Mu Yanxi took a moment to figure out why Wei Ling had said that. If it were just a breakthrough in cultivation realm, the *fake phoenix art* would have been enough.
It was a cultivation method for two women to perform *double cultivation* together, and it was open-source—meaning Mu Yanxi could take the initiative, and as long as Shangguan Yun didn’t deliberately resist, they could complete the *double cultivation* just by being physically close.
However, the *Tai Shang Hua Yi Jian Jing* was different. This was the sword sutra of the Shangguan Clan.
It was only possible to learn it if Shangguan Yun actively used the *lingyue art* to train on someone else’s behalf. That would inevitably mean Shangguan Yun was the one leading the *double cultivation*.
Furthermore, anyone who thought about it a bit more deeply would realize that Mu Yanxi, who did not attend the Lingyue Chuzong, could not possibly know the *lingyue art*.
Mu Yanxi had never expected Wei Ling to obsess over such a thing. She asked in confusion, “We already performed *double cultivation*, so is it really that important whether Yun’er was the one taking the lead?”
“Of course it’s important!” Wei Ling shouted indignantly, but she quickly lost her momentum and lowered her head. “Whatever. I’m just the loser here anyway. Violate me or do as you will, it’s all up to you!”
Mu Yanxi felt those words were incredibly strange. Shouldn’t it be ‘kill me or slice me as you please’? Was ‘violate me or do as you will’ some kind of specialized defeat speech for the Spiritual Moon Palace?
“Let me think… what exactly did we bet at the start? You’d let me perform *plucking and supplementing* on you for one year? And you were willing to be my maid? And you’d give me your *primordial yin* too?” Mu Yanxi asked.
Only then did Wei Ling snap back to reality, her face turning pale. There was no doubt that if Mu Yanxi actually went through with it, she would be effectively ruined.
Being subjected to *plucking and supplementing* for one year during her most important first year would cause her cultivation realm to plummet to the worst in the school, and she might even be expelled for failing her evaluations.
Losing her *primordial yin* also meant her value would be permanently diminished, and the effects of many cultivation methods exclusive to female cultivators would be significantly reduced.
It was equivalent to her future being completely destroyed. Death would be easier to handle than such a life.
Even so, Wei Ling grit her teeth and said, “I am a woman of my word. I accept my loss! Since you won, I’ll repeat myself: I am at your disposal!”
As for asking Mu Yanxi to spare her, Wei Ling never even considered that option. The two of them were already enemies, and ruining an enemy was the most direct way to eliminate a future threat.
If she were in Mu Yanxi’s shoes, she would have done the same, so she didn’t think for a second that she would be spared.
“You certainly are stubborn. But don’t worry, I have absolutely no interest in *plucking and supplementing* you or taking your *primordial yin*.”
“As long as you swear not to oppose me again, we can consider this matter settled,” Mu Yanxi said. From the very beginning, she had never intended to pluck Wei Ling’s energy.
“Really?” Wei Ling looked at Mu Yanxi in disbelief, like a death row prisoner suddenly learning of a wrongful conviction.
If it were just a regular grudge that the other party decided to let go, she could understand it, but *plucking and supplementing* and *primordial yin* were tangible ways to increase one’s cultivation. Normally, no cultivator would pass that up.
Even if Mu Yanxi had said she would control the amount of plucking so Wei Ling’s realm wouldn’t drop, it would have been considered extremely merciful.
“Really. I have no interest in your *primordial yin* or your cultivation. As long as you promise not to bother me again, I’ll let you go,” Mu Yanxi said.
In her past life, *plucking and supplementing* was a method used only by cultivators of the *demonic way*. *Double cultivation*, on the other hand, was something ordinary *dao companions* would use.
Therefore, Mu Yanxi could barely accept *double cultivation*, but she utterly rejected the idea of plucking someone.
At that moment, Shangguan Yun also walked in. She looked at Wei Ling and asked, “Ling’er, have you calmed down?”
Wei Ling bit her lip unwillingly but still nodded. “I lost. I won’t bother Mu Yanxi again.”
“You want to just let her off like that?” Shangguan Yun guessed Mu Yanxi’s plan and shook her head.
“That won’t do. She isn’t truly convinced in her heart. Some appropriate punishment is necessary, especially to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys.”
“Otherwise, even if Ling’er doesn’t bother you anymore, other girls will still come looking for trouble.”
“Then what do you think we should do?” Mu Yanxi tossed the question directly to Shangguan Yun.
She knew many girls were eyeing her position as Shangguan Yun’s *study partner*. If she were too kind, people would indeed think she was an easy target.
“The agreement to be a maid must still be honored. You don’t have to pluck her or take Ling’er’s *primordial yin*, but you must retain the right to do so.”
“Let others see the consequences of provoking you. Ling’er, what do you think?” Shangguan Yun asked.
“I have no objections,” Wei Ling said honestly. As long as she wasn’t being plucked and her cultivation didn’t drop, being a maid wasn’t unacceptable.
Many girls from the Spiritual Moon Sect became maids or servants after *graduation* anyway. If it was only for one year, she felt she was getting a huge bargain.
“In addition, you must compensate Yanxi with a *divine artifact*. It must be your signature *divine artifact* to serve as proof that she defeated and punished you.”
“Other girls need to see that challenging my *study partner* is not without a price,” Shangguan Yun continued.
Faced with giving away her precious *divine artifact*, Wei Ling hesitated.
She only had two or three signature artifacts, each of which had cost her a fortune and was perfectly compatible with her cultivation method. Losing one would cause a significant drop in her strength.
However, compared to the original stakes, compensating with a single *divine artifact* was indeed a very cheap price to pay.
She nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But I hope I can choose the artifact for compensation. Some of them are too important to me.”
Shangguan Yun didn’t say much more; she could see this was the limit of what Wei Ling could accept.
She looked at Mu Yanxi, asking for her opinion with her eyes. Mu Yanxi nodded and said, “Alright, let’s do that.”
Mu Yanxi naturally had no other objections.
She hadn’t wanted any compensation to begin with, and she could see that Shangguan Yun was claiming it was to deter others, but in reality, she wanted to help her get a powerful *divine artifact*.
Currently, Mu Yanxi was indeed lacking in artifacts. She only had a *gliding board*, the *Spirit Moon Ring* she received upon enrollment, and the *qipao* uniform she wore.
Her offensive capabilities were severely lacking, so she certainly didn’t mind obtaining another *divine artifact*.
Wei Ling also knew her previous actions had offended Mu Yanxi. If she didn’t offer something good to resolve the conflict, her days as a maid wouldn’t be pleasant.
After hesitating for a moment, she pulled out the black *Tang Dao*.
“The *Qinghe halberd* is a *soldier path* artifact that I spent almost my entire fortune on, and the *asura’s wrist* only reaches its full potential when paired with my cultivation method.”
“They wouldn’t be of much use to you. However, this *undying blade* is a *Medical Cultivator* artifact with very interesting functions. It can be of great use in critical moments.”
Mu Yanxi took the dark green straight blade and funneled a bit of *spiritual energy* into it. The grooves on the blade immediately lit up with a green glow.
She asked in confusion, “A *Medical Cultivator* artifact? I couldn’t tell at all just now.”
“This *undying blade* can be used as both a weapon and a scalpel. After switching to medical mode, it can cut off a part of the body without the part dying or being permanently harmed.”
“It can be reattached at any time. I used this blade before to train my *Xingtian war body*,” Wei Ling explained.