When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

When Chu Xianlan woke up again, her mind was still in a daze, and she hadn't come to her senses.

He was in a daze when he realized he was standing in a cold pool.

The water in the pool, which should have been icy cold, was kept at a comfortable temperature; the water did not feel cold when it touched the skin.

Continue to stare blankly.

...How many times have I come to the Cold Pool these days?

Chu Xianlan stared blankly at the water's surface. Through the rippling water, she could vaguely see a long, white tail with fine scales coiled at the bottom of the pool.

……Tail?

A snake's tail? A dragon's tail?

No matter what kind of tail it is, it makes people feel scared from the bottom of their hearts.

Dealing with her normal master was already a huge challenge, and Chu Xianlan was still in a daze and couldn't believe it. In her half-demon state, there really were two...

I'm so lucky to be alive.

The next second, his back was pressed tightly against a firm, warm body, and smooth, slender arms wrapped around his waist, with palms gently massaging his abdomen.

Yi Chen hadn't expected his period of passion to arrive at this exact time. Considering that Chu Xianlan was experiencing this for the first time, and knowing he had forced his Daoist partner, he softened his tone repeatedly:

"Does it hurt? Is there anything that's uncomfortable?"

Chu Xianlan now has a conditioned reflex whenever her stomach is pressed. This time she finally reacted, her unfocused eyes gradually focused, and she regained sensation in her body. Only then did she realize how stiff and sore her body was, and how her limbs felt like they had just grown out and had not yet been tamed.

The slightest movement causes spasms and tightness in the side of the leg.

"hiss--"

Chu Xianlan's expression was indescribable. She bit her lower lip and swallowed back the "it's nothing" that was on the tip of her tongue.

Yi Chen felt extremely sorry for the boy. He lovingly kissed the boy's damp forehead, gently easing his muscles and bones as he apologized in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry."

After saying that, he held his partner's lips in his mouth and rubbed them gently for a while.

Above the icy pool, a sticky chirping sound continued.

"It was my fault. I will be more careful in the future."

"……Baby?"

"Xianlan, talk to me, don't be afraid of your teacher, okay?"

Chu Xianlan was kissed for no reason, and then heard these words that sounded like they were being coaxed to a child. It was as if she had been hit with a doubles combo. She couldn't describe her feelings at this moment.

He tilted his head back slightly, his silky black hair cascading down, and said, his face flushed, "Master, please stop... I'm fine."

Cramps are really nothing serious.

after all.

More than just cramps, there's an even more indescribable feeling that lingers.

Holding his disciple's warm and soft body in his arms, Yi Chen rubbed his chin against the top of the other's soft hair and explained, "Your Heavenly Spiritual Root is just beginning to take shape. Retaining some of it for refinement and absorption will be beneficial to your cultivation."

...These words sound so familiar.

Ahhh! Isn't this Hua Ling's theory that saved her more than ten years of detours?! How could Master approve of this fallacy?!

Chu Xianlan actually began to doubt her master, whom she trusted implicitly... Is that really the reason?

Yi Chen looked away and said in a low voice, "If you don't like it, I won't keep you next time."

"..."

When faced with a difficult question, he simply didn't answer. Chu Xianlan took a couple of breaths. His skin was fair, and it was very noticeable when it turned red. With his rosy face, he changed the subject and started recounting the events of the past few days.

Yi Chen held his disciple tenderly in his arms, occasionally stroking his soft hair, as always, and listened quietly to what he had to say.

When Chu Xianlan mentioned the Three Phases Venerable, Yi Chen paused briefly, his eyes flickered, and then he asked in a low voice:

"If the three ministers were not lying, and sacrificing the Heavenly Spirit Root could truly bring peace to the world, what would you do?"

The moment he asked the question, a feeling of lingering fear welled up in his heart. He knew his disciple too well. The young man had never lacked a sense of righteousness and responsibility. He possessed the purity of a child. If it really came to that kind of crisis, and he faced a difficult choice... Chu Xianlan would not only think of himself.

Unexpectedly, her master asked this question. Chu Xianlan pondered for a moment, then turned her head and whispered a few words in Yi Chen's ear.

Upon hearing his answer, Yi Chen was taken aback for a moment.

"real?"

Chu Xianlan nodded repeatedly, her gaze fixed on the other person's unfathomable eyes, a faint and charming curve appearing at the corners of her lips.

"Of course it's true, because..."

-

The commotion in the cultivation world has never subsided.

All of Ji Ran's merits and demerits over the years have been made public, and the infamy and injustice suffered by the thousand-year-old Crown Prince Ji Li have finally been redressed.

As one truth after another is revealed—from a thousand years ago, from a thousand years later, from humans, demons, and half-demons—the stories twist and turn, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. The worldviews and perceptions of the masses are overturned time and again. In their dizziness, they are like a badger jumping around in a melon patch, eating this and that, their brains almost bursting.

Where did the mysterious dragon go? And how should the half-demon's plight be resolved?

So, the cultivators decided to set aside the mind-bending truths and instead pick up the most relaxing gossip about the Southern Cang royal family to adjust their mood.

Everyone is very curious—

Who should sit on the throne?

"I think, from any perspective, our virtuous and talented First Princess is the most suitable."

The eldest princess grew up in the imperial family from a young age. She has the world and all living beings in her heart, and she is both wise and brave with remarkable cultivation!

"But His Highness the Third Prince possesses a celestial spiritual root! Even a true dragon manifested for him; isn't that the will of Heaven?"

The Third Prince possesses a Heavenly Spiritual Root and has made invaluable contributions to purifying the world's malevolent energy; he is a descendant of the dragon!

"Tsk, you have a point..."

"Hey, wait a minute, isn't anyone supporting the Fourth Prince?"

Fourth, the Fourth Prince is also a dark horse, a rising star. He... he has a lot of room for improvement!

But no one expected that at this crucial moment when everyone was discussing it with great interest, the Southern Cang royal family announced a shocking piece of news that reverberated throughout the cultivation world—

The royal family of Nancang is gone!

The crowd was in a daze.

The three crown princes reached a consensus, and overnight, all royal titles were abolished. There was no longer a throne or court, and the Book of Sinners, which had been sealed for a thousand years, was thrown into a raging fire in public.

The thousand-year imperial rule came to an end.

Of course, this was not a decision made on a whim.

The royal family was dissolved, and the Immortal Alliance was established.

The palace could still be used after some modifications, and with a little renovation, it became the headquarters of the Immortal Alliance.

Under Ji Fuyao's leadership, several top sects in the Southern Cang Continent took the lead in spontaneously joining the Immortal Alliance. Together, they would manage the secular and cultivation affairs of the human realm, discussing important matters and making decisions on important issues.

Would this be a good idea?

Perhaps the passage of time will give us the answer.

Later, a group of cultivators earnestly invited True Person Zhiyue to take charge of the Immortal Alliance.

Master Zhiyue readily agreed, "Alright."

After verbally agreeing, she turned around and waved goodbye without leaving a trace, directly dumping all the work on Pei Fang'an.

At this moment, Pei Fang'an stood in front of the Immortal Alliance headquarters, wiping away tears and lamenting his fate.

"Junior brother, you need to do something about our master! She's so irresponsible! I'm already busy enough managing the Taiyi Sect, and Xiao Jin and Huan Du are arguing all the time. How can I possibly manage everything?"

Yi Chen stood aside and nodded, indicating his understanding of his senior brother's hard work.

"How about..." Pei Fang'an had a sudden inspiration and waved his fan, saying, "How about you take over the affairs of the Immortal Alliance on behalf of the Taiyi Sect?"

He was extremely worried about his junior's socialization.

Yi Chen shook his head and said seriously, "Senior brother, I have other important matters to attend to."

"Huh?" Pei Fang'an was stunned. This was the first time she had heard Yi Chen say something like this. She was full of doubt and confusion. "What's the matter?"

Besides cultivation, what other important matters could Junior Brother have?

Yi Chen replied, "To accompany my Daoist partner on an expedition, to mine."

"What?!" Pei Fang'an's mind went blank.

Yi Chen raised his eyes and looked ahead.

The sunlight was perfect, and golden rays streamed down the long steps in front of the palace.

A group of energetic young cultivators filed out of the Immortal Alliance gate, full of vitality. The cultivators chatted and laughed, surrounding a tall young man dressed in a white and gold robe.

The sunlight seemed to favor him, with dappled light spots outlining his profile like scattered gold. The young man wore a gentle smile, his mere presence captivating all who looked at him.

How could Yi Chen possibly look away?

I've always been reluctant to part with it.

After all, they are the most precious people in the world.

The disciple he raised with his own hands, the one he cherished in the palm of his hand, never imagined that he would ever let go from the moment he first took his hand. Watching him grow into a graceful young man, at the age of youthful exuberance, his wings gradually growing stronger, his brows and eyes bearing the marks of his own.

He placed his unwavering trust in him, and no matter what happened, he was determined to go against the tide to be with him. Unbeknownst to him, he also gave him everything he could.

Just now.

Surrounded by the crowd, Chu Xianlan seemed to have a telepathic connection. She suddenly turned her head, her gaze piercing through the crowd and accurately meeting Yi Chen's eyes.

The smile that bloomed in that instant was like spring filling the world, and the robes fluttering in the sunlight were like birds taking flight.

I heard a sound from afar.

"Master!"

—End of text—

It's finished! Thank you all for your support over the past six months! I'm so sad to say goodbye to all of you who followed my updates and stayed with me. I love you all so much (heart emoji)! This book was a challenge I tried with a writing style I'd never used before, so I often suffered from writer's block and all sorts of anxiety, haha. But now that it's finished, I have no regrets! Thank you to all my darlings for your boundless understanding and love, for accompanying me and them on this journey!

Ahhh, I really love Lan Yichen and Xianlan so much! A filial disciple and a rebellious master are a match made in heaven; it's only natural for a master to fall in love with his disciple! (Applause, everyone!)

They are the two most affectionate protagonists I have ever written. They would exchange longing glances when they were alone in a room, which led to them kissing without me even thinking about it (pondering). Hehe, I hope they will be happy forever, and I hope you will be happy forever too!

Remember to participate in the giveaway for free merchandise after the series concludes on Weibo! Follow us on Weibo @琴岭岭, enter now and the winner will be announced in a week! Also, our Weibo supertopic is called: 【兰枝绕星尘】, where many amazing artists have created content!

There will also be side stories! Besides the "what if" scenario I promised everyone in the author's notes—where the master finds a five-year-old puppy—you can leave a comment if there's anything else you'd like to see. I'll write it after I take a break~ If you like this book, please give me a five-star rating and a long review!!

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Tomato Novels @Qinling 2025.4.30