Meanwhile, in another courtyard, Chu Chuyan looked at Yan Xuehen with a worried expression. She asked, “Master, do you think Ah Zu will be able to fool those old foxes?”
“That guy is even more cunning than an old fox. How could he possibly fail?” Yan Xuehen replied, rolling her eyes.
My disciple is normally pretty smart, so why is it that she suddenly becomes the biggest worrywart when it comes to Zu An? Is she really blinded by love?
“Still, so many of us came out from the secret dungeon, and both King Yan and that Guerilla Warfare General only refrained from interrogating us immediately out of respect for Ah Zu. If they get a chance, they might still be tempted to do so. After all, that day, Ah Zu’s choice of words wasn’t the most tactful,” Chu Chuyan said worriedly.
“Don’t worry. Often, people do not always need the truth. As long as there is an explanation and everyone is okay with it, that should be enough. After all, Zhao Han has already died,” Yan Xuehen said in consolation.
Chu Chuyan looked at her in shock, replying, “Master, since when did you understand the court’s matters that well?” She just couldn't help but feel as if her master had changed a bit. However, as for how Yan Xuehen had changed, she couldn't really say.
“For better or for worse, over the years, I have frequently visited the capital as the guest of many influential clans. After seeing their way of thinking enough, do I really have to see the pig run to eat the pork?” Yan Xuehen replied in annoyance. “What, was your master really such an idiot in that aspect?”
“Of course not,” Chu Chuyan said, holding her hand with a big smile. She leaned against Yan Xuehen’s shoulder like a spoiled child and asked in a slightly gossipy mood, “This disciple almost forgot that master was a G.o.ddess whom every man in the world admired. There are still rumors of master’s charm circling the world even now. However, after all these years, could it be that master really doesn’t have a single one you favor? Could it be that Yan’er is doomed to never have a martial father in this life?”
She was the one who had managed the entire clan back in the Chu clan. She’d had to deal with many business and familial matters alone. As such, she’d had no choice but to put on a tough appearance, using an ice-cold and emotionless exterior to make others fear and respect her. She was even like that in front of her own mother Qin Wanru. In order to not worry her parents, she had almost never shown them her little girl side, and had always presented her tough exterior. Only in the White Jade Sect, in front of her master, could she let go of some responsibilities and acting and remember that she was but a young woman who hadn’t even reached twenty years of age yet.
Yan Xuehen was alarmed and quickly pushed her away. She replied with a harrumph, “Just what kind of nonsense is in that head of yours? Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten what your cultivation is for?”
Chu Chuyan grumbled, “I am cultivating, and I don’t think gossiping about love could really get in the way…”
“Is that the same thing? That guy you like is…” Yan Xuehen trailed off. Her cheeks even heated up a bit.
“Is what?” Chu Chuyan repeated, feeling a bit confused.
“Nothing,” Yan Xuehen said in annoyance.
Am I supposed to tell you that I’ve had a taste of your man’s transcendent apt.i.tude blood essence? That not only does it not hinder our cultivation, it can even nourish our bodies?
She always felt guilty when she discussed Zu An with her. She quickly said with a stiff expression, “Hmph, look at you slacking off and always talking about love. You’re not focusing on cultivation at all anymore.”
Chu Chuyan’s expression turned serious. She said, “Master’s discipline is correct. I just happen to have some questions related to cultivation to ask master.”
She had been a bit upset when she saw so many beauties appear at Zu An’s side in the great tomb, and she even regretted the fact that she’d only had cultivation on her mind for years and neglected her relationship with Zu An. That was why so many vixens had ended up getting mixed in!
However, when they faced Zhao Han, she had discovered that she couldn't offer any help at all and had only become Zu An’s burden. He had even been held back because he had to protect her. After Ah Zu drew Zhao Han away, she had been so worried that he could die, and yet she couldn't chase after him for fear of being a burden.
Those feelings of despair, alarm, and helplessness weren’t something she wanted to experience again. As such, her desire to become stronger had grown once again.
“Speak!” Yan Xuehen replied. When she saw that Chu Chuyan was talking about cultivation, her expression became serious again too. She regained the image of a teacher.
“How can I become as strong as master in the shortest amount of time?” Chu Chuyan asked, looking at Yan Xuehen expectantly. She recalled her master and Sect Master Yun’s figures as they rushed away. She figured that she had to at least reach their level in order to fight at Ah Zu’s side.
Yan Xuehen was speechless. She said, “If you were able to catch up to me in a short amount of time, I would have cultivated this entire lifetime for nothing.”
These youngsters really are biting off more than they can chew. Just how many years did I spend to reach the grandmaster rank? Just how much effort and dedication did I put in?
Chu Chuyan said sulkily, “But Ah Zu clearly caught up to you…”
Even though she couldn’t sense Zu An’s exact cultivation, anyone who could defeat Zhao Han, even if it was a seriously injured and tribulation lightning-blasted Zhao Han, definitely wouldn’t be weaker than her own master.
Yan Xuehen choked.
Does this girl know how to have a proper conversation?
What do you mean, just catch up? That little demon already surpa.s.sed me! At this point, all I can do is act like a cute and helpless cheerleader…
A blush flashed across her face, but she quickly put those random thoughts away and said with a cough, “That brat is a monster, and his path cannot be replicated. However, you have a way to quickly become stronger.”
“What is it?” Chu Chuyan asked, her eyes lighting up.
“The Pure World Icelotus that you received from Immortal Ruler Baopu in the great tomb,” Yan Xuehen said. Her expression became serious again as she continued, “Even though I have never seen it before, your joint attack with Pei Mianman on Zhao Han actually successfully destroyed one of his protective treasures. That is already enough to prove its strength. So, what you need to do right now is to properly understand the Pure World Icelotus intent. You cultivate the ice element, after all. If you can integrate those two things, your cultivation will definitely advance rapidly.”
“How can I do that? Even though I can vaguely sense the existence of that intent, I’ve found that I can only use it occasionally and inadvertently,” Chu Chuyan said in confusion.
“Calm your mind, and cross your arms in front of your chest,” Yan Xuehen guided her.
Chu Chuyan copied her. Her talent had always been first-rate, so she quickly became as still as ice and snow.
When she looked at her disciple’s stunning features, Yan Xuehen suddenly felt a bit upset.
Just what kind of superpower does that brat Zu An have?
She took a deep breath and calmed herself. Her fingers interlaced with Chu Chuyan’s. She poured her own inner ki into Chu Chuyan’s body to protect her meridians while slowly saying, “Chuyan, imagine that you have two mountains of ice inside of you right now. Then, guide that Pure World Icelotus to the two peaks.”
Chu Chuyan asked in confusion, “Shouldn’t the lotus be at the summit of the mountain?”
Yan Xuehen harrumphed. “You are still unfamiliar with the Pure World Icelotus right now. ?Immediately placing it at the peak would be aiming far too high. Have it sit between the two mountains right now, and surround it with your own ice mountain intent. Slowly polish it and refine it, then fully integrate it with the two peaks.”
Chu Chuyan, whose eyes were tightly shut, suddenly frowned. She said, “Master, this Pure World Icelotus intent doesn’t seem all that obedient and wants to struggle free.”
“Do not be alarmed. You cannot use brute force and must instead reform it gently, guide it, and make it feel the warmth of returning home,” Yan Xuehen said. As a sect master, she had quickly gotten a rough idea of how to help her disciple cultivate from a few glances in the past.
“Master, it’s working!” Chu Chuyan said happily. “It seems to have become much more obedient than before.”
Yan Xuehen nodded in appreciation and said, “That’s right. Continue to polish it just like that. Make it completely familiar with your aura.”
“Okay,” Chu Chuyan replied. She began to focus on doing what Yan Xuehen said.
A while later, her expression suddenly changed and she exclaimed, “Oh no, master! It seems to have become impatient and wants to break free from the peaks’ restriction. It wants to fly away and completely break free from my control!”
“Don’t you have a mouth? Swallow that ice lotus and absorb it, then consolidate it at the base of the mountains again. Continue this process, and you should be able to fully subdue it in the end,” Yan Xuehen explained as she saw her disciple’s brows furrow tightly; Chu Chuyan seemed to have reached a critical juncture. She quickly said, “That Pure World Icelotus doesn’t truly exist. I speculate that it was an innately spiritual treasure from ancient times, but for various reasons, it is now but a strand of lingering will. Since that strand has already acknowledged you as its owner, you do not need to cling to conventional ways. Whether it is the ice mountains your master spoke of or that lotus, they do not actually exist. They all exist within your mind.
“Use your own cold intent to nurture this strand of will. I believe that one day, you can once again recreate a true Pure World Icelotus. Only then can you truly gain control over it and release even greater power.”
Chu Chuyan trembled and replied, “Master, I think I understand!”
“That’s my disciple!” Yan Xuehen remarked, nodding in appreciation. She taught her disciple while protecting her meridians through ki. She was also exhausted and breathing heavily now, her cheeks flushed with color.
…
Meanwhile, Zu An’s body also stopped briefly. Pei Mianman coughed a few times, seemingly choking.
A moment later, after she composed herself a bit, she showed him an ambiguous smile. She didn’t say anything, but her expression seemed to be saying ‘it has been a while since we met, but that’s all you have’?
Zu An’s face turned red. He asked, “Did you use Kiss of the G.o.ddess just now?”
Pei Mianman nodded. There was a mischievous look in her beautiful eyes.
Zu An looked amazed, thinking, That skill can even be used like that? No wonder I couldn't even hold on.
Pei Mianman blinked charmingly, her eyes silently asking ‘do you want more’?
Zu An nodded. He breathed in deeply.
I am a real man with bones of iron, someone who has suffered endless difficulties on the path of cultivation, someone who has faced difficulties head on! The more obstacles there are, the more courageous I become; how can I just give in so easily?
…
Meanwhile, Yan Xuehen instructed Chu Chuyan, “It is normal to fail when you are not proficient at first. Do it again using the previous method. Imagine that there are two ice mountains, and the Pure World Ice Lotus’ intent is trapped within. You cannot use force, so you have to cleverly guide it and polish it…
“In the past, your master obtained a heart sutra from those old monks of Tranquility Temple. It just happens to be beneficial for your current situation. Listen carefully.
“Without the clear guidance of broad daylight, the impoverished have no way of finding the path home. Those who wish to achieve greatness must first let go of what they see and hear. When all these have been exhausted, obscurity and confusion will cease to arise. Great wisdom is unveiled, while all else dissipates. A state of ultimate oneness, boundaries and distinctions blurred and nonexistent…”