Chapter 741

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master had never met Jiang Fan in person. However, as a new disciple, Jiang Fan's information had already reached his hands, and this naturally included a portrait of Jiang Fan. The person Gu Xin'er had just drawn wasn't just "very similar" to Jiang Fan; they were identical.

"Does the Pavilion Master know this person?" Gu Xin'er asked, surprised, seeing the Pavilion Master's slightly odd expression.

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master shook his head slightly and said, "No, I haven't seen him. I will inform the Nine Sects to help you keep an eye out for this person. If there's any news, I'll send you a message."

Gu Xin'er felt disappointed, having thought the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master knew him. As for the Nine Sects searching, she could only say hope was slim. Given the 'Shadows in the Clouds' technique the person had displayed, he clearly didn't seem to be from this continent. Heaven knew if he had already returned to the Great State of Taicang.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Pavilion Master," she said. "Farewell!"

She left the portrait and departed. As she was about to exit the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, a young woman in a long purple dress hurried past her from behind. Her dark hair was casually tied up, and her unadorned, flawless face still gave a stunning impression. Her tall, graceful figure was like a weeping willow by a riverside. Even as she ran hastily, her silhouette exuded an ineffable sense of softness and beauty.

"What a beautiful female disciple," Gu Xin'er thought, even as a woman, a hint of admiration welling up in her eyes.

In her embrace, the hairpin exclaimed in wonder, "Hmm, not only beautiful, but also incredibly fortunate. She bears the mark of receiving teachings in a dream."

Gu Xin'er's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Does receiving teachings in a dream truly exist?"

The hairpin nodded slightly. "It naturally exists, but the conditions for triggering it are very strict. Firstly, one must enter a special dream state, which is almost one in a billion. Secondly, one must cultivate a sage's orthodoxy, which is another one in a billion. When both conditions are met simultaneously, it's naturally very difficult."

"This girl actually possesses a sage's orthodoxy? That's incredible." Gu Xin'er was even more astonished. "A sage's orthodoxy? Master, are you serious?"

The hairpin affirmed, "Only a sage's orthodoxy has the possibility of being imparted in a dream. However, she might have only learned some minor aspects of the orthodoxy."

Hearing this, Gu Xin'er remained surprised. "Even if it's just minor details, it's still astonishing. The Way of a Sage is not directly transmitted. Where did she learn it?"

As a merchant, the concept of rare commodities being valuable was deeply ingrained in her. She immediately sniffed out a business opportunity. With a gleam in her eye, she gracefully went after the young woman.

"Disciple, please stop."

Liu Qingxian stopped, turning to observe the brightly and vivaciously dressed girl in front of her. "Sister, is there something you need?"

Gu Xin'er earnestly gazed at her true face, finding her even more stunning and beautiful. She admired, "Truly remarkable. Beautiful and fortunate. If you hadn't already joined the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, I would certainly introduce you to the Divine Sects from beyond this realm."

Only then did Liu Qingxian realize that this girl, who appeared even younger than herself, seemed quite extraordinary.

"May I ask who you are?"

Gu Xin'er lightly traced with her finger, and a flash of Nascent Soul power flickered at her fingertip before vanishing. Liu Qingxian was stunned; the girl before her was actually a Nascent Soul expert! She quickly performed a polite bow. "Junior Liu Qingxian greets Senior."

Gu Xin'er smiled slightly. "No need for formalities. I observe that you bear the mark of receiving teachings in a dream. Is that correct?"

Liu Qingxian was a bit wary, but with a Nascent Soul expert before her, she dared not lie. "Yes... Does Senior have any instructions?"

Gu Xin'er said, "Don't worry, I wouldn't stoop to stealing from others. I just want to make a trade with you. I'll exchange the cultivation method you received in your dream for a mid-tier Earth-grade cultivation method. What do you say?"

A mid-tier Earth-grade? Liu Qingxian's heart jolted in surprise. The strongest cultivation method in the Azure Cloud Sect was only a low-tier Earth-grade, and it was merely a fragmented scroll. Yet, the Vice Pavilion Master before her offered a mid-tier Earth-grade method right away! She was tempted, but she refused without hesitation.

"This was imparted by my husband; I cannot transmit it without his permission. Please forgive me, Senior."

Husband? Gu Xin'er frowned. "Where is your husband? I will discuss it with him directly."

Liu Qingxian anxiously looked towards the exit of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. "He should be arriving today. Senior, I need to go welcome my husband. Please excuse me." She bowed once more, then she hurriedly ran off.

Watching her graceful figure disappear, Gu Xin'er slightly furrowed her brow. "Any other junior, encountering a Nascent Soul Senior, would surely try their best to form a connection. But she, for her husband's sake, left me standing here. Just how charming is her husband?" Her words held a faint hint of disapproval, as she felt that Liu Qingxian was sacrificing something significant for something minor.

But the hairpin chuckled. "Isn't a husband who can impart the Way of a Sage charming enough? Among the couples in the Divine Sects from beyond this realm, let alone the Way of a Sage, even the Way of Soul Transformation is something they guard against each other and are unwilling to lightly transmit."

Gu Xin'er's expression subtly stiffened. It was true! The path of martial arts was like crossing a narrow bridge with thousands of soldiers. One more person meant one more competitor. Gu Xin'er asked herself, if she were to have a Dao companion someday, she would never share the hairpin's secret with them. That was absolutely impossible! Yet, Liu Qingxian's husband had easily imparted the Way of a Sage to her. In contrast, Gu Xin'er now truly recognized her husband's extraordinary nature.

"In that case, he truly is a respectable man."

Gu Xin'er couldn't help but think of Jiang Fan. The stark contrast between the two further highlighted the exceptional nature of Liu Qingxian's husband.

"Sigh! How can the difference between people be so vast? One is despicable, shameless, and vulgar. The other is like a towering mountain, inspiring respect."

The hairpin gave a wry smile. "Can you stop talking about that fellow? You're almost turning him into a personal demon."

Gu Xin'er snorted softly. "I will talk about him! He threatened me with an aphrodisiac. I'll remember him for the rest of my life!"

At that moment, Liu Qingxian's joyful cheers came from a distance. Her husband had arrived. Gu Xin'er, feeling curious, stepped forward and said, "I want to see for myself what kind of extraordinary and unique man Liu Qingxian's husband is."

In her mind, she couldn't help but paint a picture of him: dressed in rustling black robes, wearing a jade crown, remarkably handsome. His strides were broad and confident, surrounded by an aura of righteousness. He exuded a strong sense of security. When he smiled, he was gentle and refined, incredibly tender.

Imagining this, she arrived at the entrance of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. From a distance, she saw Liu Qingxian, holding up her skirt, fluttering like a small bird and flying into the embrace of a young man. The man was clad in long black robes and wore a jade crown. Although his face was obscured by Liu Qingxian, his visible profile suggested he was very handsome.

Gu Xin'er couldn't help but murmur, "Strange, his attire actually matches what I imagined. Such a coincidence?" She looked puzzled. Her casual imagination had actually materialized in reality. Truly wondrous.

The hairpin in her embrace calmly stated, "The attire you imagined, isn't that the 'little ruffian' you keep mentioning?"

Gu Xin'er froze, then recalled carefully. It was true! She had unconsciously transferred the 'little ruffian's' attire onto Liu Qingxian's husband.

"Pah, pah, pah, that little ruffian is so annoying! He's corrupted my thoughts! How can I randomly think of him like this?!"

The hairpin's tone took on a strange quality. "Then it's no wonder the attire you imagined appeared in reality." Evidently, the hairpin had already recognized that Liu Qingxian's husband was the 'little ruffian' Gu Xin'er detested so much.

"What do you mean?" Gu Xin'er asked, frowning.

But soon, she had her answer. As Jiang Fan scooped up Liu Qingxian and spun her around, his true face was revealed! A very handsome face, but one that she hated and had even dreamt about recently, was reflected in her eyes!