Three days passed in the blink of an eye!
On the evening of the third day, Ye Chu sat in the peach grove, his consciousness still anchored in his spiritual sea. The Cold Fire Emperor, growing impatient at the Green Lotus’s resilience, began to relentlessly temper it with terrifying origin spirit energy.
Ye Chu calmly observed the Cold Fire Emperor continuously working on the Green Lotus, remaining entirely unmoved as the lotus was gradually eroded bit by bit.
Perhaps due to the presence of the Emperor’s origin spirit within him, the energy in Ye Chu’s spiritual sea had grown exceptionally pure. Heavenly and earthly spiritual essence condensed there, swirling into brilliant, multicoloured patterns as vivid as the evening clouds.
Ye Chu sat upon a bluestone slab in the grove, gazing towards the distant horizon where the sunset clouds seemed to merge with the rolling mountain ranges. His heart felt remarkably tranquil. In his past life, finding a place so rich in fragrance and so visually soothing would have meant running himself ragged for nothing.
“You certainly have a leisurely disposition, sitting here watching the clouds drift,” Mo Huang remarked. He had somehow arrived with Mo Qi at Ye Chu’s side without being noticed, and seeing Ye Chu lost in thought over the sunset clouds, he spoke up to break the spell.
Ye Chu drew his mind back from his cultivation, turning his gaze to Mo Huang. His attention was immediately captured by Mo Qi. She was strikingly beautiful, with a slender, perfectly proportioned figure. The fiery red dress she wore clung to her curves, accentuating her figure in an undeniably alluring manner.
Ye Chu glanced at her long legs visible beneath the skirt’s hem, thinking to himself that this woman clearly had a preference for short dresses. It was almost impossible not to imagine the view when a breeze caught the fabric.
“Senior Mo Huang, since you have travelled here, I wonder if you have come to a decision?” Ye Chu asked with a smile.
Mo Huang fixed his gaze on Ye Chu. Recalling the outcome of his recent visit to the Pavilion Core, he felt rather taken aback. No one could afford to underestimate the disciple of that madman from Heartless Peak. After Ye Chu had first presented his terms, Mo Huang had gone to the Pavilion Core to consult the elders involved.
He had simply stated Ye Chu’s request, and to his surprise, the elders had agreed with remarkable enthusiasm. They had not asked a single additional question.
Yes, their agreement had been unusually enthusiastic, as though they were practically begging for Ye Chu to proceed. This left Mo Huang deeply uneasy, and he had finally mustered the courage to question the old masters.
The response he received was clear: “Since the old madman’s disciple dares to come, we dare to take him in. It is a perfect opportunity to properly discipline him, and remind him that this world is not entirely at the mercy of his master’s followers.”
Mo Huang remained confused and pressed further. The elders then explained patiently: “That old lunatic from Heartless Peak is exceptional, and his disciples are undoubtedly formidable. Yet, if we can cultivate someone who surpasses his disciple, it will not only allow us to mock Floating Life Palace and dent that old madman’s pride, but it will also greatly benefit us. Should we ever need to negotiate with Heartless Peak in the future, we will have leverage.”
“But he is, after all, a disciple of another sacred ground. Letting him enter might allow him to steal our Heavenly Sky Pavilion’s secret techniques,” Mo Huang asked, deeply concerned. “A man whose loyalty does not lie with us, yet operating within our ranks, can hardly be called anything other than a spy.”
“It matters little. The true peerless secret arts of the Heavenly Sky Pavilion will remain beyond his reach. As for lesser techniques, if he wishes to learn them, let him. Given that old madman’s methods, even if we withhold them, obtaining them would not prove overly difficult for him.” The elders’ words left Mo Huang momentarily speechless. He wondered to himself, is that old lunatic truly that formidable? To command such high regard from several senior clan figures!
“He comes to the Heavenly Sky Pavilion, yet his true intentions remain unknown. Perhaps…” Mo Huang still harboured doubts. Even though Ye Chu’s terms were difficult to ignore, his loyalty to the pavilion drove him to persistently caution the elders.
“What manner of institution is the Heavenly Sky Pavilion? Regardless of his motives, he will not be able to cause any real upheaval,” the elders stated firmly. “Allow him to proceed. If any issues arise, we will intervene.”
With those assurances, Mo Huang finally felt entirely at ease.
Mo Huang now looked at Ye Chu, a trace of sympathy stirring in his heart. He recalled the elders’ promise to look after him properly, and wondered how thoroughly Ye Chu would be broken if he truly entered the Fiend Spirit Pavilion.
“The terms you have proposed are acceptable to me,” Mo Huang said, meeting Ye Chu’s gaze. “However, regarding your own promise, when do you intend to fulfil it?”
“As soon as you uphold your end, I will uphold mine,” Ye Chu replied with a smile. He was inwardly surprised by how readily the man had agreed, but he chose not to dwell on it. His mind was entirely consumed by the prospect of entering the Fiend Spirit Pavilion.
Mo Huang produced a jade slip and handed it to Ye Chu. “This is my authorisation. Present it at the Fiend Spirit Pavilion and state it is from me. They will grant you a single trial. Whether you succeed in entering depends entirely on your own abilities and your potential to become a Fiend Spirit practitioner.”
“That will not be a concern,” Ye Chu said with a smile. He then turned to Mo Qi. “Come with me. I will use my techniques to adjust your aptitude.”
Mo Qi glanced at her father. Upon seeing Mo Huang nod, she followed behind Ye Chu, her cheeks flushed.
Mo Huang watched Ye Chu’s retreating figure. Remembering the elders’ remarks, the smile on his lips deepened. “Young man! Take your time and savour the experience. They are all waiting for you!”
Ye Chu was, of course, completely unaware that he had already become a pawn in the scheme between the Heavenly Sky Pavilion and the old madman. He had already led Mo Qi back to Du Liang’s bamboo hut. Seeing her follow Ye Chu so meekly, Du Liang’s eyes widened. He instinctively raised a thumb towards Ye Chu. “You absolute legend! It has only been a few days, and you have already managed to win over Miss Mo Qi, made her so docile, and what is even more audacious is that you are bringing her straight into your room!”
Recognising the lewd look on Du Liang’s face, Ye Chu knew precisely what he was imagining. Unwilling to waste words on a man plagued by such delusions, he guided Mo Qi inside, hooked his foot behind him, and slammed the door shut with a sharp bang.
Du Liang watched the door close and could not help but spit. “Bastard!”
Mo Qi’s heart leapt into her throat as the door shut. She could not help but blurt out, “What are you doing?”
Ye Chu turned to her. “Do not worry. I know I am not worthy of courting you, so I will not make any advances.”
Her face flushed scarlet at his words. Catching the gentle amusement in Ye Chu’s gaze, she suddenly wished she could vanish into the floor.
“Sit cross-legged on the mat,” Ye Chu instructed.
Her mind was entirely consumed by embarrassment, so she simply did as he said. She sat obediently on the mat, and when he told her to close her eyes, she complied without hesitation.
Her long lashes fluttered slightly, complementing her delicate, peach-blossom complexion to create a strikingly beautiful image. Sitting cross-legged, her posture was perfectly straight and remarkably graceful.
“Keep your eyes closed and do not move. I will channel my cultivation to adjust your aptitude,” Ye Chu said. He sat cross-legged before her, raised his hands, and placed his palms flat against her chest. Even through her clothes, he could feel the remarkable softness beneath.
Mo Qi’s face burned crimson at the contact. Though a mixture of shyness and indignation rose in her chest, Ye Chu’s voice reached her ears: “Stay still. This will take roughly half an hour.”
Mo Qi stiffened for a moment, then forced herself to suppress her embarrassment. She remained seated cross-legged with her eyes tightly shut, feeling Ye Chu’s hands glide over her as a warm current circulated through her meridians. Yet, she was so consumed by shyness that she could focus on nothing else. She had no idea what Ye Chu was actually doing.