Lin Yaoyao had intended to fly back, but the recent battle had exhausted her too much, leaving her no choice but to travel in the carriage alongside her Master. The Great Sima stood in the wind, staring at them as they entered the carriage, his mind in complete disarray.
Who exactly was the master, and who was the disciple? How could the Peak Master of Xiaoyao Peak, who was so weak, possibly have such a formidable disciple? Was it his hearing that had failed him, or was the senior perhaps a fool? Princess Chang'an stood before her own carriage, unsure whether she should step forward to strike up a conversation. It seemed there was simply no opening for her to interject.
"Stop standing there. Come and drive the carriage," Yekong called out, snapping the Great Sima out of his thoughts.
The Great Sima glanced at the river, now stained red with blood, then turned to take the reins. Regardless of anything else, the Flood Dragon had been dealt with, and this trip had been unexpectedly safe. Once he finished the tribute mission, he would never come back. Dealing with the Stellar River Sect was a heart-stopping affair!
The Great Sima had thought about sitting inside the carriage, but after a moment's reflection, he decided it was better to remain outside to guide it. Inside, they were nominally master and disciple, but what if there was some other relationship? Better to just let the two of them be.
"Many thanks to you both for your life-saving aid. On behalf of the people of Dayan State, I thank you," Princess Changle said, bowing from outside.
"Mm, no need for thanks," Yekong waved a hand.
*My Master is truly shameless,* Lin Yaoyao thought. *I’m the one who killed that Flood Dragon, alright? You only scraped off a single scale.*
The Great Sima steered the carriage, departing the area rapidly to return to the Stellar River Sect.
Inside the carriage, Yekong leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes to rest. Lin Yaoyao was also recovering her spiritual power, though she cast a covert glance at her Master. She couldn't fathom where her Master found the confidence to be able to sleep at a time like this. *Sigh, for my Master’s sake, I, the Great Emperor, have truly exhausted my heart.*
Lin Yaoyao shook her head with a sigh and closed her eyes to cultivate.
Two hours later, the carriage arrived at the foot of the Stellar River Sect. The Great Sima handed over the tribute goods and prepared to leave immediately.
"Farewell!"
With that, he climbed onto his carriage and left without daring to linger. Yekong took the tribute goods to deliver them to the sect before finally returning to the edge of the Bitter Sea on Xiaoyao Peak. The mission was complete, and he had earned a chance to fish for a special item. If not for the mission, he wouldn't have bothered with such a trip.
As the hook entered the water, Yekong held the rod in one hand, fishing leisurely. Lin Yaoyao watched her Master fishing away, feeling somewhat helpless. *Back and fishing the moment you return? Did you learn nothing from this trip? If I hadn't arrived in time to save you, you would have been swallowed by the Flood Dragon long ago. You don't focus on cultivating after returning, you just go right back to fishing. Sigh.*
Lin Yaoyao shook her head, not knowing what to say to her Master.
Before long, the System's voice echoed in Yekong's ears.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for fishing up the fifth special item—the Purple Phoenix Spirit!"
"The Purple Phoenix Spirit can change shape according to the user's thoughts. It can assist in cultivation or grow into a weapon."
As the System's voice faded, Yekong flicked his rod, and a ball of purple light landed in his hand. The Purple Phoenix Spirit was purple-blue throughout, about seven inches long and one inch wide, shaped like an oval. It felt quite strange in his hand... Besides, it wouldn't be of much use to him for cultivation, as his daily fishing already granted him "+1 Qi Condensation."
"Whatever, I'll just give it to my disciple," Yekong decided, gripping the Purple Phoenix Spirit and walking toward the distant Tao Mountain.
Lin Yaoyao was just about to enter the pond to cultivate when her Master arrived. *Is Master trying to sneak a peek at me bathing again?* Lin Yaoyao frowned.
Inside the pond, Lin Yaoyao put on her clothes, leaped out, and sat on the bank, her back to her Master. *Master really did come to peep at me bathing.*
Yekong walked behind her, looked at the beautiful back before him, and called out softly, "Disciple!"
Hearing her Master call, Lin Yaoyao turned around with extreme reluctance. Her red dress was half-wet, clinging to her alluring figure. Crystal-clear water droplets hung from her exquisite face, making her look like a lotus emerging from the water, naturally evoking feelings of adoration. If it were anyone else, they would have been instantly captivated by her beautiful face.
*My disciple is trying to seduce me again!* Yekong took one look and quickly retracted his gaze. "Here, your reward for reaching Foundation Establishment."
Lin Yaoyao was stunned. He wasn't here to watch her bathe? She frowned slightly as she looked at the item in his hand. "What is this?"
She took the object and looked at it closely. The moment she realized its shape, her face flushed red. *This... this is... this is...*
The sight of her blushing face, like peach blossoms washed by clear water, was enough to make any man unable to look away. *My disciple’s destructive power is too high! If anyone else saw this, the entire Stellar River Sect would be in an uproar. Time to make an exit.*
"Disciple, take your time studying it. I’ll be going first," Yekong said, turning to leave. *This thing is for cultivation assistance; I hope my disciple doesn't get the wrong idea.*
Lin Yaoyao stood there, stunned. When she finally snapped back to reality, she threw the Purple Phoenix Spirit to the ground in a rage. *Detestable Master! How could you give me this? What do you take me for? Even if I, Lin Yaoyao, were to die outside, even if I jumped from here, I would never use this thing! Even if I never find a partner, I don't need it!*
She stomped her feet in fury. As she stomped on the Purple Phoenix Spirit, it underwent a change, transforming into a crystal-clear sphere. A purple mist radiated from it and entered Lin Yaoyao’s body. She instantly felt an immense sense of inner peace, and her anger vanished. The world seemed to go quiet.
Calm once more, she looked at the object on the ground, which was now emitting a faint purple light. She knelt to pick it up, and the moment it touched her skin, a warmth flowed through her arm and into her heart.
*To think Master really prepared a treasure for me, and it wasn't... that... I wronged Master.* A warm feeling blossomed in her heart. Part of the warmth came from her Master, and part from the Purple Phoenix Spirit. *Sigh, Master must have gone to great lengths. To get this cultivation treasure for me, he must have asked for favors everywhere and exhausted many connections.*
Feeling ashamed of her earlier outburst, she looked at the Purple Phoenix Spirit, only to find it had transformed back into its original shape. She was speechless. It was a good item, but it always made people think of the wrong things. *Whatever, I’ll just use it myself; no one else will see.*
After putting the treasure away, she jumped into the water to cultivate. Yekong, having returned, picked up his fishing rod and continued to fish.
***
In the Xinghe Hall, Luoyang Tian stood above the stars, his back to the crowd, facing the Peak Masters and elite disciples of the eight great peaks. The Yushou Peak had damaged the spiritual vein of Xiaoyao Peak, impacting the entire sect. Most crucially, the vein was essential for keeping the Demon Cult Ancestor sealed, and it could not be allowed to sustain damage.
Luoyang Tian had no choice but to summon them to discuss countermeasures. He hadn't called Xiaoyao Peak because it was too weak to matter.
"Qin Wuyi, do you know your crime?" Luoyang Tian asked coldly.
"This subordinate knows his crime," Qin Wuyi replied, head bowed. After being scolded by the Great Elder, he realized the severity of the matter.
"Now, the spiritual vein at Xiaoyao Peak has developed cracks, affecting the entire Stellar River Sect. Everyone, how do you suggest we handle this?" Luoyang Tian asked.
"Since Yushou Peak caused it, let Yushou Peak repair it," Chen Changqing suggested.
Luoyang Tian nodded slightly. "Qin Wuyi, Qin Shou, what do you say?"
"This disciple is willing to repair the spiritual vein," Qin Shou said, cupping his hands.
"Good. Then the protection of the Xiaoyao Peak spiritual vein shall be left to you," Luoyang Tian ordered.
"Yes!" Qin Wuyi responded.
"Furthermore, strengthen security during this period. The Demon Cult may very well take this opportunity to attack," Luoyang Tian added. If the Demon Cult discovered the damage, they would surely infiltrate to release the trapped Demon King.
"We understand!" the group replied.
"Also, since your peak caused this, the responsibility of guarding Xiaoyao Peak also falls to Yushou Peak," Luoyang Tian stated. Xiaoyao Peak was too weak to guard itself.
"Sect Master, this..." Qin Wuyi began, but Qin Shou interrupted his Master.
"Sect Master, no problem at all."
Luoyang Tian nodded. "Very well, go and prepare. You must not let the Demon Cult slip in; if the Demon King awakens, the Stellar River Sect will be destroyed!"
"Yes!" The group retreated.
"Disciple, you are a fool. Repairing the vein takes a long time, and you'll have to stay at Xiaoyao Peak for the duration," Qin Wuyi grumbled.
"Master, guarding Xiaoyao Peak is just a pretense. I want to use this opportunity to build a septic tank at the foot of Xiaoyao Peak," Qin Shou said with a sinister laugh.
Qin Wuyi was stunned. "You brat, your intentions were never about the guarding, were they?"
The two returned to Yushou Peak to prepare.
***
In the Lianyun Continent, at the Molue Palace, Palace Master Xu Bubai sat on his throne, draped in a black cloak. "Is the information regarding the Stellar River Sect accurate?"
A black-clad figure knelt before him. "Reporting to the Palace Master, the situation is accurate. Our shadow agents have confirmed that the spiritual vein of Xiaoyao Peak is severely damaged, affecting the entire sect. Especially Xiaoyao Peak—there are only two people there, the Peak Master is a Qi Condensation waste, and the disciple is not much better."
"Good!" Xu Bubai announced to everyone present, "Pass my secret order: have Black Tiger and Black Dragon go to Xiaoyao Peak to seize the two of them. Bring in the Ten Shadows. Once the Stellar River Sect's spiritual vein is completely destroyed, the Ancestor will be able to break out!"
"This is a heaven-sent opportunity!" the elders of the Molue Palace cheered. "We have waited so many years! Once the Ancestor breaks free, the Stellar River Sect will surely be destroyed!"
"Black Cloud, go and give the order."
"Yes!" Black Cloud replied and turned to leave. Xu Bubai tapped his fingers on the armrest, muttering, "The Ancestor has been suppressed by the Stellar River Sect for so long; it is time for him to emerge."
***
At the foot of Xiaoyao Peak, Qin Shou and his men were busy building a septic tank. They had fenced off a large area, digging it out to build the facility. His Yushou Peak had too many demonic beasts, and their massive size meant they produced an enormous amount of waste. Building the tank at Xiaoyao Peak was perfect; when the weather turned hot, the stench would drift up, making the entire peak uninhabitable.
"Uncle, don't blame me; the Sect Master gave me this opportunity," Qin Shou sneered. "But even if you do blame me, your cultivation is too low to do anything about it."
Building the septic tank would also lure out the little black ants. He had become obsessed with the ants on Xiaoyao Peak, believing them to be a special type of creature. In name, they were protecting the peak; in reality, they were just building a latrine.
On Xiaoyao Peak, by the Bitter Sea, Yekong suddenly smelled a foul odor. "Who is defecating everywhere? And it smells so bad!"
He frowned and sent out his divine sense, discovering Qin Shou building the septic tank at the foot of the mountain. "Hah, Qin Shou has grown bold, actually daring to build a septic tank beneath my peak."
Yekong put down his rod and walked down the mountain. "Uncle Yekong!" the disciples called out.
Yekong stood before Qin Shou. "You are building a septic tank beneath my peak, making the entire place stink."
"Uncle, I didn't mean to. It won't smell once it's finished," Qin Shou explained, smirking. *I want to disgust you. What are you going to do about it? Hit me? Can you?*
"Then why didn't you build it at Yushou Peak instead of running to mine?"
"The Sect Master ordered it," Qin Shou replied.
Yekong hesitated, then waved a hand. "Fine, since the Sect Master ordered it, finish it quickly and cover the smell." He turned and walked back.
"Hah, I thought he'd be tough. Is that it?" Qin Shou scoffed.
It wasn't that Yekong was afraid, but the Sect Master had always protected him. They were close friends, and the Sect Master had fought to keep him as a Peak Master. Ten years had passed without incident, and that was partly due to the Sect Master's intervention. Without him, Yekong would likely be nothing more than an ordinary disciple. He owed the Sect Master that much.
Qin Shou watched him leave and laughed. "I can do whatever I want on your peak, and you can't touch me. I have the potential of a Great Emperor—you can't afford to offend me!"
***
Deep in the night, two black-clad figures crept onto Xiaoyao Peak.
"The Palace Master ordered us to temporarily disrupt the spiritual vein and welcome the experts inside," Black Dragon whispered.
"Brother, we are both at the Peak of Foundation Establishment. Dealing with this pathetic peak should be easy. Why be so careful?" Black Tiger asked disdainfully.
"Xiaoyao Peak isn't scary, but we must be careful not to be detected by others," Black Dragon replied.
They found the damaged spiritual vein, where a crack was emitting a faint trace of spiritual power. Black Dragon pulled out a black nail covered in runes and jammed it into the crack.
*Hum!*
The spiritual power dissipated, and the Xiaoyao Peak formation was temporarily severed. The ground shook slightly, and the tremor reached Tao Mountain. Lin Yaoyao, who was meditating, sensed the disturbance and woke up. She stepped out of her hut and followed the source, coming face to face with the two men in black.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
"That must be the only disciple of Xiaoyao Peak. Take her!" Black Dragon hissed, pulling out a large blade. Black Tiger shook his head—did a weak woman really require a blade?
As Black Tiger kicked dirt over the hole to hide it, Lin Yaoyao lashed out with a punch. Black Dragon leaped toward her, blade raised. Lin Yaoyao side-stepped and slammed a punch into his chest. Black Dragon’s ribs shattered, and he vomited blood, shocked that she was so strong. *Weren't they supposed to be useless?*
Black Tiger, seeing this, drew his sword and lunged. Lin Yaoyao manifested a sword of spiritual energy, pointing it at him. "What are you doing on my peak?" she asked coldly.
"Killing you!"
*Killing my Master?* Lin Yaoyao felt a chill. *He’s so weak, who would want him dead?*
As Black Tiger lunged again, she leaped behind him and ran her sword through his body. Though not a fatal blow, it left him severely wounded. He was bewildered. *Why is she so strong? She’s only at Early Foundation Establishment, but her combat power is insane!*
Black Dragon scrambled to his feet, releasing a dark, demonic energy.
"Demon Cult!" Lin Yaoyao recognized it instantly, her brow furrowing.