Chapter Nine: Teaching the Disciple

Meanwhile, deep within the vast cosmos, several ancient beings simultaneously opened their eyes, their expressions filled with shock. They inexplicably felt as though thousands of years had been stripped from their lifespans. For beings who had long been on the cusp of emperorhood, this was utterly unfathomable.

They had been invincible across this starry expanse—how could anyone silently and stealthily erase thousands of years from their lives? What was even more terrifying was that, despite their calculations of past, present, and future, they found no trace of cause or effect. Yet, deep within, they sensed an inevitable, fatal calamity awaiting them.

"What is happening? Could it be that some ancient great emperor has awakened, or perhaps a venerable being from the higher realms has descended?" one mused.

"I can’t calculate it. I sense someone hidden, but this person has sealed off all celestial secrets. Their power far surpasses ours. We cannot see them, yet the mark of their cause and effect has been imprinted upon us," another replied.

"This person may not even exist in the present world but stands rooted in the future," a third speculated.

"Are you saying that a great emperor will still emerge in our starry expanse in the future?"

"Impossible! Who could be the enemy of Heaven itself?"

"In any case, the great calamity is upon us. We must prepare to face it..."

Several wills on the verge of emperorhood communicated across space. Their immense power swept over one world after another, but they found no trace to justify their unease.

After a time, a few peak near-emperors gave up and fell silent. Yet fate had decreed that this starry expanse would never again know peace.

At the same moment, within the sect leader’s hall of the Dao Sect, Lin Qingxuan stood by attentively. The Sword Sovereign assembled the various peak masters to announce an important matter.

The Sword Sovereign glanced around. “After much thought, I still believe it was a grave mistake for the royal princess to take Lin Jun as her master. Although Ji Qingyou lacks a unique constitution, her talent is extraordinary, and as the grand princess of the Yan royal family, her background is far from ordinary. Lin Jun is but a mere mortal. Entrusting her to him could mislead her and bring trouble upon us should the Yan royal family ever come calling.”

“But the ancestral laws cannot be broken. Is there any way to allow Ji Qingyou to voluntarily leave the Myriad Laws Peak and make the wisest, most correct choice?”

The master of the Herbal Peak, Ouyang Shan, who sported a few strands of mountain goat-like beard, spoke up. Now in the mid-stage of Nascent Soul, his eyes gleamed with insight.

“In my opinion, there are only two reasons the grand princess chose to join our Dao Sect and take the junior brother as her master. First, our Dao Sect was founded atop Spirit Mountain, where the spiritual energy is far more abundant than in the Yan royal family—that is one reason for her choice.”

“Secondly, as the eldest princess, Ji Qingyou’s proud nature, combined with her exquisite beauty and remarkable talent, makes her reluctant to be under anyone’s control. Thus, choosing Lin Jun as her master is a way to avoid being dominated.”

“After all, she has the Yan royal family’s cultivation methods to support her. Whether she studies our Dao Sect’s techniques or not matters little. For her, taking my junior brother as master is the best choice.”

Seeing the Sword Sovereign’s somber expression, Ouyang Shan quickly added, “But to resolve this matter is not impossible. If we can discern the true needs of the grand princess and offer her what she seeks, I believe she is no fool and will make the right decision.”

“Quite right,” the Sword Sovereign nodded thoughtfully.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar shattered the calm outside. A golden light shot skyward from the direction of Myriad Laws Peak, stirring winds and clouds. Countless streams of spiritual energy converged upon the peak.

“Is that… the aura of a Golden Core? Has someone on Myriad Laws Peak formed their Golden Core?” The master of Symbol Spirit Peak leapt to his feet, eyes wide with astonishment.

“Ji Qingyou? She just joined our Dao Sect yesterday and already formed her Golden Core? Hahaha! Heaven blesses our Dao Sect!” The Sword Sovereign rose, laughing heartily.

Watching the radiant golden light soaring into the heavens, Lin Qingxuan’s eyes flashed with jealousy. Those who had not yet reached that stage could not comprehend its difficulty. Even with his awakened Immaculate Sword Body, he still needed at least half a month.

“Congratulations, Sect Leader! Congratulations! Our Dao Sect truly lives up to its reputation as a three-star great sect, enabling the grand princess to breakthrough to Golden Core in a single day!”

“In the future, with many Golden Core disciples under your leadership, how could our Dao Sect not flourish?”

Ouyang Shan subtly flattered, easing Lin Qingxuan’s expression.

Indeed, the difference was at most half a month, and with his Immaculate Sword Body, even if Ji Qingyou became the sect leader’s disciple, she could never surpass him. There was no need to rush.

“Let’s go! To Myriad Laws Peak! Such an extraordinary talent must not be wasted by Lin Jun!” The Sword Sovereign swept his sleeves and led the group flying toward Myriad Laws Peak.

At the same time, Ji Qingyou watched in awe as the perfect golden light surged from within her, soaring toward the sky. Feeling her power shifting from scattered cultivation to formal technique, her progress felt like being shot from a rocket, completing the Golden Core formation in an instant—and the legendary flawless Golden Core at that.

Though she had just stopped her previous cultivation, gaining double the efficiency now, could she truly form the Golden Core in a single breath? And it was the most perfect, immaculate Golden Core?

What kind of cultivation method had her master given her?

Ji Qingyou was overwhelmed with astonishment but refused to waste this rare opportunity. She worked tirelessly to stabilize her Golden Core.

At that moment, she looked down at Lin Jun, lying on the ground, barely conscious but with a contented gaze. Her heart trembled, a large tear falling.

She felt deeply sorry for her master.

Perhaps he was a hidden near-emperor who had grown weary of the world’s intrigues and chosen to live as a mortal in seclusion. Yet because of her, he had been dragged into this inexplicable predicament.

Those besieging her were several near-emperors. Even in her previous life, she had met a tragic end, her Dao shattering and body perishing.

But now, her master had single-handedly annihilated the near-emperor phantasms that had long tormented her.

Though it seemed simple, no one knew the immense price her master had paid.

Thus, faced with the inheritance her master offered, regardless of the cultivation method, she resolutely abandoned her scattered cultivation and began anew.

Unexpectedly, the method was not merely similar to her own near-emperor technique—it was, in fact, a grand emperor’s immortal scripture.

Could her master, whom she had thought a mere mortal, actually be a concealed peak near-emperor?

This thought stirred both gratitude and joy within Ji Qingyou. Grateful because he was so powerful and devoted to her as a new disciple; joyful because if he truly was a peak near-emperor, perhaps he need not have died.

[Beep! Detection: Disciple Ji Qingyou has formed Golden Core; tenfold cultivation return initiated...]

[Beep beep! Detection: Host lifespan deficit of 525 years; priority deduction applied to cultivation return, converted to lifespan...]

[Beep! Congratulations, host! Lifespan deficit neutralized; lifespan increased by 13 years.]

[Beep! Congratulations on completing disciple rescue and rectification mission; reward: Divine Demon Immortal Body Scripture granted.]

[Beep! Reward credited.]

Listening to the system’s voice, Lin Jun suddenly felt a surge of special vitality enter his body, bringing a revival akin to spring returning to withered wood. Yet, the prior losses were too great, and the lifespan issues had left his hair white and body frail—still resembling an ancient, withered elder.

“Master!” Seeing Lin Jun struggling to rise, Ji Qingyou hurried to support him. Tears streamed down her face as guilt overwhelmed her.

“It’s all because of me that Master is in this state…”

“I’m fine,” the aged Lin Jun smiled faintly, his voice hoarse and unpleasant. He shook his head helplessly. The price paid to save his disciple had been enormous, but given another chance, he would do it again. He demanded loyalty and affection from his disciples, yet was he not the same?

“Master, I will help you recover, no matter the cost!” Ji Qingyou vowed tearfully.

At that moment, a proud voice sounded from outside.

“The Sect Leader has arrived! Uncle Lin, hurry to greet him!”