45: The metaphor of the large bathtub, the talisman master, the choice of path.

"Bang!"

The door to the small courtyard room was kicked open, and the laughter of Zhu Qi and the others abruptly stopped.

Seeing Jiang Yan stride in menacingly, Cai Qiang immediately shrank into the corner, while Zhu Qi and Li Chenggang pushed Geng Ye forward.

"Se-Senior Brother Jiang, what, what's wrong?" Geng Ye stammered.

"Laugh, keep laughing!" Jiang Yan looked at the four with surging Killing Intent, "Why aren't you laughing anymore? Is it not funny?"

"Senior Brother Jiang, there must be a misunderstanding here. We were just discussing the Spirit Plant Garden," Geng Ye quickly explained.

"Is that so? What's so funny about the Spirit Plant Garden? Tell me so I can be happy too!" Jiang Yan tapped Geng Ye's shoulder with his sword tip.

Although he couldn't kill them, beating them up was perfectly acceptable.

"Senior Brother Jiang, a beautiful Utility Disciple arrived at the Spirit Plant Garden today, and we were discussing who she would end up hooking up with," Zhu Qi peeked out and explained.

Jiang Yan frowned and looked at Zhu Qi: "Oh, is that why you were laughing?"

"No, it's about Senior Brother Ge from the Pill Refining Room who wants to become Dao Companions with that beauty, but then Yang Yong from Spirit Sword Peak jumped out and wanted to spar with Senior Brother Ge. Just as the two were about to head to the training grounds, Zhang Yang, one of the top one hundred outer sect Disciples, returned to the sect and he also took a liking to that beauty..." Cai Qiang, shrinking in the corner, quickly chimed in.

Hearing that they definitely weren't laughing at him, Jiang Yan withdrew his sword, but his gaze remained icy toward the four.

"I ask you, what is the meaning behind this Large Bathtub?" Jiang Yan questioned coldly again, "And you told me to go to the Hall of Shared Desires, but I can't enter without a Dao Companion. Why didn't you tell me!"

"Senior Brother Jiang, this really was a misunderstanding!" Geng Ye quickly raised his hands, "Male Disciples are not allowed to enter the Hall of Shared Desires alone at night; you can only enter during the day."

"As for the Large Bathtub you mentioned, it's insider talk for Dual Cultivation. If you tell any female Disciple you bought a Large Bathtub, she will definitely think you want to Dual Cultivate with her," Li Chenggang quickly added.

Hearing this, Jiang Yan's face instantly darkened, wishing he could beat these four to death.

Couldn't they have told him this earlier?

But thinking again, it was his own fault for insisting on enjoying some kind of broken lifestyle; as a result, he was extremely depressed, having embarrassed himself all the way to the Hall of Shared Desires.

But something felt off, so he quickly asked, "Then why a Large Bathtub? Can't it be something else?"

Hearing Jiang Yan's question, the four exchanged glances, and then Geng Ye spoke, "Senior Brother Jiang, we really can't discuss this topic. Why don't you go see for yourself tomorrow."

Jiang Yan took a deep breath, pointed at the four, snorted coldly, and turned to walk back to his room.

Watching Jiang Yan enter the room, the four wiped cold sweat from their foreheads.

That night, it was the first time Jiang Yan hadn't slept well; one could even say he couldn't fall asleep.

When dawn broke, he immediately headed to the Hall of Shared Desires.

This time, no Disciple stopped him at the entrance, and even Lan Xiaodie from last night wasn't there.

"Is this Senior Brother's first time entering?" a sweeping Utility Disciple asked.

"Yes." Jiang Yan nodded and pointed to a room, asking, "Can I go in and take a look?"

"Senior Brother, please feel free. As long as the door isn't closed, you can enter and exit as you please," the Utility Disciple replied.

Jiang Yan offered his thanks and walked toward the room on the left.

When he entered the room, the first thing that caught his eye was the Large Bathtub.

'Damn, this is exactly the same as the one I bought.'

Jiang Yan complained internally, then shifted his gaze. When he saw the Dual Cultivation manual written on the wall, he froze on the spot.

The general meaning was that the Large Bathtub required two people; one person alone could not gain its effect. After both entered the tub, they could use Spiritual Qi to vibrate the water waves, warming the water in the tub, and then engage in physical intimacy.

Until the first time their Spiritual Qi intertwined, they could proceed to the next step... Jiang Yan's mouth twitched. Good heavens, it turned out he knew nothing at all.

'The cultivation world really plays dirty.'

He withdrew his gaze and looked toward the bed.

After reading the Dual Cultivation manual by the bed, he exclaimed internally: 'Good heavens.'

'If this were filmed as an adult film, it would definitely sell like hotcakes, perhaps even dominating this field.'

Leaving the room, Jiang Yan took a deep breath and walked towards the outer sect courtyard.

When he returned, Zhu Qi and the others were just about to leave.

"Good morning, Senior Brother Jiang," Geng Ye cupped his hands in a salute.

"What happened last night was my fault. I apologize to all of you." Jiang Yan cupped his fists and bowed.

"Senior Brother Jiang, there's no need. You didn't know the reason either, and besides, we don't blame you." Li Chenggang waved his hand.

"Thank you." Jiang Yan bowed again, then walked toward the Bathing Area.

Just as the four were about to reach the door, they heard the sound of a bathtub being smashed from the Bathing Area.

Zhu Qi, smiling with his eyes closed, quickly waved his hand.

Geng Ye and the others understood and quickly followed.

It wasn't until Jiang Yan had dealt with the bathtub that he rushed to Spirit Beast Peak.

Li Yi was quite satisfied when he saw the Storage Pouch Jiang Yan handed over, and then he began his instruction.

Regarding the bathtub incident, Jiang Yan only treated it as a small interlude. Since he truly didn't know, it didn't affect his state of mind.

"Revered Master, these Talismans are so expensive. Why don't you mass-produce them?" Jiang Yan asked curiously.

"Mass-produce Talismans?" Li Yi stared at him as if he were a rare animal and said flatly, "Do you think everyone is like you?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan immediately realized.

Li Yi didn't pay attention to Jiang Yan's reaction and spoke again, "Let me put it this way: within the entire Sect, besides me, you are the second person who can manufacture mid-tier Talismans. Of course, if the success rate for manufacturing low-tier Talismans is generally around fifty percent, one can start practicing mid-tier Talismans. But do you think manufacturing Talismans is that simple?"

Jiang Yan remained silent. He understood that Li Yi deliberately omitted himself to help him keep the secret.

Li Yi walked up to Jiang Yan, patted his shoulder, and said earnestly:

"Back then, I was a Genius among Geniuses, but even in the way of Talismans, it took me three days to get started. You, however, are a Prodigy among Prodigies, mastering it in just one morning. That's why I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Revered Master, then why did you still ask me to be a Spy?" Jiang Yan voiced his inner thoughts.

Li Yi looked out the window and said plainly, "Blood Cloud Sect is a necessary trial for you. Asking you to be a Spy was just a casual remark; I don't want you to follow my old path. If you don't break out of the Blood Cloud Sect, just live out your life there peacefully."

Li Yi's words were heavy, leaving Jiang Yan unsure how to respond for a moment.

Jiang Yan had heard many versions of Li Yi's legends and knew that his Cheap Master was very powerful.

"Alright, gather your thoughts and go play in the Market," Li Yi waved his hand.

"Yes, Revered Master." Jiang Yan bowed respectfully.

At the entrance to the Market, Jiang Yan sat on a large bluestone.

Watching the Disciples entering and exiting, he felt that something about Li Yi's words wasn't quite right.

'What does he mean by not being able to get out, just living out life there peacefully?'

'Didn't he ask me before to forge something that truly belongs to me?'

'Can a person change this quickly?'

As he pondered and couldn't figure things out, a crisp female voice sounded beside him.

"Junior Brother Jiang, long time no see."

Jia Qian smiled and waved at him, then casually sat down beside him.

"Junior Brother Jiang, what are you doing?"

"Thinking about some things," Jiang Yan replied casually.

"You look gloomy. You must be thinking about something unhappy, right?" Jia Qian said with a smile, "Junior Brother, let go of your worries. If you can't figure something out, don't dwell on it. Cultivating Immortality is about happiness."

Hearing Jia Qian's comforting words, Jiang Yan smiled, "Senior Sister, have you always been this happy?"

"Not exactly." Jia Qian shook her head, then smiled and said, "Whenever I encounter something unhappy, I go find something happy to do. That's how I happily cultivate Immortality."

Jiang Yan gave her a thumbs-up and said with admiration, "Senior Sister, with your personality, you will definitely achieve Immortal Ascension!"

"Immortal Ascension has nothing to do with personality; it's about Aptitude." Jia Qian patted her chest proudly, "Although my Aptitude is ordinary, I will still work hard. After all, I still want to become a great cultivator at Foundation Establishment."

Jiang Yan smiled without speaking. He felt that throughout his journey, he had met all sorts of people, but Jia Qian was an exception.

She lived very clearly and freely, completely lacking that sense of being weighed down.

"Let's go, Senior Sister is treating today, you pay," Jia Qian patted Jiang Yan's shoulder smugly.

Jiang Yan shook his head with a wry smile. Good heavens, that feeling of unfamiliar familiarity instantly maxed out!

"Junior Brother, Senior Sister will take you to eat Wawa Balls and drink Ice Source Tea."