This is not Chen Ye being biased.
The master finally understood, this disciple of his is indeed a handful!
Moreover, now her cultivation has reached the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, who could bully her? It would be good enough if she didn’t bully others.
He even suspected that Qing Jun had intentionally pretended to be tricked by Zhang Chuxi back then, in order to borrow the hand of a Demon Cultivator to kill her.
Forget it... that’s probably not it, Qing Jun isn’t that bad... right?
Chen Ye glanced at the furious little girl, reached out with both hands, and gently pressed down her pufferfish-like cheeks.
"Puff—"
With a sound like air leaking, Qing Jun’s once puffed-up little face instantly deflated, her pink lips were squished into a pout, and she made a muffled protest:
"Mmm... Master... let go... my face is going to flatten..."
"Flattened is just right, so you don’t have to puff up every day, others might think I’ve raised a big toad."
Not only did Chen Ye not let go, but he mischievously pulled her cheeks to the sides, watching as the delicate little face deformed in his hands, feeling quite pleased,
"Look at you, now you’re a little master at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, who on Baopu Peak can beat you besides those old guys? You still want master to hold you high and give you a kiss every day, aren’t you ashamed?"
Mind you,
Back in Yunxi District, being at Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer was enough to become a Hall Master of the Jade Stream Association.
"Not ashamed! Not at all!"
Qing Jun finally escaped from the clutches, covering her flushed red cheeks, and righteously glared at Chen Ye,
"Master, you’ve changed! Do you not like Qing Jun now that you have a junior sister? Besides... Master didn’t even give Qing Jun any kisses or hold me high!"
Thinking of this, the little girl became even more depressed, Master only ever held her at most!
Chen Ye pinched his chin, feigning deep thought:
"Don’t worry about Master’s affairs! Besides, of course Master likes his disciple... but it seems my disciple has been possessed by a toad demon."
"Waaa! Master is the toad demon!"
Qing Jun was frantic, flailing her short legs trying to rebel in her master’s embrace,
"Qing Jun is clearly... the most adorable disciple in the whole world! If you talk nonsense again, Qing Jun will... will..."
She thought for a long time but couldn’t come up with a decent threat, so she fiercely rubbed some saliva on Chen Ye’s shoulder,
"I’ll eat you up! Qing Jun isn’t joking! After all, Qing Jun isn’t human..."
"Alright, alright, you’re the most adorable disciple, not a toad demon."
Chen Ye laughed while pressing down her mischievous little head, not minding it, and helped to tidy up her slightly messy silver hair, his tone softening,
"Stop fooling around, we should go pick up your junior sister. She has been in the Fire Spirit Land for a few days, who knows if she can handle it physically. Aren’t you worried as her senior sister?"
"Hmph, who’s worried about that stuffed melon."
Qing Jun pouted, muttering softly,
"She’s so powerful, even dares to fight a Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator, how could a little earth fire roast her?"
Though she said this, she calmed down, letting Chen Ye hold her without causing more trouble.
After all, Master has said she is a sensible senior sister,
So she should not continue to trouble Master.
...
The Fire Spirit Land is situated in a lava cave behind Baopu Peak.
The earth fire here is abundant, with high temperatures all year round. It’s perfect for cultivators practicing fire attribute cultivation techniques, but for ordinary people, it’s like an unbearable steamer.
Before even entering the cave, a wave of heat came crashing down.
"So hot..."
Qing Jun shrank her neck, even though her cultivation was quite decent now, this heat was still rather unbearable.
"Bear with it."
Chen Ye raised a pale green spiritual power shield, enveloping both of them, isolating them from the surging heat outside.
Entering the cave, the further they went, the higher the temperature, and the surrounding rock walls glowed a deep red.
At this moment, Zhiwei was in the Fire Spirit Land.
"Master."
Zhiwei greeted them as they approached, her forehead beaded with sweat.
Despite the high temperature, she remained unfazed,
After all, Zhiwei’s constitution harmonizes the Five Elements, and the Fire Spirit Land actually aids her cultivation.
"Thank you for your hard work, Zhiwei, how is it today?" Chen Ye asked.
"Junior sister has been inside all day and hasn’t come out yet."
Zhiwei glanced worriedly deeper into the cave,
"The fire energy here is too intense, I’m afraid her body can’t take it."
"No worries, she possesses Cold Flame; this earth fire can’t harm her, it can actually help suppress her cold poison."
Chen Ye waved his hand, indicating Zhiwei not to worry, then proceeded toward the Spirit Land with Qing Jun.
Qing Jun stuck out her tongue from the heat: "Master, it’s so hot here, are we going to turn into roast suckling pigs?"
Chen Ye wiped the dripping sweat off the girl: "Look at your senior sister, then at yourself. With your constitution, enduring the Fire Spirit Land would be greatly beneficial."
Qing Jun protested: "Why should I endure suffering when I can cultivate well? Qing Jun’s normal cultivation is enough!"
Alright.
No matter what, the little girl always had her own reasoning.
They turned a corner, and the view suddenly opened up.
A huge lava pool appeared before them, the lava rolling and the heat oppressive.
And on a boulder in the center of the lava pool sat a slender figure.
It was Lin Jin.
Her current state was somewhat peculiar.
Surrounded by red lava and heat waves, she was enveloped in a faint blue light, like a layer of thin ice, keeping all the heat at bay.
Her pale little face, under the reflection of the red light, appeared eerily beautiful.
At this moment,
She was sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed, focusing intently, her hands forming seals, striving to guide the Cold Flame within her to contend with the external earth fire.