A Martial Odyssey

The streets of the town were noisy and filled with many activities. The town was more crowded than usual. It was because the Gongsun Martial Aristocracy Clan, who controlled the town and its vicinity areas, had invited heroes from all over the fraternity to partic.i.p.ate in a rare fraternity a.s.sembly.

The death of Old Man Zuo the Sword Saint had sent a shockwave throughout the fraternity and emboldened the heretic sects; there were at least a hundred clashes between the orthodox clans and the heretic sects in the past year alone.

The main purpose of the congregation was to seek a solution to the current martial affairs and to select a new orthodox leader from among the major orthodox clans.

Nangong Le looked bored and was looking for entertainment in the streets of the town. He had come to this town at the invitation of Gongsun Bai. Accompanying him were two renowned tranquil middle-age swordsmen Priest Liu Qingcheng the older protégé and Priest Ling Kongquan the younger protégé of the Tranquil City who acted as his escorts as well as his friends.

Priest Liu Qingcheng was also the protégé master of the Tranquil City.

The Tranquil City was one of the oldest martial clan in the fraternity, famed for its Tranquil Swordplay and the Tranquil Fists. Even though the Tranquil City was famed for its swordplay, the most powerful skill in the clan was actually their Dual Inertness Intricacy, a divinity state of ‘Exchanging spirit intricate from a thousand miles, sensing from a million miles’, and ‘Absorbing the essence of Heavens and Earth’.

Also, Priest Liu Qingcheng and Priest Ling Kongquan were also top inner martial experts and their martial skills were not beneath any of the major orthodox clans’ skills.

Nangong Le did not want to go to the Gongsun Manor so early and deliberately stayed in the town to find interesting entertainments. That was typical of his usual style and action.

Priest Liu Qingcheng and Priest Ling Kongquan may look like they were lofty priests that would never partake in such meaningless pursuit, it was actually the opposite.

Also their Dual Inertness Intricacy was all about sensing the emotional elations of others to elevate their state of divinity further. There no better ways than to follow Nangong Le to advance their cultivation!

That was exactly why they were Nangong Le’s friends.

Priest Ling Kongquan asked, “Is it good to keep our orthodox friends waiting? I know that many had left early this morning for the Gongsun Manor. Surely the congregation will be crowded and it is even more interesting there.”

Priest Liu Qingcheng laughed aloud, “The orthodox clans have always belittled and looked down on the Tranquil City. Even though they did not say that, their hearts tells otherwise. It will only affect our cultivation if we a.s.sociate ourselves with such negative emotions.”

Priest Ling Kongquan smirked, “Alas, I still derive so much pleasure from their hypocrisy.”

Nangong Le laughed aloud, “The pugilists of the orthodox will only look up to the influential and not the weak. In their eyes, only the seven major orthodox clans and the Gongsun Martial Clan deserve their true respect. Small clans and inactive clans like us are just small fries in their eyes.”

Priest Liu Qingcheng said, “You are really too humble, Young Master Nangong. You are now one of the four young masters of the martial fraternity and you even got a gold invitation for this congregation. That unruly Gongsun Bai only sent us a silver invitation.”

Nangong Le shook his head, “My martial skills are beneath you. I really do not deserve to have the gold invitation. The only reason that I am one of the young masters of the martial fraternity is only because they are short of one person for that honorific to make it sound more pleasant and only because of the wealth of the Nangong Clan.”

Indeed, the Nangong Clan was the wealthiest clan in the entire fraternity and well-known for their immerse holdings and banks.

All of a sudden, Nangong Le, Priest Liu Qingcheng and Priest Ling Kongquan halted their steps. It was because they had suddenly heard the most enchanting music that they had ever heard in their entire lives!

Even though the streets were busy and full of a great mult.i.tude of different noises that overshadowed the enthralling music, their sharp ears were able to pick it up.

The melody of the music was slow, enchanting and extremely moving to the listeners but it also carried a sad melancholy to it.

They were stunned that such an intricate melody actually existed, despite having listened to hundreds of music from all over the fraternity.

Nangong Le muttered in awe, “What beautiful heavenly music. It is too out of the world.”

Priest Liu Qingcheng was so enthralled by the music that he dared not say a word but closed his eyes as he was afraid to miss it.

He had a tear in his eyes; the music was so heart wrenching that he was trembling uncontrollably! All of a sudden, he gained a new inspiration for the Dual Inertness Intricacy…

Priest Ling Kongquan was stammering and trembling, “It comes…from around the…alley!”

Priest Ling Kongquan grabbed Priest Liu Qingcheng and said, “Eldest Protégé Brother, let’s us take a look!”

Priest Liu Qingcheng was startled from his stupor as he quickly replied “Yes, let’s take a look!”

They soon turned into an alley saw a high wall that blocked them.

Luckily, this high wall was not too high for them to display their wall scaling skills and they soon scaled over it.

They were soon stunned at the sight of the other side after they had scaled over the high wall.

This was so unlike the dirty and confine alley that they were in earlier.

This courtyard was large and very beautiful. It was clean, decorated with all kinds of trees and fragrance flowers.

There was a small artificial large pond with a bridge over it and the enchanting music comes from beyond the courtyard.

Nangong Le muttered, “Did we arrive at the Gongsun Manor by mistake?”

Priest Ling Kongquan smiled weakly, “That is in the other direction?”

Priest Liu Qingcheng said, “That appear to be so.”

Nangong Le too smiled weakly, “Who else but Gongsun Bai can afford such magnificent place in this desolate town. Even if this place is not the Gongsun Manor, the owner must be related to him.”

The enchanting emotional melancholy music seemed to have come from beyond the courtyard. Therefore, they continued to walk through the courtyard while admiring the beauty and grandeur of the place.

When Nangong Le, Priest Liu Qingcheng and Priest Ling Kongquan came to another courtyard, they could see two exquisite beautiful maidens playing the zither and the pipa with white curtains in the background.

The melancholy and enchanting music had come from them. What astonished them was that these two young maidens had looked exactly alike!

Nangong Le thought, “They are twins?”

Nangong Le was immediately attracted by them and started to appraise them silently. They were in black velvet silk dresses and he was fascinated by their dedicated eyes.

He noticed that they had a long sword besides them. Normally, only pugilists and n.o.bility would carry a long sword with them although there were many exceptions; they could be using it for sword dances and sword plays as it was a popular pastime with many.

He had never seen anyone as beautiful as them in black as it was an ominous color and was not a color of choice for most maidens.

He could only gasped, “So beautiful.” And he was instantly hypnotized by them.

All of a sudden, when he saw the translucent jade bangles on their left wrists, he was stunned.

It was because these translucent jades could only be found in the Heavenly Mountains, was extremely priceless and priceless ans priceless. Even if someone had those translucent jades, they would never dare to wear or carry it for fear of damaging it.

When he saw their musical instruments that were made of red purple sandal wood, which was so highly prized and rare that it was worth its weight in gold, he was dumbfounded.

At first, he thought he could use his wealthy background to entice them but now he knew that if he had tried that, it was a terrible mistake for they had no material lack! He began to smile bitterly for he realized he had spent most of his gold in the last few days and was terribly poor at the moment to offer them a decent gift.

The few jewelries and gold that he had were too embarra.s.sing to be taken out as a first time social gift. And he might be looked down upon and lost their first good impressions of him. This was the first time that Nangong Le had felt that he was poor.

Ling Kongquan was solemn as he said, “Be careful. For them to appear in such a place, they may be vixens. We should leave immediately now that we got the chance…”

Nangong Le said, “Even if they are thousand year old vixens, I must still know their names!”

Priest Liu Qingcheng was taken aback, “Brother Nangong…you…”

But before he could stop him, Nangong Le had immediately mustered his courage to introduce himself, “I am Nangong Le. These two are Priest Liu Qingcheng and Priest Ling Kongquan. May we have the honor of knowing the names of both mistresses?”

The two sisters stopped playing and looked into their direction; their dedicated eyes were looking at them intently.

When Nangong Le saw their eyes looking intently at him, his heart began to beat very fast as he thought, “Both of them are so beautiful and so beholding. So which one should I woo? Which one should I woo first? Or shall I woo the two of them at the same time?”

The young maiden on the left asked in a soft voice, “Do you know that you are trespa.s.sing?”

Priest Liu Qingcheng hurriedly replied, “Maiden, please forgive us for trespa.s.sing. We really meant no harm at all. When we are outside, we suddenly heard an enchanting melody. Out of curiosity, we have come to take a look.”

The young maiden on the left said softly, “Now that you have already taken a look, what do you want to do now?”

Priest Ling Kongquan was the first to reply, “Nothing but are…are you both humans?”

The young maiden on the right laughed softly, “Do we look like we are not humans to you?”

Priest Ling Kongquan managed a weak smile, “No…”

Nangong Le smiled, “You are both like heavenly fairies and not humans.”

The young maiden on the right seemed to be flattered as she replied, “Is that so?”

Nangong Le said, “That is so!”

Then she looked intently at him, “We can also be vixens and we like to feast upon your blood.”

Nangong Le laughed, “Maiden you must be joking. Even if you want to eat me, I will not struggle at all.”

The young maiden on the right said, “Really? You will not struggle?”

Nangong Le laughed, “I won’t struggle, not even once!”

The young maiden on the right smiled, “What if we are not joking?”

These two young maidens in black velvet were looking at them intently.

Nangong Le, Priest Liu Qingcheng and Priest Ling Kongquan broke into cold sweat. They could not really tell if they were joking.

It was indeed strange that two extraordinary beautiful young maidens would appear in a small isolated town that only pugilists would bother to visit and they were staying in a place with such splendor that seemingly out of place. Moreover they were exactly the same and had so much finery on them yet there were no servants anywhere. And their enthralling music was too supernatural to be found in the mortal realm. Was everything just an illusion?

The young maiden on the left added, “Unfortunately, it is real and we need blood to maintain our youthful appearances, especially men with such vitality such as you.”

Priest Ling Kongquan turned ashen as he stammered, “Who…who are you…?” He wanted to run but his legs had grown soft.

Even Nangong Le had turned completely white as he thought, “I have toyed with numerous women in my life and now my life is going to end in their hands. I swear if I can survive this, I will surely turn over a new leaf. Alas Heavens, please help me…”

Priest Liu Qingcheng roared aloud with laughter, “For a moment, I am almost fooled. They are not vixens.”

Nangong Le and Priest Ling Kongquan looked at Priest Liu Qingcheng with startled expressions. They were not vixens and they were joking?

Priest Ling Kongquan asked, “Eldest Protégé Brother, you can tell?”

The young maiden on the left smiled, “Of course we are not vixens. Do we look like foxes to you?”

Nangong Le heaved a sigh of relief when he heard that they were not vixens as he slowly recovered his composure.

Priest Ling Kongquan smiled weakly, “I have never seen any vixens in my life but I know that they can take human shape.”

The young maiden on the right sighted softly, “Unfortunately we are really not vixens.”

Priest Ling Kongquan said nervously, “Vixens are also liars and would never admit they are not vixens.”

Nangong Le was alarmed. What Priest Ling Kongquan had said made sense. Only a priest would be able to identify a supernatural being such as a vixen.

The young maiden on the left smiled, “We are actually waiting for a real vixen and were in fact baiting her but you have come instead. If you want to see a real vixen, you can stay here and wait. Maybe you get to see a real vixen real soon.”

Priest Liu Qingcheng smiled, “Vixen or not, I don’t care. I am Priest Liu Qingcheng, the master of the Tranquil City. I am thinking if both maidens are willing to be my protégés, I would like to impart to you our clan most extraordinary skill, the Dual Inertness Intricacy.”

The two young maidens, even Priest Ling Kongquan and Nangong Le were startled!

Priest Liu Qingcheng was straightforward and had declared his intentions.

It was startling because even direct protégés of the Tranquil City may not get the chance to learn the Dual Inertness Intricacy. And he was offering them the Dual Inertness Intricacy if they were willing to be his protégés. Was it not astonishing?

Nangong Le had been acquainted with them for five years. Even though he was always pressing Priest Liu Qingcheng to reveal some of the secrets of the Dual Inertness Intricacy to him in exchange for fabulous wealth and other martial treasures but he would never indulge even an intricate word to him. But today, he was offering it for free to these two maidens?!

Nangong Le smiled bitterly, “Brother Liu, are you sure that you are not spellbound by them? You know that I am willing to be your protégé…”

Even though he had asked to be his protégé on many occasions, Priest Liu Qingcheng would always kindly reject him.

All of a sudden, Nangong Le was alarmed as he thought, “Don’t tell me Brother Liu had been bewitched by them already?”

Even Ling Kongquan was taken completely by surprise by his protégé brother as he said, “You are for real? That is our clan secret skill and we know nothing about their backgrounds…”

When the young maiden on the left recovered from her surprise, she smiled faintly. “You don’t even know who we are or our names and yet you talk about wanting us to be your protégés?”

The young maiden on the right added, “He is really a weird guy.”

Priest Liu Qingcheng did not seem to mind as he asked, “Then may I know your names?”

Perhaps because he was courteous, the maiden on the left said coolly, “I’m the Lady Yu.”

The maiden on the right said, “I’m the Lady Mei.”

The Lady Yu was in fact Shui Yujian the Jade Sword Fairy and the Lady Mei was Shui Meijian the Beautiful Sword Fairy.

They still refuse to divulge to him their full names but Priest Liu Qingcheng did not mind.

Priest Liu Qingcheng asked again, “Will you be my protégés?”

Shui Yujian answered amusingly, “Unfortunately we already have a protégé clan. It is impossible for us to be in your protégé clan. You can leave now.”

Priest Liu Qingcheng said, “You can quit your protégé clan. I can a.s.sure you that there are no other martial clans that are better than the Tranquil City. The intricate heart formula of the Dual Inertness Intricacy is unique in the fraternity and is considered one of the most sought skills. You won’t regret learning it and joining the Tranquil City!”

Shui Meijian looked at her sister before she said, “If we can betray our protégé clan, then we can betray yours too. You will not want us as your protégés if we are such a person, right?”

Priest Liu Qingcheng said, “With this level of musical accomplishments, it is unlikely that you can be easily tempted by greed or else you wouldn’t possible achieve it. Maidens, please reconsider…”

Priest Ling Kongquan interrupted, “Eldest Protégé Brother! Since they do not appreciate your gestures, it is pointless to say anymore to them. Let us go now. We have trespa.s.sed long enough.”

Priest Liu Qingcheng ignored him and continued to say, “Maidens, please reconsider. It is a rare opportunity…”

Shui Meijian was bewildered, “You…you are begging us to take up your offer? Shouldn’t it be we are begging you to take us in?”

Priest Liu Qingcheng said, “It doesn’t matter who take who in as long as you are agreeable to be my protégés, I will teach you the Dual Inertness Intricacy.”

It was getting comical and even Priest Ling Kongquan felt embarra.s.sed while Nangong Le was feeling awkward.

Nangong Le and priest Ling Kongquan had even forgot the tense situation that they were in just a few moments ago!

It really seemed that Priest Liu Qingcheng wanted them to be his protégé disciples and he was absolutely serious.

Priest Liu Qingcheng said. “What about this? You can remain in your protégé clan and you still join my protégé clan, I will still teach you the Dual Inertness Intricacy!”

Priest Ling Kongquan was shocked, “Eldest Protégé Brother, you can’t do that. There isn’t such a thing in the fraternity! Are you nuts?”

Priest Liu Qingcheng said solemnly, “I am sane of course. You have no idea on their latent potential. They may be the only ones that can advance the Dual Inertness Intricacy. Our clan has been on a decline for a long time and they may be the ones that can revive the position of our martial clan in the fraternity.”

Priest Ling Kongquan said, “Even if they can advance the Dual Inertness Intricacy but can they fight? They are just good in the musical instruments and when the clan is in crisis, it is pointless to just have internal strength. They don’t look like the types that can take hardship therefore their martial abilities will be limited.”

Shui Yujian kinked her eyebrows and said, “That is enough. Just leave or you will be sorry.” In fact, she had already drawn her long sword.

Nangong Le, Priest Ling Kongquan and Priest Liu Qingcheng gasped at the drawn out long sword; its blade was so shiny and its sound was tingling that they knew instantly that it was a very good sword. What was more, they could feel the cold piercing sword energy of that precious sword at this distance!

All of a sudden, Priest Liu Qingcheng said. “The person behind the white curtain, can you say something? What do you think?”

Both Priest Ling Kongquan and Nangong Le were startled. There was a person behind the white curtains?

Priest Ling Kongquan was stunned. His mastery of the Dual Inertness Intricacy was on the same level as his eldest protégé brother, yet he could not sense any breathing or heartbeat behind the curtains. Was his eldest protégé brother suffering from delusions? There was obviously no one behind the curtains.

But Priest Liu Qingcheng continued to say to the curtains, “What do you say?”

Nangong Le was unhappy with Priest Liu Qingcheng for causing him to be driven out of the place even before he could have the opportunity to exchange a meaningful dialogue with these two extraordinary exquisite maidens. He was about to rebuke Priest Liu Qingcheng when he heard a gentle feminine voice from behind the white curtain.

“How did you know that I am behind the curtains?” A soft gentle feminine voice was heard from behind the curtains.

Only when Nangong Le and Priest Ling Kongquan had heard her voice, they were jolted! There was really someone behind the white curtains!

Priest Liu Qingcheng said honestly, “Actually I do not know and is making a lucky guess. I can neither sense any breathing nor heartbeats behind the curtain. At this distance, no one can remain undetected by me, except for you.”

“Oh?”

Priest Liu Qingcheng explained, “But when I saw Maiden Mei took a quick glance at the curtain and hesitating, I immediately sense that she seems to be awaiting instructions from someone. So I made a lucky guess.”

Nangong Le smiled, “So there is another person behind the curtain. Let me take a look at you!” He too, was intrigued by the person behind the curtains, especially since he knew it was a lady.

Immediately, he began to sprint past Shui Yujian and Shui Meijian towards the white curtains.

What an astonishing swiftness movement speed! Even Shui Yujian and Shui Meijian gasped softly in astonishing surprise as they tried to intercept him but they were unable to stop him!

As soon he touched the white curtains, he could sense a force slowing him down. He was caught by surprise by the invisible force and before he could muster his martial power to push through the force, his chest was struck by a small porcelain cup and he was flung back!

Priest Ling Kongquan immediately caught of Nangong Le and said, “Brother Nangong, are you alright?”

Nangong Le was caught totally by surprise and his chest was now bursting with pain. He clasped his chest and was terrified. In all his years in the martial fraternity, he had never felt such an unfathomable presence before! When he was struck on his chest by the porcelain cup, he thought he was going to die!

Priest Ling Kongquan said, “It seems that you have broken one or two ribs…”

Nangong Le turned ashen as blood foamed from his mouth.

When Priest Liu Qingcheng saw how easily Nangong Le was defeated by an awkward shaped cup that was ill-suited to be a secret projectile, he immediately knew that the lady behind the curtains was a super exponent.

Even though he may not lose but he was not here to fight.

So he said, “You must be their protégé mistress or elder? What do you say?”

“The Dual Inertness Intricacy is indeed a formidable skill. If Yu’Er and Mei’Er are able to learn the intricate heart formula of the Dual Inertness Intricacy, it will be useful for their future martial progression. I have no objections to it if you are willing to impart to them.”

Priest Liu Qingcheng was delighted as he clapped his hands, “Good! Brother Kongquan, can you take Brother Nangong Le to recuperate first? I won’t be long and will look for you shortly.”

He had asked Ling Kongquan to take Nangong Le away because he did not want Nangong Le to eavesdrop on the Dual Inertness Intricacy.

Priest Ling Kongquan sighed as he muttered, “I hope you did not make the wrong decision…” He began to support Nangong Le up to his feet and departed together with him.

Priest Liu Qingcheng said, “Before I impart the intricate heart formula of the Dual Inertness Intricacy, may I know who you are and which protégé clan are you all from?”

“Indeed you should know. I’m the Celestial Fairy of the Eternal Ice Palace.”

Accordingly to the protocol of the fraternity, because Shui Yixian was his senior generation, there was no need for her to reveal her name to him. Few people in the fraternity actually knew her by her true name.

Priest Liu Qingcheng was taken aback as he took a step back, “I…have heard that the Celestial Fairy had pa.s.sed on. You are really the Celestial Fairy?”

Shui Yujian interrupted softly, “You don’t believe my protégé mistress? If you don’t want to impart to us the Dual Inertness Intricacy, we do not mind at all.”

She really did not mind at all.

Priest Liu Qingcheng laughed aloud, “Don’t be mistaken. I am just surprised that I have the honor to talk to the Celestial Fairy today. It is said that the martial skills of the Eternal Ice Palace are profound. Today I have seen it, I am truly convinced. The Eternal Ice Palace may not be an orthodox clan but it is also not an unorthodox clan. I can now feel a.s.sure that I did not impart the Dual Inertness Intricacy to the wrong hands!”

The Celestial Fairy nodded and said gently, “But you mustn’t tell anyone who we are and where we are from, including the two men that are with you earlier.”

Priest Liu Qingcheng said solemnly, “I give you my word.”

The Celestial Fairy said gently, “It is not proper that I should stay while you are imparting your clan most secret skill…”

Priest Liu Qingcheng interrupted, “Old Senior, you can stay. I am certain that with your martial cultivation, you won’t hanker over anything. If you stay, I may even get some useful advice.”

The Celestial Fairy replied, “That is because you are thinking that I am already too old and already hovering at death’s door. If I stay and listen to the intricate formula, do I have to be your protégé disciple too?”

Priest Liu Qingcheng smiled awkwardly as Shui Yujian and Shui Meijian chuckled softly. He quickly replied, “Of course not!”

The Celestial Fairy said, “Since you are generous to impart the Dual Inertness Intricacy, I will impart the Tranquil Spirits to you then.”

Priest Liu Qingcheng was stunned. This Tranquil Spirits was one of the secret intricate formulas of the Tranquil City and was actually a crucial key to understand the Dual Inertness Intricacy and many of the skills of the Tranquil City but had been lost for several centuries!

He stammered excitedly, “How did you get hold of the Tranquil Spirits?”

She simply said, “It has been with the Eternal Ice Palace for centuries. How it ends up in the Eternal Ice Palace, I really do not know.”

When she stepped forth from the curtains, Priest Liu Qingcheng got the shock of his life and nearly got a heart attack.

It was because the Celestial Fairy was anything but old!

When she had appeared in front of him, in her light blue long sleeve silk dress, he thought he had seen a G.o.ddess. Even though Shui Yujian and Shui Meijian were already extraordinary beautiful, they were at least human. The Celestial Fairy was so breathtaking, so awe-inspiring yet her presence was so forbidding that she was anything but human!

Even with his Dual Inertness Intricacy, he could not even sense any mortal emotions from her. Was she delighted that he was going to impart the Dual Inertness Intricacy to her and her protégés? He got no hint at all and she was like an impa.s.sable wall. It was like she was standing on top of the world, looking at everything loftily.

At this distance, he was surprised that he could sense no breathing and heartbeats from her even though she was just standing in front of him. He had once heard that a person could actually solidify themselves and blend with the surroundings once their internal strength developed past a certain point of cultivation. This was the first time that he had actually witnessed this feat and moreover she was in full visible view!

He thought, “No wonder Nangong Le cannot avoid her secret projectile, she was in front of him all along. It is just that he did not see her…”

Top exponents like Nangong Le, were trained to detect and avoid missile projectiles in their early martial trainings; it was almost impossible to succeed with an open attack using missile projectiles against them.

He was suddenly embarra.s.sed that he was going to impart an intricate formula that may be of no use to someone like her.

Perhaps she could see his discomfort, she smiled gently and said, “Yu’Er and Mei’Er, bow to your new protégé master. From now on, you must also listen to Priest Liu, got it?”

Shui Yujian and Shui Meijian immediately greeted courteously, “Respects to protégé master!”

Shui Yujian said, “I am Shui Yujian and this is my sister, Shui Meijian.”

Priest Liu Qingcheng exclaimed aloud, “Good, good! I have only a simple request. I hope that once you are able to discern the mysteries of the Dual Inertness Intricacy, you can let me know. Alas, I have been struck for so long that I am growing more and more disheartened every day. This intricate formula is really too profound for me.”

Shui Meijian said curiously, “Is that why you want us to be your protégé disciples?”

Priest Liu Qingcheng said, “That is right! When I heard your music, I know that you are the ones that can break through the intermediate stage of the ‘Linking Spirits’ progression of the Dual Inertness Intricacy.”

The Celestial Fairy smiled gently, “Let me begin first. The heart of the intricate formula of the Tranquil Spirits is ‘Absolute Defense through Tranquil’. To reach this stage, tranquil your divine state with absolute emptiness, when formless, from nothing, there something. It is part.i.tioned into three portions, the beginner stage of ‘The Defense Harmony, the intermediate stage of ‘The Infinity Folds’ and the advanced stage of ‘The Infinity becoming One and One becoming the Void’…”

Priest Qingcheng was trembling as he said, “This is really the Tranquil Spirits. I only know the stage. The exact intricate heart formula has been lost…”

The Celestial Fairy had not only recited the entire intricate formula to him but also explained to him many new principles that could help him understand the Tranquil Spirits quickly.

After he memorized the Tranquil Spirits, he began to recite the Dual Inertness Intricacy.

Shui Yixian was astonished that there was such an extraordinary dual intricate formula that existed in the world as she muttered, “The spirit exchanges but not the shape, the affection exchanges but not the look, the vital energy exchanges but not the body, the divinity exchanges but not the physical…the essence of heavens and earth as my vitality, the divine state of heavens and earth as my divine state, the changes of heavens and earth as my changes…”

She muttered, “The Dual Inertness Intricacy is really an unfathomable skill… this is indeed a superior intricate heart formula…”

Shui Yujian said, “If even protégé mistress cannot fathom it, we have no hope…”

Shui Yixian smiled, “Everyone has their fates. I cannot but you may be able to. It may take days, months and years but as long as you put your heart into it, you may unravel the secrets one day.”

Priest Liu Qingcheng laughed, “Yes, take it slowly. I am already struck for so many years, I don’t mind waiting a few more years…”

Shui Meijian sighed in misery, “Now I know that I got two irresponsible protégé masters that expect their protégés to know everything yet refuse to spend the trouble to teach us.”

Shui Yixian rebuked her gently, “Mei’Er, I haven’t punished you yet for giving me away. Your Emotionless Rhyme has not reached the stage that I have required of you. You know what your punishments will be right?”

Shui Meijian turned ashen with fright, “Protégé Mistress, I…”

When Priest Liu Qingcheng left the place after imparting the Dual Inertness Intricacy, he was shaking his head and thought, “I have thought that with my current level of Dual Inertness Intricacy, I cannot be tempted by l.u.s.t in any forms. Alas, my cultivation is ruined…”

When Priest Liu Qingcheng had left, Shui Yujian said to her protégé mistress. “It does seem that the protégés of the Virtuous Palace are not in this vicinity and may not be attending the congregation that is hosted by Gongsun Bai. We have been lying in wait for several days now and the only persons that turned up are those three.”

Shui Yujian was close to tears, “Master will be alright. We had met a maiden in white a few weeks ago. Even though she had our white emerald precious sword, it did not mean anything…”

Shui Yixian averted her eyes quietly…

She had recognized the Penetrating Hands of the mysterious yellow dressed maiden as a secret skill of the Virtuous Palace. While the Virtuous Palace was renowned for their swordplay, only a few had exactly known that they were equally deadly in close quarters. This combination was extremely deadly and fatal to most of their enemies who were not in the known.

Shui Yixian had thought she was going to die when she was surprised by a direct struck on her heart. That blow was calculated to kill her. She was only saved and fell into an animate dead state because the maiden in yellow had made two mistakes; her first mistake was that she did not know that her Icy Heaven Tears had already progress to the tenth staging at that time. Her second mistake was that she had been too confident.

When she had recovered from her state of animate dead, she did not know what to make of her affections for Yi Ping. Therefore she continued to pretend to be dead and instructed Yujian and Meijian to take of him instead.

Perhaps it was heaven’s will that they should be together. But when this love was placed in front of her, she did not cherish it.

Indeed, she had chosen to hide from him as she thought it was just at a spur of a foolish moment. It was because she did not know what love was and was even afraid of it. She simply had too many considerations and hesitations.

But when Yi Ping had insisted on leaving the Eternal Ice Palace to seek vengeance for her, she panicked.

She could tell that although Yujian and Meijian had only known Yi Ping briefly, they had already developed took a liking to him.

In order to keep Yi Ping in the Eternal Ice Palace, they had decided to use an unorthodox method and drugged his drink, making it appear as though he had got himself drunk and did something foolhardy. But they had never expected that Yi Ping reaction would be the opposite of what they were expecting and he had actually fled from the Eternal Ice Palace.

That was when Shui Yixian had decided to leave the Eternal Ice Palace to look for Yi Ping so that he would not get himself killed by the yellow dressed maiden. If she failed to find Yi Ping, she had to find her and killed her first.

Unfortunately she had no news of him till now except for a young maiden in white that had their clan emerald white phoenix precious sword that was last seen in the vicinity.

She hoped that Yi Ping had not been killed by that maiden in white yet…

Because she had suspected that the Virtuous Palace might be secretly monitoring the congregation that was hosted by Gongsun Bai, they setup a trap to bait the Virtuous Palace. If there was any clan in this town that could find the Eternal Ice Palace, it had to be the Virtuous Palace! Moreover, they were already very obvious!

But it seemed that the Virtuous Palace was not here.

Shui Yujian suddenly asked her sister, “Why are you so quiet?”

But still Shui Meijian did not reply to her and she was looking stoned.

Shui Yujian was panicky, “Sis, are you alright?”

Even Shui Yixian was looking at her in surprise. It was because Mei’Er would never keep quiet if she had an opportunity to say something.

Shui Meijian looked somewhat sad as she suddenly said, “I am doing my wordless exchange with my mouth. But it is a pity that none of you could hear me at all.”

Ch12 End