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Join the ServerLian Yueying ultimately did not reveal her true name to Huaxi. This was not a sign of distrust, but rather a precaution due to the Qinglin Sect.
The three Foundation Establishment cultivators had discovered her spirit talismans, a type rarely found on the market. From this, it was not difficult to deduce that Wang Zhi had died at the hands of someone adept with talismans, and such individuals were exceedingly rare in the cultivation world; at least within the Tuoshan Sect, Lian Yueying was currently the only one.
Lian Yueying was unaware that her line of reasoning perfectly mirrored theirs, but it was always wise to take precautions. Using an alias while outside ensured she wouldn’t be traced by the Qinglin Sect. As for why she hadn’t concealed her true appearance…
[I’m not famous, and they haven’t seen my true face. Even if they managed to trace “Lian Yueying of Tuoshan Sect,” by the time they reached that point, they wouldn’t know who “Liu Sheng” was.]
Moreover, whether it was a mask or a veil, ordinary coverings were useless under the divine sense of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Concealing one’s face might even provoke others to investigate with their divine sense. If Lian Yueying were a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Qinglin Sect, upon seeing a Qi Condensation cultivator with a hidden face, she would undoubtedly scrutinize them. Conversely, an ordinary person like Lian Yueying simply walking down the street was unlikely to attract attention.
However, there was one point Lian Yueying was acutely aware of.
While it felt somewhat inappropriate to think this of herself, Lian Yueying’s face and body were maturing, a result of both her increasing age and the effects of body tempering. She surmised that within two years, her development would be complete.
Currently, she was poised between a budding beauty and a full-fledged one, possessing both maturity and youthful charm, and thus, inevitably drew attention walking through the streets.
After all, Liu Sheng had been male in her previous life, and her aesthetic sensibilities remained the same in this one. Even she couldn’t help but exclaim “What a beauty” when she glanced in a mirror. This wasn’t narcissism, but a clear, objective recognition of her own appearance.
A strange sensation washed over Lian Yueying at this thought. She turned her head to gaze at her reflection in the bronze mirror, a smile gracing her lips, and then, still smiling, she looked back at Huaxi.
“Sister Liu, are you thinking of something happy?”
“You could say that. For instance, shopping with you, Xiaoxi, makes me very happy.”
Huaxi, being even younger than Lian Yueying, had never heard such a remark before. After a moment of processing, she smiled brightly and replied, “I’m very happy shopping with Sister Liu too!”
With that, the two girls redirected their attention to the fabrics and styles, taking a considerable time before making their final selections.
Transactions in the Immortal Market naturally used spirit stones. However, the fabrics were all mundane materials. Lian Yueying purchased five sets for each of the four seasons, spending a mere twenty-five spirit stones in total.
This was despite her choosing fabrics and styles of the highest quality, garments that in the mortal realm only young ladies from noble families could afford.
[Now, wearing these, I’ll be even more easily mistaken for someone from a wealthy family by mortals.]
However, cultivators rarely interacted with mortals, so choosing clothes that pleased oneself was naturally the most important consideration.
Huaxi, taking Lian Yueying’s advice, chose an outfit predominantly pink and white. When it came time to pay, Lian Yueying produced spirit stones and said, “Let me pay for this, as a token of my gratitude for your help that day.”
Though the words were spoken, Huaxi couldn’t fully grasp the extent of the danger Lian Yueying had faced that day, and naturally felt too shy to accept. It was only after Lian Yueying’s repeated insistence that she finally nodded.
After collecting their clothes, the two began their journey back to Xuandan Hall. Along the way, Huaxi suddenly darted to a street stall, returning shortly with two oil-paper bags in hand.
“This pastry is really delicious, Sister Liu, quickly try some.”
Seeing Lian Yueying accept it, Huaxi eagerly took a piece for herself and popped it into her mouth, her radiant, happy face looking especially adorable.
[Pastry. It looks like ice skin red bean cake. I used to eat this when I was a child.]
Lian Yueying picked up a pastry and placed it in her mouth. The ice skin was soft and glutinous, the red beans sweet and fragrant. Indeed, enhanced with sugar, it could impart a profound sense of happiness.
However, Lian Yueying wasn’t particularly fond of sweets. She found the young girl’s smile before her far sweeter than any pastry.
[My encounter with Huaxi truly feels destined. She is my first good friend in two lifetimes; I must cherish this bond. From now on, whenever I descend the mountain to buy pills every three months, I’ll go shopping with her.]
Though the joy of spending time with a friend was pleasant, Lian Yueying knew deep down that she had to diligently improve her cultivation. She had many tasks awaiting her, and now, one more had been added to the list.
After escorting Huaxi back to the entrance of Xuandan Hall, Lian Yueying knew it was time for a temporary farewell. After a moment of thought, she asked, “Speaking of which, Xiaoxi, why do you cultivate immortality?”
“Well… my master said I was born with a deficiency that he couldn’t completely cure. He taught me to cultivate so I could circulate spiritual energy myself, thereby stabilizing my body.”
“Is that all? Or rather, what is your current goal?”
Huaxi had clearly never pondered this question before, finding it somewhat profound. Yet, she swiftly and lightheartedly replied, “Cultivating immortality means no sickness or calamities, no need to overthink things like mortals do, and I can even eat pastries I’ve never tasted before. Just being happy every day is enough.”
Hearing this, Lian Yueying fell silent for a moment before nodding and smiling. “Indeed, happiness is paramount… Later, once our cultivation has reached a certain level, we can even travel the world together.”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful! Sister Liu, you’re so amazing, I’ll rely on you to protect me then.”
With that, the two bid each other farewell. After they parted ways, Lian Yueying stored the pastry in her storage bag.
[Each person has their own aspirations; it doesn’t matter if our goals differ. As for friends, getting along should be enough.]
With these thoughts, Lian Yueying returned to the sect without incident, changed into her disciple robes, and resumed her diligent daily cultivation.
However, before the monotony of her routine truly began, she first had to keep her appointment with Ouyang Xiu for a sparring match.
When they had made the appointment earlier, they hadn’t set a specific time. This was because Lian Yueying preferred no one else witness their sparring, so they decided to wait for a heavy rain.
Even Foundation Establishment cultivators, despite having means to avoid getting wet, saw no need to do so. For Qi Condensation cultivators, it went without saying that it was best to stay indoors when it rained.
At such a time, the training grounds would likely be devoid of spectators.
****
Rainwater struck the spiritual energy barrier, evaporating into mist and vanishing. Within the barrier, on the training platform, Lian Yueying and Ouyang Xiu stood on opposing sides.
Lian Yueying observed her right hand, noting the faint blue light tracing her palm lines, swiftly coursing through her meridians and throughout her body. This, coupled with the highly active spiritual energy circulating within her, confirmed that the Converging Seas Art was operating at its peak efficiency.
While meditating, one cultivated water from metal, but during active circulation, a water-rich environment was ideal. However, environmental factors had minimal impact on cultivation techniques, and Lian Yueying rarely relied on her cultivation technique during combat.
Across from her, Ouyang Xiu was already prepared. Seeing Lian Yueying look up at him, he cupped his hands in a distant salute, his face devoid of its usual simple-mindedness, replaced only by seriousness and resolve.
“Ouyang Xiu, disciple of Peak Hall, I request your guidance.”
“Lian Yueying, disciple of Lake Hall, I request your guidance.”
They had previously agreed that this sparring match would be fought without holding back. Ouyang Xiu’s gaze was like a torch, so intense that it instilled a hint of nervousness in Lian Yueying.
[Senior Brother Ouyang appears to be ninth in Peak Hall. To achieve such a ranking in the most competitive hall at Qi Condensation eighth layer, he must possess extraordinary qualities. Is it his cultivation technique, his spells, or what they call “fundamental skills”?]
The notion of “solid fundamental skills” was too vague. Lian Yueying only knew Ouyang Xiu possessed the relatively common three spiritual roots but was unaware of his specific strengths. However, she was about to find out.
Their mutual salutes signaled the official start of the match. Lian Yueying promptly drew out spirit talismans and activated her cultivation technique, standing ready. Ouyang Xiu had already invigorated the spiritual energy within his body. He charged forward, imbued with potent earth spiritual energy, reaching the halfway point in the blink of an eye.
Ouyang Xiu used no spells. Lian Yueying, unsure of his intentions, could only unleash her spirit talismans, transforming them into Five-Element spells and sending them hurtling towards him.
Despite Ouyang Xiu’s imposing stature, he proved remarkably agile in combat. He evaded most of the spells with his movement technique. For the remaining few, he didn’t employ defensive spells, but instead met them head-on.
[He’s using a Body-Protecting Golden Light to tank it? Even if the Five-Element talisman spells are weaker, that shouldn’t work.]
Lian Yueying’s eyes narrowed slightly. Her spirit talismans transformed into five Grand Momentum Blades, attacking Ouyang Xiu from various directions, either cleaving or chopping.
Though the network of Grand Momentum Blades wouldn’t completely trap Ouyang Xiu, it would force him to alter his path.
Upon seeing this, Ouyang Xiu’s charge faltered. He conjured three golden arrows, striking the side of one of the blades, then immediately sidestepped.
The struck Grand Momentum Blade instantly dissipated, while the remaining ones whizzed past his side, impacting the spiritual energy barrier.
[He’s probing me! Indeed, when fighting an unfamiliar style, one should proceed like him, not charge headlong like Wang Zhi.]
Ouyang Xiu charged at her once more, his momentum so fierce that Lian Yueying had to unleash her full movement technique. Yet, instead of fleeing, she met his charge head-on.
This action piqued Ouyang Xiu’s curiosity. He fixed his gaze on Lian Yueying, observing that her left hand held spirit talismans, poised to strike, while her right hand remained consistently behind her back.
His charge remained undiminished, yet he kept his guard up.
In the span of a breath, the distance between them closed to merely a zhang (TL Note: A traditional Chinese unit of length, approximately 3.3 meters or 11 feet). Lian Yueying, using her left index and middle fingers, plucked three spirit talismans from her palm, transforming them into a Tuoshan Shield which she raised to block.
Ouyang Xiu attempted to bypass it, only to discover shields on both his left and right. He was forced to confront it head-on.
Even with a large shield separating them, Lian Yueying could feel the Grand Momentum Blade behind it, radiating potent earth spiritual energy. From its formation to its downward cleave, it took less than half a breath—a speed Lian Yueying herself could only match when using true talismans.
Such a counter-intuitive speed compelled Lian Yueying to use a true talisman to defend. However, she did not block it head-on like Zhao Qianqian, but instead struck it from the side, much like Ouyang Xiu had done, attempting to deflect the Grand Momentum Blade.
The Grand Momentum Blade was a common technique among most Tuoshan Sect disciples. Lian Yueying had seen many employ it, but it was only today, witnessing Ouyang Xiu’s execution, that she truly understood what a Grand Momentum Blade was.
The momentum of the Grand Momentum Blade was unyielding. Her side-slash had no effect on its direction, merely weakening its power upon impact.
[No change at all? No, it must be that he controlled it to push straight through.]
Even with understanding, she still had to face it. Having suffered this setback, Lian Yueying abruptly retreated. Simultaneously, her true talisman once again transformed into a Grand Momentum Blade, its cleaving force pressing down on the opponent’s Grand Momentum Blade, both striking the platform and leaving blade marks two fingers deep.
However, before she could even catch her breath, Ouyang Xiu charged directly through the dust, once again forming a Grand Momentum Blade and cleaving it towards her. This time, it was clear he was actively circulating his cultivation technique, making its power only higher, not lower.
[No time to gather more; I can only unleash this for now.]
Lian Yueying could sense that Ouyang Xiu was merely employing the ordinary Earth Wall Technique (TL Note: A basic earth-element cultivation technique, often used for defense or strengthening attacks). Yet, she had no time for surprise. Her hand, previously hidden behind her back, swiftly conjured a faint blue command talisman. From the dust of the Tuoshan Shield, eight Grand Momentum Blades instantly burst forth, cleaving towards Ouyang Xiu’s back.
Ouyang Xiu detected the spiritual energy fluctuations behind him. Glancing at the hand seals Lian Yueying was forming, he prioritized stability, halting his charge and turning to strike behind him.
Seizing this opportunity, Lian Yueying’s hand seals shifted from the Tuoshan Shield to the Grand Momentum Blade, cleaving back towards Ouyang Xiu. Attacked from both front and back, Ouyang Xiu spun and leaped, his foot, imbued with earth spiritual energy, forcefully kicking the side of a blade. Using the momentum, he pushed off, widening the distance between them once more.
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Read : Crow's Golden Fragment
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