“Master, why are you so good to me?”
Lu Xuan offered a faint smile. “Because you’re my disciple.”
Internally, he thought: This is a surefire investment! Being good to his disciple was being good to himself. Why wouldn’t he? He could just lie flat and get stronger, just by giving all the cultivation resources to his disciple. Talk about reaping what you sow!
But Ji Fuyao’s delicate frame trembled. “Because I’m your disciple…” she murmured. Was that truly the only reason? Her eyes welled up slightly. In her past life, she had been an Empress of the Fuyao Dynasty, a position that had never brought her such a feeling. In this life, to have someone treat her so kindly – it was a wonderful sensation. A deep wave of emotion swelled within her.
Lu Xuan chuckled. “Actually, a little experience outside the sect is good. You go on, don’t worry about me.”
Ji Fuyao inclined her elegant neck and nodded. A pang of regret struck her. Once she left, who would cook for Master Lu Xuan? This trip would likely take some time. With that thought, Ji Fuyao approached the grass hut. “Master, I’ll cook for you before I go.”
Lu Xuan nodded. “Alright.”
This time, Ji Fuyao poured her heart into the cooking. Smoke curled gently from the grass hut’s chimney. Lu Xuan, meanwhile, lay sprawled in his lounge chair, lazily soaking up the sun. Life was utterly delightful.
Before long, Ji Fuyao swept back a strand of hair and emerged with steaming dishes. “Master, dinner’s ready.”
Lu Xuan nodded, approaching the stone table. He took a bite and commented, “This tastes good today.”
Ji Fuyao offered a soft smile. “Good.” She remembered the first time she’d cooked for Lu Xuan; his assessment then had been “tolerable.” At that time, a trace of defiance had lingered in her heart. But now? Now, being by Lu Xuan’s side, here on Azure Mystery Peak, she felt an unparalleled sense of peace. It was a feeling she had never once experienced in her past life!
Ji Fuyao had made up her mind. Outside Azure Mystery Peak, she was the Empress of the Fuyao Dynasty, but before her Master, Lu Xuan, she would forever be his devoted disciple.
Ji Fuyao began to eat as well, confirming that the meal was indeed much better than before. A warmth spread through her heart. Watching Lu Xuan eat with such relish, Ji Fuyao thought, Master, I wish I could stay here on Azure Mystery Peak to cook for you, but I still have important matters to attend to. Once they are resolved, I will surely return.
Before long, Lu Xuan had finished his meal and returned to his lounge chair. Ji Fuyao smiled, her face radiant as the stars. She ate slowly, savoring every bite, hoping to linger a moment longer on Azure Mystery Peak.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Ji Fuyao emerged from the grass hut, looking at Lu Xuan with a hint of reluctance. “Master, I’m going now. I need to take on a mission and train outside the sect for a month.”
Lu Xuan waved a hand with a smile. “Don’t forget to keep up your cultivation while you’re out, alright?”
A warmth spread through Ji Fuyao’s heart. Even at this moment, her Master was still concerned about her cultivation. Her eyes welled up once more. “Master, I won’t neglect my training, not for a moment!” Ji Fuyao vowed, her elegant neck slightly bowed, her expression utterly serious.
Immediately, Ji Fuyao turned. A divine rainbow materialized beneath her feet, and she soared into the air, heading towards the Mission Hall.
Watching Ji Fuyao’s receding figure, Lu Xuan mused internally. Given Ji Fuyao’s nature, she wouldn’t neglect her cultivation. Besides, he’d just reminded her!
Soon, Ji Fuyao arrived at the Mission Hall. The place was bustling with people – not just disciples, but elders too. Within the Grand Dao Sect, contribution points were the ultimate currency. Whether exchanging for precious cultivation techniques, purchasing elixirs, or posting missions, contribution points were essential. And taking on sect missions in the Mission Hall was the fastest way to earn them.
Ji Fuyao’s arrival instantly caused a stir among the many disciples. Only yesterday, she had claimed first place in the Inner Sect Trial! And now, without even resting, she was heading out again?
“Junior Sister Fuyao is taking a mission too?”
“That’s fast! Shouldn’t Junior Sister Fuyao be consolidating her cultivation first?”
“I wonder if we can team up with Junior Sister Fuyao?”
Several True Disciples approached Ji Fuyao. “Junior Sister Fuyao, this must be your first time taking a mission, right? Why not join us for a team assignment?”
Ji Fuyao offered a faint smile. “Thank you, Senior Brothers, but I prefer to complete missions alone.” This time, she was merely using the mission as a pretext to travel to the Blackflame Mountain Range; how could she possibly bring others along? She needed a mission that would take her far from the Grand Dao Sect!
Seeing Ji Fuyao’s refusal, the True Disciples dejectedly departed, sighing in admiration. “Junior Sister Fuyao is truly an ice beauty! Unattainable!”
Ji Fuyao turned her gaze to a massive stone wall, which shimmered with dazzling light. Here, missions posted by the sect, as well as by elders and other disciples, were displayed. They were varied and numerous: gathering spirit herbs, slaying spirit beasts, exploring secret realms…
Soon, Ji Fuyao selected a mission to slay spirit beasts. “Slay Profound Sovereign realm spirit beasts: Three Fiery Beasts. Contribution Points: Six thousand to ten thousand, determined by the Fiery Beasts’ cultivation realm.”
Nearby, many disciples were watching Ji Fuyao. Seeing her take on this particular mission, several expressed surprise. A True Disciple walked over and said, “Junior Sister Fuyao, I advise you not to take this mission. You might not be familiar with Fiery Beasts. While the mission only requires three, these creatures tend to congregate. To hunt them, you’d be facing dozens, perhaps even hundreds.”
Ji Fuyao simply smiled. “Thank you for the warning, Senior Brother, but I’m well aware.” In her past life, she had ascended to the Great Emperor realm through the Path of Spirit Fire; she was intimately familiar with fire-attribute spirit beasts. Fiery Beasts were like open books to her – killing them would be as easy as slaughtering chickens.
The True Disciple sighed softly, having nothing more to say. Ji Fuyao departed, heading directly to the sect’s teleportation array. Spending five thousand contribution points, Ji Fuyao stepped into the long-distance teleportation array.
This journey would take her through multiple locations, finally arriving at the Blackflame Mountain Range. Boom! A divine radiance surged as the array’s power poured outwards. Ji Fuyao’s figure vanished from the Grand Dao Sect.
She had already secretly contacted her Imperial Dragon Guards, who were preparing to rendezvous with her near the Blackflame Mountain Range. She was finally going to meet her old loyalists! Her Imperial Dragon Guards! The Qingcheng Ye Family! A cascade of emotions swelled within Ji Fuyao. Three thousand years, a mere blink of an eye, like a white steed flashing past a crack. How had they fared?
Back on Azure Mystery Peak, Lu Xuan lay in his lounge chair, admiring the sky with utmost leisure. Without the System’s notifications of cultivation increases, he felt a momentary emptiness. He had grown accustomed to the extra presence on Azure Mystery Peak these past weeks; now, with Ji Fuyao gone, it felt a little too quiet.
Just then, the System’s voice echoed: “Ding! Host’s eldest disciple is cultivating, synchronizing cultivation!” Instantly, his cultivation began to surge again. Lu Xuan was surprised. Fuyao’s out and about, but she’s still keeping up her cultivation!
Before long, Grrr-umble. Lu Xuan rubbed his stomach. He was hungry. He glanced at the sun’s position. It was mealtime. “Fuyao’s gone, now no one’s around to cook for me,” Lu Xuan muttered, walking towards the grass hut.
The words had barely left his lips when: “Ding! Disciple Recruitment Mission triggered!” Lu Xuan froze. His second disciple was coming!
“Ding! Host, please proceed to the Qingcheng Ye Family to recruit a disciple.”
“Time-limited mission: Recruit Ye Chen, the Young Master of the Ye Family, as your second disciple within one month!”
“Upon successful recruitment, System rewards will be issued!”
Lu Xuan, curious, asked, “Any information on Ye Chen?” After a brief silence, the System’s voice replied: “Ye Chen, Young Master of the Qingcheng Ye Family, sixteen years old. Six years ago, his cultivation plummeted, leaving him at Qi Refining Stage Three.”
“As an infant, Ye Chen was betrothed by the Ye Family Ancestor and the Nangong Family Ancestor to Nangong Baixue.”
The words landed, and Lu Xuan froze on the spot. “What the actual hell?!” he thought. “Isn’t this the quintessential protagonist template? Surname Ye. Cultivation inexplicably plummeted. Betrothed at birth… The buffs are completely stacked!”
A faint smirk played on Lu Xuan’s lips. He could already smell the familiar scent of a well-worn trope. Hee hee hee… He was curious, though: How would the story unfold next? Would Nangong Baixue choose to annul the engagement, or would she ‘broaden her path’?
Suddenly, Lu Xuan felt a surge of excitement, an eagerness to rush to Qingcheng! He wanted to meet his second disciple, Ye Chen!
But, that could wait. First, food. Lu Xuan, in high spirits, enjoyed a good meal. Another disciple meant his cultivation growth would double! His heart swelled with delight.
Just then, a divine rainbow streaked across the distance, carrying the Profound Saint realm’s immense pressure, deep as an abyss, vast as the sea. Boom! The Sect Master, clad in grey robes, landed on Azure Mystery Peak, his expression grim.
Lu Xuan was a little surprised. Why was the Sect Master here again? Seeing Lu Xuan leisurely eating, the Sect Master’s temper flared. The Grand Dao Sect’s only idler! Ji Fuyao cultivated without a moment’s rest, and now she had taken a mission and left the sect. Yet Lu Xuan remained exactly the same!
The Sect Master’s face was displeased. “Lu Xuan, the Cangxuan Old Ancestor wishes to see you.” Lu Xuan was slightly taken aback. “The Cangxuan Old Ancestor?” He hadn’t had any contact with the Cangxuan Old Ancestor in years.
The Sect Master didn’t give Lu Xuan time to think, simply grabbing him. A divine rainbow appeared beneath his feet, carrying Lu Xuan towards a hidden area within the Grand Dao Sect. Here, Dao patterns pulsed, and powerful auras flowed continuously, creating an atmosphere of profound mystery. Passing through a sealed formation, the Sect Master landed with Lu Xuan.
Before them, lush mountains rose, and a small river flowed gently. A grey-robed old man sat by the riverbank, leisurely fishing. “Lu Xuan, you’re here,” the old man said faintly, without turning his head.
The Sect Master said to Lu Xuan, “This is the Cangxuan Old Ancestor, the one you met after the Inner Sect Trial that day.” Lu Xuan slowly stepped forward. “Greetings, Cangxuan Old Ancestor.”
The grey-robed old man said to the Sect Master, “You may leave us. Let us two have a good chat.” The Sect Master bowed respectfully and then departed.
The Cangxuan Old Ancestor narrowed his eyes, then turned to scrutinize Lu Xuan. “You’ve concealed your cultivation? Is this a secret art Ji Fuyao taught you?”