64: Choice

An hour later.

Lu Yang sat cross-legged to the side, his Qi fluctuations evident as he meditated to recover.

Chunfeng and Huayu lay on the ground, their eyes hollow and despairing, clothes in disarray, and their auras extremely withered and weak.

The Water and Wind Spiritual Roots within their bodies had been forcibly synchronized and their Origin power drained by Lu Yang using the Dragon Phoenix Yin-Yang Art.

The Pure Yin Body they had preserved for many years had also been thoroughly destroyed.

Xia Yuxuan curled up in the corner, having witnessed the entire ordeal of her two Senior Sisters, her heart filled with extreme fear and intense regret.

She had never expected things to develop to this point.

Lu Yang finished his meditation and opened his eyes, his cold gaze once again falling upon Xia Yuxuan, who was trembling with fear.

Although he had no interest in Xia Yuxuan herself, in order to completely control the situation and eliminate potential hidden dangers, he had to take measures to incorporate her into his control system.

He stood up and walked toward Xia Yuxuan step by step.

Under Xia Yuxuan's terrified gaze, Lu Yang moved his fingers slightly, and a trace of pure fire-attribute Qi surged from his fingertips, landing precisely on Xia Yuxuan's clothing.

Her clothes were instantly engulfed by flames, turning to ash and drifting away in the blink of an eye, revealing a body covered in whip marks.

Xia Yuxuan looked at Lu Yang imploringly.

However, Lu Yang's expression remained indifferent; ignoring her plea, he did not stop his steps and continued to approach her.

Half an hour later.

Xia Yuxuan had paid a huge price and finally obtained the Opportunity she had always coveted.

...

After everything was over, the Restriction isolating the inside from the outside was lifted.

Chi Rong walked into the Bamboo Pavilion with a steady gait, followed by Mu Wanqing.

Her gaze swept calmly over the three women on the ground, who were in a disheveled state with weak auras.

"All right," her voice was not loud, but it carried the unquestionable authority of an Outer Sect Elder, "now, it is time to decide your future."

"You have two paths to choose from."

"The first path: submit to us and acknowledge Lu Yang as your master. What happened today can be overlooked, and from now on, you will be people of Purple Bamboo Peak."

"The second path: we let you leave," Chi Rong's voice was cold, like a verdict, "but the process of you trespassing on this training ground today and being captured, along with all the unbearable events that followed, will be reported in detail to the Law Enforcement Hall and announced to the entire Sect!"

Chi Rong paused and swept her gaze over the pale-faced Chunfeng and Huayu, "If that happens, the ordeal of Junior Sisters Chunfeng and Huayu, as well as what happened to Junior Sister Xia, will surely become a topic of discussion for the Sect Disciples during their spare time."

Chi Rong's eyes were like knives, and she continued without any emotion, "Also, I always act in a watertight manner. All the key moments from just now have been recorded in this stone!"

Before she finished speaking, a projection stone emitting a cold, faint light appeared in her palm.

With a slight release of Qi from her fingertips, the light and shadow on the stone's surface flowed rapidly. Although the images were blurry, they were still like invisible branding irons, searing deeply into the hearts of the three!

Chunfeng and Huayu were struck as if by lightning, their bodies shaking violently; they dug their teeth deeply into their lower lips, unaware even as blood seeped out.

Immense fear and bone-deep shame instantly engulfed them!

Although the Hehuan Sect supports its Disciples in practicing Dual Cultivation, female Cultivators must choose Dao Companions whose Realm is not lower than their own. If they choose someone weaker, it is akin to becoming a self-debased Cauldron, which is not only detrimental to cultivation but will also lead to mockery by fellow Cultivators. This is an unspoken rule throughout the Sect.

Pure Yin Body: Has the effect of natural affinity with Qi; every female Cultivator possesses it. It is the most precious strategic bargaining chip for female Cultivators when breaking through major Realms such as Foundation Establishment and Core Formation.

Female Cultivators in the Sect, unless they encounter a major Bottleneck, all cherish this body, waiting for the critical moment to exchange it for the all-out help of high-level male Cultivators to achieve a Breakthrough in Realm.

It is precisely because of this that female Cultivators with a Pure Yin Body are naturally respected and courted by male Cultivators in the Sect; after all, who does not hope that one day they might be chosen to become the assistance for the other party's Breakthrough.

And at this moment, it had been ruined by a Qi Refinement Stage Disciple.

If this matter were to reach the ears of the Law Enforcement Hall Disciples down the mountain, or even spread throughout the entire Sect, letting everyone know that the three of them had actually become Cauldrons for a Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator, the consequences alone made the three of them shudder.

This meant that they would lose their reputations and become the laughingstock of the Sect.

From then on, their status in the Sect would plummet, and no more male Cultivators would truly respect them.

Even with a thousand reasons and ten thousand excuses, they could not wash away this immense humiliation of willingly debasing themselves to serve a Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator.

It was not only equivalent to cutting off a crucial Opportunity for a Realm Breakthrough, but it also completely shattered the Foundation of dignity upon which they relied to establish themselves in the Sect. This was no longer just simple humiliation, but the total destruction of their Foundation and the loss of their entire future.

Just as the three were struggling internally.

Lu Yang watched coldly from the sidelines, taking in the will in the three's eyes that had been completely crushed by fear and despair, knowing that the time was ripe.

Thus, he threw out the condition: "If you choose the first path," his voice was steady and confident, carrying an unquestionable weight, "I promise as a Third-Rank Alchemist that I will be responsible for all the Medicinal Pills you need for your subsequent cultivation."

"Even for Advanced Third-Rank Alchemist Medicinal Pills, as long as the Materials are prepared, I can refine them."

Lu Yang raised his hand, took several bottles of Medicinal Pills from his Storage Pouch, and with a light touch of Qi, they hovered steadily in front of the three.

"These were refined by my own hands; among them is a flawless spirit gathering pill, whose effect far exceeds that of a High Grade one by ten times."

"There are also some third-tier low-rank Medicinal Pills as verification."

Hearing the five words "Third-Rank Alchemist", Xia Yuxuan, Chunfeng, and Huayu looked at each other in shock and suspicion, their eyes filled with disbelief.

The three hurriedly took the Jade Bottle and inspected them eagerly. After confirming that there was no mistake, a profound realization welled up in Xia Yuxuan's heart.

So the Opportunity she had been desperately seeking was actually Lu Yang's earth-shattering Alchemy talent!

She had previously thought that Lu Yang's Opportunity lay in the Dual Cultivation method. But in the end, she realized that it was actually based on these flawless Medicinal Pills, with the Dual Cultivation method as a supplement, that allowed Mu Wanqing to achieve such a rapid Breakthrough.

If she had known this earlier... how could she have ended up in this situation!

Seeing that the temptation had worked, Lu Yang curled the corner of his mouth and swept his gaze around, "As for the Restriction that trapped you just now," his tone was flat, but it was like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of the three, "it was also set up by my own hands. As for its power, I believe you have all experienced it personally."

Chi Rong then spoke, her voice carrying an enticing tone: "To reach the Realm of a Third-Rank Alchemist and Formation Master while still at the Qi Refinement Stage—such talent and potential are rare in the world. Following him may not be a bad thing for all of you."

Her tone changed, her voice suddenly heavy and firm, carrying a decisive finality: "Will you be our enemy and end up disgraced and plagued by Heart Demons? Or will you choose to join us and share in the supreme benefits of Medicinal Pills and Formation? You... think it over carefully."

The Bamboo Pavilion was deathly silent, with only the heavy, chaotic, and fear-intertwined breathing of the three rising and falling.

What Chi Rong and Lu Yang offered was, on one side, a bone-chilling fatal threat, and on the other, an enticing promise to continue their path of Dao.

The two paths were clearly distinct; on the surface, it seemed there was a choice, but in reality, all paths of retreat had long been completely sealed off. This cold reality, like an invisible shackle, completely crushed any room for the three to choose.