Mortal: Fifteenth Realm Sword Cultivator

After considering the other party's level of expertise and strength, Zhuang Huayi felt relieved.

That's why she remained so calm and unfazed by the situation, as if she were used to it.

Previously, I thought that the other party's request for her to protect a female cultivator for three hundred years might just be a means to get closer to me.

In retrospect, it seems that Zhuang Huayi was simply being delusional.

However, if he really wanted to...

The thought had just crossed Zhuang Huayi's mind when she immediately suppressed it.

He mocked himself inwardly.

After hundreds of years of cultivation, how could he still lose self-control?

In the end, Lu Jianghe never takes the initiative to pry into other people's "secrets".

This is not about adhering to the Confucian formalities of "do not look at what is improper, do not listen to what is improper," but rather stems from one's own pure heart.

After Lu Jianghe finished listening to Yuan Yao's account of meeting Han Li, he turned his gaze to Xin Ruyin.

"Start your seclusion today, and let Zhuang Huayi protect you."

The latter nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Zhuang Huayi put down her teacup, a slight smile playing on her lips, and said with a hint of teasing, "Back when I broke through from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation, even my master never put in this much effort. Miss Xin, you are truly the envy of everyone who has won Mr. Lu's favor."

Xin Ruyin bowed gracefully to Zhuang Huayi and said, "Senior Zhuang, you flatter me. I am humbled."

Zhuang Huayi's smile deepened. "Your current level of cultivation is not high enough, so you may not understand. Once you reach my level, you will find the matter of cause and effect, whether it be good or bad, to be 'troublesome.' Unless it is one's closest relatives or children, even ordinary cultivation partners or concubines may not be able to make one willing to get involved in cause and effect and expend so much energy."

Hearing these words that went straight to the heart, Xin Ruyin was at a loss for words in the face of a Nascent Soul cultivator's teasing. She could only lower her head slightly, her pretty face blushing even more.

Lu Jianghe tapped the stone table lightly with his long, slender fingers, making a barely audible sound, interrupting Zhuang Huayi's words.

"What are you doing, a Nascent Soul cultivator, saying these things to a junior who hasn't even formed his core yet?"

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Huayi's smile remained unchanged. Instead, she said frankly, "Mr. Lu, I merely wanted Miss Xin to understand what your actions meant from her perspective at her level. Even if I didn't say it, she would naturally understand these principles once she reaches the Nascent Soul stage. What difference does it make whether she knows sooner or later?"

Lu Jianghe shook his head slightly: "The level of cultivation is not high enough, and the state of mind is different. Your words will only add another mental barrier for her, and will not help her cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Huayi curtsied, bowed slightly, and replied with a light laugh, "Mr. Lu is right; I spoke too much."

Perhaps because she was used to being outspoken, Yuan Yao blurted out a comment.

"Does Mr. Lu have a Daoist partner?"

These words, like a pebble thrown into a still lake, instantly shattered the original atmosphere of the courtyard.

The air seemed to freeze; you could hear a pin drop.

Yan Ruyan and Xin Ruyin were both stunned at the same time, their gazes darting back and forth between Yuan Yao and Lu Jianghe.

How could this girl be so reckless?

Both women were simultaneously watching Lu Jianghe's expression, their hearts pounding with tension.

Zhuang Huayi rebuked, "How dare you speak so presumptuously here, knowing nothing of the rules!"

Yuan Yao's face turned deathly pale instantly, and her body trembled slightly.

Lu Jianghe glanced at Zhuang Huayi.

If this woman truly intended to punish someone, why would she remain sitting there so calmly?

However, he didn't dwell on the matter and simply said, "It was just a casual question, nothing to worry about."

Seeing his words, Zhuang Huayi's expression softened from stern, and she said to Yuan Yao, "Hurry up and apologize to Mr. Lu."

Yuan Yao stepped forward lightly, then extended her fair wrist, whiter than mutton fat jade, palm facing upward, her posture respectful yet tinged with a pitiful air.

"Yuan Yao has spoken out of turn and offended you, sir. I know I have made a mistake, and I beg you to punish me."

Yan Ruyan and Xin Ruyin were initially worried that Yuan Yao would be punished, but later they gradually sensed that something was wrong.

Looking at her like this, Lu Jianghe was both amused and exasperated, and said in a perfunctory tone, "Alright, alright, it's not a big deal, there's no need to make such a fuss."

Yuan Yao withdrew her hand, took two steps back, and stood properly.

His eyes darted around, and his expression remained hesitant.

Zhuang Huayi immediately gave her a look.

That's enough. Asking any more questions will really go too far.

Yuan Yao received the signal, blinked, and indicated that she understood.

Lu Jianghe took in the details of the two men's expressions and was speechless.

You two, master and apprentice, are putting on a show right here, not planning to hide it from anyone?

Lu Jianghe then transformed into a streak of sword light, heading downwards and disappearing in an instant.

After everyone left, Yuan Yao immediately asked, "Master, Master, do you think Mr. Lu has a Daoist partner?"

Zhuang Huayi said calmly, "There's no need to think about it anymore. If we don't have it now, then we probably really won't have it in the future."

Yuan Yao exclaimed "Ah!" with a puzzled look on her face.

Zhuang Huayi sighed, "Those who cultivate immortality are the most selfish. Your senior Lu, what he saw and what he sought was first longevity, then immortality, and finally, to live as long as heaven and earth."

Seeing the puzzled looks on the three faces, she continued to explain, "Mr. Lu's current cultivation level should undoubtedly be that of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and he's probably only one step away from the legendary Deity Transformation realm."

The Nascent Soul cultivators of this world are envied by the Heavenly Dao and are not tolerated by this world. They must break through the boundary and ascend to the legendary Upper Realm.

You might consider this: in the entire human realm, who else could he possibly worry about? Is it you? Is it you? Or is it someone else entirely?

What does beauty and love mean to him compared to what he pursues in his heart? Why would he care?

Therefore, if Mr. Lu does not have a Daoist partner at this moment, then in the short time to come, from this moment until he transcends to become a Nascent Soul cultivator and breaks through the realm, it may only be a few hundred years. If he still does not have one, then he truly will never have one.

As Zhuang Huayi spoke, a slight ripple of emotion inevitably swept through her own heart.

But the Nascent Soul cultivator's Dao Heart was so resilient that he quickly suppressed this faint "sorrow."

However, Xin Ruyin and Yan Ruyan both seemed dazed.

Even Yuan Yao was stunned into silence.

But she reacted very quickly and realized that something was wrong with her.

Quickly regain your composure and ask a question.

As if to cover up that momentary loss of composure, or as if to pull her thoughts back.

"Master, how many chasms exist between the different realms of the Nascent Soul stage? Are there specific benchmarks or measurable comparisons to measure these differences?"

Zhuang Huayi pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "You asked how far apart the early and late stages of the Nascent Soul realm are? This difference cannot be simply measured by the words 'high' and 'low' within the ordinary realm."

"Among early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, their skill in spells, the strength of their magic weapons, and the depth of their cultivation can be used to distinguish them. Even if there are differences, when they fight each other, they will come up with all sorts of ways to protect themselves. Since their true essence and spiritual power are similar, it is extremely difficult to completely determine life or death."

"However, the late Nascent Soul stage is completely different. Such individuals, even without the Deity Transformation stage, possess immense power and are widely recognized as great cultivators."

"Comparing the late Nascent Soul stage with the early Nascent Soul stage, the difference is so great that it's comparable to a Core Formation cultivator crushing a Foundation Establishment cultivator, or even more so, with ease and effortlessness. This is not an exaggeration, but rather the absolute suppression brought about by the barrier of realm."

Zhuang Huayi looked at the three of them, a meaningful smile playing on her lips, and asked in return, "If one wishes to stay by the side of such a person, what kind of exceptionally talented and unparalleled Daoist partner would be worthy of them?"

These words were like a stone thrown into a deep pool, creating ripples that lingered for a long time.

The pavilion fell silent for a moment as the four of them were lost in their own thoughts, carefully considering the weight of these words.

After an unknown amount of time, Xin Ruyin seemed to belatedly grasp the deeper meaning hidden in Zhuang Huayi's words, and a thought gradually became clear.

To verify her claim, she simply asked directly, "Senior Zhuang, did Senior Lu ask you to protect me for three hundred years precisely because... in his predetermined plan, his time in this realm is running out?"

Zhuang Huayi smiled, her eyes showing approval, and nodded, saying, "At least my words weren't wasted. It's quite a stroke of genius that you could think of this."

After receiving the answer, Xin Ruyin quickly bowed, her expression complex, showing both understanding and a sense of urgency.

She said no more and flew straight to her quiet room, clearly intending to break through to the Core Formation realm.

Yan Ruyan also respectfully bid farewell to Zhuang Huayi, then transformed into a streak of light and disappeared from the spot.

In the blink of an eye, only the master and his apprentice remained at the Xieshan Pavilion.

Yuan Yao feigned ignorance and asked, "Master, what is Xin...?"

Zhuang Huayi glanced at her, her eyes holding a half-smile, and said calmly, "Couldn't you tell she was in seclusion?"

"oh oh!"

Yuan Yao suddenly understood, nodded repeatedly, and bowed in greeting.

Then, her light gauze skirt fluttered, she lightly touched the ground with her bare feet, and went into seclusion.

Unlike the previous two.

She truly felt the urgency of time.

This urgency stemmed from a record that Yuan Yao found in the young master of Qingyang Sect's storage bag, along with a yellow brocade handkerchief.

The Void Heaven Palace.

The oldest secret realm in the Chaotic Star Sea, opened once every three hundred years.

It contains countless rare treasures, including the Soul Nourishing Wood, one of the three great divine trees in the cultivation world.

This wood has extraordinary effects; it is a top-grade sacred object for calming the spirit and nourishing the soul!

If we can obtain it, Senior Sister Yanli's primordial spirit will be stabilized and will no longer face the constant danger of dissipation.

Yuan Yao then had ample time to search for the most Yin place and prepare all the harsh conditions required for the Resurrection Technique to rebuild her senior sister's physical body.

To enter the Void Heaven Palace, the strength of the Core Formation stage is an essential requirement.

Yuan Yao was still struggling with whether or not to tell her master, Zhuang Huayi, about her plans regarding the Void Heaven Palace and the Soul-Nourishing Wood.

She even went to the shop specifically to see Xin Ruyin to cheer herself up.

Her master treated her with immense kindness, not only saving her life and taking her as his disciple, but also bestowing upon her the "Phoenix Sword Manual." Furthermore, when she might go astray while trying to save her senior sister, he showed her the utmost understanding.

Yuan Yao was deeply grateful for this bond between teacher and student.

Although Zhuang Huayi learned of the existence of the "Resurrection Technique," she speculated that without the help of a rare and precious object to nourish and strengthen the soul, her senior sister Yanli's remnant soul would probably have already vanished into the world.