If not for her deliberate restraint, she could have even begun her breakthrough that very day.
Luo Huangjun sighed inwardly with emotion, while on the other side, Dantai Jinglian's mood grew complicated.
Her strength had always been nearly on par with Luo Huangjun's, and their cultivation progress was likewise evenly matched.
At most, one of them would be slightly ahead for a time, but before long they would return to the same level again.
Even now, she was still one final bottleneck away from reaching the peak of the Eighth Heaven.
Yet Luo Huangjun had already stepped ahead of her and begun preparing to advance into the Ninth Heaven. This was no longer merely being one step ahead.
"So that's how it is… I was wondering why you seemed somewhat off when facing those people today. Turns out you're on the verge of a breakthrough…"
Dantai Jinglian spoke softly.
Earlier, she had already noticed that Luo Huangjun appeared somewhat constrained when facing the members of the Luo family.
As her senior sister, she naturally understood Luo Huangjun well enough.
Though her junior sister was aloof and indifferent, and usually spoke little, when it came to dealing with enemies, her style was very similar to Dantai Jinglian's—both were decisive and ruthless.
The only difference might be that she, as the senior sister, tended to use even harsher methods.
Previously, when facing those few from the Luo family,
the manner Luo Huangjun displayed had differed greatly from her usual style.
Dantai Jinglian had sensed something amiss back then.
Now that she knew Luo Huangjun was on the verge of a breakthrough, she finally understood the reason.
After all, regardless of Luo Canglin's actual combat strength, his cultivation realm was undeniably at the Ninth Heaven.
If Luo Huangjun were to clash with him, it would be difficult to avoid exposing her true state.
Dantai Jinglian was well aware that in recent years, the Luo clan had been rife with undercurrents, the internal situation extremely complex.
Several factions were openly and covertly locked in constant struggle. In particular, the patriarch's branch to which Luo Huangjun belonged showed faint signs of being jointly targeted by multiple factions.
This was also the reason why the branch that Luo Lingtian belonged to had twice plotted to seize the Huanglong Seal without being stopped by the patriarch's branch standing behind Luo Huangjun.
Because that side was already fully occupied dealing with the clan's open and hidden threats, they no longer had the capacity to intervene.
If news that Luo Huangjun was on the verge of breaking into the Ninth Heaven were to be transmitted back to the Luo clan at this critical juncture, and learned by the other branches, it would undoubtedly make the already murky situation even more complicated.
"When do you plan to begin the breakthrough?"
Dantai Jinglian asked. Though her emotions were somewhat complicated, she was still extremely concerned about Luo Huangjun's breakthrough.
A breakthrough to the Ninth Heaven was not something that could be completed in a short time.
Moreover, no carelessness could be allowed beforehand— even someone of Luo Huangjun's caliber had to make full preparations to deal with any possible problems during the breakthrough.
After pondering for a moment, Luo Huangjun spoke,
"After the grand competition is over. At that time, all matters within the Holy Land will be temporarily entrusted to you, senior sister."
A breakthrough was different from ordinary seclusion. When Luo Huangjun cultivated in seclusion in the past, she would always leave a sliver of her mind aware of the outside world and could stop at any time.
But once she truly decided to begin a breakthrough, she would have to devote herself to it completely, without the slightest distraction.
Hearing this, Dantai Jinglian let out a light laugh.
"Junior sister, I think you're just worried about my little nephew, aren't you?"
She had naturally seen through what—or rather, whom—Luo Huangjun truly cared about.
Luo Huangjun's face reddened slightly. She had already begun to face her own feelings.
Thus, toward Dantai Jinglian's half-teasing remarks, though she still felt somewhat shy, she no longer refuted them immediately as she used to.
Dantai Jinglian noticed this as well, and her emotions grew even more complicated.
There was joy for her junior sister's further progress, yet also an unwillingness at having fallen behind.
Naturally, she could guess the reason why Luo Huangjun was able to pull so far ahead of her.
That glaring favorability value of "90" was still vivid in her mind—how could she possibly fail to understand?
'It seems I must quicken my pace…'
Dantai Jinglian thought to herself.