Transmigrating to the Qi Cultivation Path, I became an outdated Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Transmigrating into the Qi Cultivation Path, I Became an Outdated Foundation Establishment Cultivator (Chapter 121)

Hundred Flowers Valley, located hundreds of miles east of Tianyue Lake, is the ancestral home of the Ying clan.

Hundred Flowers Valley is not only in an excellent location, but also spans nearly a hundred miles. At this moment, strange phenomena are appearing in Tianxiang Garden on the south side of the valley.

A pale, cold moon hung in the sky above Tianxiang Garden.

The cold moon was not a real celestial phenomenon, but a phantom formed by the extremely pure spiritual power of [Cold Water].

After an unknown amount of time, an extremely cold aura rose from the depths of Tianxiang Garden, as if some long-dormant being had finally opened its eyes.

The chilling air was pale blue, condensed and did not dissipate, spreading outwards and freezing everything in its path.

The spirit bamboo was frozen into an ice sculpture, crumbling into dust at the slightest touch;

The water flowing on the artificial hill froze into an icefall in mid-air, maintaining its flowing form but remaining silent.

Even the mist that permeated the air transformed into fine ice crystals, which fluttered down and refracted a hazy halo under the cold moonlight.

The entire Tianxiang Garden has been transformed into an ice kingdom on the ground, silent and cold, yet exuding an ultimate pure beauty.

The strange phenomenon lingered for a long time.

In the quiet room below, where the extremely cold icy air originated, a stunningly beautiful woman exhaled a long breath of icy air and slowly opened her eyes.

This woman was none other than Ying Suxin.

She sat cross-legged on a cold jade futon, her body still surrounded by a pale blue aura that had not yet completely subsided.

The chilling air swirled around her, sometimes condensing into tiny ice crystals, sometimes transforming into a hazy frost, enveloping her in a cool, ethereal halo, as if a fairy from the moon had descended to the mortal realm.

After more than half a year of seclusion, she finally broke through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

Ying Suxin's face was as cold and aloof as if carved from ice and jade. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, and her eyes were a very light water blue, clear and transparent, yet exuding a sense of aloofness that kept people at a distance.

Her eyelashes were long, and when they drooped slightly, they cast a faint shadow under her eyelids, making it impossible to see what emotions were hidden in her eyes.

His nose was straight and sharp, his thin lips were slightly pursed, and his lips were extremely pale, almost transparent. Against the backdrop of the frost-covered room, he appeared even more aloof and unapproachable.

Her skin was like the cross-section of a thousand-year-old piece of cold jade that had been cut open; it was so white and translucent that it faintly revealed a hint of icy blue.

That was a natural manifestation of the "Cold Moon Profound Ice Technique" after years of dedicated practice, with the "Cold Water" quality deeply ingrained in his bones.

With skin as white as ice and bones as blue as jade, and a chilling presence that penetrates to the core, this description best captures her physical appearance.

Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, adorned with no hairpins or ornaments, simply draped loosely, which only accentuated the breathtaking beauty of her aloof and stunning face.

Ying Suxin slowly stood up, her wide, plain white robe swaying gently with her movements, outlining her slender and graceful figure.

She raised her hand, looking at the lingering chill at her fingertips. With a slight thought, an invisible force quietly spread out from her.

That was the rudimentary form of her newly cultivated supernatural power, [Cold Moon].

This supernatural power can gather the icy cold energy and also conjure the illusory image of the cold moon, making it both offensive and defensive.

As the supernatural power was activated, the ice covering the entire Tianxiang Garden began to melt away.

The ice crystals melted, and the cold air surged back, completely entering her body.

But the flowers and plants that were killed by the frost could never be restored; they lay withered and dead on the ground, leaving the garden in a mess.

Ying Suxin watched this scene without the slightest fluctuation in her light blue eyes.

Tianxiang Garden was merely her place of cultivation; its destruction was insignificant.

She doesn't usually live here; her real residence is Bingyuanzhai, located east of Hundred Flowers Valley.

Just as he was wondering whether he should go back to Bingyuanzhai to tidy up or go directly to his father to report his breakthrough, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the quiet room.

The person who arrived walked quickly but was not flustered, clearly having been waiting outside for some time.

Ying Suxin turned her head slightly and saw her personal maid, Yuzhi, walk in quickly.

As soon as Yu Zhi entered the room, she shrank her neck from the lingering chill of the room. Then, a big smile spread across her face, and she said repeatedly, "Congratulations, Miss, on breaking through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage!"

For the past six months, while Miss has been in seclusion, Yuzhi has been waiting outside, hoping that Miss will achieve her goal soon.

"I've been waiting for this day! It's wonderful!"

Seeing Yu Zhi's overjoyed expression, Ying Suxin's usually cold face revealed a rare, faint smile. She nodded slightly and said, "Then you've had a hard time, girl."

Ying Suxin's voice was as cold and aloof as she was, but she was still quite warm and knew how to joke with her maid.

Yu Zhi clearly already knew her young mistress's temperament, and simply said, "Miss, you are wise. I'm not trying to take credit."

Oh, right.

The elder clan leader instructed that you should come to see him immediately after you emerge from seclusion.

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible hint of doubt flashed in Ying Suxin's light blue eyes. Why was her father in such a hurry to see her? Could it be that something had happened in the clan?

"Is something wrong in the clan?"

Yu Zhi stammered, "You'll know when you get there, Miss."

Seeing Yu Zhi's appearance, Ying Suxin knew that something must have happened. However, she wasn't the type to be sharp-tongued or insist on getting to the bottom of things, so she simply said, "Let's go."

Yu Zhi immediately withdrew, first summoning a magnificent jade carriage, carried by a cloud of essence, and then summoning other maids. A group of more than ten people escorted Ying Suxin onto the carriage before heading north towards Hundred Flowers Valley.

Hundred Flowers Valley is extremely large. Tianxiang Garden is located in the south of the valley, while the Grand Courtyard, where the elder Ying Zhengliang of the powerful clan resides, is located in the north, with a distance of tens of miles between them.

The valley is protected by a flight-blocking array, which prevents non-Core Formation cultivators from levituring through the air.

However, as the Heavenly Fragrance Jade Chariot traveled through the valley, Ying Suxin gradually realized that something was wrong.

The valley was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. The sacred trees were covered with large red lanterns, and brand-new red silk ribbons were strung between the branches. Even the usually plain stone lampposts by the roadside were wrapped with gold and red gauze.

Its bright red color stood out starkly against the otherwise serene and elegant scenery of Hundred Flowers Valley.

Ying Suxin frowned slightly, turned to look at Yuzhi beside her, and asked, "Which one of the people in the valley got married? It's such a grand affair."

Upon being asked this question, Yu Zhi's face flashed with panic, and she stammered, "Miss... well... let's wait until we see the clan elder and let him tell you."

Looking at Yu Zhi's hesitant expression, Ying Suxin had a vague guess in her heart.

She couldn't help but look away and continued walking forward.

Yu Zhi breathed a long sigh of relief when she saw that she was no longer asking questions.

As they traveled from south to north through Hundred Flowers Valley, the master and servant encountered many servants and members of the Ying clan.

When those people saw Ying Suxin from afar, they were first taken aback, then a strange expression appeared on their faces—a mixture of joy, anticipation, and something else being suppressed.

Someone wanted to step forward and exchange pleasantries, but Yu Zhi quickly gave them a wink, forcing them to swallow the words that were on the tip of their tongues.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the entire Hundred Flowers Valley became subtle.

Ying Suxin took in all these people's reactions, which further confirmed her suspicions.

Is this day finally coming?

But they didn't know who "he" was.

When they finally arrived at the main courtyard, Yuzhi let out a long breath, as if a huge burden had been lifted, and quickly stepped forward to knock on the courtyard gate.

Ying Zhengliang was already waiting in the main hall.

He stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the newly transplanted winter plum tree outside. He only turned around when he heard footsteps.

The current patriarch of the winning family is tall and slender with a thin face and slightly graying temples, but his eyes are still bright and piercing.

He wore a dark brocade robe with a black jade belt around his waist. His demeanor was calm and composed, exuding an air of someone who had long held a high position.

Its majesty.

But at this moment, his gaze toward his daughter held a complex and unfathomable meaning, a mixture of sadness and reluctance.

Ying Suxin stepped into the main hall, bowed to her father, and subtly glanced around.

There was no one else in the hall except for the father; even the servants who usually attended to him had been sent far away.

This display of force further confirmed her suspicions.

Ying Zhengliang waved Yuzhi away, his gaze falling on his daughter. He remained silent for a moment before speaking, his voice steady as ever, yet carrying an indescribable heaviness: "The Master has arranged a marriage for you."

Sure enough.

Ying Suxin let out a soft breath. The joy of breaking through her cultivation level was completely dispelled in that instant, replaced by an indescribable emptiness.

She didn't make a scene, nor did she even ask if she could refuse, because her father had made it clear enough... This was a marriage arranged by a real person, and there was only one real person, namely Shuiyue Real Person Ying Ruyue.

He is not only the head of the Shuiyue lineage, but also likely to be the future sect leader of the Yuexia Sect. He is the foundation upon which the entire Baihua Valley depends for its existence, and he carries the hope for the Yuexia Sect to go further in the future.

Therefore, the winner cannot refuse the request made by the real person.

Ying Suxin simply straightened her expression, looked at her father, and said in a calm and indifferent voice, without the slightest hint of emotion: "Please continue, Father."

Seeing his daughter like this, Ying Zhengliang felt even more heartbroken.

He actually hoped that Ying Suxin would make a scene, even if it was just crying, so that she could at least vent some of her emotions.

Unfortunately, her second daughter lived up to her name, possessing a cold and aloof heart.

This has been the case since childhood; no matter how big the matter, it is always buried deep in the heart, and never revealed to the outside world.

However, there is a second half to this saying: "Looking around, I find my soulmate."

He had hoped that his daughter could meet a kindred spirit who understood and cared for her.

Ying Zhengliang composed himself, sat down in the main seat in the hall, and calmed himself before speaking about the future son-in-law.

"This man is named Xiang Yue. He is a rogue cultivator with the cultivation level of a pseudo-core cultivator." He paused, seemingly considering his words, and then continued, "Now he is an outer elder of the Water Moon lineage within the sect and is highly regarded by the True Person."

He's not very old, probably not even sixty.

He was usually obsessed with the art of weapon crafting. For four years after entering the profession, he ignored everything else and devoted all his energy to weapon crafting.

As a result, his administrative duties naturally fell into disarray, and there was much gossip and criticism within the household.

Ying Suxin listened quietly, her face expressionless, but her mind was already racing with calculations.

The position of outer sect elder is inherently difficult to hold. One must not only keep the unruly clan disciples in the outer sect in check, but also navigate between the two lineages and deal with the overt and covert probing of the various vassal families.

Xiang Yue has only been a disciple for four years and is a rogue cultivator with a shallow foundation. How can he possibly subdue those disciples from high-ranking families?

It's already quite remarkable that he can stick to his profession of weapon crafting; as for dealing with external affairs, he's probably a complete mess.

Sure enough, Ying Zhengliang's subsequent actions proved her guess correct.

"After you marry him, the master not only hopes that you can live in harmony with him, but also that you will take good care of him."

Ying Zhengliang sighed inwardly. Thinking of the demands made by Master Shuiyue, he felt that his precious daughter was practically being sent to be someone's maid. He felt uneasy about it, but what could he do?

Ying Zhengliang paused for a moment before continuing, "On the one hand, you must take on the general affairs of the outer sect elders and help him manage those things that he is unwilling or unable to do."

On the other hand, we must do our best to ensure his environment for cultivation and weapon forging.

Upon hearing this, a very subtle ripple finally appeared in Ying Suxin's light blue eyes.

She lowered her eyes slightly, her thick eyelashes casting a shadow beneath her eyelids, concealing the turbulent emotions surging within them.

Taking on general affairs was fine, but she had learned a lot about managing a household from her mother since childhood, and had also been in charge of the fire workshop in the clan. So she wasn't entirely an amateur in this area.

What truly sank her heart was what her father said next.

"The Master values ​​this person highly and will definitely use him, even make great use of him, with a vision for him spanning a hundred years." Ying Zhengliang's voice grew increasingly deep, as if every word weighed a thousand pounds. "Suxin, you must understand what this means."

A single sentence, "A century-long vision," left Ying Suxin almost breathless.

Her life for the next hundred years was thus decided.

century...

Not ten years, not twenty years, but a full one hundred years!

For a hundred years, she would take care of everything for the man she had never met, ensuring that he could focus on his cultivation and weapon crafting without distractions, enjoying the prestige of an elder without being bothered by worldly affairs.

And what about her?

Ying Suxin felt increasingly frustrated the more she thought about it.

She was Ying Zhengliang's daughter, the legitimate daughter of the Ying family, and was highly regarded by the clan from a young age.

Although she was unable to join the inner sect because her spiritual root destiny did not match the inheritance of the Moon Glow Sect, the Ying family, as a major immortal cultivation clan, also had two fourth-grade Qi cultivation techniques passed down through generations. Although Ying Suxin only had a mid-grade spiritual root in three elements, she was able to cultivate the clan's inherited "Cold Moon Profound Ice Technique" because she possessed the destiny of "Cold Water". The clan also devoted itself to cultivating her and even allowed her to learn the high-level array inheritance secretly passed down by the Ying family.

She knew that all of this was not given for free, and she was prepared to give and sacrifice for her family in the future.

She could even accept being used as a pawn and marrying a complete stranger.

But won't this take too long?

Has she grown so old that she can no longer have any other hope of having children?

"century..."

She murmured softly, her voice so low it was almost inaudible.

"Furthermore, the Master hopes that when you have free time after marriage, you will try your best to teach Xiang Yue the Way of Formation."

Upon hearing her father relay another request from the real person, Ying Suxin fell completely silent.

After a long while, she finally raised her head, and the calm of her usual eyes returned.

She looked at her father, her tone still cool and indifferent, yet each word clear: "Your daughter wants to see him."

Ying Zhengliang nodded. He was really afraid that his daughter would not say anything and would get married without any resentment, which would mess things up and make the real person blame him.

"What a coincidence."

Xiang Yue had arrived in the valley several days ago, carrying a calligraphy scroll personally written by the real person.

I've been waiting in the guest courtyard these past few days, just waiting for you to emerge from seclusion, Suxin.

It arrived a few days ago?

Ying Suxin's heart stirred slightly. It seemed that her father and the clan had already made up their minds about this marriage, leaving her no room for refusal.

"snort!

I want to see just who this Xiang Yue is, that he can make a true master look forward to a hundred years!

Ying Zhengliang immediately made arrangements, setting the Qinglian Water Pavilion as the venue for the consultation.

That was the most secluded and elegant spot in Hundred Flowers Valley, built in the center of a lotus pond, surrounded by water on all sides, with only a winding bridge connecting it to the shore.

The lotus flowers in the pond never fade, and the misty air gives them a touch of otherworldly elegance, making it perfect for such a first meeting.

The next day, just after noon, Ying Suxin arrived at the Qinglian Water Pavilion.

Today she made no special effort to dress up, still wearing that loose, plain white robe, and walked alone along the winding bridge slowly toward the center of the waterside pavilion.

She walked with ease, her clothes fluttering in the wind, and the mist from the lotus pond made her appear even more ethereal and otherworldly.

But she knew that the turmoil in her heart at that moment was far from the calm that appeared on the surface.

At the end of the winding bridge, the bamboo curtains of the Qinglian Water Pavilion were already rolled up high.

A tall, slender figure stood with his hands behind his back in the waterside pavilion, gazing at the blooming blue lotus in the pond.

Hearing footsteps, the figure slowly turned around.

This was the first time He Sheng had seen Ying Suxin in person. Even though he had seen her appearance in the jade slip before and knew that she was stunningly beautiful, he was still captivated by her looks and temperament when she walked slowly towards him on the lotus blossoms.

It was an extreme, almost domineering kind of beauty.

Ying Suxin wore a loose, plain white robe, which was loose and not close to her body.

But it was precisely this large robe that, in the gentle breeze of the lake, would occasionally cling to her body.

Whenever the wind blows, the thin fabric outlines the breathtaking curves beneath the robe, revealing long, straight, and well-proportioned legs that occasionally peek out from under the robe, each step exuding an indescribable rhythm.

Her slender waist, so delicate it seemed almost too fragile to be grasped, appeared even more so under the sash, as if it would break at the slightest pressure.

Above her waist, her breasts rose sharply, creating a full, prominent mound that stretched the white robe into a breathtaking curve. The mounds, partially hidden beneath the wide robe, added an indescribable allure, leaving one mesmerized.

Her features are another kind of extreme.

It is cool, clear, and untouched by dust, like a piece of cold jade buried deep beneath millennia-old ice, with sharp edges yet retaining a woman's gentle grace.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, her eyes were like amber water reflecting in a cold spring, and her thin lips were slightly pursed, their color extremely pale, almost transparent.

Her entire being possessed fair skin and aloof elegance, yet she also had a stunningly beautiful figure that could drive any man mad.

This is a combination of extreme contradictions.

She exuded a chilling aura that kept everyone at arm's length, her eyes devoid of any warmth or human touch, like a lofty, cold moon that dared not be profaned by anyone.

But that stunningly beautiful face, and the alluring curves that couldn't be concealed beneath her wide robes, acted like an invisible hook, fiercely igniting the most primal desire for conquest deep within the man's heart.

It makes one wonder what it would feel like to pluck this cold moon and hold it in one's arms.

Even though He Sheng had seen all kinds of filtered beauties in his previous life, compared with the person in front of him, she was either not refined enough or too common.

Most importantly, Ying Suxin possessed a fatal attraction for men who had roamed through countless beauties—a sense of sophistication that made He Sheng unable to look away.

He subconsciously circulated the "True Stillness Mantra" in his mind, trying to suppress the surging heat.

But...it didn't work!

External evils can be blocked, but the desires of the heart are hard to quell.

Seeing that the "True Tranquility Formula" was useless, He Sheng actually let go.

He suddenly realized that avoiding desires was itself a form of cowardice in spiritual practice, and that escaping one's true nature was no different from burying one's head in the sand.

Only by facing it directly, acknowledging it, and then transcending it can one truly cultivate the right attitude.

The woman standing here today signifies that she will become his Daoist partner in the future.

Everything about her, from the inside out, from her appearance to her status, will belong to He Sheng.

Why can't he appreciate it openly and honestly?

So he put away the "True Tranquility Mantra" and simply stopped suppressing his feelings. His gaze was open and unabashed as he looked at the stunningly beautiful woman before him from head to toe, from her eyebrows and eyes to her figure.

However, Ying Suxin was quite displeased with his frankness.

As Ying Suxin stepped across the winding bridge and into the waterside pavilion, she was met with He Sheng's undisguised gaze that lingered over her.

A barely perceptible hint of disgust flashed in those light blue eyes.

Although she was aloof and reserved, she was not a completely ignorant young lady.

Over the years, she has managed the firework workshop at Winners, dealing with all sorts of people and encountering a wide variety of individuals.

But He Sheng was the first man to dare look at her with that kind of gaze.

No strange man had ever dared to look at her so openly before, let alone with such an admiring, possessive, and self-righteous gaze, looking her up and down.

This made her extremely uncomfortable, as if she had become an object being placed on a table and judged.

She stopped and stood facing He Sheng across a jade table.

A gentle breeze swept across the lotus pond, ruffling her hair, and the chill in her aquamarine eyes deepened.

She bowed slightly, her posture impeccable, but her voice was so cold it could freeze ice: "Ying Suxin greets Fellow Daoist Xiang."

He Sheng took in her displeasure, but remained unconcerned. He cupped his hands in return and said, "Xiang Yue greets Fellow Daoist Ying."

After exchanging greetings and taking their seats, Ying Suxin immediately launched her attack.

She had no desire to beat around the bush or bother with small talk. The way this man was looking at her was so brazen that she felt she needed to give him a hard time!

However, her way of challenging others was not the usual way of throwing a tantrum, but rather by discussing profound philosophical concepts. This was the most common way for disciples of high-ranking families to clash, which was both dignified and a way to test the other party's strength.

She raised her aquamarine eyes, looked directly at He Sheng, and asked a question that went straight to the heart of cultivation: "What is the Dao?"

He Sheng frowned slightly. He was naturally perceptive, and although the look of disgust in Ying Suxin's eyes was fleeting, he had not been able to miss it.

Add to that this sudden question, and if he still couldn't see that this woman was trying to give him a hard time, then he would be a fool.

He Sheng knew perfectly well that Ying Suxin was naturally unwilling to be with him, and it was understandable that she was angry.

But as much as you're angry, it's a mistake to think you can take it out on him.

Having figured this out, He Sheng couldn't help but smile meaningfully. He wasn't afraid of Ying Suxin making a move; on the contrary, he was afraid that this woman was a taciturn person, which would be too boring.

"The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao."

He Sheng uttered these words slowly and deliberately.

Upon hearing this, a clear look of astonishment flashed in Ying Suxin's light blue eyes.

She had studied the art of array formations since childhood and practiced the "Cold Moon Profound Ice Technique." She was quite well-read in cultivation, but she had never seen such a statement in any classic text.

These words seem simple, but upon closer examination, they contain an indescribable and profound meaning, subtly echoing some ultimate truth of the universe that she has yet to grasp.

She instinctively asked, "What do you mean?"

He Sheng looked at the fleeting seriousness in her eyes and found it slightly amusing, but he said with a straight face, "I don't believe that the Dao that can be expressed in words is the truly eternal Dao."

Ying Suxin's brows furrowed slightly, and a thoughtful look flashed in her clear, cold eyes.

She wanted to refute, but the words caught in her throat.

If the Dao can be clearly expressed in words, then it is equivalent to saying that the Great Dao has boundaries and a fixed form.

But how can the true path be fully described in mere words?

The array formation manuals and cultivation insights she had studied since childhood were all attempts to describe those mysterious and profound things in words. But did those descriptions really touch upon the true essence of the Dao?

She suddenly realized that she was somewhat agreeing with He Sheng's statement, which made her even more unhappy.

Before she could even sort out her thoughts, He Sheng spoke again, his tone still calm, yet each word struck her heart like a hammer: "Your path is not my path."

Ying Suxin's brows furrowed even more. She naturally understood what he meant, but...

He Sheng gave her no room to think and continued, "What you feel right now is, for me, a form of self-cultivation that involves confronting my own desires."

His gaze fell on Ying Suxin's face, not with admiration, but with longing, greed, and a naked desire to conquer, yet it was exceptionally resolute.

"Self-cultivation is part of my path, and I am attached to my path."

What gives you the right to sway me with mere words, or even to rebuke me?

He Sheng knew perfectly well that this woman's eagerness to discuss metaphysics with him from the very beginning was nothing more than an attempt to verbally surpass him, thereby suppressing him and even rebuking him for his covetousness, indecent behavior, and offense...

Upon hearing this, a rare hint of panic flashed in Ying Suxin's light blue eyes.

It's an instinctive reaction when a deep-seated secret is unexpectedly discovered.

She tried to intimidate He Sheng by asking him a question. She was indeed displeased with He Sheng's unrestrained gaze earlier, and she really wanted to use a debate to suppress his arrogance.

She thought she had hidden these thoughts well, but the other person saw through them in just a few words. Almost instinctively, she retorted, "I didn't..."

He Sheng didn't say anything more, just smiled without speaking, picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip, his eyes filled with a knowing certainty, as if to say, "You continue to perform, I'm watching you."

That attitude made Ying Suxin feel even more uncomfortable, as if all her pretense had become a clumsy joke in the other person's eyes.

Ying Suxin was no ordinary woman, and she quickly recovered from the momentary panic.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart, and her light blue eyes regained their usual cool and indifferent look.

She forced herself to calm down, her mind racing, and quickly seized upon a seemingly contradictory oversight in He Sheng's words.

"Of course you can adhere to your own path." She spoke slowly and deliberately, her voice still cold as ice, yet each word clear. "But according to what you said, your path is not my path, so I can also adhere to my own path."

My dislike is my own principle; since you acknowledge that we each have our own way, what gives you the right to criticize me?

In a previous life, this would have led to a point where both sides were resorting to sophistry.

Because in the previous life, at least morality existed, and that's a very flexible thing.

But this is the world of cultivation. Does the world of cultivation have morality?

He Sheng thought it was not true.

There is only one naked rule here—might makes right!

So he didn't bother beating around the bush anymore, and simply said in a low voice, but each word carried an undeniable certainty: "I understand."

Since you intended to be a miserable couple with me from the very beginning, I will tell Mizuki the truth.

"you!"

Ying Suxin stood up abruptly, and for the first time, a clear emotional fluctuation appeared on her cold and beautiful face. Anger and panic mingled in her light blue eyes as she stared straight at He Sheng, as if she couldn't believe her ears.

"How could you... how could you be like this?!"

It was just a few words of bickering, why are you going to tell the parents?

Ying Suxin suddenly felt that all her carefully prepared plans and rhetoric had become a complete joke in front of the other party.

This person has absolutely no sense of martial ethics!

He Sheng crossed his arms, a faint, confident smile playing on his lips as he watched her with amusement.

The smile seemed even more glaring to Ying Suxin.

"I know you're unhappy about this marriage." He Sheng's voice was calm as ever, but it was like a dull knife, slowly cutting away the thoughts in Ying Suxin's heart that she herself didn't want to face. "But you can't resist it, otherwise you wouldn't have come to this Qinglian Water Pavilion at all."

You know deep down that you can't resist, but you're unwilling to accept it.

He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing straight into Ying Suxin's heart, and said, "Then all your resentment turned into a single thought, which was to rebel against me."

From your initial discussions of metaphysics to your current anger, it's all just a projection of your inner resentment.

The world of cultivation is ultimately a world where the strong are respected and power is supreme.

Compared to the entire Ying clan, He Sheng was insignificant, but in this marriage, he was the one standing with Shuiyue Zhenren and the Ying family.

Despite her resentment, Ying Suxin knew she couldn't possibly fight against the combined forces of these three. So she turned her attention to He Sheng himself, the only target who seemed worthy of her attention.

such a pity.

He Sheng shook his head inwardly. From the moment Ying Suxin stepped into the waterside pavilion, she had no room for maneuver.

He Sheng's sharp words pierced Ying Suxin's heart like a knife, laying bare her hidden thoughts and schemes.

Ying Suxin trembled slightly involuntarily, and all the color drained from her beautiful face.

She was afraid because she suddenly realized that the only person she could fight against was so powerful that all her plans and schemes had turned into a clumsy performance like a clown jumping around.

At the same time, this also made her despair, because she could see no hope of breaking the deadlock, and it seemed that the rest of her life was really going to be nailed to this marriage that she had no power to resist.

Just as she was trembling more and more violently, and her watery blue eyes were about to turn into a drop of ice dew that was about to slide down the corner of her eye, He Sheng suddenly sighed.

"I can give you a chance."

Swish!

Ying Suxin, like a drowning person suddenly finding a lifeline, abruptly raised her head, her still watery blue eyes looking straight at He Sheng.

There was astonishment and hesitation in his eyes, but more than anything, there was an almost instinctive unwillingness, as if to say, "What tricks are you trying to pull?"

Looking into her eyes, which were no longer cold and aloof but instead had a touch of warmth and humanity, He Sheng smiled faintly and said, "You can choose the field you are best at."

"If you can beat me in that area, then from now on, you'll be in charge between us."

"good!"

He Sheng had barely finished speaking when Ying Suxin agreed decisively, as if afraid he would change his mind.

The speed at which he spoke was completely different from his previous aloof and indifferent demeanor.

He Sheng was not surprised at all by her impatient appearance, because this was originally a glimmer of hope that he had given to Ying Suxin.

Was this technique called CPU or ICU in my previous life?

In He Sheng's understanding, it's about creating a one-way output environment so that the other party subconsciously agrees. This is too easy for the cultivation world, which values ​​strength and respects the strong.

He Sheng didn't need to deliberately create an illusion, because the cultivation world is just like that, and Ying Suxin herself completely agrees with it. That's why Ying Suxin was so desperate and on the verge of breaking down when He Sheng said he would tell Ying Ruyue.

At this moment, He Sheng gave her a glimmer of hope, making her feel that this was her last lifeline, so she naturally clung to it tightly.

Unfortunately, this glimmer of hope turned out to be nothing but an illusion!

Once Ying Suxin's last glimmer of hope is crushed, and she realizes how powerless her resistance is, then all she will have left is to submit.

A perfect closed loop.

As long as Ying Suxin completely submits to the general direction, the remaining details can be adjusted as needed.

"Aren't you going to ask about the cost of failure?"

When He Sheng asked her a question, Ying Suxin raised her hand, gently wiped away the tear stains from the corner of her eye with her fingertips, and then gave an answer that was expected.

"This is my only chance."

She looked at He Sheng, a sharp light returning to her once more in her light blue eyes, and repeated in a resolute tone, "This is also my...last chance!"

She had already quickly calculated it in her mind.

Winning would give her control over the marriage and at least allow her to maintain her dignity in front of the man in front of her.

As for losing?

"I won't lose!"

Because the field she chose was the one she was most confident in, she didn't believe He Sheng could surpass her in that field.

He Sheng looked at the woman before him, whose fighting spirit had been rekindled, as if admiring the last sparks of a firework. He then revealed the price Ying Suxin would pay for her defeat: "If you lose to me in your area of ​​greatest strength, from this day forward you will belong to me. Everything you have will be mine. Do you understand?"

Looking into He Sheng's calm, deep eyes, Ying Suxin felt an irrepressible surge of pride welling up inside her.

She didn't believe He Sheng could beat her in that field.

But after a slight hesitation, she nodded solemnly and replied, "Okay."

Her pride wouldn't allow her to be ambiguous on this issue.

Then, Ying Suxin revealed her intention to defeat He Sheng in the field of formations.

She has studied the art of formations since childhood and has mastered the essence of the high-level formations passed down by the Winners. She has absolute confidence in her skills in formations.

"We will each rely on our own abilities. I will set up an array here, and you will have one day to break it." She looked at He Sheng, her water-blue eyes shining with determination, and she didn't even restrict He Sheng from using brute force to break the array.

In her view, if He Sheng were to break the formation by brute force, the commotion would be earth-shattering.

This Azure Lotus Pavilion is not some desolate training ground in the wilderness; it is surrounded by the spiritual plant garden, pavilions, and towers that the winner has cultivated for many years.

If He Sheng really dared to launch a major attack and dismantle this place, even if he managed to break the formation, it would inevitably attract the attention of the entire clan. At that time, how could he have the face to say that he had won?

Ying Suxin had previously learned about He Sheng from her father. He was obsessed with weapon crafting and had never mentioned the art of array formations. She absolutely did not believe that He Sheng could surpass her in array formation skills!

For a moment, Ying Suxin felt that victory was in her grasp.

He Sheng simply looked at her indifferently, his eyes showing not a ripple of emotion, as if he were listening to a trivial matter that had nothing to do with him.

After Ying Suxin finished speaking, he simply said, "Let's begin."

Upon hearing this, Ying Suxin didn't delay any longer.

She flipped her palm and took out a light blue array plate. The array plate was covered with densely packed forbidden patterns. As soon as it appeared, it emitted a chilling aura, and even the surrounding air seemed to condense into tiny ice crystals.

With a gentle wave of her hand, several array flags flew out from her sleeves, landing precisely in various locations around the Azure Lotus Pavilion. Her fingers moved like butterflies flitting among flowers, and her magical power flowed endlessly into the array plate like a tidal wave.

Layers upon layers of forbidden patterns lit up around the waterside pavilion, and the icy blue light intertwined to form a net, enveloping the entire pavilion in a chilling aura.

After more than half an hour, the great formation was finally completed.

This is the Ice Soul Dazzling Light Array.

Ying Suxin had great confidence in this formation. It was not only a genuine second-tier high-grade formation, but also a divine formation recorded in the "Cold Moon Profound Ice Technique".

It is perfectly compatible with the cultivation technique she practices and can stimulate her own [Cold Water] attribute.

If she were to control it personally, its power would be comparable to a quasi-third-tier grand formation.

She stood at the center of the formation, looking at the lotus pavilion shrouded in an ice-blue light after the formation was completed, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her aquamarine eyes.

"alright."

She turned around, looked at He Sheng who had been standing to the side with his hands behind his back, and said, "You can start breaking the formation now."

The moment the words left her lips, Ying Suxin's expression changed drastically.

The reason was that He Sheng was still smiling brightly at her in her eyes, but in her divine sense, He Sheng's aura had disappeared.

Ying Suxin's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition instantly surged into her mind.

She immediately unleashed a white, freezing light towards He Sheng, who instantly turned into a puddle of water and scattered.

this...

To Ying Suxin's surprise, she then discovered that nine identical auras had appeared in her senses at the same time.

Every single aura was He Sheng's, exactly the same, without any difference. It was impossible to tell which aura was real and which was fake.

Before she could make any judgment, the nine auras split at the same time, becoming eighty-one illusory auras that spread throughout the entire formation.

Then, hundreds, then thousands...

Countless auras identical to He Sheng's emerged wildly in her perception like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

What terrified her even more was that these clones seemed to be able to see the nodes of the array and launched attacks on some of them.

Ying Suxin's mind was on high alert, and she could no longer care about being calm and composed.

She formed hand seals, and the Ice Soul Dazzling Light Array was activated at full power.

Beams of icy blue light shot out from the formation, slashing and killing the constantly emerging water-shadow avatars.

She had to eliminate these clones first, otherwise the nodes of the great formation would soon be uprooted one by one by these fearless clones.

What chilled her to the bone was that no matter how many she killed, more breaths would always emerge from all directions.

Those clones seemed endless, impossible to kill completely.

After an unknown amount of time, fine beads of sweat appeared on Ying Suxin's forehead.

She had used up most of her magic power, but the number of He Sheng's clones inside the formation did not decrease; on the contrary, they increased.

Even more critically, she had sensed that no fewer than ten nodes of the array had been damaged, and the flow of spiritual energy in the Ice Soul Mystic Light Array was beginning to become sluggish.

"This can't go on any longer; we must find his true identity!"

Ying Suxin murmured the words almost subconsciously.

However, as soon as she finished speaking, a deep and familiar voice rang in her ear, so close that it seemed as if the person was right behind her, and she could clearly feel the temperature of their breath.

Are you looking for me?

Ying Suxin froze instantly.

A bone-chilling cold shot from her tailbone straight to the top of her head, accompanied by a suffocating despair that instantly overwhelmed her.

She turned her head sharply and saw He Sheng standing not far behind her with a mocking smile on his lips, as if he had always been there and had never left.

"I..."

Ying Suxin opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that she couldn't utter a single word.

Her pride, her confidence, and her seemingly foolproof plans were shattered in that instant.

Before she could recover from that momentary daze, her vision suddenly blurred.

A sudden dizziness.

When Ying Suxin could see the scene before her clearly again, she froze.

The Qinglian Water Pavilion was gone, and she found herself lying on an extremely large wedding bed, with soft brocade beneath her, warm to the touch.

Red gauze curtains hung down from all sides, enveloping the entire wedding bed in a hazy red glow.

Outside the curtain, two tall red candles burned quietly, their bodies painted with auspicious dragon and phoenix patterns in gold lacquer, and candle wax dripped slowly down their sides, red as blood.

The room was bathed in the soft glow of red candlelight, with crimson silk ribbons hanging everywhere. A wine cup was laid out on the table, and a screen depicting a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons stood in the corner...

Looking at all this, Ying Suxin understood perfectly well that she had not only lost, but had lost completely.

Not only did her opponent easily break through her prized Ice Soul Radiance Array, but they also set up another one while breaking through the array.

The illusion array dragged her into the dreamlike world of the bridal chamber without any power to resist.

"Do you remember the cost of failure?"

The voice echoed in the illusion, deep and resolute, carrying an unyielding authority.

Ying Suxin bit her lip so hard that it almost bled.

She didn't want to admit it, she was unwilling to accept it, she wished she could overturn this damned wedding bed right now and break free from this damned illusion.

But she can't.

Her pride wouldn't allow her to renege on her promise, nor could she ignore the commitment she had made herself.

After a long silence, she finally managed to squeeze out those words through gritted teeth: "I remember."

"Say it!"

Tell us the cost of failure!

The voice persisted, pressing closer and closer.

Ying Suxin's fingertips dug deeply into her palm, almost piercing through her fair and delicate skin.

She closed her eyes, then opened them again.

In those aquamarine eyes, the aloofness and pride had been shattered completely, leaving only a resigned resolve.

From this day forward, I belong to you.

Swish!

The moment the words were spoken, a gentle breeze arose out of nowhere and brushed against Ying Suxin's body.

She was horrified to discover that the large, plain white robe she was wearing was shattering into countless tiny specks of light that dissipated into the air.

She instinctively reached out to cover herself, as if trying to grab onto something.

Before she could make any move, a figure suddenly lunged at her.

Immediately afterwards, a scorching heat enveloped her completely, as if streams of water were irresistibly seeping into her millennia-old, unyielding ice, melting her completely in wave after wave of surging waves...