Thus, Chen Ye did not notice his disciple’s low spirits,
he carefully observed his disciple’s state.
Previously, Zhiwei was like a sharp sword hidden in its sheath.
But now, though her breath is reined in, the aura of harmonizing with heaven and earth cannot be concealed.
With every breath, the surrounding Spiritual Qi seemed to dance in delight.
Perfect Foundation Establishment, Leakless Dao Body!
"Well done."
Chen Ye nodded slightly, not sparing in his praise:
"A natural Tao Foundation, perfect and leakless. It seems I worried needlessly these past few days."
Receiving her master’s praise.
A slight smile finally appeared on Zhiwei’s small face. She pressed her lips, trying to hold back, but her lips still curved slightly upward.
She thought to herself, "Actually... it’s quite nice now."
"Truly, our daughter has just grown up..."
Chen Ye also felt happy for his disciple, yet he sensed someone was missing from the scene.
Jin’er hasn’t come out yet?
He looked around.
In a corner of the courtyard, there was an unremarkable shadow.
If not for Chen Ye’s sharp Divine Sense, it would have been hard to notice someone standing there.
That person held their breath, reined in their aura completely, only the bright eyes were silently gazing over.
Chen Ye sighed helplessly and waved a hand:
"Jin’er, come out. Since you’re awake, why hide there?"
The shadow trembled slightly, hesitantly moving out from the corner of the wall.
"Master..." Jin’er called softly.
"Why are you staying there alone?"
Chen Ye smiled warmly, though feeling a bit of a headache inside.
Little Shuyao was only afraid of strangers back then.
But now, Jin’er always appeared timid.
"..."
Hearing her master’s voice, Jin’er opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.
She always felt like an outsider, that stepping in would only disrupt the bond between master and disciple.
Rather than that,
She’d prefer to be alone, continuing to perfect that puppet...
Suddenly,
A long, fair hand gently held her wrist.
Lin Jin slowly raised her head.
Only to find Zhiwei had, at some unknown time, come before her.
Zhiwei, who had just broken through to Foundation Establishment, had skin pale as snow and eyes like polished black paint, beautiful as a fairy from the heavens.
But now she lacked that usual distant aura.
"The sunshine is good today."
Zhiwei gently tidied Jin’er’s slightly messy bangs as she spoke softly,
"Later, let’s come out and bask in the sun, as sisters."
"Sister..."
Lin Jin felt the warmth from her wrist, momentarily unsure how to react, simply letting her senior sister manage her as she pleased.
Senior sister is really wonderful. She thought to herself.
Zhiwei turned her head, looked at Chen Ye, and smiled slightly:
"Master, junior sister was worried about you last night, she stayed up and was probably just tired, which is why she hid aside."
This sentence gave Lin Jin a graceful exit.
Chen Ye, hearing this, quietly praised his eldest disciple’s wisdom, and followed up with a chuckle:
"I see, it was my oversight. We’re all family, no need for such restraint."
Under their gentle words, Lin Jin’s always tense heart finally eased a little.
She sniffled softly, and said in a low voice:
"Yes... thank you, senior sister, thank you, master."
Should I make another puppet for senior sister?
She seriously contemplated.
In the end, she decided against it.
One puppet is enough.
...
The peaceful days did not last long.
On the third day after Bai Susu’s departure.
Dong——!
Dong——!!
Dong——!!!
Three solemn and heavy bells tolled, echoing across the forty-five peaks of the Lingyin Sect.
This bell sounds completely different from the morning bells and evening drums; it carries a chilling air of iron and blood, invigorating the Divine Soul upon hearing it.
Chen Ye’s eyes fell towards the horizon.
There, the sea of clouds surged.
Countless swords of light shot into the sky, densely packed, blocking out the sun.
Above those swords of light, there were three enormous bronze warships, breaking through the mist and slowly advancing.
On the hulls of the ships were complex and menacing arrays, and the pressure emitted by each warship was enough to unsettle a Late Period Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"This is... a pseudo-Third Tier warship!"
In fact, in the Cultivation Realm, there isn’t a pseudo-Third Tier classification.
But warships differ from ordinary Magical Treasures; they are machines of slaughter.
Inscribed with massive amounts of offensive Talisman Arrays, even an unremarkable component might be a precious Magical Treasure.
Thus, although the warships also fall under the Second Tier Magical Treasure category, they cannot be evaluated by ordinary classifications.
The actions of the Emotion Crossing Sect defy convention and are scorned by the righteous path, and they have harbored resentment with the Lingyin Sect for a long time.
Today, these three bells signify the signal to start the war.
In the sky, Flowing Light descended like rain.
Countless disciples flew into the bronze warships.
Among the forty-five peaks, half of the Peak Masters will participate in this crusade against the Emotion Crossing Sect.
Zhiwei unknowingly walked up behind Chen Ye.
She looked at the majestic scene, with a faint Sword Intent rising in her eyes.
The young girl’s hand lightly pressed against the gourd at her waist and suddenly said:
"Master, do we need to go to battle?"
Now, she was fully in the Foundation Establishment phase and needed a whetstone to test her sword.
If her master gave the order, she would gladly become a sharp blade in his hand.
Jin’er, who was basking in the sun with the master and disciple duo, was also gazing blankly at the cultivators departing in the sky.
If Master wants to go... then, even if scared to death, she must follow.
As for Qing Jun.
The little girl had long been stimulated by her senior sisters and juniors reaching Foundation Establishment, mumbling about wanting to enter seclusion recently, and was now focused on her cultivation.
However, the fortunate thing is that Qing Jun has successfully broken through to the Ninth-Layer Qi Refining stage, getting closer to Foundation Establishment.
But she possesses the True Dragon Bloodline; though her potential is boundless and her lifespan long, her short-term progress in cultivation is not as advanced as Zhiwei’s, it may take another year or so to reach Foundation Establishment.
Chen Ye withdrew his gaze and shook his head:
"No need, as the Instructor, and also the Alchemist and Spirit Plant Master, going to battle is far from my duties. Only the coming period will likely be quite busy."
Although he doesn’t need to go to the front lines, refining a large amount of pills and cultivating healing spirit plants for the sect is inevitable.
Perhaps,
even the teachings at Baopu Peak will have to be temporarily set aside due to the war.
"But aren’t you worried that True Inheritor Bai has been ordered to go to battle, Master?"
The eldest disciple said, maintaining his usual demeanor.
Chen Ye’s heart skipped a beat as he looked at Zhiwei.
Zhiwei’s expression was extremely serious: "Master, do not have any other thoughts. True Inheritor Bai has treated me and Younger Disciple well; naturally, Zhiwei wishes for her safety."
Chen Ye found himself slightly embarrassed.
He thought Zhiwei was testing him.
But upon closer consideration.
No matter what kind of relationship he has with Bai Susu, he cannot overlook Bai Susu’s help to him and his disciples.
Chen Ye sighed: "Concerned. But as the saying goes, concern leads to chaos; providing pills to the sect is equally important. If we go, it might further distract True Inheritor Bai."
Upon hearing this, Zhiwei lowered her gaze slightly, nodded gently:
"Disciple understands."
No matter how complex her perspective on the always aloof True Inheritor Bai is, in these matters of great importance, she knows how to balance.
But Qing Jun... since knowing True Inheritor Bai is going to battle, her expression has been much happier.
This worried Zhiwei.
Younger Sister is too carefree.
In Younger Sister’s eyes, she only sees Master and herself.
Even if Master has a poor complexion, Qing Jun would worry herself sleepless, earnestly flipping through medicine scriptures to prepare herbal meals for Master.
But for others... in Qing Jun’s heart, she likely wishes everyone else would perish so she could have some peace.
During the master’s and disciple’s dialogue.
In the distant sky, the mighty warships had just hidden in the clouds when Flowing Light swiftly approached from the direction of Danxia Peak.
As the Flowing Light dispersed, a graceful figure appeared.
"Instructor Chen, these idle days are truly coming to an end."
The arrival was Guardian Zhao Yushuang from Danxia Peak, a renowned Great Alchemist of the Lingyin Sect.
Her red lips curved slightly, her autumnal eyes fell on Chen Ye.
One might call this worry, but it’s more like delight.
Because in her heart,
for Chen Ye, now that Bai Susu is no longer tormenting him, he could be considered as having escaped the sea of suffering.
In the upcoming period...
Perhaps she should pay more attention to looking after this mentally hurt Instructor Chen...