harleyscars Chapter 255 Sect's Enjoyable Cultivation, No Second Encounter
Chapter 255 Sect's Enjoyable Cultivation, No Second Encounter
Chapter 255 Sect's Exhilarating Cultivation, Unwavering Agreement
A few days later, the Nascent Soul Ceremony of the Star Moon Sect was officially held.
Almost all the major cultivation forces under the jurisdiction of Qingyun Cave Heaven sent cultivators to attend the ceremony. The birth of a Nascent Soul stage female fairy, especially one like Yue Qingqiu who once had the title of "the most beautiful golden core of Moon Lake," was a major event in the entire Qingyun Cave Heaven.
At the ceremony, spirit banners fluttered, and the magical artifacts shimmered faintly. Cultivators from various factions stood in order of their cultivation level, creating a solemn yet lively atmosphere.
Several powerful figures at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm even personally attended to offer their congratulations.
These powerful figures openly and secretly transmitted their divine senses to Yue Qingqiu during the banquet, with some expressing their willingness to become her Daoist partners and to fully support the development of the Star Moon Sect in the future.
Some suggested sending troops to help the Star Moon Sect completely wipe out the Beast Taming lineage of Eagle Ridge Mountain to eliminate future troubles.
Faced with these offers, Yue Qingqiu remained calm and politely declined them one by one.
Although Master Yuntian of Qingyun Cave Heaven did not attend in person, he sent a generous gift: a "Millennial Soul-Nourishing Wood" containing rich wood-type spiritual energy, as a way to commemorate his unrequited love.
Afterwards, Master Yuntian focused on going to the secret realm and preparing to form his Nascent Soul. As for his unrequited love for Yue Qingqiu, he was ultimately not destined for it.
Chen Yi, a newly promoted elder who has recently gained considerable attention in the Star Moon Sect, did not appear at the ceremony under the pretext of going into seclusion to consolidate his cultivation, and continued to keep a low profile.
During the ceremony, several sects offered to cooperate with the Star Moon Sect to purchase puppets, beast pills, and thunder brew.
All these negotiations were handled personally by Yue Qingqiu.
In particular, the three high-grade third-tier turtle puppets that Chen Yi had previously displayed when fighting against the Black Serpent True Monarch attracted inquiries from almost every force present, who wanted to order them.
However, the price quoted by Yue Qingqiu was astonishingly high—almost ten times the price of the materials needed to craft a puppet of the same level.
When someone pressed her for an explanation, she calmly replied, "The core components of these three puppets were obtained from an ancient mechanic's cave. Elder Chen of our sect has only mastered the assembly technique and is not yet able to independently refine them from start to finish."
If any of you wish to order a custom-made item, you will need to provide ten times the amount of materials so that Elder Chen can explore the refining method.
Upon hearing this, the cultivators from various factions all shook their heads in refusal.
No one was willing to pay such a high price to use as a "whetstone" for Chen Yi of the Star Moon Sect to improve his puppet-making skills, and the matter was eventually dropped.
In the following two years, Chen Yi began to truly enjoy the benefits of being a "meritorious official who followed the emperor," and lived a very comfortable life.
He first selected a batch of rare and precious herbs that would be useful to him from the congratulatory gifts he received at Yue Qingqiu's Nascent Soul Ceremony. Among them were rare medicinal herbs that would help stabilize the Golden Core and nourish the physical body.
Next, they went to the Star Moon Sect's treasury and selected some rare materials needed to refine puppets and brew thunder wine. Accompanied by Yue Qingqiu, they traveled unimpeded everywhere they went, and even the old elders in charge of the treasury dared not say a word.
Furthermore, the sect did not take any share of the orders for the Escape Technique Thunder Brew and the Enlightenment Thunder Brew that he had taken over in the past two years. All the profits were enjoyed by him alone, which alone allowed him to accumulate a large amount of cultivation resources.
Finally, Yue Qingqiu's support for him was even more direct—every month, she would make a special trip to Chen Yi's cave to spend two nights with him.
Each time they met, she would transfer the Nascent Soul level Moon Spirit Essence she had accumulated over a month of cultivation to Chen Yi through dual cultivation, providing him with the purest aid for his cultivation and allowing his cultivation level to steadily improve.
During the cultivation process, Yue Qingqiu provided Chen Yi with unreserved assistance, even going so far as to use her Nascent Soul level magical power.
Her magical power was like a surging river, pulling the magical power in Chen Yi's body with the force of a "big horse pulling a small cart," while accelerating his absorption of the Star Moon Essence. This all-out assistance made Chen Yi's cultivation efficiency far exceed that of ordinary cultivators.
Whenever Chen Yi's own source of essence is insufficient, the gap is filled by the "Tears of Stars," a treasure accumulated by the sect over thousands of years.
These Star Tears are rare treasures that nourish the source of star power. To obtain them, Ping Dong made several trips to the sect's treasury. Every time he saw the number of Star Tears in the jade box decreasing day by day, he couldn't help but feel heartbroken and wanted to cry, but he had no choice but to endure it.
The thought that all those Star Tears he had taken, which should have been used on himself long ago, were instead turned into Star Power by that guy surnamed Chen, who then used them on Junior Sister Qingqiu, made his heart ache. But as time went on, he actually got used to this feeling.
During the dual cultivation process, as Yue Qingqiu's nascent soul power gradually consolidated, her reshaped physical body also continued to grow stronger, and the subsequent effects of these changes began to show significant signs.
She used to struggle to keep up with Chen Yi's pace, but now she can gradually handle his physical strength and movements with ease, and even take the initiative to show various difficult poses, fully cooperating with Chen Yi.
Moreover, after reshaping her physical body, she regained her perfect physique at the age of twenty, with skin as smooth as jade, and a shapely figure, every inch of which exuded the unique spiritual energy of a Nascent Soul Fairy.
This made Chen Yi truly realize that the most beautiful fairy body in the world, if placed in his previous life, would be as dull and lackluster as mud in front of a fairy like Yue Qingqiu, who had been purified by the power of the Nascent Soul.
Only after personally experiencing the tenderness of such an unparalleled woman did Chen Yi truly understand what it meant to be so captivated by her beauty that one could linger and never want to leave.
This kind of life is worlds apart from the old Chen who could only seek pleasure in brothels when he first transmigrated; it's like the difference between heaven and earth.
Yue Qingqiu's willingness to set aside her noble status as a Nascent Soul True Monarch and go to great lengths to please Chen Yi was not entirely due to personal feelings.
On the one hand, she did feel guilty and wanted to make up for Chen Yi's great help and many contributions to her Nascent Soul formation in this way;
On the other hand, Chen Yi's entrustment contract with the Star Moon Sect had long ended, and he was now free. She had to rely on her own charm to keep him. After all, although the Star Moon Sect had her, a Nascent Soul cultivator, to hold it up, its late Core Formation stage combat power was basically lacking, and no one could support the sect's mid-level combat power.
Furthermore, Chen Yi possesses two top-tier third-order techniques: puppetry and thunder brewing, making him an important source of resources for the sect. Whether for public or private reasons, she absolutely cannot allow Chen Yi to leave at this time.
It was precisely because of this that Chen Yi was able to enjoy emperor-like treatment during this period, with no shortage of resources, honor, and the tenderness of a peerless beauty.
Yue Qingqiu was also busy.
She sets aside two days each month to transfer her accumulated Moon Essence to Chen Yi, sharing with him the most wonderful pleasures in the world.
Besides that, she spent most of her time in seclusion in her cave, focusing on cultivating the Nascent Soul Secret Techniques inherited from the Planetary Moon Sect, honing her magical power, and stabilizing her True Monarch realm.
Occasionally, she would quietly leave the sect, concealing her presence each time she went out, like a shadow blending into the night, silently infiltrating the area within the territory of Eagle Ridge Mountain.
They may be lying in wait near the immortal city "Eagle Bear City" controlled by Eagle Ridge Mountain, or they may be hiding their tracks around Beast Mountain.
When she encountered a merchant caravan doing business with Eagle Ridge Mountain, she would secretly sabotage it, causing the caravan to lose most of its supplies.
If she encountered a lone Core Formation cultivator from Eagle Ridge Mountain, or a third-tier demonic beast under their control, she would show no mercy, killing them if possible and leaving no survivors.
Every time Black Serpent True Lord sensed that one of his cultivators or forces had been attacked and rushed to the scene in a fit of rage, Yue Qingqiu had already quietly escaped using the fourth-order "Moon Escape" technique, leaving behind only a mess and Black Serpent True Lord's cursing, not even able to catch up with the hem of her clothes.
Unable to tolerate it any longer, the Black Serpent True Lord took the evidence to Qingyun Cave Heaven to complain, accusing Yue Qingqiu of provoking trouble without cause.
But Yue Qingqiu was not to be outdone. She also presented evidence to the cave, accusing the Black Serpent True Lord of repeatedly obstructing her from forming her nascent soul through despicable means.
Both sides stuck to their own versions of events, accusing each other and engaging in a war of words, which caused quite a headache for the people in charge of Qingyun Cave.
It should be noted that the Star Moon Sect and Eagle Ridge Mountain have been sworn enemies for thousands of years. For the past few hundred years, the Star Moon Sect has been at a disadvantage and has been suppressed and bullied by Eagle Ridge Mountain for many years. In particular, in the past two years, the Star Moon Sect was almost wiped out by Eagle Ridge Mountain.
Now that Yue Qingqiu has achieved the Nascent Soul stage, it is merely the beginning of her counterattack and revenge. There are too many unresolved issues between the two families over the years, making it impossible to clarify and judge them one by one.
In the end, Qingyun Cave Heaven could only try to smooth things over, advising Black Serpent True Lord to "be extra careful" while formally warning both sides:
He must not, in his capacity as a Nascent Soul True Monarch, attack the other party's Core Formation cultivator, thus violating the rules of the cave heaven.
Having received the warning, Yue Qingqiu seemed to have become more restrained and no longer easily attacked the Core Formation cultivators of Eagle Ridge Mountain. However, not long after, when the Black Serpent True Monarch sent out his "quasi-fourth-order black serpent" to carry out a mission, Yue Qingqiu suddenly made a move and almost killed the black serpent beast on the spot.
Fortunately, this black snake demon beast was naturally strong in defense, and it endured its injuries until the Black Snake True Lord arrived to rescue it.
Even so, it was severely injured, its demon core was seriously damaged, and it almost lost all hope of advancing to the fourth-tier demon beast.
This incident infuriated the Black Serpent True Lord, yet he was powerless to do anything about it.
He dared not disobey the warning from Qingyun Cave Heaven, so he could only order a complete contraction of the Eagle Ridge Mountain's forces, preventing his cultivators and demonic beasts from easily showing themselves, and trying to avoid a direct conflict with Yue Qingqiu.
At the same time, like Yue Qingqiu, Black Serpent True Monarch lurked near the Star Moon Sect, planning to kill her lover Chen Yi when he came out. However, under the keen perception of the danger in the world, Chen Yi was like an old tortoise, not to mention leaving the sect, he didn't even leave his cave. Black Serpent True Monarch couldn't find an opportunity, so he decided not to delay any longer and to start from another angle. He temporarily gave up cultivation, stopped waiting for Chen Yi or looking for outside help, and instead used all the resources and capabilities of Eagle Ridge Mountain to carefully search for someone among his own beast-taming disciples.
Two years later, a faint warmth permeated Chen Yi's bedchamber.
A jade-white foot gently stepped on Chen Yi's muscular shoulder.
The five toes of that jade-like foot were as pink and tender as freshly peeled grapes, gently massaging the acupoints beneath his skin with a soft yet firm touch.
Looking up from the jade-like feet, there is a long, straight jade-like leg with perfectly proportioned muscles. The waist is so slender that it can be grasped in one hand, and the curves are perfectly formed. The clearly visible abs outline a delicate curve, and the exquisite collarbone gleams with a delicate luster in the dim light.
Above her was a stunningly beautiful woman with bright eyes, white teeth, red lips, and willow-leaf eyebrows. Every move she made exuded unparalleled beauty; she was none other than the newly promoted Nascent Soul Fairy Qingyue.
But at this moment, she frowned slightly, her tone carrying a hint of surprise: "Junior brother, has your body refinement cultivation broken through again recently? I even used my Nascent Soul level magic power, but I still couldn't penetrate your acupoints."
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"Hmm, a slight improvement."
Chen Yi's voice was calm as he reached out and grasped the slender, jade-like foot. "Then I'll stop massaging you, Senior Sister, take a rest."
As soon as he finished speaking, he exerted his strength and gently pulled Yue Qingqiu, who was standing by the bed, into his arms.
He then raised his hand and placed it on her leg, gently massaging the muscles that were slightly sore from the acupressure points, his movements both gentle and measured.
Yue Qingqiu lay obediently in Chen Yi's arms, letting him do as he pleased, and her whole body gradually relaxed.
As their skin touched, the instinctive energies of the stars and moon within their bodies began to resonate subtly, and their movements gradually became uncontrollable, developing in an indescribable direction.
An hour later, the passion subsided, but the lingering intimacy between them had not yet dissipated.
Holding Yue Qingqiu in his arms, Chen Yi couldn't help but sigh, "The Star Moon Sect is truly a paradise on earth. The days here, especially being able to spend with my senior sister, are something only those who have experienced it can truly understand."
That idiot Ping Xingye, he was so stupid to turn down such a good cultivation partner.
This dual cultivation not only brought him physical and mental comfort, but also slightly improved his magical power.
In the past two years, after his foundation was completely repaired and with enough fourth-order Thunder Brew Spirit Essence to support him, his body refinement cultivation has progressed rapidly. Now, the body refinement stage has been completely perfected, reaching the peak of the third order.
Just a few days ago, he officially began his marrow refining cultivation.
At this moment, within his body, four Thunder Crystal Marrows containing 110 strands of lightning power were quietly circulating. Each crystal marrow was wrapped with faint golden threads, which were the imprints of the true meaning of ten thousand years of lightning spirit.
These precious Thunder Crystal Marrows were all treasures obtained from Qiu Li's Thunder Cloud Sect.
According to his plan, all he needs to do next is to continue to increase the amount of crystal marrow, complete the first round of rough refining in the marrow refining stage, and allow his physical strength to break through to the fourth level.
One can either increase the lightning power of a single crystal marrow to 150 strands, or accumulate enough to initially control the power of heaven and earth, and then officially step onto the fourth stage of body refinement.
In fact, there is no clear standard for taking the step into the fourth stage of body refinement. It is closely related to the cultivator's cultivation method, the depth of their opportunities, and their own physical constitution.
Furthermore, the number of fourth-tier body cultivators is extremely small, and the individual differences between them are even more astonishing.
An existence like the ethereal fairy Yuan Lingling is a genius among geniuses, even within the entire body cultivation circle, and ordinary body cultivators can hardly hope to match her.
But Chen Yi is no less impressive. After all, his Thunder Crystal Marrow follows the path of the ancient Thunder True Spirit Intent, making his foundation stronger than the current mainstream body cultivation methods, and his potential should not be underestimated.
However, most of the few drops of thunder liquid sent by the Thundercloud Sect each year are used to refine Thunder Brew Spirit Essence to increase the Golden Thread Thunder Spirit True Meaning in Chen Yi's Thunder Crystal Marrow. Relying on it for body tempering is far from enough to provide sufficient thunder spirit power.
After Yue Qingqiu finished transferring the spiritual liquid and got up to leave the cave, Chen Yi took out a jade slip from his storage bag.
The jade slip contained a message left to him by Ning Bu'er half a year ago; its contents could be viewed by probing with divine sense.
【Fellow Daoist Chen, you once led Lei Feng and his group, and you gained a great deal from it.】
In the past two years, with the opening of the Black Mountain Secret Realm, most Nascent Soul cultivators have gone there, making the Monster Mountain Range a rare safe haven.
In recent years, Bu Er and his master have often explored Thunder Peak, discovering many places worthy of in-depth investigation. However, they need a thunder cultivator to accompany them. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Chen has the time?
When Chen Yi saw this message, he immediately refused.
He knew in his heart that it was too risky to go on an adventure with Ning Bu'er, a master in the late Nascent Soul stage. His ability to protect himself in the face of danger and to keep his secrets in front of a master in the late Nascent Soul stage were still somewhat lacking. He could not take the risk lightly.
Just a few days ago, Ning Bu'er sent another jade slip, saying that her master had something to do and was preparing to temporarily go to the depths of the Black Mountain Secret Realm to investigate. This time, she only planned to go to the shoulder of Thunder Peak and wanted to invite Chen Yi to go with her alone.
This time, Chen Yi did not refuse.
After a moment's thought, he replied to Ning Bu'er, agreeing that the two of them would secretly go to Yinlei Peak to explore during the opening of the Black Mountain Secret Realm.
After all, last time on the mountainside of Yinlei Peak, they were able to find that ancient thunder pool that had accumulated over ten thousand years. Now, heading towards the mountain shoulder, Chen Yi estimated that there would definitely be more good things there.
Moreover, the location had obviously been explored by Ning Bu'er's master and Ning Bu'er, so there was a basic guarantee of safety, which put him at ease and he naturally did not object to this trip.
More importantly, ever since witnessing Yuan Lingling's abilities, Chen Yi has come to fully understand the principle that "there are always mountains beyond mountains," and he has always harbored a sense of crisis in his heart.
Leaving aside the Vajra Technique for now, just considering the Thunder Crystal Marrow lineage, he knew that in the far north of the Great Green cultivation world, there was a senior who also cultivated this path.
If he continues to guard the ancient opportunity of Yinlei Peak without daring to explore it, even if he survives for many years by "surviving by hiding," he probably won't even be qualified to fight that senior when he actually encounters him.
Six months later, Chen Yi turned 107 years old, which was also his 27th year at the Star Moon Sect.
He found Yue Qingqiu and briefly informed her that he would be leaving the sect temporarily. His tone was calm and there was no unnecessary delay.
After giving his instructions, he packed his belongings and, sensing that there was no great danger outside, quietly left the Star Moon Sect and headed towards the Monster Mountain Range.
Several days later, in a desolate area a thousand miles away from the entrance to the Monster Mountain Range, two late-stage Golden Core cultivators stood on a large rock about ten feet high.
The two men stood three feet apart, their breathing steady, clearly indicating that they had come prepared.
The man standing on the left was dressed in a blue robe, the hem of which fluttered gently in the breeze.
His face was gentle, his brows held a calm demeanor, and his gaze was like a gentle breeze. It was Chen Yi.
The woman on the right is wearing a black short skirt with a belt around her waist, which accentuates her slender waist.
Her legs were long and straight, and the calf muscles visible beneath her skirt were clearly defined, exuding a sense of strength.
The woman was beautiful, with delicate features, a high nose bridge, and full red lips. Her appearance was in no way inferior to those famous beauties.
However, she naturally possessed a cold temperament, making people hesitant to approach her. Only when she looked at the male cultivator beside her would her gaze soften slightly. This woman was none other than Ning Bu'er.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, judging from your profound aura, you must have received considerable personal guidance from Nascent Soul seniors these past few years, right?"
Ning Bu'er spoke first, her tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of bitterness.
She was the one who met Chen Yi first, but Yue Qingqiu beat her to it. Thinking about this, she naturally felt a little unhappy.
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi coughed lightly and replied in a calm tone, "Ahem, Fairy Ning is joking. My experiences over the past few years have been nothing more than a last resort."
"snort!"
Ning Bu'er gave a soft snort, turned her head slightly, raised her long neck, and her profile became even more exquisite. She was clearly dissatisfied with the answer and was still throwing a tantrum.
Actually, she had another purpose in inviting Chen Yi out this time. Recently, her demonic flame ability had improved again. If she wanted to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, she would need to replenish some stronger lightning crystal cores so that she could cultivate together with the demonic flame.
The cultivation technique Chen Yi had previously passed on to her could only refine ordinary lightning crystals. However, she was not yet capable of refining the lightning crystal core with her current body-refining skills and had to rely on Chen Yi's help.
Moreover, Ning Bu'er had already decided that since Chen Yi had already seen and touched her naked twice before, she wouldn't mind doing it again.
But when she thought of the results her master had previously calculated, that Elder Chen of the Star Moon Sect and the newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivator Yue Qingqiu had probably been indulging in sexual pleasures for the past two years, she couldn't help but get angry.
What exactly is wrong with Ning Bu'er?
It's just that there's no suitable dual cultivation technique, plus the fact that he's a successor of the demonic sect, right?
But she has a master at the late Nascent Soul stage backing her up, isn't that enough to make up for these shortcomings?
Unfortunately, she had previously made several overt and covert attempts to curry favor with Chen Yi and invite him to join her, but he had politely declined each time.
Ning Bu'er had no idea that the reason Chen Yi kept his distance from her was precisely because of her master, who was in the late Nascent Soul stage. With such a powerful figure behind him, Chen Yi dared not get too close to her, for fear of exposing his own secrets.
Chen Yi naturally noticed Ning Bu'er's awkward mood. He nodded slightly and took the initiative to ease the atmosphere: "If there is anything that Fairy Ning needs me to do, please feel free to ask."
As long as it's not too outrageous, Mr. Chen won't refuse. We've been friends for many years.
Upon hearing this, Ning Bu'er immediately turned her head, her eyes flashing as she looked at him, her tone tinged with a hint of probing: "So, you were this proactive with that True Monarch Yue too?"
No, not at all.
Chen Yi shook his head, his tone still calm, "When I was with her, I was helpless and passive the whole time."
Unfortunately, I was living under someone else's roof at the time, and I needed a Nascent Soul cultivator to protect the Star Moon Sect's cultivation grounds. Therefore, I had no choice but to step forward and help her form her Nascent Soul. It was a completely helpless act.
Chen Yi sighed, as if he had suffered a lot in the past few years.
"So, you're saying your relationship with her was just a fling, not a real Daoist partnership?"
Ning Bu'er pressed on, a hint of expectation in her eyes.
"Of course not a Daoist partner."
Chen Yi responded frankly, "I am now in the late stage of the Golden Core realm, and my contract with the Star Moon Sect has long since ended. I am now free, and I can leave whenever I wish."
"real?!"
Upon hearing this, Ning Bu'er's gloomy expression vanished instantly. Although she didn't smile, her expression visibly relaxed, and even her icy demeanor softened.
She immediately took half a step forward, her tone earnest: "Actually, if you are willing to come to our Black Wind Ridge, we can also protect your safety."
Previously, Ning Bu'er's master, Fairy Xuan Yin, had already conquered Eagle Ridge Mountain and renamed it "Black Wind Ridge".
Now, that huge fourth-grade mid-level spiritual vein is almost exclusively used by Ning Bu'er;
Her master, Fairy Xuan Yin, rarely stayed in the sect to cultivate. Most of the time, she traveled to various forbidden lands and secret realms in the Central Continent, seeking opportunities for breakthroughs, so the sect was quite peaceful.
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi smiled and shook his head: "The name Black Wind Ridge sounds fierce, which might make people afraid to look at it."
"Chen is merely a craftsman who makes a living through his skills in cooking and puppetry. If he were to truly join Black Wind Ridge, what power would he have left to do business with me?"
"That's true—"
Ning Bu'er nodded thoughtfully, then muttered softly, "Then when I get back I'll tell my master to change the name to Qingfeng Ridge; it sounds better."
She was clearly in a much better mood now, and even her attitude toward the sect's name had softened.
Once she had completely calmed down, she revealed the real purpose of her invitation to Chen Yi: "Fellow Daoist Chen, my master and I discovered a rather large ancient thunder pool on the shoulder of Thunder Peak."
The Thunder Pool was still relatively intact under the protection of the formation. My master had already helped me break through the outer formation, but she didn't dare to damage the Thunder Pool inside, saying she wanted to leave this opportunity to me.
"But I've tried several times, and with my current level of body refinement and lightning-based cultivation, I simply can't obtain that great opportunity in a short time. That's why I wanted to ask you to come and take a look, to see if we can come up with a solution together."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi suddenly realized that Ning Bu'er's invitation was actually to offer him a fortuitous opportunity.
"Since such a wonderful opportunity is in the hands of your master and disciple, why bother to invite me along?"
Faced with this seemingly "pie falling from the sky" opportunity, Chen Yi did not rush to agree. Instead, he asked for clarification first, his tone carrying a hint of caution, a habit he had cultivated over many years of practice.
Seeing his reaction, Ning Bu'er smiled slightly. Sure enough, Chen Yi wasn't the kind of person who would lose his sense of propriety when he saw an advantage.
After a moment's thought, she decided to tell the whole truth: "Do you remember the lightning crystal core you planted and the lightning crystal array you set up for me nearly thirty years ago?"
"Hmm." Chen Yi nodded, he still remembered that past.
"After that, when I returned to cultivate, my master accidentally witnessed the operation of the lightning crystal core and the demonic flame. And then—"
Ning Bu'er slowed down her speech and briefly recounted the aftermath, how her master, Fairy Xuan Yin, learned from her experience in fusing the Thunder Crystal and the Demon Flame, comprehended the key to breaking through, and ultimately successfully advanced to the late Nascent Soul stage.
"So, it's because your master didn't want to owe me this favor, that's why he specially shared this opportunity with me?"
After listening, Chen Yi asked with a hint of surprise.
"That wasn't the original plan."
Ning Bu'er shook his head and explained, "My master originally wanted to take you and me to the top of Thunder Peak. She said that the place that has been continuously bombarded by lightning for tens of thousands of years must contain high-level lightning spirit materials, and there may even be better opportunities."
However, that place is somewhat dangerous, and you have already declined the invitation to travel with others.
She guessed you might be somewhat afraid of her, so she deliberately used the excuse of going to the Black Mountain Secret Realm to have me bring you here alone.
"I see." Chen Yi nodded in understanding, his doubts greatly reduced.
He paused, then tentatively asked, "Your master doesn't seem to be the heretical cultivator of legend?"
"My master values cause and effect more and doesn't want to owe anyone favors. Of course, if she encounters someone who deserves to die, she will never hesitate to kill them."
Ning Bu'er spoke frankly, without hiding anything.
Chen Yi nodded slightly, still willing to believe Ning Bu'er's words. He pondered for a moment, then said, "But isn't it a bit disproportionate to bestow such a great opportunity upon me for the small favor of helping you plant a lightning crystal core back then?"
"Fellow Daoist Chen, there's no need to worry."
Ning Bu'er quickly spoke up, "My master said that the matter might not be difficult for you, but it really helped her a lot."
This opportunity at the Thunder Pool might be of great help to your cultivation, but for her it's just a small favor.
Sometimes, it's not about who gains or losses, but about whether you're willing to accept her gratitude.
"If it were anyone else, I would stay far away, but since it is Fairy Ning's master, and Fairy Ning is there to vouch for me, I am not the kind of person to push away opportunities. So let's go in and take a look."
"Fairy Ning contributed a great deal to this, including when your esteemed master spared the Star Moon Sect when choosing a spiritual vein training ground. I also believe that it was you who exerted your influence. Is there anything else I, Chen, can do for you?"
After Chen Yi finished speaking, Ning Bu'er couldn't help but curse inwardly, "So you finally remember to care about me and are finally willing to ask about me!"