70: Daoji, very spirited

Behind the bamboo building, spiritual spring mist swirled.

Four Cat Girls obediently guarded outside the bamboo forest, maintaining the temperature of the spring water with their spiritual power.

They dared not get too close, but the aura wafting from the gaps in the bamboo forest, which held an attraction for the Yao Race, still made them unconsciously perk up their ears, their tails gently swaying behind them.

"SilverUpturned Sister."

A Cat Girl with short orange hair whispered to SilverUpturned, the silver-haired Cat Girl in charge, "What are Revered Master and that Lord doing in there? It seems very quiet."

"Shh, Revered Master's business, don't ask too many questions. We just need to watch the spring water."

Despite her words, her fluffy silver ears were perked straighter than anyone else's, catching every movement from deep within the mist.

At first, there was only the gentle ripple of water.

But soon, some subtle, unusual sounds mixed with the water vapor and drifted out.

"Revered Master, your body is much more honest than it was a hundred years ago."

The four Cat Girls exchanged glances, all seeing confusion in each other's eyes.

Honest? How could a body be honest?

Immediately after, they sensed a rhythmic spiritual power fluctuation coming from deep within the spring water.

The fluctuation was not like ordinary Cultivation, nor was it like healing.

"Youer… don't be mischievous…" Su Lin's voice was low.

"Your disciple isn't being mischievous,"

"This is to check if Revered Master's Dao Foundation is stable."

"Hmm, it looks pretty good, very vigorous."

Dao Foundation? Can a Dao Foundation be checked by hand?

A tabby-patterned Cat Girl tilted her head, the tip of her tail curling into a small question mark in confusion.

She mumbled softly, "SilverUpturned Sister, isn't checking the Dao Foundation supposed to be done by introspecting with Divine Sense?"

SilverUpturned's cheeks flushed slightly. She didn't know how to answer either. "Revered Master's methods are naturally different…"

She spoke with little confidence herself.

Because the movements coming from deep within the mist were becoming increasingly peculiar.

The frequency of the spiritual power fluctuations seemed to quicken.

"After all, it's still Revered Master. The foundation is still profound, and the spiritual power accumulated within is so vigorous…"

Accumulated? Foundation?

The Cat Girls were utterly bewildered.

What exactly had that Lord accumulated that required Revered Master to help him check it in the water?

"SilverUpturned Sister, why do I hear that Lord's breathing… seems a little hurried?

Is the process of checking the Dao Foundation very strenuous?"

"It… it should be."

"The Dao Foundation is the root of a Cultivator. Revered Master is using an unprecedented and supreme secret method, so it's normal for it to be a bit strenuous."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Su Lin's voice came from inside: "Youer, that's enough…"

Immediately after, there was Revered Master Ye You's even more joyful chuckle: "Enough? Isn't this just the beginning?

Your Dao Foundation is so solid, your disciple naturally has to do her best to help you thoroughly clear it out.

Look, isn't it more vigorous now?"

As expected of Revered Master!

Even checking the Dao Foundation caused such a commotion!

And how indestructible must that Lord's Dao Foundation be?

"Revered Master, that should be about right, shouldn't it?"

Ye You's voice carried a hint of confusion, "Where should it go?"

"SilverUpturned Sister, what's 'about right'? Are they going somewhere?"

"But weren't they checking the Dao Foundation? Have they finished the check?"

"Don't ask too much. Revered Master means that the check is nearing its most crucial moment."

"SilverUpturned Sister, I feel that Lord's aura seems to have grown heavier."

"This indicates that Revered Master's secret method is taking effect," SilverUpturned said with certainty.

"Revered Master, relax a bit, just leave everything to me."

The violent splashing sound suddenly stopped.

Everything returned to peace, leaving only the gentle lapping of the spring water.

"Hmm, it seems to be smoother now."

Ye You sighed softly.

"SilverUpturned Sister, is the check already finished?"

"Hmm, it should be. Didn't you smell something?" She sniffed her nose.

After an unknown amount of time, the door of the bamboo building was pushed open.

Ye You helped Su Lin out, or rather, half-hugged him.

She had already changed into a more casual black long dress.

She had lost a bit of the Demon Lord's dominance and gained a touch of a woman's charm.

Su Lin also changed into a moon-white long robe woven from ten-thousand-year-old ice silkworm silk.

The fabric felt cool to the touch and could absorb Spiritual Qi on its own, clearly a priceless treasure.

The four Cat Girls immediately bowed in salute: "Revered Master."

"How much did you all see?"

Ye You's voice held a smile as her gaze swept over the four of them.

The four Cat Girls shivered in fright, quickly bowing in salute, not daring to look up.

"Rep… Reporting to Revered Master, the spring water temperature is just right!"

SilverUpturned answered first, afraid that Revered Master would blame them for their dereliction of duty.

"Oh? Just watching the spring water?"

Ye You tilted her head, walked in front of them, extended a finger, and gently hooked the chin of the orange Cat Girl, "Weren't you very curious just now? Do you understand now?"

"Un… Understood! Revered Master's secret method… is amazing! That Lord's Dao Foundation… must… must be very vigorous!"

Ye You burst out laughing after hearing this. She released Little Orange and turned her gaze to Su Lin.

Su Lin shook his head helplessly, ignoring their antics.

Ye You was in a good mood and no longer troubled them. Instead, she waved her hand, her expression serious, and instructed.

"Alright, my Revered Master's Dao Foundation is stable. Next is to nourish his Divine Soul.

The four of you, go prepare some medicinal cuisine for Revered Master."

"Yes, Revered Master!" they quickly responded.

"Remember well,"

Ye You unhurriedly recited a string of names, "The large Ice Crystal Black Fish from the North Sea.

The very center piece of the ten-thousand-year Fire Ganoderma from the Southern Wilderness.

The Nine-Leaf Dragon Blood Grass from the Eastern Barrens, its age must not be less than three thousand years.

Oh, right, and a pot of the Central State Imperial Family's specially supplied Purple Gold Dragon Saliva.

"Wait…" Su Lin spoke helplessly, interrupting Ye You.

He raised a hand and rubbed his temples.

"Revered Master, what's wrong? Is there something wrong with these items?"

"Wrong?"

Su Lin gave a bitter laugh, "Which of the items you listed isn't a treasure that would cause everyone in the Cultivation world to fight over?

The North Sea Ice Crystal Black Fish is rarely seen even in a thousand years.

The ten-thousand-year Fire Ganoderma from the Southern Wilderness is even a clan's heirloom.

And that Dragon Breaking Cliff… ordinary Cultivators can't even get close, let alone harvest any Nine-Leaf Dragon Blood Grass."

And the Central State Imperial Family's Purple Gold Dragon Saliva, that's practically the Imperial Family's lifeline, and you, you just ask for a whole pot?

He thought Ye You would understand his meaning, but to his surprise, Ye You burst out laughing after hearing him. She extended her jade finger and gently tapped Su Lin's forehead.

"Revered Master, have you misunderstood something?"

"How could I let those four unreliable ones go fight for these things?"

"These items are currently in my private vault; they just need to go and retrieve them."