The Master Who Loved the New and Loathed the Old

The north wind swept across the towering ice crystal walls of Fei City, refracting tiny fragments of rainbow light.

As the largest city in the northern part of the Northern Ao Continent, Fei City, a place where people gather, was preserved intact despite the onslaught of the Evil Tide. Even through the city walls, one could see wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys, which was truly astonishing.

You Su looked up at the flowing rune array on the city gate. Each rune was like a silver thread formed from moonlight, enveloping the entire city in a clear barrier.

You Su ran his fingertips across the city wall, observing that the array patterns, like extremely light fabric, indented with his touch, yet revealed a peculiar resilience. He couldn't help but ask in surprise:

"This is... the protective formation of Fei City?"

He had seen the defensive formations of Qilian City, so he was even more astonished by the vast difference between the two cities. While such resource allocation was reasonable, it was not entirely justifiable.

Ganlong Venerable's bright eyes flashed, then he shook his head. "It's the overlapping of the Rainbow Silk Thousand Threads Formation and the city-protecting array that created this effect."

Upon hearing the name "Ni Chang, "You Su naturally thought of Qian Qianhua Pavilion and the woman behind it.

"The Rainbow Silk Thousand Threads Formation of Rainbow Robes was set up by Qianhua Venerable?"

"There was once a Qianhua Venerable who was an exceptionally talented Formation Technique, but she was not good at tailoring. People thought she was not suitable to take over the title of Qianhua Venerable, but she proved them all wrong with her actions."

"The exorbitant profits of the Qianhua Pavilion have always attracted the envy of many, and the Rainbow Silk Thousand Threads Formation is the culmination of her life's Heart's Blood, protecting the Qianhua Pavilion headquarters in Jinhua City from attacks large and small to this day. The performance of the Rainbow Silk Thousand Threads Formation has also led many well-known array cultivators to praise it as the best 'garment' Qianhua Pavilion has ever made. Because it is not only gorgeous, but also an indestructible armor."

Ganlong Venerable did not hesitate to give his approval to the Rainbow Silk Thousand Threads Formation.

After hearing the legendary origins of the Rainbow Silk Thousand Threads Formation, You Su didn't immediately sigh with admiration. Instead, she thought of the Third Elder who always threatened to demolish the Qianhua Pavilion. Now it seemed that it wasn't that the Third Elder only liked to talk, but that she really could only talk.

"If only I had ten thousand mansions, I could shelter all the poor scholars of the world and make them smile with joy!" You Su blurted out. "If every city used this Rainbow Silk Thousand Threads Formation, wouldn't everyone's livelihood be guaranteed?"

Upon hearing this, a glint of light flashed in the woman's eyes. She looked at the young man in astonishment, never expecting that You Su's vision was so lofty—he not only wanted everyone in the world to survive, but also wanted them to live well!

This magnanimous spirit of enduring hunger and thirst is far more captivating than the handsome face of a young man, especially for a powerful woman who has dedicated herself to the nation yet has no confidants.

Seemingly realizing that her intense gaze made her somewhat uncomfortable, the woman quickly turned her gaze away and looked towards the city wall:

"The reason this formation is so difficult to break is not only because it is powerful, but also because no one knows why it is powerful. Once something powerful is known to everyone, it is no longer so powerful. In order to prevent outsiders from breaking the formation, the formation manual of the Rainbow Silk Thousand Threads Formation has always been a closely guarded secret of the Qianhua Pavilion."

After saying that, the woman sighed deeply again, "Moreover, the fundamental reason why the Rainbow Silk Thousand Threads Formation cannot be popularized is because it is too expensive. Even the wealthy and powerful Qianhua Pavilion is said to not use this array continuously."

You Su nodded slightly upon hearing this, but he also picked up on the underlying meaning.

He didn't know if this woman had the ability to create Formation Technique as powerful as the Rainbow Silk Thousand Threads Formation, but he guessed that she must have had similar thoughts, otherwise she wouldn't have been so emotional. Unfortunately, her ideas were constrained by the barrenness of the Northern Ao Continent's foundation and could not be implemented.

This kind of case, where one's circumstances prevent them from fully realizing their ambitions, is unlikely to be unique to women. Other ambitious individuals would probably have given up on their ideals long ago due to this profound sense of powerlessness. However, she persevered and faced the difficulties head-on, determined to solve the problem of poverty in the Northern Ao Continent from its root, which led to the "Sea Well to soil" plan that most people would not even dare to think of.

Now that this plan has been manipulated and altered in this way by someone with ulterior motives, You Su felt both hateful and pathetic, but also respectable and pitiful towards this woman.

Just then, the cold, majestic city walls suddenly burst open.

A woman dressed in casual clothes and with a dignified appearance walked at the head of the well-trained team, her eyes brimming with barely suppressed joy. She was none other than City Lord Nalan of Fei City.

Upon seeing Ganlong Venerable, the woman immediately shook the snow off her sleeves as if to perform a grand salute, but Ganlong Venerable quickly helped her up.

This time, however, Ganlong Venerable personally helped the other person up.

You Su realized that the Rainbow Silk Thousand Threads Formation had loosened at some point, so he quickly stepped inside. He followed the instructions of Ganlong Venerable, showing only his eyes and half of his nose.

City Lord Nalan was extremely enthusiastic. From their brief exchange, it was clear that the two were not only acquaintances but also close friends, and their relationship was far more than just that of a superior and subordinate.

You Su had heard about City Lord Nalan from the Archimedes Venerable before. It was not surprising that such a down-to-earth female city lord, who was dedicated to developing the city, could have a good personal relationship with this woman who was obsessed with revitalizing Bei'ao.

Faced with City Lord Nalan's pleasantries, Ganlong Venerable couldn't manage a smile. And when confronted with the other party's various questions about the origins of the Evil Tide, the situation at the sacred mountain, and so on, Ganlong Venerable could only helplessly turn and ask:

"Is Qianhua Venerable in the city?"

City Lord Nalan quickly explained, "She is here... Qianhua Venerable was of great help in ensuring the safety of Fei City. She has been very tired lately, which is why she is resting at her residence and unable to greet you in person. To express her apology, she has specially prepared an elegant room in the Qianhua Pavilion to entertain Sovereign Lord."

Her haste to explain stemmed from her concern that the Northern Sovereign Lord of Ao might be angered by the absence of the visiting Qianhua Venerable. After all, in terms of both cultivation and status, Qianhua Venerable had to address Ganlong Venerable as "senior."

In fact, the moment she sensed the arrival of the Sovereign Lord, she sent someone to invite Qianhua Venerable to welcome him together. However, the Pavilion Master of the Qianhua Pavilion said that she had important matters to attend to and only replied that she would bring the Sovereign Lord and the young man she was with to the Qianhua Pavilion for entertainment.

But City Lord Nalan wasn't stupid. Who in the Northern Ao Continent could compare to the Sovereign Lord in status? By saying this, the Sovereign Lord became an extra; the one she truly wanted to invite was clearly that young man.

While carefully observing Ganlong Venerable's expression, City Lord Nalan also caught a glimpse of the young man following behind her.

Although her full face wasn't visible, she vividly remembered the aura that even this attire couldn't conceal, and couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine.

No wonder they specifically requested to invite him; isn't he the young man who served as a guest of the Qianhua Pavilion for two days and managed to leave unscathed...?

But who exactly is he? This is the first time I've ever seen the Sovereign Lord accompanied by a man...

"It's alright... Qianhua Venerable has rendered meritorious service in protecting Fei City, and I should personally come to express my gratitude."

With a flick of his long sleeves, Ganlong Venerable stepped into the city, but secretly sent a message to You Su:

"Stay behind me and ignore that woman."

A subtle fragrance wafted through the elegant rooms of the Qianhua Pavilion. You Su froze on the spot as soon as she stepped into the main hall.

The twelve mica screens are embroidered with a map of the Northern Ao Continent, while the woman who is sketching the snow line is facing away from them, her earrings hanging from her dark hair making a soft sound.

"The Ganlong Venerable at my humble abode brings great honor to my Qianhua Pavilion."

When she reached the door, Qianhua Venerable turned around gracefully. She had a faint smile on her face and was still wearing her signature gold-rimmed glasses, which made her look intellectual and elegant, while also giving her a unique sharpness.

However, Ganlong Venerable's gaze was not limited to Qianhua Venerable's glasses, but rather he noticed the pearl-studded garter belt peeking out from the slit of the other's Black Gold Qipao.

The precious Snow Silkworm Silk of my Northern Ao Continent was used by her to make these shameless thin stockings, and then she made a fortune off of them in my Northern Ao Continent...

"I would also like to return those words to Qianhua Venerable. Over the years, the Northern Ao Continent has indeed gained more splendor because of the Qianhua Pavilion. Wasn't the last time I visited your esteemed pavilion the day it opened? It is indeed much more magnificent now; I almost thought I was in the Central Continent."

As he spoke, Ganlong Venerable stepped half a step to block You Su, his skirt trailing frost on the warm jade floor tiles.

"Sovereign Lord 're too kind, Your Sovereign Lord. Business is all about mutual benefit. If it weren't for Your Sovereign Lord's invitation back then, I wouldn't have known how many opportunities Qianhua Pavilion had wasted over the years. I've always wanted to find an opportunity to invite Your Excellency to come again to express my gratitude in person, but I've never been able to find a time when Your Sovereign Lord was free. Now my wish has finally come true. Please, Your Sovereign Lord, have a seat."

The idea that she was constantly looking for opportunities was obviously nonsense, and Qianhua Venerable was quite at ease with the veiled meaning in Ganlong Venerable's words. She believed that she was there to make money, and since she was invited to do so, no matter how much she earned, he couldn't say anything.

Of course, Ganlong Venerable didn't say anything.

You Su secretly wiped away a bead of sweat, thinking to himself that these two must be exhausted from talking.

Despite hiding behind Ganlong Venerable, he couldn't help but make eye contact with the Little Dog Qianhua. Or rather, the woman wasn't looking at Sovereign Lord Bei'ao at all, but was staring at him the whole time.

You Su dared not respond to those alluring glances. The master-servant relationship with Qianhua Venerable was an unspeakable secret for both of them.

But this woman already had a reputation for being promiscuous, so she could flirt with him without restraint, while he had no reason to do so.

The other person's almost mocking gaze clearly showed they knew this, yet they still deliberately wanted to toy with him.

To avoid giving himself away, You Su had no choice but to cover his left eye, which he could still see, and pretend to rub it, hoping to avoid seeing it altogether.

Suddenly, he felt a cold touch on his wrist; it turned out that Ganlong Venerable had grabbed his hand.

"Sit next to me."

You Su was somewhat surprised, thinking he would be treated as her personal attendant and stand behind her the whole time. But the other two women at the table were even more surprised than him, their eyes filled with suppressed disbelief.

"This young master is..." Qianhua Venerable did not hide her intense interest, after all, this was the persona she had always cultivated.

"My disciples who have been sent out to gain experience are also witnesses," Ganlong Venerable answered with certainty.

Her decision to temporarily conceal You Su's identity was a calculated move. She was unaware of You Su's relationship with the Pavilion Master of the Qianhua Pavilion, and this was a crucial time for her to gain support, so she certainly dared not easily reveal that she had a wanted criminal by her side.

It's not uncommon for powerful immortals to secretly take in disciples without making a fuss. When introducing such disciples, they usually say they're sent out for training, and others will understand without asking further questions. By giving You Su this identity, she can avoid many questions about his background, just as the Archimedes Venerable did when introducing You Su.

But therein lies the problem: City Lord Nalan was confused – whose disciple was he, really?

"Witness? What witness?"

While asking questions, Qianhua Venerable played with the gilded tea spoon, stirring the emerald green tea into ripples.

"This spring snail tea was specially brought from the Central Yuan Continent. Your Sovereign Lord and City Lord, please have a taste."

After speaking, she lightly raised her jade arm, and the celadon teacup floated towards Ganlong Venerable and City Lord Nalan.

Ganlong Venerable accepted the precious teacup from the south, he couldn't help but think of the people of Bei'ao who were suffering terribly. A wave of bitterness washed over him, and he had no interest in sipping tea whatsoever.

You Su lowered her eyes and stared at the empty cup on her desk when she suddenly felt a ribbon wrap around her wrist. The Snow Silkworm Silk that slipped out from Qianhua Venerable's sleeve shimmered with a pearly luster, the end of which was wrapped around a cup of amber-colored tea. The rich fragrance of plum blossoms mixed with the unique herbal scent emanating from her body wafted over her.

"Spring snail tea is warming, but I see your rosy complexion, young master, makes you more suited to cold tea. This cup of yours was brewed with snow water infused with the essence of a hundred winter plum blossoms." She raised an eyebrow slightly, her ribbon lightly brushing against the young man's wrist. "You must savor it."

You Su felt a slight shiver run down her neck. She thought to herself that if she had met this woman for the first time, she would probably have been completely captivated by her special treatment. No wonder so many men were willing to go through fire and water for her.

The fingertips of the Ganlong Venerable gripping the teacup suddenly turned white, and ice crystals condensed into dragon patterns at the bottom of the cup. She hadn't expected that in her brief moment of distraction, this harlot would have seduced one of her men!

She slammed the teacup down, and the invisible chill instantly dispelled the warm fragrance that filled the room. "Since we're discussing business, we should start with the important matters."

City Lord Nalan choked on the tea he had just sipped, looking innocently at the venerable Sovereign Lord face was frosty. You Su, on the other hand, felt like crying; he was genuinely thirsty! So he added another layer of punishment to Little Dog Qianhua's list.

Qianhua Venerable smiled and put the ribbon back into his sleeve. "What you say is true, Sovereign Lord. However, the tea will not be pleasant once it gets cold. Your disciple has come from afar; a sip of tea will be fine for him."

His words and actions revealed his understanding and empathy.

Ganlong Venerable frowned slightly. In the past, how could she have tolerated Qianhua Venerable acting like this in front of her?

She endured it for two reasons: firstly, Qianhua Venerable, though an outsider, had rendered meritorious service in protecting the city; secondly, she did not want to let go of the powerful assistance of Void Glimpse Venerable, which was of great importance to her.

This shrewd woman initially tested him by not welcoming him proactively. If he got angry, her defense of the city would more than make up for this insignificant mistake. But if he still came to her door, she would guess that he needed her help, and thus become even more self-important.

While she was inwardly cursing, she was also helpless against this wanton woman. But given her nature, how could she, who felt guilty towards You Su, possibly sacrifice his male beauty?

So she could only glance at You Su with a cold gaze, as if to warn her.

City Lord Nalan silently watched the power struggle between the two women, and couldn't help but raise his teacup again, marveling at how extraordinary this young man truly was.

However, You Su was at the center of the vortex, couldn't be a bystander like her. One gaze was burning as he urged her to drink, while the other's eyes were chilling as he told her not to. Hesitantly, he still raised the fragrant cup.

Ganlong Venerable was immediately taken aback, and her heart ached even more. In her view, an even more important reason why she was unwilling to use You Su to curry favor was that she already regarded You Su as her comrade.

How could such a noble and compassionate man, who cares so deeply for the people, be handed over to a scheming woman? Nor should he be seduced by her beauty and charm...

Could it be that even You Su couldn't resist her in the end...?

Seeing You Su about to put the cup to her mouth, Qianhua Venerable smiled contentedly. She considered herself arrogant, so she didn't have much respect for Ganlong Venerable, who had invited her to do business in Bei'ao and had been bossing her around.

From the moment she entered, she sensed that this woman was protecting You Su, and that this woman must have something to ask of her. So she could use You Su to dampen the arrogance of this Sovereign Lord.

After all, in business, everyone wants to maintain control. Especially since You Su chose to side with her, which genuinely warmed her heart. However, just as she was pondering how to reward this 'master' afterward—

With a clang, the teacup in You Su's hand fell onto the table.

"It's so hot! Oh no... it's so cold!"

The fingers beneath the wide sleeves of the Ganlong Venerable immediately relaxed, and the innocent and pure appearance of the young man was reflected in her eyes. Despite the internal and external troubles, she could not suppress a surge of wild joy.

"How could you be so careless? You have failed Qianhua Venerable's good intentions." Ganlong Venerable feigned reproach, then apologized, "Please forgive us, Venerable. We people of the Northern Ao Continent do not have the habit of appreciating tea."

"It's alright, I was just being unreasonable."

Qianhua Venerable covered his lips and chuckled softly. His ribbon, like a nimble snake, swept away the spilled tea, perfectly concealing the hint of jealousy in his eyes.

My master... really is fickle...