As soon as these words were spoken, both fell silent.
Even a blockhead could understand the meaning behind Luo Hongyan's words, but Changqing was no seasoned romantic; in fact, his romantic experience was almost zero. Facing the girl's flushed face, the very face he constantly thought of, he immediately lost his composure.
A Moment later, he was the first to cough twice, breaking the silence.
"Then I'll use the Soul Cleansing Dew first; you help me as Protector."
"Ah, alright."
The two, slightly awkward, found separate places to sit down. Changqing took out the Soul Cleansing Dew, activated his spiritual power, and began to use it.
A faint blue light flickered, and his acupoints slowly began to dissolve and dissipate.
"What a mess, what a mess! That was clearly a perfect opportunity to embrace her and express your feelings, but you just stood there foolishly, stewing for ages only to blurt out, 'I'll use the Soul Cleansing Dew first; you help me as Protector.' Tsk, when I told you to use it earlier, you weren't in a hurry. Now you're so eager to use it, are you afraid the Soul Cleansing Dew will fly away?"
Dan Ji mocked in Changqing's mind.
"Besides, you asked too deliberately. You had to force the girl to say it. You, who were so willing to split a precious Legacy with her without hesitation, spending so much to marry into her Family, yet you can't even say a decent love confession. You're truly foolish."
"We earned this Legacy, and she contributed too. It's only fair to share it; it has nothing to do with marrying into her Family."
Changqing retorted in his mind.
"Oh, please. With how ruthless, selfish, and sinister you are, if someone else had said 'fair share' to you, you would have silenced them already. Don't pretend to be a gentleman."
Dan Ji scoffed.
"Say what you will, but don't meddle in my personal affairs."
"I'm doing this for your own good. I, the great Evil Lord, who roamed the world for three hundred years, helping you scheme and manipulate a little girl is simple. You truly don't know what's good for you."
"Oh, roamed the world for three hundred years, so you're very knowledgeable, are you?"
"Of course, I am. Do you want this elder sister to teach you?"
"Heh," Changqing sneered, "Guess what was the first thing I found unbelievable when I realized you were Possessing me?"
"What?"
Seeing Dan Ji take the bait, Changqing continued to ask in a nonchalant tone.
"I remember, there are three essential conditions for Possession, aren't there? The Soul Shifting Spirit, cultivating the same Cultivation Technique, and what was the third one again?"
Dan Ji fell silent.
"Hey, Master, you've roamed the world for three hundred years. Your Disciple is dull; please tell me, what was the third condition for Possession again?"
"Oh, I remember now. It seems both parties in a Possession must be of pure Yin and pure Yang."
"So that's how it is. You truly are prescient, Master. Did you foresee that one day you would Possess me and begin cultivating inverted Yin years ago?"
"Or is there some deeper meaning to you always maintaining a pure Yin body?"
"Hey, Master, aren't you very knowledgeable? Why don't you offer your Disciple some guidance?"
"Master? Master? Are you still there? Why aren't you speaking?"
Indeed, true sharp wit must be built upon sufficient intelligence and cunning. Under this barrage of Soul-searching questions, Dan Ji finally shut up, or rather, was rendered speechless.
The Soul Cleansing Dew was also used up during this time. Changqing's twenty acupoints dissipated until only one remained, and his Cultivation Realm dropped to Fleeting Rotation.
Feeling the extremely faint spiritual power within him, he felt no heartache. There is always a give and take; that is the norm of life.
"How is it? Did it succeed?"
Seeing him stand up, Luo Hongyan also walked over.
"I've successfully reverted to a Fleeting Rotation Trash again."
Changqing's tone was light, teasing.
"Do you feel any discomfort? Do you need to rest?" Luo Hongyan asked.
"Don't worry, we'll go to the trial area now. Once I obtain the Legacy, we'll leave this place. The trial area is inside the Caiyun Hall; let's go."
The two quickened their pace, heading from Liu Lu's Immortal Cave to the Caiyun Chamber.
Along the way, they encountered many female demons blocking their path. Liu Lu's Immortal Cave had caused such a commotion that these female demons had rushed over from various parts of the Hundred Flowers Cave. However, without Liu Lu and the Four Guardians, there wasn't a single formidable entity in the entire cave.
After the two killed a few female demons, the others who dared to block their path fled to various parts of the Hundred Flowers Cave, no longer daring to obstruct them.
These female demons were originally evil spirits acting on instinct, without much intelligence, nor any concept of avenging their Sect Master. They only knew to instinctively flee when encountering a strong individual like Luo Hongyan.
The two successfully arrived at the Caiyun Chamber.
The hall was still ancient and elegant, out of place with the messy cave. As the two entered the hall, Changqing asked in his mind.
"Where is the entrance to the trial in the hall?"
Dan Ji, however, did not answer him.
"Master, where is the entrance to this trial in the hall?"
"Good Disciple, your talent is exceptional. I believe you can find it yourself without your Master telling you. Your Master will remain silent now, alright?"
"Master, you are magnanimous. Please forgive your Disciple's offense and mercifully tell him."
Although he would eventually find it himself, it would certainly be more convenient if Dan Ji told him. There was no need to be stubborn and waste time; he was adaptable.
"Hmph, sit on the throne in the center of the hall, and you'll know naturally."
Changqing walked to the center of the hall and saw a throne standing in the glazed pool. In his previous lives when he came to the Caiyun Hall, this was exactly where Liu Lu was located.
He walked over, not rushing to sit down, but first circled the throne a few times, observing carefully.
The throne was very tall and magnificent, yet it was not made of common iron, gold, or jade. Instead, it was woven from countless intertwined roots and vines, as if it were breathing, and it exuded a vibrant life force.
"Is this throne the trial location for the Legacy?"
Luo Hongyan also came closer, asking.
"Yes, for those who meet the trial conditions, as long as they hold the Hundred Flowers Token and sit on it, the trial should begin."
"You just help me as Protector in this hall; I'll start the trial."
With that, Changqing prepared to sit down.
"Wait." Luo Hongyan Suddenly called out to him, "Do you still have any Imperial Spirits on you?"
Before Changqing used the Soul Cleansing Dew, he had already stored all other Imperial Spirits from his acupoints into Dan Ji's Physical Body. However, he certainly couldn't say that, so he could only lie.
"During the battle with Liu Lu, all the Imperial Spirits on me were overwhelmed and dissipated."
"Then take this."
Luo Hongyan said, handing over a milky white Yellow Spirit.
Changqing took it and examined it.
"A Mind Transmission Spirit?"
"Yes." Luo Hongyan nodded, "It's not an ordinary Mind Transmission Spirit. It's been slightly modified, with a special thought sealed inside."
"You are only at Fleeting Rotation now. This is the most suitable Imperial Spirit I could think of for your self-defense."
"A Mind Transmission Spirit, can it be used for combat?" Changqing asked in confusion.
"Of course not, but it contains a sealed Saint's thought. As long as you release it, ordinary enemies will be instantly suppressed, which can buy you some time."
"This is too valuable." Changqing said, then put it back into Luo Hongyan's hand.
"Take it, you fool! This must be a self-defense item her Family left for her. A Saint's thought is enough to instantly suppress and kill ordinary Cultivators in the Suddenly Realm, and even Cultivators in the Instant Realm would be injured by it. Even those in the Xuyu Realm would be controlled for a period by the Saint's thought. Such a powerful thought, yet it can be sealed within a Mind Transmission Spirit that only requires one acupoint to carry. The technique used to refine this Imperial Spirit is truly ingenious; this is a good item!" Dan Ji's pained voice came through.
Luo Hongyan smiled gently, placed the Mind Transmission Spirit on her chest, and activated her spiritual power.
"I've stored another thought here. It's already on the verge of dissipating, estimated to vanish within a day. It would be a waste if you don't use it, so take it."
"What a waste, what a waste!" Dan Ji wailed.
Changqing solemnly accepted the Imperial Spirit.
"I won't thank you with words for such a great kindness. I will repay you once I obtain the Legacy."
"Be careful."
He nodded, said no more, held the Hundred Flowers Token, and sat on the throne.