The Hehuan Sect Was Squeezed Dry for Ten Thousand Years, but It Became a Sacred Ground?

Chapter 3: Indomitable Will!

“Hmm? A usable talent?”

Ning Chen instinctively looked at Liu Ruyan, who sat cross-legged, eyes shut, immersed in cultivation.

The next moment, her data panel appeared before him.

[Liu Ruyan]

Title: Sect Master of the Azure Lotus Sect

Age: 148

Cultivation: Nascent Soul Peak (Attempting to ascend to Soul Transformation)

Talent: Indomitable Will (Blue-grade: When facing an evenly matched opponent and on the verge of exhaustion, the user can unleash additional strength to turn the tide.)

Physique: None

Divine Abilities: None

Appearance: 96/100

“A battle-oriented talent?” Ning Chen pondered.

No wonder she always seemed on the verge of collapse during their confrontations, only to suddenly surge with power and temporarily suppress him. So this was the reason.

Aside from her admittedly attractive face, her panel was unimpressive—a single blue-grade talent. Clearly, her cultivation progress was entirely due to his assistance.

“Even the smallest gain counts,” Ning Chen thought as he chose to replicate the talent.

His panel now read:

Talent 1: Replication

Talent 2: Indomitable Will (Blue-grade: Adds 100 experience points per day)

This raised Ning Chen’s daily experience gain to 100,100, a small but welcome increase.

With the system resolving his immediate concerns, Ning Chen turned his attention to Liu Ruyan’s breakthrough.

He observed the tangible spiritual energy crashing against invisible barriers. Each time the momentum faltered, energy rapidly converged in her lower abdomen, replenishing her reserves as if inexhaustible.

“This is the power of the Supreme Pure Yang Physique!” Ning Chen smirked inwardly.

“Relying entirely on external forces—what a wasteful woman!”

If not for his restraints, Ning Chen believed he could cultivate freely without bottlenecks until he ascended to immortality.

Time passed unknowingly.

Suddenly, a cracking sound resonated through the chamber, as if something had shattered.

Liu Ruyan’s robes billowed as tidal waves of spiritual energy radiated from her, accompanied by a resonant hum. The overwhelming pressure swept across the room.

Ning Chen was slightly taken aback. “She broke through already? That was fast.”

He couldn’t help but reflect bitterly. His contributions to her cultivation must be unparalleled.

Yet, the oppressive spiritual energy dissipated upon reaching the bed. A lotus-shaped mark glowed faintly, then vanished.

The Azure Lotus Concealment Array—a pinnacle protective formation of the Azure Lotus Sect—had been set up here, using materials even more precious than those employed for the sect’s defenses.

Another hour passed before Liu Ruyan finally opened her eyes, her radiant gaze betraying suppressed excitement.

“Success!” she whispered. “From this day, I am a Soul Transformation cultivator!”

Noticing the activated array, Liu Ruyan immediately retracted her aura, ensuring no harm befell her “precious disciple.”

Removing a jade stopper, she found the previous discomfort in her abdomen had completely vanished. The stored energy had been entirely consumed during the breakthrough, leaving not a single drop.

Satisfied, she approached the restrained Ning Chen.

Her cool hands caressed his flawless face with genuine tenderness. “Does it hurt, my dear disciple? Let me release you now,” she murmured softly.

With a wave of her sleeve, the four spiritual locks binding him released and retracted into the bedposts.

Seeing the red marks left on his wrists, Liu Ruyan quickly pulled out a vial tucked in her robes, blew on the marks twice, and applied her lips to them without hesitation.

Her devotion was palpable, almost reverent, as if tending to a divine relic.

For high-level cultivators, even their saliva carried potent restorative properties, comparable to low-grade healing elixirs.

In no time, the red marks faded.

Ning Chen, long accustomed to her eccentric behavior, remained passive.

His indifference extended to her meticulous care, allowing her to clean him up without resistance.

Satisfied, Liu Ruyan adjusted her slightly disheveled robes.

With a dramatic flourish, her old garment vanished, replaced by a new, elegant palace gown. She took deliberate care in dressing herself, as though showcasing her transformation.

Regaining her usual dignified demeanor, Liu Ruyan summoned a small table near the bed.

It bore an array of exquisite dishes and a gourd bottle. Beside it lay neatly folded azure robes.

“Take care of yourself while I’m away,” she instructed. “The gourd contains top-tier fasting pills, enough for a month.”

“I must now attend to the sect’s affairs and oversee its promotion after my breakthrough to Soul Transformation. I’ll be busy for a while.”

Ning Chen stayed silent. He had nothing more to say to her.

The dungeon door opened briefly as Liu Ruyan departed, her footsteps growing distant until silence returned.

Ning Chen waited a moment before rising, turning his gaze toward the food and gourd.

The dishes included clear-broth spiritual oysters and braised demon tiger whip.

He sighed. “This woman… Does she think I’ll wither away without these?”

Clearly, she was terrified of his Supreme Pure Yang Physique suffering any deficiencies.