What mattered most to Gu Qinghe was that the Yin-Yang Balancing Pills had been delivered to Wang Yunxi.
The Wang Clan elder stepped into the mansion, opened Miss Yunxi's chamber door, and handed her the cloth pouch filled with pills.
"What is it, Elder Wang Yu?"
"A young man came to the Wang Clan Mansion. He asked me to deliver these pills to you," the elder replied.
Yunxi accepted the pouch. The moment she untied the string and looked inside, her eyes widened in shock.
She hurriedly stood up, gripping the pouch tightly.
"Where is he?!"
"He has likely already left the city."
Yunxi's heart ached when she realized the one who had delivered the pills was Qinghe.
Her eyes softened, her fingers still clutching the pouch.
"Thank you, Qinghe," Wang Yunxi whispered, turning to look at the sky through her window. "Take good care of yourself."
Elsewhere, Gu Qinghe had already passed through the city gates. He summoned his flying sword, but before accelerating, he paused and looked back at the Wang Clan Mansion.
"Don't worry, Mother. I will shatter that curse. I promise," Gu Qinghe said firmly.
Without hesitation, he soared into the sky on his flying sword. His destination was not Gu Sheng City, but Yin-Yang Sect.
The auction would take place in two months. Gu Qinghe needed to use this time to strengthen himself.
The foundation of Core Formation was entirely different from before. His strength now rivaled that of a hall elder—stronger than the majority of core disciples.
Simply put, Gu Qinghe was now the strongest disciple in Yin-Yang Sect.
When the sect complex appeared in the distance, Gu Qinghe summoned his permission token.
He threw it forward. It adhered to the sect's protective formation, opening a path for him to enter.
Many disciples were training in the spring region, ignoring Gu Qinghe as he flew above them.
His current goal was the Core Disciple Hall—to train and occasionally cultivate there.
Ming Hui sensed a powerful aura approaching the hall. When he turned around, he saw Gu Qinghe returning after leaving the sect with his token.
"You're back? Is your business finished?"
Gu Qinghe landed, cupped his hands together, and bowed respectfully.
"Yes, Great Elder Ming."
Ming Hui laughed and stepped forward, patting Qinghe's shoulder.
"You don't have to be so formal. Just call me Senior Ming."
"The others must address me as Great Elder, but you're a Core Formation cultivator now. Your strength is nearly on par with mine, so call me Senior," Ming Hui said.
Gu Qinghe gave a faint smile. "Of course, Senior Ming."
Unlike the female core disciples, the male core disciples spent that day training techniques—both offensive and defensive.
They stopped once evening arrived and returned to their residences to rest.
"Junior Qinghe, we've already prepared a residence for you. You don't need to—"
"Thank you, Senior Ming. But I'll continue staying in the wooden house in the winter region," Gu Qinghe said.
Li Xiaoman looked startled. She couldn't understand what Gu Qinghe was thinking.
The spring region was clearly the best place to cultivate, not the winter region saturated with Yin energy.
After finishing at the Core Disciple Hall, Gu Qinghe took his leave and flew toward the winter region. No one followed him.
Li Xiaoman was far too comfortable in the spring region. In her view, the Yang energy there could multiply her cultivation speed several times over.
Gu Qinghe landed on a snowy hill. Just before entering the wooden house, he paused when he sensed a powerful aura behind him.
He turned around and saw Elder Lin Ruyue approaching.
"How did your meeting with the Gu Clan go?" Lin Ruyue asked.
"It went well. They agreed to my proposal. You'll get the pill you want," Gu Qinghe said firmly.
Lin Ruyue said nothing, only nodding in acknowledgment. She trusted that Gu Qinghe would not betray her.
After confirming this, she flew back toward the spring region, leaving Gu Qinghe alone in the winter region.
"I'll obtain that pill… and cure the curse in Wang Yunxi's body."
Gu Qinghe turned back, sat cross-legged on a stone, and activated the Silent Yin Extraction technique. With it, he could extract Yin essence and refine it into pure qi.
He cultivated throughout the night, completely focused and undisturbed.
***
The next day.
"Today is cultivation training. Use the techniques I've given you. Focus on your cultivation."
Gu Qinghe arrived at the Core Disciple Hall. He saw the female disciples outside in the courtyard under Lin Ruyue's supervision, training attack and defense techniques.
But his attention was not on them.
It was in the main hall building.
Inside, Ming Hui and several other core disciples were cultivating in focused silence.
The hall doors opened. Ming Hui turned and smiled.
"Junior Qinghe."
"Join us. We are—"
"My apologies, Senior Ming. I won't be joining the cultivation session," Gu Qinghe said.
Ming Hui looked slightly shocked. Several other core disciples stopped cultivating, curious about Qinghe's meaning.
"What do you mean?"
"My body has long been tempered by Yin essence. Cultivating in a place rich with Yang essence could disrupt the balance of my meridians," Gu Qinghe explained.
Ming Hui fell silent, then let out a slow breath.
Although the sect did not encourage Yin-based cultivation techniques, once a cultivator had already committed to them, there was little the sect could do.
If what Gu Qinghe said was true, then the only suitable place for him to cultivate was the winter region.
"I understand. Don't neglect your cultivation. I can't personally watch you in the winter region," Ming Hui said.
Gu Qinghe cupped his hands and bowed.
"Thank you for your understanding, Senior Ming."
He turned to leave the Core Disciple Hall, but his steps paused when he saw Li Xiaoman ahead.
She noticed his gaze. "What is it?"
Gu Qinghe shook his head.
He suddenly remembered the sect library—especially the third floor he had once been unable to access.
Now, he was a core disciple of the sect, his status equal to a hall elder.
Gu Qinghe was certain he could ascend to the third floor and search for records regarding the Ice Meridian Curse.
I should go to the library and search for information about the curse.
If there was nothing on the first or second floor, then the relevant records were almost certainly kept on the third floor.