After everyone left, the summit of Purple Bamboo Peak returned to tranquility, leaving only the rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind.
Gu Changge stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze falling upon Ling Xi, who stood quietly to the side.
His heart stirred slightly. In her past life, this girl had already proven her Dao and become a Great Emperor, forging her own path of invincibility. Her will was resolute, and her path of cultivation was already clear.
Reborn and returned, her foundation remained. What she lacked was merely resources and time.
Too much interference might instead disrupt her Dao heart. There was no need for him to worry too much about her cultivation.
Thinking of this, Gu Changge smiled faintly. I observe that the flow of spiritual energy around you follows its own profound rhythm, suggesting you already possess a cultivation technique that perfectly suits you. Since your path is clear, just keep walking it. I shall not interfere too much with your cultivation.
As soon as these words were spoken, Ling Xi's heart jolted violently!
Did he see through it?!
The Heaven-Devouring Dao Formula was her Emperor Scripture from her past life. When circulating it, she had suppressed all traces to the absolute limit, and her Emperor Soul Origin was hidden even deeper. Although her breakthrough yesterday had triggered the technique, it had only revealed the tip of the iceberg...
Could he have noticed the anomaly just from that brief fluctuation of spiritual energy?
But if he really saw through it, why didn't he point it out directly?
Was he deliberately leaving some leeway, or did he merely vaguely sense a unique technique without delving into its origins?
Ling Xi clenched her hands inside her sleeves, her mind churning endlessly.
This master's discernment was simply too sharp. Yet, his attitude of not questioning or interfering made it impossible for her to fathom his true depths. Did he actually see something, or was he just saying it casually?
Soon after, the hands clutching her sleeves quietly loosened, and her tense back unconsciously relaxed a bit.
This was fine too! Master didn't ask her to switch to the Azure Profound Sect's cultivation technique!
The Heaven-Devouring Dao Formula was forged from the lifeblood of my past life and has long fused with my divine soul. It is the Dao path most suited for me. If I really had to switch techniques, not only would all my previous efforts be wasted, but I would also be cutting off my own future.
The mere thought of her master forcing her—making her figure out how to hide the uniqueness of the Heaven-Devouring Dao Formula while pretending to practice other techniques during cultivation assessments—made Ling Xi's scalp tingle with dread.
Now it was great. Her master saying he wouldn't interfere with her cultivation was equivalent to giving her the greatest freedom.
She could cultivate with her Emperor Scripture in peace without having to rack her brains to cover up her secrets.
She quietly raised her eyes, the wariness in her gaze toward Gu Changge fading a little, replaced by a trace of genuine relief.
Why was he so assured?
Ordinary masters, upon seeing a disciple practicing a technique of unknown origin, would thoroughly interrogate them about its roots and strictly examine them, even if they didn't forcibly abolish it. Yet he just let it go so casually?
Did this indifference stem from ignorance, or from unfathomable depths?
These thoughts flashed through Ling Xi's mind like lightning.
However, she didn't show a hint of it on her face. She maintained her calm and submissive demeanor, bowing slightly according to etiquette, her voice clear and steady. This disciple understands. Thank you, Master, for granting my wish.
Gu Changge nodded slightly and tapped his fingertip lightly in the void.
A pitch-black, seemingly ancient and unadorned small jar quietly emerged. A faint, gloomy light lingered around its body, its aura suppressed to the level of a Heaven-tier treasure, as it slowly descended toward Ling Xi.
At the same time, two jade slips flowing with chaotic aura also floated in front of her.
Today, I shall bestow upon you a Heaven-Human tier protective jar, along with two minor life-saving techniques. They may help spare you some trouble when you walk the world.
Although the path of cultivation relies on oneself, external items are also indispensable. I give you this item for self-defense; it may help you avoid some trouble when traveling the world.
Gu Changge's tone was as casual as if he were giving away an old, ordinary magical artifact.
Ling Xi respectfully received the small jar and the jade slips with both hands.
The instant her fingertips touched the small jar, the depths of her Emperor Soul violently throbbed!
She sensed an extremely faint, yet fundamentally terrifying palpitation that quietly transmitted into her perception through that seemingly perfect Heaven-Human tier seal!
This... beneath this seal?!
Her heart shook violently, but she tried her best to maintain a calm expression. Secretly, she circulated a trace of her Emperor Soul Origin power and cautiously probed the small jar.
Buzz—
A low hum, seemingly from the ancient primordial era, exploded deep within her sea of consciousness!
Under the peering of her Emperor Soul, that Heaven-Human tier seal seemed to become transparent, faintly revealing the vast, star-sea-like, absolutely terrifying Extreme Dao Emperor Might beneath it, as well as the origin Dao rhythm that seemed capable of devouring the heavens!
An Extreme Dao Emperor Weapon!! And one of a terrifyingly high grade at that!
Ling Xi almost dropped the small jar, her heart pounding wildly.
Master... he actually gave me an Extreme Dao Emperor Weapon, treating it as a mere Heaven-tier treasure?!
Does... does he know the true grade of this jar?
Seeing his casual tone... could it be... he didn't realize the anomaly of this jar at all?
He just thought it was a decent Heaven-Human realm artifact?
That's it! That must be it!
Although Master is unfathomable, he is ultimately a cultivator of this realm. Perhaps he obtained this jar by chance but failed to see through its deepest seal, only activating its Heaven-Human tier might?
Heavens... this is a massive misunderstanding!
Ling Xi suddenly fell into a huge dilemma, her palms sweating slightly.
Should... should I tell Master?
This is an Extreme Dao Emperor Weapon! A supreme treasure that, if placed in the outside world, would be enough to trigger wars between Holy Lands and cause ancient families to fight to the death over it!
And he just gave it away so casually... If he knew that what he gave away was actually such a divine object, would he... regret it?
But... how do I explain that I can see through a seal that even he didn't discover?
Say that I was a Great Emperor in my past life? How... how could I even say that?
Would Master look at me like I'm an idiot?
But if I don't tell him... it feels like I'm taking a heaven-defying advantage, and I feel guilty...
She stole a glance at Gu Changge, only to see that her master still had a lazy, nonchalant look, as if what he had just given away was truly just an ordinary item.
Forget it... I'd better not say anything for now. After an intense internal struggle, Ling Xi finally gritted her teeth and made a decision.
Since Master gave it to me, it's his goodwill. I will just cultivate diligently in the future and not let down his kindness.
As for the secret of this jar... if there's a chance in the future, I'll subtly remind him? Or wait until my strength recovers a bit and I can protect myself?
Right, I'll take it first! If I speak up now and Master asks for the reason, I won't be able to explain it at all!
She forcibly suppressed the stormy waves in her heart and the trace of guilt for deceiving her master. Trying hard to squeeze out a grateful and natural smile, she solemnly put the small jar away and gave Gu Changge a deep bow.
Disciple... thanks Master for the generous gift! This... this small jar is very pleasing to the eye, and I will definitely cherish it!
Gu Changge didn't seem to notice anything unusual. He just waved his hand casually, his tone still flat. Mm, as long as it's useful.
Ling Xi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, while also finding it a bit funny. A mischievous smile couldn't help but flash through her eyes as she muttered to herself: So that's how it is!
I thought Master was truly unfathomable and could see through everything. After all that, he's just an ordinary cultivator who made an error in judgment!
This demonic jar is an Extreme Dao Emperor Weapon, a divine artifact that would make cultivators across the myriads of heavens fight to the death. Yet he completely failed to see through that layer of sealing, treating it as an ordinary protective artifact and casually giving it away.
Ling Xi quietly tucked the small jar more securely into her storage ring, unable to suppress the upward curve of her lips. The thrill of picking up such a massive bargain was simply too fun!
She had initially been deeply wary of Gu Changge's unfathomable depths, but now, she felt that her master possessed an endearing sort of absent-mindedness. Even her previously taut nerves completely relaxed.
Never mind. Since Master hadn't realized it himself, she would just let this misunderstanding continue for now.
Once her cultivation recovered in the future, she might even use this demonic jar to give Master a surprise of his own!
Furthermore, with this Emperor Weapon in hand, she finally had a reliable trump card to protect herself when keeping an eye on that ill-intentioned old bull.
Hmph, Azure Heaven Wild Bull, I know exactly what kind of schemes you are hiding beneath that seemingly honest and simple exterior!
Just you wait. Once my strength advances another step, I will absolutely suppress you completely. Don't even dream of letting your petty schemes and sinister plots succeed on Purple Bamboo Peak!
With these thoughts in mind, she bowed to Gu Changge once more. The gratitude in her voice now carried a touch of genuine lightness: "This disciple will definitely live up to Master's gift and cultivate diligently!"
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
ap a wealthy young lady? Or else I'll be eliminated by the system? Ye Feng, who awakened the Kidnapper System, originally wanted to live a peaceful life but never imagined he would become a kidnapper of young women. However, after some time, he discovered that all the girls the system ordered him to kidnap were far from ordinary. "Big brother Ye Feng~ You've kidnapped my heart, and now you're not allowed to leave me ever again~" "Ye Feng~ You kidnapped me back then, now it's my turn to capture you♡" "Little Feng, you're mine! You can only be mine!" "Ye Feng, none of them deserve you. Only I love you the most♡" ... This is madness, they've all gone mad! Wait, what? Why are all the girls I kidnapped yanderes?!
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
lities. One day, Qi Yuan was buying groceries when he unfortunately came face-to-face with a monster. Just when he thought he was going to die on the spot, he suddenly heard the monster's thoughts... "This aura, he's definitely not an ordinary master!" "So terrifying, so terrifying." "A fight with my back against the wall, I can't take it anymore." Qi Yuan: Ah, no one told me that my awakened ability isn't telepathy, but rather the stronger my enemies imagine me to be, the stronger I truly become. PS: Zhou Hai in the first chapter is not the protagonist.
