I, who was turned into a woman by the Jade Maiden Master, want to rebel against the Heavenly Gang.

No, what's going on here?

Qin Rufeng remained calm. She recalled Ji Xuelan's words and actions, considering her high status as the Vermilion Bird Saintess and her surprisingly easygoing temperament.

Thinking about how Liu Bailian initially refused but then agreed to let him come out to see her off... she probably wouldn't make things difficult for him.

Then Ru Feng said respectfully, "This disciple is afraid I cannot obey, and I am willing to accept the Holy One's punishment."

"She refused outright? How boring!" Ji Xuelan was slightly surprised, then nodded and said, "You're very smart; you must have already figured out why your junior sister asked you to escort me out."

Qin Rufeng said, "Actually, I don't fully understand either. I would appreciate it if Your Majesty could enlighten me."

Ji Xuelan's attitude became much more serious. "Then I'll just say it directly."

"First of all, your aptitude is too poor. But I can also see that you are stubborn and will definitely not accept your fate."

“My junior sister simply told me that she was going to test you. But I could guess that she wanted you to give up, but you worked hard to cultivate and refused to give up.”

"She didn't want you to feel frustrated or hurt, so she tried her best to help you. As a result, she spoiled you too much, giving you too much and too much, which actually hurt you a bit. I hope you don't blame her."

"How could I dare?" Qin Rufeng quickly replied, "My master has been incredibly kind to me."

Ji Xuelan gave a wry smile, "But from now on, the clash between ice and fire in your body will probably become the norm. Over time, it will inevitably damage your meridians. But if you don't use fire spiritual energy, with your diligent cultivation, you will eventually be attacked by the cold energy."

“Therefore, we need superior fire spirit root cultivation techniques to balance and complement each other.” Ji Xuelan raised her head slightly, her voice rising a few decibels. “Speaking of fire spirit root cultivation techniques, I dare say that they are unparalleled in the entire sect after the sect master.”

"My junior sister asked me to teach you, but she didn't say a single kind word. Don't you think that's a bit much?"

Qin Rufeng quickly said, "It's all because this disciple is incompetent and has dragged down Master and the Holy Venerable."

"Haha, with our sisterly relationship, she doesn't need you to protect her." Ji Xuelan laughed, and Qin Rufeng breathed a sigh of relief.

However, Ji Xuelan immediately changed the subject, saying, "But there aren't that many good things in the world. I am the Holy Maiden of the Vermilion Bird Sect, second only to the Sect Master. Even Liu Bailian has to call me Senior Sister."

"You at least acknowledged her as your master, so it's only natural that she would teach you anything. But you haven't acknowledged me as your master, so why should I teach you?"

"It's not that I'm deliberately making things difficult for you, but if you always get opportunities without paying the price, it's not good for your own growth."

Chapter 23 A Blessing in Disguise

Qin Rufeng already had a bad feeling. She frowned and asked cautiously, "What price will we have to pay?"

"You're asking a question you already know the answer to." Ji Xuelan gently lifted Ru Feng's chin with her fingertips...

Qin Rufeng looked up and saw his face reflected in Ji Xuelan's bright eyes. However, those eyes were as deep as the sea, and his figure seemed to be swallowed up in an instant.

Ji Xuelan said softly, "The price, of course, is... you!"

Qin Rufeng frowned; now she couldn't figure out what the Vermilion Bird Saintess was up to.

Ji Xuelan seems like a completely different person. Just a moment ago she was so approachable, but now she exudes a powerful and oppressive aura.

It was a strong possessiveness, a "I must get what I want" mentality. She didn't show any of that kind of aura at the Emerald Star Pavilion.

Qin Rufeng could only feign ignorance and say, "This disciple does not understand."

"What don't you understand?" Ji Xuelan said, "The Jade Maiden Sect is all women. I see that you are a hidden gem, a gem in disguise, and you are a good prospect."

"It's like an unpolished bronze mirror. It must be... carefully polished before it can shine." Ji Xuelan gently stroked Ru Feng's cheek and played with the strands of hair at her temple.

"I won't steal your junior sister's boyfriend. As long as you promise to obey me in everything from now on, I will teach you a superior fire spirit root cultivation technique."

"I know you're not one to settle for the status quo. Otherwise, you would have been grateful enough to become your junior sister's maid long ago, instead of working so hard to cultivate."

"However, you only possess four pseudo-spiritual roots, with extremely poor innate aptitude. To achieve anything significant in cultivating the Great Dao, you must possess all five elements. You must also harmonize the relationships of mutual generation and restraint among the various spiritual roots. Therefore, learning only water-based spiritual root techniques is definitely not enough."

"And now the Vermilion Bird Saintess is standing right in front of you. What are you still hesitating for? If you get closer to me, your junior sister won't blame you."

Qin Rufeng certainly wanted to learn fire elemental magic, and Ji Xuelan's words made perfect sense. Besides, wasn't Liu Bailian's reason for sending her out so that this Vermilion Bird Saintess could teach him some fire elemental magic?

But what Ji Xuelan said... was that what she meant?

If I agree, I can obtain a cultivation technique for a top-grade fire spirit root. With a fire spirit root, I can then study the "Living Vessel Refining Method: Chapter of Wood" to refine top-grade living herb pills. At the very least, I can cultivate the path of water generating wood and wood generating fire.

With both ice and fire attributes, plus the wood attribute puppet produced by the Ginseng Mother, the five elements' offense and defense will not be greatly restricted.

Yi Ling 1 Ni Wu ~ Si Jiu Ba Ling K* ~ Meng also has two Holy Maidens from the Jade Maiden Sect as personal disciples. This resource configuration is absolutely top-notch!

With his cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds, he won't be at a disadvantage when traveling. The tropes of killing opponents far stronger than himself and using cheat codes to show off in novels won't be far off!

All of this is within my grasp! All I need to do is... all I need to do is sacrifice a little bit of my integrity. Ji Xuelan is just a woman; I'm not going to be taken advantage of...

At this moment, Ji Xuelan had already appeared behind Rufeng like a ghost. She gently pressed down on Rufeng's shoulders and slowly slid down.

A gossamer-like gauze dress slipped gently from her snow-white shoulders... her slender fingers caressed her smooth back.

The Vermilion Bird Saintess exhaled fragrant orchids, and Ru Feng felt a slight tingling sensation in her ears and neck, as if an electric current was flowing through her body. (II) Cold Two = Ling's Wife IV Flowing Changes throughout the body.

Her face was flushed, and she bit her red lips lightly, letting out soft moans... However, for some reason, all she could think about was her master, Liu Bailian.

Ji Xuelan gently removed the jade hairpin from Ru Feng's head, her long black hair cascading down like a curtain of water.

Qin Rufeng's delicate body trembled! That jade hairpin... belonged to her master, Liu Bailian.

She remembered Liu Bailian arranging her disheveled long hair and personally placing the jade hairpin in her hair; she remembered the long bridge, the clear blue sky and the white-clad beauty turning her head with a smile; she remembered the peach blossoms, the intoxicating wine and the melodious zither music; she remembered the rippling water of the pond behind the pavilion, the lush reeds...

Qin Rufeng finally took a step forward, breaking free from Ji Xuelan's control. She gasped for breath, remaining silent.

Ji Xuelan didn't follow, but chuckled softly, "Oh well, how boring. Oh well... I've already finished anyway."

"All done?" Qin Rufeng asked, puzzled. A moment later, however, she felt an unbearable burning sensation on her back. It felt as if a branding iron had left a scar that was connected to all the meridians in her body.

Ji Xuelan said earnestly, "Meditate and regulate your breathing."

Ru Feng hesitated for a moment, but still copied it...

Ji Xuelan continued, "Mobilize the fire spirit root's true energy to connect with the spirit seal on your back."

"Spirit Seal?" Qin Rufeng looked puzzled.

Ji Xuelan: "If I do as I say, would I harm you?"

Qin Rufeng breathed a sigh of relief. Now she understood that Ji Xuelan had just been teasing her. It was truly terrifying.

A moment later, a pair of fiery wings sprouted from Qin Rufeng's back! With a few flaps, he lifted off the ground!

Wings now? And arms are still there. No need to train to resemble a crane like in "Spirit Feather Transformation."

However, these fire wings consumed far too much spiritual energy. Qin Rufeng quickly stopped his cultivation and then hurriedly thanked Ji Xuelan.

Ji Xuelan said with a smile, "It's rare for my junior sister to take on a disciple, so as her senior sister, I should at least offer her a gift."

"This is the Fire Phoenix Seal. Don't worry, the seal won't appear unless you use your powers."

"The ability of Fire Wings to fly is secondary. The main thing is that they can nourish your fire spirit root, allowing you to better suppress the extreme cold of Ice Soul."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Qin Rufeng said solemnly once again.

"No need to be so polite," Ji Xuelan said calmly. "This isn't the best gift I've prepared for you. If you had really agreed to my request, I would have given you a top-grade fire spirit root cultivation technique."

Qin Rufeng thought to himself, "So it really is true..."

Ji Xuelan had now regained her dignified and gentle demeanor, a completely different person from the one who had just forced herself on her.

She smiled and said, "You missed out on a great technique because of a momentary lapse in judgment. But by staying true to yourself, you still gained something."

"If you regret it now, there's no need to. I will have another opportunity to teach you in the future. Whether it's cultivating the Great Way or living a normal life, sometimes you need to be pragmatic and sometimes you need to stick to your principles."

"Who knows?" Ji Xuelan sighed softly. "As the saying goes, a loss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Don't dwell on what you've missed."

Qin Rufeng said respectfully, "Thank you for your teachings, Your Majesty."

Ji Xuelan continued, "You must cultivate diligently, and whatever you do, don't let yourself die."

This statement was somewhat abrupt, and Qin Rufeng didn't quite understand its meaning.

Ji Xuelan clearly saw through her confusion and explained, "The sect is about to make a big move. That's why I came to find you, Junior Sister."

"I can't tell you the specifics yet. But there is one thing I can tell you: there will be a major sect examination soon. All newcomers must participate."

"Given your junior sister's temperament, she definitely doesn't want you to go, but she can't make the decision on this matter. Don't ask her, just prepare secretly on your own."

"Don't forget, having only a water elemental root isn't enough. Even if my junior sister and I help you, you're still far from it. Remember, if you want to cultivate to the Great Dao, you'll have to put in far more effort than those with exceptional talent."

Qin Rufeng: "This disciple will humbly follow the teachings of the Holy One."

Chapter 24 A Maid's Life

Ji Xuelan nodded and said, "My junior sister has a strange temper. If you are ever expelled from the sect, come find me."

"Don't worry, I won't take advantage of your misfortune. I'll just give you a place to stay and make sure you won't be bullied. If you're willing to become my disciple, I'll accept you as my apprentice."

"When my junior sister remembers how good you were to her someday, I'll send you back to her. After all, we're sisters, we don't distinguish between each other."

Qin Rufeng thought to himself, "This is just like raising cats and dogs."

She thanked him again, and Ji Xuelan smiled and said, "Here, take this back."

It was Liu Bailian's jade hairpin, and Qin Rufeng quickly took it and held it tightly in her hand.

Ji Xuelan said in a low voice, "Do you know why my junior sister doesn't have any other disciples?"

"I don't know." Qin Rufeng shook her head. Actually, she had always been curious about this question as well.

Ji Xuelan sighed and said, "They're all dead..."

Qin Rufeng: "Huh?"

“In the path of cultivation, how can one not die?” Ji Xuelan feigned calmness, but the sorrow on her face was hard to hide. “Why is the Emerald Star Pavilion so large? It wasn’t as deserted as it is now before.”

"Junior sister used to be a cheerful person..."

"Hey, I'm not saying anything bad about her... When she was cultivating with the sect leader, she was only good at comprehending the Dao on her own and didn't like to ask others for help. So even after she graduated, she wasn't very good at teaching her disciples."

"She was good to her disciples, but their teaching skills were really not that great. However, the path of cultivation is so cruel. When her disciple died, she felt that she was responsible. So she stopped accepting disciples after that."

This... Qin Rufeng really didn't know that Liu Bailian had this side to her.

Ji Xuelan breathed a sigh of relief, and her smile returned. "Fortunately, Cuixing Pavilion is a bit more lively now. Junior Sister won't be so lonely."

"She's so good to you, you have to repay her properly."

Qin Rufeng said, "This disciple will definitely repay Master well."

“You didn’t understand.” Ji Xuelan gave a mysterious smile. “What I mean is, you need to take the initiative.”

Qin Rufeng: "Huh?"

Ji Xuelan: "Junior sister, you could say they have no sense of propriety, and they certainly do. But sometimes they are also quite restrained."

“When you were a maid, she could still act somewhat recklessly. Now that you are her disciple and she is your master, she will definitely put on the demeanor of a master and become unable to let loose.”

"So you have to be more proactive and try all sorts of methods. If all else fails, you can force yourself on her, don't be afraid of her."

Qin Rufeng's face flushed red. She wasn't sure if Ji Xuelan meant it that way. Anyway, this woman... her ways were too chaotic; she really didn't know what kind of person she was.

"That's enough, I should be going now," Ji Xuelan said with a smile. "Take care of yourself, and don't disappoint your master."

Qin Rufeng hurriedly took his leave. Lingmeng and the others looked up, but Ji Xuelan had vanished without a trace…

Back at Cuixing Pavilion, Liu Bailian didn't ask a single question. But Qin Rufeng, understanding her temperament, took the initiative to report. Of course, he only told her what he could.

After a long silence, Liu Bailian said, "It's also beneficial to you."

Hmm, it seems he's not angry.

Just as Qin Rufeng breathed a sigh of relief, Liu Bailian said with a serious expression, "Now that you have become my disciple, you should learn from me from now on."

Qin Rufeng: "Disciple will respectfully follow Master's teachings."

Liu Bailian nodded. "Okay, let's begin now."

Qin Rufeng thought to himself, "So anxious? It seems Ji Xuelan was right."

A major event is imminent, and the sect's grand examination will be held soon. Although Liu Bailian doesn't want me to go, she will probably train diligently just in case.

Okay, the thing I'm least afraid of is cultivation.

Liu Bailian continued, "I'll teach you how to burn incense first."

"Burning... incense?" Qin Rufeng was completely confused.

Liu Bailian thought for a moment and said, "It's a bit difficult for you. There are hundreds of commonly used spices, and you also need to adjust the spiritual energy to achieve the desired effect. Grinding and making them yourself is much more troublesome than buying them with spirit stones."

“There are many things to consider when testing fragrances. If you’re clumsy and impatient, you’re bound to do a bad job right away. But I won’t tolerate that; if you don’t do a good job, you’ll be punished.”

Qin Rufeng asked with a puzzled look, "Does this count as cultivation?"

Liu Bailian ignored her and continued, "And then there's the bathing service."