23: Chapter 23 A Smile Hides a Dagger: Master and Disciple Each Harbor Their Own Hidden Intentions!

Three days passed quickly.

Duan Gujin meditated in the secret chamber of his small courtyard. His Golden Core Middle Stage Realm became even more stable, even approaching the Golden Core Late Stage.

Suddenly, a vast, cold, and indifferent pressure enveloped his small courtyard!

It pierced through the Restriction, making Duan Gujin in the secret chamber gasp for breath.

Soul Transformation Realm!

Liu Ruyan had emerged from seclusion!

Duan Gujin suddenly opened his eyes, his brows slightly furrowed.

This pressure made him clearly feel the terror of the Soul Transformation Realm.

The plan must be accelerated!

Inside the palace on the main peak of Liuxia Peak.

On the Cold Jade Bed, Liu Ruyan opened her eyes.

Her eyes were cold and deep, and her Soul Transformation Realm aura was perfectly rounded and powerful.

"Yuxue," a clear, cold voice rang out.

Jiang Yuxue from the outer hall immediately walked in respectfully and saluted: "Congratulations, Revered Master, on successfully achieving Soul Transformation. The Grand Dao is within reach!"

"Mm." Liu Ruyan responded faintly, her gaze scrutinizing Jiang Yuxue. "How is Duan Gujin?"

Jiang Yuxue quickly replied: "Reporting to Revered Master, his Physique has fully recovered! This Disciple has been keeping an eye on him."

"His cultivation has now recovered to the third stage of Qi Refining."

"Third stage of Qi Refining?" Liu Ruyan nodded slightly.

In her opinion, it was already a miracle that Duan Gujin, who she had originally drained dry, could recover to the third stage of Qi Refining.

She had gambled correctly!

She stood up: "This Venerable One will go and see for herself."

Before her voice faded, Liu Ruyan's figure disappeared.

Small courtyard.

Duan Gujin sensed the cold and powerful aura approaching and immediately adjusted his state, a look of weakness and fear appearing on his face.

Space rippled, and Liu Ruyan appeared silently in the small courtyard.

Upon seeing Liu Ruyan appear, Duan Gujin respectfully saluted: "Disciple Duan Gujin greets Revered Master. Congratulations, Revered Master, on your great achievement and advancement to the Soul Transformation Realm."

Just then—

The familiar voice of the System echoed in his mind.

[Target character appears!]

[Name: Liu Ruyan]

[Age: 219]

[Cultivation: Soul Transformation First Stage]

[Aptitude: Earth Grade Water Spiritual Root]

[Submission: 0]

[Her heart only holds herself, treating everyone else as tools to be used or stumbling blocks to be removed.

She doesn't understand gratitude at all, using any means to achieve her goals. Betrayal and deception are commonplace for her.

Others being kind to her is simply foolishness in her eyes, an opportunity for her to exploit.

She is most skilled at calculating how to use, deceive, or even sacrifice others to achieve her own ends.

Once someone is no longer useful to her, or if she deems it necessary (for example, if this person might reveal her secrets, or if this person possesses something valuable she desires), she will not hesitate to strike ruthlessly.]

"No way? She's also someone the System recognizes? It's just that the System's evaluation of her is particularly low!"

"System, you're really good at judging people!"

He silently gave the System a thumbs-up in his heart.

Liu Ruyan's cold gaze instantly fixed on Duan Gujin, her eyes seemingly piercing through his body, all the way to his Dantian and the depths of his Soul!

Duan Gujin felt a chill instantly spread through his limbs and bones.

Liu Ruyan's gaze lingered for a few seconds.

She saw that Duan Gujin's cultivation had indeed recovered to the third stage of Qi Refining.

She also confirmed the pure Pure Yang Essence aura within his body.

A faint smile, rare on her perpetually icy face, flickered across her features.

She instantly appeared before Duan Gujin and grabbed his wrist!

Duan Gujin's body tensed, but he suppressed the urge to retaliate, allowing Liu Ruyan's cold and domineering Divine Sense to invade his Meridians, directly reaching his Dantian.

Liu Ruyan's powerful Divine Sense, carrying the pressure of the Soul Transformation Realm, swept through his body wantonly.

The investigation only lasted for a few breaths.

Liu Ruyan's Divine Sense retreated.

She released his hand, the frost on her face melting away, even taking on a hint of benevolence.

Liu Ruyan's voice was still clear and cold, but her tone softened, "Very good. Duan Gujin, you truly did not disappoint your Revered Master."

Duan Gujin showed a bewildered look of having escaped a disaster, mixed with a hint of flattered surprise: "Revered Master! This Disciple is terrified!"

Liu Ruyan smiled faintly, "Everything before was merely a test from this Venerable One for you."

"Only extreme pain can temper the Dao Heart, and only a near-death predicament can stimulate potential."

"If not for that, how could you have not only healed your Origin injury but also re-embarked on the path of immortality in such a short time?"

"This is the opportunity for destruction and rebirth that your Revered Master has bestowed upon you!"

Duan Gujin sneered inwardly.

What a test! What destruction and rebirth!

But his face was filled with profound gratitude, his body trembling slightly from emotion, his voice choked:

"So... so that's how it is! This Disciple was foolish and did not realize Revered Master's painstaking efforts!"

"This Disciple, this Disciple harbored resentment earlier, which was truly improper! Please punish this Revered Master!"

He bowed deeply.

"Rise." Liu Ruyan watched Duan Gujin's performance with satisfaction.

"It's good that you understand. From now on, you are truly this Venerable One's Personal Disciple."

A flash of light at her fingertips, and an exquisite jade bottle and a Storage Pouch appeared before Duan Gujin.

The jade bottle contained spiritual liquid like smoke and mist.

The Storage Pouch was bulging, emitting a rich Spiritual Qi.

Liu Ruyan pointed at the jade bottle, "This is Cold Jade Marrow, which can nourish your Meridians and stabilize your Foundation, perfectly suited for your current recovery needs."

"In the Storage Pouch are 500,000 Spirit Stones, several qi gathering pills and Yuan Nurturing Pills, and a Liuxia Peak Core Disciple token."

"Resources, this Venerable One will continuously provide to you."

"The only thing you need to do is to focus wholeheartedly on Cultivating! Return to Foundation Establishment early, and even ascend to the Golden Core Realm!"

"Disciple Duan Gujin, I kowtow in gratitude for Revered Master's benevolence in recreating me! This Disciple will certainly do his utmost and live up to Revered Master's high expectations!" Duan Gujin tremblingly took the jade bottle and Storage Pouch with both hands, his eyes filled with fervent adoration.

Liu Ruyan looked at Duan Gujin's sincere eyes, and the last trace of doubt in her heart dissipated.

She nodded slightly, and her figure began to blur, leaving a sentence echoing in the courtyard:

"Cultivate well. Yuxue will periodically check on your progress. Do not make your Revered Master wait too long."

The pressure disappeared, and the small courtyard returned to peace.

Duan Gujin slowly straightened up, the excitement and gratitude on his face instantly fading, replaced by coldness.

He looked down at the Cold Jade Marrow and Storage Pouch in his hands, a sarcastic smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

"Liu Ruyan! Heh heh! Resources? High expectations? It's just to fatten up me, this Cauldron, even more!"

"Finally, I've dodged it for now!"

He could indeed use the powerful escape technique 'Eight Desolations Wind Control' to immediately flee Liuxia Peak, and even leave the Hehuan Sect.

With his true Golden Core Middle Stage cultivation and this secret technique, there weren't many people in the Hehuan Sect who could stop him.

But he changed his mind and suppressed this impulse.

"Flee? Now is not the time!"

He sat down, placing the jade bottle and Storage Pouch in front of him, carefully inspecting them with his Divine Sense.

The Storage Pouch, as Liu Ruyan said, contained 500,000 Spirit Stones, rich in Spiritual Qi.

There were also dozens of bottles of high-grade qi gathering pills and Yuan Nurturing Pills, a great temptation for Qi Refining Stage Cultivators.

That Liuxia Peak Core Disciple token would also make it more convenient for him to act within the sect.

Liu Ruyan had indeed invested heavily to fatten him up.

However, these Medicinal Pills no longer caught his Dharma Eye.