Immortality begins with raising apprentices

Chapter 166 Obtaining the Lotus Seed, Breakthrough in Divine Sense (Day 3 of 10,000 words)

East Valley.

Inside the underground cave, vengeful spirits howled and demonic energy surged.

The girl's waist was as slender as a flower branch, and the man held it mercilessly.

The smooth and warm touch stirred Chen Ye's heart and soul.

But looking into the girl's eyes in his arms, which burned with boundless rage yet were misted with tears of humiliation, he realized that she was truly a woman in love.

Chen Ye's desires, amplified by the treacherous scheme, cooled down instantly, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head.

He bit his tongue hard, and the sharp pain brought a sliver of clarity back to his mind, which had been almost overwhelmed by desire.

"wrong……"

Chen Ye was suddenly startled.

This malicious scheme is truly wicked!

Not only is it arousing his lust, but it is also amplifying the vile thoughts of conquest deep in his heart!

Furthermore, he subtly hinted to himself: this person has captured his disciple, and any humiliation he inflicts upon him is perfectly justified.

But that's not the case.
Looking into Xu Xinming's unyielding eyes, he sighed inwardly.

Judging from this woman's will, which is so fierce, even if I really use all my means, I'm afraid it will only lead to her complete destruction, and it will be of no benefit to the search for Qingjun.

Moreover, if one continues to let one's mind be manipulated by the evil arts, sooner or later one will develop inner demons and even become a beast that one doesn't even recognize.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Ye had made his decision.

He withdrew his wicked hand, and the cruel smile on his face vanished, replaced by calm.

He casually took a clean Taoist robe from his storage bag, tossed it at her, and said indifferently:
"It's just a slight punishment."

Xu Xinming felt no gratitude whatsoever for his leniency.

Her pretty face was covered in frost as she silently draped the Taoist robe, which exuded masculinity, over her body, concealing the torn spring light.

She underestimated Chen Ye...

I thought he would let me manipulate him at will, but I didn't expect him to act so decisively and take the initiative!

What angered and horrified her even more was that the foolish white fur ball had actually informed Chen Ye of her existence beforehand!
Thus, knowing that he had no ill intentions towards Qingjun, Chen Ye dared to attack him without restraint!

Seeing that she remained silent, Chen Ye spoke again: "Your identity seems to be quite special?"

Xu Xinming remained silent for a moment, clutching her Taoist robe tightly. Finally, seemingly making some kind of compromise, she said coldly, "You should know... Qingjun's bloodline is the blood of a true dragon."

Chen Ye's pupils suddenly contracted!

He never expected that this mysterious girl in front of him would know Qingjun's biggest secret!

It should be noted that even Qingjun herself was completely unaware of this matter!
"I am her protector, but I have been sleeping in the shadows."

Xu Xinming's voice was devoid of any emotion as he slowly recounted the story.

"Once she has truly grown up, I... will disappear."

These words were rather vague and unclear.

What do you mean by saying that she will disappear once Qingjun grows up?

Protector?
It's more like a symbiotic relationship... she'll perish once Qingjun grows up?
However, Xu Xinming's willingness to tell the truth after such a great humiliation was far beyond Chen Ye's expectations.

"If you had known this would happen, why didn't you confess sooner?"

Chen Ye sighed. If she had told him the truth, he wouldn't have done something so outrageous.

She had to put on airs, as if she were some kind of great demon.

"I……"

Xu Xinming gritted her teeth. Wasn't she just trying to take the opportunity to punish and teach this bastard who bullied Qingjun a lesson by not being honest?

I never expected that he would turn the tables and teach me a lesson...

Besides, even if she were taught a lesson, would she bow down and submit to the man who humiliated her? Absolutely not!

but……

If we don't tell the truth, who knows what other outrageous things this man might do!
No matter how unwilling Xu Xinming was to back down, he had no other choice at this point.

Bowing down today is merely a temporary measure!

A pang of grief and indignation stirred within her, but her face remained as cold as frost.
"Why should I confess to you... Never mind, as for Qingjun, the demonic energy here is rich, which is suitable for nourishing his bloodline. He is still in a slumber and there is no danger to his life."

Xu Xinming paused, remembering a request he had once made to that fool—to help her obtain the Heart-Cleansing Lotus Seed for her so-called master.

Although she was extremely unwilling at that moment.

However, having promised Xu Qingjun, she could not go back on her word.

Xu Xinming's fiery red eyes stared intently at Chen Ye, the disgust and killing intent within them almost tangible.

But in the end, she took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed her almost boiling emotions.

"Humph."

She snorted coldly, slowly raised her slender, white hand, and pointed it at the air in the distance.

"Om-"

With a flick of her finger, the entire Demon Lake surged violently!

An altar flew in from afar!

It was that eerie altar built of bones and obsidian!
In the blink of an eye, it flew to Chen Ye's side.

The intricate magic patterns on it lit up instantly, emitting an eerie purplish-black light.

Chen Ye's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously wanted to retreat, but he saw that the restrictive power that was originally protecting Zhuoxinlian actually dissipated like ice and snow under the illumination of this purplish-black light.

"This is... This person is clearly only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, how can she have such methods? Or is it that she controls the formation here? But the formation here is obviously the formation of the Crossing Love Sect."

Chen Ye was puzzled, unaware that this formation originated from the Supreme Love Crossing Technique.

Xu Xinming is exceptionally talented and knows this formation inside and out. He can even use his true dragon bloodline to turn the tables and control the restrictions.

This matter was even more unexpected by the demonic cultivators of the Crossing Love Sect!

"You still won't take action?"

Xu Xinming's voice was cold, tinged with impatience.

"My power cannot be maintained for long. If we miss the opportunity and attract the attention of the Crossing Love Sect cultivators, you and I... will both die here!"

Chen Ye hesitated, fearing that Xu Xinming was planning to use the altar to plot against him.

Hearing the urging, he had a thought and manipulated Qingzhi to step forward and walk to the side of the demon pool.

Remove the ripe, golden lotus seeds.

Surprisingly, the harvesting process went exceptionally smoothly.

The golden lotus seed fell off automatically the moment it touched Qingzhi's fingertips, lying steadily in her palm before being handed over to Chen Ye.

A warm and pure power instantly flowed from his palm, bringing clarity to his soul, which had been turbulent due to the evil schemes.

nice one!
Chen Ye was overjoyed and quickly put the extremely precious lotus seed into his storage bag.

He turned to look at Xu Xinming on the altar, wanting to say something, but saw that she had already turned her head away, leaving him only with a cold and aloof back view.

"Now that you've got what you want, why aren't you getting out of here?" Her voice remained cold and emotionless as she waved her hand and pocketed the entire Heart-Cleansing Lotus, seemingly with other uses in mind.

Chen Ye shook his head: "If my disciple doesn't come out, why would I leave?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Xinming's pretty face, which had finally regained some composure, instantly showed a hint of irritation again.

Why is this man so difficult to deal with?!

"I'm sick!"

Xu Xinming let out a silent roar in his heart.

She knew that if she didn't hand over Xu Qingjun, this man would never give up.

But the problem is...

"That's all."

Xu Xinming sighed helplessly, a sly glint in his eyes.

Since we really can't get out, then... let's just make a fake one.

She looked at Chen Ye and said impatiently, "She's right where that Heart-Cleansing Lotus was before. Go over there and you'll see her."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye was overjoyed and, without bothering to argue with her any longer, quickly turned around and ran back the way he came.

When he returned to the cave, he indeed saw a small, silver-haired figure curled up on the ground, seemingly asleep.

"Qingjun!"

Chen Ye strode forward, grabbed the small body and hugged it tightly, then began to examine it anxiously.

"Master..."

Qingjun, nestled in his arms, slowly woke up. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked at Chen Ye with a blank expression.

"I...I don't know what happened. I think I fell asleep just now, and when I woke up I was here. Where's that pretty older sister? Did she give you any trouble?"

Seeing that she was safe and sound, Chen Ye finally felt completely relieved.

He shook his head and said gently, "It's alright, Master is here. Let's go home."

Qingjun obediently rested her little head on Chen Ye's chest, and coaxed him in her uniquely soft and sweet tone:
"Alright, Master, hurry up and get me out of this awful place, let's go!"

Holding the unharmed Qingjun in his arms, Chen Ye no longer hesitated. He identified the direction he had come from, held his disciple in one arm, summoned back the Qingzhi puppet with the other, and quickly ran out of the cave.

With the road they had cleared on their way there, the journey back was much smoother.

Soon, a glimmer of light appeared at the end of the passageway.

When Chen Ye carried Qingjun out of the deep cave entrance again, Li Qiuyun and Gao Ming, who were waiting outside, came to greet him almost simultaneously.

"Uncle Chen! Are you alright?!"

Seeing Chen Ye's pale face and the bloodstains at the corner of his mouth, Li Qiuyun's pretty face was full of worry. She quickly stepped forward, looked him up and down, and her beautiful eyes were full of concern.

"Master is injured?"

Qingjun, who was in Chen Ye's arms, also raised her head at the right time, stretched out her little hand, and touched Chen Ye's face.

"It's all Qingjun's fault for making Master worry."

The little girl sat comfortably in her master's lap.

Although this man was smelly and muscular... it was still quite comfortable to sit in his lap.

Li Qiuyun smiled slightly: "I didn't expect Qingjun to care so much about Master now..."

"Deacon Chen, what...what is this?"

Looking at Chen Ye's disheveled appearance and then at the unharmed girl in his arms, Gao Ming's eyes were filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Within this eastern valley, there is nothing but demonic energy and vengeful spirits.

Chen Ye is in the late stage of Qi Refining, how could he be injured?

"It's nothing, it's just that the vengeful spirits inside were rampaging, and I was accidentally injured while protecting Qingjun."

Chen Ye offered a casual explanation, which put Gao Ming at ease.

The vengeful spirits in the East Valley do indeed often cause disturbances.

It would be understandable if he were injured while protecting this frail girl.

Chen Ye handed Qingjun to Li Qiuyun, cupped his hands to Gao Ming, and said in a deep voice, "Thank you very much for guiding me today, Fellow Daoist Gao. I have other important matters to attend to, so I will not stay any longer. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will drink and chat with Chairman Luo again."

Seeing that he didn't want to say more, Gao Ming naturally didn't dare to ask any more questions and quickly and respectfully replied, "You're too kind, Deacon Chen. Please take care."

Chen Ye nodded, and without further delay, led Li Qiuyun and Qingjun away from this place of trouble.

……

The atmosphere was somewhat silent on the way back to the Jade Lizard Society's headquarters.

Looking at Chen Ye's pale face, Li Qiuyun wanted to ask him a few questions, but she didn't know where to begin.

Qingjun, on the other hand, was unusually quiet. She was obediently held by Li Qiuyun, but her dark phoenix eyes would occasionally glance at Chen Ye, who was walking at the front, with complex and inscrutable emotions.

"This man..."

Xu Xinming was filled with mixed feelings at this moment.

She had thought that this time, upon waking up, she could easily manipulate this master, whom she considered foolish, troublesome, evil, lecherous, and useless, and completely shatter his image in Qingjun's heart.

But she never expected that this person would have such a resilient mind and keen insight, not only seeing through her disguise, but even... even doing such a humiliating thing to her!
The thought of that humiliating scene just now made Xu Xinming grit his teeth in hatred.

But when she saw Chen Ye risking serious injury to break into the tide of vengeful spirits for "her," the affection and worry that belonged to Qingjun welled up uncontrollably in her heart.

This contradictory and complex feeling made her feel extremely irritable and... confused.

She hated this man.

But she had to admit that this man didn't seem... as bad as she had imagined.

do not care!
She was determined to avenge herself!

Xu Xinming thought bitterly to himself, "In the future, I will definitely cut you into a thousand pieces! No... that would be too easy on you. I will imprison you and humiliate you day and night, making you taste the most painful tortures in the world!"

She was filled with rage, and an overwhelming sense of exhaustion surged from the deepest recesses of her soul, engulfing her consciousness like a tidal wave.

"Well……"

"Master..."

Qingjun, standing behind them, suddenly called out softly.

Chen Ye turned his head and saw the little girl being held by Li Qiuyun. He narrowed his eyes and looked at his master suspiciously.

"Master, have you done something bad?!"

Chen Ye's body stiffened abruptly: "What bad thing! What bad thing could Master possibly do!"

"really?"

The little girl drew out her voice, her soft eyebrows furrowing.
"But Qingjun seems to be dreaming that her master is bullying a very, very beautiful older sister."

Li Qiuyun listened silently, but couldn't help glancing at Chen Ye with some suspicion.

Uncle Chen has been staying in Donggou Valley for so long, could it be because there's a female demon inside...?

Chen Ye coughed twice, but his voice involuntarily rose a few decibels: "What nonsense are you talking about! It was just a nightmare. That cave was filled with demonic energy, and children are easily affected. It's alright, we're out now."

Qingjun pursed her lips and yawned.

She was really tired. She nuzzled her head against Li Qiuyun's chest and then fell into a deep, comfortable sleep.

……

Chen Ye then led the group back to Granny Li's courtyard.

When Zhiwei saw her master return, she rushed to greet him. When she saw Chen Ye's pale face, her heart skipped a beat.

"I'm fine, it's just a minor injury."

Chen Ye smiled and comforted her, trying to remove her small hand from his body.

But this time, the usually obedient and sensible eldest disciple was incredibly stubborn.

The older girl bit her lip, no matter how Chen Ye tried to comfort her, her small hands, which carried a faint spiritual light, kept wandering over his body, checking his physical condition inch by inch.

She could sense that although her master's spiritual power was abundant, it was somewhat disordered.

"Master, you're lying."

Zhiwei raised her head, her dark eyes welling up with tears.

"You're badly hurt."

She deeply regretted it; if only she had known this would happen, she would have gone to Donggou Valley with her master.

Seeing her like this, Chen Ye's heart softened, and he could only sigh helplessly, letting her do as she pleased.

Li Qiuyun, who was standing to the side, felt a mix of emotions as she watched this scene.

Recalling that she had only been asking questions and hadn't immediately stepped forward to treat Uncle Chen's injuries, she felt ashamed.

"I am... not even as good as a child."

After explaining the whole story to Granny Li and her family, Granny Li immediately made a decision, packed her bags, and decided to go to Linsong Valley with Chen Ye.

After some deliberation, Li Dagen finally decided that rather than being a rogue cultivator with an uncertain future in the market, he should follow Brother Chen to the sect to farm, where he might have a greater chance of success.

So, the next morning, the group set off in a grand procession for Lin Song Valley.

When Chen Ye used the array eye jade tablet to open the empty valley gate again, everyone's mood was completely different from when they came.

"Wow, this place is so spacious!"

As soon as Granny Li entered the valley, she was overjoyed to see the vast valley, which, though somewhat messy, was full of spiritual energy.

Li Dagen's eyes lit up. He could clearly feel that the concentration of spiritual energy here was more than twice as concentrated as that of their dilapidated courtyard in the shantytown!
Practicing here will surely yield twice the results with half the effort!
In the end, Granny Li and her family lived in the outer valley area, which was the same area where the outer disciples had previously lived.

Chen Ye also breathed a sigh of relief.

With Grandma Li and Yuanyuan by their side, the two girls' childhoods were not too boring.

Moreover, he knows the Li family inside and out, and with the Li family helping him look after Linsong Valley and handle miscellaneous affairs, he feels much more at ease than with others.

Inside the courtyard, everyone was doing their job, creating a lively and bustling scene.

Chen Ye smiled knowingly as he looked at the lively scene before him.

He exchanged a few more words with Li Qiuyun and Granny Li, and then, citing that his injuries had not yet healed and he needed to rest, he returned to his quiet room alone.

Chen Ye skillfully set up a soundproof barrier on the door before finally relaxing and sitting cross-legged.

This trip to Donggou Valley was extremely dangerous, but the rewards were equally enormous.

With a sudden thought, he began to take stock of his spoils.

The first thing that appeared before him was the Bagua mirror that had blocked the fatal blow for him.

The Bagua Mirror was obtained from Li Guangzong and is a top-grade first-tier protective magic artifact.

At this moment, the mirror was covered with spiderweb-like cracks, its spiritual light dimmed, and its essence had been damaged.

"Pity."

Chen Ye stroked the cracks on the mirror, feeling a pang of heartache.

This Bagua mirror is of high quality; if it weren't for it, he would probably have already become a victim of Ji Yueze's sword. "Perhaps Master Gu has a chance to repair the Bagua mirror..."

He carefully put away the broken Bagua mirror and then took out the flying sword he had obtained from Ji Yueze's corpse.

The moment the sword was drawn, the temperature in the entire quiet room dropped several degrees.

The sword is entirely ivory in color, with a sharp blade that gleams coldly. Thousands of intricate runes flow across its surface, and the words "Flying Light" are inscribed at the hilt.

"This is... a second-tier magic weapon!"

Chen Ye was startled. No wonder Ji Yueze's Myriad Manifestations Sword Technique was so extraordinary. It turned out that the Flying Light Sword was a second-grade low-level magic weapon!
"It's strange, since that demonic cultivator let him stay here and took his storage bag, why didn't he take this low-grade second-tier magic weapon?"

Chen Ye was slightly puzzled.

Could it be that, to be precise, Ji Yueze is not trapped here, but is practicing asceticism here?
He shook his head, without thinking too deeply, and solemnly took out the greatest gain of this trip from the deepest part of the storage bag—the golden lotus seed.

The lotus seeds are no bigger than a thumb, crystal clear, as if carved from gold and glass, with shimmering light flowing over them, making them an extraordinary sight.

"As expected of a second-tier spiritual plant."

Suppressing his excitement, Chen Ye carefully placed the lotus seeds before calming down and examining his own injuries.

I don’t know, I’m scared.

He used his divine sense to look inside himself and saw that his body was in complete disarray.

All the internal organs suffered varying degrees of displacement and damage, and several major meridians were injured by the fierce sword energy of the Myriad Manifestations Sword Technique.

If it weren't for the powerful life force of the Grandmaster-level Evergreen Skill keeping him alive, his injuries would probably be even more severe right now.

What's even more troublesome is the aftermath of such malicious schemes.

Although he managed to preserve his clarity of mind and spirit using the Seven Luminaries Soul Nourishing Method, the malevolent curse clung to him like a maggot, refusing to dissipate.

He took a deep breath, ignoring the pain in his body, and instead focused all his attention on his vast sea of ​​consciousness.

"Seven Luminaries Nourish the Soul, Galaxy Suppresses the Gods!"

Once Chen Ye made up his mind, the Jupiter star that had been silently spinning deep within his sea of ​​consciousness suddenly shone brightly!
In a flash, he saw Xu Xinming's beautiful face, a mixture of shame and anger, and Ji Yueze's hideous face, his eyes wide with rage. Sometimes, a surge of overwhelming greed welled up within him, a desire to possess the Heart-Cleansing Lotus. At other times, boundless fear rose within him, as if he had returned to the desperate situation of being surrounded by countless vengeful spirits...

However, no matter how these illusions and emotions impacted him, Chen Ye's true self remained steadfast and unmoved, protected by the Seven Luminaries.

After an unknown amount of time, once the aftereffects of the treacherous scheme had completely dissipated, Chen Ye felt his entire mind suddenly become clear.

His divine sense surged dramatically at that moment!
The perception range, which originally could only cover a radius of several dozen steps, instantly expanded outward to two hundred steps!
He could feel that in the next room, Zhiwei and Qingjun, those two small figures, were sleeping in each other's arms; their breathing, their heartbeats…

This feeling of having everything under his control gave Chen Ye a sense of power from the bottom of his heart!
[Seven Luminaries Soul Nourishing Technique Mastery: 1/200]

The Seven Luminaries Soul Nourishing Technique has successfully broken through to the Great Perfection!

He had been stuck at the minor level of this technique for several months. Today, the removal of the curse turned out to be a blessing in disguise, greatly enhancing his spiritual power and allowing him to successfully break through the technique.

At this moment, the Jupiter in the sea of ​​consciousness also became more vivid and detailed.

"At this point, one can usually begin to visualize the Sun and Moon... However, I am going to follow the path of the Seven Stars!"

Chen Ye seemed to be deep in thought.

In fact, the normal cultivation process of the Seven Luminaries Soul Nourishing Method is to first visualize the star corresponding to the cultivator's strongest spiritual root, and then visualize the Sun and Moon stars after completing the visualization.

However, the path he wanted to take was the same one taken by Qingjun in the original storyline, which was to visualize the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth) together.

Chen Ye slowly opened his eyes. In those dark eyes, it seemed as if stars were flowing, making one's heart tremble.

The lingering effects of the malicious scheme have been completely eliminated.

Next up is the lotus seed decoction.

These lotus seeds can be consumed directly, so Chen Ye naturally wouldn't waste such a precious resource by leaving the storage bag empty.

He took out the lotus seeds that had been rinsed in the water and swallowed them without hesitation.

The lotus seeds melted in his mouth, transforming into a cool, sweet, and warm current that flowed down his throat and into his stomach.

The next moment, a holy power, enough to cleanse the body and soul, suddenly erupted!
Like sweet rain falling from the heavens, or the purest primordial energy at the beginning of chaos, it forcefully washed over every corner of his body.

"puff--!"

Chen Ye felt a sweet taste in his throat and spat out another mouthful of blood!
However, this time what gushed out was not bright red blood, but a stagnant blood with a foul odor!

This is precisely the stubborn elixir blockage that he has accumulated in his body over a long period of time due to the consumption of large amounts of elixirs!

These obstacles, usually hidden and unnoticed, were gradually blocking his meridians and hindering his progress in cultivation.

Now, under the cleansing of the lotus seeds, these previously intractable obstacles are forcibly expelled from the body.

This process was extremely painful.

Chen Ye felt as if his meridians, bones, and even his internal organs were being constantly torn apart and reassembled.

"Damn...why does it hurt so much?"

Chen Ye gritted his teeth, his mind sinking into his sea of ​​consciousness, struggling to guide the medicinal power.

……

Three days have passed since Master went into the meditation room to heal his injuries.

"Senior sister! Qingjun has actually reached the fifth level of Qi Refining! She's caught up with you, senior sister!"

The little girl was surprised to find that she had already reached the fifth level of Qi Refining!
Could it be that I really am a genius?

Seeing her junior sister's smug expression, Zhiwei was genuinely happy for her.

But I always felt that something was wrong.

How could my junior sister break through so quickly?

Since returning from Donggou Valley that day, my junior sister has been eating and sleeping better than before.

Moreover, his talent seems to be getting better and better.

Now they've actually... caught up with me.

Thinking of this, Zhiwei couldn't help but feel a little frustrated. She was the eldest senior sister... Therefore, she had to be the master's most outstanding disciple!
Just as Zhiwei was about to praise her junior sister, she suddenly sensed something, abruptly raised her head, and looked in the direction of the supervisor's residence.

The wooden door, which had been tightly closed for three days, slowly opened in the morning sunlight.

Chen Ye's figure emerged from within.

"Master!"

When the two young girls saw their master emerge from seclusion, their eyes lit up, and they quickly went to greet him.

"Master, look! Qingjun has reached the fifth level of Qi Refining!" Qingjun was the first to claim credit, tilting her little face up and waiting for her master's praise.

Zhiwei carefully observed her master and noticed that his eyes seemed to have become much deeper. As he stood there, his aura was restrained, yet he gave people a sense of profound composure.

"Master, your injury..."

"It's no longer serious."

Chen Ye smiled and patted his two disciples' heads, his gaze falling on the medicinal herb garden.

Since Granny Li and her family moved in, they have tidied up the messy herb garden to an orderly manner. Although there are only two people, they have done a better job than eight outer disciples.

That makes perfect sense.

The disciple only cared about the quality of the spiritual plants, while Granny Li and her family regarded Linsong Valley as their new home and naturally cared more about it.

"After such a long delay, it's time to start managing the herb garden, and also that mysterious Cold Flame cultivator."

Chen Ye summoned the old man and his two apprentices to his side and explained in detail his plan to recruit independent cultivators and fruit farmers from the market.

Upon hearing this, the old man with the dark complexion looked troubled: "Brother Chen, this... I'm afraid it won't be easy. Most of those fruit farmers have their lives controlled by the Wei family, how dare they offend them and come to us for help?"

He was a native of Yunxifang and a freelance cultivator, so he knew about Taoshanfang nearby, which was why Chen Ye summoned him.

Chen Ye pondered: "A generous reward will surely attract brave men. Given the current situation in Taoshanfang, those fruit farmers, having nowhere else to turn, might very well choose Linsong Valley."

In the evening, Chen Ye and the old man in black returned to Taolin Village.

Behind Chen Ye was a little girl who was looking around curiously.

When the little girl heard that her master was going to Peach Blossom Village, she insisted on coming along.

The reason is simple: last time, all the spirit peaches were fed to the master, and the little girl only ate a few, not enough to satisfy her cravings!

The old man with dark skin held up a wooden sign beside Chen Ye, which listed the recruitment conditions:
"Lin Song Herb Garden is recruiting ten spirit plant growers. Room and board are provided, and the daily wage is forty spirit sands, settled daily without delay. In addition, all applicants can receive an advance of three days' wages."

The announcement caused an uproar throughout Taolin Village.

Forty spirit stones daily!

That's equivalent to twelve spirit stones a month!

Such conditions are simply unheard of!

Chen Ye had anticipated this.

He deliberately set generous conditions, since the sect would cover it anyway, and as long as the compensation wasn't too outrageous, it would be reimbursed.

However, after a brief commotion, the fruit farmers retreated several steps in unison, as if the tide were receding.

They whispered amongst themselves, but no one dared to take another step closer to the wooden sign.

Some of the more timid ones had already started packing up their stalls, preparing to leave early, for fear of getting involved with Chen Ye in any way.

Time passed by minute by minute.

As the sun gradually set in the west, the crowds in the market began to thin out.

But Chen Ye's desk remained empty.

The wooden sign that advertised the generous terms now stood there all alone, as if it had become a joke.

"Master, they're so strange," Qingjun asked, swinging her legs listlessly. "They don't even try to earn spirit stones. Are they stupid?"

The old man, seemingly tireless, held up the sign and exclaimed, "Brother Chen, it seems the Wei family has considerable influence here. Even if they don't show their faces or make a sound, their invisible intimidation is more effective than swords."

The little girl asked in confusion, "But no matter how powerful the Wei family is, can they compare to the Lingyin Sect? Linsong Valley is a property of the Lingyin Sect!"

"It's not that simple... These fruit farmers have lived in Taoshanfang for generations, and the Wei family is involved in every aspect of their lives. Even if the Wei family doesn't dare to openly oppose me, their intimidation has already made these rogue cultivators dare not get involved with me."

Chen Ye spoke calmly, without any sign of anxiety.

……

Taoshanfang, Xiji.

Unlike the bustling market, this is a residential area where independent cultivators gather. Rows of houses built of bluestone are simple but clean.

Inside one of the small huts, a dim oil lamp was lit.

The house was small and simply furnished, but it was spotless.

Several baskets of unsold peaches were piled up in the corner, emitting a faint fruity fragrance;
On an old wooden table, there were several dishes of home-style side dishes, and a bowl of steaming Linggu porridge was rising with wisps of heat.

"Sigh, how are we going to get through this year?"

An elderly man with a dark complexion and graying temples looked at the spirit peach in the corner and sighed heavily.

He was Lin Qiongyu's father, an ordinary freelance cultivator and fruit farmer.

"Yes," said the woman who was mending clothes nearby, her brow furrowed with worry. "I heard that the Wei family is going to lower the price of peaches again tomorrow. If this continues, let alone the spirit stones we need to buy medicine today, we might not even have enough to eat."

"Father, Mother, don't worry."

Lin Qiongyu held a bowl of freshly served porridge, her face showing a feigned ease.
"There's always a way out. I'll go ask again tomorrow to see if there's any work available. In any case... we won't go hungry."

She gently placed the bowl of porridge in front of a small, thin figure on the table.

It was a young girl, sitting quietly in a specially made wooden wheelchair.

She had a delicate, porcelain-doll-like face, but it was sickly pale.

Her long, slightly wavy hair, as black as ink, cascaded over her shoulders, making her petite figure appear even more slender and delicate.

She is Lin Qiongyu's younger sister, Lin Jin.

She just sat quietly, neither crying nor laughing, nor speaking.

Her almond-shaped eyes, which were originally lovely, were like a stagnant pool, without the slightest ripple.

Lin Qiongyu tenderly picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful of warm porridge, gently blew on it, and then held it to her younger sister's lips, her voice gentle: "Come on, open your mouth. Drink the porridge, and you'll get better faster."

Lin Jin seemed not to hear, and just stared blankly ahead.

Lin Qiongyu wasn't annoyed. She just patiently repeated it over and over until her sister's pale little mouth finally opened slightly, mechanically.

Just then, a loud knocking broke the silence inside the house.

The elderly couple's expressions changed, and they looked flustered.

Lin Qiongyu's body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment. But she quickly regained her composure, put down her bowl, and said gently to her parents, "Father, Mother, you eat first. I'll go out and take a look."

She got up and walked towards the door.

Behind her, Lin Jin, who had been as quiet as a puppet, had her empty eyes move almost imperceptibly as they fell on her sister's back.

……

Lin Qiongyu pushed open the door, and sure enough, there stood the three familiar figures outside.

"Oh, our beautiful Lin, when are you planning to hide away?" The tall female cultivator at the head of the group said with her arms crossed and a forced smile.

“Sister Zhang,” Lin Qiongyu said in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant, “it was agreed that it would be ten days, and today is only the seventh day, you…”

"What? Can't we sisters come to see you in advance? Are you afraid you'll run away with your sickly little sister?" another female cultivator sneered.

"I borrowed the spirit stones to buy life-extending pills today. I remember every single one. I will definitely return them in full ten days." Lin Qiongyu clenched her fists, keeping her tone calm.

Left with no other choice, she had to borrow spirit stones from the three Zhang sisters.

The three Zhang sisters, all at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, had also allied themselves with a steward from the Wei family, making them quite famous in Xiji, though mostly for their bad reputation.

This is because these three often used coercion and enticement to force rogue cultivators to lend them spirit stones at exorbitant interest rates.

Although Lin Qiongyu knew how formidable the three sisters were, her younger sister was terminally ill... In desperation, she tried anything and everything.

"Repay? With what?"

The tall female cultivator stepped forward and lightly poked Lin Qiongyu's chest with her nails, painted with bright red henna.

"You think you can sell your body at Yunshang Pavilion? Or... has the great beauty Lin finally come to her senses and is planning to use your body to exchange for spirit stones? You should have said so earlier! There's a line of Taoist priests in the market who want to taste you, stretching from the west market to the east market!"

Another female cultivator beside her covered her mouth and sneered, "Sister, don't say that. Fairy Lin is very aloof now! I heard that she's now relying on herself rather than heaven or earth, and is preparing to take the path of ascetic cultivation."

All three of them were gloating.

Lin Qiongyu was famous in Xiji for her beauty, which made them quite jealous.

Unfortunately, this person is from Yunshang Pavilion, so it's not good to offend him...

But now, for some reason, Lin Qiongyu seems to have taken the wrong medicine and has actually left Yunshang Pavilion.

"Relying on herself?" The first female cultivator seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world. "With her paltry cultivation level? Don't be ridiculous! Some women are just lucky, born with a seductive face, hoping to seduce a man and rise to the top in one step. Ha... I think she might be practicing some kind of shady, erotic cultivation technique?"

"But she's a whore!"

Those last two words, like poisoned steel needles, pierced Lin Qiongyu's heart.

The truth is often the most hurtful...

The girl gritted her teeth, her nails digging deep into her palms, and said, word by word, "I'm not a whore..."

She knew she wasn't a good person.

She once used her looks to swindle resources from male cultivators, such as Xue Chengjun...

But she has never sold her body, nor has she ever practiced any evil cultivation techniques involving dual cultivation and absorbing essence!

"no?"

The tall female cultivator sneered, her eyes filled with immense pleasure at seeing Lin Qiongyu's disheveled state.

This is exactly the effect she wants.

She wanted to crush this once-powerful woman under her feet and tear her hypocritical facade to shreds.

"Sisters, let's go."

Having achieved their goal of humiliation, the three Zhang sisters were no longer willing to waste any more time here.

They swayed their hips and walked away amidst a chorus of harsh laughter, leaving behind only one sentence:

"Beautiful Lin, remember, there are only three days left. If you can't pay back the spirit stones, don't blame us sisters for selling your sickly little sister to the black market to pay off the debt!"

Lin Qiongyu bit her lip tightly, letting the taste of blood spread in her mouth.

She slowly closed the door, leaned against the cold door panel, and slid helplessly to the ground.

"Qiongyu, what's wrong..." The woman came out from the inner room upon hearing the voice. She looked at her daughter's distraught appearance and felt extremely distressed.

Lin Qiongyu forced a smile, shook her head, and said in a hoarse voice, "Mother, I'm fine. I'm just... a little tired."

She didn't want her parents to worry about her.

She stood up, returned to the table, picked up the bowl of slightly cooled porridge, and continued to feed it spoonful by spoonful to her younger sister, who was like a puppet.

Only in this way could she find a sliver of meaning in her existence...

Seeing his daughter's feigned strength, the father, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly slammed his hand on the table and said in a deep voice, "Damn it! I don't care anymore!"

He looked at his bewildered wife and daughter and said, word by word, "Tomorrow, I will go to Linsong Valley to apply for the job! Even if I offend the Wei family, it will be better than... the present situation!"

These words were like a thunderclap out of nowhere, leaving Lin Qiongyu and her mother stunned.

Should we go to Lin Song Valley?

Isn't that like asking a tiger for its skin?

Everyone knows that the Wei family is all-powerful in Taoshanfang, and that Steward Wei is especially vengeful.

These days, Steward Wei publicly resigned from Lin Song Valley and took eight disciples to Wei Family Peach Garden.

Although Steward Wei did not make any explicit statements, entering Linsong Valley at this juncture would definitely make him a thorn in the side of the Wei family!

"Lin Song Valley..."

Lin Qiongyu murmured to herself, her cold fingernails tracing across her delicate cheek.

Bitch...

Since they all say they're prostitutes, why don't they actually become prostitutes...?

"Father, Mother, don't worry about it for now... Qiongyu has another plan!"

　Thank you to reader 20250625184146115 for the 100 coins!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)