166 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

**Chapter 155: Master and Disciple** Xiang Shi Yan once again found herself in a rare state of tranquility, though it was a peace that brought her no joy or relief. Not to mention Lian Long, who, despite being someone she hadn't seen in decades, refused to leave the main peak now. She couldn't help but wonder what schemes he was concocting this time. The thought of the black dragon that emerged from the Grudge Soul Gorge left her troubled and uneasy. Was that black dragon now hiding in the shadows, strategizing its next move? Or had Xuan Jiu's plans advanced to an unfathomable point, where everything was under his control? Although Xiang Shi Yan was the one who supposedly knew the progression of events, she couldn't shake off the feeling that all her actions and intentions were under Xuan Jiu's control. It seemed as if her every move was anticipated by him. More chilling was the sense that she was being guided step by step by him. Especially the revival pill that drew her out of seclusion, the more Xiang Shi Yan thought about it, the more off she felt. If it truly was a trap set by Xuan Jiu, it meant he not only knew about her secluded meditation but also that only information from Song He Tang could pass through the restrictions she set up... Song He Tang was a force she built and controlled from scratch, hidden well, but could it really probe into such minute matters? The thought that while she was in seclusion, unawares, the black dragon might have been standing right outside her meditation cave, studying the weaknesses she had left in her protective barriers, sent chills down her spine. Yet, the significance of that pill remained elusive to Xiang Shi Yan. Surely it couldn't have been just to distract her from the center of conflict? Xiang Shi Yan refused to flatter herself, assuming she held any significant position in Xuan Jiu's mind just because he had once proposed dual cultivation with her. The reason she dared to snatch the Xuan Lin Armor in front of Xuan Jiu back then was simply that she gambled he wouldn't dare provoke both the Taixu Sect and Jade Cang Mountain simultaneously. On reflection, each time she caused major trouble, she would disappear for a while. Perhaps Xuan Jiu also knew that no matter how powerful she was, facing the vigilance and pursuit of the entire cultivation world could be cumbersome. Seemingly, she had learned far more from those memories than she had realized. Speaking of the revival pill, Xiang Shi Yan suddenly remembered that the earth-level Decline-grade pill she had spent a fortune on was still with that puppet. The puppet had long lost connection during the battle, and the spirit core within it was likely already in ruins. She cursed at herself, sitting cross-legged on her bed, trying to stabilize her hard-won Great Ascension stage, before reluctantly getting up to contact the manager at the Song He Tang's border black market. Just as she held the jade slip in her hand and before she could inscribe a few characters with spiritual power, a knock came at the door. "Master... It's me, I... I have something to ask you." Qin Miao's voice came from outside, sounding inexplicably lacking in confidence, even a bit panicked. Watching Qin Miao pacing back and forth outside her door through her divine sense, Xiang Shi Yan found his demeanor strange. Instinctively, she wanted to check her halo value and the various metrics binding her to Qin Miao but recalled that the system had once again been blocked outside this world. She couldn't even connect to the previously stable metrics system. Perhaps it was because, while scanning the Grudge Soul Gorge with the system, she inadvertently discovered something that didn't appear in the original work... Who would have thought that a dragon pearl lay hidden beneath the chasm? Xiang Shi Yan should have been wary when the system detected that unknown energy. However, the black dragon was swift as lightning. Even if she had foreseen it, stopping it might have been impossible. If Xuan Jiu attacked those seniors who were nearly exhausted from constructing a seal, unnecessary casualties might occur. Perhaps letting him escape was for the best. Qin Miao was certain Xiang Shi Yan was in the room this time; he could even sense the faint cedar aroma by the door, a subtle scent that left his neck feeling hot. "Master, I have urgent matters, please open the door." Though in her impression of Qin Miao, there hadn't been anything particularly difficult for her to accept, she didn't trust the world's will, which never missed an opportunity. While trying to consider how to explain things to Qin Miao, as ultimately, they were still master and disciple, Xiang Shi Yan felt a sudden alarm upon noticing Qin Miao's actions. Forgetting about opening the door entirely, she decisively added another sensory barrier to it. According to the system, an ordinary "Kunzhe" experiences a period of heat every month. Xiang Shi Yan's life was exceptionally unstable; she'd frequently be severely injured or go into seclusion, skipping over four years' worth of time. After waking, she faced the issue in the Azure Barred Forest, taking strong medicine to ensure nothing chaotic happened in the past month and a half. Since witnessing Hua Ye and Du Ruo's abnormality, Xiang Shi Yan would only occasionally remove the interruption patch when she was alone. She touched the slightly raised gland at the back of her neck; this postnatally developed organ was slightly warm, indicating the effect of her earlier medication had worn off. After a long silence, Qin Miao lost his patience outside. Clenching his fists, his eyes took on a hint of anger. Twice he lifted his hand to knock forcibly but refrained each time. His master's intentional avoidance left Qin Miao with a hard-to-describe discomfort. Why was it like this... Shouldn't be... Had he done something wrong? Indeed, as things had developed to this extent, it was far from Qin Miao's past experiences. But this wasn't what he intended; even he wasn't sure what had gone astray. Unexpected events piled up, and what ignited Qin Miao's fury the most was Xiang Shi Yan managing to break through to the Great Ascension stage without his assistance. It was something he had not anticipated at all. Qin Miao knew Xiang Shi Yan's identity and the reason her cultivation was blocked. Without dual cultivation to break the bloodline seal, how could Xiang Shi Yan possibly... The more he thought about it, the more his anger surged. The last time he saw Xiang Shi Yan at the black market, she was at the Nascent Soul stage. But when he knocked on the door, Xiang Shi Yan was nowhere to be found. Could it be that she had gone— Qin Miao left in a huff, his fury inexplicable to Xiang Shi Yan. With Qin Miao's personality, introverted and self-centered—full of what's often deemed the protagonist's flaws by the system—it was difficult for her to discern what exactly angered him. Nor did she have the desire to. Once Qin Miao was gone, Xiang Shi Yan felt much relieved. At this point, she no longer feared the world's will and its twisted means but preferred not to be entangled further. Before she could relax, the door creaked open slightly on its own. Xiang Shi Yan, engrossed in the jade slip, was startled, looking up to meet He He's plaintive stare through the crack. Xiang Shi Yan's magic had long ceased to affect He He—especially barriers. To someone of the young girl's limited cultivation, transparent walls were practically non-existent. Even subtle illusionary spells that made her invisible or changed her appearance were ineffective against He He, who could quickly find her. When Xiang Shi Yan had fused her spirit with another’s soul, she hadn’t expected such repercussions. The girl pushed the door open slightly but stayed where she was, her eyes solemn and heavy. "Come in," Xiang Shi Yan sighed, sensing an unspoken pressure, putting her task aside. The young girl slipped through the door, hands hidden behind her, clearly concealing something. While Xiang Shi Yan sat down, and He He stood, the younger girl seemed to hold the upper hand. She silently shut the door, her gaze carrying a hint of reproach as she looked at Xiang Shi Yan. "What is it?" He He huffed, unfazed by unfamiliar company as she stepped over to Xiang Shi Yan's bed, plopping down and pouting, "You're so kind and polite when sending me on errands, but then you're all cold and curt when I'm not needed..." Xiang Shi Yan was taken aback; the He He she knew was more timid and gentle, hardly ever this sharp and unrestrained. Amused by the young girl’s display, Xiang Shi Yan found it somewhat endearing. Even though He He had grown taller with lingering baby fat, she playfully pinched her cheek. "Did you deliver the item to your Uncle Yu Ming like I asked?" "I did," the girl replied, still in a huff. Unwilling for Xiang Shi Yan to pinch her but reluctant to shrug it off entirely, she pouted her cheeks to dislodge the hand. "I have my own matters, you know, and you just keep sending me here and there..." "And how did she respond?" Xiang Shi Yan's tone shifted, a slight tension in her voice. She still hadn't found Long Rui Qing's body and intended to search the forest thoroughly after dealing with the ghost cultivator. But with Lian Long present, she dared not act rashly. Although she had anticipated this day might come during her younger years, Xiang Shi Yan still found herself uncomfortable with the reality of parting ways and maintaining a cautious distance from her master, especially due to the system's machinations. She began to regret her decision to return the mother gu to Yu Ming, which Long Rui Qing had risked his life to steal. It could possibly deepen Yu Ming's obsessions even further. Xiang Shi Yan reached out and pulled the item hidden behind He He, revealing the revival pill she had left at the black market outpost. The girl was surprised at being caught off guard and lunged forward, pretending to snatch it back. "I thought Master didn’t need this anymore. You and Senior Sister Hua Ye left us for just a few hours and then broke through to the Great Ascension stage. Perhaps past efforts were all in the wrong direction. Enlightenment through emotion, or perhaps truly experiencing human affairs, is the key." He He's jealous outburst was like a deluge of vinegar, drenching Xiang Shi Yan from head to toe. She felt as if she were playing with a child. As He He accidentally bumped her onto the bed, Xiang Shi Yan almost laughed, feeling surprisingly light-hearted and relieved. Nonetheless, He He's sarcastic remarks had struck a nerve. The feeling of the girl's cool lips on her neck flashed through her mind, causing Xiang Shi Yan to tense up completely. Her mind raced with images of the strained relationship between Yu Ming and his disciples, as well as the heavy dynamics between ghost cultivator mentors and disciples. The bonds between a master and disciple... Xiang Shi Yan suddenly found it hard to breathe, as if the girl half-leaning on her was a scorching ember, turning the previously cool touch of her skin into something burning hot. **Author's Note:** Sorry everyone, I've been quite busy with various things as the school term starts QAQ. The updates have been a bit slack lately. Once I'm through the busy period, I should be able to write more. No pop-up ads on this site, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)