Xiao Yu looked at Hua Lian, who was crying incessantly, without a trace of pity in his eyes.
In this world, he knew better than anyone how much the tears of a vicious maiden were worth.
He didn't care if she truly loved someone or if she had any marriage engagements.
From the moment she tried to feed him a poison pill, the outcome was already decided.
Hua Lian sobbed as she recalled her childhood, everything vividly clear in her mind.
That year, Hexi Prefecture was struck by famine. She was only a few years old, and the price of human flesh was cheaper than that of pigs and dogs.
Severe cold, drought, locust plagues, epidemics, soaring prices, war, and widespread hunger led people to cannibalism.
She clearly remembered the day winter arrived.
Heavy snow fell from the sky, and she walked barefoot with her parents to escape the disaster.
Thousands died of cold and hunger by the roadside, their bodies strewn across the fields.
She vividly remembered her frostbitten feet, numb and still walking in the snow.
In the crowd, mothers ate their dead children, husbands ate their dead wives, and families consumed each other.
Bones piled up, and the stench of decay filled the mountains.
Her father froze to death and was eaten by her mother.
Later, her mother also froze to death...
And was divided and eaten by others.
She hid in the freezing snow, expressionless, watching those frenzied carnivores.
She didn't know why she came into this world.
When she was about to freeze to death in the snow, Bai Yue appeared.
Her master, like the Mystical Maiden of the Nine Heavens, dissolved the ice and snow on the road with a wave of her hand.
But... when those mortals saw her master's face, they harbored evil thoughts.
Those men, thinking they wouldn't live much longer, decided to indulge themselves before dying.
They attacked in unison, intending to control Bai Yue.
Bai Yue looked at them with disgust and wiped them out with a single move.
"Desolate mountains and wicked waters, shrewish people... they deserve to die!"
Among them, some innocent people were implicated.
However, Bai Yue showed no emotion and pulled Hua Lian out of the snow.
It was the first time in a month that Hua Lian had eaten something warm.
"A Supreme Ice Spirit Root, huh? I am recruiting disciples, and from today, I am your master!"
From then on, Hua Lian became the most decisive inner disciple of the Jade Maiden Sect.
When encountering evil deeds, regardless of age, she would execute the wrongdoer on the spot.
She came from a pile of corpses and only believed that the poorer and more difficult one's life, the more sinister they were.
Even if she made a mistake, she didn't want to let anyone go.
But even someone like her found someone she liked.
Lin Ce, the chief inner disciple of the Profound Spirit Sect.
He said she was beautiful, the most beautiful woman in Hexi Prefecture.
He said he had admired her for a long time, and she agreed, but who knew war would break out again.
Hua Lian sobbed uncontrollably, recalling her childhood.
Although her life was saved by Xiao Yu, it was also saved by her master.
Lin Ce's subordinates dared to act against her master...
She no longer wanted to verify the truth of the matter.
When she heard Bai Yue's screams, her tears flowed again: "Please don't hurt her anymore... I beg you to spare my master!"
"I... I am willing to swear by my Dao Heart!"
"I am willing..."
Hua Lian said, tears streaming down her face, as she raised her two fingers: "I, Hua Lian, swear by my Dao Heart, to serve my master for this life and the next, and never have any entanglements with other men. If I break this oath, may the heavens strike me with five thunders! May my cultivation never progress!!!"
"I swear! I will never, ever betray my master!!!"
[Hua Lian's Judgment Value is full, activating the Maid Cultivation Function! Activating the Maid Pavilion.]
[Maid Pavilion: Allows maids to reside and cultivate within. Currently unlocked maid-exclusive outfits include cheongsam, black silk, and high heels.]
Seeing the system prompt, Xiao Yu was in a great mood.
He raised his hand and pulled her into his embrace: "Your master isn't as obedient as you. She still doesn't know where she went wrong. If you want your master to receive the master's rewards like you, then don't worry about her!"
Hua Lian looked a bit puzzled, but after a moment of thought, she strangely hugged Xiao Yu: "Everything is up to the master..."
Xiao Yu smiled slightly and opened Hua Lian's cultivation panel.
After several days of Body Tempering, she had already reached the fifth level.
He vaguely remembered that Hua Lian was previously a second-grade alchemist.
If he could first raise her cultivation to the first level of the Qi Refining Stage, she could use magical power to refine pills.
Her alchemy speed would greatly increase.
Thinking of this, Xiao Yu clicked on the cultivation option.
[Hua Lian needs 120 hours of Blissful Harmonious Union Art Body Tempering to reach the first level of the Qi Refining Stage. Using Meridian-Opening Pills and Marrow-Cleansing Pills for Body Tempering can halve the time!]
[It is recommended to let her practice the Supreme Ice Attribute Cultivation Method and Harmonious Union Technique to increase her cultivation speed.]
[Staying in the Maid Pavilion can also enhance her comprehension and cultivation speed!]
Seeing this, Xiao Yu hurried to the Alchemy Room.
"Lian'er, refine a batch of Meridian-Opening Pills and Marrow-Cleansing Pills yourself, and later the master will accompany you in seclusion!"
Hua Lian smiled brightly: "Mm!! Thank you for your kindness, master! Lian'er will start refining pills now!"
"By the way, master... our Jade Maiden Sect's branch hall's martial uncle might have already arrived near Riverflow City. You should inform the Sect of Harmonious Union disciples on the frontline, just in case of a sneak attack..."
Hearing this, Xiao Yu's lips curled slightly. It seemed she was genuinely on his side now.
"Mm... so, you're practicing the Five Elements Goddess Mantra, right? Write down all the cultivation methods you know for me, and also all of Bai Yue's scandals, everything you know!"
Hua Lian hesitated for a moment: "Master's scandals?"
Xiao Yu: "Yes, you don't want your master to suffer every day, right? Let her realize her mistakes sooner, and she can come out sooner! What do you think?"
Hua Lian nodded repeatedly: "Mm, mm, the master is absolutely right! As for seeking revenge on Junior Sister Ye, let's wait a bit. She's the daughter of our branch hall elder, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment expert. Even if we lure her over now, we can't defeat her..."
Xiao Yu smiled and walked away.
He first found Li Qingyun and the other three, then used the Blood-Refined Soul Seal to refine them again.
Li Qingyun looked nervously at the blood on his fingertip, thought for a moment, and still leaned her head over.
After she consumed the blood, something seemed to flash between her eyebrows.
Xiao Yu spoke softly: "Mm, just a few more days to go!"
Xiao Yu: "Nothing much. Didn't you also reach the Body Tempering Stage with my help? This thing can help you improve your cultivation!"
After speaking, Xiao Yu looked at Zhang Lan and Huang Xiang, who were washing clothes in the courtyard. It seemed they had washed all the clothes from the Alchemy Room in the past few days.
The entire Alchemy Room was now spotless.
The previously messy woods had also become much tidier.
"Come over, it's your turn!"
Hearing this, Zhang Lan and Huang Xiang quickly ran over. Huang Xiang looked at him with excitement and shouted: "Benefactor, can we... can we become as powerful as you?"
Zhang Lan awkwardly pulled Huang Xiang and scolded: "Xiang'er, don't be rude... don't disturb the benefactor!"
Xiao Yu waved his hand: "It's fine, come over!"
Zhao Hongye, who was meditating and cultivating inside, saw Xiao Yu refining them again and walked over with her head down.
Xiao Yu glanced at her and slowly raised his hand in front of her: "What? You're so obedient today, not causing trouble?"
Zhao Hongye's eyes were filled with sorrow: "I... I was saved by you. I know you like beautiful women, and I'm willing to let you place a restriction on me, but can you let me keep my Primordial Yin until the Golden Core Stage... The cultivation method I practice is quite special and requires me to remain a virgin!"
When Zhao Hongye said this, Zhang Lan and Huang Xiang turned their heads away.
They looked extremely embarrassed.
Xiao Yu stroked his chin: "Mm, if you have no ill intentions towards me, I will naturally give you the respect you deserve."
Zhao Hongye instinctively clenched her sleeves, looked at Xiao Yu's raised hand, and after a moment of thought, she spoke up.
"Mm... I... I'm actually from the Profound Spirit Sect. Elder Zhao of the Profound Spirit Sect is my father. I previously said I was a rogue cultivator because I was afraid you'd use me as a hostage..."
"You saved my life, and I will remember it. No matter the outcome of this war, I won't forget that you saved me from the gourd!"
Xiao Yu had long known she was hiding something from him.
He didn't expect to catch such a big fish!
The daughter of an elder from the Profound Spirit Sect, this woman might be his way out of the Sect of Harmonious Union later.
After all, there were fewer women in the Demonic Path than in the Righteous Faction, and the chances of encountering a vicious maiden were too low.
He had to take the initiative and judge all those vicious maidens outside.
Xiao Yu smiled and refined her with the Blood-Refined Soul Seal.
After finishing today's tasks, Xiao Yu looked outside the formation.
If what Hua Lian said earlier was true, he really needed to inform Zhang Ziling.
The elder of the Jade Maiden Sect's branch hall seemed to be at the Golden Core Stage, while Zhang Ziling was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage. If they encountered each other, it would be troublesome.
The appearance of a Golden Core Stage expert could turn the entire battle around, so it was better to be safe and inform them.
Thinking of this, Xiao Yu summoned the Puppet Eagle, mounted it, and flew out of the formation.
Just as he flew out, Mei Chunlan, hiding in the distant woods, spoke with a gloomy face to the old woman behind her: "I told you he has secrets. Elder Zhang even gave him a personal Puppet Eagle!"
The old woman, with a mocking grin and a pair of glaring buck teeth, said: "He's an alchemist now. Aren't you afraid of being discovered by the higher-ups?"
Mei Chunlan coldly laughed: "Ma Cuihong, do you think the Demonic Path sent us from the Sect of Harmonious Union to conquer the world? We're just cannon fodder. The Profound Spirit Sect is much stronger than the Jade Maiden Sect. How could our sect master be a match for the three elders of the Profound Spirit Sect?"
"Their sect has three Golden Core Stage experts, wouldn't they suppress us?"
"Our sect master and his wife haven't been heard from in days, I doubt they can hold out much longer!"
Ma Cuihong, with a sly smile, stroked her wrinkled chin: "Mm, that's true. So, are you suggesting we escape and uncover the secrets of Xiao Yu?"
Mei Chunlan: "That Zhang Ziling is only at the Foundation Establishment Stage. If our sect master can't hold the east, she's likely to flee too!"
"People die for wealth, birds die for food... If I can't have it, I'll destroy it! At that time, we'll split the benefits between us sisters! Go and prepare!"