Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

The first thing I sensed was the presence of colorful butterflies, and a faint scent of ink filled the room. My spiritual power conjured up the image of a girl sitting by the window, holding a yellowed book, her fingertips lightly tracing the pages, her gaze focused and earnest.

"Not bad, not bad, she has a learning attitude." Su Baichen nodded to himself. He knew that Cai Die liked reading and might have a talent for learning. Reading more books could also broaden her knowledge.

Then, the soul force turned to the next room, where a faint sound of water could be heard.

When he sensed that familiar figure, Su Baichen's soul power suddenly paused, then quickly withdrew like a startled rabbit.

"Holy crap, Yun Yun is actually here...!" His cheeks flushed slightly, and he quickly muttered "Don't look at what you shouldn't see," but the image of the woman's aloof and beautiful face involuntarily surfaced in his mind. He quickly cut off his thoughts and redirected his spiritual power elsewhere.

Inside Little Fairy Doctor's room, the girl sat cross-legged in a wooden tub. Her brows were slightly furrowed, her expression focused and resolute. Her slender fingers formed cultivation hand seals, and with each breath, a large amount of spiritual energy from the Foundation Establishment Elixir in the water was absorbed into Little Fairy Doctor's body.

A hint of relief flashed in Su Baichen's eyes. Ever since Cai Die brought Little Fairy Doctor back a few days ago, he had tailored a cultivation plan to Little Fairy Doctor's physique.

The Calamity Poison Body is too domineering, and awakening it too early will only backfire on oneself, so he asked Little Fairy Doctor to use Foundation Building Elixir to lay a foundation first.

This Foundation Building Elixir not only accelerates cultivation but also subtly strengthens the body, preparing it for future exposure to poisonous battle qi.

"Once she breaks through to the Dou Zhe realm, her physique will be strong enough to withstand the erosion of the poison. Then, she can use specially made poisonous herbs to assist in her cultivation and gradually unlock the Calamity Poison Body."

Su Baichen thought to himself, "This way, the ferocity of the poison can be suppressed to the maximum extent. Even if an accident occurs in the future, the crisis can be temporarily resolved by releasing poisonous fighting energy or sealing it."

With Little Fairy Doctor's talent and the aid of Foundation Building Elixir, breaking through to the Dou Zhe level is only a matter of time. Once she activates the Calamity Poison Body, its domineering characteristics will allow her cultivation speed to advance by leaps and bounds, making it not impossible for her to catch up with Cao Ying.

Thinking of his eldest disciple, Su Baichen immediately changed the direction of his soul power and probed towards Cao Ying's room.

But upon this inquiry, his expression instantly darkened.

Inside the room, the girl lay sprawled on the bed, drool still glistening at the corner of her mouth, fast asleep. The blanket had been kicked to the foot of the bed, and her sleeping posture was anything but elegant.

The Divine Journey Fire Refining Technique, which should have been practiced day and night, showed not even a trace of battle qi fluctuation at this moment.

"That traitorous disciple!" Su Baichen carefully reviewed his soul power and was immediately filled with anger.

Cao Ying has been completely out of control these past few days: she sleeps soundly at night, doesn't wake up until late afternoon, and spends her afternoons either lounging around or bothering the Little Fairy Doctor who is cultivating. She tries to steal her spiritual liquid or teases her cultivation posture, and then goes back to sleep at night, completely forgetting about cultivation.

"Are you kidding me!" Su Baichen's chest heaved slightly, a surge of anger rising uncontrollably. He had valued Cao Ying highly when he taught her the Divine Travel Fire Refining Technique, but this girl, instead of cherishing the top-tier technique, spent her days indulging in slacking off, a complete waste of talent.

Unable to bear it any longer, Su Baichen condensed his soul power into an invisible sound wave and let out a cold snort in Cao Ying's ear. That snort contained a trace of the pressure of a Dou Zun powerhouse, piercing into her dream like an ice spike.

Cao Ying, lying on the bed, frowned, opened her eyes groggily, her gaze unfocused, and muttered, "Who dares to be so bold as to disturb this Dou Di's suppression of everything? Be careful, or I'll slap you to death and reduce you to ashes!"

As she spoke, she subconsciously raised her chubby little hand and made a slapping motion, her face full of arrogance and domineering expression, clearly still immersed in her dream of becoming a Dou Di (a powerful figure in the game).

Chapter 83 Preparing for Trial

Seeing that even this rebellious disciple had been awakened and was still having a pipe dream, Su Baichen's anger surged to its peak.

He suppressed the urge to rush over and teach her a lesson, and his soul power condensed into a cold voice that resounded directly in Cao Ying's mind: "You traitor, it's me!"

"Oh, it's Xiao Chenzi." Cao Ying yawned, her eyes still glazed over, her tone lazy and completely unaware that she had caused trouble. She said casually, "What is it? Can't you see that this Dou Di is busy suppressing everything? Speak quickly, I still have to continue suppressing those disobedient villains."

Hearing these disrespectful words, Su Baichen's temple veins throbbed.

He took a deep breath, and his fighting spirit began to tremble slightly, clearly indicating that he was quite angry with this rebellious disciple.

This girl is really something else; she'll climb onto the roof and tear off the tiles if you don't discipline her for three days. It seems that if I don't teach her a lesson, she won't know what it means to respect her teacher and value learning, or what it means to study diligently!

With that thought in mind, Su Baichen tore through space and instantly descended into Cao Ying's room.

Immediately afterwards, a scream came from inside the room.

"Ah, Master, I'm sorry, I was wrong!"

"Master?! I'm not your master, you're my master. Listen to what you just said, you're already a Dou Di, how could I be the master of a Dou Di?"

"Master, those are just dreams, don't take them seriously."

"Whether you're talking in your sleep or not, you're definitely getting a beating today!"

"Ah, Sister Caidie, Sister Yun'er, Junior Sister Little Doctor, save me! Master is going to kill his own family for the greater good!"

"If you don't come soon, I'll die."

"It's no use who comes today, your 'Fu' love isn't going anywhere!"

The sound then spread to the second floor, which had been reserved by Su Baichen and his group beforehand, so the sound did not travel beyond the second floor due to Su Baichen's formation.

Hearing Cao Ying's cries for help, Cai Die and the others on the second floor could only shake their heads helplessly.

…………

The next morning, Su Baichen pushed open the door, followed by Cao Ying. She came out with slightly bloodshot eyes, her complexion was not good, and there was still a trace of fatigue between her brows.

After being given a stern lecture by Su Baichen last night, she spent the entire night cultivating.

“Master.” Cao Ying stepped forward, her voice slightly hoarse, but her eyes were much clearer than yesterday, less mischievous and more serene.

Upon hearing this, Su Baichen sighed and said, "Let's go downstairs and eat. We need to be well-fed to have energy."

The two walked downstairs side by side. On the first floor, a steaming meal was already laid out on the table. The aroma of rice porridge, the oily fragrance of meat buns, and the refreshing scent of pickled vegetables filled the air.

Little Fairy Doctor was enjoying a meat bun with great relish, her cheeks bulging like a little squirrel stealing food; Cai Die sat beside her, slowly picking at her side dishes, a gentle smile on her face; Yun Yun held a bowl of rice porridge, her gaze fixed on the morning mist outside the window, lost in thought.

Seeing Su Baichen and Cao Ying come down, the three of them looked up to greet them. Little Fairy Doctor swallowed the food in her mouth, smiled and waved, "Master, Senior Sister Cao Ying, come and sit down, the meat buns today are delicious!"

Su Baichen sat down naturally, picked up his bowl and chopsticks, and began to eat. However, Cao Ying stood by the table, hesitant to sit down, instead picking up a meat bun and taking small bites, her posture slightly stiff.

Seeing this, Little Fairy Doctor's smile gradually faded, revealing a simple look of confusion. She blinked her clear eyes and looked at Cao Ying: "Senior Sister, why don't you sit down? It's so inconvenient to eat standing up, please sit down."

She muttered to herself, recalling the faint screams of her senior sister Cao Ying last night, as well as her master's angry voice. Could it be that her senior sister had made a mistake and was being punished by her master by being made to eat standing up?

She had actually considered going out to plead for him last night, but as soon as she reached the door, she heard her master's voice filled with suppressed anger, which frightened her so much that she shrank back.

Moreover, we didn't hear the door open at all, and neither Sister Caidie nor Sister Yunyun came out. It seems they also felt that their senior sister should be taught a lesson. Why should a little girl like them meddle in other people's business?

When it comes to feelings for Senior Sister Cao Ying, Sister Cai Die and Sister Yun Yun are both more profound than hers. Since neither of them has made any moves, there's no need for her to try and get involved.

Upon hearing Little Fairy Doctor's straightforward question, Cai Die was taken aback at first, then seemed to realize something and couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, while secretly glancing at Cao Ying's little bottom out of the corner of her eye.

Yun Yun pursed her lips, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes, and picked up the rice porridge to take a sip as a cover-up.

Cao Ying's cheeks flushed at the question. She pursed her lips awkwardly, her eyes unconsciously drifting to Su Baichen, who was calmly eating beside her. She forced herself to say, "It's nothing. I'm just used to standing. I wanted to stand for a while to stretch my legs. You guys eat first, don't worry about me."

She was inwardly groaning; it wasn't that she was used to standing, but rather that she couldn't sit down! Su Baichen was still angry and couldn't stand her no matter what.

Before she finally got off, she was given another beating. Her buttocks were still burning with pain, and the pain would pierce her heart as soon as she touched the stool, making it impossible for her to sit still.

Su Baichen naturally noticed Cao Ying's furtive gaze and her forced composure, but pretended not to notice and continued eating his meal slowly and deliberately.

Jade must be carved to become a gem. This girl has been exceptionally talented since childhood, and with my protection, she has had a smooth and successful life, encountering almost no setbacks. As a result, she is inevitably somewhat spoiled and dependent. If I don't discipline her strictly and allow her to continue to be lazy and slack off, she may not even be able to protect herself when she encounters real storms in the future.

It's actually for her own good to let her suffer a little now. Besides, she's too dependent on herself, always thinking she can handle everything. Over time, she'll lose the ability to think and solve problems independently, which is extremely detrimental to her cultivation path. It's time for her to experience some real challenges.

While he was pondering, Su Baichen had finished his meal. He put down his chopsticks and tapped the table lightly with his fingers, making a "tap-tap" sound.

The slight sound was like a command. Little Fairy Doctor, Butterfly, and Yun Yun, who were eating, immediately stopped what they were doing, put down their bowls and chopsticks, and looked at Su Baichen.

Cao Ying also stopped chewing and looked at her master nervously.

Su Baichen met everyone's gaze and slowly spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable power: "Cao Ying and Little Fairy Doctor should focus on their cultivation during this time. Once Little Fairy Doctor becomes a Fighter, she will go to the Monster Mountain Range with Cao Ying for training."

Cai Die and Yun Yun remained calm. They looked at Su Baichen and waited for him to continue. They believed that Su Baichen must have had his reasons for making this decision.

Su Baichen looked at Cao Ying, sighed and said, "And this training is mainly for you. Cao Ying, you have excellent talent and your cultivation path has been too smooth. There are always others paving the way for you, which has made you develop a habit of relying on others."

"If this continues, you will lose the ability to think independently and cope with crises, which will not be good for your future spiritual practice or even your life."

Chapter 84 Rapid Growth

Upon hearing her master's words, Cao Ying remained silent. The embarrassment and discomfort on her face vanished instantly, replaced by deep contemplation.

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a shadow beneath her eyelids.

Her master's words struck her heart like a heavy hammer. She had to admit that her master was right.

During this time, with her master protecting her, she was able to overcome almost all the difficulties she encountered in cultivation. Before becoming a Dou Zhe, she had Foundation Establishment Elixir, and after becoming a Dou Zhe, she had cultivation techniques that could evolve.

All this help made her somewhat complacent and dependent. When she encountered a problem, her first thought was not to solve it herself, but to ask others for help.

The reason my mentor scolded me so angrily yesterday was because he was disappointed in me for not cherishing my talent and for being lazy.

If things continue like this, when the master is no longer by my side, I will be at a loss when I encounter danger or difficulties on my own, and I may even lose my life as a result.

Moreover, she sensed a hint of disappointment in her master's voice just now, which frightened her greatly.

Thinking of this, the resentment Cao Ying felt from being beaten that morning instantly vanished, replaced by a deep sense of guilt and determination.

She raised her head, her gaze fixed intently on Su Baichen, her tone sincere and firm: "Master, I understand. I was too lazy and relied too much on others before. From now on, I will definitely work hard to cultivate, stop being lazy, make good use of this opportunity to train, improve my strength, and learn to face difficulties independently."

Seeing the determination and realization in Cao Ying's eyes, Su Baichen's tense expression gradually softened, and a relieved smile appeared on his face.

Although this girl is young, she is far more mature than her peers. She understands things quickly, comprehends his good intentions, and is willing to work hard for them, which makes him very satisfied.

"Alright, now that you understand, then prepare well." Su Baichen nodded and continued, "Although the Monster Mountain Range is dangerous, it is also an excellent place for training. You can improve your strength and accumulate practical experience there."

"When packing supplies during this period, we need to prepare enough pills and healing medicines. In addition, we also need to prepare some tools to deal with emergencies."

"Understood, young master/master/master!" the four replied in unison.

Little Fairy Doctor was already eager to start cultivating, her face full of anticipation; Butterfly nodded and began to plan the supplies she would need to prepare in the future; Yun Yun remained calm and did not speak.

Cao Ying stood still, took a deep breath, and felt full of energy. Although the pain in her buttocks was still there, a burning fighting spirit was igniting within her.

She knew that this experience in the Monster Mountain Range would be a major turning point in her cultivation journey. She had to seize this opportunity, change herself, and live up to her master's expectations as well as her own talent.

Noticing Cao Ying's expression, Su Baichen sighed inwardly and put down his chopsticks. He lightly touched his storage ring with his fingertips, and a lotus platform with a pale blue halo quietly appeared, hovering steadily in front of Cao Ying.

The lotus platform is about the size of a palm, with layers of petals that are lifelike, and a faint, warm fire seems to flow in the center.

"This 'Ten Thousand Fire Green Lotus' is for you." Su Baichen's voice was calm, as if he were simply handing over an ordinary object.

"It is extremely compatible with the 'Divine Journey Fire Refining Technique' you are cultivating. When you enter it during your daily cultivation, it will calm your mind and help you control the fire. With long-term companionship, it will also be beneficial for absorbing strange fire."

After saying that, he picked up his bowl and chopsticks again, his expression calm and composed, and continued to eat his simple breakfast, as if he had not been the one who had just given away the precious artifact.

Cao Ying stared blankly at the lotus platform before her, its inner radiance shining through, her master's calm words echoing repeatedly in her ears.

The memory of the stir-fried bamboo shoots with pork this morning is still fresh in my mind, but this silent care feels like a warm current, instantly washing away the slight grievance in my heart and turning into a surge of emotion that fills my heart.

Her lips moved slightly, her fingertips lightly touching the cool jade lotus petals. A gentle warmth, as if connected by blood, spread along her arm. A thousand words choked in her throat, finally condensing into a barely audible whisper: "Thank you, Master..."

Little Fairy Doctor, standing to the side, took in the whole scene. Her clear eyes were filled with amazement and envy, but she just sat obediently with her hands on her knees and did not say a word.

Just then, Su Baichen's gentle voice rang out again: