Lin Wanyin stood on the edge of the cliff, gazing at the sea of clouds in the distance, her heart filled with turmoil.
She had been with Situ Shuang'er at the Heavenly Sword Sect for some time now.
The entire sect held Shuang'er in high regard, not only bestowing upon her the title of Holy Maiden but also grooming her as the future sect leader, allowing her free access to cultivation resources.
Shuang'er did not disappoint, her cultivation level rising rapidly.
Logically, this should be the outcome she most wanted to see.
But Lin Wanyin always felt a void in her heart.
These days, another figure would occasionally pop into her mind.
That person was sometimes frivolous, sometimes domineering, and sometimes so steady that it gave people a strange sense of security.
She would recall the shame and indignation she felt when she was forced to tie up her long hair at Flowing Cloud Peak.
She would also recall the panic she felt when he pressed her against the window at Drunken Moon Tower in Qingyang City.
Those repeated moments of madness...
Lin Wanyin's cheeks flushed whenever she thought of this.
Shame, anger, and resentment.
These emotions have always been there.
But from some unknown point in time, a longing quietly began to grow deep within her heart, a longing that she herself was unwilling to admit.
She missed the exhilarating feeling of having her cultivation bottleneck forcibly broken through, and the intoxicating sensation of her spiritual power rapidly increasing within her body.
She even began to get used to being held in that man's arms in such a domineering yet warm way.
"I'm going crazy, I must be going crazy."
Lin Wanyin raised her hand to press her burning cheeks, her mind in turmoil.
She never imagined that she, a powerful expert in the Heavenly Origin Realm, a former elder of the Azure Mystic Sect, and the peak master of Flowing Cloud Peak, would have such thoughts about a junior who had ruined her reputation and was constantly manipulating her.
Just as she was lost in thought, she heard soft footsteps behind her.
Immediately afterwards, a clear, crisp sound rang out.
"Mother, what are you thinking about so intently?"
Lin Wanyin stiffened, turned around, and hadn't yet managed to hide the panic on her face.
"Ah?"
" Shuang'er, what brings you here?"
The person who arrived was none other than Situ Shuang'er.
She was dressed in the attire of a holy maiden of the Heavenly Sword Sect, a white skirt embroidered with silver patterns, a jade belt around her waist, and her long hair was tied up with a phoenix-shaped jade hairpin. Her eyebrows and eyes were exquisite, and her temperament was pure and otherworldly, yet also carried a hint of arrogance.
Compared to her time at the Azure Mystic Sect, she now seems more like a saintess truly cherished by the sect.
Looking at her daughter standing quietly in front of her, Lin Wanyin's mind was once again inappropriately filled with memories of that night at Flowing Cloud Peak.
That night, Shuang'er was outside the door.
But inside the house, she was... by that little rascal...
Thinking of this, Lin Wanyin's face flushed even more, and her breathing became erratic for a moment.
Situ Shuang'er didn't speak immediately, but tilted her head and looked at her mother with a hint of doubt.
She always felt that her mother had been acting strangely ever since the broken engagement at the Azure Mystic Sect.
Especially in the past few days since arriving at the Heavenly Sword Sect, my mother has often come to the edge of the cliff alone to daydream. She prefers to stay here rather than move to the villa with a stronger Spiritual Qi that the sect has arranged for her.
and...
Situ Shuang'er's gaze swept over Lin Wanyin's chest, then paused slightly.
The pale purple collar was stretched taut, the fabric so tight it seemed it might burst at any moment.
Although my mother's size wasn't small before, it never had the overwhelming sense of oppression I feel now.
However, the thought only flashed through her mind, and she quickly dismissed it.
"Mother, is something on your mind?"
" Shuang'er, you seem a bit unhappy lately."
"Are you not used to staying at the Heavenly Sword Sect?"
Lin Wanyin shook her head and reached out to tidy up the stray hairs at her temples.
"Mother is fine, don't make wild guesses."
She paused for a moment, then changed the subject.
"But you, have any of those people from the Heavenly Sword Sect bullied you?"
Situ Shuang'er took her arm, her tone slightly coquettish.
"Don't worry, Mother, no one in the sect dares to bully me."
At this point, she wrinkled her nose again, revealing a hint of impatience.
"But there are always some self-important guys who keep coming to bother us, which is really annoying."
Lin Wanyin flickered slightly.
" Nangong Wuhen?"
Situ Shuang'er gave a soft hum, without denying it.
"He takes advantage of being the Holy Son and always finds excuses to get close to me."
"I'm not a three-year-old child, how could I not see through his thoughts?"
Lin Wanyin frowned slightly.
Nangong Wuhen appears to be a man of good manners on the surface, but the desire hidden in his eyes is undeniable.
It might not be a good thing for Shuang'er to get too close to him.
"Then be careful."
"Mother, don't worry."
Situ Shuang'er raised her chin, her eyes brimming with confidence.
" Shuang'er has already entered the Divine Sea Realm First Level; he is still no match for me."
"What?"
Lin Wanyin immediately revealed unconcealed shock.
You broke through? So fast?
The journey from the Azure Mystic Sect to the Heavenly Sword Sect took only a few days.
Situ Shuang'er actually skipped all the way from the Spirit Martial Realm to the Heavenly Origin Realm and directly stepped into the Divine Sea Realm.
This speed can no longer be explained simply by being a genius.
The Divine Sea Realm is the true watershed in martial arts.
The spiritual energy transforms into a sea, the divine soul solidifies, and lifespan and combat power undergo a transformation.
Countless martial artists spend their entire lives cultivating, yet still struggle to reach this level.
Even Zhang Qingfeng Azure Mystic Sect, is still stuck at that threshold.
"That's natural."
Situ Shuang'er's tone carried a hint of smugness.
"After awakening the Nine-Colored Imperial Phoenix Physique, my cultivation speed was already unmatched by ordinary geniuses."
"Two days ago, with the remaining medicinal power of the Vermilion Bird Pill and the sect's resources, I broke through to the Divine Sea Realm in one go."
" Nangong Wuhen is only at the Heavenly Origin Realm Ninth Layer. Even if that elder in the sect is at the Divine Sea Realm Third Level, he might not be able to defeat me without using his trump cards."
Lin Wanyin tightened, and she quickly grasped her hand.
" Shuang'er, you must never mention the name 'physique' again, and you must never tell anyone else about it."
Situ Shuang'er blinked.
"Don't worry, Mother, I haven't told anyone in the sect."
That's good.
Lin Wanyin a sigh of relief, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
"It's good to make progress in cultivation, but one shouldn't become arrogant or complacent because of it."
There are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding; never underestimate anyone.
"You have just entered the Divine Sea, and your foundation is not yet stable. Do not let temporary power go to your head."
She spoke earnestly, and Situ Shuang'er nodded obediently.
"Don't worry, Mother, I know what I'm doing."
That's what they say.
The pride in the girl's eyes remained undiminished.
The changes brought about by the Nine-Colored Imperial Phoenix Physique far exceeded her previous expectations.
Those seemingly insurmountable realms of the past can now be crossed step by step, provided there are sufficient resources.
She even felt that she was destined to stand at the top of the world.
Lin Wanyin looked at her daughter, feeling both gratified and somewhat uneasy.
She naturally knew something about the Nine-Colored Imperial Phoenix Physique.
It was precisely because of this understanding that she knew the Vermilion Bird Pill, which could awaken such a physique, was by no means ordinary.
She hadn't thought about it deeply before.
But looking back now, it seems even more wrong.
Shuang'er's constitution is too special.
Even a top-grade elixir shouldn't have this effect.
Moreover, the Nine-Colored Imperial Phoenix Physique Body within Shuang'er's body has almost reached its complete state after awakening.
This is something that ordinary elixirs cannot achieve.
unless...
Wondrous Objects of Heaven and Earth.