21: Chapter 21 The Training Begins

Early morning, the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, spilling onto the bluestone pavement of Xiaoyao Peak.

*Squeak—*

The gates of the main hall, which had been tightly shut all night, finally opened.

Su Xuner and Su Qiyue had been waiting outside since early morning, holding golden basins and jade cups for washing.

Leng Qingqiu stood to the side like a "husband-watching stone," her eyes fixed on the doorway.

*Yawn—*

Lu Chen stretched as he stepped over the threshold, his black robe loosely tied, exuding the laziness and unruliness unique to a Great Emperor.

"Morning, Disciples."

Lu Chen squinted his eyes, not yet fully awake.

"Good morning, Revered Master!"

The three women bowed in unison, but Leng Qingqiu's gaze immediately bypassed Lu Chen's shoulder, scanning the room like radar.

In the next second, Leng Qingqiu's pupils suddenly constricted.

Behind Lu Chen, a curl of crimson smoke drifted out, then condensed into a tall, curvaceous figure.

Yan Lingji wore a crimson high-slit qipao; the fabric was so sparse it made one's heart race, and with every step, her long, snowy-white legs were faintly visible.

She lazily raised a hand to tidy her fire-red hair, her eyes brimming with a myriad of charms.

"Mmm~ This sleep was truly comfortable."

Yan Lingji intentionally dragged out her words, her voice soft and bone-melting, carrying the laziness of someone who had just woken up, as if she had experienced some indescribable battle the night before.

In reality, she had just spent the night hugging the Nine-Leaf Heavenly Heart Lotus and absorbing Spiritual Qi, feeling so good her Soul was about to sublimate.

But to anyone else listening, the meaning changed completely.

Su Xuner was also shocked, nearly dropping the jade cup in her hand.

Was this the Great Emperor's private life? A hidden beauty in a golden house? And a top-tier temptress of this caliber?

Only the simple-minded Su Qiyue blinked her big eyes, looking envious. "Big sister is so pretty, she looks like she's on fire."

Lu Chen felt a chill down his spine. He glanced back at the preening Yan Lingji, his mouth twitching.

This woman was such a drama queen.

"Alright, stop posing." Lu Chen irritably interrupted Yan Lingji's performance, stepped aside, and pointed at the three rookies before him.

"Let me introduce you."

"This is Yan Lingji. She used to be a Half-Saint, and her Alchemy level is roughly emperor grade."

Lu Chen spoke nonchalantly, as if Half-Saints and emperor grade Alchemists were as common as cabbage.

"From today on, she is the head manager of Xiaoyao Peak, as well as your combat instructor and Alchemy teacher."

After speaking, Lu Chen pointed to his three disciples and said to Yan Lingji:

"The one holding the sword looking like she wants to kill someone is my first disciple, Leng Qingqiu; the one who doesn't look very bright is Su Qiyue; and the one putting on airs is Su Xuner."

"From now on, they are under your charge."

Lu Chen clapped his hands and gave his final concluding remarks:

"If you don't understand something in your cultivation, find her. If you cause trouble and can't handle it, find her. If you're unhappy and want someone to talk to, find her too."

"In short, don't bother me if nothing is wrong, and try not to bother me even if something is."

"Understood?"

Leng Qingqiu glared at Yan Lingji; if looks could kill, Yan Lingji would have been sliced into a thousand pieces by now.

This woman!

She came out of Revered Master's room!

And looking at her seductive appearance, she was clearly a fox spirit in human form!

Comparing chests? Total defeat.

Comparing legs? Total defeat.

Comparing sexiness... cough, charm? She was crushed into dust.

Revered Master must have been bewitched by this seductive tramp, which is why he dumped the task of teaching his disciples onto her—just to free up time for their "world of two"!

"I refuse to accept this!"

Leng Qingqiu stepped forward, her red clothes fluttering, Sword Qi surging around her. "Revered Master! Cultivation is the Great Dao; how can it be delegated to others? I only wish to follow Revered Master in my cultivation!"

"Oh?"

Yan Lingji covered her mouth and chuckled, her laughter as melodious as silver bells, yet filled with thirty percent mockery and seventy percent provocation.

She floated in front of Leng Qingqiu, extending a slender jade finger to tilt up Leng Qingqiu's chin.

Although she was a Soul body, the sense of pressure was very real.

"So this is the first disciple? She's quite pretty, but this personality... a bit too cold, and not very likable."

Yan Lingji looked down at Leng Qingqiu's somewhat youthful figure, puffed out her own proud assets, and said with a beaming smile:

"Little sister, your Revered Master is a Great Emperor. Great Emperors are very busy; how could he have time to teach you such basic skills?"

"Besides..."

Yan Lingji leaned close to Leng Qingqiu's ear and whispered, "Even if your Revered Master wanted to teach you, with your current Aptitude and body, could you withstand the Great Emperor's 'discipline'?"

These words had a double meaning, and the "speed" was very fast.

Leng Qingqiu's face instantly turned bright red, both from shame and anger.

"You—shameless!"

*Clang!*

Leng Qingqiu drew her sword to strike.

"Oh my, how fierce." Yan Lingji's figure blurred, dissipating into red smoke, and instantly reappeared behind Su Qiyue.

She looked at the cute, dazed girl, a glint flashing in her eyes.

"Eh?"

"Innate Immaculate Body, and a top-grade Fire Spiritual Root?"

Yan Lingji felt as if she had discovered a new continent; her seductive manner vanished, replaced by the fervor of seeing a top-grade unpolished gem.

She placed both hands on Su Qiyue's shoulders, sending in a wave of warm spiritual power.

"What a fine talent! She was practically born for Alchemy!"

A crimson-gold flame rose from Yan Lingji's hand. The flame seemed alive, dancing on her fingertips and transforming into birds and fish, vivid and lifelike.

"Little girl, do you like playing with fire?" Yan Lingji coaxed.

"Follow big sister to learn Alchemy. In the future, you can play with this kind of fire however you want. You can even refine 'Love Pills' that can enchant a Great Emperor~"

Su Qiyue looked at the brilliant flames, her eyes instantly turning into stars.

"Yay!"

Su Qiyue raised her hands in surrender without hesitation. "I like playing with fire! I want to learn! Teach me!"

Defected just like that?

Su Xuner, standing nearby, was dumbfounded.

She pulled her sister back, shielding her and glaring warily at Yan Lingji. "Qiyue! Don't let her trick you! This woman is clearly the kind of fox spirit who specializes in seducing men! She's up to no good!"

"Tsk."

Yan Lingji crossed her arms, looking at Su Xuner with a half-smile.

"Little sister, if I'm a fox spirit, then what is your Revered Master? A foolish ruler bewitched by a fox spirit?"

"You!" Su Xuner was left speechless by the retort.

Just as the three women were about to start a full-blown physical fight.

"Enough."

Lu Chen's voice drifted out from inside the room.

"Yan Lingji's words are my words."

"If anyone dares to feign compliance while secretly opposing, or starts a brawl..."

A hint of threat entered Lu Chen's voice.

"Then all future Spirit Stones will be docked, and you'll have to copy the 'Rules for Disciples' ten thousand times! Copy it—with—a—brush! No using spiritual power!"

Hearing "dock Spirit Stones," Su Qiyue instantly covered her mouth and nodded frantically.

Hearing "copy ten thousand times," Su Xuner's face turned pale; those from Immortal Families feared such tedious punishments the most.

As for Leng Qingqiu, she bit her lip tightly, her eyes slightly red. Although she was extremely unwilling, since Revered Master had spoken, she didn't dare to disobey.

However, in her mental notebook, she made another heavy entry on the page dedicated to tearing Yan Lingji into pieces.

"Alright, little ones."

With Lu Chen's authority, Yan Lingji completely let herself go.

A light flashed in her hand, manifesting into a long whip burning with fierce flames. With a *crack*, she lashed it against the ground, leaving a charred mark.

"Special training begins!"

Yan Lingji scanned the three of them, her gaze sharp as a knife.

"As the disciples of a Great Emperor, every one of you is an embarrassment!"

"If word gets out, others will think Emperor Yun has taken in a bunch of trash!"

"Especially you, first disciple!" Yan Lingji pointed her whip at Leng Qingqiu.

This sentence accurately struck Leng Qingqiu's weak spot.

She looked up.

"You don't need to provoke me."

Leng Qingqiu gritted her teeth and said word for word, "If we're training, then let's train! As long as it doesn't kill me, train me to the brink of death!"

"Very good."

...

At noon, the scorching sun hung high in the sky.

On Xiaoyao Peak, the clothes of the three delicate girls were soaked with sweat, the fabric clinging tightly to their bodies and outlining their beautiful curves, yet there was no one to admire them.

Su Qiyue had long since been disciplined to the point of tears.

Su Xuner's hair was also a mess; before this devilish instructor, the pride of her Immortal Clan was crushed to pieces.

Leng Qingqiu made a silent vow in her heart, her eyes burning with a flame called "possessiveness."

"One day, I will drive everyone else away."

"Revered Master can only belong to me alone."

And at this moment.

Inside the main hall, Lu Chen, who had long ago set up a Soundproofing Barrier, was sprawled out on a straw mat, sleeping soundly. A trace of glistening drool hung from the corner of his mouth, and his dreams were filled with a wonderful life where he didn't have to undergo Ascension.

He didn't know yet.

That the "Revered Master-conquering" progress bar in his disciple's mind was loading at a terrifying speed.