171: Chapter 171 Reviewing the Old to Learn the New

Night, light-chasing moon ship, core cabin.

The cabin door slid open silently, and Xia Yingying's petite figure peeked inside.

She wore a pale aquamarine gauze dress, her almond eyes filled with trepidation, and her fingers nervously twisted the hem of her skirt.

"M-Revered Master..."

Ling Hao set down the Jade Slip in his hand and said warmly, "Yingying, what is it? It's so late, why aren't you resting?"

Xia Yingying took a deep breath, walked quickly to Ling Hao, and lowered her head.

"Revered Master... Yingying... Yingying didn't mean to hide it from you..."

"Actually, inside Yingying's body, there is also Sister Xinxi..."

Before coming here, Yue Xinxi in her Sea of Consciousness had told her that Ling Hao had likely long since sensed her presence, only he hadn't pointed it out.

This made her even more uneasy; she feared both that Revered Master would blame her for the deception and that Revered Master would do something detrimental to Sister Xinxi.

Ling Hao looked at the nervous little disciple before him, a flicker of understanding passing through his eyes.

He reached out and gently patted her shoulder.

"It is fine. Revered Master knows that you must have promised your Sister Xinxi to keep her secret. This sentiment is very good."

Xia Yingying suddenly looked up, her almond eyes wide. "Revered Master... you really knew?"

"Then... then why didn't you..."

"Everyone has their own secrets and circumstances." Ling Hao interrupted her, his fingertips moving slightly as a translucent light screen unfolded before them:

[Name: Xia Yingying (Yue Xinxi)]

[Age: 20 (2561)]

[Spiritual Root: Celestial Spiritual Root (Dark Spiritual Root)]

[Physique: Celestial Spirit Body (Calamity Body)]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment 7th Layer (Soul Transformation 8th Layer)]

[Loyalty: 99 (70)]

Oh, Yue Xinxi's loyalty...

Ling Hao chuckled inwardly. It was 80, and now it's dropped to 70?

It seems the lesson of "recognizing the Sect Treasure" at the Qing River Ship Pavilion was quite a shock to her.

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Xia Yingying. "Let your Sister Xinxi come out. It just so happens I have some things I would like to discuss with her."

Upon hearing this, Xia Yingying immediately became nervous. "Revered Master! Sister Xinxi is not a bad person! She has always protected me!"

"I know." Ling Hao nodded. "I am looking for her because I want to discuss the matter of her reshaping her Physical Body."

After all, anyone who could pass the Moonshadow Sect's Nine-Turn Corridor trial proved that their Heart-Nature was not evil.

From Xia Yingying's usual self-talk, Ling Hao had also learned that the "Sister Xinxi" she spoke of had saved her life many times.

Xia Yingying's almond eyes lit up. "Reshaping her Physical Body? Really? Sister Xinxi can have her own body?"

She immediately closed her eyes and called out in her Sea of Consciousness.

Light and shadow swirled, and a frost-white glow instantly lit up in Xia Yingying's left eye.

Her entire demeanor changed abruptly, shifting from innocent and timid to cold and sharp, with even a trace of suppressed anger between her brows.

"Hmph!"

Yue Xinxi, who had taken over Xia Yingying's body, let out a cold snort, her gaze locked firmly onto Ling Hao.

During those days at Liuyun Temple, she first learned that Ling Hao had let the ignorant Xia Yingying go and "recognize the Sect Treasure" at the Qing River Ship Pavilion!

Later on, she truly could not endure Liu Sisi's "teachings" to Xia Yingying, and had appeared in anger to confront her.

As a Soul Transformation 8th Layer remnant Soul, she could barely exert the power of the Soul Transformation Early Stage; although Liu Sisi was only at the Golden Core Middle Stage, in this land of the Qing State ruled by the Moonshadow Sect, with the blessing of the grotto-heaven, her strength was enough to rival the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

The two of them had engaged in a war of words, back and forth, arguing fiercely.

The ignorant Xia Yingying had just watched from the side.

Yet, it was precisely during this intense "dialogue" that Xia Yingying had understood many "common sense" facts about matters between men and women.

This was also the fundamental reason why, earlier in front of the Liuyun Temple mountain gate, when Xia Yingying faced Ling Hao, she had instinctively wanted to get close yet hesitated and stopped.

Later, the argument grew more intense, and seeing that the two were really about to fight, Xia Yingying had directly forcibly suppressed Yue Xinxi's consciousness!

This was because after promoting to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, her Soul strength had greatly increased, and the "Spirit Source Purifying Heart Manual" had granted her stronger control.

"You beast!"

Yue Xinxi's voice carried irrepressible anger as she gritted her teeth and said, "You actually... actually let Yingying do that... that to you..."

Those two words seemed to burn her mouth, and she ultimately could not say them, but the accusation and shame in her eyes were practically erupting.

Ling Hao's expression did not change as he looked at her calmly. "When love reaches that point, what is wrong with it? Do you want Yingying to remain ignorant her whole life, never knowing the taste of love?"

"Love? A joke!" The frost-white in Yue Xinxi's (Xia Yingying's) eyes grew more intense, her tone sharp.

"How many people have you provoked? More than a thousand Dao Companions! Some even share the status of Revered Master and disciple! To be so rebellious against human ethics and disregard morality, and you still dare to talk about love?"

"Morality?" A mocking, ambiguous curve appeared at the corner of Ling Hao's mouth.

"Whether my Dao Companions are many or few is a matter between them and me. The matter between Yingying and me is also between her and me, not you."

"As for the status of Revered Master and disciple and morality... ask Yingying yourself, does she mind?"

"I don't mind!" Xia Yingying's eager voice immediately rang out in the Sea of Consciousness, and then the frost-white light in her left eye fluctuated slightly.

The soft voice belonging to Xia Yingying came out directly, incomparably firm: "I just like Revered Master!"

Yue Xinxi's (Xia Yingying's) body went stiff, and the frost-white light flickered violently a few times, revealing the intense turmoil in her heart.

She opened her mouth, but was choked for words for a moment.

Ling Hao's voice rang out again, his words indifferent, with an indifference that looked down upon all living beings,

"As for the morality you speak of? It is merely the shackles of the weak. When one's strength is enough to suppress all dissent, my, Ling Hao's, status as a Dao Companion becomes the new morality!"

Yue Xinxi wanted to retort, but Ling Hao had already raised his hand to stop her. "Enough. I didn't call you out to listen to your accusations. I want to talk about the matter of your separation."

Separation?

Yue Xinxi's (Xia Yingying's) pupils shrank slightly, and a trace of disappointment welled up in her heart.

Her Soul and Yingying's had long been inextricably intertwined, like twin vines; to forcibly peel them apart, the only outcome would be for both to suffer Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.

She had thought that Ling Hao was also powerless regarding this, which was why he hadn't mentioned it until now.

Just now, it was probably just an excuse to coax Yingying.

Could he really have a way? Or perhaps... did he want to use another method?

"Hmph," Yue Xinxi sneered, with self-mockery. "How to separate? Our Soul threads are intertwined; we have long been inseparable. To forcibly peel us apart is nothing more than perishing together!"

"That is why this is needed." Ling Hao was unconcerned.

With a thought, he flicked his finger, and an ancient Jade Slip floated in front of Yue Xinxi (Xia Yingying).

The surface of the Jade Slip flowed with profound silver-gray runes, emitting deep Soul Power fluctuations.

"This is the 'Twin Soul Metamorphosis Scripture'." Ling Hao introduced. "You and Yingying will Cultivate this technique simultaneously to nourish your Divine Souls and consolidate your foundations."

"When Yingying reaches the Soul Transformation stage and her Divine Soul is stable and resilient, I will take action to peel you apart layer by layer and completely separate you. At that time, you will be able to reshape your Physical Body and regain your freedom."

Seeing Xia Yingying again today, Ling Hao found that her Soul strength was also sufficient to Cultivate this Cultivation Technique.

If Yingying hadn't come tonight, Ling Hao had planned to go over himself.

Yue Xinxi (Xia Yingying) looked at the Jade Slip in front of her, a glimmer of disbelief flashing in her frost-white eyes.

Reshaping her Physical Body... regaining your freedom... this was a future she had never dared to hope for.

But immediately, vigilance and suspicion arose again: "This... can it really work?"

"I believe in Revered Master!" Xia Yingying's voice rang out in the Sea of Consciousness again, filled with unreserved trust.

Yue Xinxi was practically laughed at by this silly girl, but she was helpless.

She stared fixedly at Ling Hao: "What if I refuse to Cultivate it?"

Ling Hao's eyes instantly turned deep, and an invisible pressure descended, with a pervasive chill:

"Is that so? Then I have another method. I will erase you without hurting Yingying in the slightest. It's just... Yingying might be sad for a while."

"Revered Master, don't! Sister Xinxi, she—"

Yue Xinxi felt a chill in her heart and, almost instinctively, grabbed the Jade Slip, forcing herself to be tough as she said,

"Cultivate... I'll Cultivate it! I want to see if this Cultivation Technique of yours is really that magical!"

With the instructions complete, Ling Hao spoke directly: "Yingying, come out."

As his voice fell, the frost-white light in Xia Yingying's left eye quickly faded, and her eyes became clear once again, with a hint of nervousness.

Inside the Sea of Consciousness, Yue Xinxi was so angry that her Soul Power surged: "Yingying, you...!"

Xia Yingying regained control of her body and said in the Sea of Consciousness: 'Sister Xinxi! You cannot argue with Revered Master anymore!'

Looking up at Ling Hao, Xia Yingying said obediently: "Revered Master, then I will go back and Cultivate this Cultivation Technique with Sister Xinxi?"

"No rush." Ling Hao stood up instead and walked slowly in front of her.

His large hand rested gently on her rounded shoulders, he leaned down slightly, and his gaze stared directly into Xia Yingying's eyes.

That gaze seemed to pierce through her skin, looking into the Soul body that was sulking deep in her Sea of Consciousness.

Ling Hao's mouth curled slightly,

"Yingying, as the saying goes, 'Reviewing the old to learn the new.' The moonlight is perfect tonight, do you want to... re-familiarize yourself with the 'Sect Treasure'?"

Xia Yingying was stunned.

Liu Sisi's detailed explanations of "common sense" and Yue Xinxi's angry reprimands and indoctrination had long since made her understand the true meaning of this "recognizing the Sect Treasure."

Her cheeks instantly turned red, and the tips of her ears burned.

But... she lowered her head slightly: "Mm... okay..."

A voice as soft as a mosquito's hum spilled from Xia Yingying's lips, carrying a maiden's shyness, and also... anticipation.

Deep in the Sea of Consciousness, a desperate wail came from Yue Xinxi, and then it fell completely silent, as if her heart had died and turned to ash.