Inside Ning Fan's cave dwelling.

With the experience from the previous night, tonight there were only lovers' whispers and soft, coquettish moans.

Spiritual energy converged, circulating between the two.

Another flash of white light passed, and Ning Fan simply focused on his own cultivation as he had the night before.

After the scene shifted, Ye Honglian was about to look around, but a pair of scorching hands already caught her.

Ye Honglian was both embarrassed and furious. Just as she wanted to resist, she found that, like yesterday, all the spiritual energy in her body had vanished.

Her cultivation method operated on its own. Now that both possessed the Tianxuan Heart Sutra, their cultivation progressed even more smoothly.

Ye Honglian's initial shame and anger were gradually replaced by the profound mystery of the cultivation gains and her own instincts.

"It seems Qingyao truly only undergoes such changes in appearance at this time."

Ning Fan had noticed the change in his Dao Companion's appearance, but he did not point it out, assuming it to be one of Yun Qingyao's secrets.

Since she did not speak of it, he would not ask.

Unaware of the jade pendant, how could he possibly imagine that Yun Qingyao and Ye Honglian were two different people?

And Ye Honglian certainly would not explain these things.

She was now completely immersed in their cultivation.

After an unknown amount of time, at the Tianxuan Holy Land.

"Hmm?"

Ye Honglian's beautiful eyes slowly opened, hazy and languid, her body feeling weak and limp.

Forcing herself up, she looked around and realized she had returned to the Holy Land, letting out a long sigh of relief.

Thinking back to their recent indulgence, a blush spread across her pretty face.

In public, she, Ye Honglian, was the noble and exalted Holy Maiden, but in private, she was merely a young woman experiencing matters of the heart for the first time.

Suddenly, she sensed a change in her cultivation level and quickly suppressed the countless distracting thoughts in her heart, urging her Divine Sense to investigate.

"This..."

Her investigation left Ye Honglian stunned.

In just one night, her Tianxuan Heart Sutra had broken through from the early stage of the Seventh Layer to the middle stage.

She was already the most talented disciple of this generation in the Tianxuan Holy Land. Yet, even with her aptitude, having just broken into the Seventh Layer, reaching the middle stage would have been impossible without at least half a year of arduous meditation.

One night had equaled half a year of her own cultivation.

"This..."

Ye Honglian smiled helplessly, stroking the jade pendant in her palm, unsure whether this Fated Chance was a blessing or a curse.

"I, Han Yufei, a Holy Maiden candidate, have come to challenge Holy Maiden Ye Honglian!"

A woman in white, peerlessly elegant, stood alone outside the palace, sword in hand!

"Daring to challenge me, it seems you, Junior Sister, are quite confident."

Ye Honglian appeared at the palace gate, gazing calmly at Han Yufei.

"Senior Sister, please!"

Han Yufei's arm shook, activating the inscriptions on her blade. Streams of sword qi burst forth, transforming into wind blades that shot toward Ye Honglian.

Ye Honglian neither dodged nor avoided. Her entire body shimmered with white light. The sword qi released by Han Yufei was shattered by the white light before it could even reach her.

"Middle stage of the Seventh Layer!"

Han Yufei cried out, a storm of shock rising in her heart.

"Since you dared to come and challenge me in my palace, you must be prepared to die!"

Ye Honglian's voice was vast and ethereal, echoing like a death knell in Han Yufei's ears.

White light flashed, centered on Ye Honglian, enveloping the surrounding ten zhang.

Moments later, the light dissipated. Ye Honglian remained exactly where she had stood, as if she had never moved.

Han Yufei still maintained her sword-raising stance.

"Whoosh."

A gentle breeze swept by, and Han Yufei's head rolled from her shoulders.

The headless corpse remained in a battle posture as blood spurted from the neck cavity.

"Captain Hu, bring someone to clean this up!"

Ye Honglian drifted back into the palace without looking back, leaving only a faint sentence echoing in the breeze. "The Holy Maiden broke through again overnight, middle stage of the Seventh Layer, one move kills Han Yufei."

In an instant, the Holy Land was in an uproar, and the Elder Hall was shaken.

Yin Yang Divine Sect.

In the cave dwelling, Ning Fan sat cross-legged on a stone stool, regulating his breath.

"Huff."

Finishing his exercises, Ning Fan let out a long breath, a look of joy on his face:

"Two more realms broken through."

Normally, the dual cultivation techniques of the Yin Yang Divine Sect only provided a massive boost during the first session.

The reason was that during the first union, the spiritual energy, physique, and soul of both parties complemented each other, granting immense benefits to both.

Afterward, progress naturally slowed down.

For an ordinary new disciple at the Fourth Layer of the Yellow Extreme Realm, reaching the Fifth Layer through dual cultivation, even with resources, would require at least half a month.

Yet, the benefits Ning Fan gained from his second session were even greater than what other disciples received during their first. It was simply incredible.

"It seems I must dual cultivate more often. As long as I do not die, I will cultivate until I break through."

A glint of determination flashed in Ning Fan's eyes.

Without dual cultivation, how could he establish himself in this cruel Yin Yang Divine Sect?

"I heard that Zhao Yuankai of the Zhao family was crippled in the first match of the newcomer competition and only received a Grade B evaluation?"

Looking at the visiting card with Zhao Yuankai's name on it, handed to him by his subordinate, Shao Hong let out a soft laugh.

"Coming to visit me now? He must have something to ask of me."

"But since he is from the Zhao family, bring him in!"

"Yes!"

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a voice came from outside the door:

"Senior Brother, Senior Brother Zhao has arrived."

"Enter!"

The door pushed open.

Shao Hong glanced casually and was stunned.

He saw two servants carrying a sitting couch. On it lay a person wrapped in white bandages from head to toe, with only his eyes and mouth exposed-a living mummy.

"You are...?"

Shao Hong looked at the person in surprise.

"Junior Brother Zhao?"

"Senior Brother Shao..."

Zhao Yuankai's voice was hoarse, his tone extremely weak.

Shao Hong frowned, then put on a concerned expression, asking urgently:

"Junior Brother Zhao, what happened? Who had the audacity to beat you like this?"

"Senior Brother Shao, let us not speak of that now. I have come today to present a treasure to you!"

Zhao Yuankai's tone was fawning. "Among the new disciples, there is a beauty named Yun Qingyao. She is stunning, and in terms of appearance alone, she rivals our Yin Yang Divine Sect's number one beauty, Lingxu Fairy!"

"Junior Brother knows you have always had a fondness for beauties, so I have come specifically to present this treasure to you!"

"Her appearance rivals Lingxu Fairy? Is this true?" Shao Hong's eyes lit up, a lecherous expression appearing on his face, greed written all over his gaze.

"Of course it is true!"

Seeing Shao Hong's interest, Zhao Yuankai immediately fanned the flames. "Senior Brother, Yun Qingyao's peerless beauty is known to everyone. If you do not make a move soon, I fear someone else will snatch her away!"

Shao Hong drooled slightly. "I shall go snatch her now! Such a beauty can only belong to me, Shao Hong!"

He patted Zhao Yuankai on the shoulder. "Thank you for the information, Junior Brother. Once I have secured the beauty, you will not be left out!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Zhao Yuankai sneered inwardly.

Ning Fan, oh Ning Fan! With Shao Hong, that notorious lecher, making a move, you will certainly suffer! This is the price for provoking me!