Chapter 159 Closed-Door Cultivation

"These are the cultivation methods I selected for you in the library, based on your individual physiques. After tomorrow, I will go into seclusion to cultivate, and I don't know when I will emerge."

"I have placed all the techniques and insights I have on alchemy in your alchemy room."

"After I go into seclusion, I hope that you all will cultivate diligently. If you encounter any problems that you cannot solve, go to the Enforcement Hall and find the Enforcement Elder."

Jiang Huaixu suddenly looked up at Lu Fuyue, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes, "Senior Sister, are you going into seclusion again?"

Lu Fuyue nodded. "If you have anything to discuss, you can come to me today."

With that, she flicked her sleeve and vanished from the spot.

Jiang Huaixu looked in the direction Lu Fuyue had left, his hands hanging at his sides tightening involuntarily.

My senior sister has been avoiding him lately, either going out to cultivate or returning to seclusion.

After returning from her trip to the Trial Tower, she will go into seclusion again, and judging from her appearance, she probably won't be out of seclusion for a while.

Jiang Huaixu's eyes were deep and unfathomable. This Trial Tower of Tianxuan Sect was no ordinary place. When he first stepped into Tianxuan Sect, he noticed that there were hundreds of barriers and formations firmly protecting the top of the Trial Tower.

Could it be that she frequents that place because it's related to the secrets of the ninth floor?

...

Jiang Li held the jade slip Lu Fuyue had given her and secretly glanced at Jiang Huaixu. She felt that Senior Brother Jiang's gaze towards Senior Sister Lu was strange.

She glanced at Jiang Xiaxia and Yu Ping standing beside her. The two of them had been acting strangely lately, rarely going out and seeming preoccupied.

Jiang Li hesitated. She didn't know whether she should tell her senior sister about this. What if she was overthinking it? Wouldn't that delay her senior sister's cultivation? But what if something really happened between these people, affecting the Alchemy Peak and implicating her senior sister?

...

That night.

Jiang Xiaxia paced back and forth in her cave, her hands clasped together, her fingers unconsciously rubbing together.

Ever since she discovered that the person wasn't her brother, she's been restless and keeps dreaming of him lying bloodied on piles of bones, reaching out to her, begging her to save him.

But... but I don't even know where my brother is.

Jiang Xiaxia felt increasingly sad as she thought about it, tears falling to the ground one by one. She squatted down with her arms crossed and cried silently.

"Brother, it's Xiaxia's fault for being useless; she couldn't save you."

Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Xiaxia, it's me."

Jiang Xiaxia was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening, hastily wiped away her tears, got up, went over and opened the door.

Looking at his beloved's red and swollen eyes, Yu Ping immediately understood what was going on. He clenched his fists and looked at Jiang Xiaxia, saying each word clearly, "Xiaxia, I know a way to save Brother Jiang."

Jiang Xiaxia was taken aback, and after a long while, she slowly asked, "What method?"

Yu Ping sighed, stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. "Xiaxia, guess what I discovered today?"

Jiang Xiaxia shook her head in silence.

Yu Ping lowered his head and tenderly wiped away her tears with his fingertips. "I noticed that the way that person looked at my senior sister was exactly the same as the way I looked at you."

Jiang Xiaxia looked up at him incredulously, "You mean... he likes Senior Sister?"

Yu Ping nodded. "That's right. Men understand men best. I'm all too familiar with the way he looks at my senior sister."

"Do you think that if my senior sister found out his true colors, she would kill him herself?"

"He will definitely be heartbroken because his senior sister drew her sword against him. When that happens, with his senior sister's help, won't we be able to find out where Brother Jiang is?"

Jiang Xiaxia hesitated, "What if... what if Senior Sister can't beat him? Wouldn't we be harming Senior Sister?"

Yu Ping paused for a moment, then shook his head. "Senior Sister is exceptionally talented. She has only been cultivating for twenty or thirty years, yet she has already reached the Golden Core stage. Her strength is probably greater than we imagined."

"Even if we take a step back and assume that Senior Sister is no match for that person, she still has the Tianxuan Sect behind her, which is one of the three major sects in the cultivation world. That person is definitely no match for her."

"Xiaxia, we have no other choice."

Jiang Xiaxia rested her head against Yu Ping's chest and remained silent for a long time. Thinking of her brother, whose fate was unknown, she finally made up her mind.

"Then let's go talk to my senior sister now."

...

Jiang Li recalled the unusual events of the day and thought about it for a long time before finally deciding to tell her senior sister.

However, just as Jiang Li reached the vicinity of Lu Fuyue's cave, she paused, her eyes suddenly becoming vacant and blank. Then, she abruptly turned around and walked back to her own cave step by step.

A voice in her mind kept telling her that she shouldn't have come here, and that she shouldn't have bothered her senior sister with such a trivial matter.

Soon Jiang Li returned to her cave dwelling, lay down on the bed, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.

After Jiang Li left, Jiang Huaixu emerged from behind a peach tree. He glanced in the direction Jiang Li had gone, a cold glint in his eyes.

If it weren't for the fear of being discovered by her senior sister, this woman would have died a thousand times over.

Jiang Huaixu straightened his clothes and walked towards Lu Fuyue's cave, gently knocking on the door.

Lu Fuyue, who was sitting cross-legged inside, slowly opened her eyes, raised her hand and waved, and the door opened automatically.

"Come in."

Jiang Huaixu walked in and stood in front of her. He then took out a jade bottle from his robes and handed it to Lu Fuyue. “Senior Sister, this is a second-grade pill that I just refined. But I feel that the pill is not perfect. Can you help me see where the problem is?”

Lu Fuyue was taken aback. Only cultivators who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage could refine second-grade pills. She hadn't expected Jiang Huaixu to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage so quickly and successfully refine a second-grade pill.

This talent is not to be underestimated even within the entire Tianxuan Sect.

Lu Fuyue took the jade bottle, opened it, and poured the pill inside into her palm. She examined it closely. The pill was entirely crimson, like red jade, emitting a faint fragrance; its quality was considered above average. However, it contained some black impurities, greatly reducing its medicinal properties and overall quality.

However, for a cultivator who has just broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, this is already quite good.

Lu Fuyue put the pill in her palm back into the jade bottle and handed it to Jiang Huaixu. "In the art of alchemy, the control of the heat is extremely important. Too much or too little heat will not work. There are still some impurities in your second-grade blood-replenishing pill. It should be because you did not control the heat well when you were refining the pill."

Jiang Huaixu took the jade bottle, but his fingertips inadvertently touched Lu Fuyue's fingers. The warm and soft touch made his heart tremble.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior sister."