Divine Emperor Demon Emperor

Seeing how serious the two women looked, Lin Yun knew the Double Flower Saint’s path of Martial Arts was likely anything but simple. His smile vanished as he said softly, "Go on. There shouldn’t be any secrets between us."

Hearing this, Lan Xi glanced at Lu Bingning. After a moment, Lu Bingning bit her lip and began to explain in a subdued tone, "The Double Flower Saint... Our masters’ path of Martial Arts is called the Path of One Heart."

"The Path of One Heart?" Lin Yun murmured to himself upon hearing Lu Bingning’s words.

"Yes. The Double Flower Saint is actually the Saint title of our two masters together. It’s also the only Celestial Saint Realm Saint title on the Celestial Spirit Continent formed by two Earth Saint Realm Saints."

"The legacy our masters passed down to Lan Xi and me is called the Double Flower Secret Scripture. It’s the Cultivation Technique they practiced, a Celestial Level Upper Tier technique. However, it must be cultivated by two people together, and they must achieve a deep, mutual understanding..." Lu Bingning explained slowly.

Listening to Lu Bingning’s explanation, Lin Yun finally understood the secrets behind the Double Flower Secret Scripture and the Path of One Heart.

Simply put, the Path of One Heart required two people to be perfectly in sync while cultivating the Double Flower Secret Scripture. In doing so, their combined combat strength would increase exponentially.

However, there was a unique condition to the Path of One Heart. To receive the Double Flower Saint’s legacy, one had to accept their path of Martial Arts. The most critical aspect of the Path of One Heart was that the two cultivators must share a nexus in their hearts.

This nexus would bind their hearts tightly together. It could be an object, a belief, or even a person, but whatever it was, it had to be something both of them cherished equally.

Once they decided to cultivate the Double Flower Secret Scripture, if either of them were to ever abandon this nexus, all of their Cultivation would vanish into thin air.

It was a Cultivation Technique that two people practiced as one, a path of Martial Arts that two people walked as one.

After hearing Lu Bingning’s explanation, Lin Yun understood their path of Martial Arts. They had to advance and retreat together. Lu Bingning and Lan Xi were now bound by this fate—they would either rise together or fall together.

Lu Bingning and Lan Xi glanced at each other before turning to look at Lin Yun. Then, in perfect unison, they said, "You are our nexus."

That was right. The nexus between Lu Bingning and Lan Xi was Lin Yun himself. They had met because of him and both loved him deeply. He was the one thing they both cherished equally, the one thing neither of them would ever abandon.

Looking at them, Lin Yun understood why they were telling him this. He immediately pulled both women into his arms and said gently, "Don’t worry. I know how you feel. And you should never have to doubt how I feel."

"Hmph, it’s not that we doubt you," Lan Xi said with a chuckle, hearing his words. "We’re just letting you know that if you ever abandon me and Sister Bingning, we’ll be truly doomed beyond saving."

Back when Lu Bingning and Lan Xi chose Lin Yun as their nexus, the Double Flower Saint had tried to stop them with a telepathic message. They had warned that choosing a man as their nexus was the most unreliable decision one could make. If that man were to ever abandon either of them, their fate would be unimaginable.

But neither woman had listened to the Double Flower Saint’s warning. Their feelings for Lin Yun ran deepest of all. Using him as their nexus was a huge gamble, but their conviction was absolute.

The stronger their nexus, the faster they would progress in cultivating the Double Flower Secret Scripture, and the greater their future achievements would be.

Gazing at their breathtakingly beautiful faces, Lin Yun couldn’t resist leaning in and kissing them. "Don’t even talk about my heart changing. In this life, you couldn’t escape me even if you tried."

A roguish smile spread across Lin Yun’s face. He had never sworn any oaths or whispered any heart-wrenching sweet nothings to them, but right now, both women could feel his heart with perfect clarity.

Learning about the Double Flower Secret Scripture and the Path of One Heart didn’t change a thing for Lin Yun. His heart had never intended to abandon them, and it never would.

"Alright, let’s go." Taking each of their hands, the three of them left the Third Layer of the pavilion.

By the time Lin Yun’s group arrived on the Second Layer, the entire area had been just about picked clean. Eventually, the members of the three forces gathered back on the First Layer. As for what happened on the Third Layer, Lin Yun’s group didn’t say a single word. Under these circumstances, only an idiot would have.

"First Senior Brother, look! We found so many things!" The Disciples of Flawless Palace were all grinning from ear to ear. It went without saying that this was likely their biggest haul in years.

It wasn’t just Flawless Palace; the Disciples from Taiqing Academy and Spiritual Light Pavilion were also beaming. It seemed the Double Flower Saint had truly left behind a great many treasures.

"Brother Lin, how did you fare? A good haul?" Wei Yunhang asked with a smile. He, too, had clearly found plenty of good things.

"Not bad," Lin Yun replied with a smile of his own. "And judging by your expression, Brother Wei, your haul wasn’t small either, was it?"

"Haha, not bad at all," Wei Yunhang laughed.

As the two were speaking, Xi Zijin walked over. It was impossible to tell what she had found; her expression was as indifferent as ever.

Clasping her fist in salute to Lin Yun and Wei Yunhang, Xi Zijin stated bluntly, "Since our business here is concluded, I will be taking my leave."

Hearing this, Lin Yun and Wei Yunhang both gave a slight nod. As she was leaving, Xi Zijin gave a pointed look toward Lu Bingning and Lan Xi before finally leading the Disciples of the Spiritual Light Pavilion out of the building.

After Xi Zijin left, Wei Yunhang also clasped his fist to Lin Yun. "Brother Lin, I’ll be taking my leave as well. If you have the chance in the future, you must come find me at Taiqing Academy. We’ll have a good drink or two."

"I will," Lin Yun replied.

With the people from the other two forces gone, Lin Yun knew they probably wouldn’t leave the relics just yet. They would likely search the area for any other treasures. After all, the appearance of a Saint’s Relics was a grand opportunity that came once in a millennium.

Lin Yun had the Flawless Palace Disciples secure the treasures they had found. As they prepared to leave, Lu Bingning and Lan Xi performed a formal disciple’s bow to the statue of the Double Flower Saint. Then, the group departed from the pavilion.

Out in the plaza, the injured Flawless Palace Disciples had recovered significantly. With the help of Healing Medicine, their wounds had mostly stabilized. Aside from a few who had been severely wounded, the rest were largely out of danger.

"First Senior Brother, what’s our plan? Are we leaving now?" The crowd gathered, and the eight Core Disciples encircled Lin Yun as He Yuntian posed the question.

"There’s no rush," Lin Yun said with a smile. "The other members of the Four Great Forces likely haven’t left yet either. We’ll search around a bit more and see if we can find any other opportunities. After all, we have to make the most of a Saint’s Relics appearing."

Not a single Flawless Palace Disciple refuted Lin Yun’s words. By now, his prestige within the palace was likely on par with that of Wei Yunhang and the others in their own respective forces.

Looking at the smiles on the Disciples’ faces, it was easy to imagine this was their most vindicating moment. To be able to contend with the other great forces had been the heartfelt wish of many a Flawless Palace Disciple. This time, under Lin Yun’s leadership, they had finally made it a reality.