Cultivation: Starting with a Dual Cultivation Technique at the Immortal Rank

20: Chapter 2 Pride Ends, Snow Lotus Descends to the Mortal WorldThat night, for the first time in her own Immortal Cave, she took that qingling pill.

The Medicinal Pill melted in her mouth, and a warm, spring-like medicinal power instantly flowed through her limbs and bones. Han Yueling immediately focused her mind and circulated the Shangqing Sword Art.

The needle-like stinging sensation from before had vanished, replaced by an unprecedented smoothness! Under the washing of this gentle medicinal power, the mottled Impurities lodged in the corners of her Meridians were gradually melted, cleansed, and expelled from her body like spring snow meeting the warm sun.

One Cycle, then another...

When she opened her eyes again, the sky was faintly brightening. She looked within herself and discovered with pleasant surprise that her originally somewhat mottled Spiritual Qi had become at least twenty percent purer! Her Meridians were more transparent than ever before, like a thoroughly cleaned riverbed through which Spiritual Qi surged without the slightest obstruction!

She tried to condense Sword Qi again; that wisp of pale green Spiritual Qi flickered at her fingertips, solid as if it were physical, no longer flickering in the slightest.

”So... what he said was true...”

Han Yueling murmured to herself, her heart in a state of upheaval.

The Bottleneck that had troubled her for months was solved with just a word and a pill from him.

This massive impact shocked her far more than seeing those Magical Artifacts and Medicinal Pills. This proved that Li Yifei possessed not just resources, but a vision and insight far beyond her own!

At this moment, a clear crack appeared in her heart named pride.

...

Meanwhile, in another quiet room on Yifei Peak, Luo Yunxi took the initiative to find Li Yifei, who was meditating.

”Husband,” she called softly.

Li Yifei opened his eyes and smiled, ”What is it?”

Luo Yunxi served him a cup of spirit tea, her beautiful eyes shimmering with a clever light. ”Husband’s ambition is immortality, seeking to build an immortal cultivation Family that will last for eternity; Yunxi can see that. A stable Family isn’t enough with just us sisters. Husband needs more sisters with outstanding talent and reliable character to join, to branch out the Family together and strengthen the Foundation.”

Li Yifei raised an eyebrow, looking at her with interest. This woman always managed to see the core of the matter.

Seeing his silent consent, Luo Yunxi revealed her thoughts more boldly. ”Yunxi was fortunate not to be abandoned by Husband and was able to join this blessed home, so I should naturally share Husband’s burdens. In the future, regarding the recruitment of virtuous sisters for the Family, Yunxi is willing to be Husband’s vanguard. The first one, and also Yunxi’s token of loyalty to Husband, is Moon Spirit.”

She bowed down, her tone incredibly serious. ”Please, Husband, allow me to use my own way to completely untie Moon Spirit’s heart-knot for you. She is my best sister; her talent and Heart-Nature are definitely worth it!”

Li Yifei gave her a deep look and finally laughed out loud.

”What a clever Luo Yunxi!” He helped her up and nodded with satisfaction. ”I truly didn’t misjudge you. Go ahead and do it; I only care about the result.”

Having received Li Yifei’s ”authorization,” Luo Yunxi’s heart completely settled. She knew that her status in this home was already more than just a Dao Companion.

The next day, the final offensive against Han Yueling officially began.

Still the same tea table, still the same three people.

Qin Baobao continued to share her happiness with innocent romanticism, while Luo Yunxi cut straight to the point.

”Moon Spirit, how was the effect of that qingling pill last night?”

Han Yueling was silent for a moment, but ultimately unable to deny the facts, she whispered, ”Very good.”

”So,” Luo Yunxi pressed on. ”Do you still feel that your ’dignity’ is more important than a visible, tangible path to the heavens?”

”I...” Han Yueling was at a loss for words.

”Moon Spirit, wake up!” Luo Yunxi’s tone became stern. ”What is your so-called dignity? Is it guarding that bit of pathetic pride while struggling at the bottom, bowing and scraping to a Deacon for a few Spirit Stones? Or is it scheming against others to fight for a spot to Cultivate in a place rich in Spiritual Qi?”

”That’s not dignity; that’s the self-consolation of the weak! In the Cultivation World, only strength is the sole dignity! Look at Baobao; she’s almost at the fourth level of Qi Refining, even higher than you! She’s carefree every day, has the best Medicinal Pills, the safest Immortal Cave, and Husband’s affection. Does she not have dignity? No, her dignity is given by Husband, given by this home!”

Qin Baobao also nodded vigorously at the side, holding Han Yueling’s hand with eyes full of sincere concern. ”Moon Spirit, Yunxi is right. I used to think relying on myself was most important, but... but it was really so hard. Now I don’t have to think about anything; I just Cultivate peacefully, stay with Husband and everyone, and my cultivation level grows so fast. I hope you can be as happy as I am.”

Her innocent words were like a warm current, melting the last of the ice in Han Yueling’s heart.

Han Yueling looked at her two best friends—one rational and clear-headed, the other happy and satisfied—and then thought of herself; the fortress in her heart was collapsing inch by inch.

”But... sharing one husband...” She painfully spoke her last and most fundamental heart-knot.

”Allies! Moon Spirit, we are allies!” Luo Yunxi corrected her decisively. ”We and Husband are the firmest allies formed in the name of Dao Companions! We aren’t fighting for a man’s favor; we are jointly building a future that belongs to all of us!”

”Look at Senior Sister Steward Bai Zhi and Senior Sister Qin Wanqing; their injuries are improving day by day with Husband’s help. They now manage the Family’s resources and intelligence; they are the pillars of the Family! You and I, we have True Spirit Roots; our future is Foundation Establishment and Golden Core! We are the future high-end combat power of this Family!”

”Our growth and the offspring we bear will all make this home stronger. And the strength of the home will, in turn, provide us with more resources and protection. This is a game where everyone can win! Are you really content to just be a bystander?”

Luo Yunxi’s words were like a morning bell or an evening drum, striking hard at Han Yueling’s heart.

Allies... Family... High-end combat power...

These terms opened a brand new door for her, making the mundane concepts of love she had been agonizing over instantly seem small and ridiculous.

She saw the light of wisdom shimmering in Luo Yunxi’s eyes, the pure happy smile on Qin Baobao’s face, and thought again of Li Yifei’s gentle eyes that seemed capable of seeing through everything.

Jealousy, longing, resentment, aspiration... all sorts of emotions intertwined in her heart, finally merging into an impulse.

She didn’t want to be an outsider anymore.

She didn’t want to taste that bitterness called ’pride’ alone anymore.

Han Yueling took a deep breath, as if using up all her strength, and finally made a decision.

She looked up, and for the first time, relief and determination appeared in her cold eyes.

She said nothing to Luo Yunxi and Qin Baobao, only stood up and straightened her clothes.

Then, under the surprised and joyful gazes of her two best friends, she once more—and for the last time—walked with firm steps toward the man standing by the Pill Furnace, who held the fate of all of them in his hands.

This time, her steps were no longer heavy; instead, they carried a lightness of heading toward a new life.

This time, it was no longer for a clumsy excuse.

This time, it was to seize her own future.

”Senior Brother Li,” she walked up to him, her voice not loud but extremely clear.

Li Yifei stopped what he was doing and turned around, still with that gentle smile. ”Junior Sister Han, have you figured it out?”

Han Yueling looked into his eyes; those clear pupils reflected her determined face.

She had no extra words, only bowed slightly, performing a standard Dao Companion salute, and using all her courage, spoke softly yet firmly:

”Coldness and aloofness cannot lead to immortality.”

”Han Yueling is willing to join Yifei Peak, to be your Dao Companion, and seek the Immortal Path together.”