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

Cao Ying leaned against the closed door and slowly slid down to sit on the floor. The purple flame in her hand burned quietly, enveloped in her battle aura, reflecting off her flushed cheeks and her flustered, darting eyes.

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, as if it wanted to break free and leap out. The cool touch of her master's cheek still seemed to linger on her lips, along with his unique, clear and crisp scent, like that of pine trees after a snowfall.

"Aaaaaah—!"

She suddenly buried her burning face in her knees, letting out a short, suppressed sob of extreme embarrassment. The soft sound echoed in the room.

"I...I actually...I actually kissed my master!"

"Ah! Cao Ying, are you crazy! That's Master! Master!"

"It's so embarrassing! I'm too ashamed to face anyone! I'm so embarrassed!"

She screamed inwardly, her body trembling slightly from extreme shame and a strange, indescribable flutter. That momentary impulse had completely escaped her rational control. By the time she realized it, it was already happened.

She remained in that ostrich-like posture for a long, long time, until the heat on her face subsided slightly and her pounding heart gradually calmed down.

Then, she slowly raised her head.

The purple flames reflected in her eyes, leaping and burning. Deep within those bright eyes, which always held a smile, something was settling, gradually becoming clear and resolute.

She leaned against the door and stood up. She walked to the bedside and carefully placed the ball of battle aura enveloped in purple flames on the table. The purple flames burned quietly, illuminating half of her profile and casting a flickering shadow on the wall.

Cao Ying stared at the purple flame, the purple light reflected deep in her pupils.

"I want to become stronger."

She whispered to herself, her voice not loud, but each word was pronounced clearly and forcefully.

"Strive to cultivate and become stronger."

"Strong enough...to stand anywhere, strong enough...to face everything."

Her fingers tightened unconsciously. Her master was a dazzling star, an unattainable mountain. She couldn't forever remain just a little apprentice who needed protection and only knew how to whine. She had to have her own strength, her own light.

"So now..."

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turbulent, shy, and burning thoughts in her mind, and refocused her gaze on the purple flames before her, becoming calm and focused.

"It's time to refine this beast fire."

The faint purple flames illuminated the girl's resolute and beautiful profile, revealing a deep-seated determination and a more intense emotion quietly growing within her eyes.

The path to becoming stronger begins at this moment, but at the end of the road, what she desires may be more than just standing shoulder to shoulder with her master.

Cao Ying lowered her head and murmured to herself:

"master……"

"Forgive me."

She closed her eyes, her long eyelashes casting fragile shadows beneath her eyelids, her voice so low it was almost drowned out by her own heartbeat.

"Forgive me... for having a bad thought."

"one……"

She suddenly opened her eyes, the last trace of hesitation and struggle in them burned away by a scorching, almost desperate light. That light was a mixture of admiration, ambition, resentment, and near-mad courage.

"A thought that defies the Heavenly Gang!"

His voice was clear and resolute.

"I want……"

She paused, then uttered the burning words, each syllable carrying a heavy weight.

"Be a traitor who rebels against the Heavenly Gang!"

"This...this can't be entirely my fault..." Her cheeks flushed again, this time not from shyness, but from a burning crimson of intense emotion.

She looked towards the next room, as if she could see through the wall and into the aloof, otherworldly figure next door. Her voice carried a hint of grievance, yet was also filled with a self-righteous possessiveness.

"It's because you're...too outstanding."

"So outstanding that people look up to you, so outstanding that I'm unwilling to just be your apprentice."

The last few words were almost slurred from his mouth, carrying a scalding heat.

After saying that, she suddenly clenched her fist. Her fair fingers turned slightly white from the force, and her nails dug deep into her palm, causing a slight stinging pain, but it made her eyes even clearer and more determined.

The cluster of purple flames danced above her clenched palms, illuminating the flames burning in her eyes—an emotion and ambition more scorching, more stubborn, and more intolerant of the world than the purple flames themselves.

The path of the rebellious disciple begins here!

Meanwhile, in another upper room, separated only by a wall.

Su Baichen sat cross-legged on the futon, preparing to calm his mind and begin his cultivation for the day.

suddenly--

An unbearable itch came from the tip of my nose.

"Ah—Achoo—!"

A loud sneeze suddenly broke the silence, interrupting him.

He raised his hand in surprise and rubbed his slightly itchy nose, a helpless yet amused expression appearing on his handsome face.

"Achoo—!"

Another one.

He touched his nose, feeling the lingering itch, a gentle, knowing smile unconsciously curving his lips. A soft ripple appeared in his eyes as he murmured to himself:

"Tsk, who's talking about me now?"

The first person he thought of was naturally Xuan Yi, who was far away in the Central Plains Dan Tower and had a close relationship with him.

That woman, who appeared aloof but was passionate at heart, always took care of many things for him in silence, and often spoke of him with a hint of reproach and concern when he went on his journeys.

"Hmm... it's probably the black robe."

Su Baichen nodded, confirming his guess. Thinking of Xuan Yi, a faint warmth and guilt rose in his heart.

He was often away from home, either traveling or looking for opportunities for Cao Ying, so he didn't spend much time with her.

"My wife in black must be upset that I haven't been home for so long, or she's worried about my safety out there." He shook his head, his smile deepening, his eyes becoming gentle.

"After this is over and we get back, I will definitely make it up to her."

He could almost see Xuan Yi's angry yet joyful expression, and he pondered what gifts to bring or what to do with her to comfort her during this time of worry.

Hey.

He chuckled softly, closing his eyes again in a good mood, putting the little incident from his mind and focusing on his cultivation. His aura gradually became calm and deep, merging with the energy of heaven and earth.

He was completely unaware, and never even considered it—

Right next to him, in the seemingly innocent and naive heart of his eldest disciple, whom he had raised with his own hands, taught with care, and cherished like a treasure, a rebellious and blazing flame was quietly igniting, a flame powerful enough to overturn their established relationship.

Chapter 87 Yunyun Goes to Wutan City

Cao Ying sat cross-legged in the center of the quiet room, the purple flames surrounding her slowly receding and finally turning into a thin stream that disappeared into her body.

When she opened her eyes, a barely perceptible purple light flashed within them. Her "Divine Journey Fire Refining Technique" had broken through to the advanced Yellow Rank. Looking inward at her dantian, the Myriad Fire Azure Lotus was more solid than before, its petals shimmering with a mysterious luster; its grade had clearly undergone a qualitative leap.

What surprised her most was her own cultivation level—a one-star Great Dou Master! In just one day, she had made such a breakthrough, something she would never have dared to imagine before.

"I can never repay my master's kindness in this lifetime..." Cao Ying murmured to herself, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.

Just then, the door to the quiet room was gently pushed open, and Su Baichen, dressed in white, slowly entered. Sunlight streamed in from the window, casting a soft golden glow on him, making him appear like an immortal descending to earth.

"Ying'er, it seems you have completely refined the Purple Flame." Su Baichen's eyes were filled with a gratified smile, a smile as warm as the winter sun, capable of melting away all the ice in people's hearts.

Cao Ying quickly stood up and bowed: "It is thanks to the purple fire bestowed by Master that Ying'er was able to make this breakthrough."

Su Baichen nodded and took out two jade bottles from his sleeve. The jade bottles were warm and lustrous, with a faint glow flowing through them, clearly indicating that they were not ordinary items.

“This is a fifth-grade elixir, the Blood Lotus Pill.” He pointed to one of the blood-red jade bottles and continued, “After taking it, a layer of blood scab will form on the skin to resist the erosion of high temperatures.”

Then he pointed to another jade bottle with an earthy yellow glow and said, "This is a sixth-grade elixir, the Earth Spirit Pill, which can protect the heart meridian, stabilize the meridians, and resist the pain of being burned by strange fire."

He handed two jade bottles to Cao Ying: "These two pills are specially prepared for you by your master. You will need them when you devour the strange fire."

Cao Ying accepted the jade bottle with both hands. Her fingertips touched the warm, smooth surface, and a sudden jolt ran through her. She remembered searching for the strange fire in the Tagor Desert; her master, who could have absorbed the Azure Lotus Earth Core Fire herself, had kept it for her…

It turns out that everything her master did after leaving the Pill Tower was paving the way for her cultivation. Searching for exotic flames, bestowing upon her cultivation techniques, obtaining purple flames for her, refining elixirs for her…

How could there be such a good master in this world?

Cao Ying raised her head and looked into Su Baichen's deep, starry eyes, her throat suddenly tightening with emotion. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something expressing her gratitude, but found that any words seemed so pale in the face of this kindness.

"I have no way to repay Master's great kindness..." Her voice trembled slightly, and her eyes were already a little wet.

Su Baichen smiled gently and reached out to pat her head: "Silly girl, since you call me master, I naturally have to think of you. Cultivating well is the best way to repay your master."

Feeling the warmth emanating from above, Cao Ying's heart inexplicably quickened. Her master's hands were large and warm, and the gentle touch stirred a strange feeling within her.

"Ying'er, what's wrong?" Su Baichen's concerned voice pulled her back from her reverie.

"Why are your cheeks so red? Did something go wrong when you were refining the purple flame?"

Cao Ying then realized her face was burning. She hurriedly lowered her head and used the back of her hand to cool her cheeks: "Ah, no, no! I'm fine! Master, is there anything else?"

Her incoherent speech puzzled Su Baichen, but seeing that her breathing was steady and she didn't seem to have any problems with her cultivation, he didn't press her further.

"This is the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame. Take it first, and absorb it after you've stabilized your cultivation." Su Baichen said, raising his right hand as if to release a ball of azure flame. The flame danced in his palm, seemingly gentle, but in reality, it contained destructive power.

He used his fighting spirit to firmly envelop it, forming a transparent energy ball, and handed it to Cao Ying.

Then, he reached out again and gently stroked the top of Cao Ying's head, his eyes full of expectation: "Cultivate well and don't let your master's painstaking efforts go to waste."

Cao Ying didn't flinch, but instead narrowed her eyes slightly, like a kitten being petted, enjoying the intimacy. She could feel the warmth of her master's palm and smell the faint herbal fragrance emanating from him, all of which made her heart race, yet also made her feel incredibly at ease.

"Yes!" She nodded emphatically, her eyes as firm as iron. "Ying'er will definitely not let Master down!"

"Go, let the colorful butterfly protect you." Su Baichen withdrew his hand and turned to look out the window.

Holding the energy ball containing the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame and two jade bottles, Cao Ying took a deep look at her master's back before leaving the meditation room.

The moment she closed the door, she leaned against it, took a deep breath, and suppressed the surging emotions within her.

"Master, one day, I will stand by your side, not as your disciple, but as someone who can stand shoulder to shoulder with you." She murmured to herself, a resolute glint in her eyes.

Inside the quiet room, Su Baichen stood by the window, gazing thoughtfully at the blooming lotus flowers in the courtyard. After a moment, he raised his right hand and gently tapped the air.