As the blade-light that pierced heaven and earth dissipated, the aura of the fourth realm rogue cultivator was completely erased from this world.
Without the support of its master and the core array plate, the gray mist shrouding the Drunk Dream Boat began to melt away at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The previously isolated sounds of bustle, the crashing of waves, and even the distant shouting of vendors along the Qinhuai River flooded back into the deathly silent painted boat.
The guests and cultivators who had been walking toward the altar like mindless marionettes suddenly stiffened, the gray film over their eyes fading away.
They either clutched their dizzy heads or looked around in confusion, entirely unaware that they had just taken a walk past the gates of hell.
Gu Chengming stood in the wreckage of the banquet hall and let out a long breath.
At the same time, a golden light flickered in his Sea of Consciousness.
【'Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art' is deeply gratified.】
【It says: The great utility of rites lies in stopping chaos. Although the Director intervened, without your early mediation, the lives on this ship would have long since become sacrifices. The collapse of rites and music was but a moment away.】
【Using a second realm body to strike back against those who defy the law is the courage of a defender of the Dao. In the face of danger, you did not forget to protect all living beings; this is the heart of a benevolent person.】
【'Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art's' recognition of you has deepened further.】
【Favorability +5】
【Current Favorability: 68/Like】
Events unfolded exactly as Gu Chengming had expected.
The Night Guard Division and the Demon-Slaying Bureau rushed onto the Drunk Dream Boat almost one after the other, followed immediately by sealing the scene, treating the injured, and examining the corpses.
However, in the dossier later presented to the imperial desk and reported to various parties, the Great Qian dragon qi that had risen from the Imperial City to suppress the evil cultivator's array was tacitly omitted.
The rogue cultivator, who didn't even leave a whole corpse, was categorized as an elder of a secret evil cult who intended to use the popularity of the Lantern Festival to sacrifice blood to an evil god, but was fortunately detected by the Night Guard Division in time.
In this storm, Gu Chengming became famous once again.
In the internal records and circulating rumors of the Night Guard Division, it was this new Wenjian Sect disciple who, with extraordinary intuition and meticulous thinking, detected the abnormality on the Drunk Dream Boat in advance.
Not only did he risk his life alone to investigate the enemy's situation beforehand, but he also secretly contacted sect elders and high-level officials within the division before the incident occurred, making complete deployments.
Although the situation briefly spiraled out of control due to the evil cultivator's sudden attack, the consequences would have been unimaginable if not for Gu Chengming's early warning and on-site containment.
Thus, in this major case personally concluded by the Director, Gu Chengming indisputably became the second-highest contributor, adding another stroke to his resume.
Three days later, at the Night Guard Division.
Sandalwood smoke curled in the room. Zhou Qingmu, dressed in purple-gold casual attire, was not sitting in the main seat but stood with her hands behind her back in front of a giant map of Great Qian.
Gu Chengming stood three steps behind her.
Although he didn't know the specific reason for this private summons, he had a faint guess in his heart.
"That night on the Drunk Dream Boat, a burst of extremely pure Great Qian dragon qi was triggered."
Zhou Qingmu did not exchange pleasantries but turned around and went straight to the point, looking at Gu Chengming and asking, "Do you know who did it?"
Gu Chengming's heart tightened, but his face showed confusion as he replied, "Reporting to the Director, the situation was critical then. I was being forced into a corner by that evil cultivator and felt my blood surging, nearly crushed by that baleful aura. Then, the sky lit up as the Director's blade slashed through the firmament. As for any dragon qi, I truly did not notice it."
"Did not notice it?"
Zhou Qingmu narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze lingering on him for a moment.
She naturally knew Gu Chengming had secrets, but that dragon qi was the foundation of the national destiny, something that could not be mobilized unless one possessed imperial blood or held a high position.
Gu Chengming's background was clean—he was an orthodox disciple of the Wenjian Sect. This had already been investigated thoroughly.
She remained silent for a moment, ultimately choosing not to delve deeper into the matter.
"Fine. If you don't know, then you don't know. This matter is of great importance. Once you leave this door, let it rot in your stomach."
"I understand," Gu Chengming bowed in response.
"I called you here today not just to ask about this, but for another matter as well."
Zhou Qingmu walked to the desk and lightly tapped the surface with her fingertip.
"I have seen your performance during this period. Especially that day on the Drunk Dream Boat, you used the Eye of Rites to see through illusions and used yourself as the array eye to resist the evil. You did well."
"Your understanding of the 'Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art' is already among the best of the younger generation. Even when I first created this method at the Imperial Academy, I was only at this level."
Gu Chengming opened his mouth, suddenly feeling a bit guilty.
It seemed the Director didn't know he had stolen a female cultivator's chair to set up the array?
"However..."
Zhou Qingmu's tone shifted, her brow furrowing slightly. "I observe the aura circulating around you. Although it is upright and peaceful, there is still a hint of obscurity in certain subtle places. This is not because your comprehension is lacking, but because you have spent too long in a sect. There is still a slight gap between you and the high halls and the order of heaven and earth that this heart method seeks."
Saying this, she took a warm jade slip from her sleeve and handed it to Gu Chengming.
"This is a letter written by me. In the Imperial Academy, there are some notes and insights regarding rites and cultivation that I left behind when I was studying there. They have not been made public. If you have time, you can take this token to the Imperial Academy's Scripture Repository. Perhaps it can help you fill in that last bit of deficiency and allow your heart method to progress further."
Gu Chengming took the jade slip with both hands, his heart stirring.
Insights left by Zhou Qingmu—those were the realizations of a fifth realm expert. They might be of great help in increasing the favorability of Zhou Rites.
"Thank you for the guidance, Director. I will certainly study it diligently."
With the official business finished, the atmosphere relaxed slightly. Gu Chengming put away the jade slip and hesitated for a moment before asking the doubt in his heart.
"Director, regarding the evil cultivator who was executed on the ship that day... when I fought him, I found his cultivation art to be incredibly sinister. Such methods do not seem like something an ordinary wandering rogue cultivator could master."
Zhou Qingmu heard the underlying meaning in Gu Chengming's words and did not hide it, saying, "That person was no ordinary rogue cultivator. He was from the Longevity Sect."
"Longevity Sect?"
"This evil sect first appeared a hundred years ago. They do not cultivate the path of ascension but specialize in stealing national power and communicating with demons. They preach the delusion of eternal life, but in reality, they treat the common people as sacrificial straw dogs and turn the capital into a blood cauldron."
A flash of killing intent crossed Zhou Qingmu's eyes.
"In the past, the Founding Ancestor swung his sword and united the various sects to suppress their faction. However, this monster's many legs have not yet stiffened; its soul lurks in the shadows. It has taken the opportunity of the resurgence of the demon tide in the northern borders to rise from the ashes. What the Longevity Sect followers practice are all evil techniques of gouging out hearts to feed demons. We of the Night Guard Division must execute them on sight."
Gu Chengming understood.
No wonder that rogue cultivator was so terrified when he saw the Great Qian dragon qi and Zhou Qingmu.
And this explained why a fourth realm expert was willing to lurk in the capital to do such things...
No wonder the voices in the court targeting the Ministry of Rites and the Prime Minister had been suppressed; this matter might truly have nothing to do with them.
"Thank you for clarifying, Director." Gu Chengming cupped his hands.
Zhou Qingmu nodded. "Go. Remember to visit the Imperial Academy soon."
Although the Drunk Dream Boat case had been settled, the ripples had not subsided.
On the Hehuan Sect's side, Manager Yun Wan was both relieved and self-reproachful about the incident.
She was relieved that because of Gu Chengming's early warning, although the Drunk Dream Boat's reputation was damaged, it wasn't completely ruined, and those children of the nobility were all safe. She was self-reproachful because even though Gu Chengming had fed the information right to her mouth, she had still underestimated the opponent's methods, allowing the array to start and nearly causing a catastrophe.
To this end, Yun Wan specifically sent a message to Gu Chengming. Her words were extremely humble and grateful, and she solemnly promised that once she finished handling the mess at hand, she would personally visit to present Gu Chengming with a generous gift worthy of this life-saving debt.
As for what that generous gift was, although she didn't say it explicitly, given the Hehuan Sect's foundation, it probably wouldn't be too bad.
Meanwhile, in the small courtyard in the Jishan Neighborhood, the atmosphere was a bit subtle.
Yu Wenqiu had been exceptionally well-behaved these past few days.
After all, as a protector and a dignified Wenjian Sect elder, she had actually fallen asleep at the most critical moment.
Even though she had been plotted against by a third realm array, it was still a great humiliation for her.
Whenever she thought about Gu Chengming fighting for his life inside while she was snoring outside—and even waking up with pastry crumbs on the corner of her mouth—she felt incredibly guilty.
Consequently, over the last few days, she had not only taken over the task of feeding the cat but had even broken precedent by going to the kitchen to try and cook porridge several times.
—Though the taste was still indescribable, her attitude of repentance was fully displayed.
As for the Hidden Dragon Courtyard, Song Qing admired Gu Chengming even more.
He told everyone he met about the experience on the Drunk Dream Boat that night, and the entire Night Guard Division's morale was boosted because of this case.
Gu Chengming didn't feel much of anything. He still reported for duty, cultivated, and went home to tease the guilty Elder Yu every day.
Until several days later.
In the afternoon, the sky was slightly overcast, and the clouds hung low, carrying a stifling heat that suggested rain was imminent.
Gu Chengming had just returned from reporting for duty at the Night Guard Division. Before he even stepped into the small lane of the Jishan Neighborhood, he saw a figure waiting outside his courtyard gate from a distance.
Yun Wan was not wearing the long-sleeved manager's dress she usually wore to charm others today. Instead, she had changed into a plain and low-key green outfit. Even the dangling hairpins on her bun were gone, replaced by a single wooden hairpin.
Seeing Gu Chengming approach, she stepped forward quickly.
"Young Master Gu."
Yun Wan's face was filled with shame, and her voice was sincere.
"Regarding the matter on the Drunk Dream Boat a few days ago, it was all thanks to the Young Master turning the tide. I have been busy with the aftermath these past few days and only today managed to free myself to fulfill our previous agreement."
Gu Chengming gave her a slight supportive gesture. "Manager Yun, you overstate it. Regarding that day, I was merely protecting myself."
"Young Master is too modest."
Yun Wan straightened up and took a jade medallion carved with a twin lotus pattern from her sleeve, presenting it with both hands.
"This is a small token of the sect's appreciation. Furthermore, as I mentioned before, an elder in the sect heard of the Young Master's deeds—especially knowing that the Young Master is quite interested in our sect's cultivation arts—and specifically sent a message, wishing to invite the Young Master to the Elegant Garden for a chat."
"An elder?"
Gu Chengming's brow twitched as he took the jade medallion. It felt warm to the touch, and there was a faint shimmer of light within it, clearly no ordinary object.
Anyone called a Hehuan Sect elder would have a cultivation of at least the fourth realm, or even be a half-step fifth realm powerhouse.
They shouldn't want to see him just for that previous matter.
Gu Chengming rubbed the jade medallion, thought for a moment, and then nodded in agreement.
It was both for the Hehuan Sect cultivation art he had been longing for and to test the depths of this other major power in the capital.
Since the other party was treating him with courtesy, there was no need for him to be timid.
After arriving at the Elegant Garden, Gu Chengming unexpectedly discovered some differences from his last visit.
The scent of powder that used to float in the air seemed much fainter, replaced by the smell of some unknown burning spiritual grass.
The main hall was still brightly lit, but the girls who usually fluttered about like butterflies were nowhere to be seen. Only a few inner sect disciples with cultivation bases were guarding the various main paths.
The usual noisy music was gone, and the entire Elegant Garden was excessively quiet, to the point that the sound of footsteps on the thick carpet was clearly audible.
"Is the Elegant Garden closed to guests today?" Gu Chengming asked casually.
"The Elder prefers quiet," Yun Wan explained softly, her footsteps very light. "To welcome the Elder's arrival, I dismissed the miscellaneous people yesterday and rearranged the isolation arrays."
Gu Chengming nodded slightly, his gaze inadvertently scanning the pillars on both sides of the corridor.
'Wisdom Eye' was not active, but he could still sense, through that mysterious intuition, that the spiritual energy drifting in the air seemed to have become somewhat viscous.
Passing through the winding corridor and over several rockeries and flowing water, the two finally stopped in front of a quiet little building located in the deepest part of the Elegant Garden.
"Young Master, please."
Yun Wan stopped at the courtyard gate and went no further, instead respectfully stepping aside to make way.
"The Elder is waiting inside. My status is low, so I do not dare to enter without permission."
Gu Chengming glanced at her, straightened his clothes, pushed open the slightly ajar bamboo door, and stepped inside.
There were no maids or attendants in the courtyard.
Only under a massive peach tree stood a wide lounge chair covered with snow-white fox fur.
And on that lounge chair, a figure was reclining on its side.
Gu Chengming took a few steps forward. When he saw the person's appearance clearly, his footsteps couldn't help but pause slightly, and a very obvious flash of bewilderment and strangeness appeared in his eyes.
It was not the white-haired, youthful-faced, sage-like old woman he had imagined, nor was it a charming, naturally seductive beauty.
What met his eyes was actually a girl who looked no older than her early teens—roughly fourteen or fifteen years old?
The 'girl' was dressed in a slightly oversized crimson gauze robe, her jade-like feet bare. At the moment, she was crossing her legs, holding an unknown storybook in her hand, reading with great interest.
Her figure was petite, even somewhat thin. Against the backdrop of the wide fox fur, she looked like a little girl who had stolen an adult's clothes.
In particular, her chest was as flat as a plain, with no undulations at all.
Even so, Gu Chengming felt the pressure coming from the fourth realm.
Just as he was criticizing her in his heart, the 'girl' on the lounge chair seemed to sense something. She stretched lazily and let out a languid nasal sound.
"You're here?"
As the storybook slid down, it revealed an exquisite face beneath that looked like a porcelain doll.
She didn't get up but merely turned her head slightly to size Gu Chengming up several times.
That kind of look, if done by a mature beauty, might be full of charm.
But on such a little girl who looked only fifteen, Gu Chengming only felt it was quite discordant.
"Junior Gu Chengming of the Wenjian Sect greets the Hehuan Sect Elder." Gu Chengming suppressed the subtle feeling in his heart and respectfully performed a salute.
"No need for formalities, no need for formalities."
The Elder waved her hand. Her voice was as crisp as a silver bell, but it carried an old-fashioned tone.
She sat up straight on the lounge chair—because her legs weren't long enough, her bare feet couldn't even reach the ground and could only dangle in mid-air.
She patted the stone stool beside her and said with a smile, "Why sit so far away? I won't eat you. Come closer and let me take a good look at you."
Gu Chengming did as told and sat down three steps away from her.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
The Elder leaned forward, her exquisite little face almost pressing against the tip of Gu Chengming's nose.
"Truly a man of talent and striking appearance."
She extended a tender white finger and traced Gu Chengming's outline in the air. Her eyes grew brighter.
"That girl Yun Wan really didn't lie to me. The Wenjian Sect has picked up a real treasure this time."
"I heard you're very interested in my Hehuan Sect's cultivation arts?"
Gu Chengming leaned back slightly to avoid her finger and cupped his hands with a somewhat stiff expression.
"That is indeed the case. I have traveled through the red dust and find the concept of 'Yin and Yang complementing each other, the Great Dao cultivated together' quite appealing, hence my curiosity."
Seeing Gu Chengming's upright, as-if-facing-a-great-enemy appearance, the Elder couldn't help but giggle. She laughed so hard she shook, and even her small feet dangling in the air kicked about wildly.
"Oh, there's no need to be so nervous, and no need for these high-sounding pleasantries."
She leaned back against the chair again, grabbed a spiritual fruit, and took a bite, saying indistinctly, "As they say, food and sex are human nature. For a man, whether he's interested in my Hehuan Sect's arts, our female cultivators, or dual cultivation, it's all perfectly normal."
As she spoke, she suddenly tossed the fruit pit aside, clapped her hands, and her expression became slightly more serious.
"Since you're interested, let's speak plainly."
She stared into Gu Chengming's eyes and spoke slowly, her words startling him.
"Do you have any thoughts about joining my Hehuan Sect?"
Gu Chengming was stunned.
Before he could answer, the Elder held up three fingers. "As long as you nod now, I can make the decision to let you skip the Outer Sect and be promoted directly to a core disciple of the Inner Sect."
She pulled back one finger. "In just two years, I guarantee you will become a Direct Disciple."
"As for the Wenjian Sect's side, you don't need to worry."
She pulled back another finger and mused, "My Hehuan Sect will personally go and talk to them."
These words were truly full of sincerity.
One had to know that the Wenjian Sect was a holy land for sword cultivators. Although the Hehuan Sect was wealthy, it had always been slightly inferior in direct combat power.
Now, to poach a second realm disciple like him, they were actually willing to risk falling out with the Wenjian Sect?
Although Gu Chengming had no intention of changing sects, he couldn't help but feel a bit curious.
While he had performed reasonably well and slain several evil spirits, in the eyes of these powerhouses, he shouldn't be considered some peerless genius, right?
As if seeing through the doubt in Gu Chengming's heart, the Elder didn't keep him in suspense.
"Do you find it strange? Do you think the conditions I've offered are too good—so good they seem unreal?"
She stuck out the tip of her tongue and lightly licked her lips.
"Actually, before coming here, those old fogeys in the sect were still arguing, thinking it wasn't worth offending the Wenjian Sect for a second realm sword cultivator. I also came with the mindset of just taking a look."
"But..."
She pointed at Gu Chengming.
"After seeing you for the first time, I knew that no one in this world is more suitable for the Hehuan Sect than you."
After saying that, she shook her head, her eyes full of wonder.
"Tsk, tsk. I have cultivated for over four hundred years and seen countless people, but it has been a long time since I've seen such a naturally formed, flawless Charm Bone."
Gu Chengming's face darkened when he heard this. He thought, what do you mean by Charm Bone? Is that term appropriate for him?
Before he could speak, the Hehuan Sect inner sect female elder continued, "Oh, I forgot you're from the Wenjian Sect. It's normal not to know about the Charm Bone."
"We usually use this term to describe someone exceptionally suited for practicing the Hehuan Sect's arts, regardless of gender."
At this point, her tone carried a hint of teasing.
"How about it? As long as you agree, within the Hehuan Sect, no matter which inner sect female disciple you want to dual cultivate with, I imagine she won't refuse you."
【'Hundred Bones Resonating' is furious. What Charm Bone? That's an Emperor Bone!】
Gu Chengming ignored Emperor Bai's chiming in.
He sighed and refused without hesitation.
"I am grateful for Senior's high regard, but I have received great kindness from my sect. My sword heart is set, and I have no intention of changing sects."
Upon hearing this, the Elder's face did not show any anger or disappointment, as if she had long expected this result.
"True."
She lay back in her chair and shrugged.
"Those sword cultivators from the Wenjian Sect are boring, but their protectiveness is also famous. If you really agreed so easily, I would instead doubt your character."
Just as Gu Chengming thought the matter had fallen through and he was completely finished with the Hehuan Sect's arts, the Elder's tone shifted.
"It doesn't matter if you don't want to join the sect. If you want to learn my Hehuan Sect's arts, there is actually another path available."
Saying this, she flipped her wrist, and a scroll of a special material contract appeared in her palm, which she then handed to Gu Chengming.
Gu Chengming looked at the contents of the contract.
The preceding clauses were normal—nothing more than standard constraints like not spreading the art to outsiders and not using the art for evil.
But when he saw the last line, he was stunned.
【Those who practice this art must go to the Hehuan Sect's forbidden grounds to fulfill the duty of feeding upon reaching mastery of the art, or every ten years.】
"Feeding?"
Gu Chengming pointed at that line, looking completely puzzled. "Senior, what does this word 'feeding' mean?"
Seeing Gu Chengming's ignorant look, the Elder sighed with an expression that said, 'Young people today really lack experience.'
She changed into a comfortable position and said slowly, "Why do you think the Hehuan Sect always has so many spirit stones to give to its disciples for dual cultivation with other cultivators?"
Gu Chengming was slightly stunned. He really hadn't thought about that.
"Is it through industries?" he said tentatively, since the Drunk Dream Boat and Elegant Garden both looked very profitable.
"Those are just small change."
The Elder sneered and shook a finger. "What truly supports my Hehuan Sect is a world-class treasure—the Yin Yang Fish."
"This fish was born in chaos and grows in Yin and Yang. It is an extremely rare spiritual creature in the world. Every ten years, it can breathe in the essence of heaven and earth and gestate a Yin Yang Pill."
"However..."
The Elder sighed, her tone gaining a hint of helplessness.
"This Yin Yang Fish is very delicate. To make it successfully produce a pill, it must be fed with extremely pure 'Yin and Yang Qi'."
"Yin Qi is easy to come by. My Hehuan Sect has many female disciples, and most of them practice arts that follow the path of gathering Yin to supplement Yang or other soft paths. I can just pick a few with top-tier talent to satisfy it."
"The difficulty lies in this Yang Qi."
She looked at Gu Chengming, her eyes dark. "In the last hundred years, my Hehuan Sect has had an abundance of Yin but a shortage of Yang. We recruit few male disciples to begin with, and even if we occasionally get a few good ones, most of them simply can't reach that realm midway through."
"The last 'stud fish' that could produce pure Yang Qi... was fifty years ago."
Gu Chengming broke into a cold sweat.
"So..." He swallowed hard and pointed at himself. "Senior approached me because..."
"Exactly."
The Elder snapped her fingers and looked at him with a smile.
"You possess a Charm Bone and are naturally overflowing with Yang Qi. Furthermore, you are a sword cultivator with a strong physique that won't easily fail. You are naturally the best candidate for cooperation."
This deal sounded... quite profitable?
Gu Chengming quickly weighed it in his mind and agreed.
Seeing the matter settled, the Elder was clearly in a very good mood.
She jumped down from the lounge chair, her bare feet stepping on the ground covered with peach blossoms, and approached Gu Chengming step by step.
"Giggle..."
She let out a string of silver-bell-like laughter. Her exquisite little face, which looked only fifteen, almost pressed against Gu Chengming's chest. Her large eyes blinked at him, full of mischief and teasing.
"Since you've become one of us, don't be so restrained."
She reached out her small hand, wanting to poke Gu Chengming's chest, but Gu Chengming instinctively took a step back to avoid it.
Being stared at by a girl who looked like she hadn't even reached adulthood, with that old-fashioned and somewhat flirtatious look, and having her try to touch him... this feeling was truly too subtle, too criminal.
"Senior, please behave yourself."
"Oh, my..."
The Elder laughed even more happily. She put her hands behind her back and walked a circle around Gu Chengming.
"Look at you. Are you really that uncomfortable in front of me?"
She stopped in front of Gu Chengming, tilted her head slightly, and said with a self-obsessed look, "Little guy, don't look at me like this now. Back in the day, when I was young, I was the most beautiful of them all. In this Jiuzhou cultivation world, I had the reputation of 'One glance leads the Dao heart astray'."
"Countless leaders of the righteous path and giants of the demonic path broke their heads trying to squeeze into my Hehuan Sect just to catch a glimpse of me."
Saying this, the Elder blinked.
Because the method she practiced could manifest the appearance that most easily aroused the other party's desire... seeing Gu Chengming's reaction, she couldn't help but feel curious.
What did she look like in his eyes that made him so nervous?
Gu Chengming hesitated for a moment but decided to tell the truth.
He reached out his hand, gestured a height in the air, and then made a flat motion across his own chest. "In my eyes, you are a girl who looks about fifteen, whose body hasn't developed yet and is somewhat scanty."
The smile on the Elder's face froze.
The cultivation art should reflect the most perfect image in the other party's heart.
If he liked young girls, the illusion should be a flawless, top-tier girl who, though youthful, had everything she should have. How could she be scanty?
No, no, it was also possible he had a very strange fetish.
She didn't quite believe it and asked Gu Chengming to continue describing.
As the other party's description became more detailed, her mouth opened wider and wider.
By the end, she looked at her own chest, which hadn't developed in hundreds of years, and then at this body that was forever frozen at fifteen because she practiced a special rejuvenation art.
The Elder suddenly looked up. That exquisite little face, which had been full of teasing and composure, instantly turned bright red, all the way to her ears.
"What's wrong, Senior? Did I say something wrong?"
Because this true body was too youthful and not plump enough, she had always been quite self-conscious about it.
So in front of outsiders, she always used illusions to maintain a mature and beautiful image. It had been hundreds of years since anyone had seen her true appearance, and she had always considered herself the 'Hehuan Sect's number one beauty'. As a result, today...
She suppressed her feelings of wanting to die from shame and spoke, "Take the manual and go! Go! Go!"
He hurriedly caught the manual she threw at him. Although he didn't know why this elder had suddenly gone crazy, now that he had the item, he didn't care to look into it further.
"Thank you for the art, Senior."
Gu Chengming very tactfully performed a salute and then turned to leave.
Until he walked out of the small building, he could still hear the sounds of frantic bed-thumping and suppressed screams coming from inside.
So what was that about?
Leaving the Elegant Garden, Gu Chengming couldn't help but be a bit puzzled.
【'Huiyuan Sword Manual' slowly woke up, feeling dazed.】
【It muttered: Chengming, your sword... can it really be eaten?】
"?"
Gu Chengming now knew what was going on.
When he returned to the small courtyard in the Jishan Neighborhood, the night was already deep.
Gu Chengming pushed open the door and lit an oil lamp on the desk. The weak flame flickered, casting a warm, translucent glow on the pink jade slip carved with a hehuan flower.
He sat cross-legged on the bed, took a deep breath, and sent his divine sense into the jade slip.
This art, named 'Yin Yang Creation Strategy', was indeed as the Hehuan Sect Elder had said—it was not the crude dual cultivation technique circulated in the streets.
The opening clearly stated the principle that 'Solitary Yin cannot give birth, and solitary Yang cannot grow.' It used one's own body as a cauldron to harmonize the Yin and Yang energies of heaven and earth, which then nourished oneself, seeking the realm of the Great Dao's perfect harmony.
However, the route of the energy circulation in this art was quite treacherous.
Not only did it have to pass through several hidden meridians that ordinary cultivators avoided, but it also required extreme mental strength to control that restless fire of desire. One slip-up would lead to cultivation deviation.
However, when Gu Chengming tentatively began the first cycle according to the heart method's formulas...
The originally upright and peaceful spiritual energy in his body, the moment it touched this art, actually seemed to have met a long-lost relative and let out a cheerful hum.
There was no need for him to bother guiding it; the spiritual energy was like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, smoothly rushing through those barriers that seemed like insurmountable chasms to others.
【'Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art' only feels that this art is scandalous. After a fierce internal struggle, it finally decided to personally guide the work for the sake of the big picture.】
【It has already prepared a bellyful of grand principles about 'preserving heavenly principles and extinguishing human desires', ready to strike a heavy blow if the new art misbehaves.】
Over the next few days.
Although the official conclusion of the Drunk Dream Boat case on the Lantern Festival night was that an evil cult was at work and the main culprit had been slain, it did not allow the Night Guard Division and those great figures in the Imperial City to breathe a sigh of relief.
The night patrol guards of the Night Guard Division began to move frequently, searching every corner of the capital for clues. Abandoned Daoist temples and remote mortuaries were all turned upside down.
However, after the Longevity Sect cut its tail to survive, there was no further trace of them.
The common people in the neighborhoods recovered quickly.
The Drunk Dream Boat reopened. Although it had less popularity, it was still full of lights and wine.
The storytellers in the teahouses had already told the eighteenth version of that night's story.
In the small courtyard of the Jishan Neighborhood, life continued at a steady pace.
In the early morning, there was a light mist.
When Gu Chengming pushed open his door, he smelled an indescribable burnt scent.
In the courtyard, Yu Wenqiu was squatting by a small red clay stove, holding a cattail leaf fan in her hand, struggling with an earthenware pot while covered in soot.
The orange cat that had been sleeping on the swing was now hiding in the corner, looking at the pot emitting black smoke with a terrified expression, clearly sensing something.
Seeing Gu Chengming come out, Yu Wenqiu flusteredly hid the fan behind her back and forced an extremely unnatural smile onto her face, which was also smeared with black ash.
"Little Gu, you're up? So early?"
"What is the Elder doing?" Gu Chengming looked at that poor earthenware pot, his eyelid twitching slightly.
"Cough, that..." Yu Wenqiu's gaze drifted. "I thought you've been working hard at cultivation these past few days and was afraid your body would be depleted."
Ever since she fell asleep on the Drunk Dream Boat and let Gu Chengming handle everything alone, this Elder Yu had fallen into an extremely awkward period of compensation.
Gu Chengming found it funny. He stepped forward and lifted the lid to take a look.
Well, it was a black mass. One could vaguely identify burnt red dates, undissolved donkey-hide gelatin, and some unknown medicinal herbs inside.
"Elder is very thoughtful."
Gu Chengming replaced the lid without changing his expression and turned to look at Yu Wenqiu.
"However, I have been practicing my cultivation art these past few days, and the Yang Qi in my body is very strong. It's truly not suitable for me to take more supplements. Why don't the Elder keep this porridge for yourself? Or..."
He glanced at the orange cat in the corner.
The orange cat let out a piercing scream and scrambled over the wall to escape. Its movements were so agile that it didn't look like a fat cat at all.
Gu Chengming had no choice but to cook noodles for himself, and he also cooked a portion for Elder Yu.
The progress of 'Yin Yang Creation Strategy' was surprisingly fast.
In just five days, Gu Chengming had already glimpsed the threshold.
"It's time."
Gu Chengming took a deep breath and began to break through that final layer of membrane.
There was no earth-shattering commotion, nor was there any danger of cultivation deviation. Everything seemed to happen naturally. With a slight 'click' sound from within his body...
【Congratulations! You have entered the basic level of 'Yin Yang Creation Strategy'.】
【Charm +2】
【Current Charm: 27】
【Conquest target selected: 'Yin Yang Creation Strategy'】
【Favorability: 5/Stranger】
【'Yin Yang Creation Strategy' slowly woke up. After realizing what happened, it began to size you up carefully and is quite satisfied.】
'Ah, it seems quite friendly.'
Gu Chengming thought so.
【'Zhou Rites Heavenly Rectifying Art' has long been waiting on the side, ready to strike a heavy blow as soon as this new Hehuan Sect art says anything foul.】
'Damn, why are you so unfriendly?!'
Gu Chengming suddenly became nervous.
【After sizing you up for a long time, 'Yin Yang Creation Strategy' finally spoke.】
【How many heroines have you collected now? How many do you plan to collect next? Is it a 'pure route' where you take them all?】
Rate on N.U.
