Acting in concert with Master

Early the next morning.

Purple Bamboo Peak was shrouded in mist and clouds.

As the most scenic among the thirty-six inner peaks of Taichu Holy Land, Purple Bamboo Peak was perpetually enveloped in a purple spiritual mist.

The morning breeze swept through, causing the purple bamboo covering the mountains to rustle, like heavenly music.

However, for the group of Utility Disciples on Purple Bamboo Peak, the Great Senior Brother seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood today.

Su Ye, holding a rosewood food box, hummed an unknown tune as he walked lightly through the corridor.

The food box did not contain any earth-shattering Spirit Pills or miraculous medicines.

It was just a bowl of porridge.

But this porridge was also extraordinary.

It was the "ice heart jade purity porridge," made with "Nine Heavens Profound Rice" paired with "Dragon Tooth Lily," supplemented with lotus seeds from a Thousand-Year Snow Lotus, simmered for a full three hours.

If Alchemists from the outside world saw this, they would surely curse Su Ye for wasting such treasures.

These spiritual materials were enough to refine a furnace of Profound Rank High Grade Clear Heart Pills, yet he used them to make porridge.

"Heh, as long as Revered Master enjoys it, what are a few Spiritual Plants?"

A faint smile played at the corner of Su Ye's mouth.

He stood before the heavy dragon severing stone gate, not rushing to enter.

Instead, he first straightened his collar and adjusted the expression on his face.

Instantly.

The gentle and refined Great Senior Brother vanished.

In his place was the face of a "Rebellious Disciple"—somewhat sinister, somewhat frivolous, the kind that made people want to punch it.

"Rumble—"

As the mechanism turned, the dragon severing stone gate slowly rose.

An extreme cold Qi rushed toward him.

If it were an ordinary Golden Core Stage Cultivator, their blood would likely freeze in that instant.

But the Supreme Bone within Su Ye trembled slightly, a faint golden light protecting his body, isolating the cold Qi.

Inside Cold Jade Palace, it was still a deathly silent chill.

On that massive ten-thousand-year cold jade bed, Yun Yuzhen lay quietly.

Covered with the Silkworm Silk Quilt Su Ye had left the night before, her waterfall-like black hair scattered on the pillow, her stunning face still pale, looking extremely weak.

Hearing the door open, Yun Yuzhen's long eyelashes trembled slightly before she slowly opened her eyes.

Her gaze was clear, cold, filled with disgust, and a trace of barely noticeable... nervousness.

"Yo, Revered Master woke up quite early."

Su Ye swaggered in with the food box, his shoes tapping crisply on the cold jade floor.

"Did you sleep well last night?"

He walked to the bedside, looking down at this once lofty Revered Master.

Yun Yuzhen glanced at him coldly before turning her head away, her voice hoarse and weak:

"Get lost."

"Not dead yet, it seems that bowl of chicken soup worked well."

Su Ye wasn't angered; instead, he smiled even more happily.

He placed the food box on the white jade table beside him, leisurely opening the lid.

A clear, refreshing aroma of rice instantly filled the entire Cold Jade Palace.

Though not as overpowering or intense as yesterday's chicken soup, this fragrance was long-lasting and distant, carrying a soothing power for the Divine Soul.

Yun Yuzhen's throat betrayed her, moving slightly.

But she hid it well, her face still wearing an expression of facing death with equanimity.

Just as Su Ye reached out to take the bowl.

Suddenly.

A cold, mechanical voice exploded in his mind without warning.

[Ding!]

[Detected significant change in important character's status!]

Su Ye's hand paused slightly.

System?

This damn System usually lay dormant like it was dead, rarely surfacing except to issue tasks and distribute rewards.

Why did it suddenly come back to life today?

[Target: Yun Yuzhen (Peak Master of Purple Bamboo Peak, Taichu Holy Land)]

[Current Status: Cold Poison completely dissipated! Meridians reconstructed!]

[Current Cultivation: Tribulation Crossing Realm, Tenth Heaven (disguised, surface Aura suppressed to Qi Refinement Stage)]

[Mood Value: Fluctuating killing intent (90%), shame (5%), anticipation for breakfast (5%)]

[System Prompt: Host, please note, the "little white rabbit" before you has turned into a "tigress" sharpening her teeth and licking blood. It is recommended that the Host flee immediately, or... pray for luck.]

Su Ye: "..."

Staring at the pale blue light screen before him, his pupils contracted slightly.

Cold Poison... completely dissipated?

Cultivation... Tribulation Crossing Realm, Tenth Heaven?

Su Ye's heart skipped a beat.

He knew that bowl of "Five Spirits Brocade Chicken Soup" was highly nourishing, and he knew that blazing sun grass could suppress Cold Poison.

But he never expected the effect to be this absurdly good!

That was the taiyin cold poison that had plagued Yun Yuzhen for three hundred years!

Even if a Saint intervened, they wouldn't dare claim to eradicate it overnight.

Could his Dual Cultivation really be that terrifying?

"Wait..."

Su Ye's gaze sharpened as he looked at the seemingly "weak and powerless" woman on the bed.

Yun Yuzhen still lay on her side, breathing weakly, as if she didn't even have the strength to move a finger.

If not for the System's prompt, even he, with his Supreme Bone, would have been fooled.

Great acting!

Su Ye inwardly clicked his tongue in admiration.

This wasn't that aloof and proud Revered Master; this was an Oscar-winning Actress!

Clearly having recovered her heaven-reaching cultivation, clearly able to crush him with a finger, yet pretending to be at his mercy.

What was she after?

Su Ye's mind raced.

Right.

Was she waiting for an opportunity to strike and kill me in one blow?

Or trying to extract the secrets of the "Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art" from me?

Or perhaps... she was enjoying being "served" by me?

The last possibility was immediately dismissed by Su Ye.

Given Yun Yuzhen's proud nature, being trampled by her disciple would be worse than death.

Her current restraint was definitely building up for a big move!

"Interesting."

A playful glint flashed in Su Ye's eyes.

Since Revered Master wants to act, wouldn't it be unfilial if this disciple didn't play along?

Thinking this, the smile on Su Ye's face grew even brighter, even taking on a terrifying gentleness.

"Revered Master, why aren't you speaking?"

Su Ye picked up the bowl of ice heart jade purity porridge, deliberately stirring it twice with a silver spoon, producing a crisp clinking sound.

"This disciple specially made this porridge for you, putting in a lot of effort."

Yun Yuzhen still didn't turn around, only saying coldly:

"This seat is not hungry."

"Not hungry?"

Su Ye chuckled lightly and sat directly on the edge of the bed.

This action made Yun Yuzhen's body noticeably stiffen.

Su Ye keenly caught this detail.

Before, she truly had no strength to resist.

But now, this stiffness was clearly restraining the impulse within her to blast him to dust.

"Revered Master, you're not being obedient like this."

Su Ye reached out a hand, very naturally placing it on Yun Yuzhen's shoulder.

The touch was no longer that corpse-like coldness.

Though still somewhat cool, it was a jade-like, gentle coolness, brimming with vitality.

Indeed!

This body temperature was nothing like during a Cold Poison flare-up!

"Take your dirty hand away!"

Yun Yuzhen suddenly turned her head, her beautiful eyes glaring angrily at Su Ye.

Though her gaze was fierce, because she was still "pretending," this glare instead seemed somewhat charming, like a wronged young wife.

"Revered Master seems to have regained some strength?"

Not only did Su Ye not let go, he intensified his actions, his fingers gently rubbing the fabric on her shoulder before sliding down her arm and gripping her fair wrist.

"Let this disciple check Revered Master's pulse."

Yun Yuzhen was inwardly shocked.

This Rebellious Disciple!

If he checked her pulse, wouldn't the surging sea of spiritual power within her be exposed?

She instinctively wanted to mobilize her spiritual power to blast Su Ye away.

But the thought had barely formed before she forcefully suppressed it.

No!

It's not time yet.

This Rebellious Disciple has the Supreme Bone and harbors a Demonic Technique, with strange methods.

If she couldn't strike with certainty, letting him activate Cold Jade Palace's killing array or use the life-saving trump card left by the Holy Master would be troublesome.

She had to wait for the moment when he was most relaxed and defenseless!

Thus.

At the critical moment, Yun Yuzhen executed the secret technique "Turtle Breath Spirit Lock" from the Grand Yin True Scripture.

Locking her vast, sea-like cultivation deep within a single point in her Dantian.

On the surface of her Meridians, only a faint, wispy breath remained.

Su Ye's fingers touched her pulse.

"Hmm?"

Su Ye raised an eyebrow.

The pulse was weak and intermittent, truly resembling someone on the brink of death.

"Impressive."

Su Ye inwardly praised.

If not for the System cheat, he would have believed it.

Since you want to pretend, I'll play along to the end.

"Sigh..."

Su Ye let out a long sigh, a "grievous" expression appearing on his face.

"Why is Revered Master's pulse still so chaotic?"

"It seems that Five Spirits Brocade Chicken Soup can only treat the symptoms, not the root cause."

Hearing this, Yun Yuzhen inwardly sneered.

Hmph, ignorant Rebellious Disciple.

This seat has long been rid of Cold Poison and fully recovered cultivation.

Right now, I'm just toying with you!

Wait until you get a little closer... "In that case, we'll just have to drink the porridge first."

Su Ye released her hand, scooped up a spoonful of crystal-clear porridge, and brought it to Yun Yuzhen's lips.

"Here, Revered Master, open your mouth."

"Ah—"

Su Ye opened his mouth wide like coaxing a child to demonstrate.

Yun Yuzhen looked at the silver spoon so close at hand, smelled the enticing aroma, and the craving in her stomach began to stir again.

Although her cultivation had recovered, allowing her to abstain from food.

But once the appetite suppressed for three hundred years was awakened, how could it be so easily suppressed?

Moreover.

The Spiritual Qi in this porridge seemed extremely pure, greatly beneficial for stabilizing her Realm.

"Fine, I'll eat it, just treat it as eating this Rebellious Disciple's flesh!"

Yun Yuzhen found an excuse for herself in her heart.

She slightly parted her cherry-like lips and took in that spoonful of porridge.

It melted in her mouth.

Soft, glutinous, sweet, and fragrant.

A cool yet gentle sensation slid down her throat, instantly soothing the slight restlessness brought by yesterday's Pure Yang Qi.

Delicious!

Yun Yuzhen's originally tense, beautiful face involuntarily relaxed a bit.

Su Ye watched her like this, finding it amusing in his heart.

This Revered Master, she's just stubborn with words.

But her body is quite honest.

"Is it delicious?" Su Ye asked with a smile.

"Average," Yun Yuzhen swallowed the porridge and coldly evaluated, "The heat was too high, the rice is overcooked."

"Is that so? Then this disciple will pay attention next time."

Su Ye didn't argue back, continuing to feed her spoonful by spoonful.

Inside the Cold Jade Palace, an extremely bizarre yet harmonious scene suddenly appeared.

A Rebellious Disciple was patiently feeding a Revered Master who wanted to purge her own sect.

Both harbored ulterior motives, yet cooperated seamlessly.

Soon, the bowl of porridge was finished.

Su Ye took out a pure white handkerchief and very naturally wiped the corner of Yun Yuzhen's mouth.

Yun Yuzhen instinctively wanted to dodge, but thinking of her current "persona," she could only endure the disgust and let him do as he pleased on her face.

"Alright, the meal is finished."

Su Ye put away the bowl and chopsticks but did not get up to leave.

Instead, he leaned forward, placing both hands on either side of Yun Yuzhen, forming an extremely oppressive posture.

That handsome face was less than three inches away from Yun Yuzhen's nose.

Their breaths could even mingle together.

Yun Yuzhen's pupils instantly contracted.

Here it comes!

That disgusting, invasive look from this Rebellious Disciple had appeared again!

"What do you want to do?"

Yun Yuzhen leaned back, pressing tightly against the cold headboard, her voice carrying a hint of warning.

She was waiting.

Waiting for Su Ye to expose a flaw.

As long as he dared to lay a hand on her, as long as his mind lost focus for even a moment... that would be his death!

Su Ye looked at the stunningly beautiful face so close before him.

Even in a sickly state, Yun Yuzhen was still breathtakingly beautiful.

Her icy, snow-like temperament, now tinged with a flush of anger and tension, added a touch of allure.

"Revered Master, you haven't answered this disciple's question from earlier."

Su Ye curled his lips into a charming, wicked smile, his voice low and magnetic.

"You look quite well. Since the Cold Poison has been suppressed, then some matters..."

"...should be put on the agenda, shouldn't they?"

As he spoke, Su Ye slowly raised one hand, boldly reaching toward Yun Yuzhen's collar.

Before his fingertips even touched the fabric, he could already feel the warmth radiating from her delicate skin.

"The System didn't lie to me; the killing intent fluctuation in the mood value has already reached 99%..."

Su Ye silently counted down in his heart.

Three.

Two.

One.

Just as Su Ye's finger was about to touch Yun Yuzhen's swan-like, slender neck.

Yun Yuzhen, who had seemed like a lamb waiting for slaughter, suddenly smiled.

That smile.

Was like a hundred flowers blooming, yet carrying the chill of an impending winter.

"Su Ye."

She parted her vermilion lips, her voice no longer hoarse but becoming clear and melodious, filled with supreme authority.

"Do you really think..."

"...that this Purple Bamboo Peak has changed its surname to Su?"

Before her words finished.

"Boom—!!!"

A terrifyingly powerful Aura instantly erupted from Yun Yuzhen's seemingly delicate body!

This Aura was so strong, like a slumbering Dragon awakening, or a ten-thousand-year volcano erupting!

The gloom that had enveloped the Cold Jade Palace was instantly torn apart by a blinding silver radiance!

That was no ordinary spiritual light.

It was the unique Grand Yin Divine Light of a Great Power of Tribulation Crossing Realm!

"Crack! Crack!"

The indestructible ten-thousand-year cold jade bed, under this terrifying pressure, instantly became covered in spiderweb-like cracks.

The entire Cold Jade Palace trembled violently, as if it might collapse at any moment.

Su Ye, who had long been mentally prepared, even with the Supreme Bone protecting him, was forced back several steps by the shockwave from the close-range explosion.

"Thud, thud, thud!"

Su Ye retreated seven or eight steps before barely steadying himself.

Now, the frivolous smile on his face had completely vanished, replaced by a perfectly appropriate look of "panic."

"Revered Master?! Your cultivation..."

Su Ye widened his eyes, pointing at Yun Yuzhen, his voice trembling.

"How is this possible! How could you break through the Demonic Seed's Restriction?!"

Seeing Su Ye's "panicked and flustered" appearance, Yun Yuzhen felt that half of the resentment accumulated over three hundred years was finally released!

Exhilarating!

Truly exhilarating!

She slowly stood up from the bed.

Her black hair fluttered wildly behind her without any wind.

Her originally loose robes now billowed and rustled, filled with surging Spiritual Qi, outlining her flawless figure.

With each step she took.

A crystal-clear ice lotus would bloom on the cold jade floor beneath her feet.

Lotus blooms with every step!

This was a phenomenon only displayed by those who had comprehended the ice-element Law to its extreme!

At this moment, where was there any trace of the sickly beauty in Yun Yuzhen?

She was like an empress descending from the Nine Heavens to the mortal world—noble, cold, and arrogant!

The terrifying pressure of the Tribulation Crossing Realm, Tenth Heaven was released without reservation, completely sealing off the entire Cold Jade Palace.

Under this pressure, Su Ye was like a small boat, likely to capsize at any moment in the stormy waves.

"Rebellious Disciple."

Yun Yuzhen looked down at Su Ye from above, her eyes flashing with icy killing intent, yet a cruel smile hung at the corner of her mouth.

She extended a finger as white and tender as a scallion stalk and gently hooked it.

"Hum!"

An invisible Spiritual Qi shackle instantly bound Su Ye in place, rendering him immobile.

"Didn't expect this, did you?"

"That Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art Restriction you're so proud of is nothing but a joke before this seat."

Yun Yuzhen walked step by step toward Su Ye.

With each step, the Aura around her grew stronger.

Until she stood before Su Ye, the distance between them once again shortened to less than three inches.

Only this time.

The roles were reversed!

Yun Yuzhen reached out, grabbed Su Ye's chin, and forced him to look up at her.

Her fingertips were icy cold, and the force was so great that it even caused a faint cracking sound from Su Ye's jawbone.

"Just now..."

"...what did you want to do to this seat?"

Yun Yuzhen narrowed her eyes slightly; those autumn-water-like eyes reflected Su Ye's somewhat pale face.

"Feeding?"

"Checking the pulse?"

"Or... a more intimate exchange?"

Each word seemed squeezed through clenched teeth, carrying a bone-chilling coldness.

Su Ye, with his chin gripped, though his body was restrained, showed little fear in his eyes, instead flashing a hint of helplessness.

"Revered Master, if this disciple says he only wanted to straighten your collar just now, would you believe it?"

"Heh."

Yun Yuzhen sneered coldly, her fingers suddenly tightening.

"Save that explanation for the King of Hell."

"No, wait."

She suddenly shook her head, the killing intent in her eyes deepening.

"Killing you like this would be too easy on you."

"The suffering and torment this seat has endured over the past half month will be repaid upon you today—a thousandfold, ten-thousandfold!"

Yun Yuzhen released her grip, then turned her hand and slapped Su Ye's chest.

"Thud—"

Su Ye wasn't injured, but the entire force of the soft energy sent him flying backward, crashing heavily against the dragon severing stone gate.

"Su Ye."

Yun Yuzhen stood with her hands behind her back, her sleeves fluttering, like a deity Dominating life and death.

She looked at Su Ye, who had fallen to the ground, her voice clear and cold, echoing throughout the Cold Jade Palace:

"Today, this seat will first cripple the cultivation of you, this Rebellious Disciple!"

"Let you also taste the feeling of being a cripple, at the mercy of others!"

As her words fell.

In Yun Yuzhen's palm, a dazzlingly bright silver light sphere began to condense.

That was the essence of Grand Yin Power, enough to instantly freeze a Mahayana Cultivator!

She was getting serious!