My junior sister likes it so much

The sea of clouds churned, and the long wind broke through the waves.

The qingming sword turned into a streak of light, carrying the two of them as it sliced through the sky, leaving the noisy disciple recruitment square of the Taichu Holy Land far behind.

Su Ye stood at the hilt of the sword with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering loudly in the wind.

Although his back was to Lin Qianxue, he could clearly sense the young girl's slightly cramped yet curious breathing behind him.

At this moment, a cold mechanical voice abruptly rang out deep within Su Ye's mind.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, Host, for successfully intercepting the Destiny Girl Lin Qianxue and completing the hidden task "Recruiting a Disciple on Behalf of the Master"!]

[Task Evaluation: Perfect. Not only did you crush the arrogance of Heavenly Sword Peak with absolute superiority, but you also used your appearance and "gentle" persona to initially breach the Luck Girl's psychological defenses.]

Su Ye's eyelids lowered slightly, concealing the fleeting dark red light deep within his pupils.

The gentle curve at the corner of his mouth deepened unconsciously.

A perfect evaluation?

As expected.

[Distributing rewards...]

[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining: 2,000 villain points!]

[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining: One Cultivation Empowerment (can directly break through the current minor Realm Bottleneck)!]

[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining: Heaven Rank Peak-Grade Spirit Treasure—Ice Soul Glazed Lamp (not only is it a cultivation auxiliary Magic Treasure extremely compatible with the Ice Spirit Root, but it also has a built-in "Mother-Child Heart-Linking Seal." After the Host refines the Mother Seal and gives the Child Lamp to someone, it can subtly increase their dependency and loyalty toward the Host).]

Looking at the crystal-clear glazed lamp emitting a bone-chilling cold that appeared in the System space, the smile in Su Ye's heart grew even wider.

Good stuff.

It was practically a "collar" tailor-made for this little white rabbit.

This System fellow was getting better and better at understanding his thoughts.

"Dependency, huh..."

Su Ye toyed with those words in his mind.

He didn't need a thoughtless Puppet; that would be too boring.

What he wanted was a... good Junior Sister, the kind who would wholeheartedly dedicate her body, mind, and Soul to her Senior Brother.

Just like his Revered Master, who was currently imprisoned in the Cold Jade Palace like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

"Claim Cultivation Empowerment."

With a thought from Su Ye.

Boom!

A surge of extremely pure energy exploded out of nowhere within Su Ye's Dantian and Purple Mansion.

There was not the slightest stagnation, nor did it trigger any celestial phenomena.

The barrier that had already reached the Peak of the eighth level of the Golden Core Stage shattered like paper under the wash of this energy.

Ninth level of the Golden Core Stage!

Su Ye's aura only fluctuated for a brief moment before being instantly suppressed and restrained by the overbearing characteristics of the "Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art," returning to tranquility.

To outsiders, he was still that gentle-as-jade Golden Core Early Stage Eldest Senior Brother.

Only Su Ye himself knew that the spiritual power within his body had already undergone a qualitative change.

It was a mutated spiritual power that had devoured three hundred years of his Revered Master's Pure Yin Primal Essence and had been further enhanced by the System.

The Supreme Bone vibrated slightly, like a waking young dragon, greedily hungering for more power.

"Phew..."

Su Ye gently exhaled a breath of turbid air, suppressing the restless power.

He slowly turned his head and looked at Lin Qianxue, who had been staring blankly at his back.

"Junior Sister."

This soft call didn't contain a hint of spiritual power, yet it made the dazed Lin Qianxue's body tremble slightly.

Like a child caught doing something wrong, she quickly withdrew her gaze, her hands clutching the corner of her clothes in confusion.

"Sen... Senior Brother."

Her voice was still cold, but it lacked some of the indifference she had shown when facing the Elders on the square.

Su Ye smiled gently and pointed toward a solitary, proud Peak looming in the mist ahead.

"Look, ahead is Purple Bamboo Peak."

Looking in the direction Su Ye pointed.

Surrounded by mountains, a steep Peak rose from the ground, piercing the clouds.

Unlike the other main Peaks with their golden splendor and jade palaces.

On Purple Bamboo Peak, as far as the eye could see, there was a lush carpet of deep purple.

It was a sea of bamboo formed by countless thousand-year-old purple bamboos.

Mist wove through the bamboo forest, as if draping a mysterious veil over the entire Peak.

Serene.

Lonely.

Yet it also exuded a sense of being detached from the world.

"So beautiful..."

Lin Qianxue sighed subconsciously.

She naturally preferred quiet, and this environment almost instantly struck a chord in her heart.

"I knew you would like it."

Su Ye controlled the Flying Sword, passing through the mountain-protecting array on the outskirts of Purple Bamboo Peak.

As the ripples shimmered, a wave of Spiritual Qi several times denser than the outside world rushed toward them.

But following it was a bone-chilling cold that seeped into the marrow.

This was the unique aura of the Taiyin lineage.

It was also the trace of that woman, Yun Yuzhen, who had sat in meditation for three hundred years.

"Purple Bamboo Peak isn't as lively as the other main Peaks."

Su Ye explained softly as he controlled the Flying Sword to descend slowly.

"Revered Master likes quiet and doesn't like being disturbed by outsiders."

"So there aren't many Utility Disciples on the Peak; only on the first and fifteenth of every month does the Outer Sect send people to sweep the fallen leaves and prune the bamboo forest."

"Normally, on this vast Purple Bamboo Peak, besides me, there is your Third Senior Sister Wan'er, your Second Junior Sister Ji Ziyue who is often away gaining experience, and your Fourth Junior Sister."

Speaking to this point, Su Ye paused, a hint of apology in his tone.

"Now that you've come, our Purple Bamboo Peak finally has a bit more vitality."

"Do you think it's a bit too desolate?"

Lin Qianxue shook her head.

Her waterfall-like black hair danced gently in the wind, making her small, fair face look even more exquisite.

"It's not desolate."

She said seriously, "Too many people are bothersome."

"I don't like the way they look at me."

She was referring to the gazes filled with greed, calculation, and possessiveness on the square.

Only this Senior Brother before her.

His eyes were clear.

Although he observed her, there was no profanity.

The naive Lin Qianxue didn't know that the most skilled hunters often appeared as prey. Su Ye's greed was hidden in his bones and on the System panel, but specifically not in his eyes.

"In that case, that's good."

Su Ye chuckled, and the Flying Sword landed steadily on a square paved with white jade.

"Come down."

He was the first to leap off the Flying Sword, and with a wave of his sleeve, he tucked the qingming sword away.

The movement was smooth as flowing water, extremely elegant.

Lin Qianxue followed closely behind.

The moment her feet touched the ground, she felt an unprecedented sense of stability.

The cold here not only didn't make her feel uncomfortable, but instead caused the restless Ice Spirit Root within her to gradually calm down.

It was like a traveler returning home.

"Follow me."

Su Ye didn't take her to the magnificent Purple Bamboo Great Hall at the Peak, nor did he take her to the Cold Jade Palace where Yun Yuzhen was currently imprisoned.

Instead, he walked along a winding bluestone path toward the depths of the bamboo forest.

On both sides of the path, the purple bamboo grew thick.

The wind passing through the bamboo forest made a rustling sound like heavenly music.

Lin Qianxue followed closely behind Su Ye, maintaining a distance of two steps.

She greedily breathed in the cool, crisp air.

Her gaze fell on the tall figure ahead from time to time, and a sense of dependency inexplicably grew in her heart.

After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

The view ahead suddenly opened up.

A refined and elegant small courtyard appeared amidst the bamboo forest.

The courtyard walls were built of bluestone, covered with unknown vines blooming with small light blue flowers.

Above the courtyard gate hung a simple wooden plaque.

Although it had no writing, it exuded an ancient charm.

"This was originally a detached courtyard where Revered Master meditated on the Dao in her early years."

Su Ye pushed open the courtyard gate, which made a slight "creak" sound.

"It's been abandoned for some years, but it's quiet and the Spiritual Qi is abundant."

"Moreover, the terrain here is special; there's a branch of a Cold Vein connected underground, making it most suitable for someone with an Ice-Attribute Physique like yours."

Inside the courtyard.

Fallen leaves covered the ground.

A thin layer of dust had also accumulated on the stone table and benches.

It looked somewhat desolate.

Su Ye frowned slightly, appearing somewhat dissatisfied with the environment.

"It was your Senior Brother's oversight; I didn't have someone clean it in advance."

He turned around and looked at Lin Qianxue with a hint of apology.

However.

Before Lin Qianxue could say "it's okay."

Su Ye had already raised his right hand and lightly tapped the air with his slender finger.

"Cleanse."

A single simple syllable was uttered.

Buzz—

A gentle wave of spiritual power instantly spread out.

Like a spring breeze brushing against the face, it swept through every corner of the courtyard.

The withered leaves flew up, gathered into a pile, and then turned into dust, dissipating into the soil.

The dust was gone, and the stone table and benches were as good as new, emitting a gentle luster.

Even the Winter Plum in the corner of the courtyard, which had been somewhat withered, seemed to be nourished and actually bloomed with a few delicate flower buds at this moment.

In the blink of an eye.

The originally desolate and dilapidated courtyard instantly became a serene and elegant paradise.

This exquisite control of spiritual power made Lin Qianxue's eyes widen slightly.

In her understanding.

Although Golden Core Stage Cultivators were strong, most of them relied on Magic Treasures and powerful Moves.

A method like her Senior Brother's, using spiritual power so delicately that he could even make flowers bloom... was simply unheard of.

"Senior Brother is so amazing."

Lin Qianxue praised sincerely.

Although it was just a simple cleansing spell, in Su Ye's hands, it seemed like an immortal technique that turned the mundane into the magical.

"Just a trivial trick."

Su Ye smiled slightly, accepting this level of admiration completely.

He walked into the courtyard, condensed Sword Qi on his fingertip, and wrote vigorously on the wordless wooden plaque.

Wood chips flew.

In just a moment.

Three powerful yet elegant characters appeared upon it.

[Tingxue Courtyard]

"Tingxue."

Su Ye turned around and looked at Lin Qianxue with a soft gaze.

"Purple bamboo listens to falling snow; Winter Plums accompany the solitary Soul."

"Junior Sister, do you like this name?"

Lin Qianxue looked up at the three characters.

She looked again at the purple bamboo filling the courtyard and the proudly blooming Winter Plum.

She felt that this name was like it had been carved into her heart.

"I like it."

She nodded heavily.

"From now on, this is your home."

Su Ye walked up to her and said solemnly.

"On Purple Bamboo Peak, no one will force you to do things you don't like."

"No one will covet your talent either."

"You only need to be yourself, Cultivate in peace, and cure the cold ailment in your body."

"As for everything else, your Senior Brother will naturally handle it for you."

These words.

Combined with Su Ye's deceptive handsome face and the just-right breeze and floral scent.

The lethality was simply off the charts.

Lin Qianxue felt the layer of hard ice in her heart melt a bit more.

Her nose felt slightly sore.

From childhood to adulthood, the people in her Family only cared about her cultivation progress, whether she could awaken her Saint Physique, and whether she could bring glory to the ancestors.

No one had ever said to her: you only need to be yourself.

"Senior Brother..."

Lin Qianxue was just about to express her inner gratitude.

Suddenly.

"Gurgle—"

A very untimely and exceptionally loud rumble came from her flat belly.

In this quiet bamboo forest courtyard.

This sound was as piercing as a clap of thunder.

Su Ye, who was building up his emotions: "..."

Lin Qianxue, who was about to shed tears of emotion: "..."

The air suddenly fell silent.

A deathly silence.

It was even quieter than when Li Qingyun was rejected earlier.

Lin Qianxue's face, originally cold as frost, quickly turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It turned red from her neck all the way to her ears.

Like a piece of crystal-clear ice that had suddenly turned into a ripe red apple.

She instinctively covered her stomach, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

How embarrassing!

A dignified Saint Grade Spiritual Root!

The future Ice Snow Empress!

Actually had her stomach growl from hunger... just after joining the sect and facing such a perfect Senior Brother?!

"That... I..."

Lin Qianxue stammered incoherently, her usual cold image shattered to pieces.

She wanted to explain, but her stomach unhelpfully protested again.

"Gurgle gurgle—"

This time the sound was even louder.

It even had a bit of an aggrieved tremolo.

Lin Qianxue closed her eyes in despair.

It's over.

My image is completely ruined.

Senior Brother will definitely think I'm a glutton, right?

However.

The expected ridicule did not come.

A warm large hand gently landed on top of her head, tenderly ruffling her smooth hair.

"Silly girl."

Su Ye's voice contained a hint of helpless laughter, but not a shred of disdain could be heard.

"If you're hungry, then you're hungry; it's only human nature. What is there to be ashamed of?"

Lin Qianxue opened her eyes cautiously.

She saw Su Ye looking at her with a doting expression, his eyes and brows full of smiles.

"Cultivation, cultivation—if one even gives up the desire for food, then what's the point of cultivating?"

"As for things like Inedia Pills that taste like wax, I, your Senior Brother, never eat them."

Su Ye withdrew his hand, straightened his sleeves, and said very naturally:

"It just so happens that to celebrate your entry into the sect."

"Today, your Senior Brother will show off a bit."

"To let you taste the unique craft of our Purple Bamboo Peak."

As he spoke, an imperceptible glint flashed in the depths of Su Ye's eyes.

That was a calculation belonging to a villain.

To capture a woman's heart, one must first capture her stomach.

The ancients truly did not deceive me.

Moreover... Su Ye's gaze drifted seemingly unintentionally toward the depths of the purple bamboo forest.

There, a free-range Five-Colored Spirit Chicken was carefree, pecking at insects.

"Revered Master's favorite 'Beggar's Chicken'... if I use it to treat my little Junior Sister..."

"I'm sure if Revered Master found out, she would be moved to tears, wouldn't she?"

Thinking of this, the smile at the corner of Su Ye's mouth became even more brilliant.

It even carried a bit of cruel pleasure.

"Junior Sister, wait a moment."

"Your Senior Brother is going to... gather ingredients."