When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

Compared to Chu Xianlan's shock, Yi Chen appeared much calmer, asking in a deep voice, "What effect will this Gu have on us?"

Judging from the name alone, this seems to be a sinister Gu technique that forcibly alters fate and shifts cause and effect.

In the cultivation world, there are often rumors of defying fate and changing destiny. Some evil cultivators go astray and use secret techniques to transfer calamities and illnesses to others; there are also curses that forcibly bind the fortunes and lifespans of two people by exchanging their birth dates and personal items for a life.

Therefore, Yi Chen guessed that the Entangling Life Gu was probably used for the same purpose.

Xie Qingying gave an awkward smile and said, "Well..."

It can be complicated, or it can be simple; at its core, it boils down to one influence and one solution.

Double repair.

Xie Qingying tried to explain tactfully: "The Entangling Gu actually has both advantages and disadvantages, it's an extreme case. If it falls on an ordinary Daoist couple, they can actually improve their cultivation through dual cultivation, it's a special kind of bond. Therefore, its existence needs to be channeled in a specific way to maintain the stability of the Gu worm."

He didn't directly say the words "dual cultivation." Xie Qingying felt that with Immortal Lord Jixue's cultivation and knowledge, he would stop short of saying it, and the other party would surely understand.

Unexpectedly, Yi Chen didn't grasp the point at all and calmly asked, "What specific method is needed to guide it?"

Xie Qingying: "..."

Master Xie was inwardly both amused and exasperated, but he couldn't show it on his face.

His old friend was, in some ways, so clean and pure... a bit beyond imagination.

"Ahem," Xie Qingying pondered for a moment, "body and mind in harmony, spiritual energy intertwined, and divine thoughts connected. Through this most direct interaction of fundamental origins, harm can be turned into benefit, or at least a balance can be maintained, preventing the offspring from exhausting their spiritual energy and becoming controlled by others. Hence it is called—the art of dual cultivation."

Yi Chen: ...

Chu Xianlan: Let me die!

Even though he already knew the outcome, Chu Xianlan still couldn't contain her grief.

Dual cultivation...with the master?!

Why did this wicked Gu be planted on him by some twist of fate? Was he going to become the kind of person he hated most? Was he going to replace Ji Cheng'an and become the culprit who dragged his master into the abyss?

Swinging between thoughts like "You traitor, prepare to die!" and "I think there's still a chance to save you!", my left and right hemispheres were locked in a battle.

What should he do?

What else can he do?

It would be better to kill him than to let him defile our master.

Yi Chen remained silent for a moment, seemingly processing the information, before slowly raising his eyelids. "How can this Gu be removed?"

He skipped any discussion of "dual cultivation" itself and went straight back to the core of the original problem, looking for a solution.

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name 1110 ...

Chu Xianlan's vision gradually brightened, and a glimmer of hope rekindled in her heart.

That's right! He's not like Ji Cheng'an in the dream who was scheming to use evil magic to bind his master. He doesn't want or need any life-binding Gu to maintain his relationship with his master!

Dual cultivation is impossible, absolutely impossible.

There's a famous and renowned doctor sitting right in front of me. All I have to do is remove the curse, right? How did I get myself into this mess?

He quickly pressed on, "Yes, Senior Xie, you have immense experience in this area, you must know how to dispel the Gu spell, right?"

Xie Qingying shook her head and said with a wry smile, "To be honest, this Gu is cunning and special, and it was planted by a half-demon, so most conventional methods of expelling Gu are ineffective. The matter happened suddenly, and I haven't yet found a reliable way to cure it completely."

Actually, before Chu Xianlan woke up, Xie Qingying had already removed the curse from Ji Chengan and Zhao Jianren, but the curse on the two of them was not too troublesome and could be easily removed.

Chu Xianlan wilted like a frostbitten eggplant.

Even Senior Xie said so...

"However," Xie Qingying said gently, "you two don't need to worry too much. The art of dual cultivation actually covers a wide range of topics, and it's not just the one path that people usually talk about."

After that, he mentioned several gentler methods of channeling energy, such as clasping hands to establish a stable spiritual connection between the two parties, or a shallow resonance in the sea of ​​consciousness. As long as the offspring Gu senses the presence of the mother Gu, it can greatly alleviate the negative effects of the Gu worm and suppress its onset.

Simply put, it's about mutual assistance in cultivation. Even if it's used between master and disciple, it's reasonable and doesn't overstep any boundaries.

"Rest assured, both of you. I will stay at the Taiyi Sect for the next few days and try my best to find a cure for you before the Gu worms fully manifest. Until then, these gentle methods will suffice as a transition."

Chu Xianlan listened carefully to every word and understood that this was already the best method, but she still instinctively resisted the outcome.

It wasn't that he was being pretentious, but the thought of potentially becoming a burden to his master made him feel uneasy.

Master did nothing wrong, so why should he be implicated by me?

You traitor, prepare to die!

"Thank you, senior. I don't mean to doubt your medical skills... but, can't we use other external forces to suppress this Gu first? Like pills or something? If we can suppress it, wouldn't we be able to buy more time to find an antidote?" Chu Xianlan gritted her teeth, unwilling to give up.

Xie Qingying glanced at him, then at Yi Chen who remained silent beside her, and sighed softly.

"External suppression is not impossible to try. However... the characteristics of the Entangling Life Gu will have a more severe impact on the one who carries the offspring Gu. If it is suppressed too much, most of the backlash and spiritual energy consumption will be transferred to the holder of the offspring Gu."

The implication is that if anything goes wrong during the suppression process, Yi Chen will be the first to bear the pressure and lose cultivation.

Chu Xianlan fell silent, all her strength drained away.

His fierce resistance was naturally noticed by Yi Chen, who was slightly surprised.

Through several unexpected twists of fate, he had come to fully understand his apprentice's true thoughts. From initially keeping his distance, to later subtly revealing his feelings, and finally... being haunted by his thoughts and yearning for him day and night.

Therefore, when Xie Qingying mentioned the dual cultivation technique, Yi Chen originally thought that, under the pretext of guiding the Gu worms, his disciple would not refuse or reject this opportunity to get close to him.

But Chu Xianlan's reaction was completely different.

Yi Chen's thoughts were somewhat complicated.

It seems... that's how it is.

Recalling the heartfelt words his little apprentice spoke at the bottom of the cliff, Yi Chen felt a sense of déjà vu. It truly reflected the purity of that time; what the young man sought was not forced binding.

He just didn't want to put himself in a difficult position.

Because you've decided you don't like it or want to, have you completely extinguished even the thought of trying it?

Is this eagerness to draw a clear line also a deliberate attempt to avoid suspicion?

Yi Chen snapped out of his thoughts and said to Xie Qingying, "Very well. Let's follow Valley Master Xie's suggestion for a complete cure. I'll trouble you to put in the effort."

Seeing this, Xie Qingying didn't linger and nodded to take her leave.

After he left, only the master and his apprentice remained in the room, and the atmosphere was so somber it was almost frightening.

Chu Xianlan suddenly stood up from her chair.

The boy lowered his eyes, avoiding his gaze, as if he could no longer bear something. He stood up, bowed deeply, and said in a hoarse voice, "If Master has no other instructions, this disciple... will take his leave."

Chu Xianlan felt as if all her energy had been drained away, and her usually straight shoulders slumped slightly.

With a completely lost and dejected look, the dog turned and slunk away.

Yi Chen: "..."