Chapter 100: I'm Ready to Go In

Lu Chenyuan looked at Shangguan Chuci and asked, "Young Master Shangguan, may I know how I should cooperate with you?"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Chuci gently waved the white jade folding fan in her hand, then slowly walked to the couch and gracefully sat down on the round stool. She spoke calmly, “Brother Lu, please don’t rush. I do have a method in mind, but it is somewhat extraordinary and shocking. I must explain it clearly to you first.”

She paused, seeing Lu Chenyuan focus intently, then continued, “Actually, my idea is quite simple. Since you possess no true energy of your own, I will transfer some of my true energy to you.”

At these words, Lu Chenyuan furrowed his brows. To cultivators, “transferring true energy” is a perilous act that depletes one’s own cultivation. Moreover, the recipient being himself likely adds many unknown risks.

He was about to decline when Shangguan Chuci added, “Brother Lu, please don’t be so quick to refuse. If you were an ordinary mortal, this idea would indeed be a fool’s dream.”

“For ordinary people, this would not work because their bodies lack the proper ‘receptive interface’ for true energy. It’s like a river without a gate—my true energy is like the water of great rivers and seas. Forcing it in would do more harm than good, breaking their meridians and causing death.”

Lu Chenyuan, sharp as he was, immediately understood. His eyes brightened as he said, “Interface? I see now! Young Master Shangguan means that although I have no true energy, within my sea of consciousness lies Wei Zhuo’s Dao foundation and Heart Fire. These serve as a harbor capable of holding the great river waters, thus giving your idea a basis for realization. Is that correct?”

“Exactly! Brother Lu, you truly are clever!” Shangguan Chuci smiled warmly, her bright eyes full of admiration.

She gently closed the folding fan, tapping the fan’s ribs lightly in her palm as she continued, “The only danger is that I have never tried this method before. Usually, transmitting power requires a master far superior in cultivation to the recipient to ensure safety. As a junior at the Ember Realm, I am not qualified. Your situation is even more unusual than that of ordinary cultivators, adding countless variables.”

At this, a trace of pride and confidence flickered in her eyes as she added, “However, my Heart Fire is a rare ‘Miraculous Flame’ that can penetrate the surface of all things and see their inner workings. If I use this ‘Fire of Logic’ with a thread of my divine awareness to enter your sea of consciousness and guide it personally, there may be some chance of success.”

Lu Chenyuan felt both grateful and anxious hearing this. He pondered aloud, “As expected of Young Master Shangguan, your ideas are endlessly creative. But if you enter another’s sea of consciousness with your divine awareness, could that put you in danger? After all, I have many secrets within me, even I do not fully understand.”

Fearing she might misunderstand, he quickly added, “It’s not that I’m afraid you’ll discover my secrets, but rather that I’m worried you might suffer unintended harm because of them.”

His earnest words warmed Shangguan Chuci’s heart inexplicably, and a gentle smile lifted the corners of her lips.

She knew this young man was sincere by nature, but hearing him consider her safety so thoughtfully still brought a quiet joy to her.

“Brother Lu, your caution is well-founded...” she said thoughtfully, then suddenly looked up and called toward the door of the wood storage room, “Uncle Shen, are you nearby?”

After a moment’s silence outside, a steady voice replied, “Young Master, this old servant is here.”

“Please come in.”

With a creak, the door opened, and the figure of Shen Guizhou, the black-robed guard, quietly stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

Shangguan Chuci briefly explained her extraordinary plan to Shen Guizhou, ending with, “This is a dangerous matter. Uncle Shen, please assist and protect both me and Brother Lu.”

Shen Guizhou’s usually stern iron-like face showed hesitation as he bowed respectfully, “This method is too perilous. I cannot allow the young master to risk herself. Perhaps, let this old servant try instead.”

Before Shangguan Chuci could respond, Lu Chenyuan interjected, “Yes, let Senior Shen give it a try first.”

Seeing their agreement, Shangguan Chuci pondered a moment and finally nodded, “Very well, Uncle Shen, please proceed.”

Without further words, Shen Guizhou extended two fingers gently onto Lu Chenyuan’s wrist pulse.

His eyes half-closed as a deep, steady stream of true energy flowed from his fingertips into Lu Chenyuan’s body.

After a while, he slowly opened his eyes, which shone with sharp light but revealed only confusion as he shook his head at Shangguan Chuci.

“Uncle Shen, how is it?”

With furrowed brows, Shen Guizhou said gravely, “Old servant has not found any sea of consciousness within Young Master Lu’s body, much less any Dao foundation or Heart Fire.”

Lu Chenyuan was astonished, “How can that be? Then what have I been seeing all this time?”

Shangguan Chuci pondered but seemed to have expected this, murmuring, “That does make sense. Cultivators must first ‘sense the Dao’ and respond to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to open their sea of consciousness. The ‘Establishment of the Mind’ stage builds upon this sea.”

“Brother Lu, you have always been a mortal body without cultivation, so naturally there is no sea of consciousness within you.”

Hearing this, disappointment showed on Lu Chenyuan’s face. “If that’s the case, it seems there’s no way.”

“Not necessarily,” Shangguan Chuci shook her head.

“Does Young Master Shangguan have another method?”

Shangguan Chuci smiled faintly, “The reason the Miraculous Flame is called ‘miraculous’ is because it can make the impossible possible.”

She turned to Shen Guizhou and said, “Uncle Shen, please protect Brother Lu and me. I will try.”

Looking into the bright, astonishing eyes of his lady, Shen Guizhou sighed softly.

He recalled the night in the backyard when the young lady fearlessly embraced the boy who had become a monster, understanding that her resolve was firm and that further persuasion would be futile.

Besides, though her action seemed reckless, it was not without some confidence.

He bowed deeply and said solemnly, “Young Master, please proceed with caution.”

As soon as he finished speaking, his black-robed figure seemed to dissolve into the air, vanishing silently.

Yet Lu Chenyuan knew Shen Guizhou remained nearby, guarding them in a way ordinary people could not perceive.

Shangguan Chuci looked at Lu Chenyuan and said, “Brother Lu, please come up onto the couch.”

Lu Chenyuan obeyed.

Shangguan Chuci folded her fan and climbed onto the couch, sitting cross-legged opposite him.

“Honestly, I am not very confident either,” she admitted. “But since you have me existing within your ‘favorability system,’ I feel there might be some chance of success.”

Lu Chenyuan asked curiously, “Young Master Shangguan means the sea of heart and consciousness?”

Shangguan Chuci smiled softly, “Exactly. Though you have no sea of consciousness, inside you lies an even more mysterious place. Wei Zhuo’s Dao foundation must be hidden there.”

Seeing her eager expression, Lu Chenyuan couldn’t help but ask, “Why do I feel like Young Master Shangguan is a bit excited?”

Her fair cheeks flushed faintly as she replied, “Perhaps it’s the occupational hazard of strategy players. The more impossible the challenge appears, the more thrilling it becomes.”

“We often call these ‘problems to solve,’ and sometimes, for fun, we even give ourselves new ‘problems’ to tackle.”

Lu Chenyuan was lost in her words and could only smile helplessly. “Young Master Shangguan is speaking in riddles I don’t understand again.”

Shangguan Chuci smiled faintly, “I’ll explain it to you properly later. For now, Brother Lu, take a deep breath and steady your mind. I’m about to enter.”

Realizing her words might be ambiguous, her face reddened again, but seeing Lu Chenyuan remain calm, she relaxed and smiled gently once more.