Chapter 41: She

At this moment, Second Uncle stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sea of clouds before him, and spoke slowly: “From your spying on the women of the Qingyu Immortal Sect bathing, I deduce your Silver Dragon Hand has reached minor mastery—likely aided by the shattered bones of the Crimson Flame Dragon Lion—but it has a serious flaw.”

“What flaw?” Zhou Qing asked at once, his heart tightening instinctively.

Second Uncle suddenly turned around with a sly grin, his face gleaming with triumph: “Caught you! Those shattered bones of the Crimson Flame Dragon Lion? I disguised myself as your Third Senior Brother and convinced you to buy them—and even taught you the correct method to use them.”

Zhou Qing was stunned, then immediately understood.

“You tricked me?”

Second Uncle clucked his tongue. “You recognized me all along, didn’t you? That only makes me more curious—but don’t tell me the answer. I want to guess properly.”

Zhou Qing was furious; his initiative had instantly turned to disadvantage.

What a sly old fox!

Second Uncle said: “Enough idle talk. The Silver Dragon Hand you practice is only the upper section of the Silver Dragon Scripture. The scripture has a lower section—called the Silver Dragon Step. One step, and it rivals the effect of shrinking distance.”

As he spoke, Second Uncle lifted one foot lightly. Zhou Qing saw a silver phantom darting rapidly between the mountain peaks—so fast his eyes could barely follow.

“How’s that?” The next second, Second Uncle reappeared beside him, as if he’d never left.

Zhou Qing felt his throat dry. Indeed, Second Uncle also mastered the Silver Dragon Hand.

He immediately bowed deeply. “Please, Elder, teach me.”

Second Uncle smiled faintly. “The Silver Dragon Step has been lost for ages—many don’t even know a lower section exists. I’ll first recite the incantation to you. Let’s see your comprehension.”

“Still your breath, guard your dantian. Focus your spiritual sense on your toes. Tread the path of yin and yang; your body follows the turning of heaven and earth…”

Zhou Qing dared not harbor a single distracting thought, silently memorizing every word.

“Remember it?” Second Uncle asked.

Zhou Qing closed his eyes, relived the incantation once more, then nodded.

“Good. Walk it with me!”

Second Uncle grabbed Zhou Qing by one hand and stepped directly into empty air.

Zhou Qing widened his eyes, watching the silver talisman patterns left with each step, striving to comprehend their mystery.

Half a stick of incense later, Second Uncle smiled at Zhou Qing.

“Opportunities are best left at the threshold—explore further on your own later. By the way, are you courting the Sect Master of Qingyu Immortal Sect?”

Zhou Qing, still lost in the wonder of the Silver Dragon Step, snapped back to reality and waved his hands frantically: “Elder, don’t misunderstand—there’s nothing of the sort!”

“So what if you are? Big deal! I support you!” Second Uncle raised his eyebrows with a lewd grin.

Zhou Qing gave a forced smile. He’d just received a favor—he couldn’t bring himself to curse the man.

Second Uncle continued: “I’m serious. That Xuan You sister? She’s no ordinary beauty, and now she’s Sect Master. More importantly, she’s still a virgin.”

Zhou Qing’s mouth dropped open.

Wait—he just called her Xuan You Sister?

So he really did once dwell in Qingyu Immortal Sect.

Second Uncle suddenly spoke in a hushed tone: “I heard the Cangyan Dao Palace’s Sikong Yan is courting her—but he has no chance in this lifetime. Do you know why?”

“Why?” Zhou Qing asked instinctively.

Second Uncle burst into laughter. “You say you have no designs on Xuan You Immortal? Then why are you so interested?”

Damn it—you set another trap for me, didn’t you?

You old lecher.

Zhou Qing realized he must say not a single word more in front of this old fox.

Yet after his teasing, Second Uncle grew solemn again.

“Xuan You sister has been waiting for someone all this time—and she’s about to enter final dissolution.”

At these words, Zhou Qing’s face turned pale with shock.

How could such a beautiful woman be nearing dissolution?

Was it due to depleted lifespan—or something else?

And who was she waiting for?

A former lover?

Don’t tell me it’s you?

Zhou Qing opened his mouth—but feared another trap, so he stayed silent. You’ll tell me anyway.

Sure enough, Second Uncle sized Zhou Qing up, then clucked admiringly: “Quick learner. Good, good.”

Then he turned his gaze once more to the sea of clouds before him and said softly: “My story—I’m sure your Master Mo Xingjian has already told you. I can’t help it; I was born this way. No matter what others think, I find it enjoyable.”

“When I faked my death and left Qingyu Immortal Sect, that girl had just joined the sect. But she fell ill and was forced to practice a forbidden technique from our sect. It saved her life and accelerated her progress—but it severed her future path entirely.”

“Her current realm can never advance further. She can only slowly consume her lifespan until death. No—she depletes it even faster than others of her realm.”

“I never imagined that after all these years, she’d become Sect Master of Qingyu Immortal Sect—truly remarkable. A few days ago, I saw her from afar. Externally, she looks no different from ordinary people—but in truth, she’s nearly at the point of oil dry, lamp extinguished.”

Second Uncle sighed deeply.

At this moment, Zhou Qing couldn’t help asking: “With your vast knowledge, surely you can save her?”

Second Uncle shook his head. “I cannot. The only way she can survive is one method.”

“What method?”

“Cultivation through sexual union.”

“Cultivation through sexual union?” Zhou Qing froze.

Second Uncle chuckled. “Yes—sexual union. Remember what I said? She’s been waiting for someone. Only that person, by practicing sexual union with her, can break the forbidden technique, help her break through, extend her lifespan, and let her live on.”

“Then who is this person she’s waiting for?” Zhou Qing asked curiously.

Second Uncle said: “A Nascent Soul with the Three Flowers gathered at the crown.”

Zhou Qing blinked, seeming confused.

Second Uncle saw his expression and sighed. “I don’t know how old Mo teaches his disciples—you don’t even know this basic knowledge? Fine, I’ll explain.”

Second Uncle cleared his throat. “You know the realms: Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul? But when the Golden Core shatters and the Nascent Soul forms, different kinds of Nascent Souls emerge—Purple Mansion Nascent Soul, Yang Spirit Nascent Soul, Ultimate Nascent Soul, Myriad Forms Nascent Soul—over a hundred varieties.”

“Each Nascent Soul has different abilities—and determines how far the cultivator can go.”

“If you have time, go to the Scripture Hall and find the relevant texts. In short, the cultivation world classifies these Nascent Souls into four tiers: Heaven, Earth, Mystery, and Earthly. Heaven-tier is the strongest. Those with a Heaven-tier Nascent Soul are invincible among peers—and if they don’t perish, they’ll almost certainly become mighty figures.”

Zhou Qing listened silently. In truth, he’d never learned much of this—he’d only been at Qi Condensation, and these matters had always seemed too distant.

Second Uncle continued: “Heaven-tier Nascent Souls are the rarest—only ten exist. And the first among them is the Three Flowers Nascent Soul.”

Hearing this, Zhou Qing finally understood why Xuan You Immortal had remained single all these years.

To wait for a Three Flowers Nascent Soul? How difficult was that?

The odds were astronomically small.

If a sect produced even one Three Flowers Nascent Soul, he’d become its future titan—the one to lead its rise. He must be hidden away carefully.

A tree that towers above the forest invites the wind’s destruction—too many eyes were jealous.

So finding a Three Flowers Nascent Soul? Nearly impossible.

(End of Chapter)