100: Chapter 100 How can a master and disciple do such a thing?

Three days later, contrary to Ling Hao's expectations, among Du Yuqing and Qin Zhaoxue, it was Qin Zhaoxue who overtook the others and was the first to trigger the Four-Nine Minor Heavenly Tribulation!

On the Tribulation Platform, the situation Qin Zhaoxue faced was bizarre... There was no Heavenly Tribulation.

Indeed, the sky was clear for ten thousand miles, and there was no trace of tribulation clouds.

This eerie scene made Chi Wanhe whisper,

"If they say I am the Heavenly Dao's own daughter... then Second Junior Sister is practically the Heavenly Dao's mother! Even the lightning doesn't dare to strike her once?"

In the end, they had to rely on the Tribulation Platform to forcibly induce the Lightning Tribulation for the ceremony to continue.

Qin Zhaoxue similarly survived all forty-four bolts of the Five-Nine Minor Heavenly Tribulation.

The tribulation lightning dissipated, and auspicious clouds arrived on schedule.

Amidst the majestic, auspicious rain, Qin Zhaoxue's aura climbed steadily, eventually settling at—Golden Core Level 3!

"Fifth Junior Sister? What is wrong with you?"

Chi Wanhe keenly noticed the abnormality in Lin Xiwei beside her. She was staring blankly at the now-empty Tribulation Platform, her eyes unfocused.

Lin Xiwei snapped back to reality and covered up,

"Nothing, Senior Sister. It's just... watching Second Junior Sister undergo the tribulation earlier, I had a sudden realization about the way of combining talisman formations and was momentarily immersed in it."

"I see,"

Chi Wanhe nodded in understanding, then smiled,

"I remember that you, Fifth Junior Sister, are already at the Foundation Establishment Level 9 Perfection? It seems you will soon be stepping onto this Tribulation Platform as well."

"Soon... really?"

Lin Xiwei's voice was almost inaudible, but the confusion in her heart grew like wild vines.

Before the expedition, she and Second Junior Sister were both at Foundation Establishment Level 8.

In just three days after returning to the sect, Qin Zhaoxue had actually reached Foundation Establishment Level 10 Great Perfection, while she... was still at Foundation Establishment Level 9!

She cultivated day and night, not daring to slack off in the slightest, so why was the gap only widening?

She possessed a Yin-Yang Spiritual Root, with exceptional talent; Second Junior Sister only had an Earth-grade Spiritual Root! With the same resources, she had put in a hundred times more effort.

When Second Junior Sister was studying clothing coordination, she was Cultivating!

When Second Junior Sister was enjoying Fourth Junior Sister's spiritual food, she was Cultivating!

When Second Junior Sister was traveling and sightseeing with Revered Master, she was still Cultivating!

Her life, apart from necessary greetings to Revered Master, consisted only of Cultivating! Cultivating! Cultivating! Why?!

A scene suddenly pierced into her mind—it was when she discovered that Qin Zhaoxue's cultivation had caught up to her, both at Foundation Establishment Level 8.

In the Snow Pavilion, she couldn't hold it back and finally asked,

"Second Junior Sister... why is your cultivation progressing so quickly?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt it was a bit offensive and quickly apologized,

"Sorry, I..."

Qin Zhaoxue didn't care at all, instead, she smiled and asked back,

"Junior Sister Lin, what do you think of Revered Master...?"

"Revered Master?" Lin Xiwei didn't understand the implication, "Naturally, his cultivation is unfathomable, and his teaching is excellent..."

"Then do you... like Revered Master?"

Lin Xiwei was startled: "What does this have to do with liking Revered Master...?"

Qin Zhaoxue's eyes held a smile, carrying a hint of mischief:

"Since Junior Sister has this doubt, why... not go and ask the magical Revered Master?"

？ Revered Master? What does this have to do with Revered Master? Could it be that Revered Master gave private guidance? But the way of Realm cultivation, how could it be improved by leaps and bounds just by a little guidance?

The memory came to an abrupt end.

Lin Xiwei's gaze involuntarily turned towards Ling Hao in the distance. She saw Revered Master's right arm being affectionately held by the radiant Second Junior Sister, on his left was the cool-tempered Vice Sect Master Yu, and behind him stood the silent Third Junior Sister.

The four of them stood on the edge of the floating island, bathed in the afterglow of the auspicious clouds, chatting and laughing—a scene of harmony.

For some reason, looking at this warm picture, a hint of longing quietly sprouted in the depths of Lin Xiwei's heart.

She wanted to get close to Revered Master and join them.

"Revered Master... like..."

"Hmm?"

Chi Wanhe suddenly leaned in, curiously interrupting her whisper,

"Fifth Junior Sister, do you also like Revered Master?"

Lin Xiwei was struck as if by lightning, only then realizing that Senior Sister was still by her side!

She hurriedly waved her hands, her earlobes instantly turning red:

"No! Not! I..."

Chi Wanhe smiled knowingly, gently patting her tense shoulder, her tone carrying the reassurance of someone who had been there:

"Liking Revered Master isn't something shameful, just relax?"

"Is... is that so?"

Lin Xiwei's voice was as soft as a mosquito, but her heart surged with waves because of this affirmation.

---

Floating Island, Five Elements Corridor.

Outside the water pavilion, the ink lotus pond rippled slightly, reflecting the light and clouds of the sky. By the stone table by the pond, Ling Hao was guiding Lin Xiwei in drawing a Profound Ice Spirit Protection Talisman.

Lin Xiwei held her breath and focused, her fingertips condensing pure ice-type spiritual energy, carefully outlining the talisman runes on the specially made jade talisman paper.

The lines flowed, and the ice-blue spiritual light flickered accordingly. However, when her brush tip reached the core convergence point of the runes, the flow of spiritual energy became slightly sluggish, causing the critical node to appear a bit flimsy, and the spiritual energy could not circulate smoothly.

"Here,"

Ling Hao's low voice sounded in her ear, and a warm, dry hand suddenly covered Lin Xiwei's slightly cool back of the hand, wrapping around her fingers holding the brush.

Lin Xiwei's heart skipped a beat, and her body subconsciously stiffened.

Ling Hao's aura was close at hand; he didn't look at her, his gaze focused on the talisman paper, guiding her hand to inject another streak of smooth spiritual energy.

Ling Hao's movements were steady and powerful; under his guidance, the brush in Lin Xiwei's hand moved like flowing water.

The previously sluggish node instantly became solid and rounded, the ice-blue rune light flared brilliantly, and a steady, cool sense of protection surged forth!

A perfect Profound Ice Spirit Protection Talisman appeared on the paper.

Ling Hao let go of her hand and commented: "The essence of Third-grade talisman Dao lies in the harmony of intent and Qi. Your mind was slightly distracted just now, so the circulation of spiritual energy lost that smoothness. Remember, the mind is the talisman's core."

He picked up the new talisman radiating a clear glow, "This talisman is complete; keep it for your contemplation."

Lin Xiwei looked down at her hand, which still retained the warmth of Revered Master's palm, then looked at the spiritual talisman on the stone table that could be called a model, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

The "mind was slightly distracted" that was pointed out made her ears feel hot. She took a deep breath, as if she had finally made up her mind, gathered her courage, and looked up, her gaze landing on Ling Hao's well-defined profile,

"Revered Master..."

"Can... can I ask you a question?"

"What question?"

"Why is Second Junior Sister's cultivation speed so fast?"

She quickly added another sentence,

"I have asked Second Junior Sister."

Ling Hao didn't turn his head, his gaze seemingly still lingering on the ink lotuses in the pond:

"Then... what did your Second Junior Sister... say?"

Lin Xiwei said in a low voice:

"She... she told me to come and ask you."

Her words carried a hint of helplessness and nervousness at being "passed the buck."

A hint of helpless amusement flashed in Ling Hao's eyes. This girl actually threw the difficult problem right back at him...

Ling Hao turned around, his gaze falling on Lin Xiwei's face, which was slightly confused and nervous.

Her face was ordinary, this was her habitual disguise; her true face could be described as stunningly beautiful, enough to make the moon hide and fish sink.

He paused for a long while before slowly speaking:

"Have you heard of Dual Cultivation?"

"Dual Cultivation?!" Lin Xiwei's pupils constricted slightly, and she blurted out, "Revered Master, are you... are you and Second Junior Sister in Dual Cultivation?"

Lin Xiwei's "best friend" from her previous life and her Dao Companion were in Dual Cultivation, but Lin Xiwei felt that this so-called Dao Companion Dual Cultivation wasn't that powerful.

"That kind of Cultivation Technique... couldn't possibly make Second Junior Sister's cultivation progress so fast, could it?"

Ling Hao shook his head slightly, correcting her: "It is not the common practice of Cultivation Techniques together. This is... Yin and Yang Dual Cultivation."

"Yin and Yang... Dual Cultivation?"

Lin Xiwei murmured, repeating it, her heart pounding wildly.

A vague but extremely impactful realization crashed into her mind, "Does... does it mean two people... perform... perform the rites of Duke Zhou? That... that?!"

Ling Hao nodded calmly.

Lin Xiwei instantly petrified, her mind went blank, her cold eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the calm Revered Master in front of her.

Between Revered Master and disciple... how... how can they do such a thing?!