121 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 121: Master and Disciple In the end, He He and Fu Zhi successfully managed to board the flying ship. One could only imagine Long Rui Qing's expression upon seeing the newly registered list and spotting the names of the three young women. However, as the trio passed by Long Rui Qing, chatting and laughing, the knowing smile on Long Rui Qing's face was clearly visible. As soon as the flying ship lifted into the air, Xu Youqing felt overwhelmingly dizzy. At first, she tried to stick it out to spend time with her friends, but after retching over the deck's railing for a while, she dejectedly went back to sleep. "Didn't I tell you not to come?" Seeing her two junior sisters standing alone at the back of the deck, Long Rui Qing took the opportunity to stealthily approach them, avoiding others' gazes. She gently stretched out her arms, wrapping them around the two, and pinched the chubby cheeks of the girls with a playful force. "Ow ow..." Fu Zhi winced in pain, letting out a soft whimper. He He, on the other hand, laughed and complained, "The senior sister's words were unclear, how can you blame us?" These teenagers, as sharp as adults, made Long Rui Qing helplessly rub her forehead, letting out a sigh: "Forget it... This time, the Master and Senior Uncle Xiang will both accompany you. Remember not to stray easily from the elders' side." It was almost as if Long Rui Qing knew in advance that something would happen... If she was truly scheming, blatantly exposing it like this would be puzzling, almost as if she intended for them to notice something was amiss. Logically, such apparent oddities would indeed draw attention. If He He and Fu Zhi were a bit rational, they should report it to their elders immediately. This was Long Rui Qing's intention. However, without needing to elaborate, a look was enough for them to understand neither had any intention of doing so. It wasn't about whether it was a deliberate distraction technique; alerting the snake in the grass wasn't a good strategy. Given the coincidental timing with the competitive conference of the Hidden Dragon List, along with the oddly behaving Long Rui Qing, it would be a pity not to look into the reason behind it. Long Rui Qing’s change seemed to have started about half a year ago. She was inexplicably turned away by Yu Ming, and could only live in a cabin built below Fuliu Peak. Whether this was related remained unknown. Seeing He He about to speak, Long Rui Qing chuckled, saying she had something to discuss with Huai Ye, and swiftly made her exit, making it clear she wasn't in the mood for more conversation with them. He He and Fu Zhi didn't stop her. The girl with the black patch over her left eye leaned on the railing, staring at the direction in which the flying ship was heading, lost in thought. The ship harnessed the spiritual power of the wind veins, capable of traveling a thousand miles a day. From Yucang Mountain to Qingyuan City under the jurisdiction of Tianji Sect, where the current Hidden Dragon List Conference was being held, it was merely a three-day journey. He He's expression, as she gazed afar, seemed as if she could see something beyond her line of sight. Fu Zhi was slightly surprised by her sudden silence, following her gaze, only to see the red glow of the sunset. Next to her, the enigmatic demoness held a calm expression, but when she spoke, her tone was unusually ethereal, with a hint of melancholy: "On this trip, we'll pass by Taixu Sect. Tomorrow morning, standing here, we'll likely see the peaks of Taixu from afar." Who resides in the Sect Master's residence now? “…” Previously, Fu Zhi held onto this clue about He He, searching around for a long time in Tianji Sect's vast archives, yet ended up with nothing useful. Now, all she knew was He He’s own admission of a connection to Taixu Sect. What exactly that connection was, and how it would evolve, Fu Zhi couldn’t predict just yet. If only there were more information... Just as she was about to speak, He He’s thoughts wandered elsewhere: "I’ve been to Tianji Sect before." “For someone naturally able to perceive the workings of Heaven’s path, with life’s threads weaving the scenes of all things, does human divination seem as childish as kids bantering?” she prodded sarcastically. He He paid no mind to her sarcasm and taunts, reminiscing slowly: “I used to disdain humanity’s reverence for fate, yet after roaming the world and failing to find a cure-all elixir or medicine, I placed my hope in Tianji Sect’s collection, wishing to find something valuable there.” “That night, I snuck into the library. The Tianji of Da Cheng level wasn’t aware of my presence, but a disciple standing watch happened to detect me.” He He squinted, making it unclear whether she was nostalgic or displeased. "This person predicted ‘a noble guest would visit tonight,’ and awaited at the location indicated by the divination – the storage place of exoteric alchemy books.” Fu Zhi quirked an eyebrow. Divination couldn't fully predict the future, and the more closely connected with the path of Heaven, the vaguer the information became. At the time, even the star chart pinpointed by Tianji at the cost of life didn’t reveal He He’s presence. Fu Zhi believed determining He He’s location would have been nearly impossible unless she hadn’t yet been tangled in the path’s choices at that time. “I’m uninterested in fate, which is why my left eye is obscured by fog. I can’t perceive the workings of the heavens as usual, but I don’t mind. That Tianji disciple, whose cultivation was merely at the Golden Core stage, performed the only divination of my life.” Fu Zhi, unsure why He He suddenly reminisced, couldn't help but feel slightly curious: “What did they predict?” “She foresaw my imminent death,” He He said, “and the moment she revealed the secret, she became deaf and mute, confirming the prophecy's truth.” Sensing the person beside her freeze, He He smiled softly. "Had she not warned me in advance, I might have wandered into a trap unknowingly. In that case, there would be no need for you all to worry about this demon now. Considering she only lost hearing and speech, it was indeed a bargain for her." “Or perhaps she reduced her lifespan and died long ago? Such a pity… If she lived longer, she might have become the next Tianji.” He He spoke words of feigned pity with ease. Fu Zhi stated plainly, “I don’t recall. She probably did perish.” “Even if it was a once-in-a-lifetime act of bravery, perhaps it was worth it for a diviner?” “…” "There you two are..." Not far away, Elder Yu Ming's voice suddenly broke the air. The woman’s petite figure seemed destined to be surpassed by “Qian Dani” in a short time. Standing before the two, she lacked any authoritative air of a senior. Compared to the consistently stern Xiang Shi Yan, the unfocused Yu Ming looked more like a girl with something on her mind. The elder’s expression was peculiar. Absent-mindedly, she laid out their upcoming itinerary and advised them, as elder disciples who were not competing, to always be cautious of their own safety. It was only here that Yu Ming drew some strength, staring intently at the pair with grave seriousness: “You remember what happened in Beiwu Town, correct? Avoid conflicts with others at all costs.” Huai Ye’s talent exceeded the norm, and contrasted with the once dark horse Xiang Shi Yan, Huai Ye was lively and openly remarkable. This naturally made her a thorn in the side of Taixu Sect. The Hidden Dragon List competition wasn’t just a mere exchange event; it was a contest of honor and status among major sects, influencing the distribution of secret realm slots for a future period, involving resource competition and sharpening sect rivalries. In the last conference, Huai Ye took the championship, defeating Taixu Sect’s representative disciple, embarrassing them. Should Huai Ye win consecutively, both Yucang Mountain and Huai Ye’s prestige would reach levels Taixu Sect dreaded. Given Taixu Sect's actions in recent years, their plotting was a certainty. For this reason, Yucang Mountain placed great importance on this event, sending three Nascent Soul Elders in case of emergencies, with even Sect Leader Li Huai accompanying them. The urgency of the matter, He He and Fu Zhi were naturally aware of. As the event’s host, Fu Zhi was particularly focused, diligently considering the maneuverings of various factions and the anticipated doom, forcing her to maintain utmost vigilance. “Master seems worried. Did Elder Jing Wu cause unnecessary trouble again?” Yu Ming’s distraction was too obvious, making both young women puzzled. However, He He quickly figured it out, though Fu Zhi still inquired aloud. The accompanying elders this time were Xiang Shi Yan, Yu Ming, and Jing Wu. A perfectly logical decision, stemming from Xiang Shi Yan’s suggestion. Due to the former sect head’s laid-back nature, Li Huai gradually began taking over sect matters around seventy years old. But Yucang Mountain was far from unified. The internal interest disputes couldn’t be overlooked, and his fellow disciples naturally sided with him, while Elder Jing Wu led the opposing faction. When Sect Head Lian Long voluntarily resigned, Elder Jing Wu, considering his profound cultivation and esteemed virtue, believed himself the obvious successor. However, he didn’t anticipate significant opposition among the elders, prompting Lian Long to back his great disciple instead and agree to continue in the sect leader’s role for a few more years until Li Huai became familiar with sect affairs. Though everyone knew this was merely an excuse. No matter how obtuse, anyone could get acquainted with those recurring matters of centuries within a year or two. Lian Long’s delay was nothing but a stall for Li Huai to expedite his Nascent Soul formation. Among the four disciples of the Sect Leader’s line, the last to join was Xiang Shi Yan, who formed her Nascent Soul at the remarkable age of thirty-three—a rarity worthy of making history in the cultivation world. The other two disciples of Lian Long, Gong Ning and Yu Ming, also reached Nascent Soul formation before the age of sixty. Only the eldest disciple Li Huai lagged slightly behind. At the age of sixty-seven, Li Huai ascended to the Nascent Soul stage and took on the role of the Sect Leader for Yucang Mountain, with Duke Lian Long embarking on seclusion. Interestingly, although Li Huai was the last among them to reach Nascent Soul, he is now the only one who has advanced to the Grand Master stage. It's peculiar since, if not for the limitations imposed by her bloodline, Xiang Shi Yan might have broken through the bottleneck quickly, and Yu Ming appears to be hindered by an unresolved inner demon. Opting for a middle-ground elder, like Elder Yi Shi, who leans towards the Sect Leader, could have fostered greater unity for the Yucang Mountain group on this trip. However, with the core of the Sect Leader’s faction all out, leaving Elder Jing Wu behind posed more hidden dangers, especially considering the worrisome alliances he’s suspected of forming. Presently, the situation is such that the already ill-tempered Yu Ming and Jing Wu are constantly at each other's throats, with Li Huai often mediating between them. Meanwhile, Xiang Shi Yan seems oblivious, thoroughly focused on piloting the flying ship as if nothing is amiss. From the days leading up to their departure until now, almost every time Yu Ming is in a bad mood, it's because she and Jing Wu clashed during the elder meetings, leaving both frustrated and upset. However, it seems there might be a different reason this time… Hearing her disciple’s inquiry, Yu Ming seemed to snap back to reality, responding absentmindedly before sinking back into her thoughts. These matters usually didn’t require her personal attention. Li Huai’s instructions were for Yu Ming to remind Long Rui Qing to caution the disciples to act cautiously and ensure the well-being of their juniors during their stay in Qingyuan City. Long Rui Qing had been exiled to the foothills of Fuliu Peak for six months, and everyone in Yucang Mountain knew about it. The sect leader didn’t understand what had happened, yet often tried to probe into the matter without success. How could Yu Ming possibly disclose this matter to others! Though it was a probe, these instructions were imbued with trust in Long Rui Qing. As a disciple who frequently assisted on the main peak due to her friendship with the Chief Disciple Huai Ye, and later as a teaching elder post-Core Formation, Long Rui Qing was entrusted with significant responsibilities. She consistently met expectations, handling tasks reliably, no matter the challenge. She was truly reliable, reminiscent of Gong Ning in many ways. Long Rui Qing’s competence surpassed Yu Ming's imagination; she managed everything related to Fu Liu Peak with remarkable efficiency, from the runes workshop to charm trading. Yu Ming, suddenly deprived of her presence, felt surprisingly lost. Contrastingly, Long Rui Qing, freed from the burden of her troublesome mentor, seemed to navigate the main peak with ease, likely finding her days more leisurely. Yu Ming, gritting her teeth, considered relocating to the main peak permanently rather than dealing with the hassle of daily commutes to Fuliu Peak. It was Yu Ming herself who initially set the barrier, barring Long Rui Qing’s entry to the mountain; now, she couldn’t bring herself to ask her to return. The initial anger had subsided, and after the resentment, Yu Ming secretly observed Long Rui Qing’s unchanged routine, which made her feel somewhat humbled. Long Rui Qing's aptitude was quite remarkable. Rumor had it she was initially determined to join the Sect Leader's tutelage, but Yu Ming, upon a glimpse at the disciples leaving from Wuji Hall, was captivated by the faint resemblance between Long Rui Qing and Gong Ning, intercepting her with an unanticipated choice. Being chosen by an elder left no reason for refusal, though perhaps Long Rui Qing harbored dislike since the beginning... Although her appearance gradually diverged from Gong Ning's, the shadow of Gong Ning cast over Long Rui Qing grew stronger. Yu Ming couldn't shake the feeling of guilt, unsure if she had inadvertently guided the girl in that direction or if Long Rui Qing had changed to please her. More guilt-stricken, Yu Ming recalled when the usually gentle girl cornered her on the bed with a dark smile, her aura so terrifying that Yu Ming trembled. Somehow, Long Rui Qing had learned about Qi Wei's affair. Faced with her inquiry, Yu Ming could only respond with evasive murmurs. The inability to face this stemmed from realizing her disciple harbored similar feelings, yet days of observation made Yu Ming feel she was self-indulgent. Perhaps that day’s transgression was nothing more than revenge for the emotions Yu Ming had imposed upon her, devoid of deeper significance. Otherwise, why would Long Rui Qing react with indifference the moment Yu Ming courageously showed herself after half a year, as if there had never been any discord? Long Rui Qing addressed her master with the same respectful demeanor, unyielding as though nothing had transpired between them. Long Rui Qing’s gaze, lingering on her for merely a moment, turned away with cool detachment. She was as cold as the gloomy girl who had once ravenously claimed Yu Ming. Author's Note: Guess what the mentor is doing now? Thank you to the little angels who voted or provided nutritional support between 2022-05-01 35:55:43 and 2022-05-04 35:35:41~ Special thanks to the angels for their support with nutritional supplements: He Qu Group Admin, 10 bottles; Wula, Learning Makes Me Happy, 2 bottles; Wang Wang Wang Wang Wang, 1 bottle; Thank you all for your support, I will continue to work hard! This site has no pop-up ads, permanent domain name (xbanxia.com)