"Really."
Chen Ye nodded affirmatively,
"However, on the path of cultivation, innate talent is indeed important, but character and diligence are also indispensable. Now that Zhiwei possesses such talent, she should calm her mind and focus on cultivation to live up to this opportunity."
He looked at his eldest disciple before him, cold and composed yet extraordinarily gifted, with myriad thoughts in his mind.
Purity Glaze Body, Celestial Spiritual Root of the Five Elements... Such aptitude is destined to stir the winds and clouds.
Yet, blessings and misfortunes go hand in hand.
All things have causes and effects.
This also means the trials and challenges she will face in the future are far beyond those of ordinary cultivators.
Of course,
As Zhiwei’s master, Chen Ye naturally would not shirk his responsibility as her guardian.
"Master."
Zhiwei suddenly spoke, interrupting Chen Ye’s thoughts.
Her clear black eyes quietly looked at him, "Zhiwei... will work hard in cultivation and not let Master down."
Chen Ye reached out his hand, and this time, Zhiwei did not shy away, allowing his broad palm to gently fall on her little head.
"Good, Master believes in you."
He ruffled her smooth dark hair, his face showing a gratified smile.
To have such a disciple, what more could a master ask for?
No matter what identity or status they may have in the future, for now, they are just his two little girls under his care...
Chen Ye withdrew his hand and handed the complete "Frost Splendor Record" jade scroll to Zhiwei:
"Since you have already begun practicing the Frost Splendor Record, now with the complete Dharma method of the Foundation Establishment Stage, your future cultivation will be without worry."
Zhiwei accepted the jade scroll, feeling its slight coolness in her hand.
The cultivation technique of the Foundation Establishment Stage is of considerable value.
The dark-haired girl understood the weight of the cultivation technique in her hand and nodded solemnly, "Thank you, Master."
"Go on, practice diligently." Chen Ye waved his hand.
Zhiwei bowed once more, then holding the jade scroll, turned back to her meditation cushion and once again immersed herself in cultivation.
Chen Ye felt slightly helpless about this.
His eldest disciple was perfect in every way, just sometimes overly bound by etiquette.
Sometimes, Chen Ye even felt a bit uncomfortable with the respect she showed him...
...
When arriving at Hee Qi’s house, this gaunt man was dissecting a demon tiger that was about ten feet long.
"Brother Hee, impressive skills. This tiger should be the Red Lotus Tiger, with strength nearly equivalent to a late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator."
Chen Ye’s gaze swept over the wounds on the demon beast’s trunk; now his insight was far beyond what it once was, instantly seeing the scorch marks from a fire element magic.
It turns out Hee Qi’s main cultivation technique was fire element.
Hee Qi wiped the hot sweat off his forehead and smiled warmly:
"Ah, I ran into it in the Mist Forest yesterday. This beast was somehow severely injured, allowing me a stroke of luck. Once I’m done here, we’ll head to the Formless Ghost Collection together."
Chen Ye nodded in agreement; his visit this time was precisely to go to the Formless Ghost Collection with Hee Qi.
Although Li Qiuyun grew up in Moon Rhinoceros Lake, after all, she is a sect disciple and may not be familiar with such loose cultivator activities.
Going with Hee Qi would reduce a lot of trouble.
"Daddy—"
A clear child’s voice came from inside the house; a girl with braided pigtails rubbed her eyes and dashed to the door, her cotton shoes still hanging on her heels,
"Shuyao wants to hear little birdie sing..."
Hee Qi’s rugged eyebrows softened instantly as he wiped his hands stained with tiger blood on his trousers before picking up his daughter, "Yaya, be good. Daddy will make you a little birdie tonight."
Turning his head to Chen Ye, he sighed:
"This is my daughter, named Hee Shuyao. In our line of work, we earn money by risking our lives; I only hope she can have a good spiritual root... Shuyao, say hello to Uncle Chen."
Hee Shuyao timidly nestled her head in her father’s arms, softly saying, "Uncle Chen..."
So this was the daughter Hee Qi mentioned before?
Speaking of which, it was precisely because Hee Qi had a daughter that he helped me considerably back in the shanty towns.
Remembering this,
Chen Ye hastily fumbled through his pockets, taking out a middle-grade first-tier Spirit-Clearing Jade from Ji Yunting’s belongings.
This Spirit-Clearing Jade was warm and moist to the touch, capable of concentrating spirit and calming the mind, making it a rare tranquilizing item for children.
"Brother Hee, meeting for the first time, I have nothing good to offer. This Spirit-Clearing Jade is for Shuyao, as a meeting gift." Chen Ye handed over the jade pendant.
Seeing this, Hee Qi quickly declined, "Brother Chen, what are you doing! We struggle on this path; how could I accept such a precious gift!"
The Spirit-Clearing Jade is middle-grade first-tier and would cost at least twenty or thirty spirit stones on the market; for a loose cultivator like him, it was already a substantial fortune.
"Brother Hee has supported me many times; a mere jade pendant is nothing."
Chen Ye insisted; with ordinary people, he certainly wouldn’t give away twenty or thirty spirit stones as a gift.
But Hee Qi, though boisterous in his conduct, was helpful and passionate, offering much aid to him.
Chen Ye placed the jade pendant into the little girl’s hand, smiling:
"Besides, Shuyao is an adorable child, and I like her very much."
Hee Qi saw his determined attitude and his daughter eagerly gazing at the pretty jade pendant; his heart warmed, and he no longer declined: "In that case, I shall shamelessly accept it. Someday, I will prepare some gifts for Brother Chen’s two disciples. Ha ha, it’s better to give to them than to Brother Chen!"
The two men exchanged a knowing smile, all unspoken yet understood.
Little Shuyao, upon receiving the jade pendant, beamed with joy, clutching it tightly in her hand, and timidly thanked Chen Ye, her voice soft like a kitten.
After chatting for a while, Hee Qi finished handling the Red Lotus Tiger, keeping some valuable materials while leaving all the tiger meat behind, saying it was for his daughter and Chen Ye’s disciples to taste.