“Hm? Master?”
Shen Mu was used to Luo Qingling’s ghostly appearances in his room. After a puzzled murmur, he continued to slump dejectedly on the table.
“What’s wrong with you? I’ve never seen you look this defeated before.”
Shen Mu let out a soft sigh and sat up. “Nothing, just feeling mentally and physically exhausted. I’ll be fine after some rest.”
“By the way, Master, why are you here?”
Whoosh!
Without a word, Luo Qingling flicked a beam of spiritual light that sank into Shen Mu’s forehead.
“You’ve been at Wanxiang Peak for about two and a half years, and I haven’t formally taught you any cultivation techniques. I happen to have one that suits multi-spirit roots, which should be perfect for you.”
“…”
Chongtian Technique…
Shen Mu’s pupils dilated briefly, then widened with a spark of surprise.
But immediately after, confusion followed.
“Master, how did you obtain this technique?” He stood and asked Luo Qingling earnestly.
The Chongtian Technique was a growth-oriented technique, one of the rare universal methods in this world that could adapt to any combination of spirit roots.
To put it simply, with this technique, the gaming experience would improve dramatically.
“About seven years ago, when I reached the Soul Transformation Realm, I wanted to find suitable opponents to stabilize my cultivation. So, I challenged the Longevity Ancient Tower.”
“This rather unique first-grade technique was the reward I chose after reaching the top.”
Luo Qingling explained slowly.
“I see. Thank you, Master.”
Though Shen Mu still had some lingering questions, knowing her usual carefree and whimsical nature—where everything was done on a whim and questions rarely yielded answers—he decided not to press further.
“You’re not curious why I’m only giving it to you now?”
“Master has her own reasons for doing things. If you don’t say, I won’t ask.”
Hearing this response, Luo Qingling smiled faintly, a rare expression gracing her face. “What a ‘I don’t say, you don’t ask’…”
“Truly a good temperament for keeping your thoughts hidden.”
When her cryptic words reached Shen Mu’s ears, his eyebrow twitched. He sensed that this immortal master before him was somehow different from the one in his memories…
Is it my imagination?
Or…
Shen Mu’s thoughts instantly tensed, his gaze subtly shifting, carrying a hint of gravity.
“What are you thinking about now?”
Luo Qingling tilted her curvaceous figure slightly, propping her cheek on one hand against the table, a gentle smile on her stunning face. “Do you feel I’m different from before?”
“…Yes.”
Shen Mu nodded slightly.
“Master today… does seem a bit different from usual.”
“Do you want to know why?”
At that moment, countless possibilities flashed through Shen Mu’s mind.
Possession, rebirth, a drastic change in her life due to a shifted worldline, an unexpected variable…
He even considered the possibility of a system’s arrival.
But in the end, he chose not to voice all his speculations.
“No matter the reason, Master will always be my Master, and I’ll always treat you as I have.”
Shen Mu gave a response that perfectly addressed all possibilities.
“Heh…”
Receiving this near-perfect answer, Luo Qingling let out a soft chuckle, deciding not to tease him further.
“Alright, I won’t mess with you anymore. Cultivate well and strive to surpass the disciple the Sect Leader favors, becoming the sect’s chief disciple and giving her a good slap in the face.”
With that, Luo Qingling’s figure vanished instantly, leaving only a faint, elegant fragrance in the breeze, just as when she arrived.
***
Deep in the night.
A black square hovered before Shen Mu, continuously drawing in external spiritual energy, refining it into threads of pure spiritual energy that merged into his body.
In just two hours.
Enveloped in those threads of pure spiritual energy, he cultivated the Chongtian Technique to the first stage of the beginner level, filling and nourishing all his meridians with refined spiritual energy, leaving him feeling exceptionally fulfilled.
“Phew~~”
Shen Mu opened his eyes, sensing the revitalized spiritual energy within him. The gloom and defeat on his face were gone, replaced by confidence.
The Wanhua Divine Square’s highly efficient spiritual energy refinement paired perfectly with the Chongtian Technique. His cultivation progress was like riding a rocket.
At this rate, he could steadily break through to the late stage in about a month.
By then, he’d have some room to resist Lin Yuhe!
Shen Mu’s lips curved into a slight smirk, faintly resembling a smug dragon king.
“Next, as long as I gather the materials and refine the Heavenly Spirit Pill to complete my spirit roots, everything will be within reach.”
Once he successfully completed his spirit roots, becoming a Five Elements Spirit Root cultivator, carving out his own unparalleled path of freedom wouldn’t be impossible.
At this moment, Shen Mu wanted to raise his arms and shout: Never has there been such a perfect start!
But thinking of his lazy master’s odd behavior tonight, his mood grew heavy and complex again.
She had likely undergone some changes, no longer matching her original game setting.
He’d need to be more cautious around her in the future.
After all, caution ensures a ship sails for ten thousand years. He didn’t want to unexpectedly fall at the hands of his lazy master.
“Fortunately, as long as the male protagonist hasn’t changed much, I won’t have a role in the main storyline.”
Shen Mu was relieved that the game’s main storyline was an invincible Dragon-Proud Heaven tale. With or without him, the story’s outcome wouldn’t change much.
“Mmm~~❤”
In the quiet night, a soft, mosquito-like moan from a girl reached Shen Mu’s ears, causing his expression to shift.
“What the… another intruder in my spiritual peak?”
Whoosh!
Shen Mu immediately stepped outside, following the faint sound to its source…
***
“Mmm~~❤”
Under the moonlight by a clear spring, a delicate figure trembled in the woods.
A petite, pink-haired girl leaned against a green tree, her pure, adorable face flushed, her small, delicate lips letting out suppressed, labored breaths.
“S-Senior Sister…”
Her glossy, pink peach-blossom eyes lifted, shimmering with an unusual ripple of charm. Her lips parted slightly as she called out to the golden-haired girl striding ahead.
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
“How much longer…” The pink-haired girl squirmed, her slender legs rubbing together, her youthful, unrefined voice carrying a natural, seductive allure.
“We’re almost there. Just hold on a bit longer.”
“Mmm…”
The girl took difficult steps, each one as if straining every nerve, fearing her dwindling rationality would collapse like a breached dam.
“It’s the middle of the night. Why aren’t you resting in your own peak residences? What are you doing here?”
Shen Mu’s figure suddenly appeared, blocking the two girls’ path, his tone calm as he asked.
“Senior Brother, perfect timing!”