Lin Yaoyao frowned as she sensed the colossal creature lurking in the water.
"Master, oh Master, please be more cautious," she sighed.
"There's a ferocious beast in the water. Can't you sense it?"
"Even if you wanted to go out and enjoy the scenery, you shouldn't have come to such a dangerous place."
"What would you have done if I hadn't come along?"
As the dragon-like creature swam towards them, Ye Kong raised his palm slightly, ready to strike, but he sensed Lin Yaoyao's presence.
Lin Yaoyao swiftly conjured a spirit sword with one hand and flew out from behind.
"This Master is truly a worry!"
"That's a dragon-like creature, its strength comparable to that of a late Foundation Establishment cultivator! With your mere Qi Refinement cultivation, you'd only be scratching its scales."
"Master, confidence is good, but arrogance is not!"
"I'll have to save you, Master! If you die, my peaceful cultivation life will be over."
Flying above the river, Lin Yaoyao's spirit sword danced like a dragon in the sky, trailing a brilliant glow.
The dragon-like creature emerged from the water, its blood-red eyes fixed on Lin Yaoyao. It leaped out, jaws wide open to bite.
"Roar!"
Lin Yaoyao flipped in mid-air, landing behind the creature's belly. She concentrated her internal energy into a punch and unleashed it.
"Boom!"
The creature was flipped over, flying backwards and causing huge waves.
Ye Kong's divine sense enveloped the area, revealing a much larger dragon-like creature hidden at the bottom of the river.
Indeed, there was another one. Hundreds of feet long, its immense body was undergoing a transformation, soon to become a real dragon. That was the true threat.
Ye Kong casually picked up a rusty sword from the ground, held it in his hand, and threw it.
Clang!
The rusty sword struck the smaller creature, knocking off a scale before falling into the water.
The crowd: "...Truly worthy of being the Master of Free-Roaming Peak. So weak!"
"A full-force attack only knocked off a scale. Luckily, he ran away fast."
The Grand Commander felt grateful that he had pulled the princess away.
Lin Yaoyao couldn't help but feel frustrated. "Master, don't you know your own cultivation level? Stay on the shore and don't meddle. Your cultivation can only scratch its scales at best!"
The sword sank into the water, diving straight to the riverbed like a long dragon.
The dragon-like creature at the bottom sensed the mortal threat, opened its eyes, and tried to flee. But the rusty sword pierced its skull, pinning it down.
Done.
Ye Kong patted his hands. The larger creature was pinned down, leaving only the smaller one for his disciple to handle.
The smaller creature dove underwater to escape, but Lin Yaoyao's spirit sword followed closely. Her control was slightly hindered in the water, and she couldn't keep up.
The creature's massive body glided along the riverbed, slowly approaching Lin Yaoyao.
Standing above the water, Lin Yaoyao held her spirit sword, waiting for the creature to surface.
The stalemate continued, with Lin Yaoyao thinking, "If only I had broken through to mid-Foundation Establishment, you would've been dead already."
Closing her eyes, she listened intently for any sound from the water.
"Shh-shh..."
The faint sound of scales rubbing against the riverbed reached Lin Yaoyao's ears. The creature slowly swam beneath her, waiting for its chance.
Suddenly, Lin Yaoyao opened her eyes and tightened her grip on the spirit sword.
The creature burst out of the water, lunging at Lin Yaoyao in a flash.
She leaped into the air, barely avoiding its jaws, but the creature's ascent was limited. Its tail left the water, unable to reach her.
As the waves settled, Lin Yaoyao seized the opportunity and unleashed the Starry River Cyclic Sword! Her breath seemed to create a crescent moon, bursting with intense sword intent.
Clang!
She pointed her hand at the creature below, and the sword intent shattered its scales, turning the river red with blood.
The creature roared in pain and fled back into the water.
"Now you want to run?" Lin Yaoyao sneered, appearing in front of the creature. She summoned the Starry River Cyclic Sword again, forming a dazzling giant sword.
She leaped onto the sword's tip, pressing her toes down, and the sword plunged into the creature's head, pinning it to the riverbed.
The creature struggled, causing huge waves, but its movements grew weaker. After a few moments, the waves subsided, and the creature lay still.
Lin Yaoyao had killed the dragon-like creature with one strike.
After the spirit sword dispersed, she landed on the water and flew to the shore.
The Grand Commander, stunned by the creature's death, eventually approached to thank them.
"Thank you, esteemed elders, for ridding our Great Yan of this scourge."
"You must be the Master, right?" he guessed, thinking Lin Yaoyao was Ye Kong's teacher.
No wonder Ye Kong was the Master of Free-Roaming Peak despite his weakness; he had a powerful teacher behind him.
Lin Yaoyao didn't respond but walked to her Master.
"That dragon-like creature was formidable indeed," Ye Kong remarked.
"Formidable? It was just a second-grade beast," Lin Yaoyao replied calmly.
But it was formidable for you. I must help you train to prevent you from being useless.
"Master, don't wander off again," Lin Yaoyao warned.
"It's dangerous out here. If I hadn't come, you'd have been eaten by the creature. Can't you be more mindful?"
As your disciple, I feel so stressed. Going to brothels and wandering around like this... Don't you realize how dangerous the outside world is?
"Alright, I understand," Ye Kong nodded.
Knowing you like to cling to me, I'll stay in Star River Sect as much as possible. Otherwise, I'd have to worry about you following me everywhere.
Fortunately, it was just a small creature. If it were a real dragon, you'd be gone by now. As your Master, I feel a lot of pressure too.
Satisfied that her Master had agreed, Lin Yaoyao nodded.
"Let's return now that the matter is settled," she said.
Ye Kong walked towards the carriage, hands behind his back. Lin Yaoyao had expended too much energy in the battle and couldn't fly back, so it was better for her to ride in the carriage.
Seeing them enter the carriage, the Grand Commander stood there, confused.
Who was the Master, and who was the disciple? How could a weak Master like Ye Kong have such a powerful disciple?
Had he heard wrong, or was the elder senile?
Princess Chang'an stood in front of her carriage, unsure whether to approach. It seemed like she had nothing to say.
"Come drive," Ye Kong called, interrupting the Grand Commander's thoughts.
Looking at the blood-stained river, the Grand Commander turned to drive the carriage away.
At least the dragon-like creature was dealt with. This trip was scary but uneventful. After the tribute, he wouldn't come back.
Dealing with Star River Sect was always a heart-stopping experience!
He intended to sit inside the carriage but decided to stay outside, fearing there might be something else going on between the so-called "Master and disciple."
"Thank you both for saving us. On behalf of the people of Great Yan, I bow to you," Princess Chang'an said outside.
"Don't mention it," Ye Kong waved his hand dismissively.
Lin Yaoyao thought, Master, you're so shameless. I killed the creature, and you only managed to scratch a scale.
The Grand Commander quickly left, returning to Star River Sect.
Inside the carriage, Ye Kong leaned back, closing his eyes to rest. Lin Yaoyao recovered her energy while secretly glancing at her Master.
How could he be so calm and even fall asleep?
For your sake, I'm exhausted.
Shaking her head, Lin Yaoyao closed her eyes to meditate.
Two hours later, the carriage reached the foot of Star River Sect's mountain.
After submitting the tribute items, the Grand Commander left.
"Farewell!" he said, getting on his carriage and driving away without hesitation.
Ye Kong took the tribute items to the sect before returning to the Bitter Sea at Free-Roaming Peak.
The mission completed, he had a chance to fish for a special item. He wouldn't have bothered if not for the mission.
The fishing hook plunged into the sea, and Ye Kong, holding the fishing rod with one hand, idly cast his line.
Lin Yaoyao watched her master still engaged in fishing, feeling a trace of helplessness in her heart.
"Back from your trip, and you're already fishing again? Haven't you learned your lesson this time?"
"If I hadn't arrived in time to save you, you would've been devoured by the dragon-serpent long ago. And now, instead of properly cultivating, you're still fishing."
Sigh.
Lin Yaoyao shook her head and sighed, unsure of how to reprimand her master.
It wasn't long before a system notification echoed in Ye Kong's ears.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have fished out the fifth special item—Purple Phoenix Spirit!"
"The Purple Phoenix Spirit can evolve according to its owner's wishes, aiding in cultivation and potentially growing into a weapon."
As the system's voice faded, Ye Kong lifted his fishing rod, and a cluster of purple light descended into his palm.
The Purple Phoenix Spirit, a purplish-blue hue, measured roughly seven inches in length and an inch in width, shaped like an ellipse. It felt oddly uncomfortable in his hand...
And as for aiding in cultivation, it wouldn't be of much use to me.
Every day's fishing grants me +1 Qi Cultivation, negating the need for self-cultivation.
"Well, I'll give it to my disciple instead."
Saying this, Ye Kong, clutching the Purple Phoenix Spirit, headed towards the distant Peach Mountain.
At that moment, Lin Yaoyao was about to enter the pond for cultivation when her master arrived.
Is my master trying to sneak a peek at me bathing again?
Lin Yaoyao furrowed her brows.