206: Chapter 206: Together

Peak Master Tang Huor was annoyed by the noise and slapped her thigh. "Enough! Stop arguing! If you ask me, let's just do it together!"

The surroundings instantly fell silent.

The four women uniformly looked at Peak Master Tang Huor with varying expressions.

Peak Master Shen Jingqiu's brows furrowed slightly, Peak Master Mu Xuelan's mouth hung open, Peak Master Bai Suxin's face blushed to the roots of her ears, and Peak Master Gu Hanshuang was expressionless, though her gaze flickered for a moment.

All five women together?! This... scene made them blush just thinking about it...

"Together?" Peak Master Shen Jingqiu's voice even changed tone.

Peak Master Tang Huor said righteously, "Coming one by one is such a waste of time! Think about it, the Sect crisis is right in front of us, we need to Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul as soon as possible. Coming one by one, who knows when that will be?"

She paused, her voice dropping a bit lower. "Besides, us people who Cultivate, why bother caring about those worldly Restrictions? Following one's heart and nature is the true Dao. If we are always bound by these things, what's the point of Cultivating at all?"

After these words were spoken, the four women were stunned at the same time.

A sharp glint flashed in Peak Master Shen Jingqiu's eyes, and the spiritual power within her body faintly showed signs of a Breakthrough.

Peak Master Mu Xuelan was the same, while Peak Master Bai Suxin and Peak Master Gu Hanshuang simultaneously closed their eyes, feeling that momentary flash of enlightenment.

Peak Master Tang Huor herself hadn't expected that her casual remarks would actually trigger resonance.

Come to think of it, part of the reason why their cultivation realm couldn't Breakthrough was precisely because their state of mind was not enough!

And Peak Master Tang Huor's words had given their state of mind a trace of enlightenment! That was why this situation occurred!

After a moment, Peak Master Shen Jingqiu opened her eyes, and her gaze was already completely clear.

"Junior Sister Tang is right," she said indifferently. "Those who Cultivate should follow their heart and nature. Those worldly Restrictions are nothing more than shackles."

Peak Master Mu Xuelan nodded and softly said, "Then... together?"

Peak Master Bai Suxin blushed and nodded. Peak Master Gu Hanshuang was expressionless, but she also slightly nodded.

Peak Master Tang Huor grinned. "Then it's settled! Tomorrow we'll go find Junior Nephew Xiao together!"

The five women exchanged glances, seeing relief and firmness in each other's eyes.

...

Palace Revered Master's Immortal Cave.

Palace Master Mengying sat cross-legged on a futon, with a Jade Slip spread out before her. It was precisely the Dual Cultivation Technique given to her by Xiao Yuan.

She had already read it countless times, every single word engraved into her mind.

But to truly go and Cultivate it, to go with that boy in the Foundation Establishment Stage...

She bit her lip and put away the Jade Slip.

"I refuse to believe that without that Cultivation Technique, I cannot Breakthrough," she murmured, closing her eyes to once again attempt to charge at the Nascent Soul Bottleneck.

Spiritual power surged within her body, charging against that natural chasm time and time again, only to be bounced back time and time again. Fine beads of sweat seeped from her forehead, and her complexion grew increasingly pale.

Half an hour later, she opened her eyes, her gaze filled with unwillingness.

She failed again.

She leaned against the wall, gazing at the ceiling of the Immortal Cave, her heart a tangled mess of mixed emotions.

Revered Master had told her to go find Xiao Yuan, and she went. She even took the Cultivation Technique. But to let her truly take that step...

She couldn't do it.

"Wait a little longer..." she murmured. "Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after... Maybe I can Breakthrough on my own..."

She comforted herself, yet deep down she knew very well that this was merely deceiving herself.

...

Sect Master Peak, Qinghe Cave Abode.

Old Ancestor Qinghe withdrew the Divine Sense she had extended into her Disciple's Immortal Cave and gently sighed.

"This girl..." She shook her head, her eyes full of helplessness.

She understood this Disciple of hers far too well.

Proud and arrogant, with peerless talent, she strived to be strong her whole life.

Making her bow her head to beg a boy in the Foundation Establishment Stage, and then submitting to him, was even more painful than killing her.

"But in the cultivation world, what use is mere arrogance?" she murmured. "Strength is the foundation."

She gazed at the moonlight outside the window and remained silent for a moment.

"Forget it, let her be. Once she suffers a loss, she will naturally figure it out."

She closed her eyes and stopped thinking about it. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings; a Disciple's path must ultimately be walked by herself.

...

Outside the Immortal Cave, five figures appeared once again.

Peak Master Shen Jingqiu walked at the very front, her white clothes like snow, her expression cold and detached, yet the fingers gripping her sword hilt were slightly pale.

Peak Master Mu Xuelan followed behind her, gentle and serene, with her eyelids lowered.

Peak Master Tang Huor strode forward with bold and flamboyant steps, but her gaze was evasive, occasionally glancing toward the direction of the Immortal Cave.

Peak Master Bai Suxin quietly followed at the very end, the roots of her ears slightly red.

Peak Master Gu Hanshuang was expressionless, but her steps were a few beats slower than usual.

The five of them stood still at the entrance of the Immortal Cave, neither of them speaking first.

After a moment of silence, Peak Master Tang Huor couldn't hold it in anymore. "Since we're already here, why just stand around?" She stepped forward, raised her hand to tap the Restriction, striking three clean and crisp sounds: "Dong, dong, dong."

The Immortal Cave door opened, and Xiao Yuan leaned against the doorframe, looking at them with a smiling expression. "Several Peak Revered Masters, have you thought it through?"

Peak Master Tang Huor raised her chin. "Thought it through. Together."

Xiao Yuan blinked. "Together?"

He was somewhat astonished, not expecting these five women to be so open-minded!

"Right, together." Peak Master Tang Huor said righteously, "It saves time."

However, her tone was obviously a bit lacking in confidence! She didn't quite dare to look at Xiao Yuan!

Seeing this scene, a trace of amusement flashed across the depths of Xiao Yuan's eyes.

His gaze swept across the five women. Peak Master Shen Jingqiu was expressionless, but the tips of her ears were slightly red;

Peak Master Mu Xuelan lowered her head, her fingers twisting the corner of her clothes;

Peak Master Bai Suxin lowered her eyelids, her face blushing so red it could drip blood;

Peak Master Gu Hanshuang looked straight ahead, but her gaze flickered for a moment. The corners of Xiao Yuan's mouth hooked into a smile as he stepped aside. "Please come in."

The five women filed in one after another.

The Immortal Cave door closed.

As soon as Peak Master Tang Huor came in, she looked around and clicked her tongue. "So this is Junior Nephew Xiao's Immortal Cave? Not bad at all."

Although this was her second time coming in, in order to ease the awkwardness, she was forcing herself to make small talk!

Peak Master Shen Jingqiu stood to the side, her gaze cold and clear, but the fingers gripping her sword hilt tightened slightly.

Peak Master Mu Xuelan softly said, "Junior Nephew Xiao, we..."

She opened her mouth, yet didn't know what else to say.

Peak Master Bai Suxin lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes.

Peak Master Gu Hanshuang was expressionless, standing in the very corner like an ice sculpture.

Looking at them, Xiao Yuan suddenly smiled.

He walked up to Peak Master Tang Huor, reached out to pick a fallen hair from her shoulder, and casually flicked it away.

Peak Master Tang Huor stiffened all over, staring at him with wide eyes, but Xiao Yuan no longer looked at her. He turned and walked up to Peak Master Shen Jingqiu, lowering his head to look at her sword-gripping hand, and softly said, "Peak Revered Master Shen, your hand is shaking."

Peak Master Shen Jingqiu's fingers trembled, and she abruptly released the sword hilt. That sword that never left her side dropped to the ground with a clatter. A crisp echo resounded inside the Immortal Cave.

Peak Master Mu Xuelan instinctively took half a step back, only to have her wrist grabbed by Xiao Yuan. She raised her head, meeting those smiling eyes, and her heartbeat skipped half a beat.

"Junior Nephew Xiao..." Her voice trembled.

"Call me Xiao Yuan." He let out her hand, took a step back, swept his gaze across the faces of the five women, and smiled rascally. "Several Peak Revered Masters, since you're already here, don't put on airs. I am not someone who falls for that routine."

Provoked by this attitude of his, Peak Master Tang Huor was both ashamed and annoyed. She stepped forward wanting to say something, but was pulled around the waist by him. Looking down at her, close enough to touch, Xiao Yuan said, "Peak Revered Master Tang, what did you say just now? Together?"

Peak Master Tang Huor's face flushed instantly, and she stubbornly argued, "T-Together means together, who's afraid of you?"

Xiao Yuan smiled, let go of her, turned around to walk toward the inner chamber, and glanced back at the five women. "Then come on."

The five women exchanged glances, blushing, and followed after him.

(Ten thousand words omitted here)