Chapter 211: Youhe Valley

Seeing Wan Yan tidying her hair in front of a water mirror while asking Xia Daoming, a junior disciple, for his opinion on her hairstyle, Mo Mo Yongzhi's face twisted into a helpless, bitter smile, lips parting then closing again, while Shao Shao Shiyu turned away with a cold, disdainful expression, refusing to look at her.

"This hairstyle doesn't suit Master Wan," Xia Daoming replied, initially startled by the question, then answering with sincere earnestness.

Huh!

Mo Mo Yongzhi had just been scolding herself for forgetting to warn Xia Daoming about Wan Yan's personality, thinking he'd surely be shocked that a senior elder would dress so frivolously and ask such a vulgar question.

Yet, to Mo Mo Yongzhi's surprise, Xia Daoming actually gave a serious critique.

Huh!

Shao Shao Shiyu, who had already turned her cold, aged face away in disdain, now turned back, a flicker of irritation appearing on her expression.

"What's wrong with my hairstyle? The senior elders in the inner sect all say it looks good and suits me," Wan Yan said, first surprised by Xia Daoming's answer, then quickly retorting with defiance.

"Your face is round and full, with subtle cheekbones and gentle jawlines, your features refined, giving you an elegant, dignified aura with a touch of charm," Xia Daoming said, studying her face as he spoke.

"Is that so? Mo sister, your disciple from the Spirit Field Hall has excellent taste—I like it!" Wan Yan, delighted and self-satisfied, lightly touched her cheek as she spoke.

"This…" Mo Mo Yongzhi slapped her forehead in silence.

Then Wan Yan leaned closer to Xia Daoming, gently patting his shoulder. "Daoming, you're quite good—come closer, let me see. Are there any other flaws in my hairstyle that need adjusting?"

"Oh! It really does look different! Mo sister, Shao sister, look—doesn't it suit me better now?" Wan Yan exclaimed in delight.

Wan Yan had merely hoped to hear some flattering words to lift her spirits, but she never expected he had hit the nail on the head—actually pinpointing the flaw in her hairstyle. Her gaze toward Xia Daoming changed completely; she now humbly sought his advice.

Apparently this boy wasn't just a sycophant or a flatterer—he just had no idea how to handle women's hair!

"Hmm, even Shao sister says it's passable—that must mean it's truly good," Wan Yan beamed.

Originally, she'd thought him bold and courageous for daring to enter the Dragon Fish Sea, but after hearing this, her estimation of him plummeted.

"What's a fringe?"

"Your face shape isn't suited to a neat, straight fringe."

Shao Shao Shiyu, who had originally refused to turn back, now did so out of curiosity—and indeed found Wan Yan's new look more pleasing.

She never imagined this fellow would say such things right to Wan Yan's face—what would happen next?

Shao Shao Shiyu gave Xia Daoming a look of contempt, then turned away again.

"Ahem, it's the front hair—the neat, straight fringe shortens the length of your face. Your face is already perfectly round and full; this style makes it look overly plump," Xia Daoming explained with hand gestures.

Moreover, in his past life, the explosion of internet information provided countless images and data on this subject, allowing for thorough study.

Born into an artistic family in his past life, he possessed strong aesthetic sensibilities, high skill in sketching, and had studied female portrait art—alongside which, he'd also researched which hairstyles suited which face shapes.

"Daoming, keep going, ahem, keep talking," Wan Yan quickly turned back to Xia Daoming, her bright eyes filled with anticipation.

Xia Daoming reasoned that the journey was long, and riding the flying vessel left him with nothing better to do.

Mo Mo Yongzhi, who had been watching, nodded instinctively at his words.

"Yes, yes, you're right—it's no wonder I've felt something off lately, like my face looks rounder and fatter. How should I adjust this front fringe?"

"Hmm, trimming it into finer, lighter strands would be better," Xia Daoming mused.

This man was nothing but a sycophant and a flatterer.

"It's passable," Shao Shao Shiyu muttered impatiently, turning away again—though as she did, she glanced at Xia Daoming, her gaze subtly altered.

"Oh, I'll try it," Wan Yan immediately cast the water mirror spell again, then pulled out a pair of scissors and began trimming her hair before the mirror.

Besides, Wan Yan was his senior elder—he couldn't refuse.

So Xia Daoming continued speaking.

Each profession has its specialty.

This was half his specialty—he spoke fluently.

Wan Yan listened with great interest, occasionally asking questions, even removing her hairpin and reshaping her hairstyle according to Xia Daoming's instructions.

The result: she looked even more beautiful, her aura now more elegant and ethereal.

With this, Wan Yan became even more enthusiastic.

After finishing with her hair, she moved on to clothing coordination—as if she'd completely forgotten Xia Daoming's status as a junior disciple and a man, treating him instead like a confidant, even a female friend.

Half an hour later, Xia Daoming regretted his decision.

He never imagined a female cultivator of a hundred years would be so obsessed with appearance, chattering endlessly the whole way.

He wanted to quit.

But she was his senior elder!

Xia Daoming had no choice but to grit his teeth and keep chatting.

An hour later, Xia Daoming realized he couldn't remain passive—he changed the subject. "Master Wan, what's your main goal for this trip to the Dragon Fish Sea?"

"A thousand-year Dragon Mussel Pearl—it's a key ingredient in the Youth-Preserving Elixir. Look at how my eye wrinkles are deepening. If I don't find this pearl and have someone craft an elixir for me, I'll soon become a wrinkled old hag!" Wan Yan replied.

"Hmph. No matter how young and lovely you are, if you can't form a Golden Core, you'll still become dust in the end. If you hadn't wasted so much energy and spirit stones on youth-preserving, you might already have reached the threshold of Foundation Establishment's late stage," Shao Shao Shiyu said coldly.

"With limited talent and average background, what good is reaching Foundation Establishment's late stage? Even you, Shao sister, endured countless hardships and dangers trying to form a Golden Core—yet you'll still become dust."

"If that's the case, why endure such hardship? Better to seize opportunities when they come, let go when they don't, and live freely and joyfully."

"At least we live two hundred years—far longer than mortals—and enjoy pleasures they never can. That alone makes our entry into the Immortal Path worthwhile," Wan Yan countered.

"As long as there's a single chance, never give up striving—what if you succeed?" Shao Shao Shiyu said.

"The chance is too slim—I make no such wish. I'd rather seize the present," Wan Yan said.

Saying this, Wan Yan looked at Xia Daoming. "Daoming, we're in sync—I'll say this sincerely. Your talent is average, but with your martial strength as support, if you steadily progress, you have a chance at Foundation Establishment."

"But Foundation Establishment is your limit—you'll never reach Golden Core no matter how hard you try. If so, why insist on joining a Golden Core Elder's sect?"

"The Dragon Fish Sea is extremely dangerous—you'll be acting alone. You're likely to die. I advise you to abandon this plan."

This time, Shao Shao Shiyu said nothing in rebuttal.

"Thank you, Master Wan. My decision is final," Xia Daoming said.

"Then I won't persuade you further. May fortune guide you," Wan Yan sighed softly.

—

The flying vessel moved swiftly.

Two days later, Xia Daoming once again saw the distant Heiming Mountain, located at the border between the Great Liang and Wu Yue kingdoms.

Snowmelt from Heiming Mountain flowed down, carving a valley on its western foothills.

The river's water was black, hence named Youhe Valley.

The entrance to the Dragon Fish Sea, as Mo Mo Yongzhi had said, lay within Youhe Valley.

Youhe Valley stretched hundreds of miles, situated not only at the Great Liang-Wu Yue border, but also directly within the spheres of influence of Changhe Sect—one of Great Liang's three major cultivation sects—and Wu Yue's Blood Knife Sect.

Though dangerous, the Dragon Fish Sea held many opportunities.

Every year, numerous cultivators entered seeking fortune.

After years of struggle over control of the Dragon Fish Sea entrance, both sects, having suffered heavy losses, compromised and agreed to jointly manage it.

Cultivators from Wu Yue paid tolls to the Blood Knife Sect to enter.

Cultivators from Great Liang paid tolls to Changhe Sect.

"The cultivation world of Wu Yue differs from ours in Great Liang. Many of their factions follow demonic paths; righteous and demonic forces coexist in rough balance, leading to constant minor conflicts, yet their high-level figures remain restrained."

"On this trip into the Dragon Fish Sea, besides guarding against the beasts within, we must be highly alert to Wu Yue cultivators. Great Liang cultivators generally won't dare attack us—if word got out, Qingyuan Gate would pursue them."

"But Wu Yue is different—they belong to separate cultivation nations, and their cultivation culture leans toward the demonic. Some Wu Yue cultivators specialize in ambushes and robbery within the Dragon Fish Sea. So if you encounter them, raise your guard and avoid them whenever possible," Wan Yan said, her expression unusually serious as the flying vessel neared Youhe Valley.

"Disciple understands," Xia Daoming nodded.

Mo Mo Yongzhi had already warned him beforehand.

Xia Daoming's group soon arrived at Youhe Valley.

Across the wide black river flowed a massive vortex—the entrance to the Dragon Fish Sea.

(End of Chapter)