Chapter 23

Whoever is willing to listen, is who I’m instructing?

Others might not know, but Xue Meiniang’s reply meant he had indeed “listened.” Having been subtly ambushed by Feng Xiwu, Xue Meiniang looked towards the arena with some melancholy, only to see—

With an utterly righteous face, Liang Tianguang put away his Spirit Gathering Bracelet. “My cultivation level is already higher than Junior Sister’s; that’s already an unfair advantage. Using this Spirit Gathering Bracelet and Thunderstorm Talismans would be even more so. Junior Sister, no need to stand on ceremony with me, let’s fight like this!”

Liuli gave him a thumbs-up. “Senior Brother truly is a lotus rising unstained from the mud—a good person! Many thanks, Senior Brother!”

She wasn’t about to stand on ceremony, nor was she stingy with handing out “good person” cards.

The mud, Xue Meiniang: “…”

The battle began. As Liang Tianguang had said, he only used his own magical power to duel Liuli. With the boost from her Spirit Gathering Bracelet, Liuli was able to match him blow for blow when the fight first started.

But ultimately, the suppression of a higher realm was there. As time wore on, Liang Tianguang’s advantage became apparent.

A single misstep, and Liuli was struck in the chest, her blood and qi surging violently as she flew backward and crashed at the edge of the arena.

Liuli scrambled to her feet. With a wave of her hand, just as she had done against that strange middle-aged senior brother before, she summoned water, flooding the entire arena.

Was she planning to use the same trick again?

This was the question in everyone’s mind, Liang Tianguang being no exception. He smiled and warned, “Junior Sister, this move won’t work as well on me.”

He was just one step away from breaking through to the major realm of Golden Core. Though this single step was as difficult to cross as a heavenly chasm, the sheer depth of Liang Tianguang’s strength completely eclipsed that of the middle-aged senior brother.

The interference Maze Talismans controlled by Liuli’s cultivation level had limited effect on Liang Tianguang. The number of weapons he could manipulate with his Metal control was also overwhelming. By sending them all out at once in a single sweep, he could determine Liuli’s true body’s location based on the feedback from his weapons.

Liuli gave no reply. She pulled out several large buckets.

While continuing to trade moves with Liang Tianguang, she poured the contents of the buckets into the water—it was white.

What was this stuff???

Everyone except Liuli was baffled. On the contrary, a few Outer Sect disciples watching from afar, like Liang Tiantian, observed for a moment and then seemed lost in thought.

However, Liang Tiantian stroked her chin and decided not to tell her brother.

She still hoped Senior Sister Liuli would win!

The white powdery substance quickly dissolved into the water. After several large buckets were poured in, the entire body of water turned milky white. Although it was white, this thick, opaque liquid still served to block vision, even more effectively than the ink from before.

Because the Light Illumination Technique couldn’t penetrate this liquid.

Liuli sighed slightly, a little embarrassed. “Actually, I didn’t want to do this originally.”

The crowd: You’re already doing it, you know…

“But!” Liuli declared passionately, “To show my respect for Senior Brother’s strength, I must use my full power!”

Then she used three talismans: Imprisonment Circle, Fortress Talisman, and Enhanced Spirit Gathering Talisman.

The Imprisonment Circle formed a spherical cage five meters in diameter centered on Liang Tianguang, preventing anything inside from escaping, including water. The Fortress Talisman made the cage formed by the Imprisonment Circle even sturdier. The double-layered effect prevented Liang Tianguang from easily breaking the prison. The Enhanced Spirit Gathering Talisman provided spiritual energy support for the first two talismans, allowing them to last longer.

Feeling the changes around him, Liang Tianguang laughed. “Junior Sister, do you think this can trap me?”

Liuli didn’t answer.

Surrounded by water on all sides, Liang Tianguang condensed Metal into a sword. With a wave of his hand, the milky-white water around him actually diffused backward slightly, leaving him a small space, as if it were afraid of him.

Liang Tianguang’s brow furrowed. He hadn’t done this; it could only be Liuli’s doing.

Whatever the reason, the first priority was to attack.

The flying sword shot violently towards its surroundings—a massive force rebounded, and it was flung back.

Liang Tianguang’s expression grew solemn. “Indeed, it’s not simple.”

Outside the water prison, Liuli leisurely took out a small camp stool from her Storage Ring. Standing for too long was tiring, and sitting on the ground was inelegant. Sitting on a stool it was.

Spectator Ye Zhenzhen: “…”

She inexplicably felt as if she were the one trapped on the stage. Infuriating. Absolutely infuriating.

Talismans were one thing, but this water was personally controlled by Liuli. When the water prison was attacked, Liuli felt it too.

A series of blows came, each fiercer than the last. Finally, unable to suppress it any longer, Liuli lowered her head and spat out a mouthful of blood with a “wah.”

Liang Tianguang, trapped within the water prison, was having an equally tough time. Every strike of his felt like it was hitting an iron wall. Not only could he not break through this layer of water, but he was also affected by his own recoil force.

Sometimes, it seemed Liuli grew tired, and the water would allow his swords and blades to pass through like normal water, striking the talisman-created cage. Just as the cage began to tremble, seeming on the verge of being shattered by him, the water would suddenly harden again.

So Liuli was using the talismans to wage a war of attrition!

Liang Tianguang somewhat regretted his earlier overconfidence…

One hour passed, then two hours…

The audience below the stage had started cracking melon seeds. Xue Meiniang let out a lazy yawn and said, “Looks like they’ll be at it until the afternoon. Why don’t we all disperse first and come back when they’re done?”

Liuli still sat firmly on her little stool, coughing up blood while circulating her qi, controlling the water prison while absorbing spiritual energy to heal her wounds.

Finally, Liang Tianguang’s voice came, muffled through the water: “I concede.”

The surrounding crowd collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

It wasn’t that they didn’t enjoy watching a duel between experts; it was just that this battle was far too boring.

When Xue Meiniang, the Sect Leader, announced Liuli as the champion and presented her prize, she snatched the prize and stuffed it into her Storage Ring. Then, she bypassed Xue Meiniang entirely and rushed up to the seating platform—right in front of Feng Xiwu.

She turned her head, spat out another mouthful of blood with a “wah,” then turned back. In her hands, she was already holding a cup of tea.

She dropped to both knees, her gaze burning fervently. “Shizun above, please accept your disciple’s bow!”

This cup of apprentice tea was thrust right in front of Feng Xiwu’s face.

Feng Xiwu looked down, glancing at the ground stained red by Liuli’s blood.

Liuli hurriedly said, “Don’t mind that, I’m used to it. Becoming your disciple is most important! If you don’t drink the tea, I won’t take my medicine!”

Feng Xiwu: “…”

Thus, before the eyes of all present, Feng Xiwu had no choice but to accept the tea and drain it in one gulp.

Having drunk the apprentice tea, Feng Xiwu rose. She stood before Liuli and placed her hand on Liuli’s crown. A surge of cool, refreshing qi forcefully poured in, healing Liuli’s burning, painful meridians.

“From this day forth, Xue Liuli is my Personal Disciple.”

Feng Xiwu raised her head, looking at the crowd, yet seeming to look past them, towards the boundless sky in the distance. She paused, then declared decisively: “And she will be my only disciple!”

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

This meant Feng Xiwu had no intention of ever taking another disciple!

This news would undoubtedly break the hearts of the other young disciples who wished to apprentice under Feng Xiwu, but it had Liuli practically beside herself with joy—this instantly cut off the path for Long Jingxing to become her disciple. It couldn’t be more perfect!

My life’s goal, my Dao, is half-accomplished in one go!

But then, euphoria gave way to misery. As Liuli laughed and laughed, her head spun, and her exhausted body collapsed… She fainted, her head caught by Feng Xiwu, who then carried her away.

…

When Liuli woke again, it was broad daylight. The broad leaves of the parasol trees created layered, overlapping shadows that filtered through the window and fell over Liuli, as if draping an extra, airy blanket over her.

Liuli sat up. Just as she was taking in this simple, elegant room, the door swung open.

Dazzling golden sunlight streamed in like flowing water. Against the light, a woman walked into the room, carrying a bowl of medicinal porridge that exuded a sweet fragrance. She approached the bedside gracefully, set the bowl down, and said, “You’re awake.”

Liuli’s heart surged with emotion. She momentarily forgot all etiquette and protocol, grabbing Feng Xiwu’s wrist. “Shizun!”

“I’m here,” Feng Xiwu replied softly, glancing at the hand gripping her wrist.

Liuli bit her lower lip, then broke into a silly grin. After laughing, she felt she was being too undignified and quickly suppressed her smile. “Shizun!”

Feng Xiwu: “…”

She pressed the bowl of medicinal porridge into Liuli’s hands, coaxing her to let go.

Holding the bowl, Liuli’s lips trembled. “Now, Shizun won’t go back on her word again, right?”

Like, expel her from the sect or something…

Feng Xiwu glanced at her, expressionless. “When did I ever go back on my word?”

“Before, you wouldn’t let me come up the mountain!” Liuli said, aggrieved. “How could you do that? You clearly said you’d take me as a disciple!”

Feng Xiwu said slowly, “Indeed. When did I ever say I wouldn’t?”

Liuli: “…………”

Wait, she indeed… had never said… she wouldn’t take her as a disciple anymore…

Liuli’s hand holding the porridge bowl trembled slightly. “What if I had lost?”

“Win or lose, it matters not.” A trace of amusement flickered swiftly through Feng Xiwu’s eyes.

Liuli sucked in a sharp breath, her upper body lurching backward. Her head knocked against the bedpost. She looked small, pitiful, and helpless.

Feng Xiwu chuckled softly. “In cultivation, one should take sincerity as the foundation, be without shame before Heaven and Earth, and without shame in one’s own heart. Since I agreed to it, naturally, it counted.”

That first sentence—wasn’t that exactly what Liuli herself had said when publicly forcing Feng Xiwu’s hand? Liuli slumped against the bedpost, utterly defeated.

She whined and struggled. “Then why wouldn’t you let me come up the mountain?!”

“Oh,” Feng Xiwu answered with an air of nonchalance, as if it were nothing. “The final matches were approaching. Running over here all the time would distract you.”

Liuli angrily raised her hands, holding the porcelain bowl—and swooshed it to her mouth, puffing out her cheeks and drinking the porridge in big gulps.

This infuriated her! This infuriated her!

Aaaahhhh!

…

That bowl of medicinal porridge had a sweet taste with a hint of coolness. Once the bowl was finished, all her lingering ailments were swept away. Finishing one bowl made her crave another. But the spiritual energy within was too abundant and needed to be digested. Liuli could only rub her slightly bloated little belly and reluctantly set the bowl down.

Feng Xiwu placed a familiar-looking Little Jade Pot in front of her.

Liuli understood immediately. As a disciple, she naturally had to take care of her Shizun’s daily needs. Looking after her plants and flowers was all part of her duty.

Liuli took the jade pot. “Shizun, rest assured, I’ll take good care of your flower!”

From today onward, she was the official gardener of Phoenix Perch Residence!

Seeing her misunderstanding, Feng Xiwu clarified, “Since you’ve apprenticed yourself to me, this magical treasure is yours now.”

It was actually a magical treasure? Liuli examined it curiously, turning it over and over. Before, she had only used it to water flowers, treating it as nothing more than an automatic watering can. She had never paid any attention to its grade.

Feng Xiwu said, “My divine sense mark has been erased. You may leave your own. Its uses… explore them yourself.”

Liuli obeyed, imprinting the treasure with her own divine sense mark. Instantly, a subtle connection formed between her and the jade pot.

She immersed her mind, carefully examining the pot, and asked casually, “What’s this pot called?”

“The Water of Supreme Goodness Pot.”

Liuli’s hand trembled, nearly sending the pot crashing to the floor. She then clutched it tightly to her chest.

My goodness, a Heaven-grade magical treasure, and Feng Xiwu just casually used it to water flowers?!

Liuli looked at Feng Xiwu with utter earnestness. “Shizun, if you have any flower hoes or flower pots you’re not using, feel free to hand them all to this disciple!”