182: Chapter 182 With a face as stunning as Miss Shi's, who wouldn't yearn to possess her?

In the time it took to draw a single breath, he could completely comprehend and Master a Heaven Rank Martial Skill. If this cultivation speed were spread, countless martial artists would surely stare with wide, disbelieving eyes.

One must know that even if many people were fortunate enough to obtain a Heaven Rank Martial Arts Secret Manual, they often lacked sufficient innate talent, meaning they either couldn't even begin to learn it,

or they barely managed to start Cultivating, ultimately practicing something that was neither here nor there, completely failing to grasp the core essence of the Cultivation Technique.

Take the Black Wind Double Fiends from back then; after obtaining the "Nine Yin Manual," not only did they fail to Cultivate successfully and reap good results,

they ended up Cultivating themselves into something neither human nor ghost, ultimately earning the strange reputation of the 'Eight-Clawed Zither.' This was a very painful example.

The reason Zhao Fangcai could Cultivate so quickly was twofold. Firstly, his innate talent was exceptionally high; now, any Martial Skill, in his eyes, could be understood at a glance and mastered upon learning.

Secondly, he had previously experienced an Inner Demon Tribulation, so he was already very familiar with the characteristics and habits of the Heart Demon.

Furthermore, his Primordial Spirit power was incredibly strong. The first four levels of Cultivating the "Heart Demon Root Planting Great Method" presented almost no difficulty or shock to him.

Although the "Heart Demon Root Planting Great Method" was considered an evil Cultivation Technique in the eyes of the world, Zhao Fangcai didn't care in the slightest.

With so many advantages assisting him, how could these few Realms be considered obstacles?

As winter arrived, Shi Feixuan's already inherently cool Physique appeared even more frigid.

Her hands were slender, like white jade. Although her skin was dazzlingly fair, touching them revealed a bone-chilling coldness.

But at this moment, those hands were enveloped in warmth.

When Shi Feixuan felt the sensation of her hand being held, she first looked up in surprise, her eyes full of astonishment. However, before she could muster any anger, her gaze returned to calm.

Zhao Fangcai was looking at her with a smile, his gaze pure and innocent, as if he had merely intended to hand her something and not deliberately taken advantage of her.

The warmth in her hand had not yet dissipated, and now she was being gazed upon like that by Zhao Fangcai. Shi Feixuan's originally calm heart lake suddenly rippled, as if swept by a gust of wind.

"Hmph! He definitely did that on purpose!" Shi Feixuan pouted slightly. Although she felt some dissatisfaction internally, she wasn't truly angry.

The same action performed by different people often elicited vastly different reactions from others.

If an ordinary person dared to do this to her, let alone hold her hand, they probably wouldn't even be able to touch the corner of her robe.

Shi Feixuan quickly circulated her Cultivation Technique, suppressing the fluctuating emotions in her heart, allowing her heart lake to regain its tranquility. Then, she spoke in a flat tone, "Your Highness is already accompanied by two exceptionally beautiful women. Are you still not satisfied?"

Zhao Fangcai replied with a smile, "A woman with the captivating beauty and outstanding temperament of Miss Shi—who wouldn't desire to possess her?

Even an ascetic monk who saw her would probably be moved, wouldn't they?"

Shi Feixuan glanced at him sideways, her tone carrying a hint of reprimand and charming annoyance, "You are quite greedy! I Cultivate the Nirvana Temple's ultimate technique, the "Cihang Sword Canon," possessing a flawless Dao Heart. The affections of the Mortal World are merely passing clouds to me, leaving no trace. Your Highness need not waste effort on me!"

Zhao Fangcai, however, smiled leisurely, "I have heard that the Martial Arts of the Nirvana Temple require one to overcome an Inner Demon Tribulation—one must first become deeply immersed in love, and then break free from it, comprehending the profound Dao of Martial Arts through the most extreme emotional experiences. Is that not so?"

Although most Disciples of the Nirvana Temple Cultivate the Heavenly Escape Heart Sutra and view themselves as transcending the mundane, nearly all successive inheritors possess extreme beauty and unique temperaments. This has caused many heroes of the Martial Forest, and even overlords of the world, to develop deep affection for them.

In truth, the precepts of the Nirvana Temple do not forbid romantic feelings between men and women; instead, they encourage Disciples to experience love, believing it to be a part of the Cultivation process, pursuing the state of 'passing through a sea of flowers without a single leaf sticking to one's body.'

Shi Feixuan lightly raised an eyebrow, neither directly admitting nor denying it. She merely asked, "Does Your Highness wish to try? Aren't you afraid that I would merely treat you as a 'Dao Observing Mirror,' using your state of mind to reflect my own Dao Heart?"

It turned out that using another person's state of mind as a mirror to reflect one's own Dao Heart, thereby discovering one's own shortcomings and mending personal defects until the inner self is clear and understood, was the core Cultivation method of the Nirvana Temple's "Dao Observing Chant."

Especially the state of mind of an Emperor is most helpful for their Cultivation.

One must know that the Emperor's will is fundamentally based on the will of the common people, and being close to an Emperor is as dangerous as being beside a tiger. Only by accurately discerning others' thoughts can one achieve something in times of chaos. This is also why the Disciples of the Nirvana Temple often descend the mountain during turbulent times to 'support the Emperor.'

If Fan Qinghui wanted to test Zhao Fangcai's state of mind, why wasn't Shi Feixuan thinking the same way?

Everyone's state of mind is different; some are filled with childlike amusement, some are brimming with joyful emotions, some are lingering with sorrowful thoughts—all possessing distinct colors.

Therefore, in the eyes of the inheritors of the Nirvana Temple, few people can deceive them. Who is kind-hearted and who harbors malicious intent can often be seen at a glance.

Only those whose minds are vague and difficult to fathom possess the value for 'Dao Observation.'

However, Zhao Fangcai's state of mind caused both her and her Master to feel surprised—it was actually a mist devoid of any color.

This was absolutely not a normal situation!

One must know that even Emperors' states of mind possess distinct colors; they would never be so vague and indistinct.

It was a sight similar to what they saw only when observing the Heavenly Dao.

Shi Feixuan even felt that if she could one day see through Zhao Fangcai's inner world, she might be able to comprehend the Heavenly Dao and reach the highest Realm of Shattering the Void.

But upon reflection, doing so would be too unfair to Zhao Fangcai, as it would be equivalent to playing with his emotions. This caused a trace of hesitation and conflict to arise in Shi Feixuan's heart.

What concerned her even more was that her Master, Fan Qinghui, seemed to have the same thought. In that case, wouldn't she end up competing with her Master for the same person?

Could this be the power of the "Heart Demon Root Planting Great Method"?

The moment Shi Feixuan waved her silk sleeve, Zhao Fangcai was secretly startled—he had actually seen through Shi Feixuan's inner thoughts without realizing it.

This Martial Art truly embodied the word 'bizarre' of mental-type Martial Arts to the extreme.

Of course, the fact that he could unintentionally influence Shi Feixuan right after beginning to Cultivate the "Heart Demon Root Planting Great Method" was largely due to his Primordial Spirit power far surpassing hers.

Zhao Fangcai couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to gently lift Shi Feixuan's chin. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment—her eyes and brows were like scenery in a painting,

her skin was as fair as fine jade, her long, slender black eyebrows resembled distant, reclining green mountains, and her cherry-like small mouth was exquisitely perfect. Every feature was flawlessly beautiful.

"Let's try it then!" Zhao Fangcai said with a smile.