After being jilted by the saintess at the beginning, why is she crying?

She paused, then looked up, her eyes filled with a heartbreakingly understanding look:

"Qingyao is a good girl. It's your good fortune to have met her, Junior Brother. I don't ask for any title or status. I only ask that you always keep a small place for Xiyue in your heart, and never forget me."

These words warmed Lin Fengmian's heart.

He reached out and gently took her soft hand in his, saying seriously, "Silly senior sister, you will always be someone I care about. I've said that, and I won't change my mind."

Xiao Xiyue smiled, but her eyes were slightly red.

She said no more, and joined her palms with Lin Fengmian's, beginning to practice the dual cultivation technique.

The two spiritual energies intertwined and their spiritual consciousness resonated. Within the cave, spiritual energy surged like a tide, leaving only the quiet sound of breathing.

……

Two days later.

Yan Qingyao has become thoroughly familiar with the environment of the Hehuan Sect and has taken the initiative to manage the affairs of Luoyun Peak.

She was meticulous and arranged all the resources, such as spirit fields, medicine gardens, and spirit veins, in an orderly manner. Even Lin Fengmian couldn't help but praise her as a virtuous wife.

Xiao Ling'er then naturally became her personal maid.

At first, this former prodigy saintess was somewhat reluctant, but Yan Qingyao was gentle and kind.

They treated her extremely well, never addressing her as master and servant. Over time, Xiao Ling'er gradually accepted this identity.

Life on Luoyun Peak was peaceful and fulfilling.

Lin Fengmian was not idle either.

Newlyweds, after several tender moments, he kept thinking about breaking through to the next level.

His cultivation had already reached the perfect stage of the early Core Formation realm; he was just one step away from achieving it.

This day.

He quietly arrived at Honglian's cave.

A delicate fragrance wafted through the cave, and Honglian, dressed in an elegant gauze dress, lay languidly on a jade couch.

The gauze skirt was as thin as a cicada's wing, outlining a breathtakingly exquisite figure with a slender waist, rounded hips, and a pair of jade-like legs crossed, faintly visible beneath the hem of the skirt.

Upon seeing Lin Fengmian arrive, she glanced at him sideways with her beautiful eyes, her tone carrying a hint of cold resentment:

"Peak Master Lin, newly married and in high spirits, what brings you to my desolate cave today?"

Lin Fengmian chuckled, leaned forward, and sat down naturally beside her, his gaze filled with undisguised fervor: "Uncle-Master, you missed me?"

His voice was deep and somewhat magnetic.

Honglian's delicate body trembled slightly, and she made a symbolic struggle, her jade hand pressing against his chest, but it was weak and powerless, without any strength to push him away.

"Who, who misses you... Don't talk nonsense."

Her pretty face flushed, and her eyes darted away. Her shy, coy demeanor was more captivating than any straightforward acceptance.

"But I miss you, Uncle-Master."

Lin Fengmian lowered his head and whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe.

Honglian felt a shiver run through her body, and her last bit of resistance crumbled instantly.

She bit her lower lip, her beautiful eyes glistening with tears, her voice barely a whisper: "You're so good at saying nice things to coax people..."

Lin Fengmian said no more, and gently helped her up by placing his hands on her slender waist.

The two sat cross-legged facing each other, palms together, and quickly became immersed in the mysterious circulation of spiritual energy.

Spiritual energy flowed between their meridians, forming a perfect closed loop. The pure Yang spiritual energy within him, extremely Yang and powerful,

It intertwines and merges with the gentle and warm primordial yin energy within her body, achieving a balance of yin and yang, and endlessly generating life.

At this peak moment of spiritual energy integration—

Lin Fengmian's spiritual power, which had been saturated to the extreme, finally broke through that solid barrier!

boom!

A muffled, loud bang erupted from his body!

An unprecedented surge of powerful spiritual energy, like a torrent bursting its banks, roared through his limbs and bones!

His meridians were widened rapidly, and his spiritual sea expanded several times over in an instant!

The pure spiritual energy surged and roared, emitting a powerful and terrifying fluctuation!

He broke through!

Mid-stage Core Formation!

Lin Fengmian felt completely relaxed, as if every pore was cheering with joy.

That newly generated spiritual power was powerful and pure, several times more potent than that of the early Foundation Establishment stage!

He slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.

Honglian, who was opposite him, clearly also sensed his sudden increase in cultivation level, and her beautiful eyes were filled with surprise and relief.

She withdrew her hands, looked at the radiant young man before her, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips:

"Congratulations, Feng Mian... you've broken through."

Looking at her beautiful face, which had become even more radiant due to the fusion of spiritual energy, Lin Fengmian felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, whispering in her ear:

"Thank you for your kindness, Uncle-Master."

Lin Fengmian left Honglian's cave in a great mood.

He flew back to Luoyun Peak on his sword, stood with his hands behind his back on the summit, looked down at the misty mountains below, and felt the surging spiritual power within his body, feeling an unprecedented sense of exhilaration.

Mid-stage Core Formation!

With this step, he can be considered a true powerhouse in the entire cultivation world of Zhao Kingdom.

After all, Core Formation cultivators are rare, and those in the mid-stage of Core Formation are even rarer.

Along the way, from the fifth level of Qi Refining to the mid-stage of Core Formation...

His cultivation level advanced rapidly almost entirely through dual cultivation with the fairy and the balance of yin and yang.

Chu Qingyi's primordial yin helped him break through the Qi Refining barrier, Nangong Li's pure yin body allowed him to proceed smoothly on the Foundation Establishment path, and Xiao Xiyue's profound yin power allowed him to touch the threshold of Core Formation ahead of schedule.

This time, his dual cultivation with Honglian, a fake Nascent Soul cultivator, coupled with Yan Qingyao's extremely pure Yin essence, directly allowed him to break through the shackles of the early Core Formation stage and steadily step into the middle stage!

"It seems I'm destined to be inseparable from fairies for the rest of my life..."

Lin Fengmian touched his nose, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips.

However, he took it all in stride.

In the world of cultivation, opportunities are paramount, and his path of dual cultivation is that opportunity.

As long as you can connect with the fairy and harmonize yin and yang, your cultivation will rise accordingly. Why not do it?

But Lin Fengmian also knew that the foundation of cultivation could not rely solely on dual cultivation.

He must cultivate his own power base and build a truly trustworthy inner circle.

The outside world is currently in turmoil, with various forces eyeing the scene with hostility.

Although he was not afraid, he was still worried about leaving Luoyun Peak and Hehuan Sect unguarded when he went out.

"It's time to cultivate a group of our own people." Lin Fengmian stroked his chin, secretly calculating in his heart.

The first people he thought of were the three Xiong brothers.

Those three simpletons, whom he met in the secret realm, were of average talent, but they were loyal, honest and kind.

Since following him, I have always served him faithfully and never had any disloyalty. This kind of person, who knows me inside and out, is a true confidant worth cultivating.

Lin Fengmian immediately ordered his men to summon the three Xiong brothers to Luoyun Peak.

Before long, three burly figures came running up, panting heavily. They were Xiong Da, Xiong Er, and Xiong San.

Upon seeing Lin Fengmian, the three bowed in unison, their voices booming like bells:

"Big brother! You were looking for us?"