A skylark landed in front of Bai Ying and puffed out its fluffy chest, relaying the day's events.
Bai Ying lay in the river, supporting their snow-white dragon head with their claws, listening half-heartedly to Li Lanxiu's daily trivial matters. It wasn't until the skylark said, "The disciples of Thousandchance Peak followed behind Young Master Li with malicious intent..." that they raised their head and blinked their eyes at the chattering bird, signaling it to speak faster.
The skylark vividly described what happened next, how Li Lanxiu cleverly resolved the situation, and how the disciples of Thousandchance Peak got what they deserved.
Bai Ying lowered their head again, their long tail swaying back and forth leisurely. Their half-open eyes held a playful smile.
"I followed them back to Thousandchance Peak and then followed Jiang Jiusi when he went to see Master Xue..."
The skylark recounted everything it had overheard in the Thousandchance Peak hall, then nodded respectfully at the yao king.
Bai Ying's tail stopped swaying, and their eyes grew serious. They sat up and looked towards Thousandchance Peak, muttering softly, "Willows will be broken, and peaks will crumble..."
As if amused, they chuckled. "Xue Wujiu, he truly has a low level of understanding."
Master Xue regarded the book of prophecies as a treasure, believing that divination was the will of heaven. Yet now he was trying to defy fate. Didn't that mean he didn't believe in heaven?
Instead, he believed that humans could overcome heaven.
If he believed that humans could overcome heaven, how could he also believe in the will of heaven? It was such a contradiction.
To go against the heavens and defy the natural order was to invite retribution.
In the palace on Violetstage Peak, the lights were bright, and thin gauze curtains swayed in the wind. Several dancers with graceful figures were performing.
The blue smoke rising from the incense burners was like a thin mist, and the brocade carpet was covered with flower petals. On one side of the hall, musicians were playing the qin and beating drums. As the drumbeats became more urgent, the dancers spun faster and faster, their waists twisting in the most alluring ways.
Behind the gauze curtain, Li Lanxiu could be seen reclining on a soft couch. Holding a wine cup in one hand, he tapped a gentle rhythm on his knee with the other, watching the dance with disinterest.
He had kicked off his boots haphazardly under the couch, and one bare foot rested on a footrest. The golden ring on his ankle jingled slightly as he moved, emitting a faint golden glow.
The candles in the lanterns flickered in unison, and the door to the hall silently opened, as if something uninvited had entered. Li Lanxiu propped his head up with his hand, his eyelids growing heavier. His vision blurred, and he fell asleep without realizing it.
In his hazy state, he heard the clear sound of a swallow.
It seemed like a huge creature was right beside him. He felt cold, but he couldn't open his eyes. Drowsiness washed over him like a tide.
He slept deeply. Bai Ying intentionally avoided scaring him in his dreams. The people in the hall only felt cold and, closing the doors and windows, continued to sing and dance, completely unaware of anything unusual.
The white dragon's head was enormous, their horns almost touching the ceiling. They leaned forward, sniffing Li Lanxiu.
His scent was very pleasant, not strong, but soft, moist, delicate and long-lasting.
The white dragon lowered their head and sniffed the bare foot resting on the footrest, from the tip of his toes all the way up to the hair on his head.
Except for his bare feet, Li Lanxiu was dressed very formally today, and he was also wearing a mask, so the scent on his body was not as clear as before.
Bai Ying, unsatisfied with sniffing from his feet to his head, extended their tongue from their mouth. The forked tip, like a nimble snake, parted the overlapping collar, and the two points cooperated in pushing aside his hair, licking his neck.
It was very fragrant and tender, a delicious feeling.
Their bright red tongue wandered around Li Lanxiu's neck, licking until his neck was wet and hot. The dragon's breath was hot, and their whiskers tickled against his delicate skin. Soon, a section of his neck turned a lovely shade of pink, wet and crystal clear.
Li Lanxiu felt uncomfortable in his dream and frowned slightly, turning his neck to avoid the licking.
Bai Ying's throat moved violently. They resisted the urge to twist his neck and instead stared intently at his mask, using their tongue to lift the lower edge of the mask—
Were they about to reveal his true face?
They gently lifted a corner of the mask. Judging solely by the lower half of his face, it was far from the hideous visage described by Master Su.
Bai Ying replaced the mask and backed away, saying softly, "You are not a despicable villain. I misunderstood you last time."
After a moment of silence, they looked at Li Lanxiu, whose neck was wet from being licked. His fair skin was dotted with tiny red marks from the dragon's whiskers, his hair was scattered on the couch, and his collar was askew, revealing his collarbone—he looked as if he had been molested.
They fumbled around their body for a moment before pulling out a scale. The root of the scale was tinged with blood.
This scale was identical in luster and size to the others on their body, but for some reason, it was obvious at a glance that it was different.
With a gentle flick of their wrist, the dragon scale landed on Li Lanxiu's chest. "Consider it an apology."
"Wear it, and you will be safe in the Azurerain realm."
With that, they vanished.
Li Lanxiu suddenly heard the sound of drums and music. As he opened his eyes, the dance performance continued as before.
Miaosu was filling a wine jug on the side table, smiling as she asked, "Are you awake, sir?"
"How long have I been asleep?" Li Lanxiu supported his forehead as he sat up from the couch. He seemed to have just had a dream.
Miaosu estimated, "For the length of about one song."
Li Lanxiu touched his neck. There was a slight tingling sensation from the fine prickles of hair, and a slippery, warm and wet feeling. His eyebrows raised. It wasn't a dream.
He reached into his chest and felt out a silver, shimmering dragon scale, about the size of an adult's palm. It was very hard, like a sharp blade.
Bai Ying had once given Chu Yue a dragon scale as a token of their affection.
Dragon scales were indestructible, impervious to swords, spears, fire and water. They once saved Chu Yue's life. Now, this world-class treasure was in Li Lanxiu's hands.
He held the dragon scale in his palm, his brow furrowing slightly before relaxing. He didn't quite understand Bai Ying's mindset.
Women were indeed like riddles.
With only seven days left until Chu Yue's one-month appointment with Li Lanxiu, Chu Yue sat cross-legged on a stone in the secluded forest of the outer sect, his hands forming seals as he focused on the flow of spiritual energy within his body.
The spiritual energy gathered in his dantian, gradually forming a stable vortex.
With a deep exhale, Chu Yue opened his eyes. His spiritual energy was full and surging, having reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.
He could clearly feel the spiritual energy surging like a flood, filling his entire body with powerful energy. He stood up abruptly, clenched his fists and felt the almost explosive power.
His distinct knuckles trembled slightly, a result of excessive force and suppressed excitement.
Chu Yue walked to the stream, cupped a handful of water and splashed it on his face. The reflection in the water showed a cold and calm expression, and the slave mark on his neck was a striking crimson.
He stared at the words "Li Lanxiu," his eyes sharp and cold, as if he wanted to tear this piece of flesh from his body.
For some reason, he suddenly thought of Li Lanxiu's smile that day. His gaze softened, and he let out a soft chuckle.
He got up and tidied his clothes. Instead of returning to his residence in the outer sect, he turned towards the teleportation formation in the southern courtyard. There were small flying boats available for rent there, which could take disciples to various places.
Chu Yue paid a low-grade spirit stone and soon the flying boat took him to Violetstage Peak.
There were guard disciples at the landing point. When they saw his outer sect attire, they frowned and asked impatiently, "Who are you? Why are you here?"
As expected. Chu Yue stepped off the flying boat and said loudly, "Chu Yue. I'm here to see Young Master Li."
He had expected the guard to give him a hard time, but unexpectedly, when the disciple heard his name, the impatience on his face completely disappeared, replaced by a friendly smile. "So you're Chu-shidi! Please come in!"
Chu Yue was slightly startled but nodded calmly. "Thank you."
The guard disciple led him into Violetstage Peak, introducing him to the beautiful scenery along the way. Soon, they arrived at Li Lanxiu's palace. The disciple smiled and said, "Chu-shidi, I don't have the authority to enter, but I'll send in your name card. Please wait a moment."
He handed his identity jade token into a small opening in the palace door. After a while, the door opened, and a beautiful maid came out.
The guard disciple quickly bowed his head. "Miss Miaosu, this is Chu Yue."
Miaosu had met Chu Yue before. She looked him up and down and said with a smile, "Young Master told us that you would be coming half a month ago, and sure enough, here you are."
Chu Yue's heart sank, and his brows furrowed.
"Young Master Chu, please follow me." Miaosu nodded to him and turned to walk into the palace. "Young Master has instructed me to give you a grand gift if you come."
Chu Yue followed her, more curious about why Li Lanxiu knew he would come than about the gift.
Miaosu led him to a study and took a delicate box from a multi-tiered shelf. She opened it in front of Chu Yue. Inside were two crystal-clear true-intent jade slips, several bottles of high-grade pills, and some inner sect disciples' cultivation manuals.
Chu Yue stared at the treasures in the box. Elder Gu Yunzi had mentioned true-intent jade slips before, saying they were the most precious resources in the inner sect, and only the most talented disciples could obtain them.
He knew the high-grade pills were also valuable. Even the inferior ones in the cultivation market could sell for three hundred low-grade spirit stones, and a bottle of high-grade pills was ten times more valuable.
Miaosu smiled. "This is a gift Young Master prepared for you, to congratulate you on breaking through to the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. Here are two true-intent jade slips, one for sword techniques and one for cultivation methods."
Chu Yue gently touched the true-intent jade slip. It was smooth and cool. He resisted the urge to place it on his forehead and absorb it immediately, withdrew his hand, and said in a deep voice, "I want to see Li Lanxiu."
"Young Master is currently seeing guests."
Miaosu looked embarrassed, then looked at the slave mark on his neck and smiled lightly. "But you are the Young Master's boy, more precious than the guests inside. You can see the Young Master anytime you want."
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