Gu Yunyun reflected on her life. Since being discovered by her master and brought to the mountain, she had been training with her sword. Her occasional descents from the mountain were only to slay enemies with her blade. That was until Ye Chen arrived; thinking she had taken on a disciple, she felt responsible to care for him. Only then did her life begin to change...

Suddenly...

"Knock, knock, knock..."

The sound of knocking arose, accompanied by a voice clearly filled with eagerness and anticipation.

"Master, I'm back. Your disciple has come to show his filial piety!"

Gu Yunyun's reminiscing was interrupted, and a slight smile involuntarily appeared on her somewhat confused face. However, she quickly composed herself.

Ye Chen was back...

She rose leisurely, causing water to splash everywhere. The red dress at her side twirled around Gu Yunyun a few times before wrapping around her gracefully.

After making herself presentable, Gu Yunyun finally opened the door. Her expression was cold and somewhat stern as she looked at the entering Ye Chen: "Why have you returned again? What's the reason this time?"

Ye Chen was unfazed by his master's cool demeanor. He closed the door behind him and replied with a smile, "Master, I was assisting a direct disciple of the Divine Will Sect with a task, and in the ruins, there was a Golden Core demonic beast causing trouble. Since there's not much else happening, Magic Peak Master gave me some time off."

Gu Yunyun observed Ye Chen's cultivation level and raised an eyebrow slightly. Although she had received news from the base two weeks ago that Ye Chen had advanced to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, seeing it in person still seemed somewhat incredible to her.

Ye Chen's rate of advancement was astoundingly fast. Gu Yunyun had long realized her disciple was extraordinary. Possessing at least a second-grade peak level in alchemy, he was probably better than the Pill Peak Master of their sect.

Moreover, Ye Chen's combat ability was exceptionally strong. He had easily broken through the stages of Foundation Establishment. And in just over two years, he had reached the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. Such feats were simply not possible for someone with a third-grade spiritual root. Ye Chen surely harbored countless secrets.

However, Gu Yunyun was not inclined to delve into these. As his master, she naturally wanted him to be as strong as possible.

Yet, seeing Ye Chen's rapid advancements, she felt a stir of panic within. If this continued, wouldn't Ye Chen surpass her in cultivation? At that time, how could she maintain her authority as a master in front of Ye Chen? Thus, she must hasten her breakthrough to the Golden Core stage.

After listening to his explanation, Gu Yunyun nodded, "If that's the case, you should go back and rest early!"

Hearing the master's dismissal, Ye Chen didn't move but instead took out a pill bottle, "Master, this is a gift I prepared for you..."

Gu Yunyun felt helpless. She knew that when Ye Chen came to see her, he would surely bring some painstakingly crafted top-grade elixir as a gift.

Gu Yunyun calmly nodded, "Alright, I'll accept it!"

Gu Yunyun wouldn't just take without giving back. Over the years, she had actually saved a substantial amount of spirit stones. After all, the sect treated her as the next sect leader, providing her with everything she needed promptly. She had no need to spend spirit stones. It was not reasonable for a master to constantly receive gifts from her disciple.

Stolen story; please report.

Gu Yunyun decided that once she achieved her breakthrough to the Golden Core stage, she would use the spirit stones she had saved over the years to purchase a gift for Ye Chen.

Gu Yunyun casually intended to accept the gift without much consideration.

Ye Chen quickly spoke up, "Master, this gift was snatched from a direct disciple of the Divine Will Sect. In the depths of the Boundless Demon Sect ruins, there grows a Blood Sea Lotus whose seeds can enhance a cultivator's spiritual root. The direct disciples of the Divine Will Sect were after this.

"The journey there was truly perilous, especially in the Bewildering Forest where cultivators can get lost. I saw you there... well... it was really dangerous, and I nearly didn't make it out. Those direct disciples of the Divine Will Sect aren't good people either...

"After using me, they turned against me! When the Golden Core Earthheart Python appeared, these scoundrels even tried to divert disaster towards me. Fortunately, I was clever enough to beat them half to death, fed them to the Earthheart Python to calm it down, and it descended the mountain...

"In the end, I obtained this Blood Sea Lotus Seed... but this isn't just any Blood Sea Lotus Seed, it's a Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed. It appears the Boundless Demon Sect wanted to create a mutated variety before they were destroyed, and ultimately, it fell into my hands."

"Master, this Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed could potentially elevate an imagined spiritual root to an Earth-grade. Master, you should take it quickly. Enhancing your spiritual root will increase your chances of advancing to the Golden Core stage."

Ye Chen described the dangers along the way, making sure his master understood the value of the Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed.

In this world of cultivation, there were only a few people Ye Chen trusted: his master and Yao Xi. In front of these two, there was little Ye Chen felt the need to hide.

Hearing this, Gu Yunyun's hand, originally about to casually accept the gift, stiffened.

A Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed? A treasure that could enhance a cultivator's spiritual root?

In the world of cultivation, any item capable of enhancing spiritual roots was exceedingly precious. And one that could elevate to an Earth spiritual root was even rarer. If word got out, even Nascent Soul cultivators might not sit still, eager to seize it.

After all, an Earth spiritual root is nearly synonymous with the Golden Core stage, greatly increasing the likelihood of advancing to the Nascent Soul stage. Who wouldn't be tempted by a treasure that could create such a genius?

Normally, any cultivator who obtained such a treasure would use it in secret immediately, fearful of leaking even a hint of information.

Yet, after acquiring the treasure, Ye Chen hesitated not a moment before running to her, wanting to give it to her to help increase her chances of forming a Golden Core?

At this moment, the facade of indifference on Gu Yunyun's face began to crack. The expression in her beautiful eyes was immensely complex at that moment.

Upon reflection, Gu Yunyun felt she indeed cared deeply for Ye Chen. If there was a treasure that could enhance spiritual roots, she would willingly give it to her disciple. But a treasure that could elevate to an Earth spiritual root?

Gu Yunyun wasn't sure she could bring herself to give such an item to Ye Chen. Yet why was Ye Chen so willing to give it to her?

At the same time, Ye Chen also hesitated not at all to reveal that he had killed a direct disciple of the Divine Will Sect. The status of a direct disciple from the Divine Will Sect was extremely high. If the news got out, it would inevitably lead to Golden Core elders pursuing Ye Chen relentlessly. Yet, he had still chosen to tell her without reservation. Moreover, Ye Chen mentioned that he saw her in the Bewildering Forest.

Gu Yunyun knew that within the Bewildering Forest, one would see their most coveted desires, causing cultivators to lose themselves. Yet, what Ye Chen saw was her.

Gu Yunyun silently lowered her head...

...

Willing to give away the Blood Sea Golden Lotus Seed. Daring to confess to killing a direct disciple of the Divine Will Sect. Even seeing her in the Bewildering Forest.

Ye Chen, can you still claim your filial piety is pure?

Gu Yunyun threw the pill bottle back to Ye Chen: "I can break through to the Golden Core without it. You're just a third-grade spiritual root, keep it for yourself."

Ye Chen quickly caught it, his face breaking into a tender smile: "Master, stop joking. A third-grade spiritual root using this could at best advance to ninth-grade or become an attribute spiritual root! Using this treasure on me would be a waste.

"Of course, it should be you who uses it, Master. If you attain an Earth spiritual root and one day break through to the Nascent Soul stage, then I would be the disciple of a Nascent Soul.

"Golden Core cultivators would have to make way for me on the road. I'd be showered with various treasures, directly boosting me to the Golden Core stage! This is far more useful than me enhancing my spiritual root and struggling to break through to the Golden Core stage on my own!

"But Master, you absolutely cannot take on any other disciples! Master, why don't you make a heavenly oath, promising I'll be your only disciple for life..."

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