Wang Jian Chong trembled as he struggled to free himself from the rock wall. Taking a deep breath, he was about to say something.
Ning Xi Hua furrowed her eyebrows slightly and said, "Do you have something else to say?"
Her pleasant voice now carried a hint of coldness.
Wang Jian Chong felt a chill in his heart and bowed his head, cupping his hands, "I shall obey the command of the Palace Master."
After saying that, he turned around unsteadily and walked away, his heart filled with bitterness and confusion that couldn't be resolved.
He was, after all, the Deputy Palace Master. Why would the Palace Master lay hands on him?
Wang Jian Chong couldn't understand.
As his figure disappeared from sight, Li Feng Xing's heart was in turmoil. Realizing the strangeness of the situation, he fell into silence.
As for Wen Ling Zhao, she also remained silent.
She tried hard to calm herself down.
But at this moment, the emotions surging within her couldn't be immediately subdued. As a result, a trace of confusion appeared on her face, lost in thought.
Suddenly, Su Yi spoke, "Now, you have saved the lives of two people right under my nose."
His words were somewhat inexplicable.
However, Ning Xi Hua seemed to understand in an instant and said, "Friend, you were right earlier. Being in the mortal world inevitably entails certain ties. As the Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy, if I want to focus on cultivation, I naturally need someone to help me with those trivial matters."
"What do you plan to do about today's matter?" Su Yi asked with interest.
Ning Xi Hua thought for a moment and said, "How about you invite me for a drink?"
"A drink to forget past grievances?" Su Yi raised an eyebrow.
A faint smile appeared on Ning Xi Hua's youthful face, and she replied with profound meaning, "Have we had any grievances between us?"
"Not today," Su Yi shook his head, picked up the brush, and dipped it in ink from the inkstone. He casually said, "If there is a chance in the future, I wouldn't mind getting drunk with you."
He could tell that Ning Xi Hua intended to engage in a deep conversation under the pretext of "drinking."
Undoubtedly, this mysterious woman who seemed to "turn back time" had sensed something from him.
As for what happened today, it was clearly insignificant in her eyes.
Of course, Su Yi shared the same sentiment.
In this understanding, the two of them could indeed be called "friends." They both disdained getting involved in worldly conflicts and naturally didn't care about such matters.
Ning Xi Hua was momentarily stunned, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Very well."
She stood to the side, no longer saying much.
Meanwhile, Su Yi held his breath and focused his gaze on the white paper spread out on the rock, sinking into silence.
It seemed that they sensed what was about to happen next. A pair of jade-like hands clenched quietly, and an unprecedented sense of shame surged within. Unable to hold back any longer, she said, "Su Yi! I've already said that I would rather die than sign this contract!"
Each word uttered by the young girl was deliberate, as if squeezed out from between her teeth. Her beautiful face, cold as snow, was filled with determination and hatred.
Ning Xi Hua glanced at Wen Ling Zhao and remained silent.
At this moment, the gentle sunlight illuminated the surroundings, and the mountain breeze blew, accompanied by the sound of swaying pine trees.
The girl's furious and resolute words seemed extremely abrupt in this serene atmosphere, even piercing to the ears.
Su Yi, still in silence, maintained his calm expression as usual. Only a fleeting glint of sharpness flashed in his eyes.
Then, he flicked the brush.
Eight vigorous and forceful characters were swiftly written on the white paper, the ink penetrating through the other side.
The white paper resembled snow, while the ink color resembled the night.
Snap!
Su Yi let out a long breath, casually discarded the brush, and pointed at the black words on the white paper on the rock. His gaze shifted to Wen Ling Zhao, who was not far away, as he said, "This is not a farewell letter, nor a contract. I disdain using such things to humiliate you. We are nothing more than strangers who now carry the title of husband and wife due to this marriage. But from now on, we have no further connection."
After speaking, he turned around and walked away with his hands behind his back.
He didn't bother to look at Wen Ling Zhao's reaction again. From this day forward, Wen Ling Zhao would be with Xiang Ming, and he would no longer care about her.
To him, those eight characters on the white paper were like a sword, severing one of his ties to this world.
It wasn't grand or thrilling, but that light and ethereal piece of paper with eight characters encapsulated Su Yi's intentions.
This final decision was just fine.
"Friend..." Ning Xi Hua spoke softly.
Su Yi stood still and didn't turn his head. "What is it?"
Ning Xi Hua said, "Since we have met by fate, why not have a friendly exchange of moves?"
Su Yi turned around and looked at Ning Xi Hua, who appeared as innocent as a young girl nearby. He asked, "Determining victory or defeat with a single move?"
Ning Xi Hua smiled and said, "Both of us are immersed in the mortal world, it's too early to talk about winning or losing. Let me have a glimpse of your skills."
Su Yi responded with an "oh" and said, "Go ahead."
Ning Xi Hua extended her hand, her slender and fair five fingers resembling blooming lotus flowers as she formed hand seals in the air.
Then, with a light tap, a melodious bird's cry suddenly resounded, and the sound of pine trees surging in the mountains filled the air as clouds scattered.
In the eyes of Li Feng Xing, who was observing from a distance, he saw a translucent lotus-shaped fist seal suddenly emerge in Ning Xi Hua's palm.
In that instant, it seemed like a dazzling and radiant lotus bloomed between heaven and earth, shining brightly, displaying incredible skill and profound mystery.
This was no ordinary martial arts but rather a technique resembling legends!
"What kind of power is this?" Wen Ling Zhao was shocked, her clear eyes dazed.
She had heard countless rumors about this mysterious Palace Master, but she never expected that when he truly made a move, it would be so unimaginable.
Su Yi's eyebrows lifted slightly, and he suddenly shook his sleeve. With both hands guiding the movement, an invisible and powerful force surged forth, slowly converging in the empty space.
It was as if his hands were embracing Yin and Yang.
One represented Yang, giving birth to those who follow me.
One represented Yin, causing death to those who oppose me.
Yin and Yang, life and death, converged between his hands.
Boom!
As the lotus-shaped fist seal approached, it was blocked at the point where Su Yi's hands came together, creating a muffled explosion.
Then, the sound of the bird's cry became increasingly intense, and an incredible scene unfolded—
The obstructed lotus-shaped fist seal gradually bloomed, condensing into a vivid and vibrant crimson phoenix.
Bathed in flames, it spread its wings and took flight.
A terrifying destructive force spread outward.
"Is this divine art?!"
Li Feng Xing gasped for cold air, his body and mind trembling.
As for Wen Ling Zhao, she had long been stupefied, her mind blank.
Su Yi's black pupils slightly brightened, and a hint of amusement curved his lips.
Controlling spirits with martial arts, turning power into techniques?
How insignificant.
Between his two hands, they suddenly crossed and closed, like a pair of grinding discs, pulling together two completely different forces of strength and softness, abruptly merging them.
It was as if Yin and Yang intersected, and life and death rotated.
Boom!
The fiery crimson phoenix, which was about to take flight, seemed to be suppressed by the rice grains in the grinding discs, inch by inch crushed, with bursts of radiant light and the resounding clash of power.
When Su Yi's hands truly came together, the fist seal that had transformed into the crimson phoenix was completely extinguished and dissipated, vanishing into thin air.
Silence enveloped the scene.
Li Feng Xing trembled all over. This duel completely shook his mind, as if he was witnessing an immortal's display of magic, unable to control himself.
It was only now that he realized that when he faced Su Yi in their previous battle, if it weren't for the Elder's timely command to "stop," and if he hadn't withdrawn immediately, he would likely have been a dead man by now!
Only then did he finally understand the meaning behind Su Yi's words earlier.
The appearance of the Palace Master indeed saved the lives of two people from Su Yi's hands: Li Feng Xing and Wang Jianchong.
Thinking of this, Li Feng Xing couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, realizing that he had just narrowly escaped death. It was ridiculous that he only understood it now...
Wen Ling Zhao's mind was completely blank, lost in confusion.
The Palace Master actually blocked that attack?!
"If I'm not mistaken, fellow Daoist must have cultivated one hundred and eight Spiritual Apertures and established the extraordinary foundation of 'Awakening all Apertures'?" Ning Xuehua spoke in astonishment at this moment, her beautiful eyes shimmering with disbelief.
Su Yi calmly replied, "Controlling spirits with martial arts, turning power into techniques. I thought you had already surpassed the Fourth Stage of martial cultivation, but it turns out you were only exploring the Nurturing Furnace Realm."
The so-called "controlling spirits with martial arts, turning power into techniques" meant utilizing the spiritual energy and general trends of the world within the realm of martial cultivation to derive the power of techniques.
Of course, ordinary martial grandmasters could never achieve this.
Only those who tempered the "Five-Colored Spiritual Essence" in the Nurturing Furnace Realm could grasp such power.
The grandmaster realm focused on tempering the five organs, the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, like five cauldrons, hence it was called the Nurturing Furnace Realm.
And the so-called Five-Colored Spiritual Essence was the cultivation of the Wood of Ethanol, the Metal of Geng, the Fire of Bing, the Water of Ren, and the Earth of Shu within the five cauldrons.
The Wood of Ethanol emitted a green light, nurtured within the cauldron of the liver.
The Metal of Geng emitted a golden light, cultivated within the cauldron of the lungs.
And so on.
The five organs as cauldrons, the Five-Colored Spiritual Essence formed a complete power, which was the ultimate secret of the Grandmaster Realm.
Nurturing the furnace was easy, but refining the spiritual essence was difficult, with a difficulty no less than "Awakening all Apertures" in the Qi Gathering Realm.
In the vast wilderness, achieving this level could be considered one in a million.
And Ning Xuehua, at present, was an extraordinary existence at this level.
However, at this moment, Su Yi effortlessly resolved her enigmatic attack with his Qi Gathering Realm cultivation, clearly displaying his superiority.
This was also the reason that surprised Ning Xuehua.
"Fellow Daoist is truly extraordinary, not comparable to ordinary people."
Ning Xuehua's voice was gentle and pleasant. "If we have the opportunity in the future, I would like to consult with fellow Daoist. At that time, I hope fellow Daoist won't hesitate to enlighten me."
Su Yi sneered and said, "Next time we meet, as long as you can withstand one of my attacks, I will prepare good wine to entertain you."
Ning Xuehua couldn't help but smile, her eyes filled with amusement. "Fellow Daoist is quite vengeful."
"This is called tit for tat. If I couldn't withstand that attack just now, I'm afraid you wouldn't let me leave so easily."
Su Yi shook his head and waved his hand. "Farewell."
He turned and left.
With his green robe fluttering, Su Yi gradually walked further and further away.
From beginning to end, he didn't cast another glance at Wen Ling Zhao.
It was only after watching Su Yi's slender and ethereal figure disappear from sight that Ning Xuehua withdrew her gaze and looked at the inkstone placed on the rock under the pine tree beside her.
There lay the writing materials: brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, along with a calligraphy piece left by Su Yi—
Written on it were the words, "Parting brings two kinds of happiness."
Every stroke was bold and vigorous, penetrating through the paper. At a glance, it seemed as if one could see a sword severing all bonds, exuding openness, composure, and profound meaning.