78 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

Chapter 78 Turn on the light - Small, Medium, Large Previous Chapter: 77 Next Chapter: 79 Yun Mi Xue, overseeing the Qinggong Pagoda, quickly received the message sent by Gu Chen. This information came after learning from Yan Zhu Guang that there might be something peculiar about Qiao Sheng Jiao. Gu Chen had discretely dispatched one of his confidants to investigate. Upon receiving this news, even the calm and composed Yun Mi Xue couldn't help but show a trace of emotion. "Senior Sister, what's happened?" As the head of the Qinggong Pagoda opening ceremony, Yun Mi Xue's every move, even the slightest change in her demeanor, caught everyone's attention. Yun Chang Yue, also a titled disciple maintaining the Qinggong Pagoda's operations, noticed the subtle change in Yun Mi Xue's expression and openly inquired in front of the crowd. Not far off, Chu Ning Yan, who was guarding another area, glanced at Yun Chang Yue then at Yun Mi Xue, concern evident in her eyes. The Qinggong Pagoda, although not often fully open, had been opened many times throughout history without any issues being reported. The matter could naturally be no small one if it made Senior Sister's demeanor change. They, who maintain the Qinggong Pagoda's operation, couldn't possibly have noticed nothing, so her unusual expression must undoubtedly be due to something else. Chu Ning Yan always believed Yun Chang Yue harbored ill intentions towards Senior Sister. Asking such a question openly only forced Senior Sister to answer, exploiting her inability to refuse or hide the truth. Are some matters really suitable to be discussed publicly? Coincidentally or not, after informing Yun Mi Xue of the news about Qiao Sheng Jiao, Gu Chen also communicated his decision to publicly announce the former sect leader's death. When Yun Chang Yue posed the question, and others outside the Qinggong Pagoda directed their attention to Yun Mi Xue, she declared, "The murderer of the former sect leader has been identified." Words from Yun Mi Xue's mouth were scarcely met with doubt. "What? Already uncovered?" "Who could it be? Murdering the former sect leader is a provocation against our Fenghua Immortal Sect. The sect must severely punish the murderer without leniency!" Yun Chang Yue, not suspecting anything, asked urgently, "Senior Sister, who is it? Who killed the leader?" Yun Mi Xue replied, "For specifics, we must await announcements from the sect leader and elders. Currently, our priority is to maintain the Qinggong Pagoda, and all disciples should focus and await the leader's directions, lest we disrupt the disciples' training." The sect leader intended not to reveal the enmity between the former leader and Su You Mo Jun. Yun Mi Xue understood the strategy behind it and knew not to divulge any details prematurely, which might ruin the leader's plans. Yun Mi Xue disliked scheming. If she were the leader seeking an explanation for the cultivation world, she might announce the truth openly—regardless of Su Qian Er's background or the entanglements between the sect leader and Su You Mo Jun. However, such openness, though honest, would undoubtedly not bode well for Fenghua Immortal Sect. Other factions would seize any leverage to attack the sect. Under such pressures, an already unstable Fenghua Immortal Sect might suffer even further damage, leaving no time for recovery. Thus, Yun Mi Xue knew she was unfit for the leader's role. Gu Chen might employ tactics she couldn't agree with to protect the sect, but Yun Mi Xue would neither criticize nor hesitate to cooperate. As long as it benefited the sect, she was not adverse to a bit of self-deception. She deftly concealed the news that genuinely disturbed her and diverted attention by releasing another selectively withheld piece of information, a maneuver she executed smoothly. Seeing the titled disciples focus on the former leader's death, Yun Mi Xue sighed softly. Meanwhile, inside the Qinggong Pagoda, Yan Zhu Guang, unaware that her suspicions about Qiao Sheng Jiao had gained traction, had penetrated multiple layers of the True Essence space and was now immersed in a new realm. The True Essence within Qinggong Pagoda intertwined relentlessly, rarely allowing a moment's respite. Yet, this was Yan Zhu Guang's choice; she could have chosen to pause if she desired. However, Yan Zhu Guang did not intend to rest. Her goal was not merely to experience the strength of past Ling Qian Immortal Sect disciples but not to deepen her cultivation foundation. Clashing with True Essence drained energy but not spiritual power, so as long as her vitality remained ample, she could continue her challenges. The numerous True Essences left by past disciples in the Qinggong Pagoda formed an expansive collection; it was unlikely for any disciple, including Yan Zhu Guang, to experience them all rigorously. Thus, when faced with more common True Essences or ones she had encountered briefly, Yan Zhu Guang opted not to delve into exploration but to break through the space using unconventional means, seeking her next target. Apart from exploring the Essence spaces, she was enhancing her body's agility, gradually recovering her previous physical prowess, with an additional plan steering her actions. Though she was recently advancing in the Foundation Establishment phase, Yan Zhu Guang had the potential to surge into the Golden Core stage if she desired. Previously, wary of arousing suspicion due to an accelerated cultivation, she had suppressed her abilities and refrained from abrupt breakthroughs. Moreover, her poison spirit root hadn't fully transformed; hasty advancement into the Golden Core stage wasn't advisable. She aimed to walk the path of poison cultivation, ensuring her spirit root transformation before binding herself with a wood-element based Golden Core was crucial, so a premature shift to Golden Core might complicate matters later. Yet, with the Heart Lotus at her disposal, her system's training room as aid, and ongoing progress within Qinggong Pagoda to credit any breakthroughs to an “epiphany" there, no one could possibly question her progression. She might indeed raise the priority of forming a Golden Core. Currently, Yan Zhu Guang's relentless training amid True Essence aimed to awaken her pinnacle strength, setting the stage for her impending Golden Core formation. Initially, Yan Zhu Guang did not plan for such a rapid advancement into the Golden Core stage. However, the main mission of protecting Senior Sister and the presence of adversaries like Su You Mo Jun underscored her woeful inadequacy in the cultivation realm, insufficient to safeguard Senior Sister amidst imminent threats. Thus compelled to act swiftly, she was relentless in escalating her capabilities. By then, she would possess the assurance and groundwork necessary to shield Senior Sister. Amidst her incessant transitions through True Essence realms, Su Qian Er, who entered the Qinggong Pagoda alongside her, was also relentlessly enhancing her strength. She seemed motivated by a similar resolve, eschewing the pattern of cultivating insights after a True Essence experience. Instead, much like Yan Zhu Guang, Su Qian Er too plunged tirelessly into successive challenges, as though pursued by an unseen force. Yet, unlike Yan Zhu Guang's composed and methodical conduction, Su Qian Er appeared frantic and near desperation. Even when immersed in the True Essence realms designed for initial stage cultivators, she skirted disaster and clung to survival narrowly at each hurdle, escape within a hair’s breadth from being expelled. Despite such turmoil, Su Qian Er's resolve remained unshaken, repeatedly pushing herself to exhaustion without reprieve. Her indomitable determination, while seemingly achieving breakthroughs amidst adversity and progress, masked an inner risk—a peril Yan Zhu Guang, if present, would recognize as a descending path towards demonic immersion. Alas, within the vastness of the Qinggong Pagoda, convergence among the challengers was practically null; now, no one discerned Su Qian Er's brewing danger, and no one there could halt her descent. ... "Fwoosh!" A massive whip woven from countless blades of grass swung fiercely, forcing Yan Zhu Guang to pivot and dodge rapidly. Yet, this space offered limited evasion opportunities, and just as the whip passed, a gigantic net of grass swooped down threateningly. Yan Zhu Guang didn't doubt it; ensnared in that net, she would certainly be shredded! With a flick of her fingers, a streak of black energy shot forth, corroding a large hole through the net upon contact. As the net struggled to mend its decomposition-ravaged gap, Yan Zhu Guang darted through, throwing several clusters of toxic energy behind her to dissolve the full expanse of the net. However, passing the net wasn't the end. Immediately, countless whip-like grass cords as thick as a man's torso lashed down fiercely, intertwining into a dense web, leaving almost no escape. Fortunately, with her training over time, Yan Zhu Guang's speed had reached a swiftness sufficient to handle such a scale of whip attacks with ease. She didn’t rush to dart through quickly but expertly maneuvered and weaved amidst the endless silhouette of whips, finding a moment to catch her breath within the blanket of attacks. "This True Essence space seems quite similar to the host's cultivation methods," the System remarked. At such a crucial moment, the System dared not disturb Yan Zhu Guang initially; only after sensing her spirit relax slightly did it dare to speak with her. “It’s not just similar; it is exactly mine.” In the cultivation world, Yan Zhu Guang could unmistakably recognize her own True Intent. "Uh..." Theoretically, encountering one's own True Intent within the Qinggong Pagoda was possible, given the immense variety of True Intents collected there. Yet, what kind of luck did the host have to stumble upon her own? Fighting against oneself—a number one win. Though facing a clash with her own True Intent, Yan Zhu Guang found no difficulty in it. Although Qinggong Pagoda was an extraordinary artifact, the remnants of the recorded True Intent could only reflect the intensity exhibited by the cultivator while in the Pagoda. In other words, if the True Intent's originator held back, then the intensity recorded by the Pagoda would be only what they showcased. Even if Yan Zhu Guang now exhibited a more potent True Intent, the recorded True Intent within the Qinggong Pagoda would not immediately reflect this change in the current space she occupied. Thus, how could Yan Zhu Guang possibly lose when faced with a full-powered version of herself against a reserved version? Despite this, Yan Zhu Guang didn’t choose to immediately break through her envisioned space. Such an opportunity was rare. Why not seize the moment to break through to the Golden Core stage within her own True Intent space? With this thought, Yan Zhu Guang felt a shift in her mind and transported herself to the time-paused training room. "Switch the Heart Lotus Seed for me." "Huh?" the System pretended to clean non-existent ears, wondering if it had heard correctly.