The Arch-Enemy Must Not Become a Wife-Chapter 43: Childhood

After bidding farewell to Xiao Yue, Chu Xuan immediately headed to the palace hall, eager to share the good news with his mentor.

Just then, Qin Mengyao stepped out briskly from the hall.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chu Xuan learned that she was preparing to break through to the Golden Core Realm, which explained her good mood.

In cultivation, there are nine realms. The first three realms are divided into early, mid, and late stages, the middle three realms are split into six celestial ladders, while the last three realms divide into nine heavens.

Thus, although superficially there are only nine realms, the detailed subdivisions amount to fifty-four stages, revealing the arduous path to ascension.

The Golden Core Stage is just the third realm, yet it represents the pinnacle most cultivators in the world can hope to reach.

This is due to the chasm between the third and fourth realms, which has trapped countless cultivators since ancient times; similarly, the barrier between the sixth and seventh realms symbolizes the "Life and Death Three Profound Realms."

However, Qin Mengyao firmly believes that the Golden Core Stage is certainly not her end.

Upon hearing the good news from her junior brother, she also felt quite happy for him, patted his shoulder, gave a few words of encouragement, and left.

Over the past three years, Chu Xuan gained a deeper understanding of this senior sister.

To put it bluntly, she is the true cultivation fanatic.

Qin Mengyao doesn’t possess any special constitution, yet her cultivation talent is top-notch.

Although she is older than Chu Xuan, not by much, having just turned thirty this year, she has been cultivating for merely fifteen years and already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Among the young disciples of this generation, her breakthrough speed ranks first, well deserving of her status as the chief senior sister.

Qin Mengyao is not a sword cultivator but nonetheless enjoys the Sword Dao. When not in seclusion, she’s practicing Sword Control Technique, which is why she worried about neglecting her junior brother.

Chu Xuan heard from Xiao Yue that his senior sister was spotted by Floating Cloud Sage during his travels at the age of eight and taken as a direct disciple.

The mentor carefully guided and cared for her, yet withheld any cultivation methods for the first seven years, letting her follow him in studying various Taoist scriptures and nurturing her mind.

This reminded Chu Xuan of Ji Mingyu’s approach.

What could have been a Foundation Establishment achieved in a hundred days was stretched to seven and a half years for perfection due to Ming Yu.

It appears traditional Taoist sects prefer to temper disciples before Foundation Establishment? Perhaps it’s a common practice.

In any case, Qin Mengyao was indeed groomed exceptionally by Floating Cloud Sage, garnering appreciation from many elders in the sect.

Chu Xuan often heard Elder Li Fanzhou praise her, saying she is as steady as a rock when calm, as agile as an eagle hunting a hare when active, possessing a resolute character, an extraordinary talent and gem.

Even more remarkable is Qin Mengyao’s impressive performance in real combat.

The sects like Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace that prioritize disciples’ mindset have a downside—insufficient focus on battle skills.

Leaving aside other matters, the sect holds minor tests every three years and major ones every ten years, yet internal sparrings rarely risk life-threatening combat.

The sect does not encourage internal rivalry, hence the importance of experience gained from descending the mountain, usually after reaching the peak of Foundation Establishment.

At this stage, sects send disciples who have spent years in harsh training out into the world to gain insights and experience, sharpening their Dao hearts and understanding themselves.

Unless they are unlucky and meet their demise, young disciples typically show growth in combat skills; however, their core formation depends on individual insight and chance.

Unlike others, Qin Mengyao chose to actively venture into the wilderness every one or two years, hunting demonic beasts.

During this period, she occasionally clashed with other cultivators, thus she gained significant combat experience.

Nonetheless, Chu Xuan predicts that his senior sister will still venture out into the world, perhaps soon; after all, hunting demonic beasts can’t fully substitute for worldly travels.

...

Upon entering the hall, Chu Xuan saw Floating Cloud Sage holding a duster, who nodded slightly at his disciple, gesturing for him to sit down and talk.

"I’ve overheard your conversation, recovering your physique is a good thing."

"Before resuming your cultivation, you should visit the Scripture Repository and thoroughly read through our sect’s core legacy, the ’Eternal Green Lotus Technique.’"

"Although it isn’t part of the same system as the technique you cultivate, they can complement each other."

Chu Xuan hadn’t transcribed the complete ’Jade Capital Secrets,’ but he did write its general outline and presented it to Floating Cloud Sage to facilitate guidance.

Moreover, he had long been interested in the ’Cyan Lotus Technique,’ so he readily agreed upon hearing this.

It is said that the sect’s founding ancestor, Cyan Lotus Daoist, with great fortune, once acquired the legacy of an ancient powerful being, thus creating this celestial tier technique.

The powerful being was a spirit formed from the primordial chaos, its true form a cyan lotus born from the primordial chaos before the heavens and earth divided.

After discussing cultivation, Floating Cloud Sage brought up Qin Mengyao again but showed a hint of worry.

This left Chu Xuan somewhat puzzled, "Master?"

Floating Cloud Sage pondered, "The reason I accepted you as a disciple is partly due to a personal wish that you be able to care for your senior sister in the future."

Chu Xuan was even more surprised, "Does senior sister need my care? What are you worried about?"

Floating Cloud Sage showed a contemplative look, "When I first met Mengyao, it was twenty-two years ago."

"She was born into wealth in the mortal world but tragically became orphaned overnight when her family fell from grace."

"To survive, the once pampered girl resorted to begging, sustaining herself on alms."

"When I first saw Mengyao, she was devouring a steamed bun while relentlessly hitting another young beggar with a rock, without any sign of stopping." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"I immediately stepped forward and grasped her wrist; her first reaction wasn’t fear but looking up at me with pure hatred and murderous intent."

"Then the girl struggled, trying to escape my grasp."

"Naturally, I didn’t let go but asked her, ’Why do you wish to kill him?’"

"She replied: ’He took my food!’"

"Her answer was so straightforward, as if it were a matter of course, my intervention seemed to her a heinous act."

"From just this response, I could sense the child’s fierce nature, and her propensity for violence. Left unchecked, she might soon die."

"But then again, she could embark on a path filled with slaughter..."

"And so, I didn’t abandon her but took her by my side, providing food and drink, showing goodwill."

"During this time, Mengyao gradually lowered her guard towards me and revealed a normal, endearing side."

"Hence, I ultimately decided to accept her as my disciple and bring her back to Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace..."