Chapter 71: The Significance of the Azure Cloud Conference in Central Province

Cao Xuan’s gaze became somewhat absent-minded. Just a year ago, he had thought that drawing ten times in a row might prove to be difficult. Yet now, a year later, as his skills—or rather, his cultivation—had steadily increased, he found himself able to approach the fairies from various angles. He realized that true satisfaction of both body and mind was the right path.

He would present small gifts from time to time, creating little surprises. The beautiful scenery of the Azure Cloud Mountain Range offered endless opportunities for romance beneath flowers, in the snow, and under the moonlight. Most importantly, there was the matter of physical harmony. Over the course of this year, his bond with the three women had grown increasingly close, a perfect fit, walking the grand path together.

“Fifteen chances to draw. I can use ten for a single tenfold draw, then five single draws. After we return from seeing Master, it might be a good time to try that tenfold draw! If the results are good, I’ll save up for tenfold draws from now on. If not, I’ll stick to single draws and hope for a miracle!”

Seeing Cao Xuan’s eyes once again clouded with distraction, Li Yao pouted, though she was not upset. After spending a year together, she had come to realize just how perceptive this junior brother of hers was. She lightly touched her belly, where Cao Xuan had inscribed a child rune for her.

The child rune from the Heavenly Talisman Codex was something Cao Xuan had developed himself—a creative application of the Heavenly Talisman. Within Li Yao’s dantian was her own life talisman from the Rune Cloud Art, and on her navel was the heart-shaped child rune inscribed by Cao Xuan. The combination of the two meant that, in terms of cultivation efficiency, she was second only to Cao Xuan himself, who possessed the Heavenly Talisman.

Thus, she was no longer surprised by his occasional absent-mindedness. By the time Cao Xuan returned to himself, they were already approaching their master’s dwelling.

“Sorry, Senior Sister, what were you saying just now? I had another sudden insight into my cultivation,” Cao Xuan apologized.

Li Yao waved her hand in a carefree manner. “No worries, Senior Sister is used to it!” As she spoke, she lightly lifted a corner of her skirt with her right hand, revealing the lace at her waist, causing Cao Xuan’s heart to flutter.

Li Yao fanned herself with her left hand and said, “Why does it feel a bit warm here on the Talisman Peak?”

Cao Xuan reached out to catch a snowflake drifting down from the sky. It was the height of winter, after all. He smiled faintly, choosing not to expose her little act. “After we pay our respects to Master, does Senior Sister need me to visit your quarters and help you cool down a bit?”

Li Yao smiled as well. “How considerate of you, Junior Brother!”

Inside the main hall atop Talisman Peak, Yu Wan sat with dignified composure, hands clasped over her abdomen, her gaze calm as she regarded her two personal disciples.

“Disciple Cao Xuan (Li Yao) pays respects to Master!”

“Wishing Master immortal blessings and everlasting longevity, and a swift ascension to the Golden Core realm!”

Yu Wan smiled slightly. “Cao Xuan, how did you manage to teach your senior sister to be so glib?”

She had raised Li Yao for many years and knew her disciple—who was like both a student and a daughter—very well.

“Master, don’t say that. Even without Junior Brother, I’ve grown a lot on my own!” Li Yao replied playfully.

Yu Wan smiled and glanced at her graceful figure and long legs. “Indeed, you’ve grown quite a bit. Junior Brother must have helped you plenty.”

Li Yao’s face flushed red at once. “Master, you’re teasing me!”

Cao Xuan merely smiled, saying nothing.

[Ding~ Yu Wan’s affection +2]
[Ding~ Yu Wan’s current affection: 62]

After a year of her seclusion, he had barely had any chance to interact with her. A few sweet words to close the distance between them could only help.

“Enough, the reason I summoned you both here is that, in a few days, we will travel to the Central Continent’s Azure Cloud Sect to attend the Azure Cloud Conference. I wanted to see how your cultivation has progressed.”

Li Yao and Cao Xuan both straightened, aware of the importance of the Azure Cloud Conference after this past year. It was the event that tested all the genius disciples under fifty years old from the Azure Cloud Sects across the entire Xuanhua Continent—including the Central Continent, East Wastes, Southern Wilds, Northern Territory, and Western Sea Isles.

Depending on their cultivation stage, different rewards would be given. For instance, Qi Refining stage disciples could win Foundation-Building Pills, while Foundation Establishment stage disciples could earn the Azure Cloud Grotto—both treasured prizes.

It might seem surprising that their own Azure Cloud Sect of Yunzhou would compete in the Foundation Establishment group, but that was because their sect was the dominant force in Yunzhou. In other regions, some Azure Cloud Sects were only minor branches, with leaders who might be only at the Foundation Establishment level. Their most talented disciples coming to the Central Continent might only be at the seventh to ninth stage of Qi Refining, for whom a Foundation-Building Pill was the most coveted prize.

The centennial Azure Cloud Conference was not only a means for the Central Continent’s Azure Cloud Sect to maintain connections with its counterparts across the continents, but also an opportunity for the branches to strengthen their foundations. The original overlord of Yunzhou was not the Azure Cloud Sect; it had gradually grown from a minor branch into the dominant power.

This year’s Azure Cloud Conference was their Yunzhou branch’s chance to break through to the Golden Core realm. If they failed and Sect Master Yu Qingsong passed away, their dominance in Yunzhou could very well be threatened.

As the most promising candidate to reach the Golden Core, Peak Master Yu Wan had long been entrusted with great expectations. She now spoke calmly:

“To be honest, we never had much confidence in the Azure Cloud Conference. But now that both of you have reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, our hopes are not unfounded!”

She first looked to Li Yao, who immediately released her cultivation aura.

“Late Foundation Establishment, nearing the peak. It seems you have worked hard this past year, Yao’er.”

Li Yao blushed, sneaking a glance at Cao Xuan.

Yu Wan’s tone remained composed, but inside she was somewhat shocked. She herself had spent ten years polishing her skills in the late Foundation Establishment stage, and even with the help of pills and spirit-gathering talismans, it had taken her six years to move from the early to the middle phase.

Yet Li Yao had accomplished this in just one year. She turned her eyes to Cao Xuan.

She knew her newest disciple’s life talisman was superior to Li Yao’s—indeed, it was likely better than her own. A year earlier, through spiritual sense, she had discovered her disciple had devised a dual cultivation technique. The Azure Cloud Sect’s library contained some dual cultivation methods, but they were rudimentary, requiring either techniques with the same origin, or simple contact such as palm-to-palm or back-to-back circulation.

She had never seen, nor dared to try, the kind of dual cultivation technique where two people embraced as one, as Cao Xuan had developed. She well understood that cultivation methods could not be judged by appearances alone; every detail of how energy circulated and true essence was transferred mattered deeply.

A year ago, she had no opportunity to ask, and with Cao Xuan having just broken through, she did not believe his dual cultivation method would necessarily surpass her own progress. So she stuck to her habits, secluding herself to consolidate her peak Foundation Establishment cultivation, hoping to break through to Golden Core in the Azure Cloud Grotto secret realm during the conference.

Now, seeing Li Yao’s rapid advancement, she found herself tempted to try it as well. Still, as a dignified master, she could not bring herself to ask her disciple to dual cultivate with her.

Yu Wan nodded, acknowledging that Li Yao had not slacked off in her cultivation this year, and then turned to Cao Xuan. “Xuan’er... how has your cultivation progressed?”

Their relationship was not yet especially close, so the way she addressed him as “Xuan’er” was a bit awkward, but as she was a hundred years his senior, it was perfectly appropriate.

Without hesitation, Cao Xuan released his own aura.