362: It is up to you to handle.

"Huh?"

Shu Shichan's movements came to an abrupt halt. She pursed her lips slightly, inwardly annoyed that her suggestion to give a back rub had been so ill-advised.

But the next second, a gleam suddenly lit up her eyes. She simply tilted her head and flopped softly onto Chen Xuan's shoulder, her voice sweet and sticky: "Revered Master, it's not that this Disciple is unwilling to give you a back rub—even if it were for a day, a year, I'd be willing with all my heart."

"It's just that there are Medicinal Pills refining in Danyun Hall. Junior Sister Xingyao's skill isn't quite there yet, and moreover, those are high-grade pills. We really can't afford any delays."

The Little Girl kept buffing herself up.

A faint, refreshing fragrance wafted on the breeze into his nostrils, cool and invigorating. Chen Xuan thought to himself that if this girl's temperament could be a bit more tactful, she'd probably have long become the most sought-after little Senior Sister in the Dao Seeking Sect.

"Speak. What scheme are you plotting now?"

Hearing this, Shu Shichan immediately breathed a sigh of relief and said with a serious face: "Revered Master, look, Junior Sister Yun is steady and reliable in her actions, and her cultivation base is profound and unfathomable. She's already a powerhouse at the Void Refining Realm, while I'm merely at the Golden Core Stage. In front of her, I'm like an ant."

"If word of this gets out, wouldn't others laugh at me, saying this Sixth Senior Sister is unworthy of the title?"

Chen Xuan said indifferently, "So?"

"So, how about you swap me and Junior Sister Yun? Let me be the little Junior Sister, and let Junior Sister Yun be the Sixth Senior Sister. That would be much more reasonable!"

"Nonsense!"

Chen Xuan suddenly roared in anger, "How can the Sect's registry be changed so frivolously?"

Qi Yue, sipping Spirit Tea nearby, thought to herself: As expected, this girl's thoughts are always impossible to guess.

Shu Shichan, her head resting on Chen Xuan's shoulder, straightened it slightly and shook it gently. "Revered Master, isn't such a small matter just a word from you to decide? Oh, right, while you were away, this Disciple successfully refined a Ninth-Grade Medicinal Pill!"

Chen Xuan felt helpless inside. That angry roar just now hadn't scared her in the slightest.

This girl seemed born with the ability to see through others' emotions. Although she usually loves to fool around and has a flighty temperament, she's never truly quarreled with anyone. Could this also be a special trait of the Myriad Medicines Exquisite Physique?

"Seeing how diligent your Disciple has been, Revered Master, won't you agree to this tiny little request?" She persisted, wheedling and cajoling without giving up.

"Changing the registry is absolutely impossible."

Chen Xuan's tone was firm. "Moreover, our Dao Seeking Sect never judges seniority by cultivation level. Think about it, what Realm is your eldest Senior Sister at? What about your second Senior Brother and the others? Have they ever made such calculations?"

Qi Yue's hand, which had been fiddling with a chess piece, paused slightly. She couldn't help but ask curiously, "Why are you so determined to be the little Junior Sister?"

"Not just the little Junior Sister,"

Shu Shichan immediately corrected with a stern little face, her eyes carrying a trace of longing, "This Disciple wants to be Revered Master's closing-door Disciple."

She naturally wouldn't say that being the little Junior Sister came with many privileges, allowing her to be carefully looked after by all the Senior Brothers and sisters. If she became a Senior Sister, how could she have the nerve to ask Junior Sister Yun to help appraise Medicinal Pills in the future?

What if Junior Sister Yun turned around and acted coquettishly with her? That would be troublesome.

"This Revered Master hasn't yet decided when to close the door."

But Shu Shichan paid no mind. Her eyes darted around. "Revered Master, this Disciple has a plan that doesn't require changing the registry."

"First, you expel me from the Sect, then you accept me as a Disciple again. Wouldn't I then become the closing-door Disciple?"

"Pfft!"

Qi Yue, who had just taken a sip of Spirit Tea, couldn't hold back and instantly spat it out. The droplets of spirit water hung suspended in the air for a moment, not splashing onto Chen Xuan.

Qi Yue's cheeks flushed crimson instantly. She wished she could find a crack in the ground to hide in and hurriedly stood up to bow:

"This subordinate has offended the Sect Master and is willing to accept punishment."

From a corner nearby, a string of silvery laughter also rang out.

Leng Yimei kept looking around from her corner of the courtyard, clearly not displaying the slightest awareness of being a prisoner.

Chen Xuan waved his hand, and the water droplets suspended in the air flew straight towards Shu Shichan, splashing all over her face:

"It's fine!"

"Revered Master, what are you doing? Ow."

Shu Shichan raised her hand and wiped her face with her sleeve, puffing out her cheeks with a pitiful, aggrieved look.

"This is the Karma you brought upon yourself."

Chen Xuan's tone was flat. "Do not bring this up again. However, if you can make Xuanxuan willingly call you 'little Junior Sister,' that would be a private matter between you. This Revered Master will not interfere."

Hearing this, a bright light once again burst forth in Shu Shichan's eyes. Not a trace of grievance remained.

"Revered Master, the pills in this Disciple's Pill Furnace are probably almost done. I'll take my leave first!" Before her words even finished, she hurriedly ran out.

Qi Yue watched her departing figure and softly reminded, "Sect Master, she's in such a hurry. She wouldn't be going to falsely issue imperial edicts, would she?"

Chen Xuan reached out and grabbed, hauling Shu Shichan, who had already run out of the courtyard, back as easily as picking up a chick.

"Revered Master! You are a peerless Cultivator who saved the Rain God Continent. You can't go back on your word so quickly!"

The Little Girl reacted extremely fast, immediately placing a high hat firmly on Chen Xuan's head.

Chen Xuan let go, raised his eyes, and pointed at Leng Yimei, who looked relaxed nearby, instructing Shu Shichan: "Take her to your Danyun Hall."

"Huh?"

Leng Yimei, suddenly hearing her name called, instantly darkened her expression, glaring at Chen Xuan with full alertness, having no idea what scheme this white-robed Cultivator was plotting again. She clenched her fists and said sharply, "Don't waste your efforts! Even if my body is crushed to dust, I will never betray my Sect in the slightest!"

Chen Xuan didn't take her declaration seriously at all, not even lifting an eyelid. He continued speaking to Shu Shichan: "She is entrusted to your disposal."

"Thank you for the reward, Revered Master!" Shu Shichan's eyes instantly shone as if tempered with light, eagerly accepting.

Leng Yimei: "???"

For some reason, seeing Shu Shichan's uncontrollably happy expression and catching the clearly pitying look cast by the Woman in White Dress nearby, Leng Yimei felt an inexplicable unease in her heart—this girl looked pretty and delicate. Could she actually be a venomous, ruthless character?

No, no, no. It's probably just some torture. I can grit my teeth and endure it. I'll make her pay ten-thousandfold in the future.

Chen Xuan continued to remind her: "Don't feed her Medicinal Pills above the Sixth Grade. It would be a pure waste of Materials. Come and inform this Revered Master when she's willing to obediently confess."

"This Disciple obeys!"

"Dismissed." Only then did Chen Xuan wave his hand, signaling for them to leave.

Hearing this, Leng Yimei secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

So it's not torture, just force-feeding pills. That's not so scary after all... Deep within Tiangong Pavilion, in an elegant room filled with a cool, refreshing medicinal fragrance.

Yu Qingyan, dressed in a light purple palace gown, casually waved her hand, scattering a portion of the lowest-grade Body Tempering Medicinal Ingredients into the stone pool in the room. Her fingertip brushed past the sash at her waist, giving it a light tug. The palace gown slipped from her shoulders like flowing water, revealing skin fairer than frost and snow, her alluring curves enough to stir desire in anyone who saw them.

She raised her hand and made a beckoning motion. The Medicinal Liquid in the stone pool snaked up along her palm, slowly sliding down her fair, white arm. It carried a slight burning sensation, and the moment it touched her skin, a faint, sharp pain quietly spread.

Yu Qingyan's brows furrowed slightly. With light, lotus-like steps, she slowly stepped into the pool.

The warm Medicinal Liquid rose past her waist, her chest, until it enveloped her entire body. The burning and stinging sensations intertwined, seeping into her muscles and tissues, making her involuntarily bite her lower lip lightly, her delicate brows knitting into a shallow crease.

A moment later, Yu Qingyan's tense body gradually relaxed. Her furrowed brows slowly smoothed out. A flush like intoxication spread across her cheeks, and her eyes grew misty.

She brushed her hand over the water's surface and sighed softly with regret: "This Body Tempering Medicinal Liquid ultimately still can't compare to the ten thousand demon blood quenching pool."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she took out a glowing white message talisman from her storage ring and focused on reading it. Only when she saw the words 'Dao Seeking Sect' did two figures appear in her mind.

With a soft 'whoosh,' a figure suddenly appeared in the room. It was actually a woman dressed in men's clothing of ink-black color.

Startled, Yu Qingyan instantly wiped all traces of seductiveness from her face. A flash of panic flickered in her eyes, quickly turning into a reproachful look at the newcomer: "Revered Master, why have you barged into my Private Chambers so suddenly again?"

Dongfang Li's gaze swept over her coolly, her tone cold as frost: "I've told you long ago, you have no innate talent for Martial Arts. All these years of stubbornly pursuing Body Tempering through Medicinal Liquids is purely a waste of effort—with this time, you'd be better off devoting yourself to cultivating the Righteous Path."

Listening to her Revered Master's scolding, Yu Qingyan couldn't help but pout inwardly, secretly relieved: Good thing Revered Master didn't find out.

She changed the subject: "Revered Master, dressed like this today, are you going to see that Fairy Yu Chan again?"

Hearing this, Dongfang Li's earlobes imperceptibly grew slightly warm. Her tone carried a hint of awkwardness: "Let's not mention that for now. A few days ago, you traveled to the Rain God Continent and reportedly had some interaction with Disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect?"

"That is true."

"Then how much do you know about this Dao Seeking Sect? Tell this Revered Master in detail."

Yu Qingyan blinked. "Why is Revered Master suddenly asking about this? There's no Fairy in that Dao Seeking Sect worth your special attention."

"Nonsense!"

Dongfang Li's brows knitted together, and she reprimanded in a deep voice, "Do you think this Revered Master has only such thoughts in your eyes? That Dao Seeking Sect is no ordinary Sect—a single Peak Master was able to set up a formation that only Mahayana Stage Cultivators could break, single-handedly turning the tide of the war on the Rain God Continent. The Sect Master specifically instructed this Revered Master to pay more attention to this Sect's movements."

Yu Qingyan was slightly taken aback.

She hadn't expected even the Sect Master to take an interest in that Dao Seeking Sect.

Gathering her thoughts, she said to Dongfang Li: "Revered Master, please wait outside for a moment. This Disciple will change clothes and come right out to tell you the details."