Chapter 386: Mu Wanxuan's Dilemma

Shi Qianzhang had been in seclusion for quite some time now. Huai Jing would occasionally also go into seclusion, but he was really just gaming. Liu Yunzhi also spent long periods in seclusion.

Having expended vast amounts of spiritual power during the last battle abroad, the sword spirit was still asleep. Although Mu Wanxuan remained near Wang Sheng, she was constantly cultivating.

Wang Sheng suddenly realized that whenever he wanted someone to talk to, all he could do was occasionally lecture his younger sister, the only disciple of an immortal currently. Having received a finger of enlightenment from Yaoyun, Xiaomiao's cultivation had been progressing at remarkable speed.

It had just been half a year since she became a cultivator, yet when Wang Sheng returned from the Small Nether Realm to the villa, he learned that she had already started trying to fast. It completely broke the record that he and his senior sister had set for fastest seed formation among the younger generation.

Hence, Wang Sheng ordered a set of high school textbooks for her, along with the full series of "Three Years of Cultivation and Five Years of Scripture Recitation," which would allow her to build a rich foundation of knowledge while she was still young. Deep accumulation was required to truly unlock one's potential. This was one of the three fundamental laws of the cultivation world.

As a responsible and compassionate modern cultivator and role model, Wang Sheng couldn't possibly harm his own sister. Still, as time passed, his attention toward his sister gradually diminished. His own cultivation slowed significantly as well, but definitely not because Mu Wanxuan's looks had bewitched him enough to forget about cultivating. Though they spent nearly every day together, they were always meditating. They had even less physical intimacy than new young couples, which already didn't qualify as "indulgence."

Mu Wanxuan's coming attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm weighed on his mind.

When Wang Sheng broke through, he had encountered little danger. His Golden Core had already reached a critical level of refinement, allowing him to transform his Golden Core into his Nascent Soul. It was far superior and safer than shattering his core to birth his Nascent Soul.

Mu Wanxuan could hardly attain that quality. She had also been repeatedly stuck on bottlenecks. Nevertheless, her overall cultivation progressed swiftly. After nine months of seclusion, she and Wang Sheng broke through almost simultaneously.

Mu Wanxuan stabilized at the late stage of the Heavenly Abode Realm and was now gathering spiritual perception to perfect it. With sudden enlightenment, she could even transform her Golden Core into a Nascent Soul instead of shattering it.

Meanwhile, Wang Sheng had advanced to the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul Realm. His progress speed was nothing short of terrifying.

When Huai Jing, who occasionally chatted with him, heard the news, he could not help but send a witty remark.

Huai Jing: Fei Yu, did you renew your cheat in the Small Nether Realm again, or is this the century-long premium account? If you know the seller, could you introduce them to me?

Wang Sheng only chuckled.

One of the three main principles of the cultivation world was that the deeper the realm, the longer it took to break through. However, that principle no longer applied to Wang Sheng.

In ancient Daoist texts, the word "three" was a general number meaning "many." Though there were only three known great laws, it wouldn't be unreasonable if there turned out to be a fourth or fifth.

Seeing that Mu Wanxuan could break through at any time, Wang Sheng's worries deepened. Forming her core years ago had already been perilous. Yin and yang qi were exceedingly difficult to balance, leaving her with very slim chances of success.

Breaking into the Nascent Soul Realm would be many times more dangerous. That was why Daoist heritages rarely passed down the Dao of Yin and Yang in the current era.

The biggest issue was that not even Mu Wanxuan knew what form her Nascent Soul should take.

Wang Sheng constantly pondered what he could do to help her.

In the past, the discussions that they had about the Dao only left him questioning his own insight and spiritual roots. It made him secretly hope that their future children would be blessed with exceptional aptitude, intelligence, and perception... if Mu Wanxuan wished to have children.

He often felt fortunate that he had chosen the sword. Whenever a sword cultivator faced bottlenecks, they would always have techniques to practice and forms to refine.

Mu Wanxuan, however, cultivated in the Dao of Balanced Yin and Yang. She had no techniques or forms to draw upon, no supreme scripture like the Heavenly Ziwei Sword Art to serve as a guide. All she could rely on was her own exploration and the Yin-Yang Secret Scroll, which she had already comprehended fully.

The issue at hand was essentially rooted in her lack of accumulated cultivation techniques.

***

One day, on the villa's rooftop.

Wang Sheng stood before Qing Yanzi's phantasm, who spoke in a serious tone. They had already discussed the matter several times, yet never reached a solution.

—There are only two ways left to help your senior sister break through to the Nascent Soul Realm safely. One is to persuade her to suppress her realm until she has built up enough foundation, exchanging time for safety.

"Master, Senior Sister has been driving herself onward precisely because she longs to break through soon."

—Then our only option is to have her spar with cultivators skilled in balancing yin and yang. That could inspire her and allow her to comprehend insights faster.

"Master, can I fill that role?" Wang Sheng raised his left hand. A qi sword floated in his palm, with a faint Tai Chi diagram slowly spinning above it.

Qing Yanzi smiled. "Let me ask you this: there is being, there is non-being, there is that which is neither being nor non-being, and there is that which has not yet reached even that state. How do you explain this?"

Wang Sheng was completely bewildered.

Qing Yanzi could not help but laugh at his disciple's expression.

—

Hahaha!

I told you to read more books long ago, didn't I? Did you take my words to heart?

"Well..."

Wang Sheng could only grin awkwardly and pretend to be clueless.

—When your senior sister emerges from this seclusion, take her out to travel and see the world. I will seek out experts on the Dao of Yin and Yang. Experiencing the grandeur of mountains and rivers can also help one grasp the Dao that's inherent in heaven and earth.

"Yes, Master."

—Yin and Yang, Tai Chi... Wudang should have experts in this path.

While murmuring, Qing Yanzi's phantasm slowly faded away.

"

Haaaa...

"

Wang Sheng turned off his phone. Standing on the rooftop, he closed his eyes and began a brief cultivation session. Whenever he left Mu Wanxuan's side for even a short while, she would awaken from her meditations.

His plan was simple: cultivate faster, break through sooner, grow stronger, and ensure that when his senior sister faced the dangers of her Nascent Soul Realm breakthrough, he would be strong enough to protect her.

Achieving such a feat would be difficult. Fortunately, he no longer faced bottlenecks because of the insights that he had built up before his own breakthrough. The last great battle also left him with rich insights into the Dao of the Sword, allowing him to steadily and swiftly progress in cultivation.

"Little Fei Yu? What are you doing here?" Xi Lian, who was in her primal, alluring form, drifted toward him. Dressed only in a flimsy, thin-strapped nightgown that looked about to give way at any moment, she looked immeasurably charming.

"I was just on a call with Master." Wang Sheng looked down. He then transmitted, "Have you thought of a solution to the problem I asked you about before, Big Sister?"

Xi Lian used voice transmission as well. "What problem? Helping Little Xuanxuan with comprehension?"

Wang Sheng could not help pressing a hand to his forehead. "Cultivation! Her Nascent Soul!"

Xi Lian shook her head. "There is no solution. I cannot make sense of Little Xuanxuan's Dao.

"Since ancient times, the Great Dao of Yin and Yang has baffled countless heroes. And she has you protecting her anyway. If it proves too difficult, she can always change her path of cultivation.

"Besides, Little Xuanxuan is the reincarnation of Fairy Hua Qing. Perhaps she has already been guaranteed a place among the Golden Immortals, with the future of a Taiyi Immortal within reach."

Wang Sheng was speechless.

As they spoke, Mu Wanxuan's long lashes trembled. In the bedroom, her eyes slowly opened.

Wang Sheng called out to her with voice transmission, and Mu Wanxuan floated out of the room. She stretched with gentle ease, faintly entrancing him. He reminded himself that he had to find a way to get her out for a walk.

Wang Sheng smiled. "Senior Sister, Xiaomiao has recently begun learning the Sword-Controlling Art. I want to take her to the Shu Sword Sect for a visit. Would you like to come with us?"

Mu Wanxuan blinked. Her eyes looked a little hesitant, making it clear that she wanted to continue meditating on the Dao and seeking her path to breakthrough.

Wang Sheng added, "Xiaomiao actually wants to spend more time with you, but since you are always in seclusion, she never has the chance."

Mu Wanxuan's eyes immediately filled with warmth as she nodded in agreement.

Only a wall away, the young girl who had been sleeping soundly with a copy of The Art of War in her arms sneezed. She then rolled over and went back to sleep, unaware that her older brother had just used her as an excuse.

***

In a bamboo grove behind Mount Mao.

With an absent-minded expression, Liu Yunzhi slowly carried a tray with a pot of alchemical pills along a stone path.

Shi Qianzhang had been missing for nearly nine months, and there was still no news from the Longhu Mountains. Spending so long without that man's constant chatter in his ear had made him realize that he was now strangely unaccustomed to the quiet.

Liu Yunzhi could clearly feel the heavy pressure now. Wang Sheng, Mu Wanxuan, and Huai Jing had all advanced rapidly in their cultivation. He had made progress, too, but nothing particularly impressive.

Compared to the broader younger generation of the cultivation world, his pace was not especially slow. Yet within their small circle of extraordinary talents, he had likely already fallen to the bottom.

Wang Sheng had broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm and was still ceaselessly surging ahead. There was no comparison. Mu Wanxuan, ranked within the top fifteen on the Heavenly Rankings, was said to be preparing for her own Nascent Soul Realm breakthrough. He naturally couldn't compare with her either.

Meanwhile, Huai Jing somehow managed to maintain fierce cultivation progress despite playing games every day. He was simply uncanny and beyond comparison as well.

Even Shi Qianzhang, whom he often used as a personal benchmark, had most likely leaped ahead by now. Liu Yunzhi was well aware of how great that man's aptitude was. Back at the Mount Mao exchange conference, Shi Qianzhang overshadowed him.

With a sigh, Liu Yunzhi lifted the tray with one hand while his other hand retrieved a mirror from his sleeve. He studied his reflection. Aside from being handsome, he seemed to have nothing to show for himself.

Unknowingly, he had reached the small courtyard enclosed in bamboo fencing. Quickly discarding his distracting thoughts, he carried the alchemical pills forward and entered.

"Forefather Master, the sect master specially refined these alchemical pills for you."

"Oh? It's been a while, Yunzhi." The door opened, and the Daoist elder with an immortal bearing smiled at Liu Yunzhi. "You've made great progress in your cultivation lately. It seems your efforts have paid off."

Liu Yunzhi bowed formally. "Thank you, Forefather Master."

Since he could not remain here long according to sect rules, he prepared to take his leave. However, an idea struck him. Before he realized it, he softly asked, "Forefather Master, I've encountered many obstacles in my cultivation recently. Is there any way to hasten progress?"

The elder paused for a moment, then smiled gently. "Cultivation can't be rushed."

"Of course. I apologize for my ignorance, Forefather Master."

"Well, you do often visit me, a lonely old man, and you're respectful and courteous. You deserve some reward. Take this."

The old Daoist took out a jade slip from his robes and gently pushed his palm forward, sending the jade slip floating into Liu Yunzhi's hands.

Liu Yunzhi hesitated for a moment, but he soon held it with both hands.

"Within that jade slip are secret arts I obtained long ago while traveling. If you find them useful, you may practice them. But remember, do not reveal them to others. They do not belong to Mount Mao."

Liu Yunzhi bowed again. "I understand, Forefather Master. I will never forget your great kindness."

Keeping a gentle expression, the elder stroked his beard and chuckled. However, in the briefest of moments, a trace of coldness flashed in his eyes.