Chapter 314: Ice and Fire

Recalling Yun Ci’s complaint from their first meeting, Chen Qingyang thought, ‘How could I possibly dare to be late?’

He used his Universe in the Sleeve technique, laying out twelve elixirs in a neat row. “Master, I only have twelve Elixirs this time. It’s a bit on the low side, but it should be enough for a month. I’ll return in another month.”

But Yun Ci replied, “That’s enough. Thank you for your trouble. My Divine Soul is recovering well. Just bring twelve more the next time you come, and I won’t need any more Elixirs after that.”

Come to think of it, he had only been entangled with her for a little over half a year. The recovery time had shrunk from her initial estimate of two or three years to just a few more months. It was clear these Tier Six Elixirs were remarkably effective.

After a brief pause, she added, “Having endured this calamity and with the help of your Elixirs, I might be able to break through to the Seventh Realm of Foundation Establishment once my injuries have fully healed. In addition to eliminating the Fire Dragon Will for you, I’ve been thinking for a long time… I can do one more thing for you. Just name it.”

Chen Qingyang studied her. ‘What could she do for me? I don’t seem to be lacking anything at the moment.’ For him, the most valuable thing this Master could offer was likely information.

“It is my good fortune to be able to do these things for you, Master. By helping me remove the True Dragon Divine Soul, you are essentially saving my life. I have no other requests for the time being.”

He had intended it as a polite refusal, expecting her to suggest he could ask later. He never expected Yun Ci to say, “If you don’t need anything, then let’s just drop it. I’ll simply remember this kindness. After all, you are a person of great integrity and loyalty!”

This…

That was a bit unexpected. Chen Qingyang could only say, “Thank you, Master… Your cultivation speed is astonishingly fast. I heard you broke through two realms last time. I imagine it won’t be long before you become a Master Life Light. I hope you will look after me then!”

He never would have imagined that bringing it up was a mistake. The moment he did, Yun Ci’s fine brows furrowed slightly. “That will be difficult,” she said slowly. “It’s very possible I will be stuck at this level for the rest of my life.”

A note of sorrow tinged her usual cool demeanor.

“Why do you say that? With your talent, Master, your Cultivation is so rapid. And with the Sect’s Earth Deity to aid you, reaching the Life Light realm seems inevitable in my eyes!”

Yun Ci shook her head. “Since you’re so curious, I’ll tell you about it.”

In truth, Chen Qingyang was only mildly curious, but her earnestness was hard to refuse. ‘It’s not like I can just say I don’t want to know, can I?’ he thought.

“Yes, I’m listening.”

She took a few light steps, as if gathering her thoughts. “The Ice Skin Jade Bone Technique is an incomplete Dharma Gate. For years now, I’ve been at the end of its established path. Everything I’ve achieved beyond that has been through my own insights. It hasn’t been easy to get this far.”

“Furthermore, all things in creation strive for a balance of Yin and Yang. But the Ice Skin Jade Bone Technique is heavy on Yin and deficient in Lesser Yang. It is ultimately a crooked path, not the righteous way.”

Chen Qingyang was a little confused. “With your intelligence, Master, why would you practice it if you knew it was an incomplete method?”

Yun Ci turned her head, a faint smile gracing her lips once more. “How many things in this world can we truly choose for ourselves? I have a Moon Spirit Innate Body, which makes this Dharma Gate the most suitable for me… Of course, part of the reason was that Master Xuan Gui hoped I would be the one to perfect this method.”

‘Moon Soul Innate… The moon is Taiyin,’ Chen Qingyang mused. ‘That sounds like Pure Yin. It’s like piling Yin on top of Yin. If it goes well, your progress is meteoric. If it goes badly, you’ll die a violent death. They actually used her as an experiment.’

‘So much for being master and disciple. It seems there was never any real affection between them.’

“But I’ve heard that all Foundation Establishment Masters practice the Tai Xu Returning to Truth Method. Don’t tell me you’re unable to practice it, Master?”

Yun Ci said, “You certainly know a lot. And you’re right. This is my only path.”

As he watched her, Chen Qingyang found her to have a certain delicate, moving charm. “I don’t think you need to be so disheartened by this, Master. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. With your talent and insight, you’ll surely not be held back from the Life Light realm!”

“Hah!” Yun Ci scoffed. “When did you ever see me looking disheartened? I only told you because you asked. Since I have enjoyed the fruits of this path of rapid advancement, it’s only right that I should pay the price for its treacherous nature.”

Chen Qingyang was taken aback for a moment and could only say, “Alright, alright, you’re right.”

“Sit.”

Chen Qingyang took a seat directly across from the pile of flames where Yun Ci sat. Her gaze flicked over to him. “I heard that you served on these Four Golden Peaks as a Miscellaneous Task disciple for many years, living to the age of one hundred and twenty as a mortal, only to suddenly rise to prominence on the brink of death. Is that true?”

‘I wonder where she heard all that from,’ he thought. ‘She knows so much.’ Then it hit him. ‘Of course, she has a disciple named Leng Yueru.’

“That is correct.”

“So you see, no one’s path is easy, and yours is no exception. It is precisely because you have always been walking on a razor’s edge that making a deal with a True Dragon is not so strange… I can understand that.”

‘What does she mean by that? Is she saying she approves of me?’

Chen Qingyang nodded repeatedly. “Yes, Master, you are right.”

“Mm. Give them to me.”

He didn’t understand for a moment. “What?”

“Your hands.”

“Alright.”

Just like last time, he placed his hands on his knees, palms up and open.

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Yun Ci leaned forward quite naturally and placed her two slender, jade-like hands in his palms.

She looked at him, and he looked back at her. For a moment, they both froze. Chen Qingyang’s fingers twitched involuntarily, brushing against her wrist.

Suddenly, a faint blush crept up the Master’s neck and earlobes. Because she was backlit, they appeared translucent and all the more alluring.

He had never seen a Master like this before.

“You…” A little flustered, she snapped, a hint of indignation in her voice, “Who said you could open your eyes!”

Chen Qingyang felt utterly wronged. ‘She never said I had to close my eyes this time!’ Besides, her method was so clumsy. ‘Why not just put up a screen or wear a blindfold?’