However, Yanchuns consciousness quickly recovered, but not in the Cleansing Spirit Pool where she woke up, but entered a very mysterious state.

She seemed to see a colorful stream of light, at the end of the light, she saw a beautiful and dignified woman, stroking her hair. She had never met this woman before, but she inexplicably felt an infinite closeness to her.

But before Yanchun could be puzzled, in the next instant, she was pulled into a dark room. She heard a womans faint moans, not of pleasure, but of pain.

She couldnt see anything, her limbs couldnt move, as if she was locked in a small box. Then she heard thud, thud, thud...

Thud, thud, thud... Each thud seemed to strike Yanchuns soul, shaking her mind and almost causing her spirit to scatter.

She knew that the voice of the woman outside was the same woman who had touched her hair.

Then the scene shifted again, Yanchun saw the dead womans body, swollen and pale, completely deformed.

Even her eyes were bulging like those of a cow, surrounded by many people pointing and gesturing at the dead womans body, urging an old man to quickly burn the body to prevent an epidemic.

Yanchuns gaze remained low, her mind confused. Following the crowds gaze, she looked up at the old man whom everyone was seeking advice from.

The moment she saw that old man, a foul, burnt smell hit her. A big fire rose, smoke swirling in the wind, choking her almost to suffocation.

The horrifying appearance of the dead woman, the sharp buzzing sounds of flies buzzing around, enveloped Yanchun.

Yanchun truly experienced pain, panic, confusion, and intense hatred!

She completely lost consciousness and slowly closed her eyes in exhaustion.

With a whoosh, the runes in Yanchuns eyes dissipated, and she sank into the Cleansing Spirit Pool.

Futianlan and Yangaohan finally let go of her hand, allowing her to sink in.

And at that moment, as Yanchun sank into the Cleansing Spirit Pool, behind the artificial mountain not far from her, there was a puh.

Blood stained the snow-white collar, even the exquisitely carved chin like ice.

Senior Brother... After a weak and almost inaudible murmur, the woman finally slowly collapsed into Jing Yangyus arms.

Jing Yangyu, who had been expressionless all along, glanced down at a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Yanchun sinking to the bottom of the Cleansing Spirit Pool, and his brows gradually furrowed.

She looked too much like Yanchun, in appearance, stature, facial features, and temperament, even the look in her eyes was almost the same as Jing Yangyus.

Most importantly, between her neck, she wore a necklace identical to the one around Yanchuns neck, except hers was made of silver, not gold.

Jing Yangyu lowered his head, ignoring the blood on his body and face, and did not release the unconscious woman in his arms. He simply held the woman in his arms, stood up, slowly circled around the artificial mountain, and walked to the edge of the Cleansing Spirit Pool.

Futianlan and Yangaohan, who were meditating by the pool, opened their eyes, looking at Jing Yangyu with a complex and weary expression.

Jing Yangyu held the woman in his arms, who hung limp like a dead swan, and met Futianlans gaze indifferently. Finally, he couldnt help but speak, Elder Fu, what we are doing... will surely incur divine retribution.

Is this really the right thing to do?

All three of them knew it was wrong.

If the junior sister knew, how could she agree? Jing Yangyu couldnt help but say.

But after saying this, he turned around with the woman in his arms and left. The blame in his words was not directed at Futianlan and Yangaohan, who were desperate for their beloved daughter, but at himself.

Yang Yu... Fu Tianlan stood up, stumbled for a moment, and was supported by Yan Gaohan before steadying herself.

Facing Jing Yangyus back, she said, That child... we entrust you to take care of them. This matter is a request from the two of us, please do not tell Yan Chun.

Jing Yangyus back stiffened, eyes downcast, his face and chest covered in splattered blood. He did not use the dust removal technique; even if he did, it wouldnt wash away the stains.

The stains on them today were not blood but sins, which could not be washed away by anyone.

Fu Tianlan continued, At this point, all we can do is try to make amends for that child. Yang Yu, we dragged and pressured you into this, it was not your wish. Do not let this give rise to inner demons in you...

Jing Yangyu did not turn back but slowly shook his head.

His master went to seek the opportunity for spiritual union with heaven, and now he was the acting head of Hengjue Mountain. Who could force him?

Jing Yangyu held the woman in his arms, whose breath was weak but still peaceful, and she silently left the back mountain.

Fu Tianlan couldnt stop her tears, while Yan Gaohan raised his hand to embrace her, patting her shoulder, saying, That woman also volunteered. We have prepared for so many years. If she truly didnt want this, she would have left long ago.

Qing Mei, dont be sad. Yan Chun has awakened. Everything can return to how it used to be. Arent you happy?

Fu Tianlan still shook her head, but as she looked at Yan Chun sleeping at the bottom of the Dilin Pool, a glimmer of hope finally appeared in her eyes.

Yan Chun didnt know if she was awake or had turned into spirit mist again, but it was mysterious. This time, she not only wandered in the back mountain but even crossed its boundaries.

Carried by the wind, missing some of her soul, she was like a child, light and delicate, resembling a fallen leaf in the mountains.

Perhaps the memory of her only escape from the forbidden area in these years was too profound. She didnt know if she was drifting with the wind or following her heart, but she unexpectedly arrived at the pond where she and the junior martial brother had watched the Yin-Yang fish that day.

Sure enough, she saw Yu Chen, the junior martial brother, by the pond and, with a thought, she leaned against his back.

This was not good; she had become an invisible spirit behind him.

Yu Chen was unlikely to sense anything. He stood by the empty pond for a while before retreating into the cave to cultivate.

Of course, he wasnt reminiscing about the Yin-Yang fish; he missed the times when he sat by the water and talked with Yan Chun.

However, he had other things to attend to now. He allowed himself a brief moment of longing before quickly regaining his composure and starting his cultivation.

Most cultivators have two main methods of cultivation one is to meditate and draw in spiritual energy to temper the body, and the other is to battle against others to hone combat abilities.

The cultivation methods for inner and outer disciples differ. Inner disciples have already cultivated their spiritual shields and naturally engage in battles by summoning their shields to fight.

Cultivators spiritual abodes resonate with the heavens and earth, divided into the five spiritual abodes of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, corresponding to the interactions of the five elemental forces in the world.

The spiritual shield and the spiritual abode complement each other. The shield can protect oneself, others, and nurture spiritual pets that resonate with the spiritual abode for combat.

Only mid-level cultivators in the Illusion-breaking Realm have the potential to cultivate their spiritual shields. As for the spiritual pets on the shield, they can be anything as long as they match the cultivators spiritual abode attributes.

For cultivators below the mid-level of the Illusion-breaking Realm, even with a firm Dao, their shields may repeatedly shatter due to insufficient spiritual power, damaging their cultivation and Dao.

Therefore, most cultivators do not rush to cultivate their spiritual shields prematurely, as without sufficient cultivation, it is difficult to nurture spiritual pets that resonate with their spiritual abodes.

The highest cultivation level for outer disciples is the early stage of the Illusion-breaking Realm, so they do not have spiritual shields. Therefore, the fighting style for outer disciples is purely physical combat, rather than magical battles.

Although it was not as intense as when Yu Chen was beaten by Zhu Ganglian before, it was still a battle where weapons were infused with spiritual energy and combined with techniques.

Therefore, the Yan Chun behind Yin Yuchen thought that Yin Yuchens cultivation was just about entering a meditative state to refine spiritual energy. However, as soon as they entered the cave, they saw Yin Yuchen taking out several pieces of Image-Capturing Jade from his bosom.

The Image-Capturing Jade is a low-level magical tool used by the sect to record disciples words and actions. It is a small formation drawn on the jade, capable of recording and reproducing some people and things beyond the limit of spiritual energy the jade can bear.

It is widely used among disciples. After the spiritual energy in the Image-Capturing Jade dissipates, it can be resealed with spiritual energy and inscribed with runes by higher-level disciples, making it a reusable spiritual tool.

Yan Chun saw Yin Yuchen place one of the Image-Capturing Jades on the ground, activate it with spiritual energy, and immediately two disciples figures appeared vividly on it.

The disciple facing the Image-Capturing Jade had a fierce look in his eyes, exuding a hostile aura, and wielded a bone mace as his weapon. He was shown in battle with another person in the Image-Capturing Jade, who had his back to the jade. This person was much taller than the man with the bone mace, also wielding weapons, a pair of rather heavy-looking twin hammers.

Without much ado, the two quickly engaged in combat, the clash of weapons ringing loudly, and the palpable aura of killing intent seemed to penetrate through the Image-Capturing Jade.

Yan Chun rarely had direct conflicts with anyone, nor had she witnessed conflicts at such close range. Instinctively, she took a step back, but as she was currently just a spirit behind, attached to Yin Yuchen, she couldnt move away and instead found herself moving towards the two figures in the Image-Capturing Jade.

Startled at first, Yan Chun quickly realized that no one could actually come out of the image, no matter how realistic it seemed.

So, she stayed behind Yin Yuchen, observing what he was up to.

Yin Yuchen, unarmed, dove into the midst of the two fighting figures, dodging left and right, seizing opportunities to strike. Although not particularly fast, his movements were agile, and for quite a while, the Image-Capturing Jade failed to capture his figure.

Yan Chun suddenly understood that he was practicing combat.

Some inner disciples also practiced this way, but combat techniques were diverse, and most inner disciples focused on the use of spiritual power, making this method the most rudimentary.

Yet Yin Yuchen was taking it seriously. Yan Chun, attached to his back, could sense his movements from his perspective.

Yin Yuchens learning ability was unexpectedly fast. During the practice, whenever touched by the Image-Capturing Jade, he would start over and never make the same mistake twice.

Moreover, he had more than one Image-Capturing Jade on him, practicing one after another until the spiritual energy dissipated, then he would pick them up, set them aside, and take out new ones.

He seemed like an inexhaustible puppet. Yan Chun followed him from the bright outside of the cave to the complete silence of night, yet he did not stop, although his back was drenched in sweat.

Yan Chun noticed that each person in every Image-Capturing Jade was different. She had a rather absurd guess that Yin Yuchen intended to memorize all the possible combat moves of outer disciples.

But how could that be possible?

In addition, battles are ever-changing, so whats the use of memorizing moves? In a real battle, even if you lack spiritual power, you will still be directly blasted off the stage.

Furthermore, even if you have truly memorized everything, Yin Yuchans way of battling is very strange.

Although Yan Chuns cultivation is weak, she cant resist being surrounded by powerful individuals, influenced by them. Even if she hasnt experienced something personally, she has seen it happen.

Throughout history, battles have always required both offense and defense. Yin Yuchan practices a technique of leaving vital points wide open to gamble on victory.

His strong desire to win is locked in this dark cave at this moment, but Yan Chun keenly senses it.

She feels a bit emotional, thinking to herself, In this day and age... even the seemingly harmless outer sect junior martial brother is working so hard.

Yan Chun regrets a bit, regretting why she didnt work harder before. Although her cultivation may still be mediocre, at least when she was infused with demonic energy, her spiritual sea wouldnt have been so shattered.

Yan Chun lies on top of Yin Yuchan, tirelessly practicing with him. Her consciousness becomes hazy, and when she finally wakes up, she diligently calls him Junior Martial Brother Yuchan, finally stopping.

He walks slowly outside the cave, even the moon has already rested, the sky is hazy. He walks to the edge of the pool, holding a familiar white handkerchief, not wiping the sweat off his body, nor dipping it in the stream to clean it. Instead, he finds a stone of suitable weight by the stream and presses the handkerchief down.

Then, he walks to the edge of the pool and loosens his belt.

Loosens his belt.

Loosens his belt?

Yan Chun ...

The belt falls to the ground, followed by his outer robe. Yan Chun knows that what comes next will definitely be inappropriate, she instinctively wants to run, but she is still stuck to his back.

The more anxious she gets, the harder it is for Yan Chun to leave relying on her own will. In her desperation, she can only close her eyes.

The slight friction of the fabric in the mountain breeze is not very noticeable, but it is particularly piercing to the ears.

Yan Chun lies on the persons bare back, unable to move, unable to make a sound, and dare not look around. She can only grit her teeth and follow the junior martial brother into the pool.

She is only partially out of her body, unable to feel the cold or the skin of Yin Yuchans shoulders, wondering if it is as warm and delicate as she imagines.

The sound of water splashing, as Yan Chun lies there, she is truly curious. With her eyes tightly closed, one eye opens just a little bit.

Just a little bit.