Ye Honglian took a deep breath, as if forcing herself to suppress the shyness within her. She propped herself up with a facade of confidence-or perhaps, arrogance.

"Heh."

"I wonder if you have heard an old saying from my homeland: 'If you lack the diamond drill, do not attempt the porcelain work.'"

"Little lecher, I believe you are the one lacking the drill."

"..."

Ye Honglian teased him, though internally she was blushing so intensely she felt as if she might bleed. As the Holy Maiden of the Tianxuan Holy Land, how could she utter such frivolous words?

Upon hearing this, a spark of defiance ignited in Ning Fan's heart.

A man.

Must never be told he is incapable!!!

"Fairy Sister, do you not already know whether I possess the diamond drill or not? Today, let us see exactly what I am capable of!!"

Ning Fan grew serious.

After a time, Ye Honglian's lotus-like arm hung limply over Ning Fan's shoulder. Her voice was soft and fluid as she conceded.

"Wait, hold on."

"Can we discuss the real matter? The proper business..."

Ning Fan did not wish to push things too far. Should he accidentally trigger a reversal and send Ye Honglian away, it would be a wasted opportunity.

"The matter is this: is there a way to disguise the Tianxuan Heart Sutra as a Yellow-grade technique so that I may pass the trials?" Ning Fan asked, his breathing still heavy.

"Why bother with such deception? Once you raise the Tianxuan Heart Sutra to the second layer, it gains the ability to swallow and integrate other arts. You need only integrate one of your lesser martial skills into it, and that will suffice."

"Ah?"

Ning Fan was stunned.

Swallow and integrate!?

The Tianxuan Heart Sutra possessed such a property!?

"Indeed."

"The Tianxuan Heart Sutra is the unshared secret of my Holy Land. From the second layer onward, each time you advance, you may absorb another art and transform it into your own tool."

Ye Honglian spoke with considerable pride.

"Then how does one elevate the Tianxuan Heart Sutra to the second layer?" Ning Fan's eyes brightened.

"It requires the harmonization of Yin and Yang-Rootless Grass and Duckweed Water. Both are indispensable. Once gathered, with enough time to cultivate, the breakthrough will follow."

"Ah?"

Ning Fan was taken aback.

He had heard of these items. Both were exceptionally rare cultivation resources; the Rootless Grass, in particular, was a Heaven-grade treasure. Where was he supposed to find such things?

"..."

Before he could finish his thought, Ye Honglian withdrew her hand from his back. When she opened her palm, a pitch-black herb and a single drop of luminous water lay there.

"This-could this be...?"

Ning Fan's expression shifted drastically.

"Mmm-"

Ye Honglian let out a melodious sound, like the cry of a golden oriole, and cast a flushed, resentful glance at Ning Fan.

"..."

Ning Fan scratched his head awkwardly. He had told her not to get overexcited, yet when faced with these treasures, he had lost his own composure. But he could hardly be blamed; a Heaven-grade and an Earth-grade treasure appearing before him was enough to rattle any cultivator.

"Fairy Sister, these... they are surely precious, are they not?" Ning Fan hesitated to take them.

"Heh."

"I am now certain that our worlds are indeed far apart. These items are not considered precious where I reside."

A gleeful light flickered in Ye Honglian's eyes. She had finally confirmed clues regarding the strange ancient jade-she had indeed been transported to a distant realm.

"Not precious!?"

Ning Fan was shocked. Regardless of their abundance elsewhere, their classification as Heaven and Earth-grade treasures spoke to their profound nature. If they lacked value, they would not be so classified.

"Rootless Grass and Duckweed Water are not universal elixirs for tempering the body or breaking through realms. Their value lies solely in their Yin-Yang essence. If one requires such balance, they are essential. If not, one might pass them by on the roadside without a glance."

Ye Honglian explained.

She pondered for a moment; if these items were to become rare around the Tianxuan Holy Land, their value would undoubtedly skyrocket, as many arts and skills required that delicate balance.

"Focus on reaching the second layer. Little lecher, you must pass those three trials, do you understand?"

Ye Honglian said sternly. Ning Fan's success was tied to her own future cultivation, and she would spare no effort to assist him.

"I understand."

Ning Fan nodded. He did not need her reminder; he would give everything to succeed.

"..."

Ye Honglian crushed the herb and the water. Their forces blended into a black-and-white Taiji diagram, sinking into Ning Fan's body.

Having met the requirements herself, she began to guide him through the resonance of the Heart Sutra.

In an instant, countless insights flooded Ning Fan's mind. Ye Honglian's own cultivation experience was shared without reservation. The Yin-Yang power achieved perfect harmony within his meridians, and the Tianxuan Heart Sutra surged forward, breaking through.

Tianxuan Heart Sutra, Second Layer!!

An art that should have required meticulous effort was elevated in the blink of an eye through dual cultivation. Of course, the fact that Ye Honglian's cultivation base far exceeded his own meant he benefited far more from the exchange.

A flash of white light occurred. Ye Honglian's figure vanished, and Yun Qingyao returned, though Ning Fan remained immersed in his internal changes.

After several hours, he finally opened his eyes.

The Tianxuan Heart Sutra had undergone a fundamental shift. His spiritual circulation felt ethereal, capable of housing another technique.

Ning Fan flicked his hand, revealing three manuals: the Cold Water Art, the Blazing Netherfire Art, and the Sleepwood Heart Sutra.

He opened the manual for the Blazing Netherfire Art-a Yellow-grade High-grade skill. Previously obscure passages now seemed effortless to grasp. It was not due to some sudden surge in talent, but because his Heart Sutra was of a higher order.

He began to simulate the Blazing Netherfire Art. A quarter of an hour later, he opened his eyes and extended his palm.

"Hoo-"

A sheet of flames erupted, not of actual fire, but of highly condensed, fire-aspected spiritual power.

"This Tianxuan Heart Sutra is truly marvelous," Ning Fan murmured.

He felt the two arts coexisting within him. Under normal circumstances, he was still channeling the Heart Sutra, yet he could use it to manifest the Netherfire Art, with its potency now governed by the Heart Sutra itself.

To be able to swallow and master new arts meant his versatility would grow with every layer he gained.

"It is time for the next step," Ning Fan said to himself.