23: Chapter 23 Want to get stronger? Then you need to learn how to "take shortcuts"

Life in the Hehuan Sect was peaceful and fulfilling.

Yet beneath this calm, there was a stark difference in cultivation speeds.

Early morning, the main hall square.

Boom—!

A peerlessly powerful aura erupted without warning from Ye Qingcheng, who was doing her morning exercises!

Originally, like Su Qingge, she was at the Bottleneck of Early Foundation Establishment Stage Perfection (Foundation Establishment Level 3), but this Bottleneck that troubled countless Cultivators was like paper before her, pierced in an instant.

The surrounding Spiritual Qi poured into her body like a funnel.

The water-severing blade in Ye Qingcheng's hand emitted a joyful hum, her red dress fluttered without wind, and a Spiritual Pressure several times stronger than before swept across the field.

Foundation Establishment Middle Stage (Foundation Establishment Level 4), achieved!

Su Qingge, who was observing from not far away, almost lost her grip on the guqin in her hands.

Her eyes widened as she looked at the radiant woman in red whose aura was unfathomable, her heart surging with waves of shock.

“How is this possible...”

Su Qingge muttered to herself, “My cultivation and the Madam's were neck and neck, both at Early Foundation Establishment Stage Perfection. Even if the Spiritual Qi here is dense, breaking through the Bottleneck of that minor Realm should take at least several months of bitter cultivation to find an opportunity.”

“But she... she's only been on the mountain for a few days? How did she Breakthrough in the time it takes to drink some water?”

This immense sense of disparity made the usually proud Su Qingge feel a momentary sense of suffocation.

“Sister Su, don't be too surprised.”

Beside her, Lin Xiaowan was squatting on the ground munching on a freshly picked spirit melon, saying indistinctly, “The Sect Master and Sister Ye are ‘toiling hard’ every night. Since the Sect Master is so amazing, it's normal for Sister Ye to progress quickly.”

Lin Xiaowan was carefree; she felt happy as long as there were Medicinal Pills to eat and beautiful clothes to wear. As for cultivation speed?

She just let nature take its course; anyway, if the sky fell, the Sect Master would be there to prop it up.

But Su Qingge took those words to heart.

“Toiling... hard?”

Su Qingge looked at the spiritual rhythm almost overflowing from Ye Qingcheng, then thought of the blood feud she carried. The sudden sense of urgency made her restless.

The Zhao Family of Central State was powerful, with experts as numerous as clouds.

At a normal pace, even if she cultivated bitterly in the Tingyu Pavilion, it would take at least several decades, or even a hundred years, to reach the Realm where she could go to Central State for revenge.

By then, her enemies might already be dead; what would be the point?

A hundred years is too long; seize the day!

At this thought, Su Qingge took a deep breath. Seeing Ye Qingcheng walking toward the side hall to rest, her gaze hardened, and she quickly followed.

Inside the side hall.

Ye Qingcheng had just taken the spirit tea handed over by Lin Xiaowan when she saw Su Qingge enter.

“Sister Su? Is something the matter?”

Ye Qingcheng set down her teacup and looked at the cold beauty before her.

Although their looks were evenly matched, after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, Ye Qingcheng’s aura as the Main Wife grew even stronger, faintly overshadowing Su Qingge.

Su Qingge bit her lip and got straight to the point, bowing gracefully:

“Madam, Qingge has something she doesn't understand and has come specifically to ask for guidance.”

“You want to ask why I can break through the Bottleneck so easily?” Ye Qingcheng seemed to have expected this, a playful smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

“Yes.”

Su Qingge looked up, her eyes full of longing. “Qingge carries a blood feud; every second feels like sitting on pins and needles. I thought the Early Foundation Establishment Stage was decent, but before my true enemies, I am still like an ant. If Madam has any secret cultivation method, I am willing to pay any price to obtain it!”

Looking at her urgent expression, Ye Qingcheng thought to herself:

“Husband, oh husband, this isn't just me being generous; it's for the reward of [Task One]... ahem, it's for the development of the Sect.”

She stood up, walked to Su Qingge, took her hand to sit down, and said earnestly:

“Sister, we are both Foundation Establishment Cultivators. We should know that cultivation is going against heaven; following the rules is ultimately too slow.”

“The reason I can treat Bottlenecks as if they were nothing and progress so rapidly is indeed because of our Sect Master.”

“The Sect Master?” Su Qingge was stunned. “Did the Sect Master bestow some peerless Medicinal Pill?”

“It's not a pill, but... the Great Dao.”

Ye Qingcheng leaned closer, her voice becoming somewhat mysterious and suggestive:

“Our Hehuan Sect Cultivates the Yin and Yang Grand Dao. Although Husband seems to have no cultivation, he possesses... a special ‘Dao Rhyme.’ Being close to him, or even merging your Divine Soul, allows you to receive the gifts of the Heavenly Dao.”

“This kind of gift is a hundred times more effective than any Spirit Pill or medicine. My Breakthrough this time was thanks to Husband giving me a helping hand last night.”

Su Qingge's face turned red in an instant.

Although she was inexperienced in the ways of the world, she was from a prestigious family; how could she not understand what 'merging Divine Souls' meant?

“Is... is this the legendary... Dual Cultivation?” Su Qingge's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, and her ears were burning intensely.

“Not entirely, but different paths lead to the same destination.”

Ye Qingcheng guided her patiently, beginning to brainwash Su Qingge:

“Sister, I know you are proud and find this hard to talk about. But think about it, the Zhao Family of Central State is powerful. If you want revenge and only rely on your own bitter cultivation, how long will you have to wait?”

“Furthermore, Husband...”

A hint of tenderness flashed in Ye Qingcheng's eyes. “You've seen it too. Although he usually seems improper, at critical moments, he would pierce a hole in the sky to protect his own. For your sake, he even took on the Karma of opposing the Zhao Family of Central State.”

“Such a man can help you get revenge and help you achieve the Dao. Isn't he worth entrusting yourself to?”

Su Qingge fell silent.

In her mind, the domineering figure of Wang Yang appeared—the man who, for her sake, had made her kneel with a single word and scared off powerful enemies with another.

And that 'Cold Jade Bracelet' he had specifically asked the Madam to pass to her.

He had even casually bestowed upon her the 'Tingyu Pavilion,' which was comparable to a grotto-heaven paradise.

If she didn't dislike him, and even felt some gratitude and awe... then for the sake of revenge, it seemed... not impossible?

As long as she could become stronger!

As long as she could kill her enemies with her own hands!

The shyness in Su Qingge's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a look of determination.

“Madam, Qingge... understands.”

“But,” Su Qingge said with some difficulty, her fingers twisting her hem, “the Sect Master seems... not to have expressed any interest in that regard. How can I shamelessly take the initiative...”

She was, after all, a young lady from a prestigious family; she couldn't bring herself to climb into his bed, nor did she dare to.

“Oh, you silly sister.”

Ye Qingcheng poked her forehead in frustration. “Who told you to go directly to that? We need to be strategic and take it step by step.”

“Husband is actually the type who needs to be stroked the right way, and he's a bit... of a closet pervert.”

Ye Qingcheng's eyes sparkled with a cunning light as she began to teach the 'Way of Managing a Husband':

“Tonight, Husband will be bathing in the spiritual spring next to the ‘Tingyu Pavilion.’”

“Don't you Cultivate both the guqin and the sword?”

“When the time comes, play a piece on your guqin in the Tingyu Pavilion to help Husband calm his mind. Music is best for communicating one's heart. If you can reach the Realm of ‘harmonious lutes,’ letting him feel your intentions...”

“Leave the rest to the atmosphere and a man's instincts.”

Su Qingge listened with a flushed face, but she still seriously memorized every word.

“harmonious lutes... setting the mood... atmosphere...”

“Thank you for your guidance, Madam!”

Su Qingge stood up and bowed deeply to Ye Qingcheng. “If Qingge can break through the Bottleneck and avenge my family, I will follow Madam's lead for the rest of my life!”

Ye Qingcheng smiled and helped her up. “We're all one family; let's not speak like strangers. Don't let the good stuff go to outsiders, after all.”

(Inner thoughts: Hurry up and get it done; I've been craving that god-level beauty preservation pill for so long! Besides, with Husband's stamina... having another person to share the load would let me get a good night's sleep. My waist was nearly broken last night for the sake of that Breakthrough.)

Night fell.

The moonlight was like water, spilling over the back mountain of the Hehuan Sect.

Wang Yang was soaking in the steaming spiritual spring, humming a little tune, feeling very comfortable.

“Ah, this life is comfortable.”

“It's just missing something.”

Wang Yang leaned against the jade stone by the pool, looking at the moon in the sky.

Although his points were increasing, as a Sect Master with aspirations, he always felt he lacked some spiritual enjoyment.

Right then.

Zheng—

A melodious and lingering sound of a guqin drifted out from the nearby bamboo forest (Tingyu Pavilion).

The guqin music curled through the air; it was no longer the cold and aloof Sword Intent of usual, but was like a plaintive sob, carrying a hint of heart-stirring tenderness and shyness.

It was as if an invisible hand was gently stroking the listener's Soul.

“Hmm?”

Wang Yang's ears twitched.

“Is that Elder Su playing the guqin?”

He closed his eyes, following the Concept of the music. He seemed to see a cold woman sitting under the moon, having cast off all her defenses, pouring out her heart to him.

That feeling didn't seem like cultivation, but rather like... flirting?

[Ding! High-compatibility guqin resonance detected!]

[Host Points +10.]

[Su Qingge's favorability toward the Host has increased!]

[Current Atmosphere Rating: Ambiguous (Pink).]

Wang Yang suddenly opened his eyes.

He looked at the lit lantern deep in the bamboo forest and remembered the meaningful smile Ye Qingcheng had given him this afternoon.

“Good heavens...”

Wang Yang swallowed hard, his heart skipping a beat or two traitorously.

“I haven't even done anything, and you've already started to woo yourself?”

...