Inside Li Changsheng's room.
Li Changsheng sat beside the table. Several plates of pastries and two cups of hot tea sat on it. He picked up one cup and slowly savored it. After taking a sip, he said, "Brew some tea."
Just after Li Changsheng spoke, someone suddenly knocked on the door. Seeing this, Li Changsheng called toward the entrance, "Come in."
Ao Shuang pushed open the door and brought Ye Han Yue inside. She said to Li Changsheng, "Sir, I've brought your disciple, Ye Han Yue."
Hearing this, Li Changsheng calmly set down his teacup before saying to Ao Shuang, "You may leave for now. It's been several days since my disciple and I last met."
"Let's have a chat."
Ao Shuang heard Li Changsheng's words but said nothing. Compared to her, Ye Han Yue, his disciple, surely held a higher position in Li Changsheng's heart. Thus, Ao Shuang did not hesitate and replied, "All right, Sir. I'll take my leave first."
With that, Ao Shuang closed the door and left.
After Ao Shuang left, only the master and disciple remained in the room. Seeing this, Ye Han Yue hurriedly bowed respectfully to her master, Li Changsheng. "Greetings, Master."
Seeing his eldest disciple acting so respectfully, Li Changsheng could only shake his head helplessly. There was nothing wrong with this disciple, except that she was too serious. Her personality was also cold, and she had never been able to relax around her master, always treating him with excessive respect. She was nothing like that lively and mischievous girl, Ye Hanxue.
Still, it was not that Hanxue was better than Han Yue. They simply each had their own distinct qualities.
Thinking of this, Li Changsheng helplessly shook his head and said to Ye Han Yue, "You're just too serious."
"I'm your master. You haven't done anything wrong, and I'm not going to hit you. Why are you always so respectful toward me? Think about that girl Hanxue. Isn't she lively?"
"We're not just master and disciple—we're family, too. Since we're family, there's no need to be so formal. Relax a little."
Hearing her master's words, Ye Han Yue said nothing. She merely lowered her head and muttered, "Oh, got it."
Seeing this, Li Changsheng knew that it would not change anytime soon. He would have to take it slowly.
Then, from somewhere, a "gurgle, gurgle" sound rang out.
Li Changsheng followed the source of the sound and saw Ye Han Yue blushing. Embarrassed, she said, "Master, it wasn't me. Really, it wasn't me!"
Seeing this, Li Changsheng smiled and said gently to Ye Han Yue, "It's all right. Let's eat. Come sit down. I prepared hot tea and pastries for you. Have some."
Hearing this, Ye Han Yue was no longer so restrained. She sat down and began eating the pastries.
Li Changsheng simply watched his disciple eat. He handed the other cup of hot tea to her and patted the top of her head. "Slow down, or you'll choke. Have some hot tea to wash it down."
Feeling the large hand on her head, Ye Han Yue took the hot tea Li Changsheng handed her and began drinking.
After finishing the last pastry, Ye Han Yue suddenly burped.
As the burp rang out, Ye Han Yue's face, which had returned to its normal color, began to redden again.
Seeing this, Li Changsheng could not hold back and burst out laughing.
Seeing her master laughing at her, Ye Han Yue blushed and said shyly to Li Changsheng, "Master, stop laughing."
Seeing his disciple's flushed face, Li Changsheng coughed lightly and changed his attitude. He continued speaking to Ye Han Yue, "There, that's more like it."
"Why keep such a cold expression every day? Look, don't you look much better like this?"
Hearing Li Changsheng's words, Ye Han Yue lowered her head, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Seeing this, Li Changsheng continued speaking to Ye Han Yue. "I'm done teasing you. Rest for a while first."
"Your 100,000-Year Soul Ring is within reach."
"Once you've rested enough, we'll begin absorbing the soul ring."
As he spoke, Li Changsheng did not wait for Ye Han Yue to answer. He simply waved his hand, telling her to go rest.
Hearing her master's words, Ye Han Yue did not object. She had endured many hardships aboard the ship over the past few days. On top of that, she had missed her master and had not rested well. Absorbing a soul ring was a serious matter, especially since she was going to absorb a 100,000-Year Soul Ring as her Seventh Soul Ring. She had to be even more careful. Thus, after bidding Li Changsheng farewell, she went to rest in the room Ao Shuang had prepared in advance.
Time passed quickly. Near dusk, inside Li Changsheng's room.
The master and disciple stood in the room. Li Changsheng said to Ye Han Yue, "Are you ready? A 100,000-Year Soul Ring certainly won't be easy to absorb. Besides, most people only absorb a 100,000-Year Soul Ring as their Ninth Soul Ring, whereas you're beginning with one as your Seventh Soul Ring. The pressure won't be small."
"But don't worry. I'm right here beside you."
Hearing this, Ye Han Yue solemnly nodded.
"Master, I'm ready."
Seeing that Ye Han Yue was prepared, Li Changsheng tossed the Soul Beast Inner Pill he had obtained from the treasury toward her.
"Catch."
Ye Han Yue caught the incoming Soul Beast Inner Pill and looked at her master, Li Changsheng, in confusion.
"Master, what is this?"
Facing Ye Han Yue's confusion, Li Changsheng explained:
"This is the inner pill of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast. It contains tremendous energy and is the essence of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast."
"Absorb and refine it directly, and you'll obtain a 100,000-Year Soul Ring."
"By coincidence, I found it by chance in the Sea God Island Treasury."
"You happened to be lacking a 100,000-Year Soul Ring, and I happened to obtain one. What does that tell us?"
"It means it was destined for you."
Hearing her master's words, Ye Han Yue's eyes reddened. This was a 100,000-Year Soul Ring—something that could only be encountered by chance. Moreover, she would not need to risk herself and painstakingly hunt a soul beast to obtain it. She could acquire the soul ring directly. Then she thought of all the things her master had left for them over the years. For a moment, Ye Han Yue suddenly felt like crying.
"Master, you're too good to me. I'll definitely repay you in the future."
Seeing his eldest disciple's reddened eyes, Li Changsheng knew she was overthinking things again. He could only say helplessly, "Hurry up and absorb it. The best repayment you can give me is becoming even stronger."
Hearing this, Ye Han Yue thought to herself.
Yes, I must absorb the 100,000-Year Soul Ring.
I'll work hard to become outstanding. Even if I can't be with Master in the end, I'll stay by his side for the rest of my life and take care of him forever.
Thinking this, Ye Han Yue immediately circulated her cultivation technique and began absorbing the hard-earned Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast Inner Pill.
Because the Soul Beast Inner Pill contained an immense amount of energy, pain appeared on Ye Han Yue's face. Seeing this, Li Changsheng was prepared to interrupt her at any moment.
Li Changsheng could not bear to see this disciple suffer any harm.
However, as time passed, the Soul Beast Inner Pill's glow gradually dimmed, and Ye Han Yue endured the ordeal.
A red 100,000-Year Soul Ring appeared around Ye Han Yue.
After the 100,000-Year Soul Ring completely stabilized, the first person Ye Han Yue saw upon opening her eyes was Li Changsheng. Without thinking, she flew straight toward him and hugged Mr. Li.
"Master, that's wonderful! I succeeded!"
Li Changsheng was stunned when his disciple suddenly hugged him, but he quickly reacted. He patted Ye Han Yue's back and said helplessly, "All right, all right. I know you're excited, but could you get off me first?"
Hearing this, Ye Han Yue realized that she had hugged her master because she was so excited. She hurriedly climbed down from him, her face flushed.
"Master, I..."
Seeing this, Li Changsheng could only point at her helplessly.
"It's all right. Compared to how you were before, I like you much better like this."
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