If I stay in the Hehuan Sect, I'll live off the pampered daughters of the Heavenly Pride Sect.

In front of the Ice Soul Palace.

The enormous ice crystal palace door opened silently inward.

Like a prehistoric behemoth, it opened its cold, gaping maw, waiting for its prey to walk right into its trap.

A cold wind, carrying a familiar orchid fragrance yet even more biting and piercing, blew out from inside the hall.

Instantly, the fear of being dominated that night surged into my heart like a tidal wave.

Mo Chengyue's legs were trembling.

He gritted his teeth and stepped into that bottomless darkness, one step at a time.

The hall was eerily empty.

Only in the center of the hall, on a throne sculpted from millennia-old ice, sat a figure.

Cold Moon Heart.

She wore a pristine white gown, her silver hair flowing like moonlight.

Her expression was indifferent, like an emotionless ice goddess.

She didn't look at him, but lowered her eyes and stared quietly at the ancient book she was holding.

It was as if nothing in this world could attract her attention anymore.

Mo Chengyue felt like his heart was about to jump out of his throat.

He dared not raise his head, walked to the center of the hall, bowed ninety degrees, and raised the wooden gift box in his hands high.

It took all his strength to control the trembling in his voice.

"Disciple Mo Chengyue, on the orders of my master Elder Yan of Qingquan Peak, offers congratulations to Elder Leng."

"May the Elder's path to immortality be everlasting, and may the Great Dao be boundless."

silence.

A deathly silence.

After a long while, a cold and indifferent voice finally came from the throne.

"Elder Yan is very kind."

Leng Yuexin slowly raised her head, and her phoenix eyes, which contained the pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator, finally landed on him.

"I have long wanted to visit Elder Yan, but I have just broken through and my realm is not yet stable, which is why I have been delayed."

Mo Chengyue replied without batting an eye.

"My master was away traveling and was unable to witness the elder's supreme demeanor as he formed his nascent soul, which he deeply regrets."

He was internally ranting and raving.

Regret?

She regretted not bringing sunflower seeds, peanuts, and a small stool; she could have started a live broadcast from the hilltop!

"Mm." Leng Yuexin nodded.

Her gaze fell on Mo Chengyue's magnificent attire and the spirit wood crown on his head.

"Since you are Elder Yan's disciple, you are also my junior. There's no need to be so formal."

"Raise your head and let me see what Elder Yan's esteemed disciple is like."

Mo Chengyue's heart skipped a beat.

He slowly, inch by inch, raised his head.

They met each other's gazes across a great distance, those cold and indifferent phoenix eyes.

Time stood still at this moment.

A crack finally appeared on Leng Yuexin's perpetually icy face.

Her pupils suddenly contracted.

The fingers holding the ancient book unconsciously tightened.

"It's...you?!"

Her voice carried an overwhelming shock, as well as a complex emotion that she herself was unaware of.

Mo Chengyue's expression remained calm and undisturbed.

He met her gaze and bowed again.

"Yes, I am your disciple, Mo Chengyue."

at the same time.

Inside the main hall of Qingquan Peak, Yan Chenyu took in the entire scene through the restrictions on the spirit wood crown.

She lazily shifted her posture, a smug, mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"Tsk, there's definitely some juicy gossip out there."

Inside the Ice Soul Palace, the air seemed to have frozen into ice.

Leng Yuexin's gaze slowly moved down from Mo Chengyue's feigned composure, finally landing on the spirit wood crown on his head.

Qingquan Peak, Yan Chenyu...

This low-ranking disciple, whom she considered the greatest disgrace of her life, was actually Elder Salty Fish's disciple.

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant.

The first time was when she went mad and lost her mind, so she captured him as an antidote.

However, he turned the tables on her, and that night's entanglement relieved her humiliation and allowed her to touch the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage.

That was the opportunity she hated most, yet couldn't deny.

The second time was not long ago.

She went into seclusion to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, but at the most critical moment, her inner demons suddenly arose, and her icy cold energy completely spiraled out of control.

Just when she thought she was about to die, it was the pure yang energy he had left in her body.

Like a glimmer of light in a desperate situation, it pulled her back from the brink of collapse.

Help her sever her inner demons, break through and rebuild, and condense her nascent soul in one fell swoop!

That power, which she should have regarded with contempt, eventually merged completely with her nascent soul, yin and yang in harmony, no longer separate from each other.

twice!

This man became her "lifeline" in two of her most critical life-or-death moments, in a way she least wanted to accept.

Is this a tragic fate, or... karma?

Leng Yuexin's fingers gripped the ancient book so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and her voice returned to its usual cool and clear tone.

"I have a question for you."

"Is what you're practicing the ancient dual cultivation method that has been lost to our sect for so long?"

Mo Chengyue felt an overwhelming pressure, like a mountain descending upon him, almost causing him to kneel on the ground.

The spirit wood crown on his head emitted a warm and refreshing aura, which allowed him to barely stand.

He lowered his head, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"Reporting to the Elder, this disciple...this disciple is foolish and does not know what the ancient methods are."

"The cultivation method I practice is the 'Yin Yang De He Jing' (Scripture of Yin Yang Virtue Harmony) that I received from the sect's cultivation method hall when I entered the sect."

He answered tremblingly, completely shifting the blame.

The Yin-Yang Virtue Harmony Classic.

"No wonder……"

After staring at him coldly for a long time, Leng Yuexin slowly withdrew her oppressive aura and muttered to herself.

No wonder he, a mere Qi Refining cultivator, could withstand his own Yin power.

No wonder that pure Yang energy was so refined and domineering, able to perfectly fuse with his Ice Soul Profound Technique.

It turns out that the cause and effect of that night ultimately became her destiny.

Having figured this out, Leng Yuexin's gaze towards Mo Chengyue became increasingly complex.

She had always scoffed at the dual cultivation methods of the Hehuan Sect, considering them heretical and a shortcut to depravity.

But now, reality has given her a resounding slap in the face.

This thing she despised not only saved her life but also helped her enter the realm she had always dreamed of.

Seeing her changing expression, Mo Chengyue thought he had gotten away with it and breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly bowed and said...

"Elder, the congratulatory gift has been delivered. If there are no other instructions, this disciple... this disciple will take his leave now."

Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, running away is the best!

"Don't leave."

Leng Yuexin blurted it out almost without thinking.

As soon as she said it, she was stunned for a moment, then her tone returned to its icy coldness, carrying a hint of barely perceptible annoyance.

"Did I say you could leave?"

Mo Chengyue froze on the spot, not daring to move.

Oh no, I set my goal too early.

On the throne, Leng Yuexin leaned back in her chair, her jade fingers gently tapping the armrest.

She looked down at the man below, whose body was so tense that his entire body was taut, and a faint, cold smile appeared on her lips.

"Nephew Mo, you have saved my life twice, so I... should reward you properly."

She emphasized the word "reward" very heavily.

Mo Chengyue's scalp tingled; he was terrified.

A life-saving grace?

Has this woman been struck by lightning and lost her mind?

He shook his head frantically, lowering his posture as much as possible.

"Uncle-Master, you flatter me! This disciple... this disciple has never done anything to help you..."

"This disciple's cultivation was too low; I knew nothing at the time! Martial Uncle, please be understanding and don't make fun of me!"

"Oh? You forgot?"

A cold smile curved Leng Yuexin's lips.

"Since you have a bad memory, then your uncle will have to... help you remember properly."

Before she finished speaking, she gently flicked her sleeve.

An irresistible, gentle force enveloped Mo Chengyue.

He only felt a blur before his eyes, and then he was uncontrollably flying towards the inner chamber at the back of the main hall.

With a "bang".

He was once again slammed heavily onto that familiar, ancient jade bed that exuded a bone-chilling cold.

Same place, same bed, same people.

No!

Sir!

Not again?!

Are you trying to kill us?!

Mo Chengyue's vision went black.

Grass! A type of plant!

His brain was working frantically in that instant, almost burning with energy.

Resist? Resist with your head? A Foundation Establishment cultivator is no different from an ant in front of a Nascent Soul monster; the monster can annihilate his soul with a single thought.

Begging for mercy? Useless! Judging from this woman's attitude, she's definitely going to have to eat this "meal" today.

Calling for Master? Absolutely not! That old bastard Yan Chenyu would love to be dealt with on the spot so she could have a gossip session.

The spiritwood crown she gave me only had defensive functions; it didn't have the option to send messages for help at all!

A dead end! This is a complete and utter dead end!

Countless thoughts flashed through my mind in a flash, but they all ultimately pointed to the same result.

Mo Chengyue's tense body suddenly relaxed, completely giving up his futile struggle.

He lay paralyzed on the bed like a salted fish thrown onto a chopping board, his eyes lifeless, his heart filled with nothing but sorrow.

That's it, I'm definitely going to be drained dry this time. I just hope... this woman has some restraint and doesn't really suck me dry.