At the same time, in the Main Hall of the Immortal Palace.
Gu Han was contemplating how to send Empress Ling Shuang away.
"Master!"
Just then, Liu Ruyan's voice came from outside the hall, temporarily pulling Gu Han back from her jumbled thoughts.
She composed herself and looked towards the hall entrance:
"Come in."
The hall doors silently opened, and Liu Ruyan, holding her younger sister Liu Ruxue's hand, entered together.
"Disciple, with my younger sister Liu Ruxue, greets Master."
The two stood still in the hall and bowed in unison.
Liu Ruyan's expression was respectful, while Liu Ruxue was a little nervous, her small face slightly flushed.
Her large eyes secretly sized up the legendary "Yaochi Empress" on the Cloud Bed.
Is this Big Sister's Master?
She really has silver hair, just like the legends say, and she's so beautiful!
And her aura is so peaceful, it makes one feel at ease just looking at her.
Gu Han's gaze fell upon Liu Ruxue, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
The girl was about twelve or thirteen years old, her features six or seven parts similar to Liu Ruyan's, but with more lingering childishness and liveliness.
What concerned Gu Han even more was the faint circulation of an extremely pure, yin-cold Qi around Liu Ruxue.
This Physique... seemed somewhat special.
"System, scan her."
Gu Han silently chanted in her mind.
[Ding! Scanning target: Liu Ruxue]
[Age: Twelve years old]
[Cultivation: Qi Refining Fifth Layer]
[Spiritual Root: Water-Wood Dual Spiritual Root]
[Special Physique: Extreme Yin Physique (Cauldron Physique)]
[Talent Rating: Seven-star Peak]
[Cultivation Technique: Yellow Rank High Grade 'Azure Wood Art' (Conflicting with Physique, cultivation yields half the results)]
[Current State: Physique conflicts with Cultivation Technique, Foundation is unstable, Spiritual Power circulation is sluggish, prolonged practice will damage the dao foundation.]
Gu Han's gaze lingered on Liu Ruxue for a moment.
A trace of extremely subtle, complex emotion flickered in her usually calm and unruffled eyes.
Extreme Yin Physique, Cauldron Physique, seven-star talent... these terms quickly connected in her mind, making her instantly understand many things.
No wonder Liu Ruyan almost never mentioned this younger sister.
No wonder she hadn't seen Liu Ruxue during the Spiritual Root testing in Qingyang City a year ago.
This kind of Physique, if placed in an ordinary Family or minor Sect, might be a "rare commodity," to be sold for immense profit.
But for parents who truly doted on their children, this was a heavy burden, even a disaster.
A Cauldron Physique meant she was naturally a "great tonic" in the eyes of others.
Without powerful protection, once exposed, it would be a case of 'a treasure brings trouble,' inevitably leading to endless calamities.
And the Azure Wood Art that Liu Ruxue cultivated conflicted with her Physique; forced cultivation would damage her Origin.
No wonder, despite her Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivation, her aura was so unstable.
This girl has probably suffered a lot over the years.
Liu Ruyan felt her Master's gaze linger on her sister, her heartstring tightened slightly, and she unconsciously gripped her sister's hand harder.
Liu Ruxue felt her sister's nervousness and also held her breath, her small face looking even paler.
"Come here."
Gu Han's voice broke the silence, still clear and melodious, but with a barely perceptible warmth.
Liu Ruxue looked at her sister, somewhat at a loss, and Liu Ruyan gently pushed her, whispering:
"Go, Master wants to see you."
Liu Ruxue finally mustered her courage, took small steps, and walked to the Cloud Bed, looking up at Gu Han.
Closer now, she could feel the cool yet vast aura emanating from the Empress even more strongly.
It was as if she wasn't facing a person, but an boundless starry sky.
Gu Han extended her hand, her fingertips gently touching Liu Ruxue's glabella.
A wisp of pure, gentle Spiritual Power, yet imbued with supreme dao rhyme, flowed from her fingertips, silently entering Liu Ruxue's body.
It slowly traveled along her Meridians, probing every detail.
Liu Ruxue only felt a warm current surge from her glabella, instantly flowing through her limbs and bones.
The comfortable sensation made her let out a soft "hmm" and close her eyes.
Gu Han's brows, however, furrowed slightly during the examination.
The situation was even worse than she had expected.
This girl's Extreme Yin Physique was quite pure, but precisely because of this, the conflict with the Azure Wood Art was even more severe.
If not for the Liu Family having some Foundation and being able to barely adjust it with medicine, this girl's body would have long since developed problems.
But even so, if she continued to Cultivate like this, in less than three years, her cultivation would likely be completely crippled, and it might even harm her Lifespan.
Gu Han withdrew her finger, her gaze falling on Liu Ruyan's worried face.
"Ruyan, do you know about your sister's Physique?"
Liu Ruyan's body trembled slightly upon hearing this, then she slowly nodded, her voice carrying a hint of bitterness:
"Reporting to Master, Disciple... knows."
How could she not know?
In her first life, she didn't know about these things until one day when she and her sister went out, and her sister was captured by a mysterious person.
Since then, she had never seen her sister again, and only later learned about her sister's Physique from her father's mouth.
But at that time, the Liu Family was just a small Family, and after searching for several years without finding any trace, they could only let it go.
In her second life, because her sister cultivated a Cultivation Technique that conflicted with her Physique, she ultimately became a cripple.
She tried her best, even falling into the Demonic Path, searching everywhere for a solution, but ultimately, she was powerless to reverse the situation.
In this third life, she returned through Rebirth, and the first thing she did was beg her father to strictly forbid her sister from Cultivating, allowing her to live like a Mortal.
But Liu Ruxue was naturally strong-willed; how could she be content to be an "ordinary person"?
She secretly cultivated the Azure Wood Art from the Family, and by the time Liu Ruyan discovered it, it was already too late.
For this, Liu Ruyan had argued with her father countless times, but to no avail.
They had consulted many alchemists and physicians, and the conclusions were largely the same:
Either completely cripple her cultivation, nourish her with Spirit Medicine, and live as a long-lived Mortal.
Or, find a Cultivation Technique suitable for her Physique, completely activate and control this Extreme Yin Physique, only then could the conflict be resolved, and even turn harm into benefit.
But such a Cultivation Technique, how easy was it to find?
The Liu Family was just a small aristocratic Family in Qingyang City; how could they be qualified to seek one?
It wasn't until Liu Ruyan entered the Jade Pool Immortal Palace and witnessed her Master's unfathomable depth and the vast Foundation of the Immortal Palace that hope rekindled in her heart.
This time, returning home, seeing the longing and dependence for cultivation, for strength, and for herself in her sister's eyes.
She ultimately softened and decided to bring her sister to try their luck.
Even if she couldn't join the Immortal Palace, if she could receive some guidance from Master, or be granted a suitable Cultivation Technique, perhaps... "Master, Xue'er... is there still hope for her?"
Liu Ruyan's voice carried an imperceptible tremor, a mix of guilt and anticipation suppressed for two lifetimes.
Gu Han looked at the deep pain and hope in her eyes, and sighed softly in her heart.
This girl must be recalling the regrets of her previous life again.
"The Extreme Yin Physique is an extremely special Innate Physique."
Gu Han slowly spoke, her voice calm, yet possessing a reassuring power.
"Its nature is extremely yin and cold; if cultivated properly, its future achievements will be immeasurable."
"However, ordinary Cultivation Techniques are incompatible with her Physique; forced cultivation is no different from drinking poison to quench thirst."
She looked at Liu Ruxue, who had her eyes closed and eyelashes trembling slightly.
"The Azure Wood Art this girl Cultivates, though a gentle and neutral Cultivation Technique, is poison to her."
Liu Ruyan's face turned pale; although she had expected it, hearing her Master confirm it personally still brought a pang of pain to her heart.
Liu Ruxue also opened her eyes, her small face filled with panic and disappointment.
Even Big Sister's Master says so... am I really destined to become a cripple?
"However..."
Gu Han changed the subject, her gaze sweeping over the two sisters.
"Since you brought her to the Jade Pool Immortal Palace, it is a destined encounter."
She gently raised her fingertip, a faint light flashed, and the Void Realm on the side of the Main Hall suddenly rippled like water.
That was the direction of the Jade Pool Immortal Palace Scripture Pavilion.
Her Divine Sense, like an invisible tentacle, instantly penetrated layers of space, sweeping past the vast sea of Cultivation Technique classics.
Finally, in a relatively secluded corner on the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion, she "saw" a blue Jade Slip.
Gu Han's thoughts stirred slightly, and the Jade Slip drifted out from the Void Realm passage, lightly landing in her palm.
It was cool to the touch, with cold Qi contained within, and four elegant ancient seal characters were inscribed on its surface—Grand Yin Profound Canon.
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