104: Chapter 104 Is this your method, fellow Daoist?

Xiao Zhi gently shook her head, her voice soft but tinged with a hint of helplessness: "The Shopkeeper has gone out, and her return date is uncertain."

Upon hearing this, Ye Changge nodded. Without asking further, he turned and returned to the Alchemy room of the inn.

He carefully recorded one of the Secret Arts from the "Yin Yang Creation Art," the Yin Yang Guiding Art, onto a blank jade slip.

The essence of this Secret Art was overbearing; it was a method for unilaterally plundering a woman's primordial Yin to benefit oneself. It was completely different from the orthodox methods he usually used during Dual Cultivation with his wives and concubines, which emphasized mutual complementarity and win-win benefits of Yin and Yang.

In his heart, Ye Changge actually felt quite disdainful of this art, feeling it went against his principles and, even more so, betrayed the trust of his Dao Companions.

He had always believed that matters between men and women should be based on mutual affection and the shared pursuit of the Dao, rather than blind taking and plundering.

"If it were not to save someone, and if there were no subsequent method for compensation, I would never bring out this art," Ye Changge sighed inwardly.

In addition to the "Yin Yang Guiding Art," he also selected several gentle auxiliary Secret Arts for consolidating the foundation and guiding Spiritual Qi from his own Legacy and the vast knowledge rewarded by the System, recording them all together.

After all, to "invite" such a beauty—who possessed extraordinary Formation mastery and a Heart-Nature clearly unlike that of ordinary women—to "come home," mere empty words or threats and inducements would certainly not work. He needed to present a concrete solution that could resolve her fundamental predicament, and he had to be sufficiently sincere.

"Xiao Caiyue... observing her speech and demeanor, she is definitely not a weak woman easily controlled. I must treat her with sincerity and proceed slowly," Ye Changge pondered.

Early the next morning, after tidying up, Ye Changge set off for the "Heavenly Palace Formation Shop" he had inquired about the day before.

The shop was located on a relatively quiet street in the western district of the immortal city. The storefront was not grand, but it possessed a steady and composed air.

The black sign with gold lettering had weathered the elements and looked slightly old, yet it was wiped spotlessly clean.

Before even entering, one could faintly feel the peaceful Spiritual Qi circulating inside the shop; clearly, the shop itself was under the cover of some basic Formation.

Ye Changge pushed open the door and entered, causing the bell on the door to emit a crisp sound.

The interior space was not spacious, but the layout was orderly.

On the treasure shelves against the wall, various Formation Plates, Formation Flags, Formation Materials, and some basic Formation classics were categorized and displayed. Most were between the first and second grades. The goods were arranged neatly and were spotless, which indirectly confirmed the rigorous personality of the owner.

A seemingly clever young shop assistant came up to greet him with a professional smile: "Customer, what do you need? Our shop has a complete range of Formation equipment, and we can also undertake customized Formation setups..."

Ye Changge waved his hand, his gaze sweeping across the shop. At the same time, he slightly released a trace of his Foundation Establishment Stage Spiritual Pressure, his tone peaceful yet unquestionable: "I am Han Li, and I have an appointment with Shopkeeper Xiao of your shop."

Feeling that unfathomable aura, the shop assistant's expression immediately became serious, and his back straightened unconsciously. He respectfully said: "So it is Senior Han! Please sit for a moment, and I will go report to the Shopkeeper immediately." With that, he walked quickly toward the stairs at the back of the shop.

Ye Changge stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly glancing casually at the furnishings in the shop, but in his heart, he felt even more curiosity and appreciation for Xiao Caiyue, whom he had not yet met.

To be able to manage a Formation shop so organized and with such an introverted aura showed that she not only had remarkable Formation mastery, but her management ability and Heart-Nature were also top-notch.

Before long, the shop assistant returned quickly, his attitude even more respectful: "Senior, our Shopkeeper invites you up. Please follow me upstairs."

Ye Changge nodded slightly and followed the shop assistant up the wooden stairs to the second floor.

The second floor was an elegantly decorated study and reception room. The windows were half-open, allowing the morning light to spill in, and the room was filled with the faint scent of ink and a calming sandalwood incense.

By the window, a woman dressed in a water-blue wide-sleeved Fairy dress was sitting upright on a pearwood chair, holding an ancient book in her hand, reading it with lowered eyes.

Her hair was gently coiled, secured only by a simple jade hairpin, with a few strands of dark hair flowing down softly by her cheeks. Her profile was picturesque, her skin fair and delicate, and her long eyelashes cast faint shadows under her eyelids.

Sitting there quietly, she looked like a meticulously painted classical portrait of a lady, her temperament dignified and gentle, yet revealing a calm beauty focused on knowledge.

Hearing footsteps, Xiao Caiyue raised her eyelids and cast her gaze toward Ye Changge.

Ye Changge had changed his appearance at this moment, looking unremarkable, but the aura he had condensed after Foundation Establishment, along with the gentle, jade-like quality—yet containing hidden dignity—cultivated by the "Jade Purity Beauty Cultivation Art" and "Yin Yang Creation Art," was difficult to completely conceal.

Especially his eyes, deep and bright, with light flowing within their calmness.

A trace of imperceptible surprise flashed in Xiao Caiyue's eyes. Clearly, she had not expected that this "Fellow Daoist Han Li," with whom she had privately agreed to meet at the auction, would have such an extraordinary demeanor.

She put down the book, rose gracefully, her movements elegant and proper, and bowed slightly: "Is this the Fellow Daoist who sent the voice transmission at the auction yesterday? I am Xiao Caiyue, please forgive my lack of a proper welcome."

Her voice was like a clear spring hitting stones, gentle and pleasant to the ear, and her tone was neither humble nor pushy.

Ye Changge returned the bow and admitted frankly: "It is indeed I. Please forgive my presumptuous intrusion, Fairy Xiao."

"Fellow Daoist, you are too polite. Please sit."

Xiao Caiyue gestured for Ye Changge to sit in the opposite chair, while she personally picked up a small white jade teapot and poured him a cup of clear tea. The tea was emerald green, steam curled, and the fragrance was elegant.

"My humble abode is simple, and I only have a cup of clear tea to express my sincerity."

Ye Changge thanked her and took it, but did not drink immediately, instead going straight to the point: "Fairy Xiao, yesterday I heard of your predicament. After returning, I thought about it carefully and indeed came up with some potentially feasible ideas."

Xiao Caiyue's eyes brightened slightly, but she still maintained her dignified demeanor: "Fellow Daoist, you are very thoughtful."

Ye Changge did not say more, directly taking out the jade slip that recorded several Secret Arts and gently pushing it onto the table in front of Xiao Caiyue.

"Fairy, please take a look at this first. This is what I organized overnight, and it may address your condition of Yin and Yang imbalance and depletion of Origin. One of the main arts among them might... be a bit special; you will know once you have read it."

Xiao Caiyue felt both anticipation and a trace of caution in her heart.

She stretched out her slender jade fingers, picked up the jade slip, and probed it with her Divine Sense.

At first, her expression was still calm as she browsed through the preceding auxiliary Secret Arts for consolidating the foundation and guiding Spiritual Qi, nodding slightly, thinking the logic was clear and the methods were quite orthodox and exquisite.

However, when she saw the "Yin Yang Guiding Art" specifically marked by Ye Changge, her beautiful brows gently knitted together.

As she read further, a faint blush gradually appeared on her cheeks.

The description and Qi Circulation route map of this Secret Art were truly too blunt and explicit, and its core concept of plundering the Origin to forcibly balance Yin and Yang made her heart jump.

Especially when her Divine Sense "saw" the simple diagram left in the jade slip illustrating the path of Spiritual Qi Circulation, she finally could not help but let out a soft "Ah," and her earlobes turned completely red.