When Li Yingling returned to the dilapidated temple from the deep mountains, covered in dirt, it was already noon.

Her pink flowing fairy dress was smeared with mud, and there were streaks of dirt on her face.

The stick in her hand had been replaced by a wild rabbit.

Originally, her target was indeed a wild chicken, but they perched on trees and were hard to catch.

She had no choice but to catch a poor rabbit, though she felt a bit guilty.

Rabbits are indeed cute, but isn't an empty stomach more pitiful?

She pushed open the temple door.

Li Yingling looked over and saw her cheap master boiling hot water.

Chu Xingchen looked at the dirt-covered Li Yingling and sighed, asking: "I sent you out to hunt, but it looks like you got hunted instead?"

Hearing this, Li Yingling almost choked with anger, wanting to retort loudly.

But she recalled how powerful the Water Heart Sutra was.

Perhaps her master was indeed a high-level cultivator?

Maybe he was just training her?

She could only weakly retort, "It's not that easy to catch."

Chu Xingchen walked over, took the rabbit from Li Yingling's hand, and pinched its ears to examine it.

"It's too skinny. Next time, catch a fatter one; it tastes better roasted."

"Oh..."

Seeing Li Yingling's dejected expression, Chu Xingchen said:"Don't look so down. Let me show you a trick, and next time you'll be more motivated when you go hunting."

Li Yingling looked puzzled, then watched as Chu Xingchen pulled out a dagger.

Skillfully, he demonstrated how to handle a cute rabbit.

Then, using a Five Elements Spell Technique, he summoned a ball of water to wash it clean.

If there was any benefit to wandering around the Xuanwu Kingdom, it was that he never lacked spices and seasonings, all stored in his spatial ring.

Since there was no flow inside the ring, it also had excellent preservation effects.

He took out garlic and scallions to make an extra-spicy rabbit head for her!

The left side was braised, and the right side was garlic-flavored!

Soon, three dishes made from the rabbit were placed on the table.

They were a feast for the senses!

Chu Xingchen pushed the plate with the rabbit head in front of Li Yingling: "This is your first hunt, so I'll give you the best rabbit head."

Watching the cute rabbit turn into a delicious-smelling dish.

Tears of betrayal streamed from her mouth.

But Li Yingling instinctively felt a bit of resistance towards the rabbit head.

After all, as a young, compassionate girl, eating rabbit meat was already her limit.

How could she eat the head?

But this resistance quickly crumbled once she tasted the rabbit meat.

The spicy and savory flavor was irresistible.

After a few bites, the ordinary rabbit meat in front of her was gone.

Li Yingling then deeply felt that her master was right!

This rabbit was too skinny, not enough to eat.

Her gaze then fell on her last line of defense, the spicy rabbit head.

Li Yingling's struggling gaze did not escape Chu Xingchen's notice.

Chu Xingchen seized the moment and said leisurely, "You're really not going to eat it? If you don't, I will."

"I'll eat it!"

Li Yingling felt ashamed of her lack of principles.

Eating rabbit meat was one thing, but how could she gnaw on its head?

Damn it, it's all the master's fault!

So delicious!

***

Ever since Li Yingling tasted Chu Xingchen's cooking, her enthusiasm and initiative for hunting had greatly increased.

At the same time, the sense of improvement from her cultivation made her unable to sleep at night, and she practiced diligently.

Chu Xingchen wanted to supervise her as a master, but there wasn't much opportunity.

Everything seemed to be going well, and this disciple was quite worry-free for now.

However, the living conditions of the dilapidated temple were somewhat unbearable for Li Yingling, who came from a noble family.

She carefully cleaned up the temple, sweeping away the cobwebs from the ceiling and patching up the drafty, broken door.

She even dismantled the last two wooden planks from the temple altar to separate her wooden bed.

Chu Xingchen naturally had no objections, understanding that she was a young maiden.

But if he took in more disciples in the future, they might have to sleep on straw piles.

***

Half a month later.

Under the night sky.

Li Yingling leaned against the campfire, eating a roasted chicken drumstick with a look of happiness, but still spoke listlessly: "Master, I've been stuck at Qi Refining Stage Nine for a long time."

Chu Xingchen was adding seasoning to the roasted chicken and said, "Practice more, and you'll advance."

Li Yingling coughed lightly, "Master, in the stories I've read, when people are stuck at a cultivation level, don't they have miraculous elixirs and spirit herbs to help them break through?

As the first sect of the Xuanwu Kingdom, and you being the top cultivator, surely you have plenty of good elixirs and such, right?"

Chu Xingchen looked up at Li Yingling, who was showing a very expectant expression.

In short, what she was saying was—Master, give me some elixirs.

Ridiculous, where would he have elixirs?

If he hadn't taken her as a disciple, he would still be at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

How could she expect a Foundation Establishment master to provide miraculous elixirs?

However, there was a way.

Chu Xingchen glanced at the night sky. The Xuanwu Kingdom was a remote place, not like the Central Continent where Golden Core cultivators were everywhere.

In this remote place, a Golden Core cultivation level could already be considered an ancestor.

Now, no matter what, he was an Immaculate Golden Core. Things he didn't dare to do before might be possible now.

Chu Xingchen made up his mind and said:"Finish eating, and I'll take you to our sect's herb field to get some spirit herbs to eat."

Li Yingling's eyes lit up with excitement, "Our sect has a herb field? I've wandered around this wilderness and haven't seen any fields. Where is it?"

Chu Xingchen replied irritably, "This broken place doesn't have a spiritual vein. Do you think spirit herbs are like big radishes, just dig a hole and plant them?"

At this moment, Li Yingling didn't care about big radishes. So her sect wasn't just a broken temple!

There was actually a spirit field! Thinking this way, her sect didn't seem so poor after all!

Her mood greatly improved.

It seemed she had hope of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment!

Li Yingling felt that the roasted chicken drumstick in her hand tasted even better, and without caring about her noble demeanor, she quickly finished all the drumsticks in her hand.

"Master! I'm full, let's go."

Chu Xingchen couldn't help but feel speechless. This girl didn't even bother to hide her desire for her master's elixirs.

But leaving early would be more suitable, considering the timing.

Chu Xingchen sighed and said, "Let's go."

Under the dark and windy night, the master and disciple duo from the broken temple headed southeast.

***

An hour later.

Climbing the rugged mountain path, Li Yingling couldn't help but ask:

"Master, isn't this herb field too remote?"

"Spiritual veins are like that, we're almost there."

Another half an hour later.

Li Yingling finally saw the spirit field Chu Xingchen mentioned.

You don't say, it really was different.

Under the moonlight, the spirit herbs occasionally shimmered, reflecting the moonlight.

The herb field had excellent protection measures.

A faint yellow barrier protected the not-so-large spirit field.

Li Yingling looked at Chu Xingchen with excitement, but when she saw what her master was doing, she wasn't so thrilled.

Chu Xingchen was carefully using his spiritual power to quietly dissolve a large hole in the barrier.

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After checking the surroundings, he handed a ragged pouch to her.

"I'll keep watch, you go in and take whatever catches your eye! It's our own spirit field, don't be shy!"

Hearing this, Li Yingling felt dizzy and a bit incredulous.

Master! Are you setting your disciple up?!!

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Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan