Dan Sect, within a courtyard specifically prepared for visitors.
On the bluestone-paved ground, intricate formation circuits glimmered with mystery.
Though merely a courtyard, it was set with a rather advanced Spirit Gathering Array.
As Yan Dangmo stepped into the courtyard, Nie Qi—who had been cultivating inside—hurriedly rose to greet him, cupping his fists in salute.
Yan Dangmo waved his hand lightly, his gaze falling on Nie Qi.
He moved to a stone pavilion in the courtyard and sat down.
“No need for such formalities, Xiao Qi. I came to see you because there are some things I wish to ask.”
Nie Qi followed and sat before Yan Dangmo in the stone pavilion.
“Senior, please speak your mind.”
“It’s about Yan Luo, that girl.”
Yan Dangmo paused for a moment.
“She seems to have someone she admires. Do you… know who it is?”
Nie Qi was stunned, then asked, “Senior, how did you learn of this?”
Yan Dangmo glanced outside the courtyard, then shook his head helplessly.
“That girl let it slip herself. But she refuses to say who it is, as if afraid I’ll harm him. She’s not even married yet, and my granddaughter is already siding with outsiders.”
Nie Qi fell silent for a moment, then dropped his hands in a gesture of apology.
“Senior, I cannot say.”
Yan Dangmo was taken aback.
Nie Qi continued, “Since Yan Luo is unwilling to tell you herself, as her master, how could I speak on her behalf?”
His tone was calm yet resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.
Yan Dangmo was choked by his words, but meeting Nie Qi’s gaze, his irritation quickly faded.
He was not an unreasonable man.
He understood that Nie Qi’s answer was right—so right that there was nothing to criticize.
Yet, not being able to clarify this matter left Yan Dangmo feeling as if bugs were crawling in his heart.
Especially since he had no idea how far that boy and his granddaughter had gone, making him all the more anxious.
“Ah, forget it. Since you can’t say, I’ll have to find out on my own.”
Nie Qi cupped his fists again, still respectful.
“Thank you for understanding, Senior.”
Waving his hand, Yan Dangmo turned and left.
…
Meanwhile, Chen Yuyang, after much persuasion, finally convinced Lingxi to give up the idea of making a purchase.
But then, Lingxi slapped her forehead, her eyes shining as she declared she wanted to see the gates of the Dan Sect.
Chen Yuyang sighed helplessly and could only follow her.
The two left Lingyao Town, the youth treading lightly on spiritual energy, while Lingxi proudly produced the fifth-grade spiritual sword, Inchbreaker, that Chen Yuyang had given her, and flew towards the Dan Sect.
Below stretched the endless expanse of the Forged Mountains, while the closer they drew to Dan Sect’s territory, the more the mountains took on a crimson hue.
The Dan Sect’s main gate was truly grand.
From afar, amid colored clouds, a towering paifang stood.
The paifang was carved from a single block of white jade, inscribed in gold with the two characters “Dan Sect.”
Even from a distance, one could feel an unnamed pressure emanating from it.
Beyond the gate, countless pavilions and towers stretched along the mountain ridge, winding endlessly into the hazy gold-tinged clouds in the distance.
Suspended in the air, Lingxi’s little mouth fell open, her eyes wide in astonishment.
Yet after a long time, all she could squeeze out was: “So big!”
Chen Yuyang shook his head lightly. After a moment, he calmly asked, “Junior Sister, you’ve seen the gates. Can we head back now?”
“Senior Brother.”
Lingxi turned to him, tugging his sleeve, eyes full of hope.
“Can we go inside and have a look?”
“Junior Sister.”
Chen Yuyang gave a wry smile, pointing at the group of Dan Sect disciples guarding the gate.
“The Pill Gathering hasn’t officially begun yet. How could they let an outsider wander in for a tour?”
The look of anticipation instantly collapsed on Lingxi’s face.
She pouted, her voice small and disappointed.
“Oh, alright.”
Just as the two were about to turn and leave, a group of cultivators in brown Qiankun Sect robes flew in from the horizon.
Landing before the Dan Sect’s mountain gate, their leader exchanged a few words with the gatekeepers and was politely led inside.
“Why can they go in?”
Lingxi pointed at the departing cultivators, puzzled.
“Because they’re disciples of the Qiankun Sect,” Chen Yuyang replied bluntly.
The cultivation world is harsh—strength rules all.
Without power or background, you’ll always be looked down upon.
Lingxi lowered her head, slender fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, silent.
But inside her, a fierce sense of competitiveness was ignited.
She must grow stronger!
Only if the Hehuan Sect becomes powerful will no one dare underestimate them!
When they returned to the inn, Tai Lingxuan had already gone out, likely invited to discuss matters related to the Pill Gathering.
Dusk had fallen, bathing all of Lingyao Town in a warm, orange glow.
The evening clouds blazed across the sky, their colors shining upon the distant, unending Forged Mountains; it was a beautiful scene.
Chen Yuyang stood by the window, gazing out for a while before turning and sitting cross-legged by the window, for once taking the initiative to cultivate.
Lingxi, still feeling dissatisfied from earlier, went to the other side of the room, sat down cross-legged as well, and closed her eyes to start cultivating.
Hehuan Art, Primeval Art.
Though separated by several feet, the two’s techniques—one yin, one yang—began to attract and respond to each other invisibly.
Even the air was filled with fine threads of spiritual power, quietly linking them together.
Lingxi soon noticed that her spiritual power was circulating much more smoothly than usual, and her absorption of the world’s spiritual energy was significantly faster.
Guided by this feeling, she unconsciously scooted a bit closer to Chen Yuyang.
Having moved a short distance, the girl felt the spiritual energy around her grow even denser, making cultivation all the more comfortable.
Without realizing, she edged closer again, inching towards Chen Yuyang.
Time ticked by, second by second.
“Hm?”
Chen Yuyang opened his eyes to find Lingxi nearly sitting right in front of him, their knees almost touching.
Startled by his sudden gaze, Lingxi’s cheeks instantly flushed pink.
She hurriedly averted her eyes, mumbling softly, “Aiya, Senior Brother, why did you stop cultivating?”
“Cultivation is one thing.”
Chen Yuyang looked at Lingxi’s pretty face, so close, and raised his brows slightly.
“But why are you sitting so near… what are you up to?”
“I-I didn’t do anything!”
Lingxi’s eyes darted as she clutched her sleeve, forcing herself to stay calm.
“I was just cultivating too! It just feels like the spiritual energy is denser where you’re sitting, so I couldn’t help but scoot a bit closer.”
A bit…?
Chen Yuyang doubted her.
Yet, sensing the invisible spiritual thread between them, he inwardly understood the reason.
It must be because their cultivation methods complemented each other, making Lingxi feel even more at ease cultivating nearby.
However, Chen Yuyang didn’t feel happy about it.
He was all too aware—if she got any closer, their techniques would resonate and their auras merge… wouldn’t that basically be dual cultivation?
If what happened when alone with his master repeated itself…
If he were bullied again, that was one thing, but if it triggered a breakthrough, that would be completely unacceptable to him.
Thinking this, Chen Yuyang immediately stopped cultivating and stood up.
“I’ve had enough for today. Junior Sister, I’m going to rest,” he said at once.
“Eh?”
Lingxi blinked, a bit dazed as she looked at him.
“But Senior Brother, you’ve only cultivated for such a short time! Not even two quarters of an hour! Who stops cultivating like this?”
She raised her voice, unable to hide her frustration.
Having finally found cultivation so easy and comfortable, she hated for it to end so soon.
What annoyed Lingxi even more was that her senior brother was so lazy about cultivating, yet his level still surpassed hers.
“This won’t do.”
Lingxi grabbed Chen Yuyang’s arm, refusing to let him get up.
Pouting, she pleaded, “Senior Brother, keep cultivating! Work hard, so you can help make the Hehuan Sect… no, help it flourish!”
Chen Yuyang was speechless.
If he didn’t want to, how could she just force someone to cultivate?
Shaking his head, not wanting to argue, he shook off her arm.
“I’m going to take a bath. Do you want to join me?”
“Together? B-bathe?”
Lingxi’s face instantly turned crimson.
She quickly let go, her gaze darting away from the youth.
“W-Who wants to… pft, pervert!”
Chen Yuyang shook his head, turning to walk behind the screen in the corner of the room.
The inn room wasn’t big; he and his junior sister shared a room, so the only place to bathe was in the tub behind the screen.
Although the distance was a little close, Chen Yuyang didn’t mind.
He had no such thoughts, so he didn’t care.
With a gentle surge of spiritual power at his fingertips, he drew water into the tub behind the screen, quickly filling it with warm water.
Shedding his clothes, the youth stepped bare-chested into the bath.
The warm water rose to his shoulders, its slight sting making him squint in comfort.
Leaning against the tub’s edge, he closed his eyes, savoring this rare moment of peace.
Just now, gazing at the Forged Mountains bathed in sunset from the window, he’d felt a sudden insight.
Such experiences were rare for him.
After countless lifetimes of cultivation, his state of mind and understanding of the world’s laws had long since reached a bottleneck.
It was seldom that he could be moved by the wonders of nature.
Still, though it was a precious realization, he didn’t dare delve too deeply, for fear of accidentally triggering a heavenly phenomenon or a sudden leap in cultivation.
For Chen Yuyang, who preferred slow, steady progress, that was the last thing he wanted.
He quietly enjoyed the temperature of the water in the tub, while also sensing Lingxi’s presence outside the screen.
She seemed to have resumed her cultivation, but her aura was somewhat restless and unstable.
Lingxi felt as though nothing she did in cultivation was quite right.
Without her senior brother nearby, and lacking that natural resonance and response, she felt empty, as if something was missing.
No matter how she circulated her technique, it felt off, even her absorption of spiritual power growing sluggish.
Having experienced such a rapid flow of energy, Lingxi found herself unable to bear going back to her original slow pace.