The next day, in the Wu Xuan Cave’s main hall…
The Grand Witch was giving Lian’er detailed instructions, but Lian’er’s face was crumpled, her eyes watery.
“Grand Witch, can’t Lian’er co with you?”
“Of course not!”
The Grand Witch said, exasperated, “You’re the only one left here! And it’s not a big deal, just a simple errand. We’ll be back in a few days.”
Lian’er still looked reluctant, tugging at Chen Yin’s robe.
“Big Brother… take Lian’er with you! I haven’t tried all your snacks yet! I don’t want you to leave!”
Chen Yin sighed and patted her head. “Be a good girl, Lian’er.”
“I’ll co back and visit. I’ll bring you even more delicious treats, so many that you won’t be able to eat them all, okay?”
Lian’er’s eyes lit up.
Finally, after Luo Luo’s coaxing and Chen Yin’s promises, she reluctantly let go of his robe.
As they left the main hall, the Grand Witch stretched contentedly.
“Ah… finally got rid of that little pest.”
“If you dislike her that much,” Chen Yin said casually, “just get a new servant.”
The Grand Witch pouted. “I can’t find anyone suitable. I’m used to her idiocy by now.”
Chen Yin smiled faintly.
…This Grand Witch was also quite the tsundere.
But with the Phantasmal Harmony Ganoderma in hand, their business here was concluded.
It was ti to return to Mount Yu.
The mist on Mount Yu was as thick as ever.
Chen Yin went straight to Master’s cave. He pushed the door open and called out cheerfully,
“Xiang’er, Master, I’m back—!”
Master, who was happily playing on a seesaw with Ye Ling’er, froze.
A stunned silence filled the room.
Chen Yin: “…”
Master: “…Ahem.”
She jumped off the seesaw, coughed awkwardly, and said, her voice regaining its usual sternness, “Look at this little monster you brought ! She’s been clinging to all day, demanding entertainnt! Do you know how much effort I put into finding sothing to amuse her?! I’m so glad you’re finally back.”
Ye Ling’er pouted. “But you were the one who wanted to play with —”
“Cough, cough, cough!”
Master faked a coughing fit to drown out her words, then said, her expression carefully neutral, “You must be tired from your journey. Catch up, I’ll go get Ye Huang.”
With that, she scurried away.
The Grand Witch looked at Chen Yin.
After a long silence, he finally said,
“…I wasn’t lying.”
“She really is Immortal Yu Ling.”
Believe it or not, the invincible Immortal Yu Ling was a little girl who loved playing on seesaws.
The Grand Witch’s expression was a mixture of amusent and disbelief.
While Master was fetching Ye Huang, the Grand Witch approached Ye Ling’er and reached out to check her pulse.
Ling’er instinctively flinched, her eyes wide with fear, her small body trembling.
But Nan Xiaoxiang quickly intervened, her voice gentle and soothing.
“Don’t be afraid. This pretty sister is here to help you.”
The Grand Witch glanced at Nan Xiaoxiang, but didn’t say anything.
Ling’er’s fearful gaze darted between them, then, seeing the encouraging smiles from Chen Yin, Luo Luo, Qingying, and Nan Xiaoxiang, she hesitantly extended her hand towards Bi Luo.
Bi Luo gently took her wrist, her eyes half-closed, then frowned slightly.
“…A neurotoxin. A difficult case.”
Nan Xiaoxiang spoke softly, “Her physical condition has improved, but the poison is still affecting her mind. Treating her body without addressing the root cause is just a temporary solution.”
“So your dical skills are lacking?” Bi Luo retorted with a smirk.
But Nan Xiaoxiang didn’t get angry. She simply lowered her eyes and said calmly,
“You’re right.”
“My skills are not enough to cure this.”
Bi Luo was surprised by her ekness. She had expected an argunt, but Nan Xiaoxiang’s ready admission disard her.
Still, she couldn’t resist a final jab. “Then learn. We’ll need a separate room. You’ll assist .”
Nan Xiaoxiang nodded silently.
Chen Yin watched their interaction with amusent.
This Grand Witch was all bark and no bite. Despite her harsh words, she clearly wanted to reconcile with Nan Xiaoxiang.
He was looking forward to seeing what would happen when they bathed together.
Of course, he would love to watch.
A mont later, Ye Huang rushed in, his eyes lighting up when he saw Chen Yin and the Grand Witch.
“Did you find it?! Can you cure Ling’er?!”
“As promised.” Chen Yin smiled.
“The treatnt will take so ti.”
Bi Luo said seriously, “We’ll need a separate room. Nan Xiaoxiang will assist . No one else is allowed inside.”
Ye Huang quickly led them to a guest room.
After they left, Chen Yin stretched contentedly.
“Ah… it’s finally over.”
“Now I can finally relax for a few days.”
He was looking forward to spending so quality ti with Xiang’er, Luo Luo, and Qingying on Mount Yu.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” a voice suddenly interrupted him.
Master appeared out of nowhere and glared at him.
“Brat, co with . We need to talk.”
Chen Yin pouted, but he had no choice. He turned to Qingying and Luo Luo.
“You two can go explore. I’ll find you later.”
Luo Luo and Qingying exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.
Master led him to the pavilion in the back mountain and turned to him, her gaze intense.
Chen Yin shifted uncomfortably under her stare. “Wh-what’s wrong?”
“You still have the nerve to ask?”
Master frowned, her childish face strangely at odds with her stern tone.
“What did you promise before you left?”
Chen Yin lowered his head, a guilty expression on his face.
…He had promised her.
That he would reach the Grand Clarity Realm within two months.
But now, after all this ti, although he had successfully eliminated Shen Li, his cultivation hadn’t progressed.
And…
“There’s sothing I don’t understand, Master.”
Chen Yin said softly, “If you comprehend the Dao, you should be able to break through to the Grand Clarity Realm, right?”
A Grand Clarity Realm cultivator might not have comprehended the Dao, but soone who had comprehended the Dao should be able to reach Grand Clarity.
That was how it was supposed to work.
“But I feel like I’ve already comprehended the Sword Dao.”
Chen Yin said, his voice filled with confusion, “I even fought a pseudo-Immortal in the Wu Xuan Cave, and I won. But my cultivation is still stuck at the peak of Supre Clarity. Why? Is my understanding of the Sword Dao wrong?”
Master’s expression changed as he spoke.
From a slight frown to a stunned silence, and finally, a hint of sadness and regret.
“…I see.” She sighed softly.
“What?” Chen Yin had a bad feeling about this.
Master was silent for a long ti, then walked to the edge of the cliff, her gaze fixed on the sea of clouds below.
“Normally, these matters wouldn’t concern a cultivator below the Immortal Realm.”
“But I didn’t expect this to happen to you.”
Chen Yin’s unease grew.
“What’s wrong?”
“Chen Yin, do you know what the Dao is?” Master suddenly asked.
“The Dao is the fundantal principle of the universe, the underlying rules and laws governing all things. Comprehending the Dao ans understanding the Heavenly Dao, breaking free from its constraints, and even wielding its power.”
“But there are three thousand Great Daos, each one vast and infinite. Even in the Immortal Realm, those who can fully comprehend a single Dao are rare.”
“Even the simplest and most common Dao is enough for a cultivator to spend their entire life studying, without even scratching the surface.”
“So, for those who have comprehended the Dao, there is one absolute taboo.”
“…Never try to comprehend two Daos at the sa ti.” She said slowly.
Chen Yin paused, then frowned.
“You an… I’ve comprehended another Dao besides the Sword Dao?”
“But I don’t even know what it is!”
Master sighed after a long silence.
“The ‘Forgotten Everlasting Heart Sutra’ I taught you… is also a Dao.”
Chen Yin froze, then his face paled as he realized sothing.
“…The Dao of Life and Death?”
Master nodded slowly.
“What happens if you comprehend two Daos at the sa ti?”
“At best, your cultivation will stagnate. At worst…” Master hesitated, then finally said, “…you’ll suffer a Qi deviation, go mad, and die.”
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