He Qing gazed at the levitating Yin Spirit with such interest that she momentarily failed to grasp his words. "Which one?"

"The Gui Xu Synthesis Technique, the Great Dream Yin-Yang Method, the Yin Yang Transformation Method, and the like..." Yu Ci listed them one by one, the methods He Qing had taught, concluding with a single query, "Why?"

He Qing was somewhat surprised by his question. "To solidify your Dao foundation with the Qi of the Heavenly Dragon True Form that resides within you—I believe I've mentioned this to you before."

"Just that?"

"What else?"

Their conversation seemed to be getting tangled, which was clearly not what Yu Ci wanted. Yet, he was in no rush, simply grinning: "What do I want? In truth, I've been thinking, collecting, and listening all along."

**********

In the Star Plucking Main Tower.

Two figures, weathered by eons, their combined ages well over ten thousand, now sat cross-legged on the floor, discussing heated topics:

"Back in the day, we traveled arm in arm, sailing the Eastern Sea, and journeyed together to the Outer Realm of the Nine Heavens. The sky was tinged much like it is today. Before us stood Demon Lord Cao of the Primordial Demon Sect. At that time, I thought my end was near, and it seemed you were in a similar plight."

"Ha! I remember when both of us had yet to achieve immortality, merely practicing the Vacuum Walking Cultivation. The Eastern Sea was rampant with demonic beasts, a gathering of ferocious creatures, and the journey was fraught with hardships..."

Old Master Zhu, with a distant gaze, chuckled while stroking his knee: "Yet, a single Demon Lord Cao could overpower them all. That fierce battle left us nearly drained of blood, teetering between life and death multiple times, until at last... we barely escaped with our lives!"

"Demon Lord Cao." Fang Hui let out a cold laugh. "That man perished long ago under the Settling Origin Hammer, reduced to dust!"

"Indeed, back then Half Mountain Island had yet to establish a sect, and the Shangqing Sect was still in its heyday. In the blink of an eye, two calamities have passed. The seas remain the same, but the people are no longer recognizable. Thus, I envy you, Junior Brother Fang. You have a sect to inherit, and even if it takes all your efforts, it holds meaning. As for me, a Wandering Lost Soul, when my body turns to dust, will there still be a spirit unextinguished, a soul returning to its homeland?"

Fang Hui remained silent, but an exchange of glances passed between the two. Old Master Zhu leisurely shifted the topic:

"The work you've done for the Lichen Sect, I admire it. But there's one thing that I've never understood, and it confuses me even more today."

"Oh?"

"The methods you've deduced for the sect, the urgency in your thoughts, I can see. But what is the meaning behind those actions?"

Without any change in expression, Fang Hui simply stated, "Please, Senior Brother Zhu, enlighten me."

The old man sat upright on the floor, looking at his old friend of thousands of years, and asked earnestly, "Why He Qing?"

"Because she's the most suitable."

Grandmaster Fang's response was clear and straightforward. But then, the conversation drifted back to the distant past: "I remember, Senior Brother Zhu, you always had a phrase on your lips."

"Which one?"

"It's the phrase 'All things can be reversed, but time cannot be moved.' Truly a profound truth. In my cultivation up to this point, the things I've done, upon reflection, are nothing more than a struggle against this principle—chasing and being chased, an endless entanglement. Now, as my physical spirit weakens, I feel it even more deeply."

Old Master Zhu smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and then asked, "Using He Qing will save time and effort?"

"To refine and perfect the Thunderbolt Tribulation Method through the Great Yin-Yang Extent, one needs extremely pure Yin and Yang energies. My method in the Empirical Department tends toward the extreme and narrow, difficult to generate on its own, hence intercourse cultivation with others is the most straightforward and practical approach. Of course, to match my level of cultivation without flaws, it's best to find someone of True Immortal caliber. Within the Sect's Mountain Gate, there are none readily available."

"To cultivate a True Immortal in a short period? But He Qing's aptitude..."

"It can't be said to be terrible, but if compared to the Sect's array of Orthodox Disciples, the difference is too great to be measured. Yet what use is good aptitude? Even now, looking across the Sect, including the Vacuum Walking Cultivators, how many can ascend to the Realm of the True Being within seventy years?"

Old Master Zhu fell silent for a moment before speaking, "Then, where does He Qing's strength lie?"

"She is ambitious and competitive, which is fundamental. But most importantly... she feels inferior!"

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Fang Hui spoke calmly, "She was born into the He family clan, a status not to be taken lightly, with inherent competitiveness and pride, and quite discerning in her views. However, after years of wandering the world with Yu Zhou, not only did she lose wealth and glory, but her lacking aptitude also held Yu Zhou back. Over the years, this has formed a deep sense of inferiority within her. That's why I gave her an opportunity at the Star Plucking Tower, clearly stating the requirements, and when I inquired about her background, she, hoping for the best, concealed Yu Zhou's circumstances."

"Concealed?" Old Master Zhu emphasized.

Fang Hui smiled lightly, disregarding the point, and continued, "You know the potency of my 'Burning Marrow Blood River.' While it can indeed stimulate one's full potential, who would be willing to endure the excruciating pain and risk the possibility of never recovering, all for a slim chance of success? Only she would, having made mistakes that she couldn't rectify, faced with the cold stares of the world, unable to turn back, driven by her inferiority to self-harm, with no other path to take.

"Then, because she is competitive, it compensates for her weakness; because she is ambitious, it gives her the continuous drive to improve. It's the combination of these factors that has led to the current result. Others say I have the means to make her attain Taoism Immortality in seventy years, but they don't realize that without such fine material as her, seventy years—ha, even seven hundred—would amount to nothing."

***********

The voice was soft and fine, easily overlooked against the rustling background noise of the Sea of Spirit. However, Yu Ci felt that the female cultivator opposite could hear everything clearly. Thus, he cooperated by clapping his hands:

"Grandmaster Fang has an incisive understanding of the human heart and leaves no strategy unconsidered."

He Qing cast a glance at him, exhaling softly. It was this subtle, seemingly insignificant gesture that appeared to lift the suffocating weight of the information Fang Hui had relayed, as effortlessly as one might brush dust from the sleeve of a garment—natural and relaxed.

So relaxed, it sent a chill to the very core.

"After seventy years, Grandmaster Fang has mastered the art of control," the female cultivator remarked with evident admiration. She quickly added praise for Yu Ci as well, "I didn't expect you could persuade Mr. Zhu to intervene, and that Grandmaster Fang would agree to cooperate. With that, the chain of events has been more or less sorted out."

Indeed, minor tricks like the Sound Transmission Talisman could never deceive a grand Thunderbolt Tribulation Grandmaster like Fang Hui. If he were unwilling, not even the great face of Old Master Zhu could transmit a single word. Yu Ci understood that this was the explanation Grandmaster Fang had promised him.

It was strikingly reminiscent of the scene years ago atop the Star Plucking Tower, where a little girl was reduced to tears.

Of course, Yu Ci hadn't wept. His gaze fixed on He Qing, he felt the situation becoming clearer, yet the female cultivator's thoughts were increasingly elusive.

At that moment, it was He Qing who scrutinized him, "You're acting strangely today. What use is there in speaking such trifling and unsettling words?"

Yu Ci responded with a smile, "Then let's discuss something substantial. I've been thinking, according to the rules of the Empirical Department, wouldn't it be straightforward for you to propose a trade, explaining the method? The Sect's Mountain Gate is abundant with extraordinary secret techniques. Is extracting the Qi of the Heavenly Dragon True Form only possible through your method? From what I see, Immortal Elder, setting aside other considerations, you're certainly not among those insatiable enchantresses or seductresses. Why resort to such extremes?"

He spoke with a detachment as if discussing someone else's affairs, "Even if the balance of yin and yang might be too taboo to discuss openly, Divine Intercourse for Gathering Qi is a profound and legitimate practice detailed in the Taoist canon, with many Pure and Clean Methods. It's curious and bizarre that Immortal Elder would opt for an approach that seems so unspeakable."

This time, He Qing did not immediately reply.

Yu Ci, however, began to smile, "Am I wrong? I've specially researched the relevant texts in the library and have learned a trick or two. Please, Immortal He, correct me if I am mistaken."

As he spoke, Yu Ci extended his Yin Spirit in greeting, clearly inviting He Qing to demonstrate her Yang Spirit Leaving the Body, to give it a try.

He Qing observed him for a long time, then suddenly graced him with a smile, a clear light shining from her crown.

The Taoist Immortal's Yang Spirit Leaving the Body was indeed distinct. Her skin and hair were vividly detailed as if tangible, shimmering with a hue of Colored Glaze, and within, a ring of golden light expanded like a tide, swiftly subduing the faint glow of the Sea of Spirit. Yu Ci's Yin Spirit, upon being touched by the golden light, showed signs of instability, but thankfully, the True Essence of the Heavenly Dragon was there to anchor it, barely maintaining its form from dissipating.

As the Yin Spirit and Yang Spirit auras intersected, a natural reaction occurred. Yu Ci, at a distinct disadvantage, summoned his formidable willpower to control his Heart-Mind. He reversed the qi-gathering technique he had just learned and earnestly set up an experiment. He transferred some of the True Essence of the Heavenly Dragon, contained within the Yin Spirit, to He Qing, who was somewhat injured due to Shan Gu's broken horn and in need of this very essence. She naturally absorbed it, and the process went smoothly.

From start to finish, there was no Intercourse Cultivation.

Yu Ci maintained this state, his thoughts reaching directly to He Qing: "Why?"

He Qing gave him a deep look and said indifferently, "To take, one must first give. Matters of this nature probably all follow this principle, just like what you are doing now!"

Yu Ci was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "I knew I couldn't hide it from you!"

Amidst his laughter, he exerted his strength, and following the Yin Spirit, a bright moon rose from his Sea of Spirit and hung above his head. Its powerful suction instantly affected the area within a mile, causing the Yang Spirit's golden light to distort.

Behind the golden light, He Qing's voice came through steadily: "Is this the mirror you spoke of, the one with the soul-capturing effect?"

Seeing her unfazed, Yu Ci did not grunt but activated his thoughts, and in an instant, a second bright moon ascended!

"Two moons?"

In the midst of He Qing's questioning, a dazzling azure radiance spread throughout the Sea of Spirit, completely suppressing the golden light of the Yang Spirit.

Regardless of the outcome, Yu Ci laughed heartily: "I did this so that Immortal He would know that trivialities are uninteresting. It was all for the sake of Taoist Yu to at least straighten things out. As for myself, it's very simple, whether I live or die...

"Go to hell!"

With the curse, he was about to release the second prepared fatal move.

However, before he could act, the Yang Spirit's golden light forcefully tore a gap in the pervasive azure radiance. Yu Ci's senses became chaotic, and as they settled, He Qing's solemn face was already before his eyes. Her overwhelming pressure swept over him, nearly causing Yu Ci's Yin Spirit to collapse.

Fortunately, at that moment, the two moons behind him overlapped, and waves of azure-colored glaze cut across, shielding Yu Ci behind them. Even before this change, a shadow darted beneath the Sea of Spirit—it was Tie Lan making his appearance, his sword slashing towards He Qing's seemingly undefended flesh body.

At this time, He Qing spoke again, her tone unchanged:

"Do you know of the Heart-Splitting Sword Lock?"