219: Fifth Incarnation: Heavenly Physician (11)

Mu Qingying felt a mix of emotions as she listened to this almost cold confession.

There was anger, lingering fear, and a strange sense of absurdity.

The pain, despair, cold looks, and ridicule she had endured over the years... was part of it actually just paving the way for an ancient remnant soul she had never met?

"So..." Mu Qingying's voice was dry, "Senior appeared today and said you would take me as a Disciple and help me with my Awakening of the Saint Physique, both to repay this 'favor' and to... continue obtaining a more stable, higher-quality supply of Origin so you can recover faster, right?"

Her question went straight to the point.

The look of admiration in Yue Ji's eyes grew stronger; she liked smart people.

"You could say that," Yue Ji didn't shy away. "But it's by no means a one-sided extraction. I will pass on to you the Supreme Taiyin Secret Art, which is the orthodox Legacy of the Moon Goddess Palace. It's enough for you to truly control your Saint Physique. At that time, the vast majority of what you Cultivate will be for yourself, while a small portion will be used to nourish my soul body and help me recover. This is a mutually beneficial process."

Her tone turned cold, carrying a trace of unquestionable majesty: "Without my guidance, your Saint Physique will only continue to blindly devour your cultivation until it sucks you dry, or completely destroys you in a moment of losing control. But with my Legacy, you can not only escape your predicament but also leap to become a true favored daughter of heaven!"

"I think you should know how to weigh this account."

Mu Qingying fell silent.

Yue Ji's words were half-temptation, half-threat, yet they all struck home.

She indeed didn't have many choices.

Rely on Xu Yuan's vague "pleading with his Revered Master"?

Not to mention whether it would succeed, even if it did, it might not necessarily solve the fundamental problem of her Saint Physique.

And the Yue Ji before her was an ancient powerhouse with the same Saint Physique; her Legacy was the most appropriate solution.

Seeing Mu Qingying fall into deep thought, Yue Ji knew she was already moved, she just needed a way to save face.

"Little girl, I traversed the ancient times and my word is my bond. Since I've said I'll take you as a Disciple today, I won't treat you poorly. You help me revive, and I lead you into the Dao; this is a destiny ordained by heaven. As for that boy from the Su Family..."

A meaningful curve hooked at the corner of Yue Ji's mouth. "If you truly want to stand by his side, or even... make him look at you with new eyes, only by mastering power can you have a Foundation. Otherwise, even if he is kind and keeps his word, how can you stand by him with a clear conscience?"

These words accurately struck the deepest pride and unwillingness in Mu Qingying's heart.

She slowly raised her head, the last trace of hesitation fading from her eyes, replaced by a determination like burning one's bridges. She released her clenched fists and slowly knelt down before Yue Ji's phantom, performing a solemn apprenticeship rite.

"Disciple Mu Qingying pays respects to Revered Master!"

A satisfied smile appeared on Yue Ji's illusory face. She raised her right hand, and a gentle yet irresistible force lightly lifted Mu Qingying from the ground.

"Rise. From this day forth, you are the successor of my, Yue Ji's, lineage across generations, and the sole heir to the Dao Lineage of the ancient Moon Goddess Palace in this world."

Yue Ji's voice became a bit more solemn, her illusory eyes swirling with reminiscence and gravity. She looked at the slender yet determined girl before her and spoke slowly:

"Since you have entered my sect, I shall naturally pass on the Supreme Great Dao to you. However, Qingying, before passing on the technique, I have two paths for you to choose from."

Mu Qingying's heart shivered, knowing the crucial moment had arrived. She straightened her back and listened respectfully.

Yue Ji extended her first illusory finger, with bright moonlight flowing at its tip: "The first path is the orthodox core Legacy of my Moon Goddess Palace—the 'Taiyin Moonbeam True Explanation'."

"This Cultivation Technique points directly to a branch of the Taiyin Great Dao. It is profound, extensive, and progressive, the crystallization of the wisdom of past sages of the Moon Goddess Palace. Following this path, your Foundation will be solid with very few hidden dangers. You can Cultivate all the way to Golden Core Perfection and hope to condense the 'profound yin' Dao Fruit, attaining the Xuanyin Fruit Position! Even if you ultimately fail to seize the Fruit Position, following this method will guarantee you a position as a Great Immortal Master of the Late Golden Core Stage, which is more than enough."

She paused, her tone carrying a hint of reality: "However, I must inform you. In the ancient war, the Moon Goddess Palace was destroyed and the Legacy was interrupted. In this world today, whether the 'profound yin' Dao Fruit Position is still vacant or has long been occupied by other forces, I have slept for too long and do not know."

"If the Fruit Position has a Revered Master, you can only stop at the Late Golden Core Stage at most with this Cultivation Technique, and it will be difficult to go further. But even so, a Late Golden Core Stage cultivation, paired with my Moon Goddess Palace's secret techniques and Divine Abilities, is enough to make you stand out among your peers, not much inferior to that Su Yuan."

The first path Yue Ji gave was stable with a clear future. For a "useless person" who was almost in despair, this was undoubtedly a broad road to a bright future.

Mu Qingying listened quietly, weighing it in her heart.

Next, Yue Ji extended her second finger. The moonlight condensed at the tip became deep and dark, as if it could swallow light, emitting a more mysterious and dangerous aura.

"The second path..." Yue Ji's voice lowered slightly, carrying a hint of complexity, "is a Nameless Fragment I accidentally obtained when I explored an Archaic Desolate Land back then."

"This Cultivation Technique is not from my Moon Goddess Palace, and in fact... it might not even belong to this world." Yue Ji's tone became exceptionally grave. "But it resonates almost perfectly with your 'Dark Lunar Radiant Sacred Body'! Its core Profound Truth is not simply to absorb Taiyin power, but to refine, govern, and even simulate the power of the Darkness of the Heavens, Extinction, and the Void. It is highly compatible with the 'Extreme Yin and Cold, Inclusive and All-encompassing' characteristics of the Dark Lunar Radiant Sacred Body!"

Her gaze became sharp: "Cultivating this technique, progress is rapid, and the stimulation of the Saint Physique's potential far exceeds the 'Taiyin Moonbeam True Explanation'. Once successful, the Divine Abilities will be uncanny and unpredictable, with immense power. Its upper limit... is immeasurable! It might allow you to transcend the scope of the Taiyin Great Dao and walk a unique new path. Its potential is unimaginably vast."

However, Yue Ji's tone shifted, carrying an undisguised warning: "But! This Cultivation Technique is extremely dangerous and overbearing. It easily triggers Heart Demons. If there is even a slight error, it will backfire on you. At best, your cultivation will be completely ruined; at worst, your Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering! Furthermore, because it involves forbidden Domains such as 'Darkness' and 'the Void', it may attract some ominous attention or backlash. This path... is a narrow escape from death, with danger at every step!"

Two paths were laid out clearly before Mu Qingying.

One was a bright, smooth path with an orderly Legacy, safe and stable, with a very high floor. It was enough for her to regain her dignity and spend the rest of her life in peace, even having a chance to compete for a Fruit Position.

The other was a treacherous peak covered in thorns, with an unpredictable future and dangers lurking everywhere. Every step could lead to an abyss, but the scenery at the top might far exceed imagination, with infinite potential.

Yue Ji looked at Mu Qingying, who was lost in thought, and did not urge her.

Silence fell over the small courtyard again.

Morning light passed through the bamboo leaves, dappling Mu Qingying's body.

She looked down at her hands, which were somewhat pale and slender due to years of cultivation loss. Flashes of the cold eyes, mockery, her father's worries, and that flame deep in her heart—unwilling to sink, longing for strength, longing to control her own destiny—passed through her mind.

Stability? Perhaps it was good.

But... was she really willing?

Risk?

She was already in the abyss; what could be worse than now?

After a long time, Mu Qingying slowly raised her head. The last trace of hesitation in her cold eyes was gone, replaced by a burning resoluteness like someone who had burned their bridges.

She looked at Yue Ji, her voice clear and firm:

"Revered Master, Disciple... chooses the second path!"

She didn't want a stable rest of her life; what she wanted was power!

Power enough to control her own destiny, power enough to make people not dare to look down on her, power enough to... stand equally beside anyone, or even look down upon them!

No matter how dangerous the road ahead, she was willing to gamble with her life!