252: Chapter 260 Liu Yu's Changes

As the spiritual power calmed down, the storm that had swept through the entire cave finally subsided. The violent Fire Spiritual Power returned to silence, turning into a docile warm current wandering among the rock walls. The crimson light on Liu Yu's body also gradually receded, sinking completely into her body, revealing her true appearance after being reshaped by the Golden Core. She took a deep breath; her breathing was long and steady, without a trace of her former flightiness or feverishness. She slowly stood up, her movements light and her robes undisturbed. The plain white long dress, which had originally appeared somewhat worn due to the erosion of fire poison, now radiated an ethereal temperament on her. She raised her hand to tidy the hair at her temples, her fingertips brushing across her cheek, feeling a delicacy and warmth she had never experienced before. She looked down at her palm; where it was once covered with fine lines and calluses from controlling the violent Fire Spiritual Power, it had now become as tender as a young girl's. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a heartfelt smile that contained both the joy of a successful Breakthrough and a longing for her future life.

With a wave of her hand, several pieces of clean and tidy clothing flew out from her storage ring, and she was dressed neatly in an instant. She checked herself once more, confirming that her aura was restrained, her cultivation was stable, and although her appearance had changed, it was still within a controllable range, before walking to the stone door. Taking a deep breath, she pressed her slender hand lightly against the rough stone door and exerted a bit of spiritual power. The heavy stone door let out a 'rumbling' sound and slowly slid to one side. No piercing sunlight shone in; instead, a slightly damp breeze from outside the Immortal Cave, mixed with the fragrance of soil and flowers, blew toward her. Liu Yu squinted her eyes slightly to adjust for a moment before stepping out.

Lu Yang and Liu Yan, who were waiting outside, had long been anxious. Especially Liu Yan; although her cultivation was not high, she was the most sensitive to her mother's aura. The powerful spiritual power fluctuations inside the Immortal Cave just now had made her both worried and expectant. She worried whether her mother would meet with an accident, and expected that her mother might truly take this opportunity to rid herself of the fire poison's troubles. Lu Yang, on the other hand, appeared relatively calm. Although he didn't say it outright, he already had some confidence in his heart. After all, he had personally removed the fire poison for Liu Yu and used his own pure spiritual power as a guide to help her clear her Meridians and open her apertures. He believed that with Liu Yu's Aptitude and perseverance, Core Formation was not out of reach.

Seeing the stone door finally open, the two immediately went to meet her. Liu Yan rushed directly in front of Liu Yu, looking her mother up and down, her eyes full of concern and surprise.

"Mother, did you succeed in Core Formation?"

Liu Yan was the first to ask, her voice trembling slightly. The commotion around them just now was significant; that level of pressure was definitely not something a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator could produce. Moreover, after Lu Yang came out earlier, he had comforted her, saying that her mother was no longer in danger, the fire poison had been removed by him, and there was a possibility of attempting Core Formation in the future. She hadn't expected her mother to achieve a Breakthrough so soon; it was truly a blessing in disguise.

"That's wonderful, Mother!"

In her excitement, Liu Yan could no longer control her emotions and threw herself directly into Liu Yu's arms, hugging her tightly. Liu Yu's body stiffened slightly before relaxing. She gently patted her daughter's back and comforted her softly, "It's alright now, Yaner. Not only am I fine, but I'm much better."

As she spoke, her gaze involuntarily drifted toward Lu Yang. At this moment, Lu Yang was standing there quietly, watching her with burning eyes. When Liu Yu met his gaze, she immediately looked away as if she had received an electric shock, an imperceptible blush appearing on her cheeks. Her heart was a whirlwind of emotions, including gratitude toward Lu Yang, shame for her loss of composure in the Immortal Cave earlier, and a complex emotion that was difficult to describe.

Looking at Liu Yu now, Lu Yang saw a completely different person from the Liu Family Head in his memory. Her skin, which had been somewhat pale due to the fire poison's erosion, had now become increasingly smooth, like the finest mutton-fat white jade, glowing with a warm luster under the sunlight. Between her brows, there was less of the former sorrow and determination, and more of the charm of a mature woman—a confidence and composure that radiated from the inside out. What made him feel even more pressure was the aura of a Core Formation Stage Cultivator radiating from Liu Yu. Although she deliberately suppressed it, the majesty of a superior was still impossible to ignore.

Lu Yang felt great regret. If he had known, he would have stayed inside. If Liu Yu had kept pretending to sleep, he could have taken the opportunity to synchronize his cultivation. Now that Liu Yu had reached Core Formation and he hadn't synchronized, what was he to do? What other reason could he use to do it again? This was the problem currently bothering Lu Yang. He looked at Liu Yu, calculating various possibilities in his heart, yet unable to find a suitable excuse.

Liu Yu's attitude toward Lu Yang and her daughter, Liu Yan, was indeed not as composed as before; instead, there was a special kind of awkwardness. Looking at Lu Yang, scenes of him removing the poison for her in the Immortal Cave earlier involuntarily surfaced in her mind, as well as her various losses of composure under the effects of the medicine. That feeling was like someone who had committed adultery suddenly facing their husband and lover, her heart filled with trepidation and unease. Holding Liu Yan, she felt anxious, fearing her daughter would notice something amiss, and even more afraid that Lu Yang would say something he shouldn't.

Fortunately, her years of experience as a Family Head allowed her to quickly adjust her mindset and stabilize the situation without showing any emotion. She took a deep breath, tossed the distracting thoughts to the back of her mind, and put on a serious yet kind face.

"Yaner, Lu Yang, now that I have broken through to Core Formation, I'm afraid no one in this Chiyan Dynasty can threaten our Liu Family anymore." Liu Yu's voice was steady and powerful, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

She paused and continued, "You must be tired from being my Protectors. Go into the Immortal Cave and rest. I just gathered a large amount of Fire Spiritual Power during my Breakthrough, so the Spiritual Qi in the cave is dense. Seize the opportunity and go absorb it!"

Liu Yan nodded obediently. Although she still had many questions, seeing her mother's exhausted expression, she sensibly did not ask more. She pulled Lu Yang's sleeve and said, "Lu Yang, let's go in."

Lu Yang also agreed. Although he was troubled, he knew now was not the time to think about those things. He followed Liu Yan into the Immortal Cave and indeed felt a dense wave of Fire Spiritual Power rushing toward him. This spiritual power was pure and gentle, the lingering resonance left by a Core Formation Stage Cultivator after a Breakthrough. For a Cultivator practicing fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques, it was undoubtedly a great supplement.

Liu Yu watched the two enter the Immortal Cave and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Standing at the cave entrance and looking at the distant sky, she secretly vowed to protect this home and this hard-won happiness. Inside the Immortal Cave, Lu Yang sat cross-legged, calculating how to get close to Liu Yu again, while Liu Yan was immersed in the joy of her mother's Breakthrough, completely unaware of the subtle atmosphere between her mother and Lu Yang.