think it could be?"
The Saintess's coronation ceremony would ring the bell three times, but three tolls did not necessarily mean it was for the coronation.
When important guests arrive in the realm, the Qionghua Sect would ring the Tianqiong Bell to demonstrate their courtesy and to show respect.
After pondering for a while, Xu Yuan said in a low voice,
"I have a feeling it's related to that young disciple from the Taiqing Tao Palace who arrived these past few days."
Tianyan frowned,
"Even if it's the head disciple of the Taiqing Tao Palace, such a ceremony would not be necessary."
Xu Yuan shrugged,
"Then, I don't know.
Let's go and see; perhaps another senior from their side has visited in the past few days."
Tianyan exhaled softly and nodded her head.
With that, the two of them left the house and flew swiftly towards the direction of Qionghua Hall…
An hour,
Qionghua Hall was situated at the very top of the main peak of the Qionghua Mountain Range.
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It was enclosed by a towering wall of white jade brick, with lush forest all around and a misty fog swirling.
Only a straight flight of stone steps led directly to the grand doors of the wall.
Due to the distance, when Xu Yuan and Tianyan arrived, they were already somewhat late.
At that moment, the grand doors of the towering wall outside the Qionghua Hall were shut, and to enter, one had to take the side entrance.
But as soon as they entered, even through the restrictive barrier of the wall, Xu Yuan still sensed a sharp fluctuation of Origin Qi coming from inside.
This is…
Is someone dueling inside?
In front of the Qionghua Hall, there's a vast and flat square at the foot of the stairs, where the annual gathering of core disciples from various Sects usually takes place.
Thinking about this, Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes.
Could it be that the man from Taiqing Tao Palace came to Qionghua Sect for a duel?
Feeling somewhat perplexed, yet without uttering a word, the on-duty Inner Sect Disciple helped open the side door of the palace, and the two of them stepped inside…
…
…
"Buzz!!!!"
After the resounding clang of a blade, the powerful Energy Mechanism nearly enveloped the entire dueling arena.
As expected, a duel was currently in progress in front of Qionghua Hall.
Qionghua Sect versus Taiqing Tao Palace,
The old big brother Li, a spoiled disciple, was up against the carefree man in white robes.
But Xu Yuan had to admit, he was somewhat shaken by what he had just witnessed.
Because,
After the sword's call,
Big brother Li's head was directly chopped off by the languid young man.
As it hit the ground,
It rolled several times before finally coming to a stop, and bright red blood continued to seep from the body, starkly conspicuous against the white jade stone tiles.
Big brother Li's cultivation was only at Third Grade and he wasn't capable of regenerating from his blood.
He was dead.
Xu Yuan felt it was somewhat absurd.
He actually had a rather good impression of this big brother Li.
In the last few months, he often visited him and Tianyan, bringing precious Elixir Medicine that helped with healing or cultivation.
In big brother Li's view, among their group, it was only Xu Yuan and Tianyan who lacked the supervision of elders, so he, as the older brother, had to take on this responsibility.
And now, he had been beheaded just like that.
In one of the most important places of the Qionghua Sect,
In front of the gates of Qionghua Hall,
In front of many Sect Elders.
What was happening?
The whole Qionghua Hall was deathly silent, with only the sound of blood gushing from big brother Li's body faintly ringing out.
Xu Yuan carried a hint of perplexity and shock in his gaze as it swept over the grim-faced Sect Elders at the edge of the arena and looked up at the entrance of Qionghua Hall, following the stairs upwards.
There,
He saw an old man with a face slightly weathered by time standing quietly at the palace entrance.
This old man was Bai Fan's father, the Sect Master of Qionghua Sect.
Xu Yuan didn't know about the dealings behind the scenes, but openly, this old man was the only Saint-level powerhouse in Qionghua Sect at present.
He…
just watched as big brother Li was decapitated?
Why didn't he intervene?
When Xu Changge went to the Tianyuan competition years ago and started chopping people down, later generations of Sect Elders knew to step in and stop it.
How could you, a Saint-level powerhouse, just watch as an important junior of your own Sect was killed by an outsider in your own backyard?
The Sect Master of Qionghua Sect seemed to notice Xu Yuan's gaze as well.
After a silent moment, he simply looked downcast and gently shook his head at him.
However, in the next instant,
Xu Yuan saw the Sect Master of Qionghua Sect subtly turned to someone beside him and whispered something softly.
Only then did Xu Yuan notice that there was another person standing next to the Sect Master of Qionghua Sect.
It was a young man in long, black robes.
Barely sixteen or seventeen, with star-like eyes and a striking appearance, there was a subtle flicker of golden light in his narrow eyes, but his expression was one of indifference.
Xu Yuan slightly furrowed his brow.
The young man's cultivation seemed to be around Third Grade.
Why was he standing beside the Sect Master of Qionghua Sect?
And why did a formidable Sect Master, a Saint-level powerhouse, treat him with such equality?
A multitude of doubts arose in his mind when the young girl beside him suddenly reached out and grabbed him.
Feeling the warmth from her delicate fingertips,
Xu Yuan turned to look at her, just in time to hear her voice in his heart:
"It seems the matter of the Enchantress Divine Sakura Tree has leaked.
These powerful Sects have joined forces, wanting to have a share.
Now, it appears they are gambling in a duel."
Xu Yuan was about to respond with a mind transmission, but Tianyan spoke first:
"Don't transmit your voice, that guy on the stairs might hear us."
Huh?
Xu Yuan looked at Tianyan with a trace of surprise.
Tianyan, however, wasn't looking at him.
Her golden eyes were fixed on the golden-eyed young man in front of the palace, and she said with interest:
"He is the Jiatiange Saint Heir of this era."
//147///
The front of the vast Qionghua Hall was akin to the top floor of Wenyuan Pavilion.
The senior figures of Qionghua and the hundred-plus core disciples were all deathly silent, while Bai Fan and others beside the venue watched with their eyes about to crack open in anger.
In the center of the venue, a white-robed, languid man, under the gaze of the crowd, casually flicked his longsword, and fresh blood was immediately flung onto the ground.
Grasping the sword,
The man nonchalantly glanced at the hundred-plus core disciples beside the venue, his narrow, squinted eyes seemingly laughing.
Moving slowly and deliberately, he looked around, then chuckled and cupped one hand in the other before the severed corpse of Brother Li, saying with a light laugh,
"Brother Li, thank you for letting me win."
"….."
In the face of such humiliation, all the disciples in the venue couldn't help but clench their fists tightly, but the white-robed man didn't care and turned to leave.
He headed straight for Xu Yuan and Tianyan.
Oh no, to be precise, he was walking towards the gate of Qionghua Hall.
The man's footsteps were light, but in the silence that was so quiet you could hear a pin drop in front of Qionghua Hall, it seemed as if he was stepping on everyone's heart.
Reaching the doorway of Qionghua Hall's palace wall,
He passed by Xu Yuan and Tianyan,
The slackly-dressed, languid man suddenly halted his steps.
"..."
The cold wind gently brushed his robe, and the air was silent.
Xu Yuan calmly glanced at him.
The languid man's narrowed eyes also glanced at him from the side.
Their gazes met, and the atmosphere was tranquil.
The man did not turn around but instead spoke in a lazy voice, loud enough for everyone to hear,
"The thief who stole the saplings has been dealt with by me.
I'm not sure if Tianrui will resort to killing, but starting tomorrow, I'll show mercy.
Don't be afraid to step up~"
"Ladies and gentlemen, see you tomorrow."
His voice, carried by the Origin Qi, clearly reached the ears of everyone present.
After speaking,
He gestured to the two Inner Sect Disciples at the gate like giving an order, motioning them to open the main gate of the Qionghua Hall palace wall.
The two Inner Sect Disciples at the palace gate stared tightly at this man named Shen Weixiu, the leading disciple of Taiqing Tao Palace, their fists clenched tightly, anger spreading within their hearts.
However, after their eyes met, they unconsciously averted their gaze from his seemingly always smiling, squinting eyes.
Gritting their teeth and without a word, they opened the gate for him.
Shen Weixiu chuckled, then glanced once more at Xu Yuan and Tianyan, who stood by the side door entrance, and stepped through the main gate to leave.
His figure disappeared into the mist, leaving behind a hall still shrouded in deathly silence.
And at that moment,
The Saint Heir from Jiatiange known as Tianrui also seemed to be ready to leave.
He strolled down from the end of the staircase and walked unhurriedly towards the open main gate; as he drew near to Xu Yuan and Tianyan, the young man slightly slowed his pace.
Xu Yuan thought the other party had noticed Tianyan.
But upon making eye contact with the other's pale golden pupils, he realized the other party was not paying attention to Tianyan at all; he was looking at him.
Rather than meeting his gaze again with calm, Xu Yuan felt like cursing in his heart.
These two guys,
couldn't possibly be thinking of each facing him in a life-and-death battle, could they?
After a brief exchange of looks, Tianrui gently shook his head and turned to walk away.
After the two had left,
silence lingered in front of the grand hall for a dozen or so breaths until a middle-aged woman clad in sienna robes slowly flew up to gather the remains of Brother Li.
"Dammit!!"
A low curse emerged from among the core disciples, and only then did some cursing sounds faintly begin to fill the grand hall.
"Damn it to hell!
Relying on Jiatiange and Taiqing Tao Palace to oppress our Qionghua Sect as if we have no one!
"Seven life-and-death matches, and Shen Weixiu and Tianrui dare to take on seven with just the two of them?!"
"If only our Saintess sister had not perished, the duel wouldn't have come to this!"
"The duel today was completely unexpected, preying on the unguarded, Brother Li shouldn't have been provoked."
Some core disciples were cursing in fury, while others cursed and simultaneously glanced cautiously at the expressions of their Sect elders.
Meanwhile, Xu Yuan stood quietly at the entrance, watching everything before him.
The indignant cursing of the disciples lasted for roughly a dozen breaths when the white-haired Sect Master of Qionghua suddenly let out a sigh.
"Enough, True Disciples stay, the rest of you may leave."
His voice was tinged with fatigue.
Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow, automatically glancing in the direction of Bai Fan.
He and Tianyan were only core disciples; it was Bai Fan and his group that were True Disciples.
The reason being that each True Disciple spot represents a significant investment of resources, which were mostly monopolized by the upper echelons of the Qionghua Sect, such that even orphans like Jing He had extreme difficulty obtaining a spot.
Of course, this didn't mean these pampered disciples lacked strength.
Among the vast numbers of Qionghua Sect's True Disciples, there were only sixteen, and half of them were Third Grade strongmen under thirty.
Jing He should be able to advance to True Disciple this year, but unfortunately, he's not there yet.
Bai Fan seemed to notice Xu Yuan's gaze; he opened his mouth but said nothing, shaking his head at Xu Yuan before silently walking into the Qionghua Hall.
The tragic death of Brother Li had truly been a great shock to them.
….
….
The mansion,
sunlight streamed through the window lattice into the chamber, creating a serene atmosphere with a hint of sandalwood fragrance.
Hands behind his head, Xu Yuan lay on the soft big bed looking up at the pure white canopy and suddenly spoke:
"Did Jiatiange always have such clout in the past?
Heh…
a Third Grade Saint Heir is considered the equal of a Saint."
Tianyan, holding a cup in his small hands, sat quietly at the red sandalwood table sipping tea.
Hearing this, he simply said softly:
"The Crown Prince of the Dayan Empire received the same treatment at other Sects as well."
At these words, Xu Yuan cracked a smile, sat up from the bed, and gazed into Tianyan's golden eyes, asking in a low voice:
"Then why didn't the Jiatiange's Saint Heir react to you?"
The conspicuous golden eyes that came with cultivating the Yantian Art were too striking.
Even if Tianrui couldn't sense Tianyan's Yantian Art, he should have taken an extra look.
However, he didn't even give a second glance to Tianyan's golden pupils.
Holding the teacup, Tianyan gave him a blank look:
"How should I know?
It's probably related to this identity as Yuchu.
I subtly activated the Heavenly Word Mantra earlier and he didn't react to that either."
"Is that so?
It must be the Enchantress Divine Tree's spirit that altered these people's consciousness.
None of the information related to you will attract their attention…"
Xu Yuan analyzed in a low voice, but mid-sentence, his gaze sharpened:
"What were you just trying to do by activating the Yantian Art?"
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Activating the Yantian Art to recognize kinship?
Tianyan gave a straightforward answer:
"If the current Jiatiange Saint Heir can recognize my Yantian Art, we could use Jiatiange's influence to forcibly seize the Enchantress Divine Sakura Tree sapling.
If not, then afterwards, I can use the Yantian Art openly and aboveboard."
Xu Yuan fell silent for a moment before suddenly asking:
"Are you that sure he will help you?"
Tianyan shook her head:
"Not certain, but it's worth a try.
If Tianrui reacts, it's only a matter of time before we're exposed."
Xu Yuan sighed.
Bai Fan and the others had seen Tianyan use the Yantian Art.
If Tianrui made a move, it would be impossible not to recognize it.
Thinking of this, Xu Yuan grinned:
"Do all the Saint Heirs and Saintesses of Jiatiange have 'Tian' in their names?
This generation seems to be called Tianrui.
Do you have a blood relation with him?"
Tianyan gave him a sidelong glance, her tone frosty:
"We're at this point, and you still have the mood to chat about these things?"
Xu Yuan shrugged nonchalantly:
"Life must go on.
Attitude is very important."
Having said that, Xu Yuan lay back down on the bed, his voice tinged with helplessness:
"Those two seem to have set their sights on me, tsk…
really sick."
Tianyan, cradling the teacup, suddenly let out a chuckle, saying with a smile:
"Who asked you to inherit such a high level of cultivation?
I estimate in another year or two you'll be able to break through to Second Grade.
Naturally, they have to pay some attention to you."
Xu Yuan smiled and said, "I thought the old Sect Master was preparing to send me up as fodder for the fight.
Turns out he only called the True Disciples in.
That old man still has some conscience left."
"Fodder for the fight?" Tianyan appeared puzzled.
"Two against seven…
well, now it's two against six.
To win, on average, three of our side need to beat one of theirs.
Neither Shen Weixiu nor Tianrui are easy to deal with.
The first ones to go up are obviously just testing the waters."
Tianyan shook her head:
"Boring."
"Of course you would find it boring, being a genius.
After all, one of you is enough."
As he spoke, Xu Yuan chuckled lightly: "Let's go over early tomorrow.
I have a feeling we'll need to intervene in this duel."
"We?" Tianyan's eyes twinkled with amusement."Cough."
Xu Yuan coughed lightly, ignoring her, and continued:
"According to what Shen Weixiu said earlier, it seems that the Enchantress Divine Sakura Tree was stolen by Brother Li.
Whether it's true or not, both he and Tianrui are here for that Enchantress Divine Sakura Tree sapling.
If these two manage to take the sapling back to Jiatiange or Taiqing Tao Palace, then we really won't be able to get close to it."
At these words, Xu Yuan let out a light chuckle
"In that case, we'll have to give our all in this duel,"
Xu Yuan asked:
"Are you confident you can defeat the Jiatiange Saint Heir?"
Tianyan's beautiful eyes curved, and she smiled casually:
"Piece of cake."
Xu Yuan was surprised, "Oh?
That confident?
He is still the Saint Heir, after all."
Tianyan blinked her deep golden eyes and laughed, "Don't you think his Sky Pupil is very faint?"
"What does that mean?"
"It means he hasn't fully mastered the Yantian Art."
Tianyan waved her hand dismissively, then her lips curved up slightly, "The Yantian Art reveals nine 'Paths' in total, divided into 'Heaven' and 'Earth'.
Tianrui has most likely grasped one of the five Paths of 'Earth'."
"Oh?" Xu Yuan showed interest, "Heaven and Earth two ranks?"
However, Tianyan did not continue, simply staring at him with curved eyes.
Xu Yuan rolled his eyes and took a deep breath:
"I think, if you don't want to say the whole thing, you might as well not say anything next time."
Tianyan hummed lightly: "I like leaving things halfway.
What's it to you?"
Xu Yuan sighed and then asked:
"What about Shen Weixiu?"
Tianyan spoke with ease:
"I haven't seen him go all out, but he shouldn't be too difficult to deal with."
"Can you take on both at once?" Xu Yuan continued to inquire.
"…."
This time, Tianyan did not respond immediately, pondering for a moment before shaking her head:
"That's somewhat difficult."
Xu Yuan frowned, "You, a Second Grade Primordial, can't deal with two Third Grades in a rotation battle with equal cultivation levels?"
Tianyan "smack" placed the teacup in her hands down on the rosewood table, stating clearly:
"Xu Changtian, I am currently fighting the poison of the Enchantress Divine Flower, having to divert my attention to suppress it.
A moment of inattention, and I'd be overwhelmed."
"So, what do we do?"
"Didn't you say you were going to step in as well?"
"Heh."
…
A day hurried past.
In the afternoon, message came from the main peak of Qionghua that the Sect Master and the Great Elder would host a banquet for the two "esteemed guests," Tianrui and Shen Weixiu, at Jinghua Hall tonight.
As core disciples, Xu Yuan and Tianyan also attended.
The banquet was grand, with dancers gracefully moving their long sleeves, delectable and rich food, and toasts exchanged among the guests.
Dressed in white robes, Shen Weixiu got thoroughly drunk and staggered home.
The next morning, at the hour of si,
The bell of Qionghua rang thrice as scheduled.
Then,
Bai Fan was dead.