Liuli

On the main peak of the Snow Listening Tower. Liuli returned to her cave dwelling to cultivate in seclusion. Shixue assembled the disciples to handle the administrative backlog that had accumulated during her absence, working herself ragged. Not until late into the night did she finally let out a long breath, dismiss her attendants, and step out of the Lineage Head Hall. The night was deep and heavy. Standing high above, Shixue looked out over the nocturnal scenery of the Snow Listening Tower. Some of the peaks were blanketed in snow, while others were as warm as spring and lush with vegetation—each uniquely different, maintained by spiritual arrays that kept out the external cold. What kind of view a peak held depended entirely on the whim of its mountain master. Pavilions and halls stood thick amid the mountains. Arches of jade bridges spanned the chasms between the summits like flying rainbows. On the main peak, no one was permitted to fly, not even Shixue herself as the lineage head. After gazing into the distance for a long time, she drew a deep breath and walked down the jade steps. Both her cave dwelling and Liuli's were situated on the main peak, not far apart. Shixue first arrived outside Liuli's cave dwelling, but after a moment's hesitation, decided against disturbing her junior sister's seclusion. She continued toward her own residence, but as she passed the entrance of a quiet, secluded hall, her expression shifted. Stopping in her tracks, she pushed the door open and walked inside. This hall was where the Snow Listening Tower lineage enshrined the ancestral spirit tablets. Two disciples were stationed there guarding the eternal lamps; seeing the lineage head enter, they hurriedly stepped forward to bow. She dismissed the two disciples, closed the hall doors, pinched three sticks of incense, bowed to the tablets behind the altar, and inserted the incense into the censer. Wreaths of smoke curled upward. Through the blue-gray haze, Shixue's gaze settled on one of the spirit tablets. The name carved upon it was Bing Yao—their master. An unprecedented trace of vulnerability surfaced in Shixue's expression. She lowered herself onto the floor, murmuring softly as though confiding her experiences to her master as a child: "Master, I have already prepared everything for Junior Sister. Once she adjusts her condition to its peak, she will be able to break through. Not only will her Ice Soul Divine Light reach completion, but the bottleneck will shatter in a single stroke, allowing her to advance to the middle Nascent Soul stage before the first heavenly tribulation descends. At that time, she will be qualified to enter the Body Cleansing Pool. With her talent, seizing that opportunity will surely allow her to become a great cultivator and restore the Snow Listening Tower. But…" Here, the joy in Shixue's eyes faded, replaced by sudden worry. "Junior Sister has a stubborn nature. In order to stabilize her Dao heart back then, she did not hesitate to freeze her heart with the Ice Soul, severing all romantic feelings. Yet ill fate dogs her steps. At this critical juncture, that heartless man suddenly appeared. Her demeanor may look normal on the surface, but freezing one's feelings is not eliminating them. I worry that her Dao heart will suffer a blow because of this, and… and…" A sigh escaped her lips into the empty hall. "If he were an ordinary man, it wouldn't matter. But from what I've seen, he is an exceptional figure of the world. Can Junior Sister truly let someone like him go? I cannot help her; I can only drop indirect, useless hints, and that heartless man is hardly someone who can be manipulated." Confusion filled Shixue's eyes. "If your spirit in heaven can hear me, Master, can you tell this disciple what Junior Sister's inner knot truly is? What should I do?" The dead of night was completely silent. In the dead of winter, not a single sound of bird or beast could be heard. Shixue sat cross-legged upon the prayer mat, remaining quiet for a long time. The hall was gloomy and still, lit only by the flickering amber candle flames whose glow was cast over her slender figure. *** The following evening. Qin Sang was meditating when he sensed the formation outside his small pavilion being disturbed. Sweeping his divine sense across it, he found Shixue standing outside. "Greetings, Lineage Head Shi." Qin Sang stepped out of the pavilion and cupped his hands in salute. Shixue returned the greeting, glanced at the pavilion, and asked with a smile, "Is the Daoist satisfied with this place?" Qin Sang nodded. "The scenery is superb. It is a rare, top-grade cave dwelling." "As long as Fellow Daoist does not feel neglected." Shixue stood still before the pavilion without stepping inside, saying with a serious tone, "There is one more matter that requires the Daoist's cooperation. We were fatigued from traveling yesterday, so I did not mention it. According to the customs of the Snow Listening Tower, inducting a guest elder requires paying respects to the ancestors under their witness. Although you are only assuming the identity of a guest elder in name, it would still be improper to break our rules." "Is that so? Whatever is required, Lineage Head Shi need only instruct me." Since he was already here, Qin Sang went with the flow and naturally cooperated fully. "There is no need for you to do much—merely offer a stick of incense before the ancestors' spirit tablets." Shixue led Qin Sang toward the ancestral hall, explaining, "As long as Hall Master Jiang and I approve of you, there is no need to obtain anyone else's consent. The Grand Elder will speak to Hall Master Jiang on our behalf. Hearing that you plan to travel outside in a while, I wished to quietly complete the rites before you leave and present you with your elder medallion. Should you encounter any trouble outside, you can use this medallion to mobilize Xuantian Palace's forces abroad. Once a suitable occasion arises in the future, we will publicly announce your identity." Hall Master Jiang was the middle Nascent Soul cultivator of the Snow Listening Tower lineage. As they spoke, the two turned from the rear mountain onto the main peak. Likely due to a deliberately chosen route, they encountered no one along the way. Qin Sang looked around. The peaks surrounding the main peak possessed the thickest spiritual energy. He noticed that restrictions flickered within many of the pavilions and halls, showing they were occupied—doubtless the pillar talents of the Snow Listening Tower. At this moment, Shixue slowed her pace ahead and asked with apparent casualness, "Does the Daoist have a Dao companion? Even if your partner is not a Nascent Soul cultivator, they may enjoy the privileges of a guest elder alongside you." Qin Sang turned to glance at her. "I am alone, with no Dao companion." Shixue showed a look of surprise. "With your cultivation, Daoist, finding a Dao companion should hardly be difficult, should it?" "Aren't you also on your own, Lineage Head?" Qin Sang countered, having detected something odd in her behavior. If Shixue was probing him on Liuli's behalf, Qin Sang did not believe it for a second. Although he had not interacted with Liuli extensively, he understood her temperament very well. In both their eyes, what happened back then had merely been a transaction. Had they not crossed paths again by sheer twist of fate, they would have long had nothing to do with each other. "If I remain trapped by my bottleneck a century from now, I will seek a Dao companion and attempt dual cultivation," Shixue stated frankly without the slightest bashfulness, discussing it with Qin Sang as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "The Daoist doesn't hold a prejudice against the path of dual cultivation, does he?" "The harmony of yin and yang, fostering endless creation, is an orthodox Dao. Why would I reject it? However, true dual cultivation between man and woman where life and spirit share the same source is the Great Dao. Yet most techniques along this path are skewed and veer close to wicked arts, and finding a compatible companion is as difficult as ascending to the heavens. The difficulty of the path of dual cultivation is by no means lesser than any other Great Dao." Having cultivated to this point and even experimented with a corpse core, there was no way Qin Sang had never studied the path of dual cultivation. In the eyes of many cultivators, dual cultivation was seen as a shortcut and equated with plundering vital essence. Most of it consisted of plundering and bewitching arts, and even many dual cultivation techniques boasting of orthodox Daoist heritage failed to break free from that mold. They brought temporary benefits but endless repercussions. Dual cultivation arts that genuinely conformed to the Great Dao were exceedingly rare, demanding extraordinarily high natural talent from both practitioners, doubling the burden across two people. "You speak with great reason, Daoist. That is precisely why I have hesitated all this time." Shixue glanced at Qin Sang, deep in thought, and nodded in agreement. As they conversed, the ancestral hall came into view. The two pushed open the door and entered. Liuli was inside, kneeling on both knees with her palms joined. Seeing them arrive, she stood up to greet them. Qin Sang swept his gaze across the room and noticed Bing Yao's spirit tablet. He already knew that Bing Yao was Liuli's master. That woman was clearly trapped in the Ziwei Palace with her life or death unknown, yet the Snow Listening Tower had erected a spirit tablet for her so early on. Shixue and Liuli were as close as sisters, yet even she was kept in the dark. A while ago, Liuli had approached Qin Sang privately, asking him not to expose the matter. This made him even more curious about her intentions. He wondered whether there was some hidden circumstance behind Bing Yao's disappearance, or if Bing Yao had some formidable enemy. Qin Sang only cared about the sacred ground and had no desire to pry, lest unexpected complications arise. Shixue lit three incense sticks. Qin Sang raised the incense, bowed three times, and planted the sticks into the censer, completing the ancestral witness. He then accepted the elder medallion handed to him by Shixue. The medallion contained a unique imprint that, once activated, could summon nearby disciples of Xuantian Palace to his command. Qin Sang voiced his thanks, stowed the medallion with a flip of his hand, discussed a few more matters with the two women, and returned to his pavilion. *** In the eastern region of the Hidden Sun Realm. Here lay a grand city rarely seen in the mortal world. Even during the cold season, people crowded the streets in bustling prosperity. Streaks of light from flying cultivators crossed the sky above the city from time to time. The mortals were already accustomed to it, looking up for only a fleeting moment before putting away their envious gazes to continue laboring for their livelihoods. Mortals and cultivators lived together within this city. At the city's heart lay an inner city where not only were mortals barred, but even the rogue cultivators attached to the settlement dared not trespass without permission. For this was the domain of the Luo Clan. As a cultivator family within Xuantian Palace, while not matching the four main lineages in strength, the Luo Clan was quite renowned in the Hidden Sun Realm because their cultivators were proficient in the Dao of dual cultivation. The current family head was even a Nascent Soul cultivator. A Nascent Soul Patriarch sat high above, rarely seen by mortals or low-level disciples. At this moment, Luo Wan, the head of the Luo Clan, was personally entertaining an honored guest. "I wondered why the magpies were chattering outside my window today. It turns out Lineage Head Shi has graced us with her presence. What brings you to my humble abode in such fine spirits?" Luo Wan wore brocade attire cut in the style of a qipao, her figure graceful and seductive, exuding an air of enchantment with every move she made. Even a woman seeing her might flush red if her resolve were insufficient. Sitting opposite her was none other than Shixue. At some point, Shixue had slipped away from the Snow Listening Tower to pay Luo Wan a visit. She was clearly very familiar with Luo Wan. Glaring slightly with her pretty eyes, she retorted, "What blind magpie would dare flock to a vixen's spider den? Aren't they afraid of having their essence sucked dry and being swallowed whole?" "Knowing I'm a vixen, you still dared to enter?" Luo Wan was not the least bit annoyed. Her eyes turned silky with flirtatious charm, and her breath was as sweet as orchids. She leaned slightly to the side, radiating sensual allure. Shixue was naturally spirited and lively, but compared to the woman before her, she paled in comparison. Coldly scoffing, she said, "Spare me your wanton display. I came on serious business; otherwise, I wouldn't step foot in your spider den even if you begged me." Pausing, Shixue asked somewhat awkwardly, "Does your Luo Clan still possess the *Goddess Heart Scripture*?" Luo Wan froze upon hearing this. Straightening up, she looked Shixue up and down, giggling playfully, "Old witch, have you finally developed mortal desires? Don't tell me you're grazing on young grass! Which clan's young talent is so unfortunate?" "Enough nonsense!" Shixue showed a look of impatience. "I am seeking this dual cultivation technique on someone else's behalf. I can swear an oath that it will only be taught to the two of them as a pair of Dao companions and never leaked. If you agree, I will grant the Luo Clan a quota to enter the Ice Wind Cave the next time the sacred ground opens." "A spot for a late Core Formation disciple to enter the Ice Wind Cave? Are you serious?!" Luo Wan's flirtatious manner vanished entirely, making her look like a completely different person. Only now did she exude the imposing aura fitting of a Nascent Soul Patriarch. Shixue huffed, "Would I lie to you? I can swear by my inner demons, but you must not let word of this slip. The Luo Clan is aligned with the Tianshan lineage, but the Tianshan lineage originated from an alliance of various sects, factions, and rogue cultivators around the Tianshan area. While it appears strong now, it is rife with internal factions and conflicts—it's merely boiling oil over a raging fire. There is no way they would spare a spot for your Luo Clan." "You don't need to explain that to me." Luo Wan tapped a finger on the table. "No one in the Luo Clan has mastered the *Goddess Heart Scripture* for two thousand years; it is virtually useless to us. Trading it for a spot in the Ice Wind Cave is no loss. However, I must warn you of a few things, lest something goes wrong later and you go back on your word. "First, since the Luo Clan obtained the *Goddess Heart Scripture*, only two people have ever mastered it. You can imagine its difficulty. "Not only does this technique demand exceptionally high talent, but the cultivators' emotions must undergo violent turbulence. It cannot be feigned—it must stem from genuine feelings, an intense infatuation. Only by entering the Dao at the very moment when their passions erupt to their absolute peak can they cultivate this method. "Second, if there is the slightest mistake and one forces the cultivation, the result is a fractured Dao heart, dragging their partner down with them to become a pair of doomed lovers. "Over countless years, countless Luo Clan geniuses were ruined by it, until people began avoiding it like a tiger and shelved it away. "If you are seeking the *Goddess Heart Scripture* for a close junior, I advise you to think twice. If a good seedling is destroyed, don't blame it on the Luo Clan." Hearing these words, Shixue felt torn. She had once heard Luo Wan mention the *Goddess Heart Scripture*, and feeling that Liuli's current state of mind aligned closely with this technique, she had come to request it. She had not expected the consequences to be so severe. Liuli and that heartless man were both top-tier figures in the world; there was no need to worry about their talent. Nor was there any doubt about Liuli's deep affection. That was the rarest element of all. Once cultivators reached the Nascent Soul realm, having witnessed the world's splendors and weathered countless storms through repeated temperings of the heart, it was difficult for violent emotional waves to stir within them, let alone falling madly in love. Hence, the *Goddess Heart Scripture* could generally only be cultivated by young men and women who had not yet experienced much of the world, meaning their cultivation would never be very high. Unlike them, Liuli and that heartless man were both Nascent Soul cultivators. Once they sensed something amiss, they would possess the ability to forcibly terminate the dual cultivation, so a tragic ending like those of the Luo Clan disciples was unlikely to occur. With this thought, Shixue made up her mind and extended an open palm. "Thank you for the warning! Whether it is suitable or not will only be known after trying." She was not trying to forcibly play matchmaker for her junior sister and Qin Sang; she knew she lacked the authority to make decisions for them. This was simply preparing for a rainy day. Ever since Qin Sang appeared, she had worried that meeting her past lover would destabilize Liuli's Dao heart. This was the critical moment of Liuli's cultivation; the problem could not be ignored. At the instant of breaking through the bottleneck, Liuli could not afford any distraction. Freezing one's heart was not eliminating feelings. If the freeze failed and her emotions experienced wild swings, the breakthrough would fail and all previous efforts would be ruined. In severe cases, it could even lead to the collapse of Liuli's Dao heart, shattering her hopes for the Great Dao. Shixue was terribly anxious, yet she could not speak of this to Liuli directly. She could only drop hints for Liuli to realize on her own, lest she achieve the opposite of what she intended. After thinking it through, the only thing she could do was obtain the *Goddess Heart Scripture*. If the freezing of her heart failed and Liuli's suppressed emotions erupted, it would be no ordinary surge—it would be the best moment to enter the Dao. When that time came, Shixue would present the *Goddess Heart Scripture* and let the two of them decide whether to cultivate it. To this end, Shixue had deliberately tested Qin Sang's attitude and learned that he had no Dao companion and harbored no prejudice against dual cultivation, having merely lacked a suitable technique and partner. Looking across the women of the world, how many could match her junior sister in looks, talent, and elegance? Countless men in Xuantian Palace were smitten with her. Besides, Qin Sang and her junior sister already had a history together; it would be a completely natural progression. Shixue could see no reason for Qin Sang to refuse. Luo Wan had said so much earlier because she feared the technique might cause problems and ruin a Nascent Soul cultivator's kin from the Snow Listening Tower, bringing wrath down upon the Luo Clan. Seeing that Shixue was set on her course, she was naturally more than pleased. She immediately produced a jade slip and handed it to Shixue. "With such extreme requirements to enter the Dao, this is a dual cultivation technique, right? Not one of those wicked essence-plundering arts you cultivate, is it?" Shixue asked out of caution. "Naturally," Luo Wan laughed softly, her voice turning coy and sweet. "This method can not only be cultivated by a man and a woman, but also by two women—it only requires one woman to concurrently practice an extreme yang secret art to receive the yang energy. If you don't believe me, why don't the two of us try it first?" Shixue showed a look of disgust, spat in disdain, and rose to leave. Luo Wan refused to let her go until she had written a binding pledge, after which she finally relented. *** Leaving the Luo Clan, Shixue hurried back. The moment she returned to the Snow Listening Tower, she found a voice transmission talisman left by Liuli at her cave dwelling and hurried over to Liuli's residence. "Junior Sister, you're preparing to assault the bottleneck right now?" Shixue pushed open the door and entered, seeing Liuli sitting cross-legged with spiritual items such as the Yinli Bead and Ditong fruits lined up before her. Liuli opened her eyes. Her gaze was profound, like deep pools, and she nodded gently. Her aura was exceptionally tranquil; she had made all necessary preparations for the breakthrough. Shixue observed her carefully. Seeing no anomalies in her junior sister, she reassured herself that she might have overthought things. "Let us go to the Floating Snow Tower. There are restrictions left by Master there, so no one will disturb you. I will guard you during your breakthrough." "Alright!" Liuli made a grasping motion with her jade-like hand, stowing the spiritual items. She followed Shixue out of the cave dwelling, turned toward the rear mountain, traversed a snowy path, and arrived at a hollow where a lone wooden tower stood amidst swirling snow. The interior of the wooden tower was spacious and sparsely furnished. At the exact center lay a cold jade bed, beneath which an intaglio pattern of a six-petaled snowflake was carved into the floor. Once activated, it would form a protective light barrier. Coupled with the grand formation surrounding the wooden tower, it provided a double layer of defense to ensure nothing went awry. Liuli walked toward the cold jade bed and flicked her finger. A streak of light sank into the floor, and a hemispherical barrier of light erupted, remarkably sturdy. Shixue took guard at the entrance of the wooden tower, taking control of the grand formation. Exchanging a glance with Shixue, Liuli sat cross-legged upon the cold jade, retrieved the spiritual items, and closed her eyes. Within the wooden tower, utter silence fell. Shixue dared not relax, keeping her eyes fixed on Liuli's every change. An unknown amount of time passed. Liuli's hands rested on her knees, cupped as though holding the moon. Suddenly, white mist began to emerge from her palms. Seeing this, Shixue's eyes narrowed slightly. Knowing the Ice Soul Divine Light very well, she knew this cold energy was generated by the Divine Light affecting its surroundings; her junior sister was nearing the most critical juncture. The cold energy gathered into a sphere above Liuli's palms, crystalline within and holding firm without dispersing, looking as if she were cradling an orb of ice. Just then. The Yinli Bead before Liuli trembled slightly, floating upward on its own and sinking into the center of the cold mist. Though enveloped by the Ice Soul Divine Light, the Yinli Bead did not melt. It spun steadily, remaining remarkably solid. The cold mist gained a core. At this point, Liuli stopped acting upon the Yinli Bead and shifted her focus, guiding lesser cold spiritual items to merge into the Ice Soul Divine Light one after another. These spiritual items were not as sturdy as the Yinli Bead. Under the assault of the Ice Soul Divine Light, they instantly melted into the purest cold energy to be refined by Liuli. The spiritual items before her vanished one by one. In the end, only medicinal pills and elixirs such as the Ditong fruits remained. *Crack!* Jade bottles popped open one after another. Liuli parted her delicate lips slightly, swallowing the spiritual pills. Immediately, the cold energy in her palms surged violently like a tempest of frost. Under the storm's impact, the Yinli Bead could no longer hold out. Light rippled across its surface as though it were on the verge of melting, and white fissures gradually spread over it. *Bang!* The Yinli Bead shattered. The fragments were instantly swept away by the storm, ultimately vanishing completely and leaving behind a strand of the purest cold energy, intensely eye-catching within the Ice Soul Divine Light. Three Ditong fruits flew together before Liuli, turning into three masses of pure spiritual liquid. As she consumed the Ditong fruits, Liuli remained motionless with eyes closed, but her aura suddenly fluctuated. The cold energy in her palms contracted madly inwards. The cold energy left behind by the Yinli Bead seemed unable to bear the pressure; it suddenly exploded, merging completely into the Ice Soul Divine Light. At the same time, the true essence within Liuli's body surged frantically like stormy waves, yet her physical body remained completely still. She was seizing the moment before the secret art reached completion to charge at the bottleneck! Liuli's aura climbed higher and higher without the slightest impediment, progressing as smoothly as anticipated. Shixue's eyes widened, her tension reaching a peak. Seeing this progress, her expression relaxed slightly, and she was just about to smile when her face abruptly fell. An improper flush of crimson suddenly crept across Liuli's snow-white cheeks. Her tightly closed eyes trembled violently, as if her emotions were undergoing a tumultuous storm beyond her power to restrain. In an instant, Liuli's aura ground to a halt, ceasing its rise. Liuli still persevered, but the emotional upheaval grew more and more pronounced. Her aura gradually descended into disorder, her delicate frame began to tremble, and even the Ice Soul Divine Light in her palms showed signs of instability. Shixue was horrified. The very thing she feared most was happening! *** At this time, Qin Sang was in the snow mountains north of the Snow Listening Tower, searching for an underground yin vein in preparation for refining his external incarnation. As he sped between the snow peaks, Qin Sang's heart stirred. Halting midair, the Qianjun Ring flashed, and the elder medallion hopped out, glowing with white light. A transmission from the lineage head, summoning him on urgent business! Qin Sang's eyes narrowed. Turning back toward the Snow Listening Tower, he wondered whether something had gone wrong with the arrangements to observe the sacred ground rites. Not daring to delay, he immediately rode his sword back. Guided by the elder medallion, Qin Sang found the hollow and spotted the wooden tower. Sweeping his divine sense across the surroundings, he confirmed nothing seemed amiss. Qin Sang flashed before the wooden tower. With a soft creak, Shixue pulled the door open from within. She looked at him with a complex expression, flicked a jade slip into his hand, and pleaded earnestly, "I hope the Daoist can help Liuli this once. The Snow Listening Tower will surely reward you handsomely!" Baffled, Qin Sang checked the contents of the jade slip and froze even further, lifting his gaze toward the doorway. Just then, a small sword condensed from cold energy fell right past the tip of his nose, barring him outside the door. Inside the room. Liuli was seated cross-legged upon the cold jade, having awakened at some unknown moment. Looking at Qin Sang and Shixue, her face was pale. She allowed the aura in her body to plummet rapidly, biting her jade lips tightly with an unyielding expression. Her eyes were as pure and clear as glazed crystal.