Chapter 26: Profound Yin Harvesting, Flowing Immortal Skirt Swaying
Atop Flowing Cloud Subpeak, clouds churned like a roiling sea, spiritual energy swirling in misty veils. The white jade sword arena at the peak bathed in faint golden light, resembling a celestial paradise.
Mu Xueyi wore a moon-white Flowing Immortal Skirt, its hem embroidered with pale silver sword motifs that shimmered with spiritual radiance, like a cascade of the Milky Way. It accentuated her ethereal, frosty poise, making her seem like a fairy descended from the ninth heavens.
The skirt's flowing hem swayed gently in the spiritual breeze, outlining her stunning curves—towering breasts, a slender waist that could be spanned by one hand, and pert, honeyed hips.
She wielded her sword Minglan lightly, twirling a cascade of sword flowers. Sword light arced like rainbows as she demonstrated the exquisite forms of the Wuji Sword Technique to her two disciples.
Though Mu Xueyi primarily cultivated the Jade Phoenix Sword Art, her Sword Heart Transparent granted her profound insight into the Wuji Sword Technique as well. At this moment, her sword light swirled like coiling clouds—fierce yet graceful, its intent piercing like a rainbow, captivating Yun Zhixun and Qin Zhe so completely they couldn't look away.
Yun Zhixun's twin buns bobbed lightly as her little green jade sword whipped through the air with vigor. Her eyes shone with adoration as she chirped, “Master's swordsmanship is truly divine! When will Zhixun ever match even half of Master's elegance?”
Qin Zhe remained silent, his gaze burning hot as he fixed on Mu Xueyi's alluring figure. His throat bobbed faintly, as if suppressing some inner turmoil. The glimpses of her snowy, flawless skin beneath the moon-white Flowing Immortal Skirt stirred his mind into disarray.
Su Rui emerged from seclusion, stepping onto his flying sword. He cast a divine ability to shield his divine sense from detection, then transformed into a streak of pitch-black demonic light that tore through the cloud sea, plummeting toward Flowing Cloud Subpeak at utmost speed.
His Heavenly Extreme Demonic Flame Art had broken through to the fifth layer, demonic flames coiling like a black dragon, his aura growing ever more profound and terrifying. Though still at False Infant realm, he faintly exuded the pressure of early Nascent Soul peak.
He hadn't fully comprehended the fifth layer's killing move, Heaven-Scorching Demonic Hell, but he'd mastered the dual cultivation secret art, Profound Yin Harvesting Technique, in an astonishingly short time.
Profound Yin Harvesting Technique—this arcane method was profoundly mysterious. It required no cooperation from the target; with his demonic art, he could forcibly stir their vital energy, harvest their essence, advance his cultivation, and stabilize his realm—especially beneficial for breakthroughs.
The purer the target's cultivation technique, the greater the benefits!
And Sword Sect, as the foremost righteous sect in the Cultivation World, boasted the purest and most righteous techniques—Mu Xueyi's Sword Heart Transparent made her the perfect cauldron for the Profound Yin Harvesting Technique!
A wicked, savage grin curled his lips, his wolfish gaze already locked on Mu Xueyi in the white jade sword arena.
That enchanting figure beneath the moon-white Flowing Immortal Skirt bloomed like a winter plum, stirring the restless demonic flames within him.
Su Rui concealed his aura, assuming mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation, and landed lightly at the arena's edge. His toes tapped the white jade ground, demonic qi vanishing soundlessly, like an innocuous breeze.
Everyone immediately sensed his arrival.
Mu Xueyi's willow brows furrowed slightly, a flash of disgust in her peach-blossom eyes, but she didn't deign to glance at him. Her frosty gaze remained fixed on her disciples.
Her jade finger flicked, sword light flowing as she said coolly, “The Wuji Sword Technique emphasizes intent over form. Without true sword intent, it's mere show. Zhixun, your Startling Swan Shadow lacks three parts ferocity—practice it repeatedly. Qin Zhe, your Mountain-Breaking Stance is too rigid, missing fluidity. Go contemplate it for three days.”
Her voice was icy, yet carried an unquestionable authority. Yun Zhixun and Qin Zhe dared not slacken, hurriedly assenting with eyes full of reverence.
Yun Zhixun spotted Su Rui drawing near and noted how Master hadn't even spared him a proper look. She was surely furious that this disciple hadn't shown up for sword practice in over a month!
Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she giggled gleefully, “Hey, little junior brother! You finally showed up! Where've you been for the past month? Skipping sword practice entirely—Master's gonna punish you good now!”
She snickered inwardly, thinking of how this little junior brother had gotten her punished last time with three hundred reps of Flowing Cloud Return Wind. This time, she'd enjoy watching him squirm.
Qin Zhe's gaze swept toward Su Rui, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
This little junior brother hadn't appeared in over a month, yet his aura felt even steadier than before. He seemed on the verge of breaking through to late Foundation Establishment—impressive progress. Hadn't they said his spiritual root was mediocre?
Su Rui stood with hands behind his back, a mocking smile on his lips as he drawled lazily, “Master never forces me to practice regularly. She says my path is my own to walk—why would she punish me for it? Right, Master?”
Mu Xueyi's face remained impassive as she replied coldly, “If your path lets you charge ahead without regrets, I have no need to interfere. Since you're here, practice with your senior brother and sister.”
Her words responded to Su Rui while soothing Yun Zhixun and Qin Zhe's doubts, lest they mimic his lax ways and ruin sect discipline.
“Whoa! Little junior brother, what grand highway is your path that even Master doesn't need to manage you? Spill it—what's your path? Enlighten your senior sister!”
Yun Zhixun's tone was playful and naive, laced with a girl's sly curiosity as she tried to pry out Su Rui's secret.
Su Rui's wicked grin deepened, his gaze roving brazenly over Mu Xueyi's alluring form as he said meaningfully, “My path is absurd and profound—Master knows it best of all. If Senior Sister Yun wants to know, just ask her. I'm sure she'll tell you a thing or two.”
Mu Xueyi's lovely face chilled, her peach-blossom eyes frosting over. She was about to rebuke Su Rui for his nonsense before the disciples when a childish yet oddly mature voice suddenly rang out: “Wah! Butterfly, don't fly away!”
Everyone turned toward the sound to see Li Chengxuan stumbling over clumsily. His handsome face was pallid as paper, chasing a colorful butterfly like a three-year-old child.
His steps unsteady, he tripped hard over a jagged rock, sprawling to the ground. He burst into wailing sobs, tears mixing with dirt to smear his face, a pitiful sight.
Mu Xueyi's heart twisted like a knife, pain flashing in her peach-blossom eyes. Forgetting her disciples' practice, she darted to Li Chengxuan's side and cooed softly, “Chengxuan, don't cry. It's alright—I'll help you back to rest.”
Her slender hand stroked his back gently, spiritual light flowing to soothe his restless soul.
Yet Li Chengxuan kept bawling and flailing, his hands clawing wildly. He tore at Mu Xueyi's Flowing Immortal Skirt, exposing her snowy calf and stoking the lust in Su Rui's eyes even brighter.
Mu Xueyi suppressed her heartache, scooped up Li Chengxuan, and headed straight for the hall pavilion. Her Flowing Immortal Skirt swayed in the spiritual wind, outlining her perky peach-like rear—curves that tantalized, yet her retreating figure carried endless sorrow.
Su Rui watched coldly, a savage grin curling his lips as he inwardly gloated over his handiwork. But then he caught Qin Zhe's gaze, trailing Mu Xueyi's departing form with complex emotions—resentment mingled with unwillingness.
Su Rui's mind stirred, his divine sense sweeping out. He discovered Qin Zhe's hatred wasn't aimed at Mu Xueyi, but straight at Li Chengxuan.
This was intriguing. Mu Xueyi's chief disciple harbored such deep jealousy toward her dao companion?
At that moment, Yun Zhixun sighed, breaking the silence with a touch of lament, “Sigh, Master says Senior Uncle failed his core-shattering infant formation, turning him into this state. Who'd have thought the sect's top genius after Master would fall so low...”
Her voice was subdued, tinged with a young girl's melancholy.
Qin Zhe snorted coldly, his tone icy: “Haste makes waste! He entered False Infant without consolidating, rushed into Nascent Soul formation, and got what he deserved!”
His words were frigid, but his eyes betrayed undisguised jealousy—as if decrying Li Chengxuan's overreach, yet venting something deeper.
Su Rui arched a brow, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Senior Brother Qin seems to hold quite the grudge against Senior Uncle. Could it be... you think he's unworthy of Master?”
Jealousy flashed in Qin Zhe's eyes as he growled deeply, “If he hadn't become like this, he'd barely be worthy of Master. But now, a mindless idiot—how could he possibly match our pure, jade-like Master, a goddess from the ninth heavens?”
Su Rui noted his agitation and pressed, “Looks like Senior Brother Qin likes Master, huh.”
Qin Zhe's face stiffened, panic flickering in his eyes before he forced composure. “Nonsense! I only revere Master! Don't make wild guesses!”
Su Rui's smile deepened, his tone teasing. “I didn't say your like wasn't just reverence. Did Senior Brother misunderstand? Why so worked up?”
Qin Zhe's expression darkened as he said coldly, “My apologies for my rudeness. Sword practice is done—I'll go contemplate. Farewell!”
He said no more, summoning his flying sword and vanishing in a streak of green light, his back betraying a hint of haste.
Yun Zhixun covered her mouth in giggles, her almond eyes sly as she whispered to Su Rui, “Little junior brother, you sure know how to hit where it hurts! Everyone sees Senior Brother Qin's little crush on Master—except Master herself! Tsk tsk, he hates anyone bringing it up. Bet he'll give you trouble later!”
Her tone was playful, laced with girlish mischief, though she didn't truly believe Qin Zhe would act—just teasing Su Rui a bit.
Su Rui smiled faintly, his gaze brushing over Yun Zhixun's lively figure but dismissing the green fruit's words.
After all, a mere False Core Qin Zhe, with all his schemes, could do him no harm? Even Mu Xueyi was crushed beneath him, toyed with at will—let alone one of her disciples?
Yet Qin Zhe's hatred for Li Chengxuan and obsession with Mu Xueyi sparked a sinister scheme in Su Rui’s mind.
Perhaps this stern senior brother could become a pawn in his hand, helping him claim Mu Xueyi even further.