After Su Qingyan left, Chu Li did not bow below the steps as Su Qingyan had done. Instead, she walked straight up to the high platform.
Her body softened as she naturally settled into Lu Qingxuan’s arms, her arms wrapping around his neck.
Warm fragrance and soft beauty filled his embrace.
“Thank you, Master, for granting me this.”
Chu Li breathed softly, her voice like orchid fragrance, “Li’er knows clearly that without you, Master, there is no way I would have obtained a spot in this Demon Emperor Inheritance.”
Her heart was like a mirror.
She was only at the 3rd stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, while among the hundred disciples entering the secret realm this time, the weakest was already at the 8th stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Most were outstanding figures at the 9th stage.
Fighting across realms—how difficult was that?
Without Lu Qingxuan’s subtle approval, how could Su Qingyan and the sect elders have allowed a disciple of such insufficient strength to occupy such a precious spot?
“It’s merely a reward for your efforts.”
Lu Qingxuan spoke indifferently, “Once inside, just broaden your horizons. Act within your limits.”
His tone was casual, yet it warmed Chu Li’s heart. At the same time, it ignited a stubborn determination within her.
She knew he was telling her not to overreach, to prioritize survival.
But she also understood that opportunities often came with danger.
“Although several senior brothers have promised to protect me once inside, Li’er knows that relying on others is inferior to relying on oneself. Only one’s own strength is fundamental.”
Chu Li tilted her head up, gazing into Lu Qingxuan’s deep eyes. Her voice softened unconsciously, tinged with a shy plea, “There are still seven days left. Li’er wants… wants to try harder. Master, can we… continue the dual cultivation from last time?”
As she spoke, her cheeks flushed red. Her slender fingers traced teasing circles across his firm chest.
“Heh, quite motivated.”
Lu Qingxuan chuckled softly, appreciating her ambition and clarity.
Then he took out a sachet from his sleeve.
Chu Li’s movements halted. Her circling fingers froze.
Her delicate brows knit slightly.
This sachet… did not belong to Sect Master Su Qingyan.
As Fairy Linyue, Su Qingyan usually used incense made from Ice Heart Snow Lotus gathered from extreme cold lands—pure, aloof, carrying a distant chill.
Chu Li had smelled it before. This was definitely not that scent.
Then whose sachet was this?
Could it be… that there were other women by Master’s side?
A trace of bitterness rose in her heart, but it vanished in less than a second.
Who was Lu Qingxuan?
A 6th stage Divine Transformation Realm Ancestor, the pillar of the Lizhou cultivation world.
For such a towering figure, having a few confidantes was perfectly normal.
The path of cultivation was long and lonely. This story is hosted at g.com.
As the saying went, “wealth, companions, technique, and land”—companions ranked second, just below cultivation resources.
Aside from a few ascetics devoted solely to the Dao, who could endure endless solitude, what expert did not have one or two dao partners for mutual support and solace?
To have even a place by his side was already a tremendous blessing.
Having realized this, Chu Li tightened her arms around his neck instead of loosening them.
Lu Qingxuan naturally sensed the fleeting shift in her emotions.
But he was not the type to fawn over a woman over the slightest mood change.
Calmly, he held the sachet out before her.
“This item belongs to the Ancestor of the Joyous Harmony Sect, Hua Qianying.”
“Hua Qianying?!”
Chu Li’s pupils shrank sharply, her mind trembling.
This name was like thunder in Lizhou, especially among female cultivators.
The Joyous Harmony Sect was one of the top demonic sects in Lizhou, acting as it pleased, neither wholly righteous nor evil.
Hua Qianying was its ruler—a peerless female cultivator of the Divine Transformation Realm, standing on equal footing with Lu Qingxuan.
It was said she possessed unparalleled beauty and a naturally enchanting physique. Her Joyous Harmony techniques were profound beyond measure, and countless powerful figures had become her companions.
Among them were even old monsters of the Divine Transformation Realm, and supreme elders of other sects!
Such a female demon, capable of shaking the entire Lizhou cultivation world with a single step—why would her personal sachet be in Lu Qingxuan’s hands?
Could it be… between them…
Lu Qingxuan flicked the sachet lightly.
Buzz—
A mysterious pink halo emerged, countless tiny runes flowing within it like swimming fish. A vast and pure spiritual energy spread out.
The faint trace of pink spiritual energy within made Chu Li, a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, feel her soul tremble and nearly fall into intoxication from just sensing a hint of it.
“Inside this sachet is sealed a top-grade Heaven-tier dual cultivation technique, called the [Universal Joyous Union Scripture].”
Top-grade… Heaven-tier?!
Chu Li was completely stunned.
As far as she knew, cultivation techniques were divided into four tiers: yellow, profound, earth, and heaven, each further divided into low, mid, high, and top grades.
In Lizhou, earth-tier techniques were already sect-defining treasures, accessible only to sect masters or core successors.
As for heaven-tier techniques, only the Ancestors of the eight great sects possessed them.
And now, a top-grade Heaven-tier dual cultivation technique had appeared before her so casually.
After the shock, a realization struck her.
The Demon Emperor Inheritance slot… her weak strength… the mysterious sachet… the Heaven-tier dual cultivation technique…
So that’s how it is!
So that’s it!
She understood everything.
Master was paving the way for her!
He knew her cultivation realm was insufficient, that she would struggle even if she entered the secret realm, so he had specially obtained this heaven-defying dual cultivation technique for her.
With the [Universal Joyous Union Scripture], combined with Master’s powerful 6th stage Divine Transformation Realm cultivation, her strength would surely soar within these seven days!
By then, she would have the true qualification to compete for opportunities within the Demon Emperor Inheritance.
Such foresight. Such painstaking effort.
And yet, just moments ago, she had been saddened over a mere sachet—truly narrow-minded, judging a gentleman with a petty heart.
Master… had never treated her as a mere plaything. He was genuinely nurturing her.
A surge of happiness and guilt welled up, reddening her eyes. Her voice trembled slightly, “Master… Li’er… Li’er misunderstood you.”
She buried her face deeply into his chest.
Lu Qingxuan felt the soft warmth in his arms and gently stroked her hair.
Of course, he knew what Chu Li was thinking.
Women were always good at convincing themselves.
Sometimes, you didn’t need to do anything, and they would construct a touching story in their own minds.
Other times, no matter what you did, they might still resent you.
Still, this time, she was half right.
This [Universal Joyous Union Scripture] was indeed prepared for the Demon Emperor Inheritance.
Only… it wasn’t prepared for her.
Lu Qingxuan recalled the original novel, which he had already memorized.
In the original storyline, this technique was meant to be the fortuitous opportunity of another destined female lead.
The Saintess of the Joyous Harmony Sect—Yao Ling’er.
A woman born with the Nine Yin Absolute Meridian, yet possessing extraordinary talent.
She was Hua Qianying’s most prized disciple and a crucial member of the protagonist Ye Fan’s harem.
According to the plot, after entering the Demon Emperor Inheritance, Yao Ling’er would be hunted by enemies and, by chance, encounter Ye Fan.
The two would fall into an enemy trap and be drugged with aphrodisiacs…
The Nine Yin Absolute Meridian could greatly enhance dual cultivation efficiency, but it had a fatal flaw—it would only recognize one partner for life.
The result was obvious—their cultivation would soar, and Yao Ling’er would be taken into Ye Fan’s harem.
Not only that, they would also turn misfortune into fortune, jointly subduing one of the most important opportunities within the inheritance—the Yin-Yang Exotic Flame.
This was a heaven-and-earth flame embodying both creation and destruction.
It had immeasurable value in alchemy, artifact forging, and even combat.
Many of Ye Fan’s later battles, where he defeated stronger opponents, relied on the power of this flame.