Guidance

At the Yang Family Hunting Grounds, beside the field ridges, the chill brought by early winter only made the greenery atop the ridges grow ever more lush and glistening.

Since the autumn harvest, many seasonal vegetables had been planted along the ridges: cauliflower, chives, cabbage, lettuce, orchid shoots, and the most common of all, radishes. Yuan Xiuxiu was picking vegetables when she saw Yang Huai trailing after her step for step. Her willow brows immediately furrowed. "Yang, you've followed me all the way. If you have something to say, say it!"

Looking at Yuan Xiuxiu's lovely expression, Yang Huai gave a chuckle and said, "Wife, I was thinking—if two sides were engaged in a spell duel, and one side surpassed the other in both magical power and secret techniques, how could the weaker side win?"

Yuan Xiuxiu shot Yang Huai an annoyed look. "Win what? If you don't run at a time like this, when will you run?"

"What if I can't get away?" Yang Huai widened his eyes.

"Then wait to die!" Yuan Xiuxiu gave a soft snort.

Yang Huai immediately looked disappointed. "Is there really no way at all?"

Yuan Xiuxiu looked at Yang Huai somewhat strangely and said flatly, "Do you have any powerful magical treasures?"

"No!"

Yuan Xiuxiu asked again, "Are you more agile than your opponent?"

"Doesn't seem like it!" Yang Huai shook his head.

He remembered that Feng Ying seemed particularly skilled in wind-element techniques. He had even demonstrated the Seizing Mountain Wind Technique before him.

"Then is your physique stronger than theirs?"

Yang Huai was immediately left speechless. Feng Ying had always possessed a powerful physique. Back when they were in the kitchen, he often helped Qingli carry firewood. Even beneath the searing blaze of true fire, he had remained completely unscathed.

Yuan Xiuxiu shook her head. "Then it will be very difficult. Unless you can take the initiative to find your opponent's weakness and create an opportunity for victory!"

Yang Huai nodded, then could not help asking, "Wife, have you ever fought a battle you had no confidence in winning?"

Yuan Xiuxiu thought for a moment before shaking her head. "No. Among cultivators of my generation, I have always stood at the forefront. I have always crushed my peers with all manner of techniques. Only when several old fellows joined hands to ambush me did I suffer a loss. But once I recover, I'll make them pay!"

Yang Huai immediately said, "Rest assured, wife. Once I achieve something in my cultivation, I will definitely avenge this grievance for you!"

"You? Fine. I'll wait for the day you can help me!"

A faint smile appeared on Yuan Xiuxiu's lovely face. Though she knew in her heart that Yang Huai would likely never see such a day in this lifetime—every one of her foes was a formidable figure who had cultivated the Dao for over a thousand years—she was still quite happy. She silently made up her mind.

She had to secure Yang Huai a chance to attain the Dao, no matter how winding and arduous the path might be.

Of course, if Yang Huai failed to achieve anything in his Dao cultivation in this life, she would still come to guide him across in the next.

This was the fate between them. It had begun the moment Yang Huai saved her.

Watching his figure depart along the field ridge with a bundle of green vegetables in hand, her eyes flickered. "This afternoon, I'll take another trip up the mountain and see whether I can gather some herbs to help Yang complete the Greater Circulatory Cycle sooner!"

Taking advantage of the fine weather, Yang Huai remained diligent and unremitting.

He had already completed the Greater Circulatory Cycle through Qingli, and had even broken through to great perfection. Now that he cultivated again, his progress was extraordinarily swift. He avoided many detours and no longer had to worry about accidentally straying onto the wrong path or damaging his hidden apertures and meridians. He could open apertures in one unbroken sequence.

He also took the opportunity to master the Little Vajra Incantation.

The Little Vajra Incantation was a meditation-type technique. Like the Soul-Calming Spirit-Cleaving Technique, it required no magical power to sustain it. As long as one's soul was powerful enough, it could be used. This was also a characteristic of a soul Dao foundation.

Within the small courtyard, Yang Huai could clearly sense the transformation of his soul, even his wisdom. Every time his qi and blood washed over the area around the Muddy Pellet Palace, his soul seemed to receive a trace of nourishment. It was as though, when qi and blood passed through these hidden apertures, it could be transformed into power that nourished the soul.

This change in him was astonishing. Even the old donkey in the donkey shed stared wide-eyed at the sight.

The Nine Heavens Orthodox Path spoke of the qi of the two strings joining together to form the Dao: four ounces above, eight ounces below; half cultivation of nature, half cultivation of life. Yet the two were not independent of each other. Instead, they balanced each other, like yin and yang as one body, each bringing the other to completion.

The Lesser Circulatory Cycle Method was one such Foundation Establishment method. The Dao foundation it forged was exceptionally orthodox, but such Foundation Establishment methods had an obvious flaw—they placed too great a demand on a cultivator's innate physique and comprehension.

Yang Huai looked rather dull-witted, yet his comprehension in cultivation was unexpectedly remarkable. He had merely received Yuan Xiuxiu's secret method through oral instruction, yet he could directly circulate the Lesser Circulatory Cycle Method through the Greater Circulatory Cycle without the slightest obstruction. Such talent was truly exceptional.

"The only pity is that his innate physique is insufficient, and the innate essence within him is lacking. The Dao foundation he forms may not be very deep, and it will likely affect his future cultivation!"

"It is also because His Majesty has fallen on hard times. Otherwise, we could have sought out immortal medicine to cleanse his innate physique and make up for some of the deficiency. But now, we can only wait to remedy it later. That will be far inferior..."

The old donkey muttered to itself, then found a spot in the clean straw and lay down. But suddenly, its ears twitched. Its eyes turned toward the depths of the mountains, and its expression became somewhat strange. Yuan Xiuxiu also emerged from the courtyard.

Xi Huang Kingdom. The next day, Yang Huai refined and absorbed the second Millennium Vermilion Fruit early in the morning before hurrying to the Slaughter Hall.

As for the contests in the Demonstration Hall, they could not interfere with his daily lessons.

Slaughter Hall

The red-robed Flame Daoist had already been waiting there. An exceptionally pure scent of honey sweetness wafted from his body. From time to time, he would raise his gourd and take a drink, his face full of satisfaction.

Yang Huai looked curiously at this martial uncle, then swept his gaze around. Yet he did not see the exotic beast meant to be slaughtered today.

Flame Daoist said lazily, "No need to look. That azure goat exotic beast has already been dealt with by me in advance!"

"You have something else to do today!"

Hearing Flame Daoist's words, Yang Huai's heart skipped another beat. Flame Daoist's unpredictable temperament had already made him somewhat jumpy. Guarded, he cupped his hands and said, "Please instruct me, Martial Uncle!"

"No need to be so stiff!" Flame Daoist waved a hand. He set down his wine gourd and asked flatly, "Tell me, did you make an appointment yesterday to duel Feng Ying?"

Yang Huai paused slightly before replying, "In response to Martial Uncle, this disciple indeed has a spell duel arranged with Junior Brother Feng today!"

"Do you think you can defeat him?"

Yang Huai answered honestly, "This battle will likely be a hard one!"

"At least you have some self-awareness." Flame Daoist gave Yang Huai a flat glance.

"Do you want to win?"

"Hmm?" Yang Huai immediately raised his head, his eyes filled with surprise as he looked at the tightfisted Flame Daoist. From the sound of it, the man seemed to be planning to lend him a hand.

He quickly said, "Please enlighten me, Martial Uncle!"

Satisfaction appeared in Flame Daoist's eyes. Then he sneered. "That brat Feng Ying relies on his Wind Clan background to look down on the inheritance of our Slaughter Hall. Naturally, I will help you defeat him, blunt his arrogance, and raise the prestige of our Slaughter Hall!"

His words were filled with indignation and anger.

Yang Huai stood quietly to one side, but inwardly let out a breath of relief.

This was more like the Flame Daoist he knew.

After thinking briefly, Flame Daoist said, "Feng Ying comes from a collateral branch of the Wind Clan, and he can be considered one of the more outstanding disciples among that branch. His foundation centers on wind and lightning—unyielding yang tempered with no lack of agility. Though that brat usually acts exceedingly arrogant, he is actually meticulous and cautious. He has likely cultivated quite a few of the Wind Clan's secret arts, and in this regard, you cannot compare to them!"

"But our Slaughter Hall also possesses a unique inheritance of slaughter. We have no shortage of secret techniques that surpass those minor arts. Unfortunately, you do not have enough time!"

Yang Huai nodded. This was indeed one of his weaknesses.

After all, he had cultivated for too short a time. It was already no easy feat for him to have reached this stage.

After thinking for a moment, Flame Daoist asked, "What is the most powerful offensive technique you currently possess? Show it to me!"

Yang Huai's expression grew solemn. At such a time, he no longer held anything back. A soul-carving blade emerged from the depths of his sea of consciousness, and twin beams of white light a foot long shot from his eyes straight at Flame Daoist. Yet before those beams could approach Flame Daoist's body, layers of invisible golden light suddenly emerged around him, with flames surging within.

It was the Little Vajra Incantation!

When the Soul-Calming Spirit-Cleaving Technique struck the protective barrier formed by the Little Vajra Incantation, it failed to stir even the slightest ripple.

A look of unsurprised understanding appeared in Flame Daoist's eyes. He had seen this secret technique of Yang Huai's before. "If it is this strange technique, then you still have a chance!"

His brows furrowed in thought before his expression turned cold. "But you'll have to suffer a little!"

At the mention of suffering, a trace of ill intent appeared on Flame Daoist's face.