He finally understood.
Trying to reason with this stubborn girl was futile.
"Taoist Friend Bu."
Chen Ye suddenly remembered that there was an outsider still in the courtyard. He turned to Bu Feifan and apologized,
"In the future, my little apprentice will be staying at Luoli Courtyard. After all, she is a young girl, with many inconveniences, I’m afraid this might add some trouble for you."
"No way, no way, this is originally Taoist Friend Chen’s home!"
Bu Feifan knew very well that this was Chen Ye’s subtle way of asking him to avoid suspicion.
During this period, he had been residing casually by the lakeside, accustomed to outdoor living, enjoying the freedom.
After a slight deliberation, he said, "Taoist Friend Chen, rest assured, I have no intention to disturb your rare reunion with your apprentice. Coincidentally, I have felt something recently, wishing to find a quiet place to deeply contemplate, so these coming days, I will move to the wooden house in the back courtyard to reside."
There was indeed a small courtyard behind Luoli Courtyard, with a simple wooden house usually piled with miscellaneous items.
Chen Ye nodded without any formality.
......
Having Zhiwei by his side, Chen Ye’s heart inexplicably grew much calmer.
At the same time, his fighting spirit surged ever higher.
At night, he continued to practice the Withered Glory Profound Light Sutra.
During the day, he began practicing the Cyan Wave Sword Control Technique.
The Sixth-Layer of the Cyan Wave Sword Control Technique was called Ningyuan. Once he broke through to the Sixth-Layer, even if he couldn’t reach Foundation Establishment, the Spiritual Power enhanced by the Qi Cultivation Stage would still grant him Foundation Establishment-level destructive power!
In a blink, six days passed. These days, Chen Ye had been trying to practice the Cyan Wave Sword Control Technique under the bondage of the Spiritual Locking Nails.
Until the sixth day, he finally found some clever methods.
"Zhiwei, watch closely, the sword technique practiced by your master is called Cyan Wave Sword Control. It was taught to you two in the past."
Chen Ye did not forget to continue teaching his apprentice, his expression solemn,
"The master intends to break through to the Sixth-Layer. This realm focuses on Sword Qi Condensing Gang, with restrained sharpness, like a deep pool at rest, stable like a mountain peak..."
Zhiwei instantly took out her own small Flying Sword, held it tightly with both hands, held her breath in concentration, her little head nodding rigorously.
Chen Ye took a deep breath and stopped speaking.
Although his Spiritual Power was restricted and his Sword Momentum was far less than before, the profoundness of the circulating Sword Intent was undeniably real.
Moreover, just like the Cultivation Technique, as long as it operates, it automatically yields progress and increases proficiency.
He started with the most basic moves and practiced them one by one, allowing his apprentice to review and improve the fundamentals from the ground up.
The sword light sometimes crashed like angry waves onto the shore, so powerful and heavy, exactly the Fourth-Layer’s Inverted Sea;
At other times, it was swift as lightning, the sword edge not yet arriving, the thunderclap had already sounded, precisely the Fifth-Layer’s Thunderbolt.
In an instant, the entire Luoli Courtyard was filled with his unmatched fierce Sword Intent.
Chen Ye sighed quietly, "What a pity, the Flying Sword path ultimately relies on Flying Light. Using an Iron Sword, it inevitably lacks the transparent spirituality that follows the heart and the arrival of sword light..."
Thinking of this,
The sinister old face of Wei Shu suddenly appeared vividly in his mind.
A trace of killing intent flashed in Chen Ye’s eyes.
How could he not know that the old thief Wei Shu would inevitably try to kill him within Songyang Cave Heaven?
Even if Wei Shu did not actively pick a fight.
He, Chen Ye, would certainly end this vile man with his own hands within the Cave Heaven Secret Realm and regain control of the Flying Light Sword!
"Master... so impressive."
The dark-haired little girl blinked her eyes, her cherry-pink lips slightly parted.
Although she always knew her master’s Sword Intent was superlative, subconsciously she still believed most of it relied on the support of profound Spiritual Power to possess such soul-shaking might.
But now, although her master’s Dantian was clearly confined by the Spiritual Locking Nails, the sword techniques still unleashed waves of killing intent, fiercely extraordinary.
Seeing her master’s figure suddenly stabilize, concentrating all his spirit into the Iron Sword in his hand.
Zhiwei held her breath, feeling as if the Iron Sword was like an abyss with no bottom, devouring the surrounding light and air.
Could it be, this is the Sixth-Layer Ningyuan?
"Buzz——"
Suddenly, the black Iron Sword emitted a mournful sound, unable to bear the burden, and the terrifying Sword Intent condensed upon it instantly dissipated!
Chen Ye grunted, his figure swayed, and his face grew even paler.
Forcing himself to control such Sword Intent beyond the extreme of the Qi Cultivation Stage was indeed a huge burden for him.
"Master..." Zhiwei hurried forward upon seeing this, offering the prepared tea and towel.
"It’s all right." Chen Ye waved his hand, took the tea and drank it in one gulp, showing no sign of discouragement.
[Cyan Wave Sword Control Technique Perfection: 170/400]
Just by seeing the progress in proficiency, he knew there was still a long journey ahead.
Today’s failure was within reason.
The Grotto Heaven would open in about two months, giving him ample time to break through to Limit Break.
"I wonder, if the Cyan Wave Sword Control Technique reaches its limit break, can it break free from constraints?"
Chen Ye pondered. Originally, he planned to rely on the Withered Glory Mysterious Light Scripture to gather the five major spiritual objects, achieve the Great Cycle, and slowly erode the seal of the Spirit-Locking Nail.
Alternatively, in the Grotto Heaven, he hoped to find an artifact refiner to help him remove it.
But whether it’s the former or the latter, both are complicated to implement and depend a lot on luck.
After all, Chen Ye wasn’t sure if he could gather the five major spiritual objects.
Nor was he sure if he could truly encounter an artifact master skilled at breaking the Spirit-Locking Nail in the Grotto Heaven.
"Master, what are you thinking about?"
After offering tea, the eldest disciple stayed by his side, gazing intently at his face.
These days,
whenever there’s a moment of leisure, the eldest disciple can’t help but want to chat with the master.
It’s as if she wants to say everything she hadn’t said before all at once.
This little girl’s curiosity was indeed strong; she even wanted to know her master’s thoughts whenever he was daydreaming.
Chen Ye stroked his chin, feigning contemplation, and under Zhiwei’s expectant gaze, smiled and said,
"Master is thinking about how Zhiwei will look when she grows up."
"Master..."
As expected, upon hearing this, the eldest disciple’s fair face immediately flushed with two shy blushes, her head hung low, her gaze anxiously fixed on her toes,
"Then what does Master think?"
This girl still insisted on getting to the bottom of it.
Chen Ye, feeling a headache, decided to humor her: "Master thinks that when Zhiwei grows up, she will definitely be a pretty young girl."
After all, who doesn’t love to hear compliments about beauty?
Zhiwei was no exception. She slightly curled her lips but put on a small stern face: "Master, that’s nonsense! When Zhiwei grows up, she’ll be an adult, not a little girl... But even as an adult, I’ll always be Master’s disciple, always Master’s disciple!"
Chen Ye couldn’t help but laugh; why was his disciple always so concerned about age?
Perhaps his earlier words had stirred her emotions.
The eldest disciple glanced at her master, inexplicably a bit saddened: "Master, do you think we will be master and disciple in the next life?"
This girl always seemed to think they were going to their doom in the Grotto Heaven.
But before Chen Ye could respond, Zhiwei seemed to read his thoughts and said seriously, "Master, there’s no need to comfort Zhiwei. I just want to know."
"Not much ambition, just wanting to be Master’s disciple?"
Seeing this, Chen Ye had to go along with her.
The eldest disciple was momentarily stunned and said urgently, "Master, don’t think wildly!"
"Master insists on thinking about it, maybe in the next life you’ll be Master’s daughter. Then I can watch you grow up all the time," Chen Ye teased mischievously.
Zhiwei was displeased: "Master, are daughters more important than disciples?"
This strange focus...
Chen Ye was left speechless.
But Zhiwei kept pressing: "Master, in the end, what’s more important, a disciple or a daughter?"
Chen Ye snorted, "Master doesn’t have a daughter, and you’re asking such unfounded questions. Besides, how can one compare a disciple and a daughter? Naturally, they are equally important!"
"What if you had to choose one?"
"Then it would be the mistress that’s important! Once Master establishes a Foundation, I’ll find ten mistresses for you all!"
Chen Ye glanced sideways at the little girl in exasperation.
Zhiwei chuckled: "Master is lying; Master can’t find a mistress at all!"
"Nonsense, once Master reaches Foundation, how could there not be a woman who fancies Master?"
"Zhiwei doesn’t mean that... Master is very likable. But if Master wanted to find a companion, he would have long ago. The reason Master hasn’t is that he’s waiting for someone he truly likes... But who in this world is worthy of Master’s true affection?"
The little girl with dark hair spoke with confidence.
Besides,
Master doesn’t need a companion.
Because Master already has his disciple beside him; who else does he need?
Chen Ye clicked his tongue; what she said did have some truth to it.
He was a transmigrator, his values already deeply ingrained.
Although he didn’t set himself on a moral pedestal, he wasn’t a man acting on impulse alone.
However,
seeing the eldest disciple’s confident demeanor, Chen Ye felt a rebellious urge.
That wretched disciple,
actually, genuinely believes that Master will never find a partner!
Well, Master will find one just to prove you wrong!