53: Chapter 53 The Sect Master Reads the "Heavenly Enchanting Mystic Maiden's Heart Sutra"?

Inside the Main Hall of Ningyin Hall, the glow of night pearls flowed like silver water, reflecting the vastly different states of mind of the two people within the hall.

Seated upon the jade throne was Xiao Nianyin, dressed in a plain white gown with hair like a waterfall. Her countenance remained peerlessly beautiful and cold, like a snow lotus untouched by dust.

However, only she knew how hollow she felt inside as she faced the Grand Elder of the Hall of Power Transmission.

Her empty Meridians were like hollowed-out mine shafts, constantly sending waves of weakness through her body, a persistent reminder of her current state of being strong on the outside but weak within.

Her cold gaze fell upon the purple-robed old woman standing in a bow within the hall—Rong Qingliu, the Grand Elder of the Hehuan Sect's Hall of Power Transmission.

Rong Qingliu held a treasure box carved entirely from Thousand-Year Profound Ice Jade. A faint blue glow swirled around the box, and several crystal-clear Jade Slips could be seen sealed within.

The box itself was a rare storage Magical Artifact, and it carried the weight of one of the Hehuan Sect's supreme Legacies.

At this moment, her face, which still retained some of its former charm, was strained with the effort of maintaining a respectful expression, but deep within her slightly clouded eyes, a flash of unmistakable suspicion and inquiry flickered by.

Xiao Nianyin understood clearly.

This old fox had indeed grown suspicious.

Since taking over the position of Sect Master three hundred years ago, she had cultivated the Mystic Maidens Sun-Stealing Art, which was domineering and followed a path of extreme Yang and rigidity. This was contrary to the core philosophy of the Heavenly Charm Mysterious Maiden Heart Sutra and other techniques of the Hehuan Sect, which focused on feminine Charm Techniques and Dual Cultivation harmony. Coupled with her aloof personality and picky standards, she had indeed never shown any interest in the Heavenly Charm Mysterious Maiden Heart Sutra. In fact, on some occasions, she had even shown a faint disapproval toward fellow Disciples who relied too heavily on charm arts.

This was no secret among the Sect's high-ranking members.

Now, as a Sect Master who had always looked down upon the Heavenly Charm Mysterious Maiden Heart Sutra, she had unexpectedly issued a Sect Master's Order to urgently consult one of the Sect's highest secret scriptures. How could these Elders, who were as cunning as spirits, not feel suspicious?

At this point, to stabilize Xu Ruyu, explore the possibility of restoring her cultivation, or even just to deal with the crisis three months away, she could no longer care about such things.

Any possible clue, including this Cultivation Technique she once disdained, had to be taken into consideration.

"Grand Elder," Xiao Nianyin's voice broke the silence of the hall, clear as jade striking stone yet carrying an unquestionable distance, "do you have doubts regarding my consultation of the Heavenly Charm Mysterious Maiden Heart Sutra?"

Hearing this, Rong Qingliu bowed even lower and hurriedly said, "The Sect Master sees clearly, your subordinate would never dare! It is just..."

She paused, seemingly weighing her words, her voice carrying a well-measured amount of confusion and caution. "It is just that the Sect Master has always been devoted to the supreme Great Dao and has... well, not delved much into our Sect's Heavenly Charm Mysterious Maiden Heart Sutra.

Requesting it so suddenly today, your subordinate was merely momentarily surprised, with no other intentions."

"You wouldn't dare?" Xiao Nianyin's gaze grew even colder. "Since you wouldn't dare, leave the technique and withdraw.

I still need to guide my newly-received Personal Disciple in his cultivation; I have no time to linger and converse with the Grand Elder."

This was a nearly blunt order to leave. The impatience and faint pressure in her tone caused the air in the hall to seemingly freeze.

Rong Qingliu's heart jolted.

She had served this young Sect Master for many years and knew that while her temperament was cold, she rarely showed her displeasure so directly, especially when facing the Sect's veterans; she would usually maintain at least a modicum of surface politeness.

This attitude today was truly abnormal.

Could it... really be just for that Personal Disciple of unknown origin who supposedly has no Spiritual Root?

But that reason was far too forced!

With Xiao Nianyin's standards and pride, would she consult a technique she had always looked down upon for the sake of a Disciple who had just entered the Sect?

This was even more unbelievable than the sun rising from the west!

Suspicion grew in her heart, but Rong Qingliu dared not show a trace of it on her face. She quickly replied, "Yes, it was your subordinate's loose tongue that disturbed the Sect Master's peace.

The technique is here, please examine it, Sect Master."

As she spoke, she secretly gathered her spiritual power. A soft, pale purple light lifted the Profound Ice Jade treasure box, and she prepared to send it smoothly to the jade table before Xiao Nianyin with her spiritual power, as was customary.

This was a common method for Cultivators to pass items; the spiritual power control was exquisite, showing respect without losing decorum.

However, in Xiao Nianyin's eyes at this moment, this gently pushed treasure box seemed like a red-hot branding iron flying straight toward her heart!

She had lost all her cultivation. Not only could she not catch this box imbued with spiritual power, but even the weight of the box itself as it landed might cause her arm to tremble, revealing her weakness!

Was Rong Qingliu's action merely out of habit, or... a deliberate test?

In a flash, alarm bells rang in Xiao Nianyin's mind, and a layer of fine cold sweat instantly broke out on her back.

She struggled to remain expressionless, even deliberately tilting her chin slightly to show her usual coldness and disdain, but her fingers inside her sleeves were tightly curled, her nails almost sinking into her palms.

Just as the treasure box reached the halfway point, still several feet away from the jade throne—

A sudden change occurred!

Without any warning or a single ripple of spiritual power, the Profound Ice Jade treasure box wrapped in pale purple spiritual power seemed to crash into a mass of invisible, extremely supple warm water. Its forward momentum abruptly slowed, becoming light and leisurely, until it was finally caught by an invisible palm and settled steadily onto the jade table before Xiao Nianyin without making a sound.

The entire process was as smooth as flowing water, utterly natural, as if it were meant to be.

A flash of surprise crossed Rong Qingliu's eyes before she quickly lowered her eyelids to hide her emotions.

She could feel that the force that caught the box just now did not come from Xiao Nianyin herself—that power was feminine and lingering, carrying an indescribable charm and vitality, completely different from Xiao Nianyin's usual cold, sharp, and extremely masculine spiritual power aura.

Who was it? Was there another expert hidden within Ningyin Hall? Was it a confidant Xiao Nianyin had cultivated in secret? Or...

She didn't dare think further, let alone investigate. Since the Sect Master was unwilling to speak plainly and had already demonstrated sufficient means (regardless of where those means came from), continuing to test her would be asking for trouble and might even draw fire upon herself.

Xiao Nianyin secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Madam Qingli, hidden in the shadows, had made her move.

This old vixen was actually somewhat useful at a critical moment.

She showed nothing on her face, not even glancing at the box. She simply extended her slender hand and casually pushed the box to the inner side of the jade table as if it were an insignificant object, then waved her hand at Rong Qingliu, her tone indifferent:

"Withdraw."

Rong Qingliu dared not hesitate any longer and bowed deeply. "Your subordinate takes her leave."

She then maintained a respectful posture as she backed out of the hall step by step until her figure completely disappeared into the shadows of the corridor outside the doors.

The hall doors closed silently, isolating the inside from the outside.

Only after confirming that Rong Qingliu's aura had completely faded did Xiao Nianyin's tense back relax for an imperceptible moment, only to be replaced by an even deeper gravity.