Chapter 55 :The Problem

Although she had received an answer from Gu Qiushui, Yun Lian’s intuition told her that Senior Sister Bianyi was hiding something from her.

Her evasive eyes, her suddenly reddened face—all of these signaled the accuracy of Yun Lian’s instincts.

Moreover, Senior Sister Bianyi mentioned that the current version of the Hehuan Technique was flawed, but she never explained what exactly was missing.

Could it be another method of breaking through realms—one that didn’t rely on heavenly materials and earthly treasures?

Her sharp mind and powerful intuition immediately guessed the key.

However…

Even knowing that Gu Qiushui was concealing something, Yun Lian was completely in the dark about this other method that wasn’t spoken of.

She could only speculate, explore, and research on her own.

After all, she couldn’t always rely on Senior Master Bianyi to ask for heavenly materials whenever she wanted to break through.

With this thought, Yun Lian flew through the air toward the Hehuan Sect’s main hall.

At this moment, Tai Lingxuan was seated cross-legged inside the main hall, regulating her breath and circulating her cultivation energy, while her mind was occupied with thoughts about the mysterious “senior.”

That senior refused to reveal their identity, yet repeatedly assisted the Hehuan Sect with grand measures.

During her own breakthrough, that senior had set up a powerful formation.

Now, as Lingxi was breaking through, the senior unleashed an aura of the Ancestral Dragon, weakening the final lightning tribulation and saving Lingxi’s life.

Although Tai Lingxuan hadn’t actively sought out this figure for fear of offending them, it didn’t stop her from speculating about their origin and identity at this very moment.

First, the possibility that came to Tai Lingxuan’s mind was that the senior might be a former elder of the Hehuan Sect.

But…

Was that likely?

Very, very unlikely.

Back then, the strongest elder in the Hehuan Sect was only at the Consolidated Body Realm, on par with herself, and there was no master of formations among them, much less anyone who possessed the powerful Ancestral Dragon aura.

Furthermore, during the great battle, the elders and the sect leader had acted almost right before her eyes…

Thinking of this, Tai Lingxuan sighed softly and shook her head.

“If it’s unlikely to be an elder of the Hehuan Sect, then could it be someone who has long lived in seclusion in these mountains?”

That was possible.

But this couldn’t explain why the other party would allow the Hehuan Sect to establish their mountain gate here.

If they were a hidden great power, they certainly wouldn’t want to be disturbed.

So, when the sect built the mountain gate here, such a figure should have appeared to warn her.

Even if that hidden great power didn’t care about the sect’s presence, it still didn’t explain why they would actively help them.

After all, they were strangers to her and the Hehuan Sect…

Wait!

Strangers…

Suddenly, Tai Lingxuan seemed to have a realization, her eyes brightening.

That’s right.

That senior might be a stranger to her, but not necessarily a stranger to others in the sect.

Most of her disciples came from poor or desperate backgrounds and were taken in by her…

Among them, the one with the most mysterious and unknown origins…

Could it be Yuyang!

With this thought, Tai Lingxuan’s mind became lively.

More than fourteen years ago, she had found Yuyang at the foot of the mountain gate.

A Haoyang constitution.

Under normal circumstances, unless Yuyang’s parents were ordinary people unaware of his value, such a unique and powerful constitution would never have been abandoned.

So, let’s make a simple assumption.

Suppose Yuyang’s biological parents were not ordinary people but cultivators, fully aware of the value of his constitution, yet still abandoned him at the doorstep of the Hehuan Sect…

Then this matter becomes intriguing.

Were Yuyang’s parents chased by powerful enemies and forced to abandon him to save his life?

Or was there some other reason they couldn’t keep him by their side?

An illegitimate child…

Feared to be targeted for assassination within the family…

If this last guess were true, then it wouldn’t be strange if his parents arranged for a powerful protector or even personally guarded Yuyang secretly after leaving.

This would also explain why that mysterious senior would help her and Lingxi.

Because she was Yuyang’s master, and Yuyang now needed her to hold up the sky for him.

Lingxi was Yuyang’s close junior sister; if anything happened to Lingxi, Yuyang would be devastated…

At this point, Tai Lingxuan suddenly felt everything connecting.

Everything could now be explained.

“But if this is true… then, what I did to Yuyang back then, wouldn’t that also be…”

Thinking of this, Tai Lingxuan’s face flushed red.

If that senior was merely a guardian sent by his parents, that would be one thing.

But what if that senior was Yuyang’s father or mother…

This thought made Tai Lingxuan’s face burn as if on fire, unbearably hot.

She wondered…

Would his parents think she wasn’t worthy of Yuyang…

Or perhaps think she was a woman of ill repute…

The thought made her nervous again.

Just then, outside the hall, a clear voice suddenly rang out.

“Master, your disciple has encountered a bottleneck in cultivation and hopes you can enlighten me.”

That was Yun Lian’s voice.

Clearing her throat, Tai Lingxuan immediately dismissed those thoughts and wiped the flush from her face, assuming a calm demeanor.

“Yun Lian, come in and speak.”

“Yes, Master!”

With respectful posture, Yun Lian stepped into the hall.

“Cultivation—what doubts do you have?”

Tai Lingxuan asked.

Yun Lian then recounted the current situation of her spiritual energy circulation inside her body to Tai Lingxuan.

After listening, Tai Lingxuan nodded lightly, naturally understanding the cause.

“Don’t worry, Yun Lian. I’ll take you to the storage room to get some heavenly materials and earthly treasures with pure Yang attributes.”

Saying so, Tai Lingxuan rose to lead the way.

Yun Lian obediently followed behind but couldn’t help asking one more question.

“Master, why is this?

Your disciple doesn’t understand—cultivation methods generally don’t require many external aids.

Even when they do, it’s just to strengthen one’s power or constitution.

Methods like the Hehuan Technique that need external materials during normal cultivation are rare.”

Such cultivation techniques, after all, were unsustainable from the start.

So Yun Lian felt confused.

She sensed that the current Hehuan Technique she practiced had some flaws.

Upon hearing this, Tai Lingxuan also realized that Yun Lian had noticed the inherent defect in the Hehuan Technique.

Taking a deep breath, Tai Lingxuan no longer intended to conceal the truth and explained: “You’re right. But that’s because the Hehuan Technique you practice is incomplete.”

“It’s not that I’ve hidden parts of it, but the other portion is precisely why the Hehuan Sect was once labeled a demonic cult.”

“That part involves harvesting Yang to replenish Yin—seizing and refining male Yuan Yang to compensate one’s own—a forbidden technique.”

Upon hearing this, Yun Lian’s eyes widened suddenly.

So that’s why…

The Hehuan Technique lacked the crucial Yang-harvesting Yin-replenishing method, which was originally the key to harmonizing one’s Yin and Yang.

Heavenly materials and earthly treasures had similar effects, but they could never compare to real men.

However, although this matter was somewhat difficult to speak of, why did Senior Sister Bianyi refuse to explain it to her?

Suddenly, Yun Lian seemed to realize something and asked Tai Lingxuan a question.

“Master, when Senior Sister Qiushui was at the Golden Core Realm, roughly how many heavenly materials and earthly treasures did she consume? So your disciple can have a reference.”

Tai Lingxuan was slightly taken aback, her eyes narrowing as she recalled.

Gu Qiushui spent seven years in the Golden Core Realm.

But thinking carefully, Qiushui had really asked her for very few heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

Moreover, she only began to ask after reaching the seventh layer of the Golden Core Realm.

Before that, she never once approached Tai Lingxuan for anything…

Was that normal?

Back then, Tai Lingxuan didn’t think much of it, but now, upon recollection, she sensed something was off.

Everyone was practicing the same cultivation method.

Qiushui’s talent wasn’t stronger than others, and she hadn’t gone out seeking opportunities during that time.

So why did her demands remain so small?

Wait…

Qiushui began requesting heavenly materials and earthly treasures after reaching Golden Core seven two years ago.

What happened two years ago?

With a slight thought, Tai Lingxuan recalled more.

Two years ago, Yuyang was twelve, and she arranged a separate courtyard for him.

Before that, Yuyang lived with Gu Qiushui—not in the same room, but very close…

And not just Qiushui… Lingxi also had requested very few heavenly materials and earthly treasures since her cultivation.

Lingxi often went to Yuyang’s place and stayed for several hours each time…

Suddenly, Tai Lingxuan felt her breath hitch.

Could it be that Qiushui had long harbored feelings for Yuyang… and even Lingxi…

No, no, that can’t be…

Yuyang was still young and undeveloped then; even if she wanted to seize something, it would be impossible…

And Yuyang was such a honest and straightforward person, he wouldn’t treat her junior sisters that way…

But…

What if?

For a moment, Tai Lingxuan felt unsettled.

Yun Lian only saw Tai Lingxuan’s long silence.

“Master, Master? What’s wrong?”

Yun Lian urged, and Tai Lingxuan snapped back to reality, smiling.

“Oh, you mean that. She actually used quite a bit… but Yun Lian, don’t worry. If you need anything, just tell me.”

Yun Lian felt a bit suspicious but obediently nodded without pressing further.

Tai Lingxuan narrowed her eyes, already thinking about how to discreetly investigate this whole matter…

“Achoo…”

Inside the room, a young man relaxing and reading in the sunlight suddenly sneezed for no reason.

“What’s going on?”

Rubbing his nose, Chen Yuyang’s face showed some confusion.

“Why do I feel a chill at my back, like someone’s watching me?”

“That shouldn’t be. Who else in the sect would want to harm me?”

Just as he was puzzled, Chen Yuyang suddenly sensed a presence.

Though he lacked spiritual awareness, his instinct honed through countless trials was very accurate.

Narrowing his eyes, Chen Yuyang glanced toward the window.

Upon catching sight of a plump figure draped in purple outside, his heart immediately tensed, and he quickly sat upright from the lounge chair.

It was his Master!

His feelings toward Tai Lingxuan were complicated and indescribable.

In other words, Chen Yuyang felt somewhat unsure how to face her.

Now wasn’t the time to confess everything.

The only way was to keep playing dumb and muddle through.

Tai Lingxuan stood still at the door, taking a deep breath.

Though Yuyang was her disciple, she felt nervous facing him now.

Facing Yuyang, she must restrain herself and be cautious…

Repeating this reminder, Tai Lingxuan knocked on the door.

“Yuyang, your master has something to discuss with you!”