Strength Soars, Qiong Xiao's Gratitude

In the cave, the brilliant Dao rhythm that enveloped Qiong Xiao's body slowly retracted into her, like a tired bird returning to its nest.

A moment later, Qiong Xiao's tightly closed eyes slowly opened.

Buzz!

As if two bolts of lightning, imbued with infinite mystery, flashed and vanished in the cave.

Her aura was still that of a Mid Golden Immortal, unchanged in the slightest.

Yet, her entire demeanor had undergone a world-shattering transformation.

If the previous Qiong Xiao was a sharp, chilling immortal sword, then the current her was like a warm, restrained piece of ancient jade, holding myriad wonders within.

All her sharpness and edge had been replaced by a deeper, more ethereal Dao rhythm.

She sat there quietly, as if she had merged with the entire world, naturally yet incomparably profound.

Qiong Xiao did not immediately sense her soaring mastery of formations, nor did she dwell on the supreme wonder of her enlightenment.

The moment her eyes opened, her gaze locked onto the man on the stone platform, his expression indifferent.

Awe?

No, that was no longer enough to describe her feelings at that moment.

It was... fanaticism!

It was the ultimate fanaticism and worship of a mortal looking up at a god, a believer bowing to the truth!

What kind of existence was this Master?

With a wave of his hand, he repaired her Dao Foundation and reshaped her roots.

With a single thought, he increased her cultivation and broke through her bottlenecks.

A casual pointer from him contained the supreme principles of the Great Dao, allowing her to achieve enlightenment in the Way of Formations, which had troubled her for a million years, and directly reach its origin!

This was no longer describable by the word "powerful."

This was creation! This was genesis!

Compared to the effortless gifts bestowed by the Master, the methods of a Sage were like a firefly compared to the bright moon!

All of Qiong Xiao's pride and reserve were washed away at this moment.

To be a maidservant to such a supreme being, was it the blessing of several lifetimes? No, it was a supreme opportunity earned by burning the luck of thousands of lifetimes!

What Intercepting Sect's Sanxiao Fairy, what Sage's direct disciple—these identities that she had previously prided herself on were like dust before the title of "Lin Feng's maidservant," utterly insignificant!

Qiong Xiao took a deep breath, suppressing the tsunami of emotions within her heart, and made a move that would shock all beings in the Primordial World.

She did not stand up. Instead, from her seated position, she solemnly and slowly bowed her body towards Lin Feng.

Her forehead, elbows, and knees all touched the ground.

A full prostration!

In the Primordial World, this was the highest form of obeisance, reserved only for facing the Dao Ancestor or the supreme being who created oneself!

"Qiong Xiao will never forget Master's grace in remaking me! From now on, on the long immortal path, Qiong Xiao is willing to serve Master, whip and spur, and die ten thousand times without regret!"

Her voice no longer held any shyness or panic, nor was it simple reverence and submission.

It was absolute loyalty, originating from the deepest part of her soul, imprinted upon her true spirit!

The moment Qiong Xiao kowtowed, a system notification sounded in Lin Feng's mind.

[Ding! Maidservant Qiong Xiao's Dao Heart has sublimated, and her loyalty to the Host has increased by leaps and bounds!]

[Current Loyalty: 98 (Unyielding Loyalty)!]

A barely perceptible curve appeared at the corner of Lin Feng's mouth.

Very good.

A loyalty score of ninety-eight meant that from this moment on, even if he asked her to fight a Sage or self-detonate her Primordial Spirit, she would not hesitate in the slightest.

This once aloof and proud Intercepting Sect fairy had been completely branded with his mark, Lin Feng's, from body to soul.

Lin Feng slowly stood up from the stone platform and walked in front of Qiong Xiao. He reached out his hand and gently supported her.

A gentle yet irresistible force gently helped Qiong Xiao to her feet.

Qiong Xiao dared not disobey and stood up, but kept her head lowered, not daring to meet Lin Feng's eyes.

Lin Feng extended two fingers and gently pinched her smooth, jade-like chin, applying a slight force to lift her pretty face, forcing her to meet his gaze.

Their eyes met.

Seeing that her beautiful eyes were now free of any impurities, containing only pure fanaticism and adoration, Lin Feng nodded in satisfaction.

"Very good."

He spoke calmly, his voice still flat, but carrying an undeniable authority.

"From today onwards, you are not only my maidservant, but also my registered disciple."

"I will personally teach you the supreme Way of Formations."

Boom!

These plain words, falling on Qiong Xiao's ears, were no less than billions of chaotic divine thunderclaps exploding at once!

Maidservant...

Registered disciple...

These two identities, like two interwoven streams, the sweetest and most fervent, instantly broke through Qiong Xiao's defenses, leaving her completely dazed.

Maidservant represented that she could forever follow her Master's side, serving him.

Registered disciple meant she had gained her Master's recognition, possessing the qualification to listen to the Great Dao and inherit his legacy!

What immense honor was this?

What supreme favor was this?

One must know, her own master was the high and mighty Sect Master Tongtian!

Yet even a direct disciple of a Sage had never experienced the Supreme Power her Master possessed, the power to overturn heaven and earth with a wave of his hand, and speak the origin of all things with a single word!

To be able to join her Master's tutelage, even as just a registered disciple, held far greater meaning and value than the status of a Sage's disciple!

At this moment, an indescribable sense of immense happiness and honor, like a mountain flood breaking through a dam, instantly engulfed Qiong Xiao.

Her eyes reddened uncontrollably, and a layer of crystal-clear mist quickly spread.

"Disciple... Disciple Qiong Xiao, thanks Master!"

She was so excited that her voice trembled. Her legs went weak, and she was about to kneel again to perform the grand ceremony of apprenticeship.

"No need for such formalities."

Lin Feng's hand did not let go, still cupping her chin, stopping her movement.

He looked at Qiong Xiao's utterly ecstatic appearance, as if she wished to pledge herself to him, and felt no ripple in his heart. He merely thought it was time to proceed to the next step.

Combining grace and might, the carrot had been given; it was time to let her adapt to her new identity.

Lin Feng released his hand and turned towards the cave entrance, his indifferent voice following.

"Go and deal with the corpses of those flies outside."

"Collect everything on them; consider it a congratulatory gift for becoming my registered disciple."

"Clean it up thoroughly. Leave not even a fragment of a Magic Treasure behind."

As his words fell, Lin Feng's figure had already vanished at the cave's mouth.

Inside the cave, only Qiong Xiao remained, still stunned, blankly processing the information Lin Feng had left behind.

Clean up the battlefield?

Inventory the remains?

These tasks, which in the past would have been considered menial labor for the lowest of servants, did not evoke the slightest sense of humiliation in Qiong Xiao when spoken by her Master.

No, quite the opposite.

What surged in her heart was a sense of honor, of being trusted and entrusted with a mission.

This was her Master establishing her identity as a maidservant, having her quickly integrate into her role!

Moreover, those pursuers were all Golden Immortals, even late-stage Golden Immortals!

The Magic Treasures, spirit pills, and materials on them would undoubtedly add up to a considerable fortune.

Her Master was just casually... bestowing it upon her?

Qiong Xiao's heart, once again, began to pound uncontrollably.

That was a fortune that even Grand Unity Golden Immortals would envy!

Yet her Master had given it to her as if it were trash, without a second thought.

Understanding all this, Qiong Xiao no longer hesitated.

She bowed respectfully once more in the direction of the cave entrance.

"Yes, Master! Your disciple accepts the order!"

Before her words even finished, she immediately turned, her footsteps light as she walked out of the cave. Without the slightest complaint or dissatisfaction, she nimbly began to clean up the battlefield.

Her focused and serious demeanor made it seem as if she wasn't doing menial labor, but performing a most sacred ritual.