Chapter 99: Advancing and Retreating Mutually Benefit Each Other

  Although Zuo Xiaoyao did not directly cultivate the secret art of condensing spiritual energy into shields, knives, swords, axes, and hammers, she combined the methods of cultivating spiritual energy used by mages in this world with her own understanding of spiritual energy, spiritual awareness, and spiritual power from a cultivation perspective. After repeated reasoning and calculations, she successfully derived another magical technique - Controlling Technique - from the Divination Technique.

  After applying the mind control technique to a specific target, the target's spiritual power and soul will not be affected, only their consciousness will be erased. Zuo Xiao Yao can then split off a thread of her own consciousness to control the target's every word and action. This is also why she refers to the targets she has chosen as 'puppets'. A person who has lost their subjective consciousness is just a fool, living like a zombie. When her consciousness enters the opponent's mind, this 'puppet' will completely become a 'marionette'.

  The subjective self-awareness was erased, and it would never be reborn. This is also the reason why Zuo Xiaoyao was very cautious when choosing a target. After all, if she let someone who didn't have much to lose fall into such a situation, her future would be ruined, and she couldn't get past that psychological hurdle.

  But now, the young man chosen by her, named Lí Léi, is a scourge who, no matter how miserable his downfall may be, does not deserve sympathy or regret. Due to his family's prominence, he not only secretly nurtures the "Fǎ Yuán" (Law Source), also known as the blood-red "Xì Xiàn" (Fine Line) used for cultivation, which Zǔo Xiǎo Yáo had seen at the Jiàn Tiān Shān Temple of Heaven, but also frequently commits evil deeds such as abducting men and bullying women. Even though he seems to have restrained himself in the city of Zǐ Chén Fǔ, he often does these things under the cover of darkness, unknown to gods or ghosts, and has been encountered by Zǔo Xiǎo Yáo twice before.

  He who is notorious for being ruthless and merciless, would severely punish anyone who dares to disobey him or show discontent towards his rule, especially those young men and women whom he has coerced into submission. Those who dare to cross him will be dealt with in the most brutal manner, forced to swallow "fasuan". Despite his cunning and ruthless tactics, he is extremely cautious and calculating, always managing to stay one step ahead of his enemies, leaving no evidence or trail that could lead to his downfall, maintaining a spotless public image.

  If not for the fact that Zuo Xiao Yao was secretly observing with her spiritual awareness, she would have thought that Lei's biggest flaw was just his unapologetic love of women. Although he couldn't hide the arrogance that came with being a prince of Feng Lei Country, he treated people with warmth and courtesy, his cultivation as a Taoist priest was not low, and his strength was quite impressive, so he didn't seem to be someone who would easily offend others.

  Therefore, it was not just others who thought that Lei had been lucky to make the top 20, but he himself also felt that way. The last two strong opponents he encountered were one who suddenly made some inexplicable mistakes when on the verge of winning, missing a hit and giving him an opportunity, and another who had the upper hand but suddenly went soft in the legs and was unable to avoid a hit that he should have easily dodged.

  No one had expected that under the watchful eyes of two Law Enforcers, Zuo Xiaoyao would make a small move in private. Without using any spiritual power and without drawing attention from others, she successfully interfered with her opponent by 'borrowing' the method of condensing spiritual power from the Law Master's secret book to gather her divine consciousness. After all, it was still too difficult for Zuo Xiaoyao to comprehend the mystery of divine consciousness transformation with her current cultivation level, and the chance of success was extremely small.

  While Lí Dé's heart was filled with joy at having successfully obtained the qualification to enter the Sacred Lake, Zuó Xiǎo Yáo also had a smile on her face as she had successfully implemented the second step of her plan. It wasn't until she attached the Purple Boundary Seal to Lí Dé's gesture of courtesy and successfully passed the inspection, allowing him to smoothly enter the Sacred Lake Palace, that Zuó Xiǎo Yáo felt at ease in her heart.

  With a spiritual consciousness similar to that of a doppelganger, "Lí Léi" controlled the small boundary child and put it in his arms. With a joyful expression on his face, he continued to walk away with a proud and carefree attitude. Although his appearance was far inferior to Jiāo Yún Dān's, he could still be considered young and handsome. Moreover, at this moment, he was filled with joy and satisfaction, making him look like a young talent. However, even if someone was very familiar with him, they would not be able to tell from his expression, eyes, or spiritual energy fluctuations that something had been done to his inner self.

  It's called a 'lake', but in Zuo Xiao Yao's eyes, it was just a pool of water about the same size as that pond in the Zi Yuan realm. The only difference was that this 'holy water' lake had milky white ripples on its surface and a thin layer of mist hovering above, making it seem extraordinary.

  Like others, Lí Rén came to the lake and gazed at the lake in front of him, revealing a look of longing and excitement that couldn't be concealed. He was about to enter the lake, and naturally no one would come to check his identity again. Zuo Xiao Yao, who was still in the Purple Yuan Boundary, felt relieved as she used the consciousness controlling Lí Rén to observe her surroundings.

  On the ground paved with white jade beside the lake, people stood in twos and threes. 'Li Lei' had no interest in chatting with others, but like a few people, he stood alone with an air of pride, quietly waiting for the selected personnel to arrive one after another.

  Around the circle closest to the lake, every short segment stood a monk wearing the "uniform" of the Sacred Lake Palace, representing status and identity in people's hearts. Each one had exceptional abilities, making this group of true sons of heaven who made it into the top twenty at the Sacred Lake Competition cautious. When speaking, they unconsciously lowered their voices, not daring to try to enter the lake first, even though almost everyone's eyes were fixed on the "sacred" water with a gaze full of longing.

  This "lake" water is not simple!

  She had already sensed the thick and rich spiritual energy emanating from the milky white water in that pool. Xue Xi Yao was very certain about it, but as for what kind of water it actually was, she hadn't personally experienced its effects before, so for the time being, she couldn't be sure.

  This time, smoothly passing the Saint Lake Competition, among the top twenty people, there are three women. Although this world also emphasizes the distinction between men and women, with men and women not being equal in status, because many qualified female Taoist priests have exceptional abilities, from ancient times to the present, they can often be seen standing among the top masters on the mainland, so for women to fight for a place in this male-dominated world, in some places, there are no special requirements regarding gender differences.

  For example, the qualification for participating in this Shenghu Zhēngfēng Conference, Mei Suoyun and Wen Jiao'er two women can enter and exit with dignity in places where male guests are mainly engaged in art, and there are both men and women who do art.

  So, even though Zuo Xiao Yao from modern times had always been extremely disgusted by the idea of men and women bathing together, when Lian Mei Su Yun welcomed these three late-arriving women, they were all beaming with joy, not putting the fact that these twenty people would soon be "bathing together" in the Sacred Lake at heart. They were only excited about being able to enter the Sacred Lake, and some were also thrilled to be able to "bathe together" with their crushes, like Jiao Yun Fan, who couldn't help but sneak glances at Zuo Xiao Yao, who had won first place in the Sacred Lake's competition, bringing great glory to the host, Purple Heaven Pavilion.

  Everyone has arrived, and they have also arrived at the previously agreed assembly time. Sensitive to discover that there are masters approaching in the first place, Zuo Xiaoyao, who perceives the threat, quietly moves a few steps behind Emperor's men without making a sound.

  As expected, in a short while, an old man with white hair and two men who looked like they were in their fifties walked over from the main road leading to the Holy Lake. Without checking anyone's identity again, he said a few words of encouragement and announced that everyone could start entering the lake. The three of them sat down on the chairs already set up beside the Holy Lake, making all the young monks feel embarrassed and secretly cursing the guy who was causing trouble in the upper realm.

  Of course, Zuo Xiao Yao was also cursing, but the object of her curse was apparently different from others, and it was the two Law Emperors guarding the lake.

  There are quite practical hiding 'props' available, Zuo Xiao Yao is not worried that the few old men who will not re-examine the crowd will discover this 'Li Lei', which is no longer Li Lei. However, she is very depressed. If she comes out, she will attract the attention of those three old guys in the first time. If she can't find out the secret of Sheng Hu in time, whether she can leave smoothly will become a big problem.

  Helpless, it wasn't until half a time after entering the lake that Zuo Xiaoyao realized that those three old guys hadn't found anything unusual and were showing relaxed expressions. Only then did she carefully control Lei's body to slowly sneak forward in the lake, trying not to draw attention.

  After moving a short distance away, Ling Xi still couldn't leave Ziyuan Boundary's empty space. Zuo Xiaoyao then discovered that such actions, after continuing for quite some time, not only would attract the attention of people on the lake shore, but she could also gain something, yet it was still far from her goal.

  At this time, among the twenty people who had already entered the lake, except for Lei who was controlled by her, everyone else had dispersed and focused on their cultivation. Some people who were well-prepared even submerged their heads in the lake, leaving only bamboo tubes or similar objects exposed on the surface of the lake to breathe, apparently trying to absorb as much of the mysterious power contained in the "holy" water as possible. After all, it is common knowledge that the "holy" water only has an extraordinary effect when people bathe in it for the first time.

  Looking at the seven people who had dived into the calm lake, Zuo Xiao Yao suddenly felt a stir in her heart. Yes, making abnormal movements on the surface of the lake would easily attract attention, but what if it was underwater?

  As she thought of this, Zuo Xiao Yao suddenly had an idea. When she quickly appeared beside the motionless "Lei", she immediately used her spiritual power to set up a seal on the surface of the lake, preventing any movements or sounds from being transmitted to the calm surface above. At the same time, she successfully cast a concealment technique and hid her figure in the water, although using this technique in the water consumed more spiritual power, especially in this complex "water".

  Until she finished all this, Zuo Xiao Yao finally let out a breath of relief. Only then did she have the confidence to do her own thing in peace on this lake. But through 'Li Lei' (thunder) in her arms, that usable object could carry her when she entered the Purple Boundary Empty Space, it would transform into an intangible Purple Boundary Empty Space ordinary boundary child leaving, and she could continue to follow the footsteps of that 'old friend', knowing whether he really disappeared in this lake nine years ago, and where he went afterwards.

  Whether this lake is good or bad for Zuo Xiaoyao, the outcome will not bring her any loss, and the situation is very favorable!

  ps：

  PS: Tragedy, I forgot to bring my laptop back last night. Now I'm working overtime in the store after work. Afraid it's going to be late again, and there will be another round of deadly calls from my siblings at home to urge me on. Not sure if Chapter 2 can be released tonight. If not, I'll release two chapters each for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow as compensation!