Chapter 9 When it's time to be timid, be timid.

Pei Qinghan snapped her eyes open, her previously hazy phoenix eyes instantly becoming clear.

She found herself snuggled in Lin Xiao's arms, with one of her snow-white jade legs resting quite indecorously on this Rebellious Disciple's waist, causing her pretty face to flush crimson immediately.

Pei Qinghan hurriedly shot up; ignoring the sudden exposure of her charms, she scrambled to grab her clothes scattered on the floor and threw them at Lin Xiao's head.

"Put on your clothes and get out of here."

Seeing his Revered Master instantly enter 'Sage Mode' and act as flustered as if she had been caught in the act, Lin Xiao's lips twitched slightly as he unhurriedly picked up his outer robe.

"Revered Master, we were just having a proper Revered Master-Disciple discussion of the Dao. Why are you acting like we've been caught in bed?"

"Shut up! You Rebellious Disciple! How dare you keep talking nonsense!"

Pei Qinghan was dying of shame and anger, dressing herself while simultaneously tidying her messy hair.

She was the Revered Master of a peak; if her Senior Sister saw her like this, what would become of the reputation she had built over hundreds of years?

A long while later.

Once she confirmed her attire was neat and there were no flaws other than a slight flush on her face, Pei Qinghan took a deep breath, regained her usual cold and aloof demeanor, and waved her hand to remove the Restriction.

The palace gates slowly opened.

A beautiful woman dressed in a violet palace gown stepped inside. She had a voluptuous figure and a lingering charm; she was the Peak Revered Master of Yunxiao Peak, Peak Master Shen Yuan.

Seeing Pei Qinghan's late arrival and her peach-blossom-flushed face, a hint of suspicion couldn't help but flash through Peak Master Shen Yuan's eyes.

"Junior Sister Qinghan, why did it take so long to open the door? Your face... why is it so red? Are you feeling unwell?"

Pei Qinghan lowered her head guiltily, using the action of adjusting her cuffs to hide her embarrassment, her voice sounding slightly stiff.

"I-it's nothing. Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister."

Standing beside Pei Qinghan, Lin Xiao took a generous step forward and respectfully cupped his hands in a bow toward Peak Master Shen Yuan.

"Junior Lin Xiao greets Senior Uncle Shen."

"It's all because of my dullness. I hit a Bottleneck in my Cultivation, so Revered Master spent some time guiding me, which caused the delay and made you wait, Senior Uncle. I hope you can forgive me."

Peak Master Shen Yuan's gaze subconsciously fell upon Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao had handsome features with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and a tall, upright build. He was quite famous within the Primordial Holy Land.

But more shocking to Peak Master Shen Yuan than his appearance was that Lin Xiao's cultivation had actually reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection!

One had to know that Lin Xiao was only nineteen years old.

Peak Master Shen Yuan considered herself exceptionally talented, yet when she was nineteen, her cultivation had only just reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

Most people who could reach Foundation Establishment by twenty were already qualified to become Inner Sect Disciples of the Holy Land.

Reaching Foundation Establishment at eighteen would allow one to serve as a Personal Disciple.

But reaching Foundation Establishment Great Perfection at nineteen—even the Holy Lord couldn't achieve that!

"Junior Sister Qinghan, this Disciple of yours... just what kind of Heaven And Earth Treasure did he eat for his cultivation to progress so terrifyingly?"

Hearing this, Pei Qinghan was also slightly stunned.

She had been too preoccupied with her shame and anger to notice this Rebellious Disciple's change in cultivation.

Now, reminded by Peak Master Shen Yuan, she suddenly realized that Lin Xiao's aura was harmonious and complete; he was indeed at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection!

Pei Qinghan felt a mix of emotions: shock, a strange sense of pride, but mostly an indescribable feeling of shameful annoyance.

So this Rebellious Disciple was using her as a Cauldron?

Lin Xiao smiled calmly and bowed again.

"To answer Senior Uncle Shen, I did not consume any Heaven And Earth Treasures."

"It is all thanks to Revered Master's excellent guidance and her tireless efforts, toiling over me day and night... instructing me, that I could have today's progress."

When he said "toiling day and night," Lin Xiao intentionally emphasized the words, casting a half-smiling glance at Pei Qinghan.

Pei Qinghan's delicate body trembled, the tips of her ears turning red instantly. Her jade hands clenched tightly inside her sleeves, wanting nothing more than to draw her sword and strike down this loose-tongued Rebellious Disciple on the spot.

Fortunately, Peak Master Shen Yuan did not catch the subtext in his words, merely assuming Lin Xiao was being respectful to his teacher. She couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"I had long heard that Junior Sister Qinghan is strict with her Disciples. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to the reputation."

"At Nephew Lin's cultivation speed, the position of the Holy Land's Saint will surely be his in the future."

...

After bidding farewell to his 'Baby Revered Master' and the still-charming Peak Revered Master Shen, Lin Xiao returned to his own sleeping quarters.

As soon as he entered, a charming figure came out to greet him.

"Revered Master, you're back!"

The girl was dressed in a simple emerald green silk dress. She wore no makeup, yet her natural beauty was hard to hide.

Her eyes curved into crescents, and when she smiled, two shallow dimples appeared, exuding the gentle and lively charm of a girl from a humble family.

This girl was Lin Xiao's personal maid, Xuan Ran.

Lin Xiao's gaze fell upon the girl, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

[Ding! Daughter of Luck Xuan Ran detected!]

[Side Quest Issued: Make the target completely submit to the Host before she awakens her past life memories!]

[Ding! Detected that Daughter of Luck Xuan Ran's loyalty to the Host has reached one hundred. Side quest complete!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: 5,000 villain points, 1x Supreme Grade Dust-Descending Pill, High Grade Spiritual Artifact Kunji Whip and its matching Cultivation Technique "Xuan Kun Art", World Tree Shard (1/3)]

[Supreme Grade Dust-Descending Pill: Allows the consumer to form a Perfect Golden Core with a 100% success rate.]

[World Tree: Collecting three shards allows the Host to form a world within their body, with endless vitality and immortality.]

Lin Xiao thought to himself: "???"

Xuan Ran was just an ordinary girl he had casually rescued from a human trafficker.

And the reason he had saved Xuan Ran back then was for no other reason than her looking like his first love from his previous life.

As everyone knows, men always have a special obsession with their first love.

Just as that Old Thief Jiangnan said, remembering someone is often not because of her beauty.

One day many years later, even if you brush past her, you might not necessarily recognize what she looks like today.

What people actually miss is that specific summer and the youth that will eventually fade away like flowing water.

Over these years, Lin Xiao had always treated Xuan Ran as his servant.

The once-filthy little girl had now grown into a slim and graceful beauty, and true to her name, she possessed quite "Xuan Ran" curves.

To prevent a Divine Beast known as the "River Crab" from taking action, although Lin Xiao would usually tease or take small liberties with Xuan Ran, he had never done anything over the line.

Seeing Lin Xiao staring at her face in a daze, Xuan Ran's pretty face flushed as she felt a secret joy in her heart.

"What's wrong, Revered Master? Is there something on Xuan Ran's face?"

[Heaven's Chosen Daughter Information: Xuan Ran. After the age of eighteen, she will gradually recover her memories as an Upper Realm Goddess. Profound Yin Body (A Supreme Grade Cauldron Physique; can be activated early through Yin and Yang Qi or will activate automatically at age thirty).]

Lin Xiao's eyebrows twitched. Calculating the time, Xuan Ran should be turning eighteen this year.

He never expected that his initial act of being moved by lust would actually reap such a massive Karma. Truly, one should be lewd when it's time to be lewd!

An Upper Realm Goddess? If she awakens her memories, won't she end up riding over my head?

However, as long as I can cook the raw rice into a meal before she fully awakens... regardless of whether you're a fairy or a goddess, you'll have to serve me obediently!