Chapter 224: Chapter 220: One Can’t Know Another’s Heart

When Du Youqian returned to his cave residence with the curvaceous Kun Cultivator, Fang Hua’s wide eyes were filled with confusion.

Her gaze shifted back and forth several times, moving from the face of the stunningly beautiful Kun Cultivator—who kept her head bowed in shyness—to Du Youqian’s.

Her expression clearly asked: ’What’s gotten into you? You go out for one meeting and bring a hottie home? Are they giving them out as party favors now?’

Ah, that was the wrong internal voice.

It should have been: ’Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this? You said you were going to a meeting, so why have you returned with such a bewitching young lady? Is this one of the benefits of reaching Core Formation as a True Inheritor of the Holy Blood Sect?’

Du Youqian, however, had a clear conscience. He beckoned over an attendant and had him lead the Kun Cultivator away to get settled.

Only then did he smile and explain to Fang Hua, “After the meeting, Master Wu Zhi sought me out. Since he needed a favor from me, he gifted me a top-quality Furnace Cauldron. This Furnace Cauldron’s Cultivation Technique is special. If she can be nurtured to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage before being used for Gathering and Replenishing, she can help a Core Formation Master break through to the Golden Core Middle Stage.”

Fang Hua nodded in understanding.

Then, her eyes, which held a veiled Sword Intent, fixed on Du Youqian. “Fellow Daoist Yu, surely you don’t intend to walk the Dao of Gathering and Replenishing as well? I remember you once said that you don’t like taking shortcuts, that Cultivation requires a solid foundation.”

Du Youqian couldn’t help but laugh. “Where is your mind wandering? I would never use her. A Furnace Cauldron of her beauty and quality is practically hard currency. Whether I decide to gift her to someone in the future or trade her for something else, she’s a presentable offering.”

Fang Hua’s expression relaxed, and her gaze softened considerably.

Du Youqian, on the other hand, lowered his head in thought. After a long moment, he shook his head.

“What is it, Fellow Daoist Yu?”

“It’s nothing!” Du Youqian forced a smile.

In truth, he was wondering when he had become this kind of person.

Someone who saw a living, breathing human being as mere cargo.

’It’s true… it’s the environment that changes a person, not the other way around.’

After they chatted for a bit, Luo Jinyu hurried over.

“Brother Yu, I heard you just taught Master You Long a lesson?”

“Yeah. Don’t worry, Xiaogu will be back soon.”

Luo Jinyu made no attempt to hide his reverence and excitement. “I’ll go tell the others the good news.”

With that, he was gone like a gust of wind.

Fang Hua’s mouth fell slightly open, her expression one of utter astonishment.

Of course, she knew Du Youqian was formidable, but the problem was that he had only just reached Core Formation. He hadn’t yet learned any Magic or Secret Techniques of the Core Formation Stage, nor had he forged a set of Treasures suitable for a Core Formation Master.

In contrast, Immortal Carefree, You Long, had achieved Core Formation over twenty years ago and was fully equipped with all the requisite Magic, Secret Techniques, and Treasures.

Moreover, You Long had also been a True Inheritor back in his day and possessed a solid foundation.

Even if his reputation wasn’t as dazzling as Du Youqian’s, she assumed there wouldn’t be a significant gap in their actual strength.

No matter how she looked at it, Du Youqian should have been no match for him.

What she hadn’t considered was that the Divine Ability Du Youqian had recently acquired, “Copper Skin Iron Bones,” had been the deciding factor.

Otherwise, the outcome of their three-move bout would have been anyone’s guess.

After a few more words, Du Youqian headed to Feng Xiaoyi’s cave residence.

As the meeting was breaking up earlier, she had shot Du Youqian a look, clearly indicating she had something to say.

Du Youqian had simply returned first to get the Furnace Cauldron settled in.

When he arrived at Feng Xiaoyi’s residence, he saw his master with her sleeves rolled up, etching a design onto the unfired clay body of a ceramic vase.

“Disciple greets Master.”

“Ah, my disciple, you’re here. Have a seat. Zi Yan, serve tea.” Feng Xiaoyi waved her hand, and an attendant at Qi Cultivation Perfection with her hair in a servant’s topknot stepped forward to pour tea for Du Youqian.

Feng Xiaoyi waved her hand again, and Zi Yan silently withdrew.

As Du Youqian drank his tea, he noticed his master’s fine brows were knitted together and her gaze was unfocused, as if she were troubled by some great puzzle.

Feng Xiaoyi didn’t speak, and neither did he. He simply watched her in silence.

Feng Xiaoyi usually presented a dazzling and seductive image to the world, but she was just as captivating when dressed so simply at home.

Her voluptuous, fair-skinned body, like a ripe fruit that would gush juice at the slightest pinch, had no need for revealing attire.

Even in a simple, modest dress, she exuded an effortless, sensual grace that flowed from her silently.

Whether it was an inexperienced young man or a seasoned Casanova who had savored countless beauties, both would be utterly captivated by her.

After a long moment, as if speaking to herself, Feng Xiaoyi said out of the blue, “I never expected you to win.”

Du Youqian knew what she was talking about, of course. He smiled and said, “You Long has one head and two arms, just like me. It’s not like he has the ’Three Heads and Six Arms’ Divine Ability. Why couldn’t I beat him?”

Feng Xiaoyi shook her head. “You don’t understand. The other day, when I protected Xiaogu, I secretly clashed with him and suffered a major… well, a minor setback. His strength is not to be underestimated. Today, he didn’t show his true hand.”

Du Youqian pondered for a moment before saying uncertainly, “Perhaps he didn’t truly want to make an enemy of me. Maybe he just planned to fight to a draw and find a graceful way to back down. He just didn’t expect my Sword Intent to have improved by leaps and bounds, allowing me to injure him at the critical moment.”

Still, Feng Xiaoyi’s words made him seriously consider the possibility: You Long was holding back.

But why would You Long be holding back?

“Perhaps so,” Feng Xiaoyi said, looking up, her soft, rosy lips curved in a slight smile. “The truth is, I called you here today because there’s something I want to entrust to you, but… I find myself hesitating.”

Du Youqian quickly replied, “If Master has a task, your disciple is here to carry it out. Please, Master, speak freely!”

Feng Xiaoyi let out a soft, melancholic sigh that seemed to linger in the air.

Du Youqian was a little taken aback.

In the sixty-odd years he had known Feng Xiaoyi, he had seen his master be passionate and enchanting, sensual and seductive, a woman of infinite charms.

But he had never seen her act so hesitant and reserved.

“If Master is going to be so distant, your disciple will be deeply saddened.”

Feng Xiaoyi bit her lip, her bright, liquid eyes losing focus as her thoughts drifted elsewhere.

After a long pause, she sighed softly again. “Never mind. It’s nothing. You may go.”

Du Youqian thought for a moment, then nodded. “In that case, your disciple will take his leave.”

He knew that Feng Xiaoyi was an incredibly strong-willed person. Once she decided not to say something, it was nearly impossible to change her mind.

After Du Youqian’s figure had vanished, Feng Xiaoyi murmured to herself, “You can never truly know what is in a person’s heart. To truly understand someone, sixty years is not enough. I must observe him longer… A matter of this magnitude cannot be entrusted to the wrong person.”

~~~~~~~~~

While waiting for the Sect to recall Gu Xiaofang, Du Youqian did not engage in arduous Cultivation.

All things in the world live and die, ebb and flow.

When he had successfully achieved Core Formation, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit had all reached their peak.

Now, however, was a time when his drive and willpower were beginning to wane.

It was time to relax a bit.

So, each day, he simply visited friends, summoned his subordinates to inquire after their well-being, and occasionally suppressed his Cultivation to the Foundation Establishment level to spar with Fang Hua.

However, even when he suppressed his Cultivation, his Divine Sense could still completely overwhelm Fang Hua’s.

When he was at Foundation Establishment Perfection, the range of his Divine Sense could reach over 2,300 zhang, which was nearly ten li.

But upon achieving Core Formation, his Divine Sense range immediately multiplied, reaching forty li.

Not only was the range greater, but its perception of detail had become far more granular.

The instant Fang Hua’s Magical Power stirred, he could predict her next move.

Therefore, even when suppressing his Cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Realm, he could still handle Fang Hua with absolute ease.

Thinking back on it now, the fact that he’d been able to challenge Master Taihe and last a hundred moves without being defeated wasn’t because he was so incredible, but because Master Taihe was just that weak.

If he had challenged his current, post-Core Formation self back then, he would have been effortlessly defeated in less than three moves.

In his spare time, Du Youqian also visited the Collection Room to browse through materials and the notes of predecessors that he hadn’t been qualified to access before Core Formation. He also exchanged points for useful Secret Techniques, Magic, and records of Cultivation experience relevant to his new realm.

At the same time, he was also on the lookout for Tier Three Materials, preparing to forge a suitable set of Treasures for himself.

Some destitute Core Formation Masters, in order to gather the necessary Core Formation Spiritual Objects and Core Formation Secret Techniques, had to take on debts that would take them centuries to repay.

Many had been at the Core Formation Stage for decades, or even a century, yet were still strapped for cash, with only one or two Treasures to their name.

However, for a Core Formation Cultivator like Du Youqian, who hailed from the True Inheritance of a Major Sect, money was generally not a concern.

With his current net worth, forging seven or eight Treasures would be no problem at all.

The first thing on his list to forge, of course, was a Treasure Level Flying Sword with the potential to be upgraded.

Just as he was about to get started, Meng Xiao returned.

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