Chapter 0: Cats and Bones
One day, Ye Qishuang issued an order, gathering almost all members of the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace.
“Master, it’s up to you.”
Although Ye Qishuang had personally promised Qin Gou the position of Palace Lord as an apology, how could she win over and subdue these arrogant demonic path girls without him demonstrating some real talent?
Qin Gou’s current realm and cultivation were not particularly outstanding. His greatest asset was his old profession of educating, guiding, and clarifying doubts for others—his astonishing ability to turn little rascals into world-conquering Demon Lords.
As it happened, the Mystic Maiden Palace was currently dominated by women, and Ye Qishuang was struggling to find a charismatic male role model to grant a prestigious position, aiming to reverse the sect’s tendency for disciples to despise men. This move was killing two birds with one stone.
Qin Gou nodded with a smile and casually walked onto the high platform. He calmly looked at the surging crowd before him, tens of thousands of Mystic Maiden Palace disciples, his voice reaching every ear with perfect clarity.
“I am Qin Yue. Many of you here should have heard my name, and the reason I stand on this high platform today is not for anything else, but to impart knowledge to you all in the capacity of a teacher.”
As soon as he finished speaking.
The crowd erupted in a clamor, as loud as a swarm of flies.
A mere Hidden Weapon Realm cultivator, and a man at that, dared to speak so boldly in the Mystic Maiden Palace? Was this a joke? Even if he had passed the Rebirth Tower, so what? Having extensive knowledge did not necessarily qualify him to be a teacher.
At this point, Ye Qishuang found it difficult to intervene. Although she could easily suppress the commotion, she absolutely did not want the disciples to see her esteemed master as just a pretty boy who depended on her.
Suddenly, Yi Ren, who was suspended in mid-air, let out a contemptuous cold laugh, “A mere man, truly boastful.”
Everyone looked up. It turned out to be the Lone Shadow Saintess, Yi Chengying. To speak up at such a moment was truly befitting their beloved Sister Chengying.
Yi Chengying hugged her small hands across her chest, her little face full of arrogance and pride, looking down at Qin Gou with an imperious air.
She knew the personalities of the young girls under her feet all too well, so she unhesitatingly seized the initiative. This way, when she cooperated with the Celestial Master at the opportune moment to directly kneel and beg for mercy, crying her eyes out, it would undoubtedly create the most perfect show of dominance, wouldn’t it be wonderful?
Qin Gou said with a light smile, “Little Chair, you’ve been stuck in the early stage of the Dao Comprehension Realm for quite some time, haven’t you? Everything is ready, yet you can’t break through the final shackle? The reason is simple. The ‘Dao’ you are currently envisioning is likely your Natal Spirit Tool, isn’t it? Most cultivators do this; it’s the most orthodox method for cultivating the Dao Comprehension Realm in the Cultivation World. But I must say, this method of cultivation may not be the most suitable for you. I remember your room is filled with wood carvings, so I suggest you stop using spiritual power to carve from now on. Instead, try your hand at ordinary craftsmanship. After personally sculpting a batch of works that satisfy you, try to break through while envisioning them. You will undoubtedly have a pleasant surprise.”
As if a dream was awakened, Yi Chengying felt enlightened. Her little face turned red with excitement. Unlike most people, Yi Chengying had always looked down on her Natal Spirit Tool since reaching the Hidden Weapon Realm, even rejecting its existence from the bottom of her heart.
A cat? As a beggar child who used to fight with stray cats and dogs for food, often ending up covered in wounds, her Natal Spirit Tool was actually a beast soul-type ‘Shadow Cat’? Why wasn’t it the most delicious half-bone of a silver carp in the world? This was simply a cruel joke played by heaven on her.
Her sisters often said that Sister Chengying’s Natal Spirit Tool was really cute, but none of them knew that she didn’t even dare to look in a mirror when summoning her Natal Spirit Tool, for fear of unconsciously fighting the cat demon in the mirror.
Now, the Celestial Master told her that she could comprehend her own ‘Dao’ from her beloved wood carvings, which others found to be mere “trivial skills of mortals” that no one else appreciated. How could this not make her ecstatic?
Having expected the Celestial Master to simply use the method of swatting her away as a show of dominance, and having even prepared her pleas and tearful emotions, Yi Chengying was now filled only with gratitude.
Seeing the Lone Shadow Saintess completely stunned by Qin Gou’s few words and standing there gaping, the mocking and questioning voices among the crowd gradually subsided.
Qin Gou winked at the “little chair” and smiled slightly, “Since the classmates have also settled down, let’s officially start the class.”
…
“Damn it, that little slut Ling Cuiyan has the audacity to make me wash her feet?” Zhao Xinting stood under the peach tree, her expression shifting between anger and gloom, complaining bitterly. “I will never forgive her… As the Judgment Saintess, Ling Cuiyan! You’ll have it coming when my cultivation breaks through in the future.”
“Xinting!” A familiar voice rang out.
“What a coincidence, I come here every day waiting, and today I finally met you,” Chi Yuchao said with a smile as he walked over.
Zhao Xinting chuckled foolishly and said, “You fool, you come here every day, yet you say it’s a coincidence. Aren’t you silly? Lately, that Saintess has been more and more strict with me. Today, it’s only because she seems to be participating in some important ritual that I’ve finally got some freedom.”
Upon hearing this, Chi Yuchao’s expression darkened. “Don’t worry, I already have a way to help you escape this suffering. When I leave the Mystic Maiden Raksha Palace, I will definitely take you with me.” As he spoke, Chi Yuchao took out a curse-breaking talisman from his Nas.
“What is this?” A glint of curiosity flashed in Zhao Xinting’s eyes.
“This is the curse-breaking talisman that Brother Qin, that omnipotent person I mentioned before, taught me. It might be able to completely remove the spirit charm on you. However, the method of using this talisman is a bit peculiar,” Chi Yuchao said with a dry laugh, looking somewhat embarrassed.
Zhao Xinting’s eyes immediately lit up with excitement. “As long as this spirit charm can be removed, allowing me to move freely within the Mystic Maiden Palace, I will find a way to escape. I will never forget your great kindness, Yuchao! I don’t care how painful the curse-breaking method is; break the curse for me right now.”
“It won’t be painful, but you’ll need to expose the body part where the spirit charm was planted. I’ll take care of the rest,” Chi Yuchao said, nodding.
“That’s easy. The part where the spirit charm was planted is on my right chest. I don’t mind, I’m just afraid you’ll be shy,”
At this, Chi Yuchao’s face turned ‘whoosh’ red.
She doesn’t mind even her chest? Could it be that young girl Zhao has some feelings for him too?
“If you don’t mind, why would I be shy?” Chi Yuchao said with a dry, embarrassed yet expectant voice.
“That’s good.” Zhao Xinting looked at his blushing little face and found it unbearably cute. With a knowing smile, she unbuttoned her top, exposing her upper body, which was as fair and smooth as jade, even more so than that of a maiden from a secluded chamber, to the air.
Throughout the process, Chi Yuchao kept his head politely lowered. Only when Zhao Xinting casually threw her top on the ground did he slightly raise his head with a shy smile, squinting to look.
However, after just one glance, Chi Yuchao was instantly dumbfounded, frozen in place. Almost instinctively, he blurted out, “Holy crap, it can be flat like this?! Oh my god… Xinting, how bitter must your life have been before to be so malnourished?”
