Once again, Yao Ye turned her attention to the scroll and read through the cultivation instructions along its side several times. A hint of anxiety rose in her heart. She gazed pitifully at her master, Zhang Nian, and said in a trembling voice, "Master, it says that during cultivation, I'll inevitably be subjected to the soul attack of the Purple Cloud Eagle in the wings. If I can withstand the attack, I can continue cultivating. Otherwise, it advises anyone attempting this technique to give up."
By the time she finished, she had completely lost confidence in herself. She said helplessly, "My strength is so low. Is it too much of a stretch for me to cultivate this Flying Dou Technique? This disciple's poor aptitude has wasted your precious gift..." She lowered her head, silently grieving.
Zhang Nian didn't know what to say. In fact, the wording she'd used and her demeanor had even struck him as a little odd. Why did he get the feeling that this girl was acting all coy and calculating today?
Who'd she learned that from?
What was she up to?
Hearing this, Zhang Nian, as her master, still offered words of comfort. "Don't worry. It's only a soul attack from a fifth-tier magical beast. Even if you're injured, I can treat you. This is just a minor trial. Don't let it bother you."
In truth, Zhang Nian had plenty of ways to spare her the soul attack. But if things came too easily along the road to growth, they wouldn't be treasured. It could even give Yao Ye the impression that whenever she ran into trouble in the future, she could just come to him for a solution. That would cost her her independence. He wasn't raising a wife, after all; he couldn't solve everything for them.
"But if you want to gain something, you'll naturally have to give something in return. I think you understand that." Zhang Nian smiled faintly. "With your current soul strength, you might have to endure a bit of a trial. But it's only a remnant soul. If you can steady your mind, I'm sure it won't amount to much."
At her master's encouragement, Yao Ye nodded solemnly. Then she placed both palms on the scroll, gently pressing her fair hands against the soft wings. She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and slowly closed her eyes.
Not long after her palms touched the wings, her mind trembled. The image of a vicious Purple Cloud Eagle appeared in her head, and a piercing eagle's cry rang in her ears.
"Creee!"
The sudden cry made Yao Ye feel terrible. Her body shuddered, and her soul quivered. The cry pierced her eardrums like a power drill, boring straight into the depths of her soul. Its shriek was like demonic music filling her ears. For a moment, the world spun around her. So this is what a soul attack feels like...
It was her first time experiencing a soul attack, so Yao Ye couldn't help feeling discomfort. Still, she followed Zhang Nian's earlier instructions: steady her mind and believe in herself. Just then, a milky-white flame appeared in her mind, winding toward her like a dragon. It opened its enormous jaws, and with a single strike, the Purple Cloud Eagle's image in her heart vanished.
Zhang Nian had already noticed through close observation that Yao Ye was on the verge of losing control. If he let the Purple Cloud Eagle run wild, it might cause serious damage. Although his medicine storehouse held pills that could heal the soul, he would rather not let his beloved disciple get hurt. Besides, he only wanted to teach Yao Ye one simple lesson: believe in herself.
After Zhang Nian stepped in, the beastlike, savage shrieking vanished from her mind in the blink of an eye, as if it had never existed. Yao Ye's body also underwent a subtle change. Two thin strands of purple-black light tore out from the wings on her back, forming two tiny branches that extended all the way to her spine.
After that, Yao Ye went limp. Her pretty face had turned a little pale, and she looked exhausted, breathing hard. Those were the aftereffects of the clash between their souls.
"Master, did I..." Yao Ye knew she had probably succeeded, but only with Zhang Nian's help. The flame that had appeared in her mind at the end looked exactly like the flame floating in the air at the mountain gate.
"You did very well. I wouldn't just stand by and watch you get hurt. Having the courage to face it is the first step. Next, you need the confidence to overcome anything. You may think your aptitude is mediocre, but that's just how the world is. What needs to change is your own mindset. I may be able to help you for a time, but I can't help you forever."
His heartfelt words struck Yao Ye to the core. She seemed to understand why Zhang Nian had said them. A mist welled in her beautiful eyes as she looked at the young man before her. Her elders in the Imperial Family had never paid attention to such things, yet a stranger had seen the tender feelings she kept hidden.
"Silly girl." Zhang Nian raised his hand and gently ruffled the young woman's hair. From the moment she entered the mountain gate until now, Yao Ye had been timid and cautious, and he had noticed it all. Now, his concerned words flowed like warm mountain spring water, finally opening her heart. "You've never been anyone's appendage, understand? I don't want to lecture you. I'll just repeat what I said when you first came through the mountain gate: here, we leave worldly concerns behind. You only need to be yourself."
That glistening tear finally slipped free and fell. Zhang Nian knew Yao Ye's life shouldn't have been like this. Perhaps his arrival had led to all of this, but before now, she'd been taught some deeply pessimistic ideas.
With a casual turn of his hand, he made a jade bottle appear in his palm. Looking at the tear-streaked girl before him, he gently set it on the table beside her.
"This is a Ninth-Grade Treasure Pill. Don't say I'm playing favorites, either. I'd originally planned to give it to your senior sister, Yun Yun, but I used another method instead. Anyway, I'll give it to you now."
Zhang Nian smiled and continued, "This pill is called the Fangzhang Butian Pill. Anyone who takes it can break through directly to the Dou Zong realm. It also elevates their bloodline, makes up for innate deficiencies, and breaks through postnatal limitations. It's a pretty good pill."
"Master, such a precious pill should go to Senior Sister Yun Yun. Besides, you'd already planned to give it to her. It wouldn't be right for me to take it." Yao Ye repeatedly waved her hands in refusal, her pretty face full of fluster.
Zhang Nian couldn't help thinking her words sounded a little coy and calculating. Maybe it was just him. He didn't dwell on it and reassured her, "All right. You need it more than Yun Yun does. I have another reward for her."
With that, he paid no more attention to Yao Ye, who had sat down cross-legged, and turned to leave the room. Before he went, he left her with a reminder: "This is a Ninth-Grade Pill. If you leave it out for too long, it'll absorb the energy of heaven and earth and develop a mind of its own. If it runs off, you'll regret it."
[ Ding! Detected Yao Ye's favorability +5. Current favorability: 85 ]
Huh...?!
Zhang Nian froze...
This girl's favorability was rising a little too fast... Something felt off...
Before you continue