16: Xi Mei, it's been a long time.

As she spoke, the Restriction on the stone door seemed to recognize its Revered Master and unlocked itself.

The stone door slowly opened.

Mu Qingxue then remembered that she hadn't withdrawn the Spiritual Qi she had just set up for Su Lin.

The moment the stone door opened, a bolt of lightning seemed to strike Mu Qingxue's mind!

Oh no!

She suddenly recalled that just a moment ago, to prevent Revered Master from "moving around randomly"...

She had used a gentle Spiritual Qi to fix Revered Master's limbs!

That... that was almost equivalent to imprisonment!

If anyone else saw it, it might be fine. But it had to be Fifth Senior Sister Luo Ximei!

With her cunning mind, what would she think if she saw Revered Master in that state?

She would definitely think that she had ill intentions towards Revered Master, and even... she would learn from her and use even more extreme methods to treat Revered Master!

The thought of that scene made Mu Qingxue's heart sink to the bottom.

No! She absolutely cannot see it!

"Stop!"

The moment Luo Ximei stepped forward, Mu Qingxue desperately spread her arms, firmly blocking the stone door and completely sealing the entrance.

"Hmm?" Luo Ximei stopped, looking at her suddenly flustered Seventh Junior Sister with interest, her charming eyes slightly raised, "Little Seven, what are you doing? Could it be... you did something to Revered Master?"

"Nonsense!" Mu Qingxue's heart tightened, but she forced herself to look calm, saying coldly, "Revered Master is in seclusion, and no one is allowed to disturb him!"

She finally managed to stop laughing, and extended a jade-like finger to tap Mu Qingxue's forehead.

"Revered Master is only at the Golden Core Stage now. Even if he's breaking through, it would only be to the Late Stage of Golden Core. Does such a minor Realm Breakthrough require you to bring him to such a secluded place?"

Luo Ximei leaned into Mu Qingxue's ear, her breath like orchids, and whispered, "Even if you're making up a story, at least make it a plausible one. You acting like this only makes me think there's a bigger secret hidden inside."

"No."

Mu Qingxue was exposed by her words, feeling even more embarrassed and anxious, but she still pretended to be calm, "Anyway, you just can't go in!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Luo Ximei's eyes darted around, "When Revered Master is breaking through a Realm, it's precisely when he needs a Protector.

As a Senior Sister, and with my cultivation being higher than yours, wouldn't it be more reliable for me to go in and protect Revered Master than you? Move aside."

As she spoke, she was about to bypass her from the side.

"No!" Mu Qingxue panicked, no longer caring about much else, and directly channeled her Spiritual Qi, instantly conjuring an ice wall in front of her.

Seeing this, the smile on Luo Ximei's face finally faded a little.

She was a hundred percent sure that there was definitely something fishy going on here! And it was a huge secret!

"Little Seven, the more you act like this, the more curious I become."

Luo Ximei stopped wasting words with her. With a slight sway of her figure, she transformed into an elusive pink mist, directly ignoring the ice wall's obstruction and passing through it like a dream!

How could the Divine Ability of a Body Integration Stage Cultivator be easily blocked by someone in the Void Refining Stage!

"Luo Ximei!"

Mu Qingxue paled in shock, wanting to stop her but it was already too late. She could only watch helplessly as the mist rushed into the Immortal Cave.

It's over... Mu Qingxue's heart sank halfway, and she quickly turned and followed her in.

Su Lin was lying on the bluestone by the spirit pool. His clothes were still relatively intact, but his limbs were bound by four visible light blue bands of pure Spiritual Qi.

"Junior Sister, you'd better give me an explanation."

"What did you... do to Revered Master?"

It's over! She's caught me!

"I... I didn't!"

Mu Qingxue's heart pounded, her mind racing. She forced herself to remain calm and met Luo Ximei's gaze, "Revered Master is in seclusion, breaking through his Realm. I'm protecting him."

"Protecting him?" Luo Ximei's lips curved into a cold, mocking smile, "Who protects someone by tying them up? Little Seven, do you take me for a three-year-old?"

"What do you know!"

Mu Qingxue was cornered and could only bite the bullet and continue her lie.

"Revered Master's Divine Soul is unstable, and his cultivation is still weak. Spiritual Qi can easily go out of control when he's breaking through a Realm!

I'm using my own Origin Spiritual Qi to bind him, to stabilize the Qi around him and guide the Spiritual Qi back to his Dantian! This is the most secure method!"

"Is that so? I will personally ask Revered Master for your explanation."

With that, she swayed her figure, no longer paying attention to Mu Qingxue, whose face was alternating between green and white, and went directly to Su Lin's side.

Looking at the face that had haunted her dreams for a hundred years, all the coldness and scrutiny in Luo Ximei's eyes instantly melted, transforming into endless tenderness and longing.

"Revered Master..." She tremblingly reached out and gently stroked Su Lin's cheek, "Disciple Ximei... has come back to see you."

The moment her fingertips touched Su Lin's skin, that cold mechanical voice in Su Lin's mind rang out again!

【Ding! Detected host has successfully reunited with Disciple Luo Ximei, bond established!】

【Bond Value: 10... 30... 60...】

【Ding! Bond Value has reached 60 points! host's cultivation has increased to — Late Stage of Golden Core!】

A majestic and pure warm current erupted from within Su Lin's Dantian, easily breaking through the previously stable Golden Core Middle Stage Bottleneck!

This sudden surge in cultivation left Mu Qingxue, who was standing by, dumbfounded. Then she seemed to understand something and said to Ximei.

"See! I told you Revered Master was in seclusion for a Breakthrough!"

This self-righteous retort made all the sarcasm Luo Ximei had prepared get stuck in her throat.

Her beautiful eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the genuine Late Stage Golden Core aura that had just stabilized around Su Lin.

How could this be?!

It had only been the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Even the most Heaven-Defying Medicinal Pill in the world couldn't allow a Cultivator to break through a minor Realm so smoothly and quickly!

Could it be... could Little Seven, this ice-faced person, really have mastered some incredible Dual Cultivation secret technique?

No, that's not right!

With Little Seven's cold demeanor, how could she possibly have such a Cultivation Technique?

"Oh? Is that so?"

Luo Ximei suppressed the shock in her heart.

Not only was she not intimidated by Mu Qingxue, but she walked directly to Su Lin's side, ignoring Mu Qingxue's warning gaze, and linked her arm with Su Lin's other arm.

"Congratulations, Revered Master, on your cultivation progress."

She congratulated softly, "But, Junior Sister, now that Revered Master has finished his Breakthrough, shouldn't you... release Revered Master?"

At these words, Mu Qingxue's face instantly stiffened.

She felt annoyed in her heart, yet she couldn't bear to let go.

In the instant of her hesitation, Su Lin sighed softly in his heart, and within his Dantian, the increasingly radiant Golden Core trembled slightly.

A rich Spiritual Qi flowed out along his Meridians.

"Crack—"

Several crisp cracking sounds rang out.

The four bands of Spiritual Qi that bound his limbs shattered inch by inch, turning into a sky full of light particles!

This sudden scene caused the two contending female Disciples to freeze simultaneously.

A hint of surprise flashed in Luo Ximei's eyes.

Mu Qingxue, however, was even more greatly shaken. She knew better than anyone that although she hadn't used her full strength, this Spiritual Qi Restriction was by no means something a Golden Core Stage Cultivator could easily break free from!

Revered Master, he... Su Lin slowly sat up from the bluestone, and flexed his wrists.

He first glanced at the bewildered Mu Qingxue, and said gently, "This Revered Master has completed his Breakthrough. Thank you for protecting me."

With a single sentence, he smoothly brushed over the awkward situation that had just occurred.

Mu Qingxue's face flushed upon hearing this, and she quickly lowered her head, whispering, "It's... it's what a Disciple should do."

Then, Su Lin turned to Luo Ximei beside him, a smile of reunion appearing in his eyes: "Ximei, it's been a long time."