Alert! The Dragon Lord has emerged from seclusion!

At first, it was just a matter of merging true qi to suppress Lin Chen's Nine Yang backlash, but as the cultivation technique gradually improved, it even faintly touched the threshold of "yin and yang in harmony".

"Today we will try the third level."

Su Qingxue unfolded a newly copied scroll of silk, on which were her delicate yet sharp handwriting:

"Yin contains Yang, and Yang contains Yin; they are mutually fundamental and flow endlessly"—this is my mother's core understanding of the Yin-Yang dual cultivation method.

Lin Chen carefully studied the mental cultivation method, and a sense of understanding gradually appeared in his eyes:

"I see."

"I had been forcibly suppressing the Burning Heaven Body with the Nine Yang True Qi, but I didn't know that extreme rigidity is easily broken. If I could guide the Profound Yin Qi into the Yang Meridians and plant a bit of Extreme Yin within the Extreme Yang, I could actually control the rampage of Yang Qi."

"That's right." Su Qingxue nodded. "But you must also be careful. The Xuan Yin Qi is extremely cold. If it is not controlled properly and invades the heart meridian, it will cause permanent damage."

"Let's begin."

The two closed their eyes simultaneously and began to circulate their internal energy.

Lin Chen guided a wisp of pure Nine Yang True Qi, which rose from his dantian, traveled along the Ren meridian to the Tanzhong acupoint, and then separated a thin wisp of true qi, which he slowly transferred to Su Qingxue.

Su Qingxue then separated a wisp of cold energy from the Xuan Yin Origin, which flowed along the Hand Shao Yin Heart Meridian and emerged from the Laogong acupoint.

The two auras met in the palms of their hands.

This time, instead of letting their true energy merge directly, they controlled it to chase and entwine each other like two small fish, while maintaining a subtle distance.

Sweat dripped from Lin Chen's forehead.

This process requires extreme mental control; if one is not careful, the extreme yang and extreme yin will collide violently, and the consequences will be unimaginable.

Su Qingxue was not having an easy time either.

Her face grew paler and paler, and tiny ice crystals formed on her long eyelashes, but her eyes remained as firm as ever.

Time slips away, bit by bit.

The glow of the luminous pearl flowed silently through the stone chamber, projecting the figures of the two onto the wall like an ancient diagram of dual cultivation.

Suddenly, Lin Chen's body trembled.

The little fish of Nine Yang True Qi within his body, while chasing the Xuan Yin Cold Qi, actually differentiated itself into a wisp of extremely subtle Yin attribute aura—a trace of origin that he had unintentionally absorbed and transformed from the cold Qi that Su Qingxue had transferred to him.

Although it was only as thick as a hair, the moment this wisp of yin energy entered his yang meridians, Lin Chen felt as if he had drunk ice water on a hot summer day, feeling completely refreshed.

The Nine Suns Burning Heaven Body, which had been burning fiercely like oil in a raging fire, suddenly became quiet for a moment.

"Success!" He opened his eyes, the golden light in them subdued, replaced by a gentler glow.

Su Qingxue slowly finished her practice, a rare smile appearing on her lips: "You have a high level of comprehension. My mother said in the book that ordinary cultivators need at least three years of hard work to master 'planting yin within yang'."

"It's because you guided me well," Lin Chen said sincerely.

These three days of cultivation gave him a deeper understanding of Su Qingxue.

This woman, who appears aloof, possesses a fortitude and wisdom that rivals any man's.

She has an exceptional talent for cultivation, and her understanding of the "Mysterious Yin Manual" even surpasses that of her mother back then.

"You're leaving tomorrow," Su Qingxue suddenly said.

"Um."

"I've met Qin Yurou twice. She's gentle by nature, but stubborn at heart. The Qin family is a scholarly family that values ​​etiquette and rules above all else. What was your status when you met her?"

Lin Chen took out the marriage certificate from his pocket: "Naturally, he is my fiancé."

Su Qingxue was silent for a moment, then asked softly, "What if she doesn't want to?"

"Then I will only focus on healing and not get married," Lin Chen said frankly. "My masters arranged this marriage for me to resolve the crisis of the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Body, but I cannot bring myself to force a marriage."

"You are quite the gentleman." Su Qingxue lowered her eyes, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the silver embroidery on her sleeve. "Then... if among the seven, some are willing to marry and some are not, what will you do?"

"I will marry whoever is willing," Lin Chen answered decisively. "The Nine Yang Burning Heaven Body requires the harmonization of at least three Nine Yin Bodies to be completely neutralized."

"But if one forces those who are unwilling, how is that different from a heretical path?"

He looked at Su Qingxue and suddenly smiled: "Miss Su, are you vetting your future 'sister'?"

Su Qingxue's ears turned slightly red, and she turned her face away: "I just don't want you to act rashly and ruin the Su family's reputation—after all, you're practically a member of the Su family now."

"Half?"

"The engagement is not yet dissolved, so you are naturally considered." She stood up, her sleeves fluttering slightly. "It's getting late, you should go back and prepare. I won't see you off tomorrow; the head of the family leaving would only arouse suspicion."

Reaching the entrance to the stone chamber, she suddenly stopped, her back to Lin Chen, and said:

"Come back alive."

The door closed gently.

Lin Chen looked at the Ice Heart Pendant in his hand. The jade pendant shimmered with a warm blue light under the glow of the night-shining pearl, just like its owner—cold on the outside, but with a subtle warmth inside.

……

The next morning, Lin Chen traveled light, carrying only a canvas bag, and boarded the high-speed train bound for Jiangcheng.

Although Su Qingxue did not personally see them off, she arranged for four guards to secretly accompany them.

These four individuals were all trained by the Su family, skilled in reconnaissance and counter-surveillance, and carried specially made Yang Fire Talismans that could resist ordinary Yin Sha attacks.

Two hours later, the high-speed train pulled into Jiangcheng Station.

Jiangcheng is 300 li away from Lin'an, where the Su family lived. Both are located in the Jiangnan water towns, but the architecture in Jiangcheng is more ancient and rustic.

Blue stone paths, white walls and black tiles, crisscrossing waterways, and arched bridges like the moon.

The Qin family's old residence is located deep in the ancient street and is a large courtyard with five courtyards.

Above the door hangs a plaque that reads "Passing Down the Fragrance of Scholarship," the ink strokes vigorous and powerful, said to have been inscribed by a great Confucian scholar from a previous dynasty.

Lin Chen knocked on the copper ring.

A moment later, the side door opened a crack, and an old servant poked his head out: "Whom are you looking for, sir?"

"My name is Lin Chen. I have come to visit Mr. Qin to treat Miss Qin Yurou's illness."

The old servant sized him up and saw that Lin Chen had an extraordinary temperament. Although he was dressed simply, he had a calm and composed demeanor. He then said, "Please wait a moment while I inform him."

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the old servant returned: "My master invites you, Mr. Lin, to come with me."

After passing through the screen wall, the front hall, and the corridor, Lin Chen was led to the main hall of the second courtyard.

The interior is elegantly furnished with rosewood furniture, antique books and porcelain on display shelves, and landscape paintings and calligraphy on the walls, where the aroma of ink and tea mingles.

In the main seat, a slender old man, about seventy years old, sat in a dark blue long gown, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and holding a yellowed book in his hand.

It was Qin Huaigu, the head of the Qin family.

Several other people were sitting on either side; judging from their clothes and demeanor, they should be Qin family members or nephews.

"Lin Chen greets Old Master Qin." Lin Chen bowed respectfully.

Qin Huaigu put down his book and scrutinized him through his glasses: "I've heard that Mr. Lin can cure my daughter's illness? May I ask where you studied under him, and what school of medicine you learned?"

"My master lives in seclusion in Kunlun, and his medical skills are a mixture of various schools, without any particular lineage or sect," Lin Chen replied calmly. "As for whether I can cure her, I will need to see Miss Qin first and take her pulse to know."

"Arrogant!" A middle-aged man sitting on the left slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "Famous doctors from Jiangnan and renowned physicians from Kyoto have all examined Yu Rou's illness, but they are all helpless."