Chapter 228: Chapter 181: The Music of Yin and Yang’s Struggle, Breaking Through to the 9th Level of Qi Cultivation

Beyond the Qingming, a kind old woman gently exhaled. The breath was vast and boundless, obscure and endless, like a great fog shrouding the north and south.

"Daoist Fanmiao, what kind of person do you take me for!"

The gray-robed Daoist looked displeased:

"I would never stoop to spying on a junior’s affairs."

The kind old woman smiled without a word.

The Daoist Monarchs of the Nanzhan Continent had a certain reputation in this regard.

She still remembered when Xiao Yu was courting those female True Monarchs under the moon and among the flowers, this very Daoist Mingxuan had secretly watched them.

This led to many of the first-generation [Shao Yang]’s sweet nothings being spread, causing quite a commotion.

The loss of Xiao Yu’s first-life Dao body was precisely because True Monarch Nong of the Taifu Sect heard these flowery rumors, had her heart ensnared by a love tribulation, and drew her sword against him in a rage.

The kind old woman said coolly:

"Daoist Mingxuan should learn from Ning Hechu’s lesson."

The gray-robed Daoist’s brow furrowed. The [Earth Virtue] had been suppressed by the combined forces of several Daoist Lineages outside the Nanzhan Continent. Despite Ning Hechu’s best efforts to forge alliances, his Divine Techniques were no match for fate, and he was reduced to ash while attempting to ascend to the Golden Position.

The gray-robed Daoist, his Qi Mechanism flickering in and out of existence, suddenly smiled.

"Daoist Fanmiao, you seem to show quite a bit of concern for the Daoist of my sect."

The kind old woman sighed softly.

"That child, Xiao Yu, should have been a great talent of the Demon Dao. If he weren’t so stubborn and unwilling to yield, there would have been a Daoist Monarch among the Eight Sects willing to stand up for him."

The gray-robed Daoist’s face was expressionless.

"Yu Shenxiu’s talent was his success, and also his downfall. After he attained [Shao Yang], he pulled a fast one and elevated himself to [Tai Chi].

Such Dao Wisdom, such talent—even a Daoist Monarch would have to praise it.

But he wanted to merge three Daoist Lineages on his own. He usurped the [Immortal Dao], then threw himself into the [Buddhist Dao]. He became ’Tian Xiaozi’ of the Dongsheng Continent, and also ’Great Treasury Venerable’ of the Ximizhou Continent.

He cultivated for five lifetimes, yet he couldn’t understand that the path to attaining the Dao lies with the ’great ones,’ with ’heaven’s will.’

If the great ones do not permit it, and heaven’s will does not consent, the path is impassable, no matter what."

At these words, the kind old woman fell silent.

Even the Daoist Monarchs who ruled Yanfu were often bound by their Daoist Lineage.

Otherwise, why would the patriarchs of ancient times have forsaken their Golden Positions, abandoned their Daoist paths, and rushed Beyond?

It was for nothing more than freedom, for a chance to advance further on the path of the Dao.

"What a pity."

The gray-robed Daoist’s tone was filled with regret.

"I missed the chance to witness the grand spectacle of Yin and Yang in conflict. I wonder if the [Tai Yin] would have subdued the [Shao Yang], or if the [Shao Yang] would have conquered the [Tai Yin]."

The kind old woman shot him an irritated glare. A Daoist Monarch of a major sect, yet still so disrespectful in his old age.

...

...

Profound City Central Palace.

The plump girl was HUFFING AND PUFFING, busy setting up the "nuptial chamber."

This Yang Marriage Spell was quite elaborate. First, she had to follow the mortal custom of a formal wedding ceremony, preparing a "heaven and earth table," covering it with a "great red cloth embroidered with gold," and lighting a "dragon and phoenix wedding candle." She also had to gather five items: a grain measure, a scale, a mirror, scissors, and an abacus. Then, the Wooden Envelope Appointment Letter had to be placed right in the center.

’I hope Miss Xiaoqiao doesn’t overthink this. Her Ladyship has no other choice but to perform the Yang Marriage ceremony with Master Jiang.’

Every time the plump girl wanted to look up at the Jade Platform to see her lady’s figure, a hazy light would shine from behind her nine heads, making her involuntarily forget the thought and remember only to keep her head down and work.

"Gui’er, my sister..."

Xiaoqiao had made a rare visit to the Profound City Central Palace today. Usually, she found the thick Yin energy here too heavy and was unwilling to stay for long.

The image of her "sister" had just flashed through the green-robed girl’s mind before she cast it aside, as if she couldn’t remember such a person existed at all.

"Where is Young Master Jiang?"

Xiaoqiao asked instead.

"Master Jiang hasn’t left the side hall. He’s been completely focused on his Cultivation."

The plump girl scratched her head and stopped what she was doing.

Arranging the nuptial chamber for Her Ladyship and the Master right in front of Miss Xiaoqiao seemed a little inappropriate.

"Oh, my sister..."

Xiaoqiao wanted to ask about Lady Xuan’nv again, but by the time the words reached her lips, she had forgotten what she was going to say.

She clasped her hands behind her back, looking left and right with curiosity, occasionally asking questions:

"What’s this scale for?"

"For the groom to lift the bride’s veil..."

"And the grain measure?"

"It’s filled with five grains, symbolizing a bountiful harvest."

Sweat beaded on all nine of the plump girl’s heads. She was terrified of misspeaking and upsetting Miss Xiaoqiao.

"I’m going to see Young Master Jiang. Is that okay?"

Xiaoqiao suddenly asked.

"You don’t need to ask Gui’er for that,"

The plump girl replied sheepishly.

"I’m worried I’ll affect my sister’s Yang..."

Xiaoqiao started to say, but the graceful figure in her mind was as faint as a thin mist, dispersing with a single puff of breath.

She immediately cast her worries aside and strode toward the side hall.

...

...

Inside the side hall.

True Master Xuanmiao yawned as if sleepy, thinking that Xiao Jiang’s Cultivation was unusually quiet today. Normally, he made a huge ruckus, his Breathing as deep as thunder and his Cultivation causing his bones to make a loud THUMPING sound.

The cat was completely unaware that the entire side hall was enveloped in a hazy radiance. Jiang Yi, who was right next to it, was completely submerged within, his situation impossible to discern.

If one were to focus their vision and look carefully, it was like a lamp shining through a gauze curtain, seeming to reflect two figures.

...

...

"Your Ladyship?"

Jiang Yi’s Heart Spirit wavered. If not for the golden nature inherent in the Divine Sense of his Primordial Gate, his mind would have also clouded over and he would have fallen into a deep slumber.

"Don’t speak."

An icy fingertip touched his lips, suppressing Jiang Yi’s chaotic thoughts. He felt as if he were embracing a piece of jade—faintly chilly and cool, yet warm, fragrant, and soft.

’Lady Xuan’nv is trapped on the Jade Platform, and the four Sun-Wheel Pillars separate the inside from the outside. She shouldn’t be able to get out...’

Jiang Yi could clearly feel the woman in his arms trembling gently.

The very real sensation of skin against skin made it impossible for him to guess her identity.

The brilliant, bright moonlight was like a long skirt pooling on the floor.

Moonlight cascaded down like condensed milk, like slender jade hands wrapping around Jiang Yi. That sense of pure white elegance seemed to take on a graceful form, deeply merging with him.

In an instant, a continuous stream of the [Tai Yin] phenomenon poured out.

Like a gurgling stream, it silently soaked into Jiang Yi’s body, his Cultivation Furnace.

’This is [Tai Yin]? Miss Xiaoqiao once said that her sister, the Profound Law Nvqing True Monarch, took an ’yin medicine’ and practiced ’Tai Yin Body Refining’ to cleanse all impurities.’

The thought flashed through Jiang Yi’s mind. No wonder it was so Supreme Essence, so pure, like a cold spring washing over his Heart Spirit and dissolving all stray thoughts.

The Embryonic Breathing Spiritual Liquid flowing through his Inner Mansion, enveloped by the [Tai Yin] phenomenon, also began to stir restlessly.

’No!’

Jiang Yi was suddenly alarmed. He was the successor to [Shao Yang]. How could he tarnish True Monarch Yu’s reputation by so easily giving away his "kernel of true yang"?

The Long-term Nourishing Daoist Embryo Skill activated instantly, securing the Embryonic Breathing Spiritual Liquid erupting from his Inner Mansion and, in reverse, devouring the [Tai Yin] phenomenon.

"Mmph..."

Jiang Yi heard a muffled groan. The faint sound alone was enough to spark endless fantasies, as if she were tilting her head back, biting her lip hard.

This development was clearly beyond Her Ladyship’s expectations. Logically, [Tai Yin] possessed four aspects: stillness, cold, concealment, and decay.

If she wanted to entice his true yang to complete the "Yin and Yang harmony" of the Yang Marriage Spell, it should have been exceedingly simple.

But Jiang Yi’s physique was like a locked golden gate, completely unaffected. He didn’t leak even a sliver of Embryonic Breathing Spiritual Liquid.

"You..."

"The Daoist Scriptures say that the treasure of true yang should not be given lightly to a woman. Forgive me, Your Ladyship."

Jiang Yi sensed Lady Xuan’nv’s shock and anger and replied thusly.

The slender, ice-jade-like form seemed to grow warm, as if from her anger.

Jiang Yi couldn’t help but circulate his Dao Embryo. The gushing Embryonic Breathing Spiritual Liquid coalesced, like a colossal azure dragon swimming in the vast ocean, and began to churn the rivers and seas with abandon.

"Insolent!"

Hearing this, Jiang Yi could almost see those long, slender eyebrows knitting together, followed by a dignified face of phoenix-like majesty, only her usual composure was now replaced by an unspeakable blush.

Jiang Yi remained silent, focusing solely on his Cultivation. The azure dragon emerged from his body, surged toward Lady Xuan’nv’s Zhongji point, vibrated several times, then climbed to her Shanzhong point.

The slender, ice-jade-like form grew even warmer.

Like a steaming, narrow passage, it tightly bound Jiang Yi’s outwardly radiating Qi and blood Qi Mechanism.

Within the hazy radiance, their figures swayed, as if entangled.

Before long,

The wondrous music of Yin and Yang clashing rang out in the side hall, rising and falling in an endless, continuous melody.

The hazy radiance emitted by the [Tai Yin], like droplets of dew condensed from frost, dripped from the doorposts and tables.

The [Shao Yang] rose, like a soaring azure dragon, like the spreading rays of dawn, like a flame gradually burning brighter.

The dewdrops, like creamy white fat, were slowly melted away by this heat.

’[Tai Yin] is truly worthy of being the number one repository in the world. It contains the intent of nurturing and transformation. It has actually caused my Cultivation to advance greatly.’

Jiang Yi was repeatedly amazed. His Merit at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer had long been accumulated to twelve-tenths, and he could break through at any moment.

But he didn’t want to waste the "Heavenly Dao Foundation" his patriarch had personally forged for him, so he constantly refined and digested the potent pill Qi, solidifying his own reserves.

This process was actually quite agonizing, like a person who was already stuffed to the brim but had to keep adding more food and water.

Ordinary Cultivators’ consumption couldn’t keep up with their supplementation, but for Jiang Yi, it was the opposite.

Now, under the continuous Nourishment of the [Tai Yin] phenomenon, the pure Primordial Qi in his entire body seemed to have been cleansed of its impurities, becoming even more refined.

His Cultivation, originally at a Great Perfection of twelve-tenths, was instantly compressed to eighty percent.

The Foundation Establishment Pill suspended in his Inner Mansion was repeatedly scoured, and strands of potent pill Qi fell into his Celestial Cave, transforming into streams of Embryonic Breathing Spiritual Liquid, raising his cultivation back to twelve-tenths.

After this repeated several times, Jiang Yi felt a great tremor run through his body. He broke through to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer with almost no resistance, easily crashing past the barrier.

Before he could recite a few lines to liven things up, the kernel of true yang locked within his Dao Embryo, following the natural course of his breakthrough, also released a wisp.

The slender, ice-jade-like form instantly drew it in. It was as if a torrent of heat surged through her in a flash, causing the hazy radiance to tremble violently.

An illusory image flashed before Jiang Yi’s eyes: a long, slender neck pulled taut, faint, beautiful blue veins visible, and a cascade of black hair pouring to the ground.

That slender, ice-jade-like form wanted to leave, and the hazy radiance enveloping the side hall began to weaken and dissipate.

The wondrous music of Yin and Yang clashing came to a halt, no longer manifesting its phenomena.

In the silence,

Footsteps approached from afar.

Followed by a soft, delicate voice:

"Hmph, hmph, Young Master Jiang! I’ve come to congratulate you on your joyous wedding!"

The slender, ice-jade-like figure froze abruptly, and Jiang Yi, on the bed, was also startled.

’Miss Xiaoqiao?’