"Ah, I thought it was someone else, but it's Uncle Ye Kong!" Chen Changqing deliberately emphasized the words "Uncle" with a heavy tone.
As the Master of the Free and Easy Peak, Ye Kong was senior to him in rank, yet this ungrateful fellow always called him nephew whenever they met.
What did he have to boast about? His cultivation level of the Eternal Qi Refinement stage for ten thousand years?
When did I, Chen Changqing, acquire such a weak uncle?
Upon closer inspection, that guy had only managed to catch a small pheasant and was already walking unsteadily, utterly shaming the Star River Sect!
Chen Changqing's face was filled with arrogance and displeasure as he said lightly, "Uncle, where did you catch that pheasant? Didn't you get hurt?"
Upon hearing this, the disciples struggled to contain their laughter.
Could the Master of the Free and Easy Peak really get injured from catching a pheasant?
Did the Star River Sect have such a weak Master?
Ye Kong looked helplessly at Lin Yaoyao and pointed to the "pheasant" on the ground, chuckling, "Nephew, Uncle didn't expect it to have some cultivation as well. I almost got hurt by it."
A pheasant with cultivation?
Is it at the first level of Qi Refinement or the second?
The disciples' faces turned bright red, and some couldn't help but burst into laughter like pigs!
This Master of the Free and Easy Peak was truly amusing!
Lin Yaoyao, on the other hand, was quite satisfied. Her eyes sparkled with joy, knowing that with such an incompetent Master, her studies under him would be much easier.
She wouldn't have to worry about being discovered in her cultivation endeavors!
Heaven is truly on my side!
"Uncle sure has a refined taste!" Chen Changqing said sarcastically. "I have a bottle of Rejuvenating Pills here. How about I give them to Uncle?"
"And if Uncle just gives me that disciple, I'll even give Uncle an additional Foundation Establishment Pill."
Upon hearing Chen Changqing's words, Lin Yaoyao immediately felt uneasy.
Would this unreliable Master actually sell her out?
Ye Kong looked ashamed and shook his head, "Thank you, nephew, for your kindness, but the Foundation Establishment Pill is useless to me."
Don't mention the Foundation Establishment Pill; Ye Kong had tried every kind of pill, yet he couldn't reach the Foundation Establishment stage.
The system didn't give him any missions except to fish, and he didn't know how long it would take.
Pfft, what terrible talent!
Chen Changqing was almost amused by Ye Kong's incompetence. This useless wretch was impossible to reason with.
He turned his gaze to the Elder, intending to force the issue, but the Elder shook his head at him.
Ye Kong's father died for the sect, and the bond was still there. It was unacceptable to sever ties for the sake of a disciple.
"Since Uncle is unwilling, then Uncle should go rest and recover from your injuries!" Chen Changqing sneered inwardly but appeared concerned on the surface. "Uncle, the Ten-Year Competition among the peaks is in a hundred days. Please prepare yourself!"
By the time the Ten-Year Competition arrives, your Free and Easy Peak will have no one. I'll ask the Supreme Elder to relieve you of your position as Master!
"Thank you for your concern, nephew." Ye Kong nodded and said to Lin Yaoyao, "Little girl, come with me."
Little girl? I'm old enough to be your ancestor.
"Mm." Lin Yaoyao mentally rolled her eyes as she gracefully followed Ye Kong.
As she observed the white-clothed youth, she saw that he was nothing more than handsome, with no other redeeming qualities.
"Today, he's willing to give up the Foundation Establishment Pill just to protect me. I owe him a favor." Lin Yaoyao thought to herself.
A favor from the Empress was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
"Careful!"
As they walked, Ye Kong suddenly stumbled and was about to fall. Lin Yaoyao quickly reached out to steady him.
She supported his shoulder, feeling the breath of another man close up, and her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly!
A fleeting trace of killing intent flashed through her mind!
Having lived two lives, no man had ever been so close to her before!
"Thank you, young lady." Ye Kong said gratefully. "Ah, my spiritual power is depleted. A little rest should do."
Huh, truly a waste of talent. Lin Yaoyao sneered inwardly.
"May I ask your name, young lady?"
"Lin Yaoyao." She replied nonchalantly.
"Lin Yaoyao, a beautiful name." Ye Kong commented, noticing that Lin Yaoyao had let go of his shoulder and kept her distance. He couldn't help but admire this girl even more.
It seemed that Lin Yaoyao genuinely wanted to become his disciple, not just because of his appearance.
Although her talent was average, she was a good girl.
Ye Kong nodded and smiled sincerely, "Since you've joined the Free and Easy Peak, you shall be my关门弟子 (shut-door disciple, essentially the last and most favored disciple). I will definitely teach you well and provide you with the best cultivation resources."
He had just caught a phoenix, and its precious bones contained the essence of the True Phoenix, perfect for purifying and strengthening his disciple.
"Mm."
Lin Yaoyao nodded on the surface but was increasingly dismissive in her heart.
What resources could a Qi Refinement cultivator like you possibly have?
Catching pheasants?
To have me, the Empress, as your disciple is a blessing that you couldn't hope to attain in ten lifetimes. Now, serve me well, and I'll protect you on the path of immortality!
As she mentally ranted, the two arrived at the Free and Easy Peak.
Despite its shortcomings, the Free and Easy Peak was still one of the Nine Peaks of the Star River Sect, vast and expansive.
Ye Kong pointed to a peach mountain beside the Free and Easy Peak and smiled, "Yaoyao, I just built a cottage on Peach Mountain a few days ago. You can stay there first."
Saying that, Ye Kong waved the young phoenix in his hand and said, "I heard you like cooking. Why don't you roast this one?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ye Kong immediately slapped his forehead, "No, no, I forgot. This thing contains spiritual power, and ordinary flames can't cook it. It needs spiritual fire."
"You're only at the sixth level of Qi Refinement and haven't learned our Free and Easy Peak's 'Xuanhuang Manual'. Your spiritual power won't be enough."
"Thank you for your concern, Master." Lin Yaoyao was almost amused by her Master's antics.
She had already broken through to the sixth level of Qi Refinement and, with her imperial cultivation techniques, could even hold her own against Foundation Establishment cultivators. How dare you, a mere Qi Refinement cultivator, say that her spiritual power was insufficient?
Look at you, are you trying to roast a pheasant or a phoenix?
Why don't you just fly to the heavens?
"First, go and cultivate the Xuanhuang Manual. I'll prepare the things for your Foundation Establishment and get you ready."
"The Xuanhuang Manual is a very powerful technique. Every time you break through a level, your spiritual power will double, making you invincible in the Qi Refinement stage!"
"Thank you, Master." Lin Yaoyao took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress her urge to scold.
Why did this Master keep treating garbage as treasures?
Your perspective is too narrow.
What use is doubling your spiritual power? There are only nine levels in the Qi Refinement stage. How far can it double?
Can you even reach the tenth level of Qi Refinement?
"Alright, go now. I'll give you your identity token later."
Ye Kong waved his hand, signaling his disciple to go and cultivate.
This disciple was shy and didn't talk much. It was obvious that she was new to the Free and Easy Peak and was overwhelmed by her Master's enthusiasm and generosity. She didn't know how to express herself.
Perhaps, once she returned to the cottage, she would let go of her shyness, lie down on the bed rolling with joy, her eyes sparkling, and muttering, "Master is so kind to me."
Such a little girl, Ye Kong smiled thoughtfully.
"First, let's roast the phoenix. After that, I'll refine the True Phoenix Bone and prepare the Foundation Establishment materials for my precious disciple!"