Duosheng Danyuan

"Oh my god..." After listening to Zeng Yixi describe everything that happened to her yesterday, even I, who am used to seeing bloody scenes, couldn't help but twitch my lips again.

Indeed, if what Zeng Yixi said is true, then her assessment of Wen Guanmiao as a "perverted senior sister" is undeniably accurate.

"That's really pretty twisted..." I muttered, grimacing.

"Right? Ugh, I shouldn't have brought up yesterday's events. Now I feel nauseous again." Recalling what happened last night, Zeng Yixi couldn't help but tremble all over, and goosebumps instantly covered her entire body.

"Although it's perverted, it's still very useful information," I comforted him.

"Oh? Did it work?" Hearing me say that, Zeng Yixi raised an eyebrow and said with a slight smile, "Since it's so useful, shouldn't you show some appreciation?"

"Heh..." I ignored Zeng Yixi's provocation and abruptly changed the subject, "Was what she pulled out of your abdomen your spleen?"

"Um... I'm not sure." Zeng Yixi's expression was slightly serious, and she frowned slightly. "However, the spleen is indeed in that location, and Elder Huaizhen also said in the Refining Heart Hall today that my spleen was taken away."

"Hmm... that should be fine. By the way, she actually pulled your spleen right out of your body?"

"That's right, they cut a hole the size of a fist directly under my chest," Zeng Yixi said casually.

"So what happened to this hole afterward? Was it preserved, or...?"

"It grew back directly," Zeng Yixi said in a deep voice. "I also find it hard to believe, but what happened after my spleen was taken away is actually pretty much the same as what Elder Huaizhen said. After that guy Wen Guanmiao took out my spleen, he just crushed it."

"Just crush it?"

"Hmm, after crushing it, my spleen didn't turn into the minced meat I imagined, but into a small blob of blue liquid. Tsk, how to describe it... it's like when you squeeze a piece of meat from a freshly slaughtered pig or sheep and blood comes out. After Wen Guanmiao crushed my spleen, what came out was blue liquid."

"And then? The blue liquid that flowed out, if I'm not mistaken, it shouldn't be blue blood, but spiritual energy?"

"Hmm..." Zeng Yixi nodded heavily, then said, "That small clump of blue liquid clung to Wen Guanmiao's palm. A small portion of it returned to my body, helping me to plug the hole in my body, while the other large portion... Wen Guanmiao swallowed it all in front of me, along with her entire spleen."

"Swallowed it? She ate it?"

"...Hmm." Zeng Yixi nodded with a gloomy face, his lips twitching as if he were recalling the scene of Wen Guanmiao drinking blood yesterday.

"How could such a thing happen..." I rested my cheek on my right hand, pondered for a moment, and said in a deep voice, "Neither Qian Zhe nor Tang Anran from the Heart-Refining Pool, nor Chen Yu who broke the rules at the Quiet Rest Pavilion, have experienced anything like what you've done. Is the difference because Wen Guanmiao is a senior sister, while Jian Shan and Huai Zhen are elders?"

"Who knows? It's too early to tell," Zeng Yixi said, waving her hand helplessly.

"Yes, but it's clear that Wen Guanmiao and Elder Huaizhen have different stances," I said.

"Huh? Why?" Zeng Yixi asked, puzzled. "I think they're all birds of a feather."

"Ah, oh right, you lost consciousness at that time," I said, recalling the scene after realizing that Zeng Yixi had missed what Elder Huaizhen said. "Elder Huaizhen said this when you lost consciousness: 'It's not his right to have your spleen transformed, but now he's taking on the obligation to help your spleen generate elixir. He's practically doing all this work for nothing.'"

"Wow... such a thing actually happened. Never mind, we'll talk about that later. What's more important right now is the strangeness of the Refining Heart Hall—what do you think of Elder Huaizhen?"

"From which angle do you mean?" I countered.

"Uh...it's just a feeling."

"I don't think there's anything strange about him. In this place, he's very normal, even like an ordinary person like us."

"Okay, that's the problem I described... I mean, what do you think of the rules he follows in the Refining Heart Hall?"

"Hmm..." Hearing Zeng Yixi say that, my gaze instantly sharpened. After thinking for a moment, I said, "To avoid you trying to trick me, tell me what you've discovered first. Don't worry, we're not stupid; we can all see some things that are obvious."

"Heh...you really know how to guard against me, even though I'm such a pitiful and weak woman."

"A weak woman who can pierce someone's cerebellum with one hand? Haha, maybe we're from different worlds. Where I'm from, we don't call women weak. Also, if you want me to let my guard down, give me back the incomplete manual of the Swift Step Technique."

"Haha... Let me start by sharing my findings," Zeng Yixi said, abruptly changing the subject. "I've made two discoveries. First, the fact that we can ask Elder Huaizhen questions every day shouldn't be a rule like the one at Jingxi Lodge, but rather a threatening suggestion. The difference is that rules are objective and unchangeable, while suggestions are subjective; even if you break the rules, you won't be enlightened in your soul or heart."

"Yes, I have the same feeling," I agreed. "However, this is just a conjecture. When we were in the Heart-Refining Pool, we didn't find any clues about the rules either, only a verbal hint from Elder Jianshan. As a result, Qian Zhe and Tang Anran, who disobeyed the hint, had one of their souls destroyed. This shows that the elder's words had power. The consequences of disobeying them seem to be the same as the consequences of violating the rules."

"I'll verify my hypothesis later. But you'll have to help me, right?" Zeng Yixi said with a smile.

"Haha... I'll try my best. What's your second discovery?"

"The second discovery is quite complicated, and it's something I discovered and confirmed. If you want to know..." Zeng Yixi said, giving him a knowing look.

"Is it about the cultivation techniques and practice?"

"Eh?"

"Yesterday, Chen Yu, Qian Zhe, and Tang Anran all practiced by referring to the incomplete pages of the 'Secret Method of Elixir Cultivation.' Of course, you can't see anything wrong from that alone. What really reveals the problem is how you practiced today."

"..." Zeng Yixi remained silent, but her expression became somewhat speechless.

"As cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage, our memory is actually different from before. Even if I don't actively memorize those complex rules engraved on the walls, I can remember them after just one glance. I believe you and others are the same. In other words, for us, a thin book like 'The Secret Method of Elixir Formation' can be memorized in less than an hour, and we can't forget it even if we want to."

"so what?"

"Therefore, both Elder Huaizhen's actions yesterday and your failure and success today seem highly suspicious." I pointed a finger and said with a smile, "Yesterday, when Elder Huaizhen tore out a few pages from the 'Secret Method of Elixir Formation' and placed them in front of the three of them, I thought he was just trying to remind them to avoid mispronouncing the incantations. But today, it seems that's not the case. You failed to form an elixir the first time, but succeeded the second time. I don't believe you forgot the incantation the first time. If that were the case, you should have asked to review the method before your first failure, but you didn't. Comparing the two, only one possibility remains—successful cultivation of the method isn't just about memorizing the incantation; you also need to obtain the corresponding chapters of the method."

Upon hearing my words, Zeng Yixi's expression became quite interesting. After a moment of hesitation, she sighed helplessly and said, "Sigh... I'm speechless. That's right, this is the second thing I discovered. You're so clever it's almost annoying. Honestly, I was thinking of exchanging some other things with you."

"Come on," I rolled my eyes and said speechlessly, "You still want the 'Hundred Meridians Return to Origin' manual? Come on, I should be the one saying that. Hurry up and give me back the 'Rapid Walking Technique'."

"Tch... I won't give it to you."

"you!"

"You said yesterday's matter was wiped clean. Now that it's wiped clean, the 'Rapid Walking Technique' should be mine, right?"

"Heh..." I chuckled coldly, my lips twitching.

"Stop making that face. Now it's your turn to analyze." Zeng Yixi waved her hand and said mysteriously, "I'm curious, besides the two things I discovered, what else did you find?"

"To clarify, it's not that you discovered two things. Rather, it's that I also happened to notice what you discovered, that's all. I can barely say that you discovered the first thing, but the second thing was entirely my own deduction."

"That also needs my confirmation as someone who experienced it firsthand."

"hehe..."

"Alright, alright, stop hiding it and tell me, what else did you find out?"

"I..."

"You've finally arrived!"

I had barely opened my mouth, before I could say anything, when, not far away, at the entrance of Yangyuanzhai, Qian Zhe, supporting his almost numb right hand with his left, called out loudly to us.

"There's nothing we can do, we've been waiting for Lin Xu and the others for too long," said Chen Yu, who was at the front of the group.

"That's too slow! I've been waiting outside for who knows how long!" Qian Zhe said unhappily.

"Who told some people to sneak away?" Zhang Muyun shrugged, speaking sarcastically.

"What are you babbling about?" Qian Zhe said, annoyed.

"Shut up, you idiot." Zhang Muyun said coldly.

"you!"

"Alright, alright." Wang Hao stepped forward, blocking Qian Zhe's path, and turned to Zhang Muyun and the others, saying, "Let's go in together."