This little girl...
Chen Ye watched as the little girl timidly stretched out her finger, quickly pulling it back before even touching the flame.
On the way, she would occasionally glance at them.
Seeing that neither of them stepped forward to stop her,
the little girl’s cheeks puffed up more and more, like a ballooning pufferfish.
Such a timid dumpling, how dare she roast herself?
"Pfft!"
At some point, Chen Ye reached out both hands and squeezed the girl’s cheeks heavily, squishing her puffed-up face into a bundle.
The little girl was caught off guard and let out an unclear "ooh ooh" sound.
Her eyes widened like a hamster caught in a trap.
She didn’t expect her master to do that suddenly; her small body went rigid, and the flame in her hand was forgotten.
Seeing her adorable yet annoyed expression, Chen Ye couldn’t help but burst into laughter: "You little girl, do you really dare to roast yourself? You’re getting bold. Hmm... if you become a braised girl, Master wants the first bite!"
Being squished and teased by her master, Qing Jun was both embarrassed and angry.
She struggled to push her master’s hands away, but she was too weak to move them.
"M-Master is bad!"
She protested indistinctly, her little brows furrowing tightly, making her already pinched bun face even more adorable.
Chen Ye let go of his hands, observing her rubbing her cheeks angrily and glaring at him, he found it even more amusing.
This little girl, just a month ago, was thinking of poisoning him.
Now, like any ordinary child, she could get angry, act spoiled, and even dare to glare at him secretly.
"Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you."
Chen Ye reined in his laughter, but the teasing in his eyes didn’t lessen,
"Don’t play with fire, be careful not to really roast yourself, then Master would have nowhere to find such a... hmm... interesting little disciple."
He paused deliberately, eyeing Qing Jun’s puffed-up state.
Laughing inwardly.
This little girl really was becoming less afraid of him.
But seeing Qing Jun a bit downcast.
Chen Ye also understood, seeing her senior sister able to cultivate while she couldn’t was undoubtedly a blow for Qing Jun.
"Qing Jun, the matters of cultivation rely on fate and timing, they cannot be forced. You have extraordinary talent; it’s just not your time yet. Listen and observe more in your daily life, lay a good foundation, and when the time comes, you’ll soar to the skies."
His words were half true and half false.
Qing Jun had the True Dragon Bloodline, her potential was indeed limitless.
But when or how it would awaken, Chen Ye couldn’t say for sure.
For now, he could only soothe this little girl, preventing her from getting stuck on a dead-end.
"Really?" Qing Jun’s eyes brightened, her face turning from cloudy to clear instantly, "Master didn’t lie to Qing Jun?"
"When has Master ever lied to you?" Chen Ye straightened his face.
Qing Jun tilted her little head, thought for a moment, and squinted her phoenix eyes at Chen Ye.
Only to see the man’s face feigning seriousness.
"..."
Master’s usual words, usual expressions.
Yet it made Qing Jun a bit afraid to look directly.
How could she not feel Master’s meticulous care?
But it was precisely this that made her afraid to meet his gaze.
Hmm...
At least during this time, Master hadn’t lied to her.
The little girl hurriedly ran to Zhiwei’s side, staring intently at the faint spiritual light on her senior sister.
After placating Qing Jun,
Chen Ye took out four high-quality fire stones he had previously stored from his Storage Bag, positioning them in the corners of the room according to a specific arrangement.
As spiritual power injected from his fingertips, the fire stones gradually emitted a gentle red glow, radiating a stable and long-lasting heat around.
Fire stones were inherently used for Alchemy, serving to provide heat, more than enough.
Four fire stones were enough to sustain the household for half a month.
Before long, the temperature in the room had noticeably risen.
Though the wind and snow howled outside, the chill was oppressive.
Yet within this small room, it became warm like spring again, forming a comfortable, constant warm environment.
Qing Jun’s once frozen face finally relaxed, sighing comfortably, curiously looking at those glowing stones.
Zhiwei also felt the warmth, she silently looked at the fire stones, then at the busy Master, before closing her eyes to continue her cultivation.
How could one not be fascinated when first encountering cultivation?
Even Zhiwei was no exception.
With power, she could protect all that she wanted to protect...
Just like... just like Master protecting them.
At this moment, Zhiwei remembered again the day Master faced Gao Ming with ferocity.
...
The anomaly and cold brought by the first wave of the Celestial Tribulation did not dissipate immediately but instead grew increasingly intense.
In the next five days, the trio almost didn’t leave the house, all staying within the warm and cozy home, immersed in cultivation.
Except... for a certain bored White Furred Ball.
Which could only sadly huddle under the covers, enviously watching the senior sister cultivate.
Meanwhile, Chen Ye occasionally guided his two disciples.
The remaining time, he devoted to the cultivation of the Evergreen Technique and the Qi Concealment Technique.
With ample Qi Nourishing Pills aiding him, the Evergreen Technique progressed rapidly!
In five days, after consuming ten Qi Nourishing Pills, the proficiency of the Evergreen Technique soared once more.
[Evergreen Technique Limit Break: 385/800]
Unfortunately, as he continued taking Qi Nourishing Pills, the proficiency gained decreased.
Now, one Qi Nourishing Pill only increased fifteen points of proficiency.
In addition, within his Dantian appeared the legendary Pill Barrier, which would hinder his cultivation breakthrough.
Luckily, he hadn’t consumed too many pills for now, so the Pill Barrier wasn’t severe.
"I’ve heard, the Outer Disciples of the Lingyin Sect only receive five Qi Nourishing Pills a month."
"Firstly, it’s the inability to distribute too many resources; secondly, it’s indeed for considering the disciples’ cultivation... whether in past or present, taking pills is ultimately like pulling the seedlings to help them grow."
Chen Ye felt a bit guilty, he was now taking two pills a day.
For other cultivators,
those without a background couldn’t afford them,
those with a background were unwilling to take too many...
At the same time, he used almost all of the spiritual power obtained from cultivating the Evergreen Technique for practicing the Qi Concealment Technique acquired from the Tribulation Cultivator.
Though this technique was an ordinary kind, it was practical.
Chen Ye’s sharpness was emerging, and he was caught in the vortex.
Knowing how to hide his aura could undoubtedly reduce a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Relying on the otherworldly effect of the proficiency panel, and his now adept control over spiritual power.
In just five days, he pushed this technique from beginner to Great Success Realm!
[Qi Concealment Technique Great Success: 1/200]
Now running the Qi Concealment Technique, Chen Ye was confident in concealing most of his aura fluctuations.
As long as he didn’t use magic, even facing a regular late-stage Qi Cultivator, they would find it hard to see through his real cultivation.
What pleased Chen Ye most was his eldest disciple Zhiwei.
Since the day she introduced Qi into her body, Zhiwei exhibited an amazing affinity with the Water Series.
Though the Purity Glaze Body had just initially awakened, her cultivation speed was akin to Two Spiritual Roots.
Cultivators with Two Spiritual Roots were considered genius disciples even in the Lingyin Sect!
"Zhiwei is about to reach the first layer of Qi Cultivation, though the Evergreen Technique can be cultivated, it’s ultimately not a Water Series Cultivation Technique, I must find her a matching Water Series Technique and a few protective and combative magic spells."
Chen Ye watched Zhiwei sitting cross-legged on the mat, seriously circulating the technique, and pondered to himself.
For a gifted cultivator, reaching the first layer of Qi Cultivation was very simple.
And Zhiwei’s comprehension was extraordinary, in five days, she had already grasped the key to cultivation.
"It’s time to go out."
Chen Ye made up his mind.
First, to find appropriate techniques and magic spells for Zhiwei, and second, to check the latest situation in the Market.
Knowing yourself and the enemy, you can fight a hundred battles without defeat.
He called his two disciples before him, giving detailed instructions.
To make sure they cultivated well at home, not to wander outside casually, especially to be wary of that "child-eating" neighbor Ping Zhuo.
Watching the two little ones seeming to understand yet nodding vigorously.
Only then did Chen Ye feel reassured, putting on a bamboo hat.
Under the gaze of his two disciples,
he pushed the door open, stepping into the overwhelming wind and snow.