novelapdf Chapter 202 It's Better to Speak Frankly
Chapter 202 It's Better to Speak Frankly
Chapter 203 It's Better to Speak Frankly
Tianxing City.
After the snow, the sky cleared and the air was fresh and crisp.
As the last wisp of incense smoke dissipated in the quiet room, Zhuang Huayi slowly opened her eyes.
Her lips parted slightly, and an extremely rich and pure aura burst forth.
Like smoke and mist, it instantly enveloped the several rare and exotic plants in the room.
The flowers and leaves unfolded and bloomed at a speed visible to the naked eye, and in an instant, the flowers and leaves became more lush and vibrant.
The white mist lingered, gathering but not dispersing.
Its shape changes and shifts, vaguely outlining the silhouette of a magnificent phoenix, about to take flight.
Those who cultivate the Tao accumulate merit bit by bit, and success comes naturally.
This breakthrough represents a dramatic change for Zhuang Huayi.
Not only did she undergo nascent soul transformation, evolving from an infant to a child, but her spiritual awareness also increased exponentially.
The magical power gathered within his body was more than several times stronger and purer than before his breakthrough.
Zhuang Huayi's lips curled into a smile. She had finally crossed the threshold from the early to the middle stage of the Nascent Soul realm.
She had gone into seclusion three times to attempt to break through the invisible barrier, but she still failed.
Until the final desperate attempt, perhaps because he heard that the person was no longer there and his heart was no longer burdened, or perhaps because he had truly let go of his obsession and his desires were pure, he succeeded in one fell swoop, taking another step forward and finally stepping into the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, which can be described as having profound good fortune.
A Nascent Soul cultivator who is no more than four hundred years old.
To achieve such accomplishments at such a young age is truly remarkable; whether placed in the Southern Heaven or the Chaotic Star Sea, one can only be considered a prodigy with extraordinary talent.
Given her foundation and lifespan, reaching the Great Perfection of the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm is a foregone conclusion.
As for whether he can go further and break through the late Nascent Soul stage?
If we consider her previous mindset, she would most likely have gone with the flow and let things take their course.
But things are different now.
After four hundred years, it will reach the middle stage, with a remaining lifespan of a thousand years. In addition, the three-hundred-year agreement to protect the Dao will expire, which will amount to a mere six hundred years or so.
For her, there is still plenty of time and many opportunities.
One thought became increasingly clear in her mind: it's okay to be a step or ten steps behind, but she absolutely cannot fall too far behind.
Even if I can't touch the hem of his clothes, just seeing his back is good enough.
Pushing open the door to the meditation room, Zhuang Huayi's divine sense spread out like an invisible tide, instantly covering an area of over two hundred miles. Many cave dwelling restrictions were rendered meaningless by her divine sense, and the scenes within were revealed in minute detail.
She did not close her eyes, but carefully experienced the profound realm where nothing could hide under the shroud of divine consciousness. After a moment, she closed her eyes and uttered a soft murmur: "The world is ever-changing, but my heart is exceptionally clear."
Inside and outside the fiftieth level of the cave, everyone was performing their duties, immersed in their own path of cultivation.
He devoted himself to studying the refining incantation and accumulating power to seek a breakthrough. Everything was in order, yet there was a sense of loneliness in his solitary journey.
She walked slowly to the pavilion, brushed away non-existent dust from the stone benches, gathered up her plain white skirt, and sat down gracefully.
My gaze fell upon the distant, layered mountains, but my thoughts drifted even further.
Some things, once started, are like seeds planted in the heart, taking root and sprouting, and are difficult to uproot.
For example, taking on disciples and spreading the teachings, or — caring about someone.
As soon as she thought of it, a jet-black longsword silently flew out from her white sleeve, hovering above her wrist and slowly spinning backward.
Compared to before, this jet-black longsword now resembles ink wash painting or solidified glass, its form shifting between reality and illusion, devoid of any trace of the substantiality of ordinary iron or metal, and no longer requiring a scabbard to restrain it.
The secret behind this can only be known by her and the successive masters of Baibi Mountain.
Throughout history, mountain lords like her have not actually possessed the natal flying swords, magical artifacts, or magical treasures that ordinary cultivators forge.
All they wielded was a sword of primordial origin, born from the primordial yin essence of women, its form and spirit like the "first cry of a phoenix," a jet-black longsword purely condensed from the ultimate yin essence.
This sword is neither gold nor iron, and does not belong to the category of acquired artifacts. It is transformed from the pure essence of Yin from the innate point.
This kind of inheritance is extremely secretive, and can only be born when the mountain lord advances to the Nascent Soul stage and their origins merge.
In essence, it shares some similarities with the natal flying sword that the cultivators of the Great Wall of Sword Qi nurtured by cultivating their own Dao and life force.
At this moment, the yin-powered sword spun on her wrist, seemingly both real and illusory, its ink-colored, glass-like blade radiating a deep, eerie light.
According to the ancient traditions of Baibi Mountain, this primordial sword will only reach a very high grade and become incomparably sharp after cultivating the "Luanfeng Sword Technique" to the Nascent Soul stage. It can traverse mountains and rivers, and break through any armor it encounters.
However, this was ultimately just a fleeting glimpse in the classic texts.
Throughout history, even among the most talented and brilliant masters of White Cliff Mountain, none have ever reached the late Nascent Soul stage, let alone verified the supreme mysteries of this sword technique.
Zhuang Huayi knew one thing for sure: the origin of the "Luanfeng Sword Manual" did not exist in Baibi Mountain from the beginning.
Its origins are quite convoluted, with various rumors circulating.
She also agrees with one of them.
Legend has it that more than six thousand years ago, a female cultivator from the Chaotic Star Sea obtained it by chance from the Void Heaven Palace.
The lineage has been passed down through generations, but the name of the founding master has been lost in the river of time, and has been lost to history.
Just as her thoughts were drifting, the barrier outside the cave entrance was suddenly activated from the outside.
A streak of purple light flashed from the entrance, its brilliance fading outside the pavilion, revealing a familiar, graceful figure.
Zhuang Huayi looked up at the newcomer.
As fellow female cultivators, they varied in plumpness and slenderness, appearance and demeanor. Having seen them many times, she had to admit that Zi Ling, this junior, was indeed extremely beautiful.
She has yet to find someone who can rival her in terms of pure beauty.
While women may have their own judgments about their appearance, those at Zi Ling's level are like the Nascent Soul cultivator's realm barrier, having reached a state of perfection where it is difficult to distinguish between superior and inferior.
If a comparison must be made, Yuan Yao's innate foxy charm might slightly compensate for it.
However, in terms of pure and flawless "beauty" alone, Zi Ling seems to have a slight edge.
This slight difference might be hard to discern in the eyes of ordinary people, but it was still noticeable to a newly promoted mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator like her.
However, each has its own strengths in terms of demeanor and appearance. Yuan Yao's charm is innate, while Zi Ling's beauty is beyond compare. Each has its own captivating qualities, and this difference is made up for by their unique charm. Ultimately, they are like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each with its own superior qualities.
"Senior Zhuang."
Zi Ling bowed gracefully.
"This junior has presumptuously disturbed your peaceful cultivation, senior, for the reason that—"
Zhuang Huayi said calmly, "It's alright, we don't need to be so polite between us."
After bowing, Ling Yingying went straight to the point and said, "Senior Zhuang."
Zhuang Huayi's gaze was calm, her tone carrying the composure and insight of a Nascent Soul cultivator: "There's no need for such formality. There are no outsiders here, so please speak freely. As long as it's not too difficult, I won't refuse." She knew perfectly well that what the other party wanted was mostly out of consideration for Lu Jianghe, and she was willing to give that consideration a chance to listen.
Upon hearing this, Zi Ling felt slightly reassured. She stepped forward again, lowering her posture even further, and said with a hint of barely perceptible trepidation, "Then this junior will dare to ask a question that is too much to ask—Senior Zhuang, would you—would you condescend to serve as the nominal Nascent Soul Ancestor of my Miaoyin Sect?"
As soon as she said it, she immediately explained, "It's not for my own sake, but for the future of all the female disciples of the Miaoyin Sect."
The ink-wash sword that had been swirling on Zhuang Huayi's wrist vanished silently. Her gaze calmly fell on Zi Ling, and instead of immediately refusing, she asked, "Is this Mr. Lu's intention?"
Zi Ling shook her head respectfully: "To Senior Zhuang, it was entirely wishful thinking on my part."
Zhuang Huayi waved her hand slightly, her movements displaying the composure and insight unique to Nascent Soul cultivators: "Given the current strength of the Miaoyin Sect, it is not lacking in offerings or nominal elders. Mr. Lu has always been thorough in his actions, a fact you may not fully understand, but I am well aware of. If you were truly someone he cared about, he would have arranged everything properly before leaving, leaving no room for such oversight, and there would be no need for you to come to me now to force him."
She paused, her tone calm yet each word clear, carrying a power that went straight to the heart: "What you ask for today precisely shows that you haven't truly understood his intentions. To put it bluntly, this kind of behavior is truly unworthy of you."
Upon hearing this, Zi Ling's lips moved slightly, but she ultimately failed to utter a sound.
"Your resolve is quite strong; the fact that you've managed the Miaoyin Sect to this extent demonstrates your ability. However, your heart is ultimately tied too much to him. The path ahead is yours to walk alone."
Zi Ling didn't know whether to agree or not, "That's precisely why I think that way."
Zhuang Huayi interrupted her directly: "In short, I cannot agree to this. I have a three-hundred-year-old pact with Mr. Lu to protect the Dao, which is the core of my Daoist heart and of utmost importance. Protecting Xin Ruyin is my only promise at present. As for what is beyond my power, I am willing but unable to do so. I think you should be very clear about this matter."
Zhuang Huayi's words transcended the boundaries of social status and hierarchy.
"With your intelligence, you might not be unaware of such a simple thought when you calm down. However, anything involving Mr. Lu is like sinking into a quagmire, making it difficult to calm your mind and causing a lingering problem. Even knowing it's wishful thinking and a forced pursuit, you still can't help but think about it and try it. The reason for this is not only clear to you, but also to me."
One person was prepared, while the other was completely caught off guard.
Unspoken to each other.
On the surface, they were talking about trivial matters, but in reality, every sentence was a test, each trying to find out Lu Jianghe's whereabouts from the other.
Zi Ling stood up, took a few steps forward, and sat down on the deep stone bench opposite Zhuang Huayi.
She casually remarked, "Speaking of which, the trade routes of Miaoyin Sect have never shrunk, and the trade volume has remained stable."
Everything seemed to be moving in the best possible direction.
However, both of them understood that this apparent prosperity was nothing but a mirage. The real key always lay with the vanished figure, Lu Jianghe.
Just as the two were pondering their own thoughts and their minds were in turmoil, a subtle yet clear fluctuation came from the restriction outside the fiftieth level cave.
Someone came to the door requesting an audience.
Zhuang Huayi remained seated, her powerful divine sense, honed in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, already spreading out like mercury, instantly "seeing" the newcomer.
Her eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.
A hint of surprise flashed in Zi Ling's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
After Zhuang Huayi removed the restrictions on the cave, she appeared dressed in a white robe, her beautiful hair fluttering in the wind. A woman gracefully entered from outside; it was Ling Yuling.
After she entered, her figure transformed into a golden streak of light, instantly traversing hundreds of feet and landing steadily in the Xieshan Pavilion.
Ling Yuling gave Zhuang Huayi a graceful bow, then sat down on the stone bench with a familiar ease, her posture natural and without the usual restraint a cultivator would show when facing a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
Upon seeing this, Zhuang Huayi's lips curved slightly, revealing a faint smile: "It is truly an honor for my humble abode to have you so condescend to visit me."
Ling Yuling waved her hand, her tone crisp and straightforward, carrying the characteristic frankness of the young master of the Star Palace: "Senior Zhuang, please stop teasing me. I've come here for two reasons: first, to inform everyone, and second, as the young master of the Star Palace, to deliver a message, or rather—"
Make a promise.
Her gaze swept over the two people in the pavilion, finally settling on Zhuang Huayi's calm eyes, and she continued, "Before Mr. Lu left, he made an agreement with my parents. He would resolve a certain matter for Xinggong, and Xinggong would, within the sphere of influence of Tianxing City, do its utmost to protect those connected to him and prevent any other forces from coveting or interfering with it."
Upon hearing this, both Zhuang Huayi and Ziling remained silent.
None of them expected that Lu Jianghe had done so much without them even realizing it.
This was far more comprehensive than they had anticipated, completely resolving all concerns from all sides.
Zi Ling, with her keenest sense and quickest reaction, looked directly at Ling Yu Ling and asked bluntly, "Such important news is probably more complex than it appears on the surface, isn't it? Logically, a simple transmission talisman would suffice. For you to personally come and deliver it, its significance must far exceed that of an ordinary notification?"
Upon hearing this, Ling Yuling smiled slightly, but there was also a hint of indescribable complexity in her expression.
Her gaze swept over Zhuang Huayi's calm face before finally settling on Zi Ling. Her voice was clear and composed: "Sister Zi Ling is indeed insightful. Some things, you and I both know, and it's best to leave it at that. But some things, knowing them only add to our troubles and may even bring unnecessary risks. Regardless of what we think, from this moment on, no matter what the future holds, we, the Star Palace, and you are all on the same boat."
"No matter how we explain or try to deny it, this is an inevitable consequence of being swept up by the tide of the times. For me and for Xinggong, the only way out and the best choice is for us to accept this connection and face it with equanimity."
After a moment's thought, Zi Ling said directly, "Fellow Daoist, you've said so much, but I don't believe that this alone is enough to make you condescend to come. There must be other considerations we are unaware of. Since things have come to this, there's no point in discussing seniority or order. Let's be frank: Star Palace—or rather, you—what exactly are your intentions?"