226: Chapter 226 Continuous Improvement

"Elder Ximen, there is no need for such formalities." Ling Hao turned around, his gaze gentle.

"Coming here in the middle of the night, are you here to collect water?"

Ximen Huaping walked a few steps closer, her gaze sweeping over the Lake of Life and Creation, her eyes filled with sincere admiration:

"Indeed. This spring's creation is miraculous; every time I approach, I feel refreshed, and the Spiritual Root in my body becomes more active. I apologize for disturbing the Sect Master's peace by coming here at this hour."

"It is no trouble." Ling Hao smiled. He noticed that Ximen Huaping's Aura was more solid than it had been half a month ago.

"Observing your Aura, Elder, it seems your cultivation has improved? Your Water and Fire Spiritual Roots are circulating with greater Perfection."

A flash of joy crossed Ximen Huaping's eyes, and her tone was filled with gratitude toward the Sect and Ling Hao.

"The Sect Master has a Wisdom Eye. With the help of the Sect's resources and the clear Dao, I was fortunate enough to Breakthrough to the third level of Body Integration. My Water and Fire Spiritual Roots have also been tempered by the Creation Spring and the Five Elements Spirit Pool, promoting them to Heaven-grade."

"Heaven-grade dual Spiritual Roots, very good."

Ling Hao nodded in approval, "A powerful Sect relies on all the Elders working together."

The two walked along the path by the cold pool, moonlight casting dappled shadows through the bamboo forest.

Ling Hao mentioned Sect affairs: "The Cangwu Yuji Platform seat for our Moonshadow Sect has been vacant. Elder Ximen, your cultivation has now reached the third level of Body Integration. I wonder if you would be willing to represent the Sect and shoulder this heavy responsibility?"

The third level of Body Integration was considered a standard requirement; the representatives for Wan Shou Mountain and the Wutong Divine Dynasty were only at the second level of Body Integration.

Upon hearing this, Ximen Huaping did not hesitate in the slightest, responding solemnly: "If the Sect Master trusts me, how could I refuse? I will do my utmost to protect the Sect's interests at the Yuji Platform!"

She knew deeply that this was a trust and heavy responsibility given by the Sect Master.

"Good." Ling Hao nodded, "You can discuss the specific details with Deputy Sect Master Ling Shuang later."

"I understand."

Ximen Huaping was already accustomed to this hands-off Sect Master.

While talking, they had walked into the depths of a quiet bamboo forest. The moonlight was filtered by the bamboo leaves, casting fine spots of light on the ground. Ximen Huaping suddenly stopped.

Ling Hao stopped as well, looking at her with a hint of inquiry.

Ximen Huaping stared fixedly at Ling Hao. Under the moonlight, her elegant face flushed with a faint blush, her eyes shimmering with a mix of confusion and request. A refined, elegant fragrance drifted over with the breeze.

"Sect Master..." Her voice was low, soft, and hesitant.

"I do have a matter to ask. Recently, when practicing the Cultivation Technique 'Sun and Moon Unity Art', every time I reach a critical point, the water and fire Qi in my body becomes suddenly cold and then hot. There is often a sense of stagnation in the circulation, and it is difficult to harmonize it to Perfection... I wonder if the Sect Master could... offer some guidance?"

Ling Hao's gaze swept over her System interface:

[Name: Ximen Huaping]

[Age: 4453]

[Spiritual Root: Water/Fire (Heaven-grade)]

[Physique: Sun and Moon Physique (Unawakened)]

[Cultivation: Body Integration Third Level]

[Loyalty: 99]

Looking at the 99 points of loyalty, Ling Hao understood. He raised the corners of his mouth: "If you are unclear about the Cultivation Technique, I shall naturally clear your doubts. Elder Ximen, please tell me, where is the stagnation?"

Ximen Huaping grabbed Ling Hao's right hand and pulled it toward a certain spot.

"Naturally, it is here."

...

The lush bamboo forest was silent in the night. The moonlight was cut into fine spots by the dense bamboo leaves, falling on the leaf-covered ground.

The evening breeze blew, the bamboo shadows swayed, making a rustling sound, occasionally mixed with the faint cracking of bamboo branches unable to bear the weight.

Deep in the bamboo forest, two figures sitting cross-legged facing each other were visible.

"Sect Master... you see here... the cold Qi seems to be rising too quickly..."

Ximen Huaping's voice trembled slightly. The collar of her moon-white Immortal Fairy dress was slightly open, revealing a glimpse of her delicate collarbone, which shone with a lustrous sheen in the moonlight.

"Do not rush. Calm your heart and settle your Qi. The Blazing Sun needs to be guided slowly to blend with the Cold Spring... If you blindly suppress it, it will only be counterproductive."

Ximen Huaping suddenly frowned,

"But... but this Cold Spring is too cold, I... I find it hard to grasp..."

"That is because the meridians have not yet been opened."

Ling Hao's Aura drew closer, his hands covering Ximen Huaping's back,

"You only need to grasp the key points of the Blazing Sun, and you will easily be able to guide the power of the Blazing Sun to penetrate the blocked areas."

The Aura on the two of them became even stronger. The wind in the bamboo forest seemed to become more urgent, and the rustling of the bamboo leaves became denser.

Ximen Huaping said urgently,

"Sect... Sect Master... this Cultivation Technique's circulation is suddenly... too... too overbearing... my Dantian feels like it is going to... split open..."

"Focus!"

Ling Hao gave a clear shout,

"The Sun and Moon naturally shine together, and Yin and Yang naturally complement each other. Feel the heat of the Blazing Sun, the chill of the Cold Spring... let them coexist without conflict, circulating through the body... Yes... that is it..."

The cracking sound in the bamboo forest became clearer.

"Guide the Yang Fire to cross the Magpie Bridge, let the Moon Essence nourish the Spirit Platform..."

Ling Hao's whispers continued to ring in Ximen Huaping's ears like an incantation.

...

The sky began to brighten, and the morning light filtered through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, gently sprinkling into the forest.

Ximen Huaping's clothes were slightly disheveled, and she sat cross-legged on the leaf-covered ground, but the Aura around her had undergone a earth-shaking change.

[Ding! Detected Ximen Huaping's loyalty has reached 100%, triggering Heaven-Defying Fate Change! Sun and Moon Physique activated, evolved into Sun and Moon Dao Physique!]

Suddenly, her tightly closed eyes snapped open!

Her left pupil turned into a pure golden color, as scorching as a furnace, as if it contained a rising sun; her right pupil turned into a cold, silvery-white color, as bright as an ice wheel, reflecting the eternal moonlight!

"Hum—!"

An indescribable, majestic power erupted from within her! Half of her body suddenly burst into golden True Sun Fire, with raging flames; the other half condensed into crystal-clear Moon Essence ice crystals, with biting cold!

The two forces of extreme Yang and extreme Yin, extreme heat and extreme cold, clashed violently within her body, bringing immense, tearing pain.

A dazzling golden and silver pillar of light shot up from the top of her head, instantly piercing through the dense bamboo forest and stabbing straight into the clouds! The pillar of light contained the purest Origin power of the Sun and Moon, stirring the wind and clouds!

A vision from the heavens appeared!

Even though it was daytime, above the Moonshadow Sect's mountain gate, a clear phantom of a bright moon hung unmistakably in the azure sky, echoing the rising sun! The Sun and Moon shining together was absolutely shocking!

At the mountain gate, the newly admitted Disciples who were practicing in the morning or waiting for task assignments were stunned by this miracle of the bright moon appearing in the daytime.

"Oh my god! Elder! What... what is that?!"

A young female Disciple pointed at the sky and exclaimed.

Jiang Wangqing and Jiang Tingyu, the pair of cold-tempered sisters, exchanged a look, understanding each other. Jiang Wangqing explained calmly:

"Do not panic. This is the Sect Master's Divine Ability, currently helping an Elder of the Sect awaken a supreme Dao Physique."

"Awaken a Dao Physique?!"

The new Disciples' eyes instantly burst with yearning. "Can... can we also have a chance in the future?"

Jiang Tingyu's lips curled into an arc:

"Naturally. As long as you Cultivate diligently, pass the tests, become a Core Disciple, and receive personal 'guidance' from the Sect Master... when the Opportunity arrives, Awakening a Physique will not be difficult."

Their words were flat, but the word "guidance" caused some of the older Disciples leading the way to blush, associating it with a certain night.

Deep in the bamboo forest, the golden and silver pillar of light gradually faded. The True Sun Fire and Moon Essence ice crystals on Ximen Huaping also slowly subsided, finally blending perfectly into one, no longer in conflict.

The Aura around her was harmonious and thorough, far stronger than it was last night! Her cultivation had actually broken through to the fourth level of Body Integration!

She stood up, her elegant face filled with gratitude and a hint of lazy charm, and bowed deeply to Ling Hao:

"Huaping... thanks the Sect Master for your careful guidance last night. Not only did it resolve the difficulties in my Cultivation Technique, but it also helped me awaken this Sun and Moon Dao Physique, and my cultivation has improved daily with the Sect Master's help."

Ling Hao waved his hand, his gaze lingering on her. At this moment, Ximen Huaping seemed to still have the warmth of the True Sun Fire on one side of her body, and the chill of the Moon Essence ice crystals on the other, like the lingering charm of last night's "Ice and Fire."

He had a smile on his lips:

"It was a small effort. Elder Huaping, this Dao Physique is newly formed, truly an extraordinary sight."

Ximen Huaping felt the appreciation in his gaze and did not dodge; instead, she straightened her waist slightly, her plump, mature curves appearing even more breathtaking in the morning light. Ling Hao's smile deepened, and he took out a brand-new moon-white Immortal Fairy dress and handed it to her.

Ximen Huaping was generous and uninhibited, changing her slightly damaged old clothes right in front of Ling Hao, exposing her body—which was even more lustrous, plump, and proud in its curves after the "Cultivation Technique tempering"—before putting on the new clothes.

Just as the new clothes covered her, both of them moved, looking simultaneously toward the other side of the bamboo forest.