Lu Qingyun smiled, "If I am not worried, why you are so worried for me?"
Qin Keqin chuckled softly, "Who says I am worried for you? I can see that even though your cultivation level is lowly but your skin is certainly quite thick!"
Then she took a curious look inside as she looked at Elder Ouyang, Ouyang Xue and Lie Xingyuan. Finally she had rested her eyes on Lie Xingyuan as she asked, "Mm, what's your name?"
Lie Xingyuan was frightened out of her wits. It was as though she had just received a death sentence by asking for her name. With trembling lips she answered, "Lie…Xingyuan…"
Is the sect leader going to punish her? Lie Xingyuan could only think of the worst.
Qin Keqin muttered, "Lie Xingyuan. I will remember that."
Then she turned to Lu Qingyun and smiled, "Shall we take a walk outside?"
Lu Qingyun was only too happy not to say no so he quickly said, "Alright. If master wants me to go up to the mountains of swords and under the burning ocean, I will do so as well."
Qin Keqin smiled gently as she turned around to walk away and she was followed by Lu Qingyun.
When they had left the room, Elder Ouyang, Ouyang Xue and Lie Xingyuan were finally able to breathe normally.
Elder Ouyang muttered, "I have no idea why the sect leader will be here…"
Lie Xingyuan was bitterly saying, "I am a goner now…"
Ouyang Xue was still startled from her first time experience in meeting Qin Keqin, "I have heard that the sect leader is very beautiful. It is really no exaggeration. Even the number one beauty in the city pales in comparison with her…"
Elder Ouyang muttered, "I've heard that she shares some resembles to our founder Fairy Jade Light…"
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Qin Keqin had put on her curtain veil and a face veil as she walked in the city street with Lu Qingyun.
Although no one could see her face but her enticing grace caused many heads to turn to admire her.
Moreover Lu Qingyun was also a handsome young fellow and he had also attracted many onlookers as well.
For some reason, Lu Qingyun was completely in love with Qin Keqin not because she was pretty but he felt that somehow he had known her for a long time. As a matter of fact, while the others were awed by her extraordinary beauty, he was the only one who had failed to see that.
As they walked together, Lu Qingyun was curious about her. So he said, "Master, your cultivation level is so much higher than me. What is your cultivation level now?"
Qin Keqin took a glance at him and she seemed to smile, "Mm, just call me Keqin, will you? We are not in the sect now and I will call you Qingyun. Didn't you promise me when we are in the Iron Tower?"
Lu Qingyun said awkwardly, "That is before…" But he quickly said, "Keqin…"
Qin Keqin paused in her tracks and chuckled softly, "You sound a little forced."
Lu Qingyun smiled awkwardly, "I need some practice. It sounds a little weird when you are now my master."
Qin Keqin nodded lightly before saying, "I am at the upper fifth realm golden celestial level now. Does this answer your question?"
Lu Qingyun was startled, "That is pretty high."
Qin Keqin had a faint smile behind her veil, "But don't you ever ask me about my age. That is a taboo."
Lu Qingyun nodded. She was probably many centuries older than him and that was why she was reluctant to discuss her age. But that was alright to him because he did not mind.
He asked, "It must be quite difficult for you to cultivate to your level. I guess that you must be a monstrous genius and had reached the fourth realm immortal celestial level quite early. You don't look old at all. It must be quite hard during your early cultivation days."
Qin Keqin rolled her eyes before saying, "Not so. I was born Xiantian so I started off at the third realm. When I was eight, I was already a fourth realm immortal celestial. At twelve, I was already a fifth realm golden celestial…" She wanted to say that she was a seventh rank sacred saint at age eighteen but stopped short of it.
Lu Qingyun was completely stunned by her as he stared blankly at her…
There were celestials that were born Xiantians and their cultivation level would begin at the third realm but those were few and far between. Even if they were born Xiantians, there was a huge impasse at the fourth realm that may take a long time to overcome. As for the fifth realm, he had certainly never heard of anyone achieving that when they were only twelve year of age. Even the youngest ever record was the Nine Celestial Goddess but she was an oddity.
The disparities between them were just too great…
Qin Keqin seemed to know his thoughts as she said quietly, "Don't let it bother you. It isn't important to put such trivial thoughts in your heart."
Lu Qingyun was smiling weakly as he thought, "Easy for you to say so casually that it is only trivial…"
He decided to be a little thick skin and asked, "Erm, since you've already known that I am a lowly cultivator, why did you choose me as your core disciple?" Secretly he was hoping that she would say she had fallen in love with him at the first sight of love but he knew that it was impossible. There must be other reasons.
After all, he had not totally forgotten what his old master had taught him; there are no free lunches in the world. As for the other advice that his old master had taught him, he had totally forgotten in front of Qin Keqin.
Qin Keqin rolled her eyes to and fro as though she was thinking hard before she looked at him with a soft chuckle, "What if I tell you that I have fallen in love with you at first sight?"
Lu Qingyun was startled. His first thought was, "Impossible! She is only pulling your leg. Please wake up! You are only dreaming that she would say that and even if she did, it is only just a beautiful dream."
But he ended up saying, "I like you too…" The moment that he had said that, he had quickly realized that he may have said the wrong thing and he had quickly regretted it.
Qin Keqin was giggling as she looked at him with her mesmerizing alluring eyes, "Is that so?" She was secretly delighted. Did he just profess his love for her?
He had a woeful expression on his countenance. Was she mocking him now?
Because of the beautiful look that she had given him and that her reply was merely, "Is that so." he had thought that she was only teasing him. He had never thought she would be equally shy as well and merely say something indifferent to him.
Qin Keqin was now waiting for him to say more…
Just as Lu Qingyun was feeling extremely awkward, he was suddenly interrupted by a familiar mocking voice. "So, look who we have here?"
It was Tang Bufan and with him was a pretty maiden. From the attire of this pretty maiden, she appeared to be from the Heavens Ridge Villa.
Lu Qingyun guessed that she must be a maidservant to Tang Bufan since he was after all a core protégé.
When he saw Tang Bufan, he was actually very glad and he was grinning broadly. He was just the person to save him from an extremely awkward situation!
Qin Keqin on the other hand was silently cursing, "Screw this person here." He had just interrupted her most romantic moment…
Tang Bufan had thought that Lu Qingyun would not be pleased to see him but why did he had that welcoming look that was on his face right now?
But nevertheless, he was not about to spare him today. So he said with great sarcasm, "I've thought who is here so it is my Senior Brother Lu Qingyun here. The person that is with you must be your companion maidservant. But why is she all cover up? Is she not good looking or she is infected with some sickness?"
Even the pretty maiden that was with Tang Bufan was giggling too as she added, "Is she prettier than me?"
Just as Lu Qingyun was about to say that this 'maidservant' that was with him was actually their sect leader, Qin Keqin chuckled softly. "Senior brother and sister, Lie Xingyuan pays my respect to you."
Qin Keqin had remembered that Lu Qingyun's companion maidservant was called Lie Xingyuan.
But it seemed that Tang Bufan had already known that Lie Xingyuan was Lu Qingyun's attendant, so he merely nodded. Lie Xingyuan was just a lowly ordinary protégé so he did not put her into heart.
He was aiming for Lu Qingyun anyway so he smiled coldly, "Senior brother, although you have the Golden Flame Roc, this doesn't seem to change the fact that you are just a lowly first realm cultivator. I wonder if your new master is blind or not? Maybe she is just an ugly hag that is lusting only after you."
When Qin Keqin had stepped into the examination hall that day, she was wearing a curtain veil that covered herself from top to her waist. It was difficult for anyone who did not know her to know what she had looked like.
There was a subtle twitch that was on Qin Keqin's forehead as her eyes turned momentarily murderous…
Lu Qingyun was upset and he was about to rebuke him when Qin Keqin caught hold of his arm and shook her head.
When he saw that Qin Keqin was not upset, he began to calm down slowly.
Tang Bufan was smirking coldly, "Although you are technically our senior brother but your situation is actually quite precautious."
Lu Qingyun said, "Oh?"
Tang Bufan smiled, "You are not from one of the six martial halls and therefore you are not entitled to any of the cultivation resources. You must know that the acting sect leader doesn't have any real authority in the Heavens Ridge Villa and she only visits once in a while. Now that you are her core disciple, do you think that she can afford to spare any resources for you? I have heard that the resources to cultivate to the golden supremacy level require a goldmine. A reclusive master like your master certainly won't be able to afford the best resources for herself or for you."
Then he began to smile cockily, "But I am different. I have a rich and influential background. With the might of my family resources, my cultivation foundation is given a great boost. Or else why do you think that I am a third realm expert now? Haha."
The pretty maiden looked up to Tang Bufan with a cute smile, "Senior brother Bufan, you are so impressive…"
Tang Bufan laughed as he moved his hand to caress the back of the pretty maiden.
Lu Qingyun knew that he was right. However he had never wished to become a high level cultivator or to make use of his master's resources so he smiled, "I am content just to become my master's disciple. It is all that I am wishing for."
Tang Bufan smirked coldly, "Is your ambition so low? I will give you a better option right now. Come join my camp and worship me like your master. Should I become a dragon in the future, you will surely benefit."
He had looked down on a lowly cultivator like Lu Qingyun but because he was the acknowledged acting sect leader's disciple, this was something that he had to be wary of and contingency against. If he could bring Lu Qingyun into his camp then nothing would stop his lofty ambition.
He smiled coldly at Lu Qingyun, "How about it? I can even let you have the use of some of my personal resources for your cultivation. Do you think that I am a good enough junior brother to you?"
Although he was arrogant but the offers that he had placed in front of Lu Qingyun was a huge temptation to any cultivators.
But against Lu Qingyun who had no ambition to seriously cultivate, it was just a humiliating offer. A scholar may be butchered but not humiliated.
Therefore Lu Qingyun merely said politely, "I am afraid that I must decline your kind offer. Since I am my master's disciple, I should only use her resources and not the others. Therefore, goodbye…"
Tang Bufan had a twitch on his face as he cursed silently, "I will remember this…"
Qin Keqin suddenly chuckled softly, "Senior brother, may I play with your precious sword?"
Lu Qingyun simply handed his sword over to her without questioning, "Oh?"
Qin Keqin had suddenly unsheathed the sword from its scabbard and immediately a bright beaming flash of light burst forth as a beautiful heaven-step precious sword appeared in her hand.
Tang Bufan and the pretty maiden were both startled, almost rendered speechless. This was a heaven-step precious sword. How did this poor cultivator get his hand on such a valuable and expensive precious sword?
The fingers that were on Tang Bufan was trembling lightly as he touched his sword scabbard. His own sword was only a half-step precious sword and that was already extremely difficult to obtain and expensive to purchase.
If the precious sword was a superior precious sword, it would have three additional grades to denote its superiority. Half-step, earth-step and heaven-step.
Every additional step was a multiple of 10 times the worth!
This heaven-step precious sword that was in Lu Qingyun's hand was worth at least 100 high grade soul stones! Or an equivalent of 10 000 medium soul stones or 1mil low grade soul stones…
This represented a considerable amount of wealth that even the Tang Clan would hesitate to spend for Tang Bufan.
Tang Bufan was extremely proud of his half-step precious sword that cost 1 high grade soul stone. 1 high grade stone was equivalent to 10 000 low grade soul stones. And 100 low grade soul stones was worth an equivalent of 1mil silvers.
At the gatherings, he would always like to show off his 1mil half-step precious sword.
The monetary worth between a half-step precious sword and a heaven-step precious sword was like the heavens and the earth…
Qin Keqin chuckled softly as she sheathed the heaven-step precious sword into the scabbard, "Um, so and so only. Let's go."
Lu Qingyun nodded and he called out after her, "Where are we going next?"
Qin Keqin chuckled, "Make a guess. Somewhere fun maybe?"
And they were quickly gone.
Tang Bufan was startled and he had an ugly countenance, "What does this maidservant knows about the grades of precious swords?!" He had almost spurt blood when she casually said, "So and so only."
All of a sudden Tang Bufan noticed that his maidservant Rushuang had turned ashen.
So he asked, "What's wrong, Rushuang? Are you unwell?"
Rushuang turned to him and said with trembling lips, "She…isn't Lie Xingyuan. Lie Xingyuan doesn't walk as gracefully as her and…"
Tang Bufan asked, "And what?"
Rushuang smiled weakly at him, "Are you really a third realm expert or are you blind? Did you not see how swift she has unsheathed and sheathed back the sword?"
Tang Bufan laughed it off, "That doesn't mean anything. Maybe she has lots of practice with unsheathing and sheathing of the sword. Also, you may not know Lie Xingyuan that well too."
Rushuang suddenly said to him with a bitter smile, "Tomorrow I will be tendering my resignation as your maidservant to the elders."
Tang Bufan was startled, "Are you upset? What for?"
Rushuang smiled coldly, "Yes but I am only upset with myself for following a dense fool like you."
Tang Bufan cursed loudly, "You wench. You dare to call me a fool? Do you know who I am?"
Rushuang smiled bitterly, "Soon, you will be a dead fool. Did you still not recognize who she is? The way she walks and turns around is like the acting sect leader."
Women usually pay more attention to such small details.
All of a sudden Tang Bufan had turned ashen…
He had suddenly remembered where he had seen the pendant that was worn around her belt was from.
He had just insulted a fifth realm cultivator several times over…
If she was the Sect Leader Qin, she did not even need to compete with his family clan for resources. She could simply cripple his cultivation core anytime she wishes. In the eyes of a fifth realm expert, even a third realm expert was considered extremely lowly. The disparity between third realm expert and fifth realm expert was like heavens and the earth, with a huge impasse.
He could only pray now this Sect Leader Qin was a merciful lady.
Unfortunately for him, Qin Keqin had already marked him and she would be like a malevolent star…