Chapter 147: Ye Fan's Seal On Shi Feiyan's Cultivation

Wang Li locked gazes with Shi Feiyan, a flicker of concern flickering across his eyes. "Speaking of your cultivation, Shi Feiyan," he said, his voice gentle, "I haven't sensed the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator from you. Have you encountered any difficulties in your breakthrough?"

Shi Feiyan's cheeks flushed a delicate pink. "Thank you for your concern, Patriarch. To be honest, I've attempted the Nascent Soul breakthrough seven times already, but each attempt has been... unsuccessful." Her voice trailed off, a mix of disappointment and self-doubt clouding her expression.

"Seven times?" Wang Li's brows furrowed. That was unusual. While the Nascent Soul breakthrough was a significant hurdle, seven failed attempts for someone with Shi Feiyan's talent were highly unexpected. "Did you encounter any difficulties absorbing the Nascent Soul Condensation Pellets I provided?"

"Thank you for those, Patriarch," Shi Feiyan bowed her head slightly. "They were invaluable. However, for some reason, my attempts at breaking through have all failed.

Wang Li then asked, "Have you encountered any specific issues during these attempts?"

Shi Feiyan shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "No, Patriarch. Everything seems to be going well initially. I can condense the spiritual energy and feel myself approaching the threshold, but then... a strange blockage occurs. It's like hitting an invisible wall."

"An invisible wall," Wang Li repeated thoughtfully. There was something off about this situation. Shi Feiyan possessed a strong spiritual root talent, evident from her rapid cultivation progress. For her to be consistently thwarted at the Nascent Soul threshold was highly suspicious.

"May I?" he asked, extending a hand towards her.

Shi Feiyan hesitated for a moment, her cheeks burning even brighter. However, she remembered the immense debt she owed him and the sincerity in his voice. With a small nod, she placed her soft hand within his grasp.

The moment their skin touched, a surge of spiritual energy flowed from Wang Li, coursing through Shi Feiyan's meridians. He wasn't probing for secrets but conducting a meticulous examination of her internal state. His powerful spiritual sense, honed to a razor's edge, delved deep into her core, tracing the flow of energy through her body.

As he explored, a frown creased his brow. Everything seemed normal at first. Shi Feiyan's core was healthy, her spiritual reserves impressive. She possessed the necessary foundation for the Nascent Soul breakthrough. Yet, there it was – an anomaly.

A thin, almost imperceptible barrier nestled around her nascent core, a barrier that pulsed with a faint, yet strangely familiar, demonic aura. It was a meticulously crafted seal, designed to impede the flow of spiritual energy at the crucial moment of breakthrough.

Wang Li's eyes narrowed. This was no natural block; it was a deliberate sabotage. Someone, with a cunning understanding of cultivation and a malicious intent, had placed this seal on Shi Feiyan's core.

The realization sent a jolt of anger through him. Who would do such a thing? And why target Shi Feiyan specifically? The answer, he suspected, might lie in her past association with the Stone Mountain Sect. Perhaps an enemy from that time, harboring a grudge, had sought to cripple her potential.

He gently withdrew his hand, his expression thoughtful. "Shi Feiyan," he said, his voice low and serious, "the reason behind your failed breakthroughs is not due to a lack of talent. You have a powerful seal placed on your core, restricting your spiritual flow at a critical juncture."

Shi Feiyan's eyes widened in disbelief. "A seal? But how? Who would do such a thing?" Her voice trembled with a mix of fear and betrayal.

Wang Li chuckled, a dark edge to his laughter. "Ah, Shi Feiyan," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "sometimes, the most dangerous foes aren't fueled by hatred, but by... desire."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a seductive murmur that sent shivers down Shi Feiyan's spine. "Let's be honest," he purred, his gaze lingering on her features, "you are a strikingly beautiful woman, Shi Feiyan. Perhaps Ye Fan, upon setting eyes on you, was captivated. Perhaps he sought to... claim you as his own."

Shi Feiyan's cheeks burned a fiery crimson. Here was Wang Li, a powerful cultivator and her benefactor, openly complimenting her beauty. It was unexpected and slightly... thrilling. But his words sent a shiver of revulsion through her.

"Claim me?" she spat, her voice laced with disgust. "He wished to block my cultivation just to gain my favor. What a despicable act!"

"Think, Shi Feiyan," Wang Li urged, his gaze steady. "After repeated failures to reach the Nascent Soul Realm, wouldn't you become desperate for a solution?"

Shi Feiyan's eyes widened with a horrifying realization. "He was hoping to... exploit my desperation?" she choked out, the betrayal echoing in her voice.

"Precisely," Wang Li confirmed, his voice firm. "He would offer his assistance, perhaps even a 'cure' for your block, all the while manipulating you for his own gain."

The weight of this revelation crushed Shi Feiyan. Hatred, raw and untamed, burned within her.

Wang Li's lips curled into a satisfied grin.

"Fear not, Shi Feiyan," he soothed, his voice laced with a deceptive sincerity. "This seal will be dismantled. Your potential will be unleashed. Once you break into the Nascent Soul Realm, you'll be an unstoppable force. And Ye Fan? He will face the consequences of his treachery."

A wave of gratitude washed over Shi Feiyan. "Thank you, Patriarch," she whispered, her voice trembling with sincerity. "Without your help, I might have remained trapped in this stagnant state for who knows how long."

Wang Li nodded, his eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement. "The seal will be removed, Shi Feiyan. However, there's one caveat."

Her heart skipped a beat. "A caveat, Patriarch?"

"Indeed," he confirmed. "The seal is intricately woven into your core. To dismantle it with precision and avoid any repercussions, I'll need direct access to the area surrounding your Dantian."

He paused, his gaze flickering down to her abdomen.

Shi Feiyan's cheeks flushed crimson. The implication hung heavy in the air.