Ye Wenyuan circulated his Innate Violet Qi, calming the restless true energy within him, yet his own heart remained turbulent, forcing him to cast another lingering glance at the woman. This time, he proceeded with extreme caution, focusing his spirit and maintaining vigilance, terrified of falling into some new trap. The unnatural agitation of his true energy just moments before demanded the utmost wariness.

Indeed, after the woman let out a soft chuckle, she raised her hand again, and a sympathetic response stirred within his own true energy. However, being prepared this time, it was merely a faint awareness. Even so, Ye Wen was immensely startled.

"This woman's martial arts are truly strange!" Unbeknownst to him, his surprise was minimal compared to the great shock the matron was experiencing internally. Though she betrayed no outward sign of surprise, she continued to execute a series of seemingly innocuous movements—raising her hand, adjusting her veil or cloak—but Ye Wen knew she was probing the depth of his skill.

Guessing her intentions, Ye Wen no longer felt apprehension. Instead, he allowed the woman to perform her various posturing acts beside him, remaining utterly still. Not only did his posture not change, his expression remained impassive, and the true energy within him reverted to the stillness of a dead pool.

When he had been actively suppressing the agitation, the woman opposite had sensed it, which she hadn't found particularly noteworthy. But now—with him making no effort to resist her influence—she found herself completely unable to affect his true energy. This sight caused her complexion to secretly shift with alarm.

Because the woman was deeply calculating, seeing she could gain no advantage over Ye Wen, she ceased her attempts. Then, turning to Lin Hai, she stated, "We have traveled for days; let us rest early tonight..."

Hearing this, Ye Wen assumed the woman was the wife of Gang Leader Lin. However, Lin Hai immediately followed up: "Very well. Elder Guo, please lead the way! I happen to have matters to discuss with Elder Guo as well! Madam Shen, please make yourself comfortable..." With that, Lin Hai stepped forward and walked toward the rear with Guo Nu. The woman, however, did not follow Lin Hai but called out to Huayi and they left together, clearly taking a separate path.

"This woman, what is her true origin..."

He pondered this secretly, utterly unable to unravel the mystery. At the moment, beyond knowing that the woman was Huayi's master and a significant figure in the Tianle Gang, he was devoid of other information. His random speculation only managed to conjure notions of a Protector, a Guest Elder, or perhaps even a Vice Gang Leader.

"This Tianle Gang is indeed difficult to handle..." Dwelling on this thought, he recalled the woman’s uncanny ability to tug at his internal true energy with mere gestures. He privately resolved that if he ever had to fight her, he must guard against esoteric arts like the Star Sucking Great Technique.

If it were only the Star Sucking Great Technique or the North Sea Divine Art, he wouldn't fear it; at worst, he would simply respond with Sword Qi. He surmised no one would be foolish enough to actively draw Sword Qi into their body and damage their own meridians. But this was even more exaggerated; with almost no physical contact, his energy was being drawn out, and judging by her demeanor, she clearly hadn't used her full power. If she exerted herself fully, how terrifying would her strength become?

As he speculated, the members of the Tianle Gang conversed among themselves.

After Lin Hai followed Guo Nu to the room assigned to him, their discussion turned to matters of the Shu Mountain Sect. He had clearly observed Shen Yuqing's actions just now, and he had also noted Ye Wen's effortless handling of the situation, giving him a general impression of Ye Wen's cultivation level. Still, he sought more detailed intelligence from Guo Nu.

"According to Elder Hua, this Ye Wen has mastered an art that allows him to release Sword Qi barehanded. Furthermore, this Sword Qi is overwhelmingly dominant and fearsomely powerful—not to be underestimated. It is said this technique is called the Violet Heaven Dragon Qi Sword. Ye Wen once used this technique to inscribe the characters 'Shu Mountain' in huge script upon the Shu Mountain precipice to awe lesser beings! Elder Hua claims to have witnessed it firsthand, and Elder Hua would hardly joke about such a matter!" Lin Hai muttered thoughtfully, gently repeating the name, "Violet Heaven Dragon Qi Sword... This Gang Leader is quite eager to witness it..."

"In addition, Ye Wen's junior sister, Ning Ruxue, is also proficient in a Sword Qi technique. Unlike the domineering nature of Ye Wen's Sword Qi, Ning Ruxue's seems to excel in variation. While its raw power is ordinary, its mastery lies in effortless manipulation. Just today, Ning Ruxue used Sword Qi to shave off more than half of the hair of Miss Nangong Zixin of the Nangong family without harming her person in the slightest. This was personally witnessed by a subordinate..."

"Oh..." If Ye Wen mastering a barehanded Sword Qi technique could be attributed to individual talent, then two people in the same sect mastering similar techniques suggests something else entirely—something unknown must be at play. "Could it be that the ultimate secret art of the Shu Mountain Sect is precisely these various forms of distance Sword Qi..."

Guo Nu listened, pondered for a while, and finally concluded that this possibility seemed highly likely. It was not impossible that the Shu Mountain Sect's paramount secret art was the cultivation of Sword Qi. If so, why hadn't Xu Xian mastered it? His cultivation was certainly not weak! He was unaware that Xu Xian actually knew a similar technique. Ye Wen had spent the last six months teaching Xu Xian the Shaoze Sword Style, allowing Young Master Xu to intersperse several movements of the Shaoze Sword with his left hand while wielding his sword in his right. However, most people couldn't even cope with his standard swordsmanship, giving him no chance to be forced into using the Shaoze Sword.

If Xu Xian had displayed the Shaoze Sword today, the assumption that the ultimate secret of the Shu Mountain Sect was a Sword Qi technique would likely have been solidified.

Even though Xu Xian had not used Sword Qi, Guo Nu could not rule out the possibility that this person knew it. However, he was uncertain which specific Sword Qi Xu Xian might have cultivated.

Ye Wen commanded a dominant and formidable purple Sword Qi, according to Hua Yi. Ning Ruxue's green Sword Qi was flexible, elusive, and difficult to defend against, which he had seen with his own eyes!

The trajectories of their Sword Qi were clearly vastly different, heading in two nearly opposite directions. Whether Xu Xian cultivated the same technique as either of them or an entirely different Sword Qi was a true puzzle for him.

At that moment, a light laugh drifted from outside the door. Guo Nu experienced a moment of mental distraction upon hearing it, but thanks to his long training, he recovered instantly, simultaneously activating his Zen meditation techniques and ceaselessly chanting Buddhist scriptures in his mind, restoring absolute clarity to his spirit.

"The fake monk is chanting again!" Seemingly well-acquainted with Guo Nu, Shen Yuqing entered, first teasing Guo Nu, then turning to Lin Hai, "I have reprimanded and disciplined that girl; she is reflecting in her room now..."

At this moment, Shen Yuqing had removed her voluminous outer cloak. Her simple skirt failed to conceal her mature and alluring figure. Although a thin veil obscured much of her face, it only fueled the impulse to glimpse the entirety of her features.

However, everyone present was accustomed to seeing her, so no one displayed any particular reaction. Lin Hai merely grunted. Guo Nu kept his head down, muttering continuously under his breath.

"Are you discussing Ye Wen? This young man indeed has his talents. My Profound Yin True Skill had no effect on him..." Shen Yuqing took a seat without waiting for their invitation, then gazed vacantly into space as if recalling something, speaking to herself.

Such a posture alone would undoubtedly stir the hearts of countless men, making them wish to draw close and quietly keep her company. Regrettably, Guo Nu remained bowed in his chanting, and Lin Hai kept his eyes closed, conserving energy while awaiting her next words. If those who prided themselves on romantic grace witnessed their demeanor, they would likely curse them as unfeeling, putting on airs, and being disingenuous...

Shen Yuqing continued heedlessly: "This Ye Wen likely cultivates a true Daoist internal art from the orthodox Xuanmen lineage, and his cultivation is quite high; his control over his own true energy is exceptionally fluid! My Profound Yin True Skill is capable of seducing the vital Yang energy from any man and subsequently influencing their entire reservoir of true energy, yet it had no effect on Ye Wen!"

She paused, as if remembering something else: "However, I didn't expect this handsome young Sect Master to still be a virgin. I sensed his sheer abundance of Yang energy just now; it is truly a rare sight..."

"Is Madam Shen intrigued? I imagine, with Madam Shen's methods, Ye Wen will surely not escape your grasp!" Guo Nu's comment was not a mockery; he knew Shen Yuqing would not take offense. Moreover, if this woman could truly handle Ye Wen, it would be a great boon to the Tianle Gang. Although he was unclear about Shen Yuqing's exact standing, even the Gang Leader seemed to defer to her at times, he was certain she was deeply invested in the Tianle Gang's affairs.

Shen Yuqing laughed softly: "Though Ye Wen's Yang energy is abundant, it's not worth my particular attention. Once Girl Hua's Profound Yin Qi advances further, my Profound Yin True Skill can break through again. Why bother expending energy on him? However, Ye Wen's power is formidable; the Gang Leader must deal with him cautiously!" Guo Nu was greatly astonished by this revelation. Only then did he realize that Hua Yi's entire cultivation level was deeply connected to Shen Yuqing. He also understood why Pei Wei had received news that Hua Yi was in for trouble: "This woman is using Elder Hua as a furnace. Looking at it this way, Elder Hua’s cultivation has reached the woman’s expectations. She is likely preparing to absorb Elder Hua’s entire reservoir of power. It seems that girl is surely doomed this time..."

It turned out that the Profound Yin True Skill Shen Yuqing practiced was an immensely powerful technique, accessible only to women. It allowed one to cultivate Yin Qi based on their inherent Yin essence. Beyond developing formidable martial arts, practitioners of this skill could, by leveraging the principle of mutual attraction between Yin and Yang, absorb the vital Yang from men.

Put kindly, it was a profound art of vital energy absorption. In its initial stages, this technique required physical congress to draw a man's Yang energy. As the cultivation deepened, it allowed the practitioner not only to siphon Yang energy but also to manipulate the opponent's entire true energy through their vital Yang, even absorbing a lifetime's cultivation.

Upon reaching the profound stages, mere physical contact—without congress—could drain a person's Yang energy dry. At the level Shen Yuqing had reached, even a mere raising of her hand could draw out the opponent's internal Yang energy. If one’s fortitude and cultivation were lacking, she only needed to lift her hand, and that person would lose significant vital Yang without realizing it.

It could be said that the Profound Yin True Skill was an exceptionally powerful and quite vicious technique. However, this art was not without its flaws.

Firstly, the absorbed Yang energy and skill could not be entirely utilized. Since the cultivation of the Profound Yin True Skill aimed at producing pure Yin Qi, absorbing too much diverse Yang energy or skill, while potentially boosting one's power temporarily, inevitably resulted in impurity and a lack of focus, hindering ultimate mastery. To truly reach profound heights, the less the absorption method was used, the better. Although the Profound Yin True Skill itself contained methods to convert vital Yang into vital Yin, it was ultimately less pure than self-cultivated essence.

Furthermore, reaching mastery in the Profound Yin True Skill placed significant demands on the cultivator's innate physical condition. Only women born with an innate seductive constitution and possessing purely intrinsic Yin energy could achieve the deepest levels. Ordinary women could practice it, but rarely ascend to the peak.

Shen Yuqing began practicing this art in her youth, initially hoping to perfect it through sheer effort. However, her aptitude was less than exceptional, and a great upheaval forced her to resort to absorption methods to enhance her power. Decades later, though her personal power had grown immense, due to excessive impurities and impure Yin Qi, she could not achieve true completion.

Having no other recourse, she recalled a unique method invented by a predecessor to solve this very problem. This method involved finding a girl born with a seductive constitution, pure Yin energy, and exceptional talent, and teaching her a modified version called Profound Yin Qi.

Although this Profound Yin Qi derived from the Profound Yin True Skill, it could still make a woman radiant, alluring, and perpetually youthful, making any (seduction technique) supremely effective, seemingly mimicking many marvelous aspects of the Profound Yin True Skill.

In reality, the ultimate purpose of this Profound Yin Qi was to nurture a trace of the purest Yin energy within the girl. Once nurtured to a sufficient degree, the practitioner of the Profound Yin True Skill could draw that pure Yin energy over. Because they shared the same origin, it could