"Master?"
The moment Qianqian returned to her room, she saw Zhuang Muyu standing by the window, gazing up at the clouds.
Zhuang Muyu did not turn around. Only an esoteric, profound force coiled within the room.
Qianqian's body remained still, yet the hems of her robes fluttered without any wind, instantly dispersing that force into nothingness.
Zhuang Muyu finally turned. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, followed by a trace of gratification. "You have made swift progress."
Qianqian said with a beaming smile, "It is all thanks to Master's fine teachings."
Zhuang Muyu smiled faintly. "You found your own path."
At this point, Zhuang Muyu's expression grew placid. "Yet I see he has not fallen completely in love with you, whereas you have already placed a great deal of your heart and soul on him. That is why your progress has been so rapid."
Qianqian chuckled coquettishly. "Still, I can feel that his heart stirs for me."
Zhuang Muyu's gaze narrowed slightly. She gave Qianqian a deep look before asking, "Have you still not found *All Streams Returning to the Source*?"
"No." Qianqian shook her head.
She truly had made great efforts to search for it. She had searched before going to the Western Regions, and she had continued searching after returning, yet she genuinely had not found it.
Zhuang Muyu lowered her delicate brows, pondering for a moment. "Enough. Since that is the case, the matter of searching for *All Streams Returning to the Source* will be set aside for now. I have another task for you."
Qianqian's heart gave a thump. "What task?"
Zhuang Muyu gave an irrelevant answer: "Yuxian Palace has sent another personal disciple out into the world."
"Oh?" Qianqian asked out of curiosity. "Didn't Mo Xiyun come out last—the year before last? I've met her before. She was no match for me."
Zhuang Muyu shook her head. "It is not Mo Xiyun."
Qianqian was taken aback. "Doesn't each generation of Yuxian Palace have only one disciple wandering the pugilistic world? If this person is stronger than Mo Xiyun, why wasn't she the one sent to wander the realm?"
Zhuang Muyu replied, "Because this person was only taken into the palace by that woman surnamed Wu early last year."
Qianqian froze upon hearing this, then gasped in sheer shock. "She reached Xiantian in just one year, and even surpassed Mo Xiyun?"
Qianqian was genuinely stunned. According to Zhuang Muyu, she herself was already a prodigy rare to encounter once in a century in the Xuansu Sect, far ahead of her peers in cultivation and combat strength.
Having begun martial practice at eight and broken through to Xiantian at thirteen, her speed could be ranked in the top three throughout the Sacred Cult's history, and in the contemporary martial world, she was virtually peerless.
Leng Jiangzhu, regarded by the Meishan Sect as the hope of their next generation, seemed utterly mediocre in her eyes. And had Fang Shaobai not advanced by leaps and bounds after receiving Wang Yu's 'pointers,' she wouldn't have spared him a glance either.
Yet breaking through to Xiantian in a single year was simply too preposterous.
Qianqian knew full well that Yuxian Palace would never accept disciples with prior training. Yet to comprehend one's martial path and achieve Xiantian, one's mind could not be too immature. That meant—
"Yuxian Palace took in a girl in her teens who had never practiced martial arts before, yet within a year, she reached Xiantian and surpassed Mo Xiyun, whom Yuxian Palace had groomed for ten years as their next palace master," Qianqian said.
Zhuang Muyu gave a silent nod.
Qianqian's expression finally grew solemn.
For such a situation to occur, there was only one possibility.
Qianqian said in a grave voice, "She must have extraordinary innate aptitude, with all her meridians fully open from birth. A single year of cultivation equals ten years of another's. She is a martial arts prodigy seen once in ten thousand."
Zhuang Muyu looked at Qianqian. "So are you."
Qianqian's brows curved into a coquettish smile. "True, so am I.
"It just so happens that I find facing Mo Xiyun quite boring anyway. After a year, she's even less of a match for me," Qianqian laughed. "A newcomer is all the better."
Zhuang Muyu nodded. "Good. Come with me to see her."
Qianqian's heart jumped again. "Right now?"
"Yes, right now." Zhuang Muyu looked at Qianqian with burning eyes. "Do you not wish to leave?"
"Of course not." Qianqian shook her head, linking her arm through Zhuang Muyu's with a grin. "I just feel it's unnecessary. I've already met Mo Xiyun and seen Yuxian Palace's martial arts. My cultivation is progressing faster and faster now—"
Zhuang Muyu cut her off, saying calmly, "Since that isn't the case, then come with me.
"There are no leads on *All Streams Returning to the Source* for now, and some peripheral disciples of our cult have entered the three prefectures as well. Leaving for a while will do no harm," Zhuang Muyu said. "It will serve to steady your cultivation and disturb Zhao Yu's composure."
Qianqian's smile faded somewhat. Lowering her head, she said, "Yes."
Zhuang Muyu looked at Qianqian. "Your cultivation speed was already exceptionally fast. It was only last year, when it finally stabilized somewhat, that I sent you to the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor to search for *All Streams Returning to the Source* for your subsequent advancement.
"Who would have thought you would set your eyes on Zhao Yu, taking him as a cultivation vessel to pursue the path of elevating the spirit through emotion? Your cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds once more, and I know not whether this is a blessing or a curse."
Zhuang Muyu continued, "Our sect's *Mysterious Maiden Classic* originates from the Sacred Cult's foundational method and later split into the Mysterious Maiden and Plain Maiden lineages. While the technique allows for rapid progress, its realms carry inherent flaws. The faster you cultivate, the more perilous it truly becomes.
"The *Mysterious Maiden Classic* possesses keen sensitivity. Your rapid advancement shows that he does hold affection for you, but you must invest yourself just as deeply, only to sever those emotions in the end to achieve complete mastery. If any misstep occurs—
"I am helping you." Zhuang Muyu offered a rare explanation: "The *Mysterious Maiden Classic* must, after all, keep you in control. Leaving for a time will allow you to calm your mind proactively while unnerving Zhao Yu's heart. In the end—"
Qianqian said, "Yet if I do so, even if I eventually transcend emotion to attain the Dao, a flaw will remain in my state of mind."
Zhuang Muyu replied, "A flaw in your state of mind can be mended slowly. That is far better than your martial arts stalling, unable to advance another inch."
Zhuang Muyu genuinely cared for Qianqian and did not want her to take unnecessary risks.
In her view, as long as Qianqian proceeded step by step, she could become a Xiantian Grandmaster within five years and catch up to her in ten. Surpassing her would be a natural course of events. There was no need at all to walk the path of elevating the spirit through emotion.
Yet now that Qianqian had embarked on this path, she could not stop her, only help improve her odds of success.
Qianqian lowered her head. "Understood."
Zhuang Muyu nodded. "Early tomorrow morning, I will wait for you at the pavilion east of the city."
As her voice fell, Zhuang Muyu drifted lightly out the window.
Qianqian instinctively asked, "What is this newcomer's name?"
"Chen Wangshu."
Accompanied by Zhuang Muyu's faint voice, her plain white gauze dress blended almost entirely with the white snow, fading softly between heaven and earth.
***
When night fell, Wang Yu was left alone in his bedchamber.
*Creak.*
With a faint sound, a plain white shadow drifted lightly into Wang Yu's main quarters.
Wang Yu opened his eyes abruptly, only to see Qianqian sitting on the table.
"Why are you here?" Wang Yu asked.
"I'm leaving," Qianqian replied.
Wang Yu's heart jumped, and he sat up. "Where to?"
Qianqian said wistfully, "Leaving is just leaving. Since you won't come with me, what does it matter to you where I go?"
Wang Yu stared at Qianqian, noticing her mournful expression and the sadness in her eyes.
Then he lay straight back down on the bed. "When are you coming back?"
Qianqian glared at him. Her figure floated over to the edge of the bed, and she reached out to pinch Wang Yu's arm. "When did I ever say I was coming back?"
Wang Yu reached back to seize her wrist. Qianqian twisted her wrist to skirt around his grip. Their hands interlocked for a brief moment before Qianqian caught Wang Yu's wrist and pinned him against the bed.
Wang Yu: "..."
"If you don't come back, how will you use me for your cultivation?" Wang Yu asked.
Qianqian gave a soft huff. "Even if I don't come back, I can still use you to practice!"
Wang Yu's eyes flickered. "Did your master arrive?"
Qianqian smiled faintly and leaned close to Wang Yu, her breath fragrant as orchids. "Indeed. Master heard that you haven't obtained *All Streams Returning to the Source* and became furious. She told me to leave and steer clear first, lest I get splattered with blood."
Wang Yu could not help but wince. "I've been so obedient and cooperative. Is there any need to hold on to this one point? The Xuansu Sect has a thousand years of heritage; would they truly care so much about *All Streams Returning to the Source*?"
Qianqian rolled her eyes at him and finally explained, "Because the Xuansu Sect's manual was divided twice. Master wants *All Streams Returning to the Source* precisely to merge the *Mysterious Maiden Classic* and the *Plain Maiden Classic* back together."
Wang Yu's eyes lit up. "Elaborate!"
Qianqian's eyes chilled. "I'm telling you I'm leaving, and you want me to elaborate on martial manuals?"
Wang Yu's eyes shifted. "Then we can talk about it when you get back?"
Qianqian giggled. "Brother Yu, are you reluctant to part with me?"
Wang Yu nodded, speaking honestly, "A little."
Qianqian drew circles on Wang Yu's chest with her finger, cooing, "Our sect's purpose is to transcend emotion and attain the Dao. Aren't you worried that I'm merely using you as a cultivation vessel, only to kick you aside in the end?"
Wang Yu replied with utmost solemnity, "Didn't you say you'd marry me once your martial arts could advance no further?"
The two looked into each other's eyes, each seeing their own reflection in the other's pupils.
Qianqian's breathing grew slightly heavy.
Wang Yu wrapped his other arm around Qianqian's slender waist.
The two drew closer and closer—
Qianqian's eyes turned sultry, her cherry lips brushing against Wang Yu's ear as she breathed softly, "Brother Yu, if you take me, my master will kill someone."
Wang Yu arched an eyebrow with a grin. "What if you're the one who takes the initiative?"
Qianqian chuckled. "She'd still kill someone, of course."
Taking a deep breath, Qianqian rolled over, pulling Wang Yu upright as well. "Leaving this time, I am going to meet the successor of Yuxian Palace."
"Yuxian Palace?" Wang Yu was stunned. "Yuxian Palace is one of the Three Great Holy Grounds of the martial world. They have nothing to do with your Demonic Cult. Why are you going to see her?"
Having transmigrated for a year, Wang Yu was no longer an ignorant novice. Even if there were still many minor factions and rogue martial artists he knew nothing about, he had long known of world-renowned entities like Yuxian Palace.
Yet he had always assumed Yuxian Palace was far removed from him and that their paths would not cross anytime soon.
"Nothing to do with us?" Qianqian laughed. "Yuxian Palace has fought with our cult for hundreds of years, and you say we have nothing to do with each other?"
Wang Yu was puzzled. "Why have you fought for hundreds of years?"
There were countless factions in the martial realm—the Seven Great Sword Sects, the Two Buddhist Sects, the Two Daoist Palaces, and quite a few prominent martial clans. Yet aside from transient gangs that rose and fell, one rarely heard of these great sects with hundreds of years of heritage holding longstanding vendettas against one another.
Furthermore, the Three Great Holy Grounds of the martial world had always remained aloof from mundane affairs. Not only did they have few disciples, but their traces in the martial realm were also exceedingly rare. To many practitioners, they were mere legends; anyone fortunate enough to encounter one could boast about it for ages.
How could such a power have formed an enmity with the Demonic Cult and fought for centuries?
"Naturally, because of taking sides in the struggle for the realm." Qianqian curled her lip. "Forty years ago, when the new dynasty was founded, Yuxian Palace contributed quite a bit of effort. Not only did they marry off a disciple to become an imperial concubine to the founding emperor, but they also took one of his daughters as a disciple."
Wang Yu could not help but grimace. "That really is deeply entangled."
Chapter 103