Chapter 17: As Expected of the Woman I Have Set My Sights On

“Thank you, Master.”

The moment the Five Decays of Heaven and Man had passed, Fu Qitian hurriedly offered his thanks to Lu Xunxian.

He was naturally not a fool. Although his talent was great, there was no way he could possibly have passed through the Five Decays of Heaven and Man in such a short time.

Moreover, just moments ago, Lu Xunxian had said he hoped he would pass through the Five Decays of Heaven and Man soon. Presumably, that was when he had acted.

Looking at their expressions, Lu Xunxian knew that the two of them had misunderstood something.

But he did not bother to explain, instead simply letting them think whatever they wished.

Just then, two figures came running in from outside. As soon as they reached Lu Xunxian’s side, they excitedly cried out, “Father, we learned many things today!”

“Oh? And what did you learn? Come and tell Father about it.”

Lu Xunxian took his son and daughter by the hand and walked down with them.

Although Lu Xiaoyao and Lu Qingyun had already cultivated to the peak of the Earth Realm over these past two years, they knew absolutely nothing about the other aspects of cultivation.

In fact, even reaching the peak of the Earth Realm had only come from occasional cultivation on their part.

“Fellow Daoist Fu, you truly found yourself an extraordinary master.”

Xu Ruoshan looked at Fu Qitian with undisguised envy.

If he could, he too would have liked to acknowledge Lu Xunxian as his master, but that opportunity had already passed.

“To be able to become Master’s servant is the blessing of three lifetimes for me.”

Fu Qitian did not deny it in the slightest, his face filled with loyalty.

Shaking his head, Xu Ruoshan did not dwell on it any further and turned to leave.

Fu Qitian’s breakthrough within Myriad Dao Academy had caused quite a stir. As the Headmaster, Xu Ruoshan naturally had to go deal with the aftermath.

Within Qingfeng Sacred Land.

After bringing Feng Qingyu back, Lin Changkong immediately entered Seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to the Saint Emperor Realm.

This time, he was confident that, barring unforeseen circumstances, he would certainly break through to the Saint Emperor Realm within a hundred years.

As for Feng Qingyu, she shook her head and cast the matter of Lu Xunxian from her mind.

They were most likely dead. Otherwise, how could her master possibly have failed to track them down?

She was probably just too exhausted from cultivation and had seen wrong.

With that, she turned and prepared to return to Seclusion as well and attempt a breakthrough. She had remained at the peak of the King Realm for a very long time by now. It was time to begin working toward the Monarch Realm.

But the instant she turned around, a young man in white came walking over from the distance. A gentle smile hung upon his face as he looked at Feng Qingyu and said,

“Qingyu, well? Have you made up your mind about accompanying me to Crane Moon Tower for dinner in half a month?”

The surrounding disciples all changed expression the moment they saw the young man in white, and they respectfully greeted him.

“Greetings, Holy Son.”

Gu Tiansheng paid no attention at all to the greetings of the surrounding disciples. His eyes held only Feng Qingyu.

But unlike the other disciples, who fawned over Gu Tiansheng, a trace of disgust could not help appearing on Feng Qingyu’s pretty face.

“Thank you for your kindness, Holy Son, but I intend to enter Seclusion soon and attempt a breakthrough to the Monarch Realm. Please forgive this humble woman for refusing.”

“Oh? Is that so? Then what a pity.”

Gu Tiansheng feigned regret before abruptly changing the subject.

“What a pity for that Tenth-Grade Heaven-Reaching Grass I went to such lengths to find for you, Qingyu. I had originally planned to present it to you while sharing dinner with you.”

“But since you are unwilling, it seems I can only bear the pain of giving it to someone else.”

The moment Feng Qingyu heard Gu Tiansheng mention the Tenth-Grade Heaven-Reaching Grass, her breathing involuntarily faltered.

The Heaven-Reaching Grass was a spirit herb that could aid cultivators in breaking through after being consumed, with an effect similar to that of a Breakthrough Pill.

The Heaven-Reaching Grass itself was already incomparably precious, one of the rarest among Spirit Treasures, something with a market but no fixed price, let alone a Tenth-Grade Heaven-Reaching Grass.

In an ordinary place, it would likely fetch the astronomical price of one hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Crystals.

After all, a single Tenth-Grade Heaven-Reaching Grass could raise the chances of a successful breakthrough for cultivators below the Emperor Realm to over ninety percent.

So when she heard the words Tenth-Grade Heaven-Reaching Grass, Feng Qingyu had to admit that she was tempted.

But in the end, she still shook her head with great difficulty and refused.

“Thank you for your kindness, Holy Son, but this humble woman cannot accept such a gift without merit. I cannot take this Tenth-Grade Heaven-Reaching Grass.”

“Please excuse me. I shall take my leave first.”

With that, Feng Qingyu hurriedly turned and left the scene, afraid that Gu Tiansheng might see the reluctance on her face.

If she accepted it so easily, Gu Tiansheng would likely think her to be a vain and materialistic woman.

Only by refusing him, by constantly keeping him on the hook and making him understand that winning her would not be easy, could she ensure that he would not change his heart in the future.

“How interesting. As expected of the woman I have set my sights on.”

As he watched Feng Qingyu’s full, graceful figure receding into the distance, Gu Tiansheng could not help licking his lips and murmuring to himself.

At his side, one of his lackeys looked puzzled.

“Holy Son, with your status in Qingfeng Sacred Land, what woman could you not have? Is a mere Feng Qingyu really worth your going to such lengths?”

“What do you know? What pleasure is there in conquering a woman who throws herself into this Holy Son’s bed?”

“Only a woman like Feng Qingyu, one who is stubborn and unyielding, is worth conquering.”

Gu Tiansheng’s eyes were full of ambition. He was determined to have Feng Qingyu.

But Feng Qingyu remained completely unaware of this. After returning to her Cave Dwelling, she raised a formation and began her attempt to break through to the Monarch Realm.

Over these years in Qingfeng Sacred Land, she had gradually come to understand just how rare a Saint-Grade Spiritual Root was within Tiansheng Continent.

It could be said that if the sacred land had not already had a Holy Son, she might well have taken that exalted seat herself.

As for Gu Tiansheng, all she knew came from hearsay. He was said to be the most monstrously talented genius Qingfeng Sacred Land had seen in the past million years. Beyond that, she knew nothing.

Sixteen years later would be the Tiansheng Grand Tournament. She was confident that within sixteen years, she could push all the way into the Emperor Realm.

An Emperor Realm cultivator under a hundred years of age would surely not rank low in the Tiansheng Grand Tournament.

...

At Myriad Dao Academy.

Time passed on in silence, and everything remained as it had been until a year later.

“Master.”

Wangcai came before Lu Xunxian and lay down in front of him.

Looking at Wangcai in this manner, Lu Xunxian could not help but frown.

“What is it?”

Wangcai revealed a fawning smile and said, “Well, Master, Don't you think I have been at the peak of the Emperor Realm for quite a long time now?”

Wangcai had already been by his side for four years. The moment Wangcai opened his mouth, Lu Xunxian knew exactly what he was after.

“So, you want me to give you some Spirit Treasures that can raise the grade of your bloodline, is that it?”

With Lu Xunxian’s help, Wangcai’s bloodline grade had risen in just four short years from its original Third Grade all the way to First Grade.

On top of that, he had been free to use Top-Grade Spirit Liquid as he pleased, which was why Wangcai had reached the peak of the Emperor Realm in only four years.

But Wangcai was not satisfied with that.

Right now, he had the lowest cultivation in the household. How could he possibly not feel a sense of crisis?

A year earlier, the two maidservants had broken through to the Saint King Realm one after the other.

Only the two little ones had been living relatively leisurely lives, and even now they had only reached the Monarch Realm.

But how could Wangcai possibly compare himself to the two little masters? For them, growing stronger was only a matter of time.

So, driven by that anxiety, Wangcai had come to seek out Lu Xunxian.