Volume One, Chapter 13: Principles!

Seeing her senior brothers and master successively break through their cultivation levels, Tang Xi was filled with bitter regret. Yet she still refused to believe it. How could this little wretch, who appeared even younger than herself, possibly have refined such a supreme pill? It must be that the legendary expert was away from home! That’s why this little wretch stole the treasure belonging to that master. The more Tang Xi thought about it, the more plausible it seemed! Surely her master had been deceived! How dare that wretch cheat her master! I will definitely expose your true colors!

“Esteemed master!” Zong Huai, overcome with excitement, rose and once again bowed deeply to Qing Yi. He had already absorbed the Enlightenment Tea he drank and had consecutively broken through two minor realms! To reach his cultivation level, it was extraordinarily difficult to advance even one minor realm in a century. But in just one day, he had broken through two! If this were before, he wouldn’t even dare to imagine such a thing! This was an incredible stroke of fate! He even had a premonition that if he refined all the Enlightenment Tea within him, perhaps he wouldn’t need ten years to advance to the Tribulation Crossing realm!

The Tribulation Crossing realm was where the strongest cultivators in this world resided! Within the entire Azure Cloud Sect, there were currently only two masters at that level! If he could break through... Zong Huai grew more and more excited. Could this revered master be the benefactor of their Azure Cloud Sect?

Su Qing hurriedly put down her teacup. “It’s just a cup of tea, uncle, please don’t be so polite! And with you bowing repeatedly like this, I feel as if I might disappear any moment!”

Hearing the master being addressed as “uncle,” Zong Huai looked up in astonishment. Uncle?! Could it be that the revered master was deliberately concealing his identity, hence distancing himself from them? It must be so!

“Revered master...” Zong Huai was about to express his gratitude when his gaze suddenly sharpened. A powerful demon was approaching! Had the demon clan discovered the three of them? No! They absolutely could not let the demons disturb the master’s cultivation! “Revered master, I will lead those demons away and make sure they do not disturb you!” Zong Huai looked at his two disciples. “Let’s go!”

With a wave of his hand, Zong Huai and his two disciples leapt from the spot. Huh? Why are we still here? Zong Huai was baffled.

Looking up, they saw the master staring straight at them. Embarrassment flashed across his face. His magic had failed? Could there be a barrier here, yet why had he noticed nothing upon entering?

Zhao Ping’s expression grew anxious. “Master, the demons seem to have arrived!”

Zong Huai had no time to ponder this further. His face darkened. “Quickly, leave!”

The three disciples hurriedly left the courtyard. Before departing, Tang Xi cast Qing Yi a venomous glare.

“That human showed murderous intent toward the master!” Red Luan’s eyes flickered coldly as she watched the disciples leave.

Xuan Ling lazily lay by the pond. “He’s only at the Foundation Establishment stage. He poses no threat to the master.”

Red Luan ignored Xuan Ling. She was not as calm as Xuan Ling about everything. Any threat to the master must be eliminated!

“Red Luan, don’t forget the master’s orders!”

“Annoying!” Red Luan shot Xuan Ling a glare and petulantly hopped aside to peck at the stones on the ground.

Xuan Ling sighed helplessly. With Red Luan’s fiery temper, trouble was bound to arise sooner or later. Yet it was unexpected that in the master’s previous eight lifetimes, all had passed quietly. This lifetime, however, was entangled not only with the demon and beast clans but also with human cultivators. Xuan Ling did not know whether this was good or bad for the master...

But the master had said: everything must follow its natural course! If they interfered forcibly, it might affect the master’s tribulation crossing!

Outside, Li Yan saw Qing Yi slinging a bundle on her back and looked at her with puzzlement. “Demons are everywhere outside. Are you still going out to set up your stall?”

“Of course!” Qing Yi nodded. “Not only to sell, but also to buy some medicinal herbs. The poison in your body isn’t completely cured yet, so I want to try more medicines.”

Li Yan’s expression was complicated. He didn’t understand why Qing Yi, who had only picked him up as a stranger at the gate, treated him so well. At first, he suspected that her appearance and the sale of pills were all intentional arrangements. But after meeting her again, he was sure she didn’t recognize him.

Before meeting Qing Yi, Li Yan believed all humans were greedy and selfish! As long as the benefit was enough, even human hearts could be measured by profit!

Qing Yi had already shouldered her bundle. Before leaving, she reminded Li Yan, “Little Brother Li, your body is still weak. Don’t overexert yourself. I’ll brew some medicine for you when I return!”

Li Yan looked deeply at Qing Yi. For some inexplicable reason, he nodded slightly and watched as she dragged Bai Ziye out of the courtyard.

No sooner had Qing Yi stepped outside than two demon clan warriors appeared in the courtyard.

“Lord Demon King!”

Li Yan was not surprised they had found him. He asked coldly, “What is it?”

“Reporting to Lord Demon King, the Azure Cloud Sect, the Carefree Sect, and the Taiji Sword Sect have assembled ten thousand cultivators intending to launch a night raid on our demon base!”

Li Yan’s gaze was deep as he pondered for a moment. “If they are courting death, let them be.”

The Azure Cloud Sect, Carefree Sect, and Taiji Sword Sect were all second- or third-rate sects—not worthy of his concern.

The two demon warriors exchanged glances. “Lord Demon King, will you not return?”

“I have more important matters.” Li Yan paused, then continued, “If anyone asks, do not tell anyone I am here!”

“Yes, we understand!” The two warriors bowed.

Li Yan nodded. “Dismissed.”

“Yes!”

The two demon warriors left.

Li Yan’s gaze fell on the nearly empty water jar. After retrieving the carrying pole and bucket from the corner, he left the courtyard. He remembered that just outside the town was a crystal-clear river where townsfolk fetched water. That must be the place...

Meanwhile, Qing Yi tugged the rope, dragging Wang Cai along. She stopped, panting, and said, “Wang Cai, have you gained weight these past two days?”

Bai Ziye glared at Qing Yi. It had been dragged all this way, its rear almost rubbed raw! And this woman had the nerve to say it had gained weight?

“Oh, I know! Are you scared?” Seeing Wang Cai’s glare, Qing Yi thought she might be right. Actually, being timid wasn’t a fault.

For a moment, Qing Yi even wondered if her expectations for Wang Cai were too high. It was so ugly—a completely ordinary little mutt. Maybe it had suffered hardships before meeting her?

No matter. Once they returned, Qing Yi planned to entrust Wang Cai to Little Brother Li. Her requirements weren’t high. Even if Wang Cai couldn’t protect her safety, it had to at least learn to guard the house and yard! If it couldn’t manage that, then it would just be a pet!

Since Qing Yi had raised it, she would never abandon it halfway. This was her principle!