179: Chapter 179 Xia Yue's Heart-to-Heart Talk, Winter Festival Approaching

Destroying Cangmu, establishing Fengling.

Ling Hao returned to the daily routine of the Moonshadow Sect. Grotto-heaven duty, Golden Lotus Sutra Teaching, Sakura Terrace Dao Discussion, Heaven-reaching Robe Unveiling, Mortal World heart tempering...

His figure moved through various parts of the Sect like a stabilizing force, maintaining the vigorous Dao rhythm of this immortal Holy Land.

On the Dao Evolution Plateau, the morning mist had not yet dispersed, and the white jade ground was flowing with pale gold Dao patterns.

Xia Yingying's pale water-green skirt brushed over the spiritual patterns on the ground, like new spring leaves touching melting snow.

"The Spirit Source as the guide, the Three Talents are established."

Ling Hao's voice was clear and cold. With a light tap of his fingertip, three streaks of spiritual light entered the young girl's brow.

Xia Yingying closed her eyes and focused, her Celestial Spirit Body glowing with a jade-colored aura. When her almond eyes opened again, three spiritual aspects circled around her.

"The Mountain grants its power." The phantom of the Mountain Spirit on the left solidified; its plump waist was wrapped in an amber rock belt, and its full chest rose and fell with its breath like the pulsing of the earth's veins.

"The Water nurtures its form." The Water Spirit on the right had fluttering long sleeves; the hair hanging from its temples turned into a flowing stream, and its gentle eyes reflected the light of the clouds and sky.

"The Wood sharpens its edge." Behind her, the Wood Spirit stepped lightly on bare feet; vines wrapped around its ankles bloomed with tiny white flowers, and its nimble fingertips held a verdant willow blade.

"Three Stars Shine Upon the World, Array Rise!"

Xia Yingying's slender feet stepped out in profound footwork, and the triple spiritual lights merged with a roar. In the airflow kicked up by the majestic spiritual power, her water-green gauze skirt clung to her petite body, unexpectedly outlining a few curves.

Ling Hao suddenly gave a light chuckle:

"Wood Spirit, back off another three inches. Do you want to cut your Revered Master's robe?"

Ling Hao's black hem fluttered half an inch away from the Wood Spirit's willow blade.

"Ah!"

Xia Yingying hurriedly adjusted her hand seals, the Three Stars array patterns flickering unsteadily. In her panic, the Mountain Spirit's giant palm struck the water mist, and the steaming clouds instantly enveloped the area.

When the mist cleared, Ling Hao was holding the girl by her back collar, lifting her up. One more step in that direction and she would have fallen into the Sword Washing Pool.

Xia Yingying dangled in the air, her almond eyes watery: "Revered Master, I was wrong..."

"Your mistake was your Divided Soul."

Ling Hao placed her back on the white jade ground and flicked her smooth forehead with his finger.

"Where were you looking just now?"

Xia Yingying instantly turned red from her forehead to her neck. She couldn't say she was peeking at her Revered Master's fingers holding the Jade Slip, remembering how those hands had introduced her to the "Sect's Greatest Treasure" on the Qing River Pleasure Boat.

"Let's try again."

Xia Yingying nodded vigorously, her small face full of seriousness. She closed her almond eyes, took a deep breath, and channeled her pure Celestial Spirit power with all her might, softly chanting the incantation:

"The Spirit Source as the guide, the Three Talents are established. The Mountain grants its power, the Water nurtures its form, the Wood sharpens its edge. Three Stars Shine Upon the World, Array Rise!"

Light flashed! Three distinct spiritual phantoms condensed around her.

The towering Mountain Spirit, the gentle Water Spirit, and the sharp Wood Spirit—the power of the three spirits began to attempt to merge. The array's form appeared, and Xia Yingying's aura rose significantly along with it!

A flash of satisfaction appeared in Ling Hao's eyes. The successful formation of the Three Stars Spirit Reflection Array meant that Xia Yingying had taken another solid step on the Path of Borrowing Spirits.

"Hold it! Feel the sensation of the three powers flowing and balancing within your body!"

Xia Yingying gritted her teeth, struggling to maintain the operation of the Three Stars Array.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, her small face turned pale. The Three Stars array diagram finally couldn't be maintained; the light faded, and the three spiritual bodies dissipated into the world as specks of spiritual light.

"Phew... phew..."

Xia Yingying panted heavily, barely able to stand, but her almond eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Revered Master! I... I think I did it!"

"Not bad. To be able to hold the array for this long on your first success, your Comprehension Ability is commendable."

Ling Hao stood up, walked over to her, and rubbed her slightly sweat-dampened hair.

"The Technique of Borrowing Spirits, especially multi-spirit coordination, centers on 'resonance' and 'coordination.' Your Celestial Spirit Body is naturally close to the Dao; that is your advantage. Practice diligently in the future. Once your cultivation improves, it won't be difficult to command nine spirits simultaneously, or even make them condense into physical forms."

"Yes! This Disciple will definitely work hard!"

Xia Yingying nodded vigorously, looking up at Ling Hao with eyes full of admiration and attachment.

Ling Hao gave a few more pointers on the subtle details of spiritual power circulation, then said, "That's all for today. Consolidate it well."

"Yes, Revered Master!"

Watching Ling Hao's black-clad figure leisurely disappear up the cloud steps leading to the main hall of Tianyuan Peak, Xia Yingying finally relaxed and found a clean white jade platform to sit on.

Just then, her body stiffened slightly, and her left pupil took on a frost-white color, though her body remained under Xia Yingying's control.

"Hmph!"

A helpless cold snort sounded within her Sea of Consciousness.

Her frost-white eyes stared in the direction where Ling Hao had disappeared. Inside the Sea of Consciousness, Yue Xinxi's expression was extremely complex. Anger, resentment, worry, and a trace of... dejected resignation.

Deep within the Sea of Consciousness, through Xia Yingying's eyes and ears, she had "overheard" the entire instructional session.

All along, Ling Hao's exceptional ability in teaching his Disciples, his simple yet profound explanations of the Great Dao, and his perfectly measured guidance of Xia Yingying's Celestial Spirit Body were all in the style of a Grandmaster.

Externally, he treated the Mortals well; internally, he treated the Sect's Disciples excellently. Yue Xinxi found him beyond reproach, except... his amorous nature... far too amorous...

"Yingying, from now on, you don't need to hide from the Senior Sisters' gossip anymore."

At Liuyun Temple, under the tutelage of the ever-didactic Liu Sisi, Yingying was no longer the Yingying of old.

Ambiguous phrases like "getting along famously," "benefiting greatly," "the Sect Master is very good at taking care of people," and "the spiritual power flows especially smoothly and comfortably when we're together"—Xia Yingying basically understood them all now.

The current trend was unstoppable.

*Sigh*...

Yue Xinxi let out a long sigh, a long sigh filled with the powerlessness of an old mother.

"Yingying... you... you really like him, don't you?"

"That's right!"

The last bit of struggling light in the frost-white eyes went out. "Since your heart is set, and since things... have already come to this... it's only right... even... even that 'getting to know the treasure' thing has been done... *Sigh*!"

Yue Xinxi seemed unable to continue, and only after a while did she speak.

"You like him... then I... I won't stop you anymore."

As these words were spoken, Yue Xinxi knew that a certain barrier she had been defending had completely shattered. She was powerless to stop Xia Yingying from sliding into Ling Hao's embrace, and unable to change the reality of the Moonshadow Sect being a "Cave of a Thousand Crimsons."

Xia Yingying was stunned, and then a surge of immense joy flooded her heart: "Sister Xinxi... are... are you serious?"

Xia Yingying had actually been conflicted lately because her Sister Xinxi adamantly refused to agree.

"Hmph! Would I lie to you? You've already been 'polluted' to this extent, what else can be done?"

Yue Xinxi snorted irritably, her tone regaining some of its familiar brusqueness.

"But listen well! Even in the future... you must still Cultivate properly! Get rid of that muddled personality of yours!"

"And hurry up! Don't just sit here foolishly reminiscing about your Revered Master! Consolidate what you learned today! Practice the Three Stars Spirit Reflection Array until you're proficient!"

Through Xia Yingying's eyes, Yue Xinxi saw several mountain peak platforms in the distance. They were already being decorated with lanterns and streamers in preparation for the Winter Ceremony.

A flash of complexity crossed the frost-white eyes, finally turning into a single sentence.

"The Sect's Winter Ceremony is in seven days. Yingying, when the time comes... you should have a good time."

These words were meant literally, but they also seemed to imply a certain kind of tacit approval.

Having said that, Yue Xinxi's Soul Power receded like a tide, the frost-white eyes faded, and they returned to Xia Yingying's clear, innocent almond eyes.

Xia Yingying blinked, a blush still lingering on her small face, but more than that, she felt a sense of immense joy and relief.

Sister Xinxi finally... finally stopped opposing it!

She clenched her small fists, a brilliant smile blooming on her face. Sitting back down cross-legged, Xia Yingying began to seriously consolidate her insights into the Three Stars Spirit Reflection Array.

On the Dao Evolution Plateau, pure Celestial Spirit Qi began to slowly gather once more.

Work hard, work hard, until the Winter Ceremony arrives!