In the days that followed, the three of them continued their intense dual cultivation sessions.
However, dual cultivation requires one-on-one pairing, one yin and one yang.
Because of this, Zhang Qingyao and Li Yuluo had to take turns.
Zhang Qingyao stayed by Zhang Yuge’s side longer and was weaker in strength, so she naturally became Zhang Yuge’s main focus of support.
There was another point—Zhang Yuge didn’t fully trust Li Yuluo yet.
She was only forced to submit after a series of harsh training sessions.
Li Yuhan couldn’t find Zhang Yuge, but Zhang Yuge was no match for Li Yuhan and couldn’t leave the capital city.
After Yun Lan woke up, sneaking into the palace to ambush him?
That seemed impossible.
The palace was guarded by a large number of Royal Guards, each one an Acquired Martial Artist or Innate Martial Artist.
The strength of an Innate Martial Artist was equivalent to that of a Qi Refinement Cultivator.
Or, spread the secret that Li Yuhan cultivated the Demon and Ghost Dao?
But Li Yuluo had begged Zhang Yuge desperately not to reveal that the two brothers had fallen into the Demon Dao.
Zhang Yuge looked closely at the deep purple ring in his hand and muttered softly.
“Master, oh Master, when will you finally awaken?”
“What’s the matter? You’re looking for Main Body—what’s the matter?”
“?!”
A wisp of translucent lingering soul slowly drifted out of the ring, the young man’s face relaxed and comfortable.
“Master, when did you wake up?”
“I have been awake for two days, but seeing that my disciple has been engaged in intense dual cultivation, I chose not to show myself.”
“So, you’ve been watching the whole time… like a live broadcast?”
Zhang Yuge’s mouth twitched slightly.
“Haha, who would have thought? A few days without seeing each other, and you’ve found another beautiful woman. Not bad, truly worthy of being my disciple.”
Yun Lan shifted the topic, laughing heartily.
“It’s been more than a few days, actually over a week now.”
Zhang Yuge smiled.
“But, Master, you wouldn’t be secretly streaming, would you?”
“You think I’m that kind of person? I’m the Sect Leader of the Hehuan Sect—I’ve seen every kind of scene! This is nothing. However, what surprised me was that the other woman you cultivated with—was once a prince of the Zhou Kingdom, a man? And her cultivation method, if I remember correctly, should be the Blood Nether Sect’s unique Blood Nether Technique. A worldly royal family member actually cultivating a Demon Dao method—truly interesting.”
Zhang Yuge recounted every single event that happened during Yun Lan’s slumber.
But he concealed one thing—the super pill refining system from Wu De, and the large number of pills seized; he did not tell Yun Lan.
Also, how Li Yuluo became a woman—Zhang Yuge only briefly mentioned it, without a word about the system.
“The fact that the Da Zhou Royal Family cultivates Demon Dao techniques, let’s put that aside for now. I wanted to ask earlier—at the Ye Mansion, when Ye family’s child suddenly became a daughter, that was your doing, right?”
Yun Lan’s expression suddenly turned serious.
“Though I was surprised then, I never thought it had anything to do with you. Once could be coincidence, twice as well—but don’t tell me this is just a coincidence.”
Zhang Yuge was stunned.
He wanted to bluff his way through, but Yun Lan wasn’t a fool—how could he not be suspicious?
He couldn’t exactly say it was because he had altered Zhang Qingyao’s original story line, causing the sword god system that should have bound to her to be taken by himself.
Those special abilities to turn others into women were also granted by the system.
Even if he explained, Yun Lan wouldn’t understand.
After thinking it over, Zhang Yuge decided to give a more straightforward explanation.
“Master, this may be hard to believe. One night, I entered a dream and saw a celestial being radiating golden light. This celestial being said I was his reincarnation, and many of his wives from his past life have also reincarnated with me. My task is to find these wives scattered around the world and have them assist me. When I meet these reincarnated wives, if they are female, nothing changes; if male, they will transform into females on their own. This was all said by that celestial being who claimed to be my past life self. Every word I say is true.”
Upon hearing Zhang Yuge’s account, Yun Lan fell into deep thought.
He squinted his eyes, half in doubt, half in curiosity, sizing Zhang Yuge up.
“So you mean the Ye family’s child and that prince were both your wives in your past life?”
“Yes, and Zhang Qingyao as well. Although she became a woman with your help, fate has its own mysterious design. She is also one of my past life wives.”
Zhang Yuge spoke with clear and innocent eyes, a wild beauty in his demeanor.
If all he said was true, then perhaps he really could help me restore the Hehuan Sect…
To restore the Hehuan Sect that was destroyed centuries ago and take revenge on those two scoundrels, Yun Lan could only pin all hopes on Zhang Yuge.
“I believe you.”
Yun Lan said earnestly.
“Have you decided which Dao you want to follow? If what you say is true, I suggest you cultivate the Emperor’s Path.”
“The Emperor’s Path? What is that?”
Zhang Yuge was puzzled.
“The ‘Dao’ is the path chosen by cultivators. There are countless great paths in the world—Sword Dao, Martial Dao, Confucian Dao, Buddhist Dao, and also the Musical Dao, Painting and Calligraphy Dao, Allure Dao, and Demon and Ghost Dao. Although I am the Sect Leader of Hehuan Sect, I do not actually cultivate the Allure Dao, but the Musical Dao. The Emperor’s Path is special, with many strict conditions and limitations. To cultivate the Emperor’s Path, you first need to establish power—either found a sect or expand a country’s territory. This is not some casual gang or street fight. At least it has to be a legitimate sect like the Five Spirits Sect. The greatest advantage of the Emperor’s Path is that the fortune of your subordinates can be added to your own fortune. The stronger your subordinates, the stronger your fortune becomes. At the same time, as your subordinates enhance their own cultivation, a small portion of their strength is passed on to you. Though this amount is small, it’s better than none—and the more people, the more cultivation you gain. Moreover, those who cultivate the Emperor’s Path can also feed their fortune back to their subordinates, a mutual support for growth. Whether a sect or a kingdom, once the fortune reaches a certain level, it can ascend—sects become Xianmen, dynasties become Xianchao.”
“At that time, all living beings under heaven can cultivate, and everyone can walk the path of immortality.”
Zhang Yuge picked up Yun Lan’s words and continued.
“Disciple, to be honest, the Hehuan Sect is also a Demon Dao sect. In the eyes of those in the Right Path Alliance, I am also one of them. The Hehuan Sect was wiped out by the Right Path Alliance centuries ago. It has been my lifelong wish to witness the Hehuan Sect’s restoration and prosperity. After hearing your words, I feel you might be able to help me realize this wish.”
This was bad—talking big again.
No matter, just agree for now.
“Master, don’t worry. Disciple will do his utmost to restore the Hehuan Sect and make it the top sect in Nan’an Continent!”
Performances never cost anything; Zhang Yuge declared with confidence.
“Master, what should I do next? We’ve been stuck in this pawnshop for many days.”
“The Five Spirits Sect’s disciple exchange quota must never be given up. The Divine Phoenix Sect must enter! Before that, what you need to do is…”
Yun Lan smiled with complete confidence.
“Destroy the Five Great Families, seize the Da Zhou Dynasty, and become the new Emperor of Zhou Dynasty.”