Chapter Thirty: Stirring Up Trouble

Liu Lanzhi continued, “The method of simultaneously manipulating two streams of elemental energy with two separate intentions—of course I’ve considered it before. But it’s really just a thought, impossible to achieve. Without cultivation beyond the Divine Transformation realm, how could one possibly split their mind into two to control both at once?”

She finished speaking, oblivious to the strange, contorted look on Che Wuyou’s face. Instead, she stared fixedly at the handwritten sutra in her hands, murmuring, “Truly a rare and wondrous book. If it weren’t for the ‘Qihuang Sutra,’ I can’t imagine what other text in this vast cultivation world could be so miraculous… Manuals for tempering the physical body are already exceedingly scarce and precious, and none are as sweeping and unique as this one. This book’s requirements are so stringent—without a cultivation base above Divine Transformation, how could anyone succeed? Even if one reached that realm, success is far from guaranteed. I only regret that my own cultivation is too low to begin now, which is truly unfortunate… But I wonder what Master means by presenting this book. Could there be another method?” She was stirred by this thought and glanced at Che Wuyou.

In truth, Liu Lanzhi did not realize that apart from powerful cultivators, those with extraordinary mental strength could also practice this book. For example, the favored sons of great families—they too qualify to cultivate it. Their fathers are often monstrous figures in the cultivation world, and their formidable mental strength is inherited, so it’s no wonder these prodigies can practice such a manual. This is why lineage is so highly valued; what matters most is this father-to-son inheritance.

Seeing Liu Lanzhi looking his way, Che Wuyou’s face grew awkward as he stammered, “I—I can split my mind in two, simultaneously controlling two streams of elemental energy to temper my body…”

“What? What did you say?” Liu Lanzhi feared she had misheard. Che Wuyou could cultivate this sutra—how could that be possible? She knew Master had his reasons for instructing her to teach Che Wuyou this sutra, but hearing it firsthand stunned her.

Che Wuyou repeated his words. Liu Lanzhi still looked at him in disbelief, but he didn’t seem to be lying. She wondered, could such extraordinary people truly exist, and was this fool one of them? No wonder Master called him a promising seed for cultivation—perhaps this was why. Yet remembering his usual behavior, Liu Lanzhi found it hard to associate the phrase “promising seed” with Che Wuyou.

Unable to restrain her curiosity, Liu Lanzhi had Che Wuyou practice according to the method. She carefully sensed the fluctuations of elemental energy around him and discovered, sure enough, he was controlling two streams into his body. Hearing about it was one thing, but witnessing it firsthand was another. Liu Lanzhi’s beautiful eyes widened in shock. Could this fool truly be a rare genius? Yet his talent was so lacking.

Under Liu Lanzhi’s envious gaze, Che Wuyou finished and withdrew his energy. Seeing her eyes sparkling, Che Wuyou bashfully scratched his head. Liu Lanzhi smiled as she sized him up for a long moment before saying, “Hey, fool—um, Wuyou, how did you manage it? You can really ‘split your mind’? You must have a trick, right? Could you teach me?”

Seeing Che Wuyou’s troubled look, Liu Lanzhi quickly added, “If you don’t want to tell me for free, that’s fine—I’ll trade you treasures. If you’ll share your secret, whether it’s pills, manuals, crystals, or artifacts, I’ll exchange whatever you wish.”

Che Wuyou looked into Liu Lanzhi’s expectant eyes, unwilling to disappoint her, but—he didn’t know how he did it himself; it seemed easy enough. Under her hopeful gaze, he stammered and stuttered, unable to explain.

Liu Lanzhi’s expression grew more and more disappointed, until at last it turned to despair. The answer was right before her, yet Che Wuyou refused to teach her properly. She snapped angrily, “If you don’t want to say it, then don’t. I won’t force you. Hmph, who cares.”

Night had fallen, but Liu Lanzhi couldn’t resist practicing the nameless sutra. Seeing that even Che Wuyou, with his mediocre talent, could cultivate this miraculous book, and knowing she herself had always been hailed as a cultivation prodigy, she would not allow herself to be outdone. Driven by competitiveness, she forgot all of Master’s usual admonitions.

With a childish sense of luck, Liu Lanzhi forcibly split her mind to control two streams of elemental energy, guiding them into her body. Following the book’s instructions, she carefully let the energies flow through her meridians. Once they stabilized, she began to temper her body. The cool, refreshing sensation on her skin filled her with joy—could she succeed, too?

But her delight lasted only a moment. Suddenly, both streams of energy erupted violently. Her face changed abruptly as she struggled to control them, but distracted, she couldn't manage both. With the elemental energy surging, she nearly lost her mind’s focus.

Cold sweat drenched her. Master’s warnings flashed in her mind: “Lose your mind, and you risk lifelong disability—or worse, death from disrupted meridians.” Liu Lanzhi gritted her teeth, decisively abandoning one stream to focus all her strength on the other.

She barely managed to restrain one, but the other ran wild within her, wreaking havoc on her meridians. Blood poured from her pale lips.

Seeing her badly injured, Che Wuyou was powerless to help, pacing anxiously like an ant on a hot pan. Fortunately, Liu Lanzhi had only tried briefly, and hadn’t drawn much energy, but still she suffered serious wounds.

At last, Liu Lanzhi regained control. As she opened her eyes, another mouthful of blood spurted out. She fumbled for a bottle of pills, poured out an uncertain amount, and swallowed them. Sitting cross-legged, she regulated her breath for a long time before struggling to stand. Che Wuyou rushed to support her, seeing how pale and unsteady she was.

“Get away, I don’t need your fake kindness,” Liu Lanzhi glared at him, eyes red with anger. She lashed out with a palm—though weak from her injuries, she managed to send Che Wuyou flying. Without a backward glance, she staggered away.

Che Wuyou fell, and by the time he climbed back up, Liu Lanzhi was gone. He hugged his knees in the corner, gazing blankly around the hall. Everything looked the same as always, nothing seemed changed—the hall was still empty and silent, as if nothing had happened. Yet the faint traces of blood on the floor seemed to remind him that something had indeed occurred…

By the next morning, somehow the news had spread throughout the Miao family. Miao Shilin was furious: his carefully nurtured heir had nearly crippled herself by secretly practicing a forbidden technique—how could he bear it? If their family hadn’t been the King of Medicine clan, with access to healing elixirs, the outcome might have been much worse.

But what angered him even more was how this private matter had become public knowledge overnight—everyone in the Miao family was talking about it.

The next morning, before dawn, Che and Liu set out as usual for the Miao family’s martial hall. On the way, Liu Lanzhi’s face was cold and pale, without her usual playful charm, nor did she greet Che Wuyou with her typical cheerful smile.

Che Wuyou saw her pallor and wondered about her injuries. He wanted to ask, but found her expression icy—she passed him like a gust of wind, not pausing at all. Seeing this, Che Wuyou felt desolate. He followed behind her awkwardly, thinking, “She doesn’t look seriously injured—should be fine.” With this thought, he looked up at Liu Lanzhi walking far ahead, feeling slightly relieved.

When they reached the martial hall, Miao Shilin was already waiting. Upon their arrival, he uncharacteristically darkened his expression. He paced before them with his hands behind his back, then suddenly turned and glared coldly at Liu Lanzhi, demanding loudly, “Why did you betray your master’s teachings? Have you forgotten the clan’s rules? Are you so spoiled by our affection that you’ve become arrogant? How dare you!”

Hearing such severe reproach, Liu Lanzhi’s face grew even paler. Fearful, she knelt before Miao Shilin, head bowed, silent. Her trembling shoulders betrayed her anxiety and unease.

Seeing her silent, Miao Shilin’s anger grew. His face darkened as he shouted, “Tell me—do you still recognize me as your master? Have you forgotten my words?”