Embracing the Blue Sky

Watching Zhang Nian's hurried departure, Yao Ye gave a faint smile. She had developed a brand-new perspective on this relatively unfamiliar man; he seemed different from what she had imagined. There was no arrogance of a powerhouse about him, nor that dismissive coldness, but rather, he possessed a great deal of human warmth.

Master... I will definitely come looking for you again.

Looking at it now, perhaps among these disciples, Yao Ye would be the most proactive and enthusiastic. After all, on the way here, Jia Xingtian had told her that a man could never forget his first woman. Of course, Yao Ye might not be his first in the strict sense, but if she was the first since he arrived in the Jia Ma Empire, it would have the same effect.

Yao Ye understood exactly what Jia Xingtian was trying to convey, but she only nodded and said she understood. The ignorance and shyness of a young girl made her too embarrassed to speak of such topics, yet the heavy burden and responsibility on her shoulders forced her to face them.

A few days passed, and Yao Ye gradually adapted to life within the mountain gate. She discovered that the situation here was different from what she had imagined. It seemed that the master's disciples were truly just disciples, and all of this had nothing to do with the sordid scenes Jia Xingtian had described before she arrived. Everyone was humble and polite; while it wasn't exactly perfect, it was at least harmonious.

She soon sought out Senior Sister Yun Yun, the only person she could really talk to for now. Both of them belonged to the top factions of the Jia Ma Empire, and Yao Ye had heard a little about her. When she first saw her at the dinner table, she had been greatly shocked. If she remembered correctly, shouldn't Yun Yun be the next sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect?

Was the current sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect truly so willing to let her go, or was the other party's goal actually the same as the Imperial Family's? Although she had her suspicions, seeing Senior Sister Yun Yun's behavior, it didn't seem like it. It appeared as if she had simply changed locations to continue her diligent cultivation. It was just a pity that her own aptitude was average; as of now, she was the lowest-ranked in terms of strength within the mountain gate.

Taking advantage of the time after the meal, Yao Ye went to Yun Yun's room.

"Creak~"

Pushing open the door, she didn't see Yun Yun. With a hint of confusion, she asked Baojuan, Yun Yun's personal maid, "Where is Senior Sister?"

"My mistress never returns to her room after a meal. If you look up, that figure amidst the clouds on the mountain peak is where she is." Speaking of this, Baojuan's face wore a look of helplessness. It had been like this every day; the moment Yun Yun woke up, she would head to the sky and wouldn't come down until the moment before she rested. It was a recurring cycle. She had originally wanted to use the techniques she learned from Xiao Qing to "CPU" her mistress, but every time, she found herself unable to speak.

"Uh..." Yao Ye looked at the figure in the clouds and couldn't help but sigh in her heart. Truly diligent... She then decided not to disturb her; after all, cultivation required a gradual process, and if she were at a critical moment, she would hate for other sounds to interfere.

Having said that, she turned and went to the room where Zhang Nian was staying.

"Knock, knock~"

Following two dull knocks, Zhang Nian put down the Earth-tier low-grade Dou Technique he was holding, Wind Extremity: Judgment. The space rippled, and the technique on the table vanished along with it.

"Enter."

As the voice fell, the door was pushed open in response.

"Creak~"

Yao Ye, dressed in a pale yellow long dress, walked in slowly. She came before him, bowed, and saluted, "Master~"

The milky fragrance unique to a young girl slowly spread, lingering around Zhang Nian. He sniffed slightly; the scent was somewhat provocative. His eyes wandered, catching a glimpse of the slender, straight legs visible beneath the long dress, before he suddenly snapped to his senses. Just one look is enough!

He then straightened his expression and said, "Yao Ye, are you planning to absorb the Purple Cloud Wings now?"

"Yes, Master."

The young girl before him nodded obediently, her eyes filled with hope, staring at him intensely. For a moment, he felt somewhat at a loss. Why did this girl's gaze toward him carry such strong... aggression? Or perhaps...

"Mm, then go to my practice room, take out the scroll, and sit cross-legged."

After giving the instruction, the beautiful and charming figure left his line of sight, but the fragrance lingered, still缠绕 on his heart, like a cat's paw gently teasing Zhang Nian's heartstrings.

Soaring through the sky was everyone's dream, and for Yao Ye, who only had the strength of a nine-star Dou Practitioner, it was a fatal temptation. As everyone knew, to fly—that is, to manifest Dou Qi wings—one's own strength must reach the Dou King level. How many Dou Kings were there in the Jia Ma Empire? Only people like Senior Sister Yun Yun and Cailin could progress so rapidly.

Unfolding the scroll, that pair of slightly dark wings came into view, carved onto the scroll like a painting. However, Zhang Nian knew clearly that this was the same type of thing as his Soaring Nine Heavens, except these Purple Cloud Wings already contained the wings of a Rank 5 Magical Beast. Of course, the reason Zhang Nian had asked Miteer for it earlier was out of his own understanding of flight-type Dou Techniques; not every flight technique was as thoughtful as the creator of the Purple Cloud Wings, who had even found wings for their successors.

"It seems the pair of wings I intended to gift you will have no use," he sighed, then looked at the text on the scroll. In truth, even though he had read the original story, he couldn't possibly know every plot point by heart, and such was the case with these Purple Cloud Wings.

"What's wrong, Master?" Yao Ye blinked and asked in confusion.

"Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle, a Rank 5 flying Magical Beast. It is said to possess the sparse bloodline of an ancient Phoenix. Its flight speed ranks among the best of all flying Magical Beasts. It is naturally cunning and ferocious, extremely difficult to capture, and only lives in the Cloud of Mist Region in the southern part of the continent. The origin of these Eagle Wings lies here. The predecessor who created this Dou Technique has already prepared the wings for you. Now, you only need to calm your mind and resist the indiscriminate impact of that remnant soul."

After hearing Zhang Nian's explanation, Yao Ye was puzzled and continued to ask, "Master, why would there still be a remnant soul inside the Eagle Wings that have already been crafted into a Dou Technique?"

"Hehehe." He gave a dry laugh, though he felt relieved in his heart. Good thing I remember this part. "This should be due to the secret method used to refine this flight technique. They strip the soul of the Magical Beast along with the wings, then seal them into the scroll using a unique secret technique. No wonder it was lost; it turns out that making this technique requires knowledge of such strange things."

He muttered to himself, then glanced at Yao Ye, who was sitting cross-legged beside him. Her cold eyes were shimmering with light. Zhang Nian coughed hurriedly and continued:

"Although there are no side effects to cultivating this Dou Technique, the soul you sensed just now should be that Purple Cloud Eagle. After so many years of tempering, its intelligence has mostly turned into the instincts of a beast. However, if your mind slips, it is very possible for your soul to be harmed. Don't worry, I will be by your side. If there is anything wrong, I will intervene."

Hearing the master's words, Yao Ye breathed a sigh of relief, and the heart that had been hanging finally settled. In her heart, only the anticipation for the sky remained...