Chapter Ten: Ji Qingyou Will Never Betray Her Master!

Supporting Lin Jun to lift his head, Ji Qingyou immediately saw all the peak masters of the Great Dao Sect, except for the Xuanming Peak, standing in unison above in the sky.

Clad in robes that rustled softly, each was a Nascent Soul expert. Though they refrained from overtly exerting their power, their piercing gazes cut like lightning.

Simply witnessing so many Nascent Soul cultivators gathered together was enough to feel an overwhelming aura pressing down.

“Cough, cough...” Lin Jun, already unable to hold out before, was now at his weakest. Under the crushing presence of these formidable figures, he was bent over, his white hair and frail appearance stirring deep sympathy.

“What are you doing?” Ji Qingyou swept her robe, stepping before Lin Jun and glaring fiercely at the group.

Her heart ached remembering the near-death state her master had been in when saving her, and now seeing him bent under the pressure of these mere ‘Nascent Soul’ cultivators stirred a surge of anger.

Hadn’t her master already become so weak?

Could they not temper their airs just a little?

“Senior Brother, you come here with such fanfare—are you trying to poach my disciple again?” Lin Jun looked up with effort, still weak but unmistakably hostile, recalling past incidents of disciple poaching.

“Uncle Lin! What kind of attitude is that? Our junior sister has formed her Golden Core. Shouldn’t the sect leader and senior uncles come to see her? If you neglect this, will you allow her to be led astray?” The Heavenly Sword Venerable had yet to speak when Lin Qingxuan’s expression darkened, clearly displeased.

“Who’s your junior sister? Speak politely! Don’t sully Ji Qingyou’s reputation!” Ji Qingyou shot a fierce glare at him. She had never liked Lin Qingxuan, but after enduring the nightmare of the heart demon illusion and witnessing her master’s suffering, her loyalty and hatred for him had only deepened.

“You!” Lin Qingxuan’s face flushed with anger as his aura burst forth.

“Enough!” The Heavenly Sword Venerable cut him off coldly, his electrifying gaze falling on Lin Jun with icy detachment.

“Younger Junior Brother, if you can abandon Xuan’er, you show wisdom and understanding. The Grand Princess is exceptionally talented, beyond your teaching. If you are sensible, I will grant you benefits in the future. I hope you will not persist in folly.”

Then he turned to Ji Qingyou, his expression softening into kindness.

“Grand Princess, though your birth is extraordinary, cultivation requires clear eyes to distinguish between mediocre and saintly teachers. Xuan’er has done well in this regard. Do not let a moment’s impulse ruin your future. If you are willing to make the right choice and become my disciple, from today on, your status will match Xuan’er’s.

“You will both be my true heirs and enjoy the privileges of ‘Junior Sect Leader of the Great Dao Sect.’”

Lin Qingxuan’s face soured, displeased but daring not to contest, forcing a strained smile.

“Junior Sister Ji, don’t act on emotion. Listen to me—this Wanfa Peak is no place for you. It would only waste your talents. I hope you, like Senior Brother, will make the correct choice. I believe Uncle Lin will understand as well, won’t you, Uncle Lin?” He glanced mockingly at the white-haired Lin Jun.

Lin Jun barely spared him a glance, instead focusing on Ji Qingyou, his heart tightening, fearing that his efforts might be in vain.

Faced with the offer, Ji Qingyou’s pure face reflected a faint disdain, her voice resolute and clear.

“Though I do not know why Master once accepted a heartless wretch like you as a disciple, Ji Qingyou is no dog who leaves after being thrown a bone!”

She then declared to the heavens and earth,

“I, Ji Qingyou, swear never to betray my master! Should I break this oath, may Heaven and Earth punish me!”

The faces of the Heavenly Sword Venerable and others shifted in unison.

“As for you!” Ji Qingyou finished with a cold stare at the dark-faced Lin Qingxuan, “What my master lost by your hand, I, Ji Qingyou, will reclaim sooner or later!”

Lin Jun stood silently beside her, quietly moved. Such a disciple was worth all the effort.

He smiled gently, while the others wore sour expressions.

“Hmph, incorrigible!”

“Let’s go!” The Heavenly Sword Venerable swept his sleeve sharply and led the group away.

“Ji Qingyou, I hope you will not regret this someday!” Lin Qingxuan turned back, his eyes filled with deep venomous hatred.

Ji Qingyou only sneered coldly. Lin Qingxuan had no idea what he had truly lost.

Watching Ji Qingyou, Lin Jun revealed a trace of comfort.

“Master, how are you feeling?” Ji Qingyou turned back, eyes full of concern.

Supported by her, Lin Jun nodded faintly.

“I am fine. I wanted to tell you—the ancient secret realm, the Ten Thousand Insect Nest, has opened. Here is the participation token. Take it and go with Ye Zhetian to join the event.”

Lin Jun said nothing of her being the reincarnation of the Empress, only handing over the previously concealed token.

“As you command!” Upon receiving the token, Ji Qingyou’s expression turned serious, respectfully accepting it.

If anyone else witnessed this scene, they would be astonished.

She truly regarded Lin Jun as her master.

“Hmm, go find Ye Zhetian,” Lin Jun smiled with relief, patting her shoulder with difficulty.

He had a system; as long as the disciple’s disposition was good, origins and other matters were not so important.

In the peak master’s hall, Lin Jun struggled to sit cross-legged, sensing his body. His eyes revealed helplessness, then transformed into a sigh after a long moment.

“Alas, this time I overexerted my lifespan. Although Ji Qingyou’s breakthrough replenished some of it, my primordial source has been damaged. It seems I have reached the limit of my lifespan in this life…”

“Only by breaking this limit can the lifespan gained from future breakthroughs take effect and allow me to continue living…”

“But how to break this limit? When I just destroyed those quasi-emperor illusions, I seemed to have reached the Great Emperor realm. This lifespan limit is tied to that realm, and breaking it won’t be easy…”

Lin Jun felt his frailty and smiled bitterly.

“If in the future I break through the Great Emperor realm, but now I die before then, will my future self be infuriated to death...?”

He mused wryly, sensing as if something was watching him, but upon careful perception, found nothing.

“I wonder if the ‘Immortal Demon Body Scripture’ the system gave me has a solution. Otherwise, the late emperor’s cause is only half-accomplished before it collapses prematurely...”

Lin Jun thought, slowly opening the Immortal Demon Body Scripture rewarded earlier.

This demonic scripture resembled a black cube, emanating a divine and demonic aura, glowing softly in his hand.