Chapter 3: The Art of Harmonizing Yin and Yang

But in Liu Xiaoxi’s eyes across from him, his gesture carried an air of impropriety. Her delicate face turned a shade colder, and she loudly rebuked him: “How dare you! Since you know I am the Emissary of Heaven’s Gate, how could you still dare to look me directly in the eye!”

As she spoke, a wave of icy chill erupted from her, and wherever it swept through, a series of cracking sounds echoed in mid-air—the moisture in the air froze in an instant. Moreover, the chill surged straight toward Lin Hao, clearly intended as a lesson for him.

But Lin Hao had no desire to sit and take the blow. Earlier, he’d allowed himself to be injured by Zhou Yichen and his group for the sake of the mission, but with no such restraints now, he reacted instantly. As soon as he saw the woman’s move, he flung his hands upward, fully unleashing the Taiching Primal Violet Art. A crimson flame burst forth, forming a barrier that completely blocked the oncoming cold.

“Hmph!” Seeing her chill repelled, Liu Xiaoxi snorted coldly and prepared to summon all her spiritual power. But at that very moment, a shouted command rang out from within the room: “Xiaoxi, stop!”

The words had barely faded when a figure drifted lightly down beside the two of them. With a casual gesture, he instantly dispelled both the flames and the frost, breaking the stalemate between them.

Only then did Lin Hao realize with a start that there was, in fact, a second person in his room.

The newcomer was a middle-aged man, appearing to be in his thirties or forties. From his attire, it was clear he was of the same origin as the woman who had declared herself Heaven’s Gate’s emissary.

Before Lin Hao could speak, the man turned to Liu Xiaoxi and said, “Xiaoxi, have you forgotten our purpose here?”

At his words, a faint blush appeared beneath the icy mask of Liu Xiaoxi’s face. She shot Lin Hao a glare and retorted, “Of course I haven’t forgotten, Father. But this man was so rude just now, I simply—”

“How was he rude? I think you’re just unhappy with my arrangements and looking for an excuse.” The man gave a helpless smile, then turned to Lin Hao. “Forgive my daughter. She’s been spoiled by her mother, and if she’s offended you in any way, I hope you won’t hold it against her.”

“Not at all. I was the one who was abrupt just now—I hope you won’t mind.” Having witnessed the man’s strength for himself, Lin Hao surmised he must be at least at the Golden Core stage, so he dared not show any dissatisfaction and quickly replied with courtesy.

“Hmph!” Liu Xiaoxi snorted again at Lin Hao’s manner, then turned to walk into the room. “As long as you understand.”

The man could only smile wryly once more. “My name is Liu Xuanxian, fourth in rank at Heaven’s Gate. I’ve accompanied my daughter here to the Clearwind Sect because there’s an important matter I wish to discuss with you.”

“An important matter to discuss with me?” Lin Hao was inwardly taken aback. What could a great figure from Heaven’s Gate possibly want with him?

Before he acquired the system, he was nothing more than an unknown outer disciple of the Clearwind Sect. Even now, with his cultivation advanced by the system’s help, he was clearly no match for this man who was at least a Golden Core expert.

Noticing Lin Hao’s composed reaction, Liu Xuanxian was puzzled. Has Heaven’s Gate really faded so much in recent decades that even a junior like this doesn’t recognize our name?

But recalling the elaborate welcome the Clearwind Sect had staged that morning, he shook his head. No, this boy must have something to rely on—otherwise, after learning Xiaoxi’s identity, he’d never have dared fight back.

What he didn’t know was that Lin Hao had missed the morning’s events due to being ambushed, and thus had no idea what the man’s name implied.

With this in mind, Liu Xuanxian continued, “Indeed. Since this concerns a matter vital to your future cultivation, we thought it best to come and discuss it with you in advance.”

“Oh?” Lin Hao found himself growing more and more confused, his face betraying his puzzlement.

“Let’s talk inside,” Liu Xuanxian said with a smile, and without further explanation, turned and walked into the room.

Lin Hao hesitated only a moment before following. After all, if the other party truly was a Golden Core expert, there was no way he could resist anyway. He might as well see what their intentions were.

Once inside, Lin Hao saw Liu Xiaoxi seated to the side, still sullenly staring in his direction, her face cold and a new surge of anger flaring up when she saw him enter.

Lin Hao could only sigh inwardly, then stepped up to Liu Xuanxian. “From what you just said, Senior, the matter you wish to discuss has to do with my future cultivation?”

Given the man’s strength, Lin Hao adjusted his address accordingly, and seeing this, a look of satisfaction appeared on Liu Xuanxian’s face.

“That’s right. What I want to discuss with you today is your marriage to my daughter.”

“Oh, so it’s about my marriage to your daughter—” Lin Hao began, only to suddenly realize the implication and jerk his head up. “What! Did you just say—”

“Yes. The matter I wish to discuss is your marriage to my daughter, Xiaoxi.” Liu Xuanxian nodded, ignoring the shock on Lin Hao’s face. “Because my daughter was born with a body of pure yin, she has suffered from an innate chill since birth. Though she has managed to suppress it with the Ice Soul Heart Technique, to be completely cured she must practice the art of yin-yang harmony with a man of pure yang constitution…”

Yin-yang harmony? Wasn’t that dual cultivation?

At the mention of the art of yin-yang harmony, Lin Hao was utterly stunned. For someone who had only recently embarked on the path of cultivation, this was simply unimaginable.

And then—

Thinking of Liu Xiaoxi’s beauty, Lin Hao couldn’t help but swallow nervously. Still, he didn’t forget his own situation and quickly said, “A body of pure yang? But I believe I was only born with a fire spiritual root, not such a special constitution.”

“Hmm?” At his words, a gasp came from the corner of the room. Turning, Lin Hao saw Liu Xiaoxi staring at him in surprise, clearly doubting his claim.

From the moment Lin Hao entered, Liu Xiaoxi had been watching his every move. When she saw him swallow nervously just now, she had felt a surge of disgust. But hearing him speak so honestly, her impression of him began to change.

At this moment, Liu Xuanxian nodded and said, “You’re right. You aren’t a natural possessor of the pure yang body. In fact, from what I understand, your current fire spiritual root is only at the earth-grade level—there’s still quite a gap before you reach the highest, heaven-grade.”

“Then why—” Lin Hao’s confusion only deepened.

“Because just half a month ago, you were still an ordinary person with no spiritual root at all!” Liu Xuanxian’s tone grew suddenly intense. “Yet in just half a month, you not only gained an earth-grade spiritual root, but your cultivation has already reached the tenth level of Qi Refinement. If I’m not mistaken, in the near future you’ll not only attain a heaven-grade spiritual root; your very constitution…”

He left the rest unsaid, but Lin Hao understood what he meant. And he was just as shocked by what Liu Xuanxian had revealed. After all, there really was such an item in the system’s store—a tool that could alter his constitution for a hundred thousand points, transforming him into the pure yang body Liu Xuanxian spoke of, and then…

Lin Hao glanced instinctively at Liu Xiaoxi. To his surprise, she didn’t look particularly repulsed—instead, she hesitated briefly, then quickly lowered her eyes.

Could she really have taken a liking to me?

Like many men, Lin Hao was not immune to a bit of vanity. Seeing her reaction, he felt a strange flutter within, before hastily turning back to Liu Xuanxian. “In that case, why not wait until then to come and find me?”

“Haha! If we waited for that, we’d be too late,” Liu Xuanxian chuckled. “A man like you will stir up a storm in the cultivation world within two years—by then, beauties will be flocking to your side, and with my daughter’s temper…”

“Ahem!” Before he could finish, Liu Xiaoxi coughed warningly from the side.

Liu Xuanxian smiled sheepishly and continued, “Besides, I hear your Clearwind Sect is about to hold some kind of internal selection. If your potential is confirmed in this test, it would be the best of both worlds.”

His tone grew markedly more serious. “Understand, my daughter may not be a darling of the heavens, but to me, she’s my most precious treasure. If you can’t even pass this small test before you, it’s out of the question for me to give her to you.”

Well then, he made it sound as if I were the one desperately seeking this marriage!