Chapter 2: The Young Palace Mistress Luo Yingying
Ye Changsheng fell silent.
In a certain world, the foundation of cultivation is body tempering, strengthening the body to make it suitable for absorbing Spiritual Energy and cultivating.
Opening a Spirit Root officially marks the beginning of the cultivation path, with Strength Realms divided into Qi Refining Realm, Foundation Establishment Realm, Golden Core Realm, Nascent Soul, Integration Stage, Soul Transformation Realm, and Void Comprehension Realm.
Each Realm is divided into Nine Stages.
Breaking through the Void Comprehension Realm requires undergoing a Heavenly Tribulation. If one successfully passes the Tribulation, they become a True Immortal. Otherwise, they perish and reincarnate.
Cultivation is inherently a defiance of heaven. The further one progresses, the harder it is to break through bottlenecks. To advance realms, various Sects employ different methods. However, if some Sects deviate from normal ethical conduct, they are considered part of the Demonic Path.
Wuhua Palace is a prominent figure among the Demonic Path. When Inner Disciples of Wuhua Palace reach the bottleneck of the Qi Refining Realm, they can comprehend the sect’s Cultivation Technique, the Flower Transferring Art, and cultivate with a Cultivation Cauldron to reduce their own pressure, making it easier to break through to the next Realm.
One year after Ye Changsheng entered Wuhua Palace, Luo Yingying happened to need to break through from the Qi Refining Realm to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Due to certain circumstances, Luo Yingying designated Ye Changsheng as her exclusive Cultivation Cauldron and began cultivating the Flower Transferring Art.
“Apologies, Young Palace Mistress, the wind was a bit strong just now, I didn’t hear clearly,” Ye Changsheng nervously shifted his gaze away.
“Brother Xiao, where did that wind come from? Are you starting to dislike me?” Luo Yingying pouted, intensifying her approach.
But Ye Changsheng knew, this wasn’t a matter of liking or disliking; it was a matter of whether he’d have the strength to stand tomorrow.
“Young Palace Mistress, have you perhaps increased your strength again?” Ye Changsheng steadied his flustered heart.
“Not yet. I haven’t improved since cultivating the Flower Transferring Art with Brother Xiao the day before yesterday.”
“Then may I be so bold as to ask, Young Palace Mistress, your current Realm?”
“I am currently at the Golden Core Realm, 2nd layer,” Luo Yingying answered truthfully.
At Luo Yingying’s age, the Golden Core Realm was quite formidable. Considering she was only in the Qi Refining Realm two years ago, reaching this level would be difficult without the concentrated resources of an entire Sect.
“Yingying, you are the Young Palace Mistress now,” Ye Changsheng said earnestly.
“…!”
Ye Changsheng rarely addressed Luo Yingying this way, so it naturally surprised her.
“You know, as a Young Palace Mistress, you must set an example. Wuhua Palace has implemented new sect regulations starting last year to protect the rights of Cultivation Cauldrons, prohibiting disciples from randomly or excessively cultivating with them. Cultivation should be reasonable and moderate, once every five days. The last cultivation of the Flower Transferring Art hasn’t even been five days yet.”
This was because in the past, things were too extreme, leading to an accelerated demise of Cultivation Cauldrons, creating a situation where Wuhua Palace had more wolves than sheep, and supply couldn’t meet demand. For sustainable cultivation, this rule was enacted.
“But, but, Brother Xiao…” Luo Yingying said aggrievedly, “If we’re not discovered, isn’t it not a mistake?”
“Even though Wuhua Palace is part of the Demonic Path, it still has its boundaries. Since Yingying isn’t following the rules, is it acceptable for me to disregard the rules and accept cultivation requests from other disciples? If Yingying doesn’t find out.”
“No! Brother Xiao can only be mine!” Luo Yingying shouted excitedly. “I’ll let it go for today. We can cultivate together next time when the appointed time arrives!”
This girl’s possessiveness is quite strong, Ye Changsheng thought to himself. But it’s good, at least he managed to get through it.
Hoo~
Ye Changsheng wiped a bead of sweat from his brow.
Luo Yingying, however, was looking down, lost in thought. As time passed, a suspicious smile reappeared on her previously unhappy face. Ye Changsheng guessed she was thinking of some devious scheme to plot against him again!
“Brother Xiao, what Realm are you at now~”
“Young Palace Mistress, please don’t look at me with that kind of gaze, it’s very suspicious.”
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing, I’m just asking casually,” Luo Yingying said with a smile, patting Ye Changsheng’s shoulder.
“I’m currently at the Foundation Establishment Realm, 3rd layer,” Ye Changsheng revealed his cultivated Realm as part of his undercover persona.
“Brother Xiao, your cultivation progress is so slow.”
“That’s only natural. It can’t compare to Young Palace Mistress. After all, I’m just a mere Cultivation Cauldron.”
“Brother Xiao, don’t be so suggestive. I understand what you mean, your status truly prevents you from cultivating like other Inner Disciples.”
Luo Yingying was right. Inner Disciples had exclusive cultivation areas, and cultivating in places rich with Spiritual Energy would undoubtedly yield twice the results with half the effort. Not to mention the Sect would invest resources like Pills and Magical Artifacts to assist, accelerating their progress even further.
However, Cultivation Cauldrons, whose status was lower than Inner Disciples, rarely received such opportunities. Consequently, many Cultivation Cauldrons would abandon cultivation and pursue pleasure.
“That’s just the truth.”
“So! I know, Brother Xiao, there are some things you desire. As the Young Palace Mistress of Wuhua Palace, I can grant you these things,” Luo Yingying tempted Ye Changsheng.
As a cultivator, he might be tempted. However, Luo Yingying didn’t know that the young man before her was actually an undercover agent who had infiltrated the Sect, solely after the Heartbreak Flower. Other things held little interest for him.
“…Is that all?” Ye Changsheng asked with a show of disinterest.
“It seems Brother Xiao is a bit greedy, not interested in these,” Luo Yingying said, with a rare spark of interest.
“It’s fine, other things are acceptable too, such as other requests, as long as we play a little game of hide-and-seek.”
“Anything else is acceptable?” Ye Changsheng’s eyes lit up.
Although this hide-and-seek game sounded a bit strange, currently within Wuhua Palace, besides being unable to gather information about the Heartbreak Flower, there was a major problem troubling Ye Changsheng.
“Yes, anything is acceptable, including eating me, Luo Yingying~”
Sorry, I’m not interested in that, Ye Changsheng doesn’t like devouring people alive.
“What are the rules of the game?” Ye Changsheng asked curiously.
“I’ll give Brother Xiao five minutes to run. As long as you don’t leave Wuhua Palace, you can go anywhere. If I catch you before the stroke of noon, I win. If I don’t catch you, then Brother Xiao wins. The victor must grant the loser one request, which must be fulfilled within their capabilities.”
“Young Palace Mistress is a Golden Core Realm cultivator, while I am merely at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Although it’s a foregone conclusion, as long as Young Palace Mistress is happy, I will…”
“I’m not playing a game that one-sidedly bullies Brother Xiao! In the hide-and-seek game, I won’t use my hands to catch you, only my feet,” Luo Yingying added.
“As expected of the Young Palace Mistress. With these rules, I have a chance to win. If that’s the case, there’s no reason for me not to accept,” Ye Changsheng responded enthusiastically.
“What request does Brother Xiao have?”
“I’ll keep it for now. If I win, Young Palace Mistress will know then.”
Recalling his master’s set of skills, Ye Changsheng deliberately didn’t say. Would a dignified Young Palace Mistress go back on her word?
“Brother Xiao really likes to play mysterious. By the way, my request is to unlock more of Brother Xiao’s poses,” Luo Yingying said something terrifying with a very innocent expression.
Scared, scared, scared.
“…”
Ye Changsheng felt that he absolutely could not lose.
“Brother Xiao, the hide-and-seek game begins now!”
