245: Ask for advice and exchange ideas! Rumors and gossip...

Since that day's spar, Li Shengyuan and his group had settled down at the Dao Sect.

Just as Luo Qingwan had invited, Li Shengyuan was not in a hurry to leave. Instead, he truly began frequent cultivation exchanges with the cold and stunning Sect Master, staying for a few days.

The Dao Sect covered a vast area, with numerous strange peaks and surging clouds, imbued with countless natural Dao Rhythms.

In the days that followed, disciples and elders of the sect would often see two figures, sometimes appearing at the peak of Dao Cliff, facing the sea of clouds and the sunrise, discussing the Dao, their bodies intertwined with Dao Rhythms, attracting rays of light...

Other times, they would stroll by the Tranquil Lake, gazing at the smooth, mirror-like surface reflecting stars and moon, discussing the subtleties of the path of water's softness and control of power...

Occasionally, they would also sit opposite each other under the ancient pine outside the Scripture Pavilion, playing chess, where the game itself contained the interplay of Dao, and the moves between pieces drew qi, greatly benefiting onlookers.

Although Li Shengyuan did not specialize in the water path, his realm was profound, having experienced ten heavenly tribulations. His understanding of the laws of heaven and earth far surpassed those of the same rank, and he could often expound on the application of power from a more macroscopic and essential perspective, often giving Luo Qingwan a sense of sudden enlightenment.

As for Luo Qingwan, she had immersed herself in the Qingxin Questioning Dao Art for a long time, and the time she took to break through to the second rank was also longer. Her delicate control over the water element laws and her unique methods for tempering her Dao Heart also gave Li Shengyuan much to learn from, especially in balancing his own overly rigid and sharp power attributes, which was greatly beneficial.

Sometimes, Yue Xiyan, also a second-rank cultivator, would join them.

The Yuehua Palace cultivation technique she practiced had much in common with Luo Qingwan's water-element cultivation technique. The three would sit and discuss the Dao in the Moon-Viewing Pavilion, where moonlight, water vapor, and sword intent subtly intertwined, forming a beautiful picture and becoming a new scenic spot within the Dao Sect.

Such high-level discussions of the Dao, with their intertwining auras and flowing Dao Rhythms, naturally could not be completely isolated.

Disciples often saw them from afar, sensing the profound Dao realm. Although they couldn't fully comprehend it, they still gained much and developed a deeper longing for the path of cultivation.

The sect's high-ranking members were even more pleasantly surprised, tacitly approving and even encouraging disciples to sense from afar, provided they did not disturb them.

However, amidst such frequent contact, the relationship between Li Shengyuan and Luo Qingwan was quietly changing.

The initial politeness and tentative probing gradually faded, replaced by a familiarity and casualness based on mutual appreciation and recognition of each other's strength.

When they conversed, a faint but genuine smile would unconsciously appear between Luo Qingwan's cool brows, and her tone was no longer the distant, authoritative demeanor of a Sect Master.

Li Shengyuan was the same; he admired Luo Qingwan's pure Dao Heart and insightful views, becoming more natural in his conversations, occasionally even throwing in a light joke or two.

All of this was observed by the surrounding disciples and elders.

When they looked at the two who often stood side by side, conversing and laughing, their gazes gradually became somewhat strange and probing.

What was the Sect Master's status?

Normally, she was cold and reserved. When had she ever been so close to someone of the opposite sex, especially one so young, handsome, and equally powerful?

But then again, they hadn't seen such a powerful, young, and handsome member of the opposite sex before... Although the content of their discussions was all profound Dao, the natural and harmonious atmosphere, and the rare gentleness on the Sect Master's face, inevitably led to much speculation.

Privately, some subtle whispers and conjectures had already begun to circulate.

"The Sect Master and Lord Li... seem to be very compatible?"

"Shh! Watch your words! The Sect Master and Lord Li are discussing the supreme Dao!"

"Does discussing the Dao require watching sunrises and sunsets together every day, and boating on the lake to admire the moon? Even with my Dao companion, I wasn't this active..."

"Lord Li is such a heaven-blessed genius. Standing with the Sect Master, they truly are... a perfect match."

"Keep your voice down, don't let Palace Master Yue or Princess Pingyang hear..."

"..."

These discussions naturally did not reach Luo Qingwan and Li Shengyuan's ears, but they inevitably fell into the ears of another person and were seen by her eyes.

That was Luo Yuzhu.

As the Sect Master's personal disciple, she had more opportunities than others to see her master and Li Shengyuan interact up close.

Every time she saw her master and Li Shengyuan conversing happily, and saw the relaxed smile on her master's lips that she herself rarely witnessed, Luo Yuzhu's mood became extremely complex.

She was happy that her master had found a Dao companion for discussion, after all, it was lonely at the top, and her master also needed communication.

But on the other hand, the feeling that her master seemed to have been "taken away," and the shadow cast by Li Shengyuan's unparalleled strength, made an indescribable sourness and loss well up in her heart.

She often hid alone in the distance, gazing at the two figures, her eyes in a trance.

Especially once, when she was sent by her master to deliver a pot of freshly picked spiritual tea by the Tranquil Lake, she happened to see Li Shengyuan say something that made her master cover her lips and chuckle softly. The sparkle in her eyes was a brightness she had never seen before.

At that moment, Luo Yuzhu felt a sudden stab in her heart, and the hand holding the tea tray trembled slightly.

She hurriedly lowered her head, quickly stepped forward to offer the tea, and then almost fled.

Li Shengyuan looked at Luo Yuzhu's somewhat hasty retreating figure with a hint of confusion.

Luo Qingwan, however, seemed to have noticed something. She looked in the direction her disciple had left, shook her head gently, a flicker of imperceptible understanding in her eyes, then quickly regained her composure and continued the unfinished discussion with Li Shengyuan.

Only the gentle breeze stirred, rippling the spring water in the pond, and also stirring quiet ripples beneath the calm Dao Hearts of certain individuals...