Chapter 124: Balancing Yin And Yang

Early in the morning, Xiang Yu opened his eyes, marking the end of his mind cultivation.

Without hesitation, he summoned his status screen to confirm a suspicion that had been forming during his practice:

[Mind: Level 5 (60/5000)]

[Soul: Infant (20/100,000)]

A satisfied smile crossed his face. Just as he had theorized, practicing mind cultivation was simultaneously nurturing his newly discovered soul. It made perfect sense—the spiritual sea that housed his infant soul was directly strengthened by mind cultivation techniques, creating a beneficial environment for soul development.

Still, he couldn’t detect any tangible changes in his capabilities, so he filed the observation away for later consideration.

Rising from the spirit spring, Xiang Yu stretched his limbs, ready to begin the next phase of his newly planned schedule. As he emerged from the shimmering pool, he took a moment to assess his physical condition. The breakthrough to the twelfth layer of Body Refining had fully stabilized overnight, leaving him with a profound sense of strength flowing through his every muscle.

Clenching his fist experimentally, power surged through his arm. He estimated he could now overpower at least three versions of his former self in direct combat—though such speculation was ultimately pointless without a proper method of verification. He dismissed these thoughts and focused on the tasks ahead.

After dressing, Xiang Yu carefully inspected his medicinal plants growing along the small garden he had made. The herbs were developing nicely, their leaves gleaming with absorbed spiritual energy. By his estimation, they would be ready for harvest within a day or two.

Retrieving his alchemy furnace, he arranged it precisely in the center of his workspace. Beside it, he placed a veritable mountain of herbs acquired from the sect’s treasury. His recent appointment as Grand Elder had granted him access to resources—Elder Huang had personally escorted him to the treasury, where he had claimed all available herbs.

Though they were just low level herbs, their sheer quantity represented a tremendous opportunity for practice.

Xiang Yu checked his spatial ring, confirming he still possessed one hundred eighth-grade healing pills. This supply would suffice for today’s bloodline stimulation training. After tomorrow’s reset, his alchemy skill would breakthrough to the seventh grade, allowing him to refine the pills with minimal resource wastage. For now, he would focus on producing ninth-grade pills for the sect’s benefit.

He arranged the selected herbs within the furnace and summoned his Abyssal Void Flame. The dark fire responded instantly to his will, enveloping the materials in perfectly controlled heat. As he guided the refinement process, Xiang Yu noticed a remarkable improvement in his efficiency—his success rate for ninth-grade pills had increased from sixty to an astonishing eighty percent.

His hypothesis had been correct—the pill refining success rate scaled off of mind and enlightenment level. With this improved success rate, he could produce far more pills than yesterday…

…

In the Celestial Summit Hall, Li Yao sat behind her ornate desk, examining the documents spread before her. She flipped one page over, her eyes scanning the detailed reports despite her internal disinterest in administrative matters.

“Is this the full report?” she asked, glancing up at the two sect masters standing attentively before her.

“Yes, Sect Master,” Yan Xuelian and Zhao Tiangang replied in unison, their voices respectful but tinged with underlying tension.

Li Yao nodded appreciatively. Their thoroughness and speed in compiling these comprehensive reports had exceeded her expectations.

The Empress’s voice resonated with disdain. [It’s not that they’re impressive, it’s just that you’re not,] she scoffed. [This is how a real sect master acts. You could learn a thing or two from them. Even that muscle-headed guy has a decent report.]

Li Yao chose not to retort. The truth was, leading a sect had never been her thing. She was a warrior at heart. These administrative responsibilities felt like shackles compared to the exhilarating freedom of battle.

“Good,” Li Yao said simply, setting the documents aside. Her gaze fixed on Yan Xuelian, studying the elegant sect leader’s composed features. “Your sect is primarily female, right?”

“That’s right, Sect Master,” Yan Xuelian responded, a flicker of nervousness crossing her otherwise perfect composure. Behind her carefully maintained expression, her mind raced with concerns. Was Li Yao planning to force her sect to accept male disciples?

Such a mandate would face fierce resistance from her elders. The Lotus Jade Palace’s cultivation techniques had been refined over centuries specifically for female practitioners—they were fundamentally incompatible with male physiology.

“Control your people. Don’t get any ideas,” Li Yao stated firmly, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Confusion flashed across Yan Xuelian’s face before understanding dawned. She bowed deeply, grateful that her assumption had been incorrect. “I understand,” she replied with genuine relief.

[What’s wrong with female cultivators?] The Empress’s voice echoed within Li Yao’s mind, for the first time, the empress seemed genuinely confused.

“Well, I heard that female cultivators practice some weird techniques,” Li Yao explained internally, maintaining her outward composure. “Since the Grand Elder isn’t that strong yet, what if they try to get resources from him with some strange methods?”

[Strange methods?] the Empress inquired, her curiosity piqued.

“Balancing yin and yang,” Li Yao replied, a subtle blush warming her cheeks despite her efforts to remain stoic.

When the Empress processed Li Yao’s meaning, her spiritual manifestation erupted into peals of laughter that reverberated throughout Li Yao’s spiritual sea.

“What are you laughing at? Am I wrong?” Li Yao demanded internally, indignation coloring her thoughts.

[No, you’re completely right. It’s nice to be cautious,] the Empress conceded, though her amusement remained undiminished.

“Then why are you laughing?” Li Yao pressed, but the Empress merely continued her laughter.

Refocusing on the matter at hand, Li Yao reached into her spatial ring. With a casual flick of her wrist, she tossed two identical storage rings toward the sect masters. The rings arced through the air, landing perfectly in their outstretched palms.

“This is—” Yan Xuelian began, her eyes widening as she sensed the contents.

“Since you are part of the Azure Cloud Sect now, I naturally won’t let you suffer,” Li Yao interrupted smoothly. Her voice hardened slightly as she continued, “Just make sure you’re ready when it’s time for us to fight the outsiders.”

Astonishment registered on both sect masters’ faces as they examined the rings’ contents. They had approached this new arrangement with grim resignation, expecting to surrender resources to their new overlord.

Instead, Li Yao had gifted them treasures that exceeded their combined sects’ annual production. Not only had they gained the protection of a formidable Golden Core cultivator, but they were also receiving material benefits that would dramatically strengthen their positions.

Without hesitation, both sect masters dropped to their knees, genuine gratitude replacing their earlier apprehension. “Thank you, Sect Master!” they exclaimed in perfect synchrony, their previous pride completely dissolved.

Li Yao waved her hand dismissively, affecting an air of nonchalance. “It’s just some cheap resources. No need to be so formal.”

Despite her outward indifference, Li Yao’s internal dialogue continued. “This is half of what we received from Xiang Yu. Is it really okay to give it to them?” she questioned the Empress, unable to completely suppress her concern about such generous distribution.

[It’s okay. Your senior brother will produce another batch anyway. With his talent, he should already have another batch ready by now,] the Empress reassured her.

“But…” Li Yao hesitated, still finding it difficult to part with such valuable treasures.

[Don’t worry about it. It’s an investment,] the Empress explained patiently. [If they see what we can offer them, they’re less likely to defect. That’s how you buy loyalty.]

“But didn’t you say the other day that loyalty can’t be bought?” Li Yao challenged, catching the contradiction.

[Did I say that?] the Empress responded airily. [Oh, look at the time! I’m tired from helping you go through all those documents, so I’m going back to rest.]

With that, the Empress retreated deeper into Li Yao’s spiritual sea.

…

Author’s Corner:

For those who care: where i come from, as kids, we are taught that if we don’t sleep early, a female demon will come and _ our energy. The reason the empress is laughing is because the way Li Yao says it is like how a child would say it. Idk how to translate it well into English, I did my best.

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