Noon arrived.
Ye Kong, holding a fishing pole with one hand, leisurely fished by the waterside.
Having taken on a young disciple, he had earned a chance for a special fishing experience.
He cast his line into the sea, and the water remained calm.
Within half an hour, Ye Kong raised his fishing pole, and the sixth special item fell into his hands.
"Ding, congratulations to the host for fishing out the sixth special item—a lighter!"
"Lighter: Contains boundless true flames, capable of burning away all filth and demonic energy in the world."
With the system's prompt, Ye Kong examined the lighter in his hand.
The steel lighter was intricately carved with dragons and phoenixes, and its entire body shone golden.
It looked exquisite, and when opened, it emitted a 'ding' sound.
Ding... Ding... Ding...
Ye Kong played with it for a moment, finding it somewhat impractical.
"System, since you've given me a lighter, how about a pack of cigarettes to go with it?" Ye Kong thought to himself.
The system did not respond.
Giving fire without tobacco, what use is this lighter to me?
Ye Kong held the lighter in his left hand and the fishing pole in his right, sitting by the Bitter Sea, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, on Mount Peach,
Lin Yaoyao had finished building Xiaobai's thatched cottage and was about to take a bath when Xiaobai called out to her.
"Senior Sister, does Master fish every day?" Xiaobai approached her, puzzled.
"Mm-hmm," Lin Yaoyao nodded, somewhat helplessly.
She had hidden Master's small fishing pole, only to be foiled by ants.
It was frustrating.
Observing Master fishing, Xiaobai pondered.
No wonder Master's cultivation is so weak; he spends all day fishing instead of practicing.
But that's also good; if you spend your days fishing and passing the time, it won't interfere with my cultivation.
Once I've practiced for a while, I'll be the one in charge of Xiaoyao Peak.
Xiaobai smiled at the thought.
Lin Yaoyao frowned at Xiaobai's smile.
What could be making Xiaobai so happy?
"Xiaobai," Lin Yaoyao called out.
Don't call me Xiaobai, I'm Bai Wuchen... Xiaobai grumbled in his heart but responded politely, "Senior Sister, what is it?"
Lin Yaoyao's sharp eyes scanned Xiaobai's body, discerning his cultivation level.
"I'm curious, how did you manage to attain the Foundation Stage at such a young age?" Lin Yaoyao asked.
Even in aristocratic dynasties where they cultivate their children from a young age, it's impossible to reach the Foundation Stage before the age of ten.
At least one must wait until the bones are fully developed at eleven years old before starting cultivation by absorbing spiritual energy into the body.
Even with divine talent and ancestral enlightenment, it takes three years to reach the Foundation Stage.
Not to mention, reaching it before the age of ten is completely impossible.
Xiaobai avoided Lin Yaoyao's gaze, weakly saying, "I don't know why I have cultivation."
Unsure if he could defeat Lin Yaoyao, he dared not reveal his true identity.
Lin Yaoyao frowned; there was definitely something amiss with Xiaobai.
Reaching the Foundation Stage before ten years old!
Master might not see it, but I can.
Master, you should've investigated his background before taking him on as a disciple.
If there's a problem, what will you do?
But with me here, even if he's problematic, I can easily suppress him.
Lin Yaoyao thought to herself before heading to the pond to cultivate.
Xiaobai watched his senior sister leave, secretly relieved.
I must improve quickly; if Senior Sister discovers the truth, it'll be disastrous.
"Xiaobai!" Ye Kong called out.
Xiaobai, about to return to his cottage to cultivate, frowned at hearing his Master's voice.
What does Master want?
Well, I'll go see.
Xiaobai reluctantly walked to the Bitter Sea's shore and greeted Ye Kong.
"Master!"
Ye Kong lit the lighter and said, "Xiaobai, it's getting cold, come warm yourself by the fire."
Xiaobai looked up at the blazing sun in the sky.
Does Master have a hole in his head?
It's blazing hot, why would we need a fire?
And just a tiny flame, are you kidding me?
"Come over here," Ye Kong called out.
I'm helping you cleanse your body of impurities.
Xiaobai slowly approached, placing his pale hands over the flame.
The flames flowed over Xiaobai's hands, circling his body once.
"Hmm, so comfortable!" Xiaobai let out an expression of bliss.
The flames were harmless to his body, directly burning away the dirt and impurities within.
Xiaobai felt a warm sensation throughout his body, like lying on a green lawn under the warm sun.
It was very soothing.
Meanwhile, the demonic energy within him dissipated into black smoke.
That demonic energy was from the demonic cultivation he practiced; once gone, he would have to start anew.
All his previous cultivation was gone.
Xiaobai didn't realize his dark spiritual energy was dissipating; otherwise, he would have struck out.
As the boundless true flames dissipated, Xiaobai moaned, "So comfortable!"
"Thank you, Master!" Xiaobai expressed his gratitude.
Even though you're a waste as a cultivator, you're still kind to me.
Hmm... When I regain my powers, I won't kill you.
Ye Kong nodded slightly and said, "Alright, first cultivate the Xuanhuang Sutra. I'll go buy you some clothes."
After handing Xiaobai the Xuanhuang Sutra, Ye Kong left.
Hmm, I also need to find a Foundation-establishing treasure for my disciple.
Alas, poor child, having unclean things in your body allowed you to reach the Foundation Stage.
If not for me cleansing them, you would've strayed from the righteous path.
Ye Kong shook his head and descended the mountain with his hands behind his back.
Xiaobai, seeing his Master leave, promptly discarded the Xuanhuang Sutra to the side.
I won't cultivate your rubbish technique; the cultivation method I practice is tenfold, even hundredfold stronger.
Xiaobai sneered in his heart before closing his eyes and mobilizing the dark demonic energy within him.
As soon as he did, he felt emptiness within.
"Where's my demonic cultivation?" Xiaobai hurriedly closed his eyes to inspect his dantian.
Xiaobai saw that all the dark spiritual energy within him had vanished, and so had his Foundation Stage cultivation.
All his years of demonic cultivation, gone.
Xiaobai was stunned.
Where's my demonic cultivation...
Without it, he would have to start from scratch.
Suddenly, Xiaobai recalled how Master had earlier asked him to warm himself by the fire.
Remembering that warm sensation, Xiaobai clenched his fists, his face turning red with anger!
"Treacherous Master, you've destroyed my cultivation!
I swear to hold you in eternal enmity!"
"Argh!"
Xiaobai roared, on the verge of losing control.
Lin Yaoyao, who had just stepped into the pond, frowned upon hearing Xiaobai's furious roar.
What's Xiaobai shouting about, and why does he sound so miserable?
Could Master be tormenting him?
Putting aside her tasks, Lin Yaoyao rushed to the shore of the Bitter Sea.
She found Xiaobai gripping his fists, roaring towards the sky, his face red with anger.
Xiao Lan jumped from Lin Yaoyao's shoulder onto Xiaobai, helping him regain his composure.
"Xiaobai, what's wrong?" Lin Yaoyao asked.
"I stepped on a stone, Senior Sister," Xiaobai replied with a pout.
My cultivation has been destroyed; I can't let Senior Sister know.
"..." Lin Yaoyao looked at Xiaobai's bare feet and said, "I'll get you some shoes later, little brother."
"Thank you, Senior Sister!" Xiaobai said through tears.
"You're welcome!" Lin Yaoyao replied casually before turning to leave.
Xiaobai sat on the ground, cursing, "Treacherous..."
"Xiaobai, what did you say?" Lin Yaoyao turned around and asked.
"It hurts."
"It's okay, just endure it for a while and it'll pass." Lin Yaoyao whispered softly.
But how can it hurt when you're already at the Foundation Establishment stage of cultivation?
Is it real or fake?
After comforting Xiaobai with a few words, Lin Yaoyao left.
After his senior sister left, Xiaobai clenched his little fists.
"You treacherous master, dare to destroy my demonic cultivation! Wait until I achieve mastery, I will make you pay dearly!"
Wah wah wah...
Xiaobai felt extremely aggrieved. He'd accidentally roasted his demonic cultivation away while warming himself by the fire.
Kill you! Kill you!
I will definitely kill you!
Now, with his demonic cultivation gone, he had no choice but to start cultivating anew.
The Foundation Establishment strength he had painstakingly cultivated was gone, and he had to rebuild it from scratch.
Sitting on the ground and crying for a while, Xiaobai looked at the Xuanhuang Manuscript that he had carelessly discarded nearby.
Helpless...
He could only pick up the Xuanhuang Manuscript and begin cultivating it.
With my talents, it won't take long before I succeed in my cultivation.
And then, you treacherous master, just wait for me. I'm the kind who will take revenge for the slightest insult!
Wah wah wah...
I'm so miserable!