Chapter 18: A Sharp Intake of Breath

Leaving the Hall of Discipline, Chen Ping took Lin Xiaoyu back to Luoxia Peak.

The setting sun cast a warm golden glow over the mountain peak.

“Master, I’ll go cook right away. Please wait a moment.”

Lin Xiaoyu set down the few simple ingredients she had bought from the market and walked quickly toward the kitchen.

“Alright.”

Chen Ping nodded with a smile, walked over to the old locust tree in the courtyard, and settled comfortably into a reclining chair.

He took a simple fishing rod out of his storage ring.

He had made it on a whim ten years ago, though he hadn’t caught many fish with it over the years.

With a casual flick of his wrist, the hook splashed into the nearby pond.

He closed his eyes, feeling the evening breeze, thoroughly pleased with himself.

He didn’t have to cook his own meals, and his disciple was sweet and obedient.

He didn’t need to cultivate like his life depended on it, either; as long as his disciple made progress, he would level up along with her.

He wouldn’t trade this kind of life even to become an immortal.

Chen Ping was on the verge of drifting off when he suddenly felt the fishing rod twitch.

“Huh?”

He opened his eyes, but just as he was about to stand up and reel it in, a figure appeared silently before him.

The figure wore a simple green robe that fluttered gently, completely free of dust.

The newcomer looked to be only in his late thirties or early forties, with handsome features and eyes as deep as the ocean.

His hair and beard were pitch-black, and his entire being radiated a Dao charm of returning to simplicity.

Chen Ping froze for a second, then quickly recovered. He stood up and bowed in greeting.

“Greetings, Sect Master.”

The newcomer was none other than the current Sect Master of the Qingyun Sect, Saint Qingyuan.

He possessed a cultivation at the Great Circle of the Saint Realm, only a single step away from becoming a Great Saint.

Saint Qingyuan waved his hand. “No need for formalities.”

“Sect Master, what brings you here?” Chen Ping asked.

He knew exactly why the Sect Master had come. With the appearance of the Heavenly Dao Divine Physique, Li Yuanyi must have reported it immediately.

Still, he hadn’t expected the Sect Master to visit Luoxia Peak in person.

Since his master, Saint Qingxuan, had passed away, the Sect Master had only visited Luoxia Peak once.

Chen Ping understood why. First, there was a vast gulf between immortals and mortals, and second, there was simply nothing on Luoxia Peak worth paying attention to.

A peak master at only the half-step Qi Refining stage, and an isolated peak with thin spiritual energy and not a single disciple.

Who would care?

Chen Ping feigned ignorance. “Sect Master, you hold such a noble status. What brings you to my Luoxia Peak?”

Saint Qingyuan looked at him, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

“I know you harbor resentment. For so many years, the sect left you on Luoxia Peak and ignored you.”

“Sect Master, you worry too much. This disciple wouldn’t dare…” Chen Ping lowered his head.

“Wouldn’t dare?” Saint Qingyuan shook his head.

“You’ve been stubborn ever since you were a child.

“Back then, when your master passed away, he insisted on passing the position of peak master to you, and the entire sect opposed it.

“I was the one who overrode all objections so you could secure this position.”

He paused, then continued:

“Although the sect has neglected you all these years, no one has come to Luoxia Peak to bother you, and we let you do as you pleased.”

Chen Ping knew exactly what the Sect Master meant.

He had gone to the various peaks to secretly learn from them, and sneaked into the Scripture Pavilion to study, hoping to break through his half-step Qi Refining stage.

Without the Sect Master’s tacit approval, how could a half-step Qi Refining useless cultivator like him move freely within the Qingyun Sect?

And how could he have entered the Scripture Pavilion multiple times without being stopped?

It’s just…

“This disciple was just a bit upset,” Chen Ping said, looking up with stubbornness in his eyes.

“Luoxia Peak was going to be dissolved…”

His master had entrusted Luoxia Peak to him on his deathbed. For twenty years, he had guarded this isolated peak, keeping his master’s final wish.

If Luoxia Peak were truly dissolved, how could he face his master in the afterlife?

Saint Qingyuan looked at Chen Ping, and after a long silence, sighed softly.

“Your master was my senior brother.

“He saved my life back then. How could I forget his deathbed entrustment?

“But the sect has its rules. Each of the seventy-two peaks must have a legacy.

“You failed to recruit a single disciple for twenty years. According to the rules, it indeed…”

He did not finish, but the meaning was clear.

Chen Ping fell silent for a moment, then finally said in a low voice:

“Thank you for looking after me in secret all these years, Martial Uncle.”

Hearing the title “Martial Uncle” brought a hint of a smile to Saint Qingyuan’s eyes.

“Alright, let’s not talk about that anymore,” Saint Qingyuan said, waving his hand.

“It is also your good fortune to have encountered a Heavenly Dao Divine Physique, a rarity across the ages.”

He looked at Chen Ping and said solemnly, “I agree to the three conditions you mentioned.”

“Thank you, Sect Master!” Chen Ping bowed solemnly.

“The sect will secretly allocate a vast amount of resources to help Lin Xiaoyu grow.

“As for Luoxia Peak’s resource allocation, it will be restored starting today, and increased by thirty percent.”

Just as he finished speaking, Lin Xiaoyu walked out of the kitchen carrying two plates of food.

Seeing another person in the courtyard, she paused in surprise, then looked at Chen Ping.

“Master, who is this…”

“Xiaoyu, this is the Sect Master,” Chen Ping introduced.

Lin Xiaoyu quickly set down the plates and bowed respectfully.

“Disciple Lin Xiaoyu greets the Sect Master!”

Saint Qingyuan sized her up, a flash of admiration in his eyes.

Although Lin Xiaoyu had already restrained the aura of her Heavenly Dao Divine Physique.

But with Saint Qingyuan’s cultivation level, he could naturally perceive the pure, divine power within her body.

“No need for formalities,” Saint Qingyuan said gently.

“Xiaoyu, release your divine physique. Let me see.”

Lin Xiaoyu looked at Chen Ping. Seeing him nod, she took a deep breath and slowly released the aura of the Heavenly Dao Divine Physique.

Instantly, golden light swirled, and purple Qi faintly appeared.

Although it was not as intense as it had been in the Hall of Discipline, the vast, divine aura still caused the spiritual energy of the entire Luoxia Peak to surge with activity.

A bright gleam flashed in Saint Qingyuan’s eyes, and he stroked his beard with a smile.

“It really is the Heavenly Dao Divine Physique… Heaven blesses our Qingyun Sect!”

He looked at Lin Xiaoyu as if looking at a piece of unpolished, peerless jade, his eyes filled with gratification and expectation.

“Alright, conceal your aura,” Saint Qingyuan said.

“In the future, remember to hide it in front of outsiders.

“The Heavenly Dao Divine Physique is too eye-catching. Before you have sufficient ability to protect yourself, it should not be exposed.”

“This disciple understands!” Lin Xiaoyu said respectfully.

Just then, the aroma of food wafted out from the kitchen.

Lin Xiaoyu looked at Chen Ping, then at the Sect Master, and said hesitantly:

“Master, Sect Master, dinner is ready. Would you… like to eat together?”

Saint Qingyuan frowned slightly.

Seeing this, Chen Ping quickly tried to smooth things over.

“The Sect Master has long since abstained from food and no longer consumes mortal fare. Xiaoyu, bring out the dishes. We can just eat by ourselves.”

“Oh…” Lin Xiaoyu nodded and went back into the kitchen.

Saint Qingyuan looked at Chen Ping, his tone turning somewhat serious.

“Chen Ping, you actually let Xiaoyu cook?”

“Huh?” Chen Ping was taken aback.

“To waste such talent on these trivial matters is simply not worth it,” Saint Qingyuan said.

“If you need help, I can assign a few handyman disciples to you.

“From now on, do not let Xiaoyu do chores like cooking and cleaning anymore.”

Before Chen Ping could speak, Lin Xiaoyu walked out carrying the soup. Hearing this, she said softly:

“Sect Master, Master said we should balance work and rest. After cultivation, it helps to relax. Besides, I really like cooking… and I want to cook for Master.”

She meant every word.

It was only thanks to her master taking her in that she was able to make a home on Luoxia Peak.

Her gratitude was beyond words!

Saint Qingyuan looked at Lin Xiaoyu’s earnest expression, then at the simple meal of three dishes and a soup on the table. In the end, he shook his head and said nothing more.

“Chen Ping, keep these safe.”

Saint Qingyuan drew a storage ring from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Ping.

Chen Ping took it and sent his divine sense inside, instantly drawing in a sharp breath.