Chapter 47: Heavenly Evolution Harmony Technique

"Sect Master, you have emerged from seclusion."

As soon as he stepped out of his immortal cave, Chen Xuan ran right into Liyangzi. It seemed as though whenever he completed a period of seclusion, Liyangzi was always the first person he would encounter.

"An old acquaintance like you doesn't need to be so formal," Chen Xuan said with a smile.

Liyangzi was considered his peer, and the two of them shared the deepest bond of friendship within the Profound Dan Sect. Chen Xuan had always regarded Liyangzi as a true friend.

"Indeed," Liyangzi replied, joy welling up in his heart.

He and Chen Xuan had known each other for hundreds of years. Their cultivation levels had not been vastly different in the past, so they had often communicated as equals, much like ordinary friends.

However, Chen Xuan's recent growth had been far too rapid, and his cultivation had long since left Liyangzi far behind.

This had naturally instilled a sense of awe and reverence within Liyangzi.

He had worried that if he continued to treat Chen Xuan with the same casual familiarity as before, it might displease him.

To his pleasant surprise, even though Chen Xuan had now attained the Dao-Enlightenment Realm, he did not act aloof or condescending, still addressing him as an equal.

Liyangzi was deeply moved.

"Sect Master," Liyangzi said, briefing Chen Xuan on the recent developments within the sect. "Yao Mei, the current master of the Joy Sect, wishes to lead her entire sect into joining the Profound Dan Sect. Because you were in seclusion, I turned her away several times."

"Now she has come again."

After a brief pause, Liyangzi added, "Moreover, I heard that Yao Mei has always wanted to join the Profound Dan Sect. The last time, she was even imprisoned by Hong Qingtao because she opposed the attack on our sect."

"Oh?"

Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow. He had some recollection of Yao Mei; she was the Grand Elder of the Joy Sect during the previous disciple recruitment grand tournament. At that time, she had expressed a desire to join the Profound Dan Sect, but he had rejected her.

It seemed she had not been present when Su Yu led the Joy Sect in a surprise raid on the Profound Dan Sect.

So she had been locked up because of that.

"Send for her," Chen Xuan commanded.

"Yao Mei pays her respects to the Sect Master!"

A beautiful woman dressed in crimson walked over and knelt before Chen Xuan. "I beg the Sect Master to take in the one hundred and eighty vulnerable women of the Joy Sect."

"Why do you wish to join the Profound Dan Sect?"

Chen Xuan looked down at her. "If you join us, you will lose your position as Sect Master. Are you willing to accept that?"

"The position of Sect Master is nothing more than an empty title," Yao Mei replied, lifting her lovely face. "The Joy Sect is weak, and many sects only seek to use our disciples to practice their cultivation techniques. We possess no ability to protect ourselves."

"I refuse to watch the disciples of my sect become mere stepping stones for others to elevate their own power."

"Oh? Aren't you worried that I might use them for cultivation as well?"

Chen Xuan arched a brow. Yao Mei certainly possessed clear insight.

Every single disciple of the Joy Sect possessed alluring beauty, but the strongest member within their ranks was merely at the early Nascent Soul stage—far from enough to protect the entire sect.

"The Sect Master would never do such a thing," Yao Mei answered with unwavering firmness.

"How can you be so certain?"

"When I previously offered myself to the Sect Master, you resolutely refused me. That alone proves the Sect Master is not a man of evil intent."

Chen Xuan chuckled softly.

When he had rejected her back then, it was simply because her fortune consisted solely of physical charm, and engaging in dual cultivation with her would have yielded him no real benefits.

As for whether he could truly be called a man without evil intent...

Chen Xuan certainly wouldn't dare guarantee that.

Name: Yao Mei
Cultivation: Early Nascent Soul stage
Fortune Value: White
Spiritual Root: Supreme Wood Spiritual Root
Physique: None
Comprehension: Superior
Technique: Joy Manual (Low Heaven Grade)
Filial Piety Value: 100

A Filial Piety Value of 100 indicated that she was indeed genuinely submissive to him. Since he still needed to complete system tasks, accepting her presented no problem at all.

However, Chen Xuan felt a tinge of curiosity. He remembered that Yao Mei's fortune had previously been purple.

Why had it degraded to white now?

Had her destined opportunities been seized by someone else?

"Very well," Chen Xuan said. "Since you are determined to join the Profound Dan Sect, I grant shelter to the one hundred and eighty female disciples of the Joy Sect. Starting today, the Joy Peak shall be established within the Profound Dan Sect, and you shall serve as the Master of Joy Peak."

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the task of acquiring five filial disciples. Reward: 10,000 Filial Piety Points.]

"The establishment of Joy Peak!"

Upon hearing this, Yao Mei was overcome with immense joy.

Previously, she had merely dared to hope for permission to join the Profound Dan Sect in search of sanctuary, yet Chen Xuan had actually gone so far as to establish an entirely independent peak specifically for the disciples of the Joy Sect to cultivate.

This was truly an unexpected windfall.

"On behalf of the one hundred and eighty female disciples of Joy Peak, this humble servant expresses her deepest gratitude for the Sect Master's boundless grace! From this day forth, every disciple of Joy Peak shall await the Sect Master's every command!"

Yao Mei prostrated herself once more before Chen Xuan.

"Sect Master, this is the Joy Sect's foundational heritage, the *Joy Manual*. Though it may be of little use to someone of your standing, I earnestly hope you will accept it," Yao Mei said, producing a yellow-bound secret manual.

[Ding! Yao Mei has offered the *Joy Manual* as a tribute of filial piety. Triggered a 10-fold critical hit! Reward: *Heavenly Derivation Joy Scripture*.]

Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow.

Even a manual like this could trigger a critical hit? He wondered what kind of effect it would have after the multiplier.

Chen Xuan took the manual, flipped through it a few times, and instantly mastered the *Heavenly Derivation Joy Scripture*.

"So that's how it is."

Chen Xuan came to a sudden realization.

The previous *Joy Manual* could only be considered an incomplete scroll; practicing it allowed one to absorb the spiritual energy of others solely to elevate one's own cultivation, or alternatively, sacrifice one's own cultivation to make up for the partner's deficiencies.

However, practicing the *Heavenly Derivation Joy Scripture* allowed both partners engaged in dual cultivation to mutually enhance their powers.

This was a true, consummate dual cultivation technique.

"Your technique was flawed and incomplete. I have already mended and perfected it for you. Take it back and have the disciples of Joy Peak relearn this new manual."

Chen Xuan handed the *Heavenly Derivation Joy Scripture* back to Yao Mei.

"Mended and perfected?"

Yao Mei was stunned. She was well aware that the *Joy Manual* had inherent flaws, yet for hundreds of years, no one had ever been able to fix them—which was precisely why the Joy Sect had become increasingly ostracized within the immortal cultivation world.

Accepting the *Heavenly Derivation Joy Scripture*, she merely glanced through a few pages before her face drained of color in utter shock.

Chen Xuan had actually managed to fix the *Joy Manual*.

With this, the disciples of Joy Peak would no longer harm their cultivation partners when practicing their arts, and they would no longer face rejection from other cultivators.

This was nothing short of giving a completely new lease on life to the disciples of Joy Peak.

"Many thanks, Sect Master!"

Yao Mei's gratitude toward Chen Xuan was beyond words. Had Chen Xuan not shown a lack of romantic interest in her, she would have wanted nothing more than to engage in dual cultivation with him right then and there on the spot.

"Go and settle your disciples," Chen Xuan instructed with a warm smile, before turning back to Liyangzi. "Are there any other matters?"

"There are," Liyangzi nodded. "Recently, many disciples across various peaks have shown signs of developing inner demons during their cultivation. Therefore, I would like to request that the Sect Master bestow a public sermon upon the disciples."

Giving a public sermon was a very common practice.

Many sects would periodically invite high-ranking elders or the Sect Master to preach the Dao, helping the disciples break through bottlenecks and elevate their cultivation.

Come to think of it, the Profound Dan Sect had not held a public sermon in several years.

It was indeed time to hold one.

Furthermore, giving a sermon could further elevate his prestige in the hearts of the disciples, thereby increasing their filial piety values toward him.

"Very well, just pick a suitable date," Chen Xuan agreed with a nod.

"I wonder what Chu Lingrong and Hong Luan are up to right now," Chen Xuan muttered, using his spiritual sense to check on them. He discovered that the two women were once again at the martial training grounds.

Over the past half year or so, Chu Lingrong and Hong Luan had clashed in spar matches every few days.

Although he wasn't entirely sure what specific tasks or goals they were competing over, healthy competition was always a good thing, as it allowed them to rapidly advance their cultivation levels.