From the moment that Xinzi left the Clear Heart Monastery to join the White Immortal sect, Zi Yao and he had never had a proper meeting. Hanxing, Ziyun, Guang Fanghu, our monk had met all of the White Immortal sect's top brass, all except for Zi Yao. At first, Xinzi blamed this on bad timing as, without a shred of doubt, Zi Yao was the busiest master of the White Immortal sect. Cultivation, alchemy, logistics, formations, and other duties that one could only imagine. The Yin Matriarch barely had time for her disciples and relatives, to say nothing of a complete stranger.
However, as the years went by, Xinzi realized that there were only two reasons behind the distance that Zi Yao put between him and her: fear and scorn. On the one hand, the Yin Matriarch, who from the start aimed to pair Chun Xu with Xinzi, didn't want the monk to fall in love with her. As far as she was concerned, Xinzi had to stay focused. A divided Xinzi would be much harder to control than a focused one. The little hussies of the Liberation Temple didn't matter. After all, the world had no shortage of men that, despite large harems, still poured their love on a select few. But a Zi Yao might prove too much for Xinzi's "young and impressionable mind," making him lose interest in beauties his age.
That Zi Yao thought so highly of herself that she believed a mere look at her could shift our monk's priorities never failed to make Xinzi burst into laughter. Alas, when he learned how badly the Yin Matriarch despised Lianist monks, the amusement turned into disappointment.
"You monks are frauds, using the Golden Lotus' name and the freedom it imparts upon you to serve your own agendas. Qingxin is so, and you are as well. I do not care for your status as an Enlightened Monk, your status as Qingxin's disciple, and the prestige these titles might award you in the outside world. Here, you are a White Immortal sect disciple. And White Immortal sect disciples owe me respect. Xinzi, do not mess with me, or I will make you rue the day you were born a man." Tilting her head to the left, Zi Yao glanced at Xinzi's crotch and said in a calm, chilling tone.
"*Sniff* *Sniff* Oooh. Matriarch, I am scared and confused. You called, and despite your derogatory comments, I answered. To put my dignity aside, accept any moniker you throw my way, yet still face you with utter humility. Is this not a show of love and respect? Matriarch, why is it that, despite all I do to have you see me in a good light, you can't help but threaten me. *Sniff* *Sniff*" Xinzi palmed his face, yet his hands couldn't stifle the loud sobs triggered by the matriarch's unjust treatment.
Aware that the immoral monk was pulling yet another prank on her, Zi Yao clenched her fists, and her face twitched in annoyance.
"Dong Ling's primal yin is broken. You screwed my daughter."
"This…I'd decline to answer, but the evidence is damning."
"And now you want to screw my disciple as well."
"This…I'd decline to answer, but the evidence is damning."
"And afterward, I wouldn't be surprised if you wanted to screw me as well. Would my wretched sister even escape your thirst? Xinzi, it seems to me that you will not stop until you have screwed my entire family. So forgive me if I have some difficulties treating you with courtesy. However, it is one thing for me to not like you—another to suppress you. The White Immortal sect will always treasure its future—treasure you. If you can reciprocate even 10% of all the gifts the sect showers you with, though we will not be friends, you and I can still have an excellent work relationship." Zi Yao ended the brisk exchange, speaking with a bluntness that Xinzi didn't know her capable of. In that instant, our monk had to re-evaluate his sect mistress. At the same time, his interest in the matriarch grew somewhat.
"Interesting. But dear matriarch, you seem oddly confused. Why is it that me wanting to screw your family should result in us not being good friends? It seems to me that since I'm just trying to give you all my love and care, you should welcome me with open arms. Or is that not how it works? If so, from the bottom of my heart, I apologize…to absolutely nobody. When we're tangling under the sheets, you'll all be thanking me anyway, so I'll take the curses for now—and enjoy your future whimpers more." Keeping eye-contact, Xinzi said, making the ever-composed matriarch tremble at the audacity of the words.
"Also, you've got something else wrong. If like you said, I want you, then dear matriarch, regardless of all the tricks you put forth, you…cannot escape." As the words rolled off Xinzi's tongue, Zi Yao's face twisted into a frown and her killing intent erupted. Xinzi met it with a defiant smile, shrugging off the pressure that the matriarch's killing intent put on his body.
"But that…is a matter for another time. Isn't it?" He added, reminding Zi Yao of why they were here in the first place.
"Indeed. Let your body get accustomed to the Harmonious Bliss Array. Chun Xu has been here for hours and will likely be done soon," Zi Yao said, shifted to the left, and returned to silence. Aware that he couldn't get more out of the matriarch now, Xinzi returned his focus to Chun Xu, letting the array work its magic.
The Harmonious Bliss Array, as its name suggested, was a dual cultivation array devised by the White Immortal sect to maximize the results of the Yin-Yang consummation ritual. Not only did it provide all the benefits of a fourth-layer Copulation Array, but it also heightened the pair's senses and enabled them to get a preternatural understanding of their partner's body.
Summoned by the Nine Paths of Yin and Yang, black and white light undulated Chun Xu's form, sneaking into and repairing all the meridians that the Wisp of Heaven's Breath had damaged years ago. But beyond this, dense vertical clouds formed around the Sword Fairy, sparkling with thunder currents and lightning rays as Chun Xu dug her own cultivation method from the Nine Paths.
It was as if, with Chun Xu as the center, a storm was taking off. The array lines shook. Zi Yao's eyes narrowed at her disciple, and though she knew that Chun Xu could never damage a fourth-layer array, the mere fact that it trembled filled her with a mix of surprise and pride.
Chun Xu's eyes opened at last, locking on Xinzi who in them saw gray mist and lightning coil.
"Congratulations, Xu'er. How will you name this method?" Zi Yao asked. Any method derived from the Nine Paths would at least be of the Heaven grade. And as she probed the energy fluctuations, Zi Yao had the firm belief that Chun Xu's technique surpassed that grade. Unlike Xinzi, Chun Xu would share that skill—enabling the sect to count on another supreme method. Even if no one else managed to cultivate it, it'd still provide many benefits.
"The Congenital Storm Breathing Technique," Chun Xu said, but although she answered Zi Yao, her eyes didn't shift from Xinzi—almost as if it was the monk that she addressed herself to. The matriarch didn't like that gaze. It reminded her of how Huo Jin, Guang Fanghu and many others looked at her as they awkwardly attempted to restrain the flames that made their hearts palpitate. Still, Zi Yao believed in the training she'd given Chun Xu—her disciple wouldn't fail her.
"As you wish. I assume that Xinzi too has comprehended a skill of his own. I will now impart both of you with the mnemonics of the Yin-Yang Sword Array. It is both an array and cultivation method. For each level of the cultivation method that you reach, you will automatically grasp the corresponding layer of the array. Activate your skills as you recite the mnemonics. Doing so will help you harvest more benefits than any of your predecessors have gotten here." Zi Yao gave a series of instructions. But to her dismay, it was as if neither Xinzi nor Chun Xu registered her presence—letting her speak to the air.
Nerves beat on the matriarch's temple, but once more her restraint prevailed—keeping her from choking the brats where they stood. Two identical sets of golden characters flew out of Zi Yao's forehead. The first set dove into Chun Xu's mind, and the second one into Xinzi's. At last, the mnemonics and structure of the Yin-Yang Sword Array settled in our monk. But though he wished to celebrate with loud yaps and somersaults, Xinzi restrained himself, for he knew that better celebration would greet him promptly.
Chun Xu thought the same. But torn between Zi Yao's orders and her own deviant desires, the Sword Fairy struggled to settle on the next course of action.
"My job here is done. The rest is up to you." Realizing that she was just wasting space at this point, Zi Yao said and walked out—leaving only Xinzi and Chun Xu to face off.
"A'Xu, it's time."