Things Had Gotten Awkward

"Really?" Yao Ye looked up at Jia Xingtian, then obediently and sweetly put away the scroll and Storage Ring in front of her. She turned to Zhang Nian and bowed gracefully, her voice sweet as she said, "Your disciple, Yao Ye, thanks you for the gift, Master~"

[ Ding! Detected that you have granted your disciple Yao Ye the High Xuan Tier Flying Dou Technique Wings of the Eagle... Returning...]

[Current return multiplier for Yao Ye: 3000]

[ Ding! Returned the Heaven Tier Intermediate Flying Dou Technique Soaring Nine Heavens]

[ Ding! Detected that you have granted your disciple Yao Ye the wings of a fifth-tier magical beast, the Sun-Scorching Flame Eagle... Returning...]

[Current return multiplier: 3000...]

[ Ding! Returned the wings of a ninth-tier intermediate magical beast, the Profound Heaven Ancient Peng... Returning...]

Looking at the girl in front of him, carefully choosing her own belongings, Zhang Nian did something out of character and reached out to pat Yao Ye on the head. At the time, Yao Ye was only a thirteen-year-old girl. Perhaps it was because of this world that she possessed a maturity beyond her years—a maturity that made one's heart ache.

"All right. I'll have your eldest senior sister arrange two maids for you, and find you a room. When you hear the bell each day, it means it's time for us to eat together, so don't forget. You don't need to worry about formalities here in the sect; just be yourself. Go on."

Zhang Nian then gave Cailin, standing beside him, a look. The latter wore an expression difficult to describe. Perhaps hearing that the Snake-People Tribe's troubles had been resolved had improved her mood. But when she saw Yao Ye, a flash of jealousy and envy passed through her eyes. Her resolve to grow stronger burned all the more fiercely. After all, Ya Fei, Yun Yun, and now Yao Ye, who had joined the sect today, all had long, slender legs that made countless men swoon.

"Come with me..." she said flatly. As a woman herself, Yao Ye naturally sensed the hostility from her master's eldest disciple. She didn't know why, but with her mature disposition, she chose to swallow her annoyance and obediently followed behind. "Thank you, eldest senior sister."

Meanwhile, seeing that Zhang Nian had agreed to take Yao Ye as his disciple, Jia Xingtian had achieved his wish and tactfully left without further bothering them.

Zhang Nian then returned to his private training room. With a flip of his hand, a golden scroll appeared in his palm. It was the Heaven Tier Intermediate Flying Dou Technique he had received through the system's return.

Just from the name, one could sense how powerful this Flying Dou Technique was: Soaring Nine Heavens...

After bringing his body, Qi, and spirit to their peak, he unfurled the scroll. Two golden wings imbued with a sacred, noble aura came into view. They were drawn on the scroll and didn't look particularly special, but the golden radiance spilling beyond the painting gave off an unusual aura.

His palm brushed over the scroll. A golden wisp of energy shot out and entered his brow, vanishing in an instant.

An image of a Kunpeng appeared in his mind. Its colossal form blotted out the sky as it crossed the sea, stirring up waterspouts. Then it transformed into a Peng, and with a beat of its enormous wings, soared straight into the heavens. Golden light radiated from its wings, gilding the boundless sea until the whole world turned gold.

When the vision ended, a line of golden text appeared: When the Peng migrates to the Southern Sea, it beats the water for three thousand li, then rides the whirlwind upward for ninety thousand li.

This Dou Technique required the wings of a ninth-tier flying magical beast as a catalyst before they could be implanted in the body. With a single beat of the wings, one could soar ninety thousand li into the sky, leaving no trace behind in the passage of time or across the clouds and mist.

"Hiss..."

Now that was impressive... The Dou Qi consumption was probably terrifying, too, but it was worth it! At this speed, even using spatial power might not make anyone faster than him. He could be called invincible among those of the same tier. He didn't believe anyone else could be as awesome as him and get their hands on a Heaven Tier Intermediate Flying Dou Technique.

He placed the Profound Heaven Ancient Peng's wings, which the system had returned, on the scroll. As Zhang Nian watched, a golden gleam appeared across it. The wings he had just received slowly sank into the scroll before his eyes. Then the golden wings, patterned with wisps of auspicious clouds, seemed to come alive and detached themselves from the scroll, hovering in the air before him.

He blinked, still marveling. This really was a Heaven Tier Intermediate Dou Technique—the difference between it and that High Xuan Tier Flying Dou Technique was like night and day. He couldn't help feeling a little guilty toward Yao Ye, since she was the one who had brought him this treasure. Well, next time I get something good, I'll definitely give it to Yao Ye.

Anything returned by the system was bound to be top quality. As the golden crest absorbed the ninth-tier magical beast's wings, it had also absorbed every bit of the soul contained within. In other words, the wings of Soaring Nine Heavens were now as docile as a newborn baby.

There was no need to fight the soul or anything like that. But then he remembered—Yao Ye wouldn't have already started cultivating Purple Cloud Wings, would she? Her soul was nowhere near as strong as Xiao Yan's. If she tried to cultivate it now, she would certainly be attacked by the soul of the fifth-tier magical beast, the Purple Cloud Eagle, inside the scroll!

As a flash of light entered his body, the Soaring Nine Heavens wings were fully refined. Zhang Nian jumped to his feet and followed a maid's directions to Yao Ye's room.

"Creak~"

The door swung open. Yao Ye had just taken off her clothes and hadn't had time to put them back on when she saw Zhang Nian rush inside, the door wide open.

"Ah!!"

She hurriedly snatched up the quilt from the bed to cover herself. Though Zhang Nian had lived two lifetimes, he had never seen anything like this. His old face flushed with embarrassment. Yao Ye might not have fully matured yet, but she had everything she should... He raised one hand to cover his eyes, while the other fumbled for the doorknob. Then he said to the room:

"Um... Yao Ye, I came to tell you something important. Let me know when you're ready. Don't worry, I didn't see anything!"

"Bang~"

The door shut quickly, and Zhang Nian hurried away in a fluster.

Yao Ye smiled faintly. Her embarrassment had been an instinctive reaction, but deep down, she had already come to regard Zhang Nian as her man. Perhaps she didn't deserve a title, but she didn't mind. He had seen her, and that was that.

Two minutes later

"Master, you can come in," Yao Ye called from inside. Zhang Nian straightened his clothes and took a deep breath, steadying himself. Then he pushed open the door and went inside.

Seeing that Yao Ye's cheeks were still flushed, Zhang Nian could only clear his throat twice to cover up his embarrassment.

"Ahem. Um, I just remembered that the Flying Dou Technique contains the soul of a fifth-tier magical beast, the Purple Cloud Eagle. If your soul isn't strong enough right now, it might hurt you. That's why I..."

"Mhm, thank you, Master..." Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's, and it made Yao Ye's feelings clear. She lowered her head and traced circles with her hands against her chest, perhaps because she was nervous, or perhaps because...

The atmosphere in the room felt a little strange. Even Zhang Nian, despite being single for decades, could sense something was off. He immediately decided to make a run for it.

"I'm not feeling quite right. I need to step out for a bit. Get some rest, and if you want to cultivate that Dou Technique, remember to tell me first!"

With that, he rushed out the door...