Quiet Chamber Enlightenment, Past Heart-to-Heart Talk
Everyone returned to the abandoned cave dwelling, regulating their injuries and consolidating their cultivation in the tranquil atmosphere.
The spiritual qi within the cave was gathered by the spirit-gathering array meticulously arranged by Ye Xuan, flowing gently to nourish everyone's exhausted bodies and turbulent spiritual power.
A few days later, everyone's injuries gradually healed, and their complexions had recovered significantly.
That night, the moonlight was like water, shining through the lush branches and leaves at the cave entrance, casting mottled light and shadow.
Everyone sat around the campfire in the center of the cave dwelling, the flames flickering in front of them, dispelling the damp and chilly mountain air.
Hu Feng broke the silence first: "This trip to the Spirit Illusion Valley was extremely thrilling. Fortunately, everyone worked together so we came through without danger and gained quite a lot. Before we enter closed-door cultivation next, let's sort things out and summarize our experiences."
With that, he looked at everyone with gentle eyes.
Su Yao gently poked the campfire, sending sparks flying and reflecting her gentle yet resolute face. After pondering for a moment, she spoke softly:
"Senior Brother, actually there's a matter that has been weighing on my heart for a long time. Earlier when Chen Xuan and the others left, I saw that Senior Brother looked desolate, but I didn't get the chance to say it... why the few of us junior sisters were so determined to stay."
Everyone's gaze converged on Su Yao. She lowered her eyes slightly, as if sinking into past memories.
"Being female cultivators, our hardships in this Immortal Cultivation World far exceed what others can imagine."
Su Yao raised her head, a trace of bitterness in her eyes. "Take the Clear Water Pavilion for instance. It looks like a female cultivator sect, but inside it is strictly hierarchical with endless backstabbing. I once heard of a junior sister who possessed peerless talent and was the center of attention when she first entered the sect. Just because she was unwilling to attach herself to the elders, she was secretly suppressed, her cultivation resources were completely cut off, and in the end, her cultivation stagnated, reducing her to the level of ordinary people. There are also quite a few minor sects that take in female cultivators solely to please powerful male cultivators, sending them off as cultivation cauldrons and reducing them to mere cultivation tools without a shred of dignity."
Chu Li tightly grasped the hem of her clothes and took over the conversation: "Senior Sister is right. There was a senior sister from my hometown who was talented in both poetry and grace. When she went out on a trial alone, she was targeted by a demonic cultivator. That demonic cultivator coveted her pure yin constitution, abducted and tortured her for many days, sucked dry her spiritual power, and left her mentally deranged. Even if she was rescued, she was nothing more than a useless cripple..."
Having said this, her eye rims turned red and her voice choked.
Ye Xuan sighed softly and added: "Large sects are hard to enter, minor sects are not worth entering, and the path of rogue cultivators is fraught with even more difficulties and obstacles for female cultivators. In the market towns, female rogue cultivators selling spiritual plants and magical treasures are often subjected to malicious price-slashing; when going out on trials, they also have to guard against those with ill intentions who launch sneak attacks and plunders. If we didn't have Senior Brother protecting us, I'm afraid we wouldn't have lasted until now."
Lin Yao held Su Yao's hand, her expression solemn: "It is precisely because we know all too well how cruel the Immortal Cultivation World is to female cultivators that we must stick together all the more. Although the Rosy Clouds Sect suffered a great disaster, Senior Brother treats us as close as brothers and sisters, and never looks down on us or treats us poorly because of our gender. Here, we are seeking revenge, but even more so, we are seeking a foothold and a foundation for female cultivators to establish themselves, letting the world see that women can equally hold up half the sky!"
With that, she looked ardently at Hu Feng, full of trust and expectation.
Hearing this, Hu Feng's eyes moistened, and he stood up, cupping his fists and bowing deeply to his junior sisters:
"You junior sisters are righteous, and Hu Feng will remember this in his heart! In the past, I was negligent and didn't consider the hardships of female cultivators enough. From now on, as long as I, Hu Feng, have a breath left, I will definitely protect you all comprehensively and never let you suffer the slightest grievance!"
His tone was resolute and resonant.
Su Yao hurriedly stood up to support Hu Feng, bursting into tears with a smile: "Senior Brother, don't be like this. We are fellow disciples, living and dying together, sharing honor and disgrace. It is Senior Brother who shoulders the heavy responsibility of reviving the sect, with pressure like a mountain. From now on, in your cultivation and actions, you must take better care of yourself."
After pouring their hearts out to one another, their bond grew even deeper.
Hu Feng sat back down by the campfire and said solemnly: "Since we have bared our hearts, let's talk about our cultivation arrangements. The *Supreme Spirit-Control Scripture* we obtained this time is exquisite and wondrous. I briefly comprehended it and found that when merged with my original cultivation technique, its power increases tenfold. I plan to enter closed-door cultivation to study it with all my might, striving to master its essence; Lin Yao, Junior Sister, you obtained the Spirit Firmament Feather Garment, but its compatibility still needs polishing; Su Yao, Ye Xuan, Chu Li, your Ice Soul Silver Needle and Spiritual Power Vine techniques can also be refined and advanced using the spiritual plants and magical treasures gained this time."
Lin Yao nodded, gently stroking the Spirit Firmament Feather Garment. The garment's light flowed along her fingertips, shining brilliantly: "Senior Brother, rest assured, I will definitely thoroughly understand the wondrous uses of this feather garment as soon as possible and share more of the pressure during actual combat. It's just that during cultivation, spiritual power disorder and cultivation bottlenecks are inevitable. If anyone encounters difficulties, absolutely don't keep them hidden—let's discuss them together."
Su Yao took out the Ice-Heart Jade Pendant from her embrace and placed it on her palm, the pendant's halo warm and gentle: "This Ice-Heart Jade Pendant is of great benefit for calming the mind and settling the spirit. Whichever junior sister feels vexed and irritable during cultivation, take it and use it. Although our resources cannot compare to those of major sects, our strength lies in our unity and mutual support, which will surely yield twice the result with half the effort."
With the discussion concluded, everyone began their closed-door cultivation.
Hu Feng sat alone in the quiet chamber. The *Supreme Spirit-Control Scripture* was spread out on the stone table, the runes on the scripture pages seeming like living things, leaping and flashing.
He closed his eyes and concentrated, slowly injecting his spiritual power and guiding it according to the scripture. The spiritual power within his body moved like an agile stream, shuttling through his meridians.
At first, the spiritual power impacted his old meridians, bringing a sharp pain. Hu Feng clenched his teeth and persisted, cold sweat covering his forehead as he thought to himself: "What is this bit of pain? Only by enduring can I become stronger, and only then can I have revenge!"
A few days later, the circulation of spiritual power gradually smoothed out, but it stagnated at a crucial breakthrough point.
Hu Feng repeatedly deduced the technique without finding the key, filled with restlessness and anxiety. Right at this moment, Lin Yao came out of her closed-door cultivation, holding spiritual tea and lightly knocking on the stone door: "Senior Brother, is your cultivation going smoothly? I noticed that the spiritual power fluctuations in your room were disordered, so I brought you some spiritual tea. This tea can soothe spiritual power and might be helpful."
Hu Feng opened the door, took the teacup, and drank it down in one gulp; the tea's fragrance dispelled the gloom in his heart.
Seeing the cultivation manual on the table, Lin Yao's eyes lit up: "Senior Brother, are you stuck at the fusion bottleneck? When I was in closed-door cultivation, I pondered that this *Supreme Spirit-Control Scripture* emphasizes the circulation of spiritual power and wielding it according to your heart. Why don't you empty your mind, follow the natural disposition of the spiritual power, and stop forcibly guiding it."
Hu Feng's mind suddenly cleared up, and he raised his hands in a salute to express his thanks: "Junior Sister is brilliant! I was blinded by being too close to the situation."
Lin Yao smiled lightly and shook her head: "Senior Brother is too polite, we help each other. You go ahead and cultivate, I'll go check on the junior sisters." With that, she left lightly.
Following Lin Yao's words, Hu Feng emptied his mind, and his spiritual power rushed forth wildly like an unbridled wild horse, yet gradually returned to order amidst the chaos.
A brilliant light burst forth from his entire body, successfully breaking through the bottleneck and advancing his cultivation a step further.
At the same time, Su Yao and the others also made progress in their cultivation.
Chu Li improved the Ice Soul Silver Needle, blending in the spiritual power of the newly acquired spiritual plants; the silver needle's cold light became even more piercing, greatly increasing its penetration;
Ye Xuan refined the Spiritual Power Vine, making the vines thicker and tougher, imbued with toxins that caused numbness and paralysis upon contact;
Su Yao used the Ice-Heart Jade Pendant as an aid, making her cultivation state of mind as clear as water and granting her microscopic control over spiritual power.
When everyone successively emerged from closed-door cultivation, the cave dwelling was filled with spiritual power and brimming with vitality.
Hu Feng's aura was restrained and deep, every movement fully displaying the demeanor of an expert; Lin Yao wore the Spirit Firmament Feather Garment, her movements agile and ethereal, and her ability to conceal her aura was peerless;
Su Yao smiled gently, the Ice-Heart Jade Pendant hanging from her wrist, her spiritual power peaceful and harmonious;
Ye Xuan and Chu Li were spirited and vigorous, their new techniques poised to strike.
Just as they were about to discuss the next step of their plan, a series of beast roars suddenly came from outside the cave, rolling in waves like a flash flood.
Hu Feng's expression changed: "Not good! A large group of Monster Beasts is definitely attacking! Judging by this commotion, they're probably coming for what we harvested in the Spirit Illusion Valley last time."
With that, he summoned the Taiji Chaos Banner and rushed out of the cave dwelling first.
They saw that in the mountain forest outside the cave, dense hordes of Monster Beasts were surging forward. Leading them was unexpectedly a Tier 4 Monster Beast—the "Black Jade Taotie". The Taotie was gigantic in size, its entire body pitch-black like jade, and its gaping mouth full of ferocious fangs. Wherever it passed, rocks and trees were all swallowed into its belly, transforming into spiritual power to nourish itself.
Lin Yao gasped in cold air: "How could such a ferocious Monster Beast track us down here?"
Hu Feng's expression was solemn: "It must be that during our previous battle in the Spirit Illusion Valley, our aura leaked out and attracted this Taotie. Its sense of smell is extremely sharp; it specializes in eating heavenly treasures and absorbing the spiritual power of cultivators, and it has set its sights on us!"
Chu Li's little face turned pale, but she still forced herself to summon the Ice Soul Silver Needle: "We'll fight it out! We can't let it destroy the fruits of our hard work!"
Everyone quickly formed a battle formation. Hu Feng stood at the front of the formation, the Taiji Chaos Banner whistling and spinning to distort space and time, attempting to trap the Taotie;
Lin Yao concealed her aura, circled to the flank, and waited for an opportunity to launch a surprise attack;
Su Yao, Ye Xuan, and Chu Li were in the rear, unleashing spiritual power and magical treasures simultaneously to support the front line.
The Taotie roared and charged, smashing through the distorted space-time force without slowing its offensive.
Seeing this, Hu Feng executed the *Supreme Spirit-Control Scripture*, absorbing the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual power. Sword shadows flew about, transforming into a giant net of spiritual power that descended head-on over the Taotie;
Lin Yao seized the right moment, the Spirit Firmament Feather Garment flashed with light, and she appeared behind the Taotie. The Spirit Rhinoceros Bracelet shone brilliantly, striking directly at its vital spot.
The spiritual power, silver needles, and vines from Su Yao and the other two filled the sky, interfering with the Taotie's movements.
After a fierce battle, the mountain forest was left in utter ruins. Everyone's spiritual power was nearly exhausted, their clothes ragged and covered in scars.
At the critical moment, the Taotie, eager for success, greedily swallowed a large amount of spiritual power, causing its form to freeze for a split second.
Hu Feng poured all his remaining spiritual power into the attack, bringing the Taiji Chaos Banner down with earth-shattering force;
Lin Yao urged the Spirit Rhinoceros Bracelet with all her might, its dazzling light merging with the banner's power.
With a resounding "boom", the Black Jade Taotie crashed to the ground, its massive body slowly dissolving and dissipating.
Everyone collapsed to the ground, looking at each other and laughing—their laughter full of the joy of surviving a catastrophe and the pride of defeating a formidable enemy.
Hu Feng panted heavily and looked up at the horizon: "Through this battle, our strength has been tempered once again. Although this Immortal Cultivation World is cruel, as long as we stick together, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome. Next, while continuing our cultivation, we will probe for news of the Rosy Clouds Sect's remaining forces. When the time is ripe, we will slaughter our way back to the State of Qing and exact blood for blood!"
Everyone clenched their fists and stood up, shouting in unison: "Blood for blood! Revive the Rosy Clouds Sect!"
The shouts reverberated through the valley, startling countless birds into flight as if playing the prelude to revenge—impassioned and heroic, fearing no hardships on the road ahead, advancing with a single heart toward the dawn.