After they parted ways, Ling Yun made his way to the Technique Pavilion, hoping to find some valuable techniques.
"Halt, please present your token," said a well-endowed woman guarding the entrance, her aura unfathomable.
"Senior, here is my token," Ling Yun replied respectfully, quickly handing over his elite disciple token.
After examining it, she tossed it back to him.
"You have two hours. You're not allowed to damage, copy, or steal any books. Go ahead."
"Thank you, Senior. Understood."
Ling Yun pocketed his token, opened the doors, and entered.
"Interesting... such intense Yang energy," the woman mused, watching his back with newfound interest. She'd seen men with strong Yang energy before, but this one was different—she couldn't gauge his level, only that it was exceptionally high.
The pavilion had three levels. The first contained Yellow level techniques, the second contained Profound level techniques, and the third, guarded by a barrier, presumably held the three lower grade Earth level techniques Jiu Mingming had mentioned.
Ling Yun skipped the first floor and began browsing the second. After an hour, he realized most techniques here were only suitable for female cultivators. For instance, the Desolate Body Technique required the user to channel spiritual energy into mountains and cultivate with special herbs and treasures, then spread this energy throughout their body with intense physical trials. Though grueling, it provided formidable defense, unrivaled among peers.
"Can men ever catch a break?" Ling Yun muttered, flipping through more books.
Finally, after another half hour, he found something suitable, a secret technique titled Yang Essence Condensation Art. This technique allowed the user to condense their Yang energy into a "Yang Core," infusing it with spiritual energy through specific meridians to enhance combat strength.
For most, this technique would be useless, but for Ling Yun, it was perfect. Given his immense Yang energy, this technique felt tailor-made. However, it required three specific ingredients: a Qian Kun Yang Fruit, a Mist Flower Root, and an Ice Core Beast's core from the Cave Heaven Realm. Ling Yun possessed none of these.
"Looks like I'll have to venture out soon," he murmured. He carefully memorized the technique until he could recite it backward before leaving the pavilion right as his time ran out.
As he prepared to return to his residence to cultivate, the woman guarding the pavilion stopped him.
"Ling Yun, I am Wen Kelin. Would you be interested in becoming my Daoist companion? Ask for anything—artifacts, elixirs, or spirit stones," she said.
Ling Yun took a closer look at her. Although older, her allure was undeniable, like a ripe, irresistible fruit. She was beautiful, with a graceful, voluptuous figure, and an enticing beauty mark under her eye. She had all the marks of a 'MILF' from his previous world.
After a pause, he replied, "I'll think about it."
"Good. I'll await your answer," Wen Kelin laughed softly, covering her mouth.
Clearly, she sensed that dual cultivating with Ling Yun would aid her progress. Despite her age, she found herself smitten with his appearance and his rare aura. She hadn't expected him to seriously consider her proposal, so his response delighted her.
As he continued on, without Jiu Mingming by his side, Ling Yun was stopped by disciples every ten paces. Finally, he resorted to flying on his spirit carpet to his residence, but even then, female disciples crowded outside his door, delivering fervent confessions. The most outrageous among them was Gu Xiaoxu, the only daughter of Elder Gu Yan. She frequently flirted with male disciples, and her Daoist companion changed daily.
"Ling Yun, my love for you is like the stars and seas, endless and unwavering," Gu Xiaoxu declared on one knee, holding a bouquet, surrounded by a crowd chanting, "Say yes!"
Finally, Elder Gu Yan dragged her back by her ear. Ling Yun, unbothered, focused on his cultivation.
The next day, Jiu Mingming, infuriated by the spectacle, beat everyone at the scene until they were bruised and bedridden for half a month.
"Senior Sister, you're here," Ling Yun greeted her, opening the barrier around his residence. "Come in and have a seat."
Jiu Mingming was thrilled—she'd never dreamed of entering her junior brother's quarters. As she stepped inside, a faint masculine scent lingered in the air, with clothes draped casually about and unfinished tea on the stone table.
"Is there something you needed, Senior Sister?" Ling Yun asked, pouring her tea.
"Oh! Yes, right. Master asked me to deliver this to you," she stammered, passing him a storage pouch, her mind preoccupied with the tea cup he had just used.
Opening the pouch, Ling Yun's eyes widened at the sight of a mountain of Glazed Fruits.
"So many! This is amazing!"
Taking tiny sips of her tea, Jiu Mingming explained, "Don't underestimate the Glazed Fruit, Junior Brother. While it's undervalued in Sword Sect, it's prized by body cultivators elsewhere."
"Why don't Sword Sect disciples practice both the sword and the body arts?"
"Most are so focused on sword cultivation that they don't have the energy for anything else," Jiu Mingming replied.
After sending her off, Ling Yun removed his clothing, juiced the Glazed Fruit along with some other spiritual plants, and filled a tub with the mixture before immersing himself in it.
"Divine Mountain Unyielding Body!"
Activating the technique, he watched the medicinal fluid drain rapidly. He soon realized he would need a dedicated bath to make his cultivation last longer, so he dug out a proper bath area and filled it with the mixture.
Seven months passed swiftly. By then, Ling Yun had reached the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm, having exhausted his supply of top-grade Foundation Building Pills.
"Disciple, come to the Peak Master's Hall."
A token on Ling Yun's waist vibrated, signaling a message.
"Strange, I wonder why Master called for me now?"
Ling Yun rose and headed to the hall.
Over the past year, he had grown taller and even more striking, reaching over six feet. Sword Sect disciples, wary of Jiu Mingming's wrath, now maintained a respectful distance, gathering a few hundred yards away instead of at his door.
"Senior Brother Ling is looking even finer these days."
"Those legs—ugh, I can't!"
"Why can't I have such a Daoist companion? The injustice!"
Though Jiu Mingming forbade them from crowding his door, she couldn't stop them from indulging in fantasies.
"Master, I'm here," Ling Yun greeted, finding a seat in the hall.
"You've broken through again?" Ma Xuedong asked, surprised.
After only a year and a half, Ling Yun had advanced from the fifth to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, an impressive feat.
"Just luck," Ling Yun replied with a smile.
"Hahaha, good! My successor has finally come," Ma Xuedong chuckled, his pride in his third disciple unmistakable.
"Disciple, have you heard of the Scarlet Secret Realm?"