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

39: Chapter 39 The Beauty’s First TestTwo days later, at the Qingyun Sect’s Outer Sect, bells chimed and the air buzzed with the clamor of voices.

The annual New Disciple Entrance Ceremony arrived as scheduled.

Thousands of young men and women, harboring dreams of the immortal path, gathered here. They looked up at the towering mountain gate that pierced the clouds, their eyes sparkling with excitement and longing.

Upon a mountain peak in the Outer Sect with an excellent vantage point, Li Yifei stood with his hands behind his back, his sleeves fluttering slightly in the mountain breeze.

Rarely away from the Pill Refining Room or the seclusion chamber, he enjoyed this brief moment of leisure, gazing down calmly at the youthful and vibrant faces below.

By his side, a wisp of cool, elegant fragrance drifted in with the wind.

Su Yanran had changed out of the complex, formal white palace dress of an Inner Sect Disciple and into a light green casual long dress. She seemed less sharp and distant, possessing a touch more soft elegance.

Yesterday morning, as agreed, she had moved into the independent small courtyard prepared for her on Yifei Peak.

Her gaze also fell upon the mountain base, watching those new Disciples as a hint of reminiscence surfaced in her cold eyes.

Once upon a time, she had been just like them, stepping into this immortal Sect with a pure heart seeking the Dao.

“Years have passed in a flash; things remain but people have changed,” she sighed softly.

Hearing this, Li Yifei turned his head to look at her.

Today’s Su Yanran seemed exceptionally different.

Perhaps it was the warm and lively atmosphere of Yifei Peak, or perhaps it was discussing the Dao all night with Liu Rumei and the other ”new sisters” that had allowed her taut heartstrings to relax a little.

“Why does Senior Sister Su say that? With your talent, the Great Dao is within reach. Why the sentiment that people have changed?” Li Yifei said with a smile.

Su Yanran withdrew her gaze from the mountain base and let it fall upon Li Yifei’s face.

She watched him quietly for a moment, her elegant brows furrowing slightly as if confirming something.

“Junior Brother Li...” she spoke slowly, her tone carrying a trace of imperceptible surprise, “Have you... broken through again?”

Her Divine Sense swept lightly over Li Yifei. That crystal-clear fluctuation of spiritual power was unmistakably the Realm of the sixth level of Qi Refining!

Waves of shock rose in Su Yanran’s heart. She remembered clearly that when they first met at the Pill Fire Hall over a year ago, he was only at the fourth level of Qi Refining.

How long had it been? In just over a year, he had broken through two levels! This kind of cultivation speed was considered rapid even among Inner Sect Disciples who had abundant resources and superior Cultivation Techniques!

“It was just a stroke of luck,” Li Yifei was humble in speech, but his expression looked as though it were only natural.

“After all, as a True Disciple now, there is no shortage of resources bestowed by the Sect, and I can refine Medicinal Pills as I please. It’s normal for my cultivation to grow a bit faster.”

He paused, changing the subject as a meaningful smile curled at the corners of his mouth. “Of course, most importantly, it is thanks to diligent Dual Cultivation with my Dao Companions. Helping each other is what produced this effect.”

He deliberately emphasized the words “diligent Dual Cultivation.”

The tips of Su Yanran’s ears instantly turned slightly red.

As expected, it was this again!

She felt both embarrassed and annoyed, yet she couldn’t refute him. Because what Li Yifei said was the truth.

Over the past few days, she had indirectly questioned Liu Rumei, Luo Lingxi, and the others, practically digging to the bottom of the effects of the Grand Ultimate Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation Secret Canon.

The answers she received startled her: this technique not only did no harm to the woman’s Foundation, but it also strengthened the root, nurtured the Meridians, and made one’s spiritual power increasingly pure.

After Dual Cultivation with Li Yifei, all of them had experienced a real increase in cultivation speed that far exceeded solitary bitter cultivation!

For Su Yanran, who had devoted her life’s energy to pursuing higher Realms, this was undoubtedly a fatal temptation.

“Is... is that Dual Cultivation Technique truly so miraculous?” She finally couldn’t help but ask in a voice that was barely audible.

The smile on Li Yifei’s face grew even wider. He leaned a step closer and said in a somewhat teasing tone, “What? Hasn’t Senior Sister Su already finished questioning Rumei and the others? Are you still not at ease?”

“You!” Su Yanran was both shamed and angered, two patches of rosy clouds flying onto her fair cheeks.

Her little schemes had been completely seen through by him!

She was like a cat that thought it was well-hidden, unaware that its every move had long since fallen into the master’s eyes.

She had a near-obsessive desire for methods that could rapidly increase her cultivation while keeping her Foundation stable and her Qi pure.

This was also the fundamental reason she had finally set aside her pride and agreed to temporarily stay at Yifei Peak.

She needed to observe and confirm from up close whether this was a lie of Li Yifei’s or if it was truly the case.

And now, everything had been confirmed.

Looking at her face, as vivid and delicate as a ripened honey peach, Li Yifei was extremely satisfied.

He understood that for a favored daughter of heaven like Su Yanran, any forced methods were a poor strategy.

Only by making her heart move and her own desire grow could he truly melt the ice within her.

The heat was just about right.

However, now was not yet the time to pull in the net.

Pressing too hard would instead cause her to raise her guard again.

Li Yifei’s thoughts spun rapidly, but the smile on his face became gentle, as if the teasing just now had been nothing more than a harmless joke.

He did not continue the topic. Instead, he suddenly reached out and very naturally took hold of Su Yanran’s slightly cool, jade-like hand.

“!!!”

A warm and broad palm, carrying an indisputable force, completely enveloped her hand.

Su Yanran’s entire body stiffened like a cat whose tail had been stepped on; her mind went blank.

In all her years of cultivation, this was the first time she had been held so intimately by a man.

She subconsciously tried to pull her hand back, but with a slight struggle of her wrist, that palm remained as unmoving as an iron vice.

It wasn’t that he used a great deal of strength, but rather a kind of heavy yet light, unshakable steadiness.

This made her immediately realize that if she didn’t use her spiritual power, she simply couldn’t break free.

But to use spiritual power in such a setting would be making too much of a fuss.

After only one failed attempt, Su Yanran gave up her struggle.

A strange tingling sensation traveled from her palm, quickly spreading throughout her body, making her heart beat like a drum. The flush on her cheeks burned all the way down to her snow-white neck.

She could only let Li Yifei lead her, turning her head to one side, not daring to look at his eyes which seemed capable of seeing through everything.

Li Yifei laughed inwardly, very satisfied with the result of this probe.

This one holding of hands pulled their distance from being fellow Disciples straight into a blurred and ambiguous territory.

“Let’s go, I’ll take you to see something interesting,” Li Yifei said in a relaxed tone, pulling her along as they walked down the mountain.

Su Yanran said nothing, her steps somewhat unsteady as she followed behind him, her Dao Heart a complete mess.

The two of them passed through the bustling crowd and soon arrived at the Outer Sect Mission Hall.

Li Yifei did not enter the main hall. Instead, he led Su Yanran through a quiet corridor with practiced ease, eventually stopping before an unremarkable quiet room.

“This is...” Su Yanran finally found her voice, tinged with a hint of confusion.

Li Yifei turned back and gave her a mysterious smile. “My new Concubines for this year.”

He pushed open the door, and a scent of young girls’ fragrance mixed with a dozen different perfumes wafted toward them.

Inside the quiet room, ten young girls dressed in Outer Sect Disciple attire sat upright, waiting with various expressions.

When they saw Li Yifei push open the door and enter, their eyes instantly burst with a light that was a mix of admiration, nervousness, and expectation.

And when they saw Su Yanran behind Li Yifei, with her hand being held by him, that light turned into collective amazement and a trace of indescribable complex emotions.

“This... this is...” Su Yanran finally understood what the “interesting thing” Li Yifei mentioned was.

This was actually the “interview” scene where Li Yifei screened his Concubines! And he had actually pulled her along to it!

With a “boom,” Su Yanran’s face felt as if it were being scorched by a raging fire, becoming incredibly hot in an instant.

She finally couldn’t endure such a shameful scene. With a sudden surge of strength, she actually managed to pull her hand out from Li Yifei’s palm this time.

“I... I’m going back!”

Leaving behind those words, she practically fled, not even daring to look back. Her figure vanished at the end of the corridor after a few flickers.

Li Yifei looked at her fleeing back, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening. He knew that today’s groundwork was sufficient.

The next time they met, this icy beauty would likely no longer be able to maintain a calm heart toward him.