2: Chapter 2 Master, is it really you?

In the moment she lost her focus, Bai Yu had already lunged to her feet, grabbing her exquisite, jade-like ankle.

The touch was cool and delicate, but Bai Yu had no time to enjoy it.

He shouted frantically in his mind, "System, suck! Suck it for me!"

[Ding! Physical contact detected with Ninth Disciple, Gu Yelian!]

[Contact Level: Grade C (Skin-to-skin contact).]

[Congratulations to the host for absorbing 'Red Lotus Devilish Qi' and converting it into one 'Nine-Revolution Golden Core'! Cultivation directly promoted to Foundation Establishment Stage Great Perfection!]

Boom!

A warm current instantly traveled through his limbs and bones. Bai Yu's originally shriveled Dantian was instantly filled, and his depleted Meridians, like parched earth meeting sweet rain, erupted in a series of crisp crackling sounds.

Power had returned!

Although he was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage, at this moment, Bai Yu's Aura changed.

He was no longer that humble Medicine Slave, but the God King who once stood alone through the ages!

Bai Yu didn't let go of Gu Yelian's ankle; instead, he audaciously gave it a stroke, looked up, and grinned at the dazed Empress:

"Disciple, did you not wash your feet? They're a bit cold."

Gu Yelian: "..."

Everyone present: "..."

He's dead for sure.

Now, even if a Grand Unity Golden Immortal came, they couldn't save him!

This person not only touched the Empress's foot but also dared to complain that her foot was cold?!

However, a scene occurred that made everyone's jaws drop.

The bloodthirsty Gu Yelian didn't immediately slap Bai Yu into a pulp. Instead, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she suddenly jerked her foot back, and her originally pale, beautiful face actually flushed with a strange blush.

It was out of anger.

And also... out of fear.

Because that unscrupulous Revered Master from back then would say this every time he warmed her feet!

"You... who exactly are you?"

Gu Yelian's voice was hoarse, and a single tear of blood slowly fell from her originally crimson eyes.

Her hand was trembling, and the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, capable of destroying heaven and earth, condensed at her fingertips, yet she hesitated to let it fall.

Bai Yu stood up, patted his tattered prison uniform, and scanned the room. Finally, his gaze fixed on Gu Yelian, his eyes becoming deep and complex.

"Little Lotus Flower, what was the first lesson I taught you back then?"

"When in doubt, kill the hypocrite first?" Gu Yelian blurted out subconsciously.

Bai Yu's mouth twitched: "..."

Damn it, what kind of things did I actually teach back then?

"Ahem, that was the second lesson!" Bai Yu glared at her with disappointment, "The first lesson was: Respect the Master and honor the Dao! You're holding a blade to your Revered Master's neck now—are you trying to rebel?!"

The air in the dungeon seemed to freeze.

The words 'Respect the Master and honor the Dao' coming from the mouth of a ragged, blood-stained Medicine Slave seemed both absurd and laughable.

But strangely, no one present dared to laugh.

Because the Crimson Lotus Empress, who sat on the throne and controlled the life and death of billions, was currently staring intently at this man. The red glow in her eyes flickered, and her killing intent was suppressed to the extreme.

"Respect the Master and honor the Dao..."

Gu Yelian murmured these words in a low voice. Suddenly, she let out a burst of frantic laughter.

"Hahaha! Respect the Master and honor the Dao?!"

The laughter was shrill, shaking the stone walls of the dungeon until dust fell in cascades.

"Are you even worthy of mentioning those words? Are you even worthy of mentioning him?!"

Boom!

Gu Yelian stood up abruptly, her red dress dancing without wind. Behind her, a massive, blood-colored phantom of a red lotus appeared in the void, the terrifying heat instantly melting the surrounding iron bars into liquid iron.

"My Revered Master died five hundred years ago! He died outside the Heavenly Gate, with not even his bones remaining!"

"You lowly Medicine Slave, how dare you impersonate him? How dare you speak to me in his tone?!"

Gu Yelian's eyes were blood-red.

"I was going to give you a quick death, but now, it seems there's no need."

"I will turn you into a Soul Lamp, burning your Soul day and night, making you wish you were dead but unable to die!!"

Terrifying killing intent surged toward Bai Yu like a tide.

The surrounding Black-Clad Guards and the Black-Robed Elder all wore cruel, cold smiles.

This was the consequence of provoking the Empress!

However, Bai Yu, who was at the center of the storm, remained calm, even finding the leisure to talk to the System in his mind.

"System, this girl seems quite insane. Are there any more rewards? Hurry up and bring them out, or your host is about to become lamp oil."

[Ding! Detected that Ninth Disciple Gu Yelian's killing intent has broken through the threshold. Hidden mission triggered: 'Master's Dignity'.]

[Mission Requirement: Without relying on external force, neutralize one of Gu Yelian's attacks and awe everyone present.]

[Mission Reward: Unlock 'Heavenly Eye Sight' and restore Golden Core Stage cultivation!]

"Without external force?" Bai Yu cursed internally. "I'm only at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and she's at least at the Mahayana Stage. How am I supposed to block this? With my face?"

Despite the complaints, Bai Yu's brain was working at high speed.

He knew Gu Yelian too well.

The 'Red Lotus Heaven-Burning Secret' this girl practiced, though domineering in power, had a fatal flaw—whenever her emotions were extremely agitated, the 'Qi Sea Point' under her left ribs would experience a momentary stagnation.

This was a 'safety valve' Bai Yu had deliberately left in her Meridians back then to prevent her from suffering Qi Deviation; only he knew about it.

Watching the approaching Gu Yelian, Bai Yu didn't retreat. Instead, he took a step forward, facing the terrifying heat wave.

This step was taken with extreme subtlety.

It was clearly just an ordinary step, yet it seemed to land on a special rhythm, making his entire person appear to have an elusive, flickering quality.

"Since you don't believe me, then make your move."

Bai Yu stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze as calm as a pool of stagnant water. "However, Little Nine, did Revered Master not tell you before? Don't talk so much nonsense before making a move. Your 'Heaven-Burning Palm' starting posture is too slow, and your left ribs are wide open. Do you think your life is too long?"

Gu Yelian, who was about to strike with her palm, suddenly froze.

Left ribs... wide open?

How was this possible? Her 'Red Lotus Heaven-Burning Secret' had long since reached Great Perfection, becoming seamless and without flaws, except for...

Except for the person who had created this Cultivation Technique back then!

In that moment of her hesitation,

Bai Yu moved.

His figure flashed like a ghost—although it was only the speed of the Foundation Establishment Stage, with the support of his Divine-Grade combat experience, the angle of this flash was extremely crafty.

He perfectly avoided the center where Gu Yelian's palm wind was strongest, cutting into her inner perimeter from the side.

Then, he extended two fingers.

Fast, accurate, and ruthless!

Pfft!

Bai Yu's fingers poked with unerring precision at a spot three inches below Gu Yelian's left ribs.

That was precisely her Death Point where her spiritual energy flow was weakest at this moment!

"Ugh!"

Gu Yelian let out a muffled groan. The sky full of violent Red Lotus Karmic Fire actually dissipated without a trace under this one finger, like a punctured balloon.

Her entire body felt as if it had been struck by lightning. Her spiritual energy stagnated, her legs went weak, and she fell directly into Bai Yu's arms.

Bai Yu took the opportunity to wrap one arm around her slender waist, while his other hand lightly flicked her forehead with a finger.

Snap!

The sound was crisp and exceptionally loud in the silent dungeon.

"How many times have I told you? Don't get distracted during a fight, and don't let your emotions get the better of you. It seems that in these five hundred years, you haven't made any progress at all."

Silence.

A deathly silence.

The Black-Robed Elder's jaw was about to dislocate.

What did he just see?

The world-invincible Empress had her Cultivation Technique broken by a Foundation Establishment Stage Medicine Slave with a single finger?

And she was... she was even flicked on the forehead?!