CHAPTER 3: MASTER IS EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL

Hearing Qi Yuan’s agreement, Jiang Lingsu finally relaxed.

“Greetings, Senior Brother!”

The other six people looked at Jiang Lingsu with a bit of admiration in their eyes.

Kang Fulu also let out a breath of relief. Qi Yuan hadn’t chosen the disciple that he had his eye on.

Qi Yuan declared, “I have chosen, I’ll take my leave now.”

The other chief disciples from the various peaks all nodded. Although Qi Yuan seemed a bit odd, he was still quite polite.

“Farewell, Junior Brother Qi Yuan!”

“See you tonight, Junior Brother Qi Yuan!”

Everyone gave him a warm farewell, and the atmosphere seemed as harmonious as it could be.

Where interests weren’t involved, they were willing to give Qi Yuan face.

Zhuge Miao from the Divine Medicine Peak hesitated for a moment before speaking up, “Junior Brother Qi Yuan, I have some doubts regarding the formula for the Nourishing Essence Pill. Would you have time to help me? If you can clarify my confusion, I am willing to offer a Foundation Establishment spiritual item in return.”

Zhuge Miao was being sincere.

Earlier, he had reminded Qi Yuan to choose first just to start a conversation with him.

Now, his words made the other disciples of the Divine Radiance Sect show many different expressions.

Qi Yuan looked at Zhuge Miao and replied, “I’ll be walking my pet down the mountain this evening. I can take a look then.”

Zhuge Miao was delighted.

When Xu Yiyi from the Myriad Arts Peak heard Qi Yuan speak about his pet, something seemed to cross her mind as a smile appeared on her face.

"Junior Sister, let's go." Qi Yuan called for Jiang Lingsu and the two of them left.

It was only now that Kang Fulu said, "Junior Brother Zhuge, are you sure you want to ask Qi Yuan about a pill formula?"

The others looked equally puzzled and some were even smirking.

They didn’t believe Qi Yuan could help Zhuge Miao.

“Junior Brother Qi Yuan is exceptionally gifted and always has astonishing ideas. Perhaps he has some unique insights into alchemy,” Zhuge Miao replied.

Half a month ago, he had once run into Qi Yuan walking his pet and had a discussion about pill formulas. Surprisingly, Qi Yuan’s perspectives had been very helpful.

“If he’s so capable, why can’t he even get one Foundation Establishment spirit item?” scoffed Madman, the blunt and outspoken chief disciple of the Battle Peak. “Junior Brother Zhuge, you might just lose your Foundation Establishment spiritual item.”

Foundation Establishment spirit items were extremely valuable. A cultivator needed one to break through from the peak of Qi Refinement to the Foundation Establishment realm.

The higher the spirit item’s grade, the more suitable it was, and the better the results.

Of the five peaks' chief disciples, everyone except Qi Yuan had reached Foundation Establishment.

In their eyes, Qi Yuan hadn’t broken through because he had offended his master, who then refused to grant him such an item.

Xu Yiyi from the Myriad Arts Peak added, “There’s a fine line between genius and madness. Qi Yuan might just have his own insights.”

“Alright, let’s stop gossiping. We’ve got serious business to attend to,” Kang Fulu interjected.

Everyone fell silent as Kang Fulu turned to the remaining six newcomers.

“There is no need for introductions anymore.”

“I, Kang Fulu, from the Five-Lights Peak...”

The crowd rolled their eyes. The show-off had started going on about himself again.

***

Jiang Lingsu appeared exceptionally obedient as she followed behind Qi Yuan.

She was filled with curiosity about the Seven-Colored Peak, especially when it came to the Seven-Colored Peak Master, Ruan Yixi.

Even her clan's influence was not able to dig out the background of Ruan Yixi.

Of course, it was also because her clan was simply located too far away from the Divine Radiance Sect and time had been limited. But even so, it proved that Ruan Yixi was not ordinary.

Maybe she was the reason the Divine Radiance Sect could survive the calamity.

Jiang Lingsu had traveled thousands of kilometers to join the Divine Radiance Sect all for Ruan Yixi.

As for this Senior Brother? He was inconsequential.

“Senior Brother, what kind of person is Master?” Jiang Lingsu asked cautiously, hoping to learn more about Ruan Yixi through Qi Yuan.

"Master is... extremely beautiful." Qi Yuan did not hesitate to say.

Jiang Lingsu was momentarily stunned. What kind of disciple describes their Master like this? This is outrageous! It is practically blasphemous!

However, as she recalled that her Senior Brother Qi Yuan was an Obsession cultivator, she simply accepted it. Obsession cultivators were always a little strange, and they were also known for being very blunt. This was nothing.

Jiang Lingsu continued her line of inquiry. "So... what else?"

Qi Yuan stopped walking for a moment and pondered.

Jiang Lingsu looked at him expectantly.

"Her figure is amazing."

Jiang Lingsu was utterly lost for words. She instantly regretted asking. If she had known earlier, she would not have bothered asking her senior brother.

Obsession cultivators are ridiculous! What is going on in their heads?

She decided there and then that she would not ask him anything else. Anyway, she was already a disciple of Seven-Colored Peak, so she would be able to see her master soon.

The two continued on up the mountain without speaking.

About half an hour later, Qi Yuan stopped. "This is my room."

Qi Yuan pointed to a small hut.

Jiang Lingsu did not know what Qi Yuan meant. She asked, "Where is Master? Shouldn't I pay my respects to her?"

Qi Yuan looked towards the peak. "Master stays at the palace at the summit."

Jiang Lingsu followed his gaze and saw a pavilion-like building floating amidst the clouds.

Compared to Qi Yuan’s thatched hut, it was on a whole different level.

“Let’s go see Master right now!” Jiang Lingsu suggested eagerly.

Qi Yuan shook his head. “You can’t.”

“Is she not around?”

“No. There’s a barrier from the mountainside to the peak. We can’t go up.”

“Huh?” Jiang Lingsu didn’t understand.

“Master once said that unless we reach the Core Formation stage, we’re not allowed to go to the summit to see her.”

In cultivation, there were seven stages. Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Violet Palace, Yin Spirit, and Yang Spirit.

Divine Radiance Sect was one of the three major sects of the Great Shang, with thousands of disciples and most of them were in the Qi Refinement realm.

Above that was the Foundation Establishment realm. In this realm, cultivators were considered to be mid-level combat power and may even hold elder or steward positions.

Core Formation cultivators, however, were true top-tier powerhouses of the sect.

In the Great Shang, being a Core Formation realm cultivator meant that you were almost invincible, unless you stumbled upon one of the rare and ancient Nascent Soul cultivators.

As for Yin and Yang Spirit cultivators, those were mere legends. It was said no such people existed in the country.

Jiang Lingsu was stunned.

Core Formation cultivators were powerhouses anywhere. Even with her clan’s resources, it would take at least a dozen years for her to reach that stage.

As for Qi Yuan, even if he had some talent, she didn’t expect much from him. He might never reach Core Formation in his lifetime, and if he did, the quality of his core would probably be mediocre.

"Senior Brother, why did Master place such a harsh requirement?" Jiang Lingsu could not wrap her head around it. She had no time to wait.

Qi Yuan looked at her and muttered slowly, "Perhaps... Master is scared to see me."

"Huh?" Jiang Lingsu was stunned as she immediately recalled the way Qi Yuan described his master earlier.

She probably could not be bothered to see you!

"Senior Brother, I understand." Jiang Lingsu did not have energy to reason with a cultivator of the Obsession path.

She then looked to Qi Yuan and asked, "Senior Brother, where am I going to stay?"

She could not go to the summit and there did not seem to be any other housing here.

“There’s some straw and wood in the yard.”

Jiang Lingsu had a bad feeling. Don’t tell me he wants me to build my own straw hut?

She had never even stayed in one before, let alone built one herself.

“Move some things around and build yourself a straw hut. Make do.” Qi Yuan yawned again.