Chapter 118

Chapter 118: Planting the Dao Heart

The message talisman fluttered directly into Yun Xi’s hand. When she immersed her spiritual sense into it, a familiar voice echoed clearly:

“Yun Xi, are you in Twin Peaks City? I was returning to the sect with Senior Uncle Sheng, but midway, we saw distress signals sent by disciples. Senior Uncle Sheng and Daoist Master Feng went ahead first, and we remaining disciples quickly followed. Only on the road did we learn about the trouble in Twin Peaks City. I don’t know if you’re here. Reply if you are.”

It truly was impressive that Long Dao Yu could seal such a lengthy message into one transmission talisman. Yun Xi guessed he had already arrived in Twin Peaks City, so she quickly pulled out her own talisman and sent him the location of the small courtyard.

Mu Ning Zhu spoke directly: “I’ll deliver the list to Senior Brother Sheng.”

“Thank you, Senior Sister,” the two replied in unison.

Seeing Yun Xi about to receive a visitor, Qin Tong Shuang got ready to leave, but Yun Xi grabbed her hand gently and said, “Don’t hurry off; you know Long Dao Yu too.”

Qin Tong Shuang sat back down and asked, “He came to Twin Peaks City as well?”

Yun Xi nodded, “Of course. Senior Brother Sheng is here—how could he not follow?”

Yun Xi inwardly laughed, knowing Long Dao Yu was Senior Brother Sheng’s number-one fan. Wherever his idol went, he was sure to follow closely behind.

Sure enough, after just fifteen minutes, Long Dao Yu was already knocking on the courtyard’s formation.

As soon as he sat down, he eagerly began to question them about the demonic formation in Twin Peaks City. Upon hearing they were direct witnesses, his curiosity intensified.

When he learned of Zhang Yan’s fall, Long Dao Yu sighed deeply, lamenting, “Cultivators are always struggling against the heavens for life. Until one stands at the very peak, they can never truly control their destiny.”

Yun Xi said nothing. She had already grasped the harshness of the cultivation world. From the moment she personally ended Chen Feng’s life, who had plotted against her, she knew she had fully become a true cultivator rather than a mere corporate drone from another world.

But seeing lives vanish before her eyes was entirely different. Recently, she hadn’t cultivated much. It wasn’t just because she feared accidentally breaking through the Foundation Establishment barrier due to instability, but also because she worried that witnessing the sinister formation could breed inner demons. Once she returned to the sect, she planned to enter closed-door seclusion for an extended time to settle her heart.

“I was incredibly lucky this time,” Qin Tong Shuang admitted softly, “thanks entirely to being with Senior Uncle Wei and her spirit pet Dian Dian’s sudden breakthrough. Otherwise, we truly would have just waited helplessly for death.”

Long Dao Yu sighed again, then cheerfully suggested, “My gains from this training trip weren’t small. I plan to enter seclusion upon returning to try reaching Foundation Establishment. Next time, when we’ve all reached Foundation Establishment, let’s form a team to train again.”

“That’s a good idea, but the sect competition is in five years. Do you plan on participating?” Qin Tong Shuang asked.

“Of course,” Yun Xi immediately affirmed. “Gaining experience through friendly competition is far better than being trampled by strong enemies outside.”

Yun Xi never intended to miss this sect competition. Though returning now automatically qualified her for the inner sect, competition there was fierce. Unless she secured a master or became an elite or core disciple, she wouldn’t gain the sect’s full support. To truly surpass Wei Yun Qing and elevate her standing, she had to keep improving herself.

Qin Tong Shuang expressed she would participate too, and Long Dao Yu promptly agreed. He even eagerly proposed forming a team to compete in the Foundation Establishment group competition.

Having gathered firsthand information, Long Dao Yu returned to the inn and vividly recounted to the other disciples all the shocking events in Twin Peaks City.

They stayed three more days in Twin Peaks City, witnessing Li Cang Yuan’s execution and receiving their promised compensation before preparing to depart.

This time, True Lord Yu Feng himself summoned the flying ship originally used for recruiting new disciples. He intended to escort all Grand Righteous Sect disciples still stranded in Twin Peaks City safely home. He feared demonic cultivators might retaliate later, especially against those junior disciples who had notably stood out, so he personally escorted them back.

Stepping onto the flying ship again, Yun Xi’s heart felt completely different from before. As she gazed at the white clouds passing by, her heart gradually lightened.

Throughout her journey thus far, her spirit had always remained tense. Uncertain paths lay ahead. She now understood fully that this world was no mere story—it was alive, vivid, and unpredictable.

Everyone around her was a living person, full of their own vibrant colors. There were those tirelessly pursuing the Dao, and others who inevitably fell along the way. Witnessing all this made her desperately desire to improve her cultivation. Only then could she weather the great storms of the cultivation world.

Yet seeing Li Cang Yuan’s tragic obsession finally brought clarity. No matter how powerful a cultivator became, one obsessive thought could destroy them, causing their Dao heart to collapse.

Li Cang Yuan had sided with demonic cultivators, sacrificing an entire city’s cultivators just to save his beloved. His love was deep, yet how innocent were those who lost their lives unwillingly?

She had nearly shouted at him, [Why don’t you just die instead? If your love is so profound, why not sacrifice your own life? Why must we pay the price for your devotion?] But she held back. His rationality was gone, and words were pointless. His death was inevitable.

Yun Xi didn’t want to become some kind of savior. She only wished to cultivate diligently, ascend to higher realms, and perhaps someday return to her original world.

She held no extravagant plans beyond that. Her principle was simple: [If no one harms me, I harm none; but if someone harms me, I will strike back tenfold. All I must ensure is a clear conscience.]

At that precise moment, Yun Xi’s Dao heart was firmly planted.

Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, spiritual energy from all around suddenly surged toward Yun Xi, forming a cocoon of pure energy around her.

Her mind was clear and pure, easily piercing through the thin barrier of late Foundation Establishment. She swiftly circulated her cultivation technique, refining the spiritual energy into her own, channeling it steadily into her dantian.

As the spiritual cocoon gradually dissipated, Yun Xi’s dantian filled to four-fifths with pure, unblemished spiritual liquid, slowly revolving within.

True Lord Yu Feng looked at Yun Xi’s sudden advancement with a heartfelt sigh, murmuring quietly about her extraordinary potential. He then raised his sleeve, setting a barrier to prevent anyone from disturbing her breakthrough.

Nearby, Sheng Yu Hong’s heart was conflicted. Just one month earlier, this little junior sister had only been a Qi Refining cultivator needing rescue. Yet in such a short time, she’d already reached mid Foundation Establishment. The shrinking gap made him feel slightly uneasy.

After fully absorbing all the spiritual energy, Yun Xi activated her Floral Forehead Immortal Ornament, disguising her true level and appearing as having just broken through to mid Foundation Establishment.

Seeing Yun Xi open her eyes, True Lord Yu Feng withdrew the protective barrier and closed his eyes again, resting.

Mu Ning Zhu, Qin Tong Shuang, and Long Dao Yu immediately approached, warmly congratulating her.

Mu Ning Zhu cupped her hands playfully, smiling, “I should call you Senior Sister Wei now! Truly, you’ve surprised me. Your slow accumulation has finally burst forth, surpassing everyone!”

Yun Xi blushed slightly, quickly waving her hands in modesty. “Senior Sister Mu, please don’t say that. I merely had good fortune and a sudden insight.”

Her voice was gentle, yet firm—the voice of a Dao heart that had just awakened, steadfast and unshakable.