CHAPTER 213: DESIRE TO CONTROL YIN AND YANG

Just as the half-immortal fox had said, the process of forming a Golden Core was quite dangerous. One could never be too careful.

When Qing Yanzi broke through the chasm to the Golden Core Realm, Wang Sheng had fortunately been present. At that time, the heavens changed, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and fierce winds howled. There were even signs of a soul leaving the body.

Qing Yanzi had spent a long time quietly contemplating the Dao in seclusion before he dared to take that step.

As for Mu Wanxuan, she had once said that she was waiting for a certain feeling. When it came, she'd form her Golden Core in an instant.

Just now, while Mu Wanxuan was playing by the lake, she found that feeling. Without hesitation, she immediately began her breakthrough. However, the process wasn't just as simple as a sudden flash of inspiration.

Wang Sheng had no idea what Mu Wanxuan was experiencing at that moment. After the first wave of qi surged outward, the primal qi of heaven and earth within a ten-li radius began boiling, yet it did not immediately flow into Mu Wanxuan. Instead, it seemed to be drawing even more primal qi into motion.

This was completely different from how his master had broken through.

Wang Sheng could still clearly remember his master devouring a huge surge of primal qi, then smoothly forming his Golden Core. Could Mu Wanxuan... be taking this chance to fully shift toward the Dao of Yin-Yang Tai Chi?

Qing Yanzi had said before that Mu Wanxuan actually had two options when forming her Golden Core. One was to condense it using the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra. The other was to take the Great Dao of Yin and Yang, build upon the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra, and use the Yin-Yang Secret Scroll from the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect to form the core.

The first option was the safest. However, since Mu Wanxuan was a woman, if she cultivated the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra to high levels, she would eventually face certain limits.

Meanwhile, the second option could put her on an extraordinary path. With her deep understanding of the Dao of Yin and Yang, using the Yin-Yang Secret Scroll as her foundation to form the Golden Core would be a major step forward. Not only would she cross into the Golden Core Realm, but her strength would also soar even further.

It was clear now that Mu Wanxuan had chosen the second option.

Wang Sheng felt a surge of worry for Mu Wanxuan. Hovering in the sky, slightly anxious, he flew a little higher and gave his master a call.

—

Little Xuan suddenly started her breakthrough?

Qing Yanzi was naturally delighted.

—No need to worry too much. Your senior sister has a deep comprehension of the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra. Don't be fooled by how she sometimes looks a bit dazed. When it comes to cultivation, neither of us can match her insight.

Wang Sheng quickly described the strange phenomena he was seeing. "It looks like Senior Sister is taking the yin-yang path."

—The Great Dao of Yin and Yang is difficult to grasp, especially the dual polarity of Tai Chi and the perfect balance between yin and yang. I already warned her not to attempt it lightly... Why didn't she consult me first?

Qing Yanzi pondered for a few moments, then sighed.

—Forget it. Since this is the path she chose, let her try it. I can't make it there in time. Breaking through to the Golden Core Realm usually takes half an hour to an hour. In some cases, though, it could take only a few moments. Through it all, you are to stay close and protect your senior sister, Little Sheng. If her breakthrough fails, you must help her immediately.

"Tell me what I should do, Master."

—Little Xuan's foundation is the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra. Your true essence is no less pure than hers. If she fails to form the Golden Core through the Dao of Yin and Yang, you have to immediately transfer all of your true essence to her, giving her the chance to switch back to the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra.

—If the breakthrough fails, there will likely be backlash. Forming the core later will be even more difficult. However, if she can quickly condense the Golden Core, she will be able to neutralize the backlash.

"Understood! Is there anything else I should be aware of?"

—No. You will simply have to adapt to the situation. Go to her now. It's difficult to form a Golden Core through the Dao of Yin and Yang. I've discussed this with several Daoist elders. Although yin and yang qi generate one another, they also counter each other. More importantly, they cannot truly merge.

—In ancient times, those who cultivated using both yin and yang only attempted the to use the Dao of Tai Chi Dual-Polarity after reaching the Nascent Soul Realm. What Little Xuan is doing now is very risky.

Wang Sheng immediately agreed and rode his flying sword downward.

Currently, he sensed two distinct flows of qi, one cold and one warm. Within a radius of over thirty li, the yin and yang qi in the heavens and earth were being drawn out, slowly gathering toward the lake.

A light flashed near the lake; it seemed Xi Lian had taken Mou Yue to the rooftop of the villa. Wang Sheng then heard Xi Lian's voice in his mind.

—Little Xuanxuan is trying to take the path of Yin and Yang. I cannot help her with that. Go down and guard her. I'll keep watch and ensure no one approaches.

Wang Sheng responded, "Thank you, Senior."

—Mm. Remember, if she fails the breakthrough, call me immediately in your heart.

To his surprise, he could truly telepathically communicate with the half-immortal fox.

Clearly, Xi Lian did not believe that Mu Wanxuan could form her core through the Dao of Yin and Yang.

Flying into the white mist, Wang Sheng saw Mu Wanxuan seated beside the lake. He calmed himself, landed nearby, and walked slowly toward her.

Mu Wanxuan was dressed in a soaked traditional gown, making it cling to her body. She had likely draped it over herself in a hurry, considering half of the dress hem still floated above the lake water. Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, with some strands also spreading across the lake.

Mu Wanxuan wasn't in optimal condition. Strands of primal qi, already separated into yin and yang, were entering her body, making her aura rise and fall unpredictably. She seemed to be barely maintaining an inner balance between the two.

As Wang Sheng drew closer, however, the frown on her delicate brow gradually eased. Her previously unstable aura began to steady. Her earlier imbalance was likely due to her unsettled state of mind.

Now that Wang Sheng had arrived, she suddenly felt grounded. Her heart calmed.

Noticing this, Wang Sheng, who had planned to stop ten meters away, walked right up to Mu Wanxuan and sat cross-legged before her. Their knees were less than half a cun apart.

"I'm here, Senior Sister. Go ahead and break through. Since I also have the Dual-Polarity Sword Intent, yin-yang qi won't harm me. Maybe I'll even benefit a little from staying close."

With her eyes still closed, Mu Wanxuan smiled gently. She raised her slender hands and formed a round seal. An Illusory Core appeared between her palms, seemingly projected from her qi sea. It slowly rotated, absorbing streams of yin-yang qi entirely into itself.

Wang Sheng suddenly felt like a boulder in a surging tide. The yin-yang qi from all directions was converging to their location, rocking him from side to side.

Along with a faint sword hum, Wang Sheng unleashed his Dual-Polarity Sword Intent and merged it with the flow of yin-yang qi. Mu Wanxuan also stirred the true essence within him.

He quickly sealed his own true essence, refraining from transferring it into Mu Wanxuan just yet. He had to keep his true essence at full strength in case she failed to form the core and required help attempting again through the path of Pure Yang.

In the world of cultivation, there was a long-standing belief that if one's first attempt at forming a core failed, the chances of success in the future would only continue to decline. After all, failure could damage one's confidence and shake their Dao Heart. In serious cases, it could even give rise to inner devils. Moreover, the qi meant to form the core could go out of control and damage the cultivator's foundation.

That was why Qing Yanzi told Wang Sheng to be prepared. If Mu Wanxuan failed her first attempt, he had to transfer his true essence to her before the yin-yang qi spiraled out of control. He would then help her suppress yin with yang, quickly form a Golden Core using the Dao of Pure Yang, and then dissipate the excess yin-yang qi.

This arrangement also carried many risks, however. The most critical part was Wang Sheng's judgment of timing. If he got it wrong, he could make things worse.

Wang Sheng focused all his attention on the changes within Mu Wanxuan. Though beauty was right before him, he had no time to appreciate it.

Qing Yanzi had already explained the process of forming a Golden Core. Wang Sheng could roughly tell whether Mu Wanxuan was in danger.

The process had three main steps. First, the Illusory Core would solidify. It would then undergo "tribulation." Finally, the Golden Core would be formed through transformation.

However, Mu Wanxuan's process of solidifying the Illusory Core was completely different. Her Illusory Core had two beams of light—one black and one white—forming a three-dimensional Yin-Yang Tai Chi diagram.

Wang Sheng furrowed his brow. He could not fully understand what he was seeing in this first step.

The yin-yang qi chased each other within the Illusory Core. It solidified quickly, with one half representing yin and the other yang. As a massive Yin-Yang Tai Chi diagram slowly rotated around them, a vast amount of yin-yang qi was absorbed into the Illusory Core.

A minute passed, then another, then three more.

The process of absorbing primal qi felt quite drawn out. The worry in Wang Sheng's eyes grew deeper.

At last, after more than ten minutes, the Illusory Core in Mu Wanxuan's hands began to slow its absorption. It was now nearly as solid as a real object.

She began the next test. First, she let the Illusory Core rotate on its own, but it caused the black and white forces inside to quickly merge. In response, she hurriedly reasserted control and fell into deep thought.

The arrow is on the bowstring. Which direction should it be fired?[1]

Wang Sheng's focus was stretched so tightly that he lost all sense of time. Though certain that it hadn't been over half a day yet, he had no idea how many hours had passed.

Mu Wanxuan finally began her next attempt. This time, she took the right path. The yin-yang forces inside the Illusory Core began to spin faster and faster, and the core itself also began to rotate.

Fierce gusts of wind howled around them. Wang Sheng had to brace himself with all his strength to stay seated against the strong wind.

At some point, Mu Wanxuan made a move that left Wang Sheng utterly frustrated.

Just as the spinning within the Illusory Core reached its peak, she overlapped her hands and, with lightning speed, slammed the Illusory Core back into her qi sea.

1. "The arrow is on the bowstring" is a Chinese idiom that means a situation where a course of action has already reached a critical point and there's no turning back. ☜