Chapter 622: The Su Nu Dao

Inside a multi-decked ship suitable for long-distance ocean voyages, near a coastal port.

Madam Baihua and Meng Qi sat opposite each other across a low table. Yingning, as usual, half-hid behind her “mother,” peeking out with only her charming head visible.

“This matter turned out well thanks to you, Sir,” Madam Baihua exaggerated her gratitude dramatically, her eyes brimming with admiration and adoration. Any ordinary man in this situation would have felt his ego swell, becoming conceited and blinded by vanity.

Indeed, without me, you wouldn’t have nearly been captured… Meng Qi inwardly scoffed at her flattery while maintaining an indifferent expression, ignoring her flirtatious gaze. He slowly said, “Now that the matter in Linhai is settled, Madam, you can now tell me in detail about your sect.”

Madam Baihua’s eyes flickered slightly, cursing this old monster for his unyielding heart, impervious to charm, before curling her lips into a beautiful smile: “In this vast world, few possess the influence to resolve the enmity between you and the Heaven-Annihilation Gate and the Luo Religion. Besides, Yingning excels in the art of balancing Yin and Yang. Sir, surely you’ve already guessed?”

“The Su Nu Sect?” Meng Qi’s expression slightly “stiffened.”

He inwardly sighed. No wonder the elders of Bo Mi were desperate to break through their cultivation barriers. Only by displaying sufficient strength and value could one gain protection or mediation from a major force against relentless pursuers. Otherwise, there would be no escape from heaven above nor earth below!

If he hadn’t killed the blue-blooded man and been mistaken for a Grandmaster by Huang Taichong and He Jiu, his attitude relayed back to Madam Baihua through Yun Jiuye, they certainly wouldn’t have wanted to expend favors for an ordinary top expert, let alone directly provoke the Luo Religion, Heaven-Annihilation Gate, and the Beggars’ Sect.

“Correct, Sir, your insight is spot-on,” Madam Baihua covered her mouth with a laugh, her expression brimming with pride as she scrutinized Meng Qi’s reaction.

Meng Qi curled his lips into a half-smile, his gaze turning “cold”: “Madam, do you take this old man for a three-year-old? Everyone knows the Su Nu Sect cultivates by drawing on men’s essence. Are you inviting me into your sect to serve as a sacrificial cauldron or medicinal residue?”

To express his “displeasure,” he switched his self-reference to “this old man.”

This was a typical reaction from a powerful Left Path cultivator, and Madam Baihua was unsurprised. She giggled, leaning forward with a seductive sway, fully displaying the allure of her mature figure.

Still using seductive techniques at every moment… Meng Qi’s expression remained unchanged, still cold.

“People spread rumors recklessly, how can you believe everything?” Madam Baihua finally stopped laughing, her eyes glimmering as she spoke, “The Su Nu Sect is divided into two branches. One traces its lineage back to the ancient Xuan Nu of the Nine Heavens, cultivating through destined connections via dual cultivation between man and woman, always mutually beneficial, with no concept of drawing on men’s essence. I believe, Sir, you must have heard of this before.”

He had indeed heard of it. He also knew that the core inner chapter of the “Su Nu Sutra” was the “Manifestation Technique” of destined connections, practiced exclusively by the current Xuan Nu and her disciples. Other elders and disciples of the sect practiced the outer chapters of the “Su Nu Sutra” through normal dual cultivation. Meng Qi suppressed the urge to twitch his lips and nodded slightly: “That much is true. So, Madam, you belong to the Xuan Nu branch?”

“No, we belong to the Joyful Bodhisattva branch,” Madam Baihua replied candidly.

Meng Qi didn’t “anger” but smiled instead, his gaze deepening as if he might strike at any moment: “Madam, are you mocking this old man?”

Madam Baihua laughed: “Please, Sir, calm down and don’t be angry. Allow me to explain.”

She slightly restrained her seductive demeanor and continued seriously: “Our Joyful Bodhisattva branch traces its lineage back to the Compassionate Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, practicing the giving of one’s physical form to mankind and cultivating the union of bliss and emptiness. It is true that we draw on men’s essence to solidify the Joyful Bodhisattva Golden Body. However, to advance further and elevate one’s Dharma Body into the ‘Compassionate Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva Golden Body,’ one must fully realize that form is emptiness and emptiness is form, and then give back to the male partner, liberating all beings…”

As he listened to Madam Baihua’s “introduction,” Meng Qi was almost stunned. He wondered who the founding ancestor of the Joyful Bodhisattva branch was, to have devised such a method linking it back to Avalokiteshvara. Truly a rare flower indeed! No wonder the Shuiyue Nunnery and the Xuan Nu branch were closely related yet at odds with the Joyful Bodhisattva branch—it was practically sullying Avalokiteshvara’s reputation. How could these legitimate disciples not hate them with such venom!

As for the rest of Madam Baihua’s explanation, Meng Qi paid little attention. It wasn’t even a matter of belief. Even if it were true, the giving back only occurred after achieving the full Joyful Bodhisattva Golden Body. Currently, the present Joyful Bodhisattva had yet to solidify her Dharma Body, let alone elevate it to the Great Bodhisattva Golden Body. Other Bodhisattva-title holders were even further from achieving this. Hoping for such a return was like hoping he would charm them with his charm and talent, making them fall in love and abandon their cultivation methods. Either way, it was just a dream!

Seeing that the Poisonous Hand Demon Lord showed no sign of joy or interest, Madam Baihua knew her words had failed to move him. Smiling, she said: “Sir, you are our invited guest, not a captured sacrificial cauldron. According to our sect’s rules, if you are not tempted and do not half-heartedly comply, no one will forcefully draw on your essence. As for the disciples below the Outer Manifestation realm whose cultivation is too shallow to affect your essence, except for the true disciples who require mutual consent, the rest are at your disposal. Hehe, among them are many young maidens just beginning their cultivation.”

Meng Qi’s expression remained calm: “This is merely your empty words. If I rashly went to your stronghold, with the Joyful Bodhisattva’s strength, wouldn’t this old man be at their mercy?”

“Your point is valid, Sir. Even if I swore an oath on my Yuan Shen and signed a secret contract, it would only bind me. I’m sure Sir wouldn’t trust it,” Madam Baihua showed understanding. “How about this? We’ll first take you to one of our outposts, a place where both the Joyful and Xuan Nu branches have a presence. If forced extraction occurs, you can switch to the Xuan Nu branch, cultivate together with their disciples, and once the Bodhisattva Leader agrees and the oath is made, Sir can rest assured.”

They referred to the Joyful Bodhisattva as the Bodhisattva Leader, distinguishing her from other Bodhisattva-title holders.

After all this talk, wasn’t this exactly what he was waiting for? Meng Qi had painstakingly sought contact with the Xuan Nu branch, not the Joyful Bodhisattva branch. He nodded: “This old man can then feel reassured. Please, Madam, lead the way.”

“I must oversee the affairs in Yingcheng and Linhai and cannot leave,” she turned to Yingning, “Yingning, you shall guide the Poisonous Hand Sir to Li Hua Island.”

“Yes, Mother,” Yingning lowered her head.

“If the Sir wants to take you away directly, just go with him. After all, you’re already his,” Madam Baihua teased.

Yingning squirmed, pouting with feigned displeasure. After struggling to compose herself, she blushed and said to Meng Qi: “May I inform the Sir, Li Hua Island and Qian Li Island are hidden and visible, one upright and one auxiliary, located in the same area. It is the domain of ‘Desireful Bodhisattva,’ one of our sect’s Eight Bodhisattvas, and also houses ‘Shang Shui Fairy,’ of the Xuan Nu branch, whose husband recently passed away, and she is currently in mourning.”

Meng Qi nodded impassively, maintaining his mysterious demeanor, though inwardly he felt relieved. His current transformation techniques were still easily detectable by vigilant Grandmasters—not everyone was as easily deceived as Huang Taichong, who was shaken by the karmic backlash before even realizing the disguise’s true nature.

Even if discovered back then, revealing the identity of Su Meng would have been acceptable, as He Jiu and He Xiu had some karmic ties with him, preventing any mishaps.

This time, both Desireful Bodhisattva and Shang Shui Fairy were merely top-tier experts. The first step was fortunate—no need to abandon his identity upon reaching Li Hua Island, change into an islander, and painstakingly search for clues about the Su Nu Immortal Realm.

As for becoming a guest of the Joyful Bodhisattva, that was simply impossible!

Guided by Wan Shou, Meng Qi took Yingning and flew for over ten days before finally spotting Qian Li Island on the endless blue sea.

“Sir, from here, we must take a boat to reach Li Hua Island,” Yingning watched Wan Shou return to the island. They were a cooperative force of the Su Nu Sect, similar to the Yun family and Donghai Sword Workshop.

…

The sea stretched wide, the water nearly black-blue, giving an ominous sense of an impending storm.

A multi-decked ship circled Qian Li Island along a unique route, neither leaving nor approaching, as if waiting for something.

Meng Qi asked no questions, entering his cabin in the night and finding Yingning lying on the bed, wrapped only in a blanket, her clothes scattered on the floor, emitting a strange fragrance that stirred one’s blood.

“What are you doing?” Meng Qi stood at the door with his hands behind his back.

Yingning blushed, eyes tightly shut, her long lashes trembling: “I am already your woman, here to warm your bed and share bliss with you.”

According to their agreement, the transaction was complete after the Linhai matter.

Meng Qi’s eyelid twitched slightly. He stepped forward with his hands behind his back, smiling faintly: “Not yet. Your virginity must be preserved for a crucial moment. This old man still needs a bit more cultivation before breakthrough. For now, I must cultivate self-restraint. When everything is ready and my foundation solid, I shall properly cherish you.”

Saying “cherish,” yet his tone held no hint of intimacy.

Who knew what secret techniques this girl might possess? A weaker-willed person might end up drained to a husk.

“Is it whatever the Sir says?” Yingning seemed slightly nervous, exhaling in relief upon hearing his words.

Reflecting on their conversation, Meng Qi smiled: “Speaking of intimate matters between man and woman, you don’t seem particularly shy?”

Yingning replied innocently: “Man and woman sharing bliss is part of the natural order of life. What is there to be shy about? I only blushed because it’s my first time.”

“Besides, many men suffer from lacking such joy. We must show compassion, offering our physical forms to comfort them.”

Realizing she might have said too much, she quietly stuck out her pink tongue: “I am already the Sir’s woman, I shall only comfort the Sir.”

Indeed, a disciple of the Joyful Bodhisattva branch, her values completely different from ordinary people… Meng Qi barely restrained the urge to twitch his lips, using the conversation to probe the truth about Li Hua Island.

“…The formation on Li Hua Island targets outsiders, not those inside. Sacrificial cauldrons are free to leave, yet none choose to,” Yingning introduced cheerfully, “The sacrificial cauldrons of Desireful Bodhisattva are divided into five ranks: ‘Precious Medicine,’ ‘Great Tonifier,’ ‘Minor Tonifier,’ ‘Medicinal Residue,’ and ‘Snack.'”

Before she finished speaking, a sudden hurricane struck, spinning the ship.

“Don’t be alarmed, Sir. Just wait patiently,” Yingning quickly reminded him.

The surging waves tossed the ship up and down, nearly capsizing it.

Meng Qi was long accustomed to such natural disasters, standing with his hands behind his back, gazing at the dark, deep night outside the window.

After an unknown length of time, the hurricane ceased, dawn broke, the sky cleared, and a lush green island appeared before Meng Qi’s eyes, surrounded by sea mist, with no other islands visible!

“We’ve arrived at Li Hua Island!” Yingning joyfully exclaimed, her voice like silver bells as she put on her clothes.