Chapter 53: Luo Yuzhu of the Violet Palace Realm

The murky eyes of Master Myriad Phenomena glanced at Cao Chengyu, making him somewhat uneasy. He was now cultivating the Breath-Locking and Body-Calming Technique that Liu Xiong had exchanged for him. His aura was concealed at the late Spirit-Refinement stage. As long as no one forcibly scrutinized him, his true cultivation would remain hidden. Moreover, his nominal master, Master Miao Dan, was present, so Master Myriad Phenomena likely wouldn’t probe him by force.

Luo Yuzhu still needed some time to stabilize her energy after breaking through to the Purple Palace realm. Cao Chengyu quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.

Compared with the treatment Luo Yuzhu received, only Miao Dan offered Cao Chengyu a few words of encouragement, promising to teach him several suitable profound techniques once he broke through to the Dao Body. The other two merely grunted in acknowledgment and paid him no further heed.

In their eyes, Luo Yuzhu, who had a great chance of reaching the Golden Core in the future, was far more worthy of cultivation than a young junior lingering at the Spirit-Refinement level. The coldness and fickleness of human relationships, the harsh realities of the world—the rule of strength above all else among cultivators was on full display.

Of course, an even more important reason was Cao Chengyu’s background. He was not a seedling groomed by the Skymonitoring Tower from childhood. For his talent to be recognized, he had to have Luo Yuzhu vouch for him, and only then would he have Miao Dan as a background. This so-called master, apart from providing him with top-grade five-elemental spiritual materials, had so far imparted him with no teachings.

This meant Cao Chengyu had not yet earned her approval, unless he could display Dao Body cultivation. That, he was unable to do—especially after realizing there was something amiss with the Great Yue Dynasty. It was hard not to view matters through a tinted lens.

They hadn’t waited long before, after the time it took to burn an incense stick, Luo Yuzhu emerged, clad in a verdant skirt, her complexion glowing with vitality. At first glance, she saw her “long-waiting” younger brother, Chengyu, and a smile bloomed on her pretty face. She promptly noticed the presence of Master Miao Dan and the others and stepped forward to offer her salutations.

“Greetings, Master. Greetings, Master Myriad Phenomena, and Lord Tower Master.”

“Yuzhu has not let everyone down—I have broken through successfully.”

“Excellent.” Master Miao Dan stroked her beard, her face beaming with pride and satisfaction. “Myriad Phenomena, what do you think of my disciple? In the future, she’ll be qualified to walk alongside us.”

“She is indeed outstanding. However, to join our ranks, she must attain the Golden Core,” replied Master Myriad Phenomena, whose aged features revealed not the slightest emotion, seemingly unmoved by Miao Dan’s boast.

“Golden Core... that’s still some time away. But my disciple certainly has the qualifications for transcendence.”

Before Myriad Phenomena could respond, the Tower Master coughed softly, signaling Cao Chengyu and Wei Xiao’er with his gaze. Miao Dan fell silent at once, changing the topic.

“Yuzhu, I knew you had extraordinary talent, but I didn’t expect you to break through the Purple Palace so soon. You’re only seventy-two this year, aren’t you? Your master has nothing particularly rare to give, so let me grant you some poisonous plants and secret techniques as your reward.”

With that, she turned her palm over, producing three jade slips and several dragon-shaped poisonous herbs, which she handed to Luo Yuzhu.

“Thank you, Master.”

“Cultivate well. When you break through to the Golden Core, I have a grand gift waiting for you,” Miao Dan said after bestowing her gifts. The Tower Master and Master Myriad Phenomena also offered treasures and a few words of advice before the three of them departed together.

Cao Chengyu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stepped forward to offer his congratulations.

“Congratulations, Sister Yuzhu, on breaking through to the Purple Palace.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Brother Chengyu, have you been waiting here at Spring Blossom Pavilion all this time?”

Before he could answer, Cao Xiao’er, recalling how Cao Chengyu had helped him out before, said, “Steward, you may not know—but after you went into seclusion, Boss Cao lost all appetite and simply moved into Spring Blossom Pavilion, keeping vigil for half a year. He only went out for a few days, then came right back to wait, and has stayed here ever since.”

Cao Chengyu’s face reddened, his skin not quite thick enough to avoid embarrassment. He knew well enough what he’d been doing this past year, and felt a little self-conscious about it.

Luo Yuzhu, however, thought this was precisely his most genuine side. He had acted so seriously, and his modest demeanor gave off a warmth that words could not match. Silent care was more moving than any spoken declaration. She gave a satisfied hum, put away her gifts, and walked up to Cao Chengyu. Her cheeks were rosy, and her delicate lips slowly pressed to his.

Wei Xiao’er hastily ran outside—this was something he really shouldn’t be watching!

After a long moment, their lips parted. Luo Yuzhu, her head playfully cocked, nestled against Cao Chengyu’s shoulder, her breath fragrant as orchids. “Did you miss your elder sister?”

Cao Chengyu’s mind went blank, his desire barely contained. In broad daylight, to be doing such things! So he replied boldly, unwilling to lose out.

This time, Luo Yuzhu was caught off guard. Throughout their relationship, she had always held the upper hand—even when she teased Cao Chengyu, she could retreat unscathed. Never had she seen him so assertive and unyielding; her body went limp, her strength failing her.

At last, in a fluster, she pushed him away, her breathing quickened. “Enough—I need a few more days in seclusion to stabilize my cultivation.”

Cao Chengyu scratched his head sheepishly. “I understand. It’s just—there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s... if I were to join the Five Elements Sect at this moment, what would you think?”

“What!” Luo Yuzhu’s brows arched sharply, and she pushed him away at once. “What do you mean by that? Do you know how much effort I expended to have you accepted as Master’s disciple?”

Cao Chengyu could only spread his hands helplessly. He had expected this reaction.

The issue was, this was one of the few ways he saw to avoid disaster. Listening to the three Golden Core masters speaking in riddles had made things clear to him: all three were aware of a certain plan, which they called transcendence.

He had no idea how it would be enacted, but just now, Miao Dan had tried to draw Luo Yuzhu into the scheme. Even if she didn’t succeed, it meant Luo Yuzhu would be under her protection and not affected by this so-called transcendence plan.

But as for himself, he would not be favored. It could be a matter of life and death, with little hope of survival.

Joining the Five Elements Sect, following the example set by Xiao Yan, who seemed to have a protagonist’s destiny, was an obviously viable way to avoid calamity. It would also give him a chance to seek out Ning Wenjun and share his suspicions with her.

As for telling Luo Yuzhu that her master, the high-ranking members of the Skymonitoring Tower, and even the royal family were secretly plotting something detrimental to the Great Yue Dynasty—unless he’d lost his mind, he wouldn't do so.

Luo Yuzhu clearly wouldn’t believe him, but Ning Wenjun was different; though she was also powerful, her temperament was more gentle, and Cao Chengyu was confident he could persuade her.

When he fell silent, Luo Yuzhu also grew quiet, her eyes growing slightly red, though she made no attempt to hold him back. “If you’re determined to go, then go. But don’t come looking for me again.”

With that, she waved her slender hand. A strange force immediately pushed him out, and the doors of Spring Blossom Pavilion slammed shut.

Cao Chengyu found himself unable to leave, but equally unable to re-enter. He could only sigh deeply on the spot.

The results of the Six Ren Palm Calculation were not convincing enough as evidence—after all, it was a divination technique, prone to error. Not everyone could master such arts with the same ease he did.

It seemed he would have to wait until he found more direct proof before attempting to convince Luo Yuzhu.

Leaving helplessly, he remained unaware that Luo Yuzhu, who had been watching him with her divine sense all along, could finally hold back her tears no longer.

To fall in love for the first time, only to lose it at once—such bitterness...