Joining the Joyful Union Sect, My Life in the Grip of My Senior Sister

Chapter 268: The Long Years Ahead

Lin Fengmian had never expected Wang Yanran to be so desperate. Even after reaching this point of fear, she still wanted him to forcibly absorb her cultivation.

It seemed that the Entwined Technique and the lustful poison had severely harmed her, to the point where she couldn’t bear the torment any longer.

It made sense. After the incident at Huanxi Temple, she probably hadn’t shared intimacy with any man again, right?

Seeing her in so much pain, Lin Fengmian couldn’t help but feel pity for her.

Perhaps helping her break free from the Entwined Technique was the right thing to do, for her sake.

He asked, “Senior Sister, have you thought it through? Are you sure you want to give up the Entwined Technique?”

Wang Yanran nodded seriously. “I already talked to Elder Zhao before I came here.”

“She agreed. Once I discard the Entwined Technique, she’ll let me go and take over the external affairs.”

“Junior brother, you don’t need to feel sorry. You’re helping me. Besides, I’ve caused a lot of damage in the past. Just consider it as avenging those I’ve wronged.”

Lin Fengmian fell silent as he finally understood why Zhao Ningzhi and Liu Mei had looked so strange.

It turned out that they had known all along.

Wang Yanran continued, “I’ve thought it through. My cultivation would be a waste if it’s left to dissipate. It’s better to give it to you. Go ahead and take it.”

Lin Fengmian’s expression was complex as he reached for the rope. However, he tossed it aside and said, “Senior sister, if I do this, how am I any different from those beasts?”

“However, I can still absorb your cultivation in another way. It won’t be as much as through dual cultivation, but at least it won’t go to waste.”

Perhaps by absorbing Wang Yanran’s cultivation, he could easily reach the third level of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

But seeing Wang Yanran in this state, he couldn’t bring himself to force her, especially knowing that it would only deepen the psychological trauma.

Wang Yanran froze for a moment before smiling. “Are you sure, junior brother? If you use another method to absorb it, it might not even be one-tenth of the dual cultivation effect.”

She forced a bitter smile. “You can’t really be that disgusted with me, can you?”

Lin Fengmian smiled and said, “It’s not about disgust. There are things you can do and things you cannot do. I don’t want to hurt you, Senior Sister.”

Wang Yanran smiled through her tears. “If I had known that you were this kind-hearted, I wouldn’t have joined the Joyful Union Sect.”

Lin Fengmian gently gazed at her. “It’s not too late to realize that now. The years ahead are still long.”

Wang Yanran smiled faintly, closing her eyes as she sought relief. “Do it.”

Seeing that she had made up her mind, Lin Fengmian reached out and took Wang Yanran’s hand, sighing, “Then, Senior Sister, please bear with it.”

Wang Yanran nodded gently, shaking involuntarily. However, it wasn’t as bad as before, and she didn’t try to escape.

Lin Fengmian activated the Demon Emperor Technique and sucked in the endless flow of spiritual energy from Wang Yanran’s body.

Wang Yanran also cooperated by activating the Entwined Technique, actively sending her power to Lin Fengmian to help him advance in cultivation.

Soon, the spiritual energy she had accumulated was drained, followed by the consumption of her own origin and years of accumulated yin energy.

Her origin was the foundation built by her cultivation method, the so-called Dao foundation.

The origin was like a dam holding water, and the spiritual energy was the water inside. The crystallized spiritual energy became part of the dam.

Once the water (spiritual energy) in the dam was exhausted, it could be replenished, but if the Dao Foundation collapsed, it would shake the very foundation.

The firmer and more practical the Dao Foundation, the more spiritual energy it could store, and the taller and more functional the dam could be.

Therefore, the higher a cultivator’s realm, the more spiritual energy they could store.

Different cultivation methods were like different dam blueprints, and they determined how high a cultivator’s cultivation could reach and the maximum strength of their Dao foundation.

Even if the same blueprint was used, the results could vary depending on the land it was built on, affecting things like lighting and the environment.

Moreover, some people cut corners, while others strive for perfection, even refining their work beyond the original design.

This is the reason for the differences between people.

Changing a cultivation method is like changing the blueprint in the middle of construction.

In cultivation, each level creates a different foundation, much like the structural layers of a building.

Higher-level cultivation methods can be transformed into lower-level ones, because this is essentially a reduction in the size of the structure.

However, lower-level cultivation methods cannot be upgraded to higher ones, because much like a house that’s top-heavy, it will collapse.

The only exception is at the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining stages. The Qi Refining stage is like laying the foundation, and no real structure has been built yet.

Although it does affect the upper levels, its impact is not significant.

The Entwined Technique of the Joyful Union Sect also absorbs others’ Dao foundations, using them to add to one’s own cultivation.

But today, Wang Yanran willingly gave up all the years of cultivation and her Dao foundation to Lin Fengmian, helping him build his own.

Her cultivation steadily decreased, eventually dropping from Foundation Establishment back to Qi Refining, and it continued to fall further.

A pained groan involuntarily escaped her lips, and sweat drenched her body.

Lin Fengmian was about to stop, but she embraced him, her voice weak yet determined, “Continue!”

He gritted his teeth and continued absorbing her Dao foundation, watching as her cultivation was gradually erased until she was left as a frail, ordinary person.

An hour later, a sweat-drenched Wang Yanran collapsed onto Lin Fengmian, too weak to even care about her physical discomfort.

Now, she was only slightly stronger than an average person, and without immediate cultivation restoration, she would experience the full force of aging, illness, and death.

However, at this moment, she seemed to have been reborn, and her burden had been lifted.

It was as if shedding the Entwined Technique had changed something within her.

“Junior brother, thank you!”

Lin Fengmian, who was now at the third level of Foundation Establishment, felt no joy.

His expression was serious as he said, “Senior Sister, I should be the one to thank you. I will kill Cao Cheng’an for you.”

“Do as you wish, but put your own safety first.”

Wang Yanran smiled weakly and slowly got to her feet, putting on her clothes.

Lin Fengmian had intended for her to rest, but she insisted on leaving. He could only support her as they walked outside.

Although Wang Yanran still felt some discomfort, she no longer had any severe reactions.

Lin Fengmian was about to escort her further when he saw Liu Mei standing outside under a tree.

Liu Mei seemed to have been waiting there for quite some time. Upon seeing Wang Yanran emerge, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.

She quickly concealed her feelings, approached and helped Wang Yanran into the air, flying away without even glancing at Lin Fengmian.

Lin Fengmian understood that Liu Mei must have mistakenly thought that he had drained Wang Yanran’s cultivation in that manner, but there was no way for him to explain it.

He stood there for a long time, gazing at the sky, watching the clouds pass by and feeling a sense of loneliness.

Wang Yanran was leaving the Joyful Union Sect, and a part of him felt reluctant.

Although he had never liked this ruthless woman at first, over time he had come to see her as a friend, given all that he had witnessed her endure.

Everyone had their own path, and Wang Yanran no longer seemed suited for the Joyful Union Sect. Perhaps the outside world would be a better place for her.

He should be wishing her well. She wouldn’t have to remain the despised “demoness” of the sect any longer.

Her departure made Lin Fengmian reflect on his own cultivation journey.

Cultivation was not an easy path. One wrong step could ruin all the progress he had made.

So where did his own path lie? Was the Demon Emperor Technique, as Luo Xue had said, really suitable for him?

Did he really intend to walk this dark road all the way to the end?

For the first time, he hesitated, but his resolve soon returned.

The path he had chosen was far more dangerous than Wang Yanran’s.

For him, it wasn’t a matter of advancing or retreating – retreating would mean death.

He had no choice.