Ya Fei?!

Seeing that his warm welcome had been met with a cold shoulder, Teng Shan wasn't offended. He silently put away the jade box, put on a smiling face, and turned around. His expression became serious as he addressed the fifteen people before him.

"From now on, you'll serve the Saint. You have nothing more to do with Miteer. Serve well, and you'll be rewarded."

"Yes~"

At his command, the crowd headed toward Medusa. Once the last person had passed through the barrier, Medusa flashed inside, and everything returned to normal. Standing outside the barrier, Miteer Tengshan was filled with complicated emotions. He sighed to himself: I hope this can change your fate. I know you're a business genius who refuses to settle for mediocrity, but...

"Hey, hey, Tengshan, have you noticed something..." Seeing that Medusa had left, Hai Bodong nudged Miteer Tengshan with his elbow. A lecherous grin spread across his mature-looking face.

"Huh? What is it?" Miteer Tengshan asked in surprise, looking at his friend.

"Didn't you notice that all the servants the Saint's apprentice picked are beautiful women?" Hai Bodong covered his mouth, leaned close to Teng Shan, and whispered. Then, as if he'd seen right through everything, he added, "Could it be that..."

"Shh~" Teng Shan was startled by those words. What kind of joke was that? Gossiping about a Dou Sheng Expert behind his back—did Hai Bodong have a death wish? "Don't ever say that again. Dou Sheng Experts have godlike powers. If he hears you, you'll be reduced to ashes in an instant."

"Fine, fine. I'll drop it. But we did make the right move." Hai Bodong waved a hand, unwilling to invite trouble. He summoned his wings, took off, and flew away.

On Misty Cloud Mountain

In the middle of the square, inside the hall, Zhang Nian sat in a wicker chair, gazing at the scenery outside. He still didn't have a decent cultivation technique, and he didn't even know what attribute his Dou Qi had. Hmm. He looked over at Zi Yan, who was playing by herself. She was a Dou Ling Expert, and after cultivating for a while, with a five-hundred-fold multiplier, she ought to reach the tenth level of Dou Qi in an instant.

"Ahem. Zi Yan, cultivators must strive ever onward. You may look young, but you can't neglect your studies. Take those medicinal herbs I just gave you and eat them. When you're done, come ask me for more, all right? You want to grow up quickly, don't you? Only by becoming stronger can you eat herbs with more potent medicinal properties."

As he spoke, Zhang Nian took a Gold-Gilded Fruit and a Heavenly Heart Snake Orchid from the medicinal herb storage. Both were sixth-grade herbs, and they were extremely tempting to Zi Yan.

Hearing Zhang Nian's instructions, Zi Yan lifted her little head and wrinkled her cute nose. The fragrance of the sixth-grade herbs wafted toward her. Her tender face wore an expression that said she was thinking it over. After a long pause, she nodded seriously and agreed, "You're right, Master. You have to save these two herbs for me. I'll get stronger as soon as I can!"

He gave a slight nod at her answer. That was more like it. He beckoned to Zi Yan. "Go pick a room you like in the bamboo grove above. Your senior sister is already a Nine-Star Dou Wang."

"Ah! Then I can't let her get too far ahead of me!" Zi Yan dropped the little toy in her hands and scampered off. She was gone in no time.

Phew. He'd finally managed to fool the little one into leaving.

Relaxing with a sigh, Zhang Nian turned his attention to the Misty Cloud Sect's original collection. Technically, everything already belonged to him; he just needed to find out his Dou Qi attribute before choosing. But cultivation techniques were something you had to start with the best. Zi Yan's favorability toward him was currently 60, with a multiplier of 500. Medusa's favorability was also 60. He figured that was because his arrival had changed the Snake-People Tribe's standing in the Jia Ma Empire, and she was grateful.

But...

Compared to Zi Yan, Medusa would be easier to win over. After all, he still had a Heaven-Seizing Creation Pill in his hands. Both the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python and the Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python were fire-attributed magical beasts, and flames held a certain appeal for her. He could give her the Fallen Heart Flame as well.

If that was the case...

Zhang Nian suddenly realized that the Fallen Heart Flame was now his own possession, not something the system had given him. Would giving it to his apprentice set off a chain of consequences?

While Zhang Nian was still reeling from the thought, a gust of wind suddenly swept in from outside the hall. He looked up and saw that Medusa had returned with a group of people.

Wait!

Why did the girl at the very front of the group look so familiar?

Ya Fei hadn't yet grown into the bewitching beauty she would become later, and her clothes weren't nearly so bold or alluring. She wore a simple, pale-yellow dress that hugged her figure. Though she was still young, her delicate features nonetheless drew Zhang Nian's gaze.

Seeing her master's expression, Medusa's suspicions were confirmed once again. It seemed she had done an excellent job with her first task from her master!

Zhang Nian rose and walked out of the hall, looking at the fifteen girls before him in confusion. Why were they all women?

The atmosphere grew awkwardly quiet. The servants from Miteer were all poised and proper, but Ya Fei looked a little uncomfortable. Still, Zhang Nian had no intention of letting her leave. He happened to be in need of a steward, and Ya Fei was just the right person for the job. There was still plenty at the vast Misty Cloud Sect that hadn't been sorted out. They'd have their hands full today.

"All right. The first two will serve Medusa. The next two will serve Zi Yan and attend to her personally. The rest will all be under your..." He paused. He'd nearly said Ya Fei's name, but he'd never met her before. Thankfully, he caught himself in time, or he might have aroused suspicion.

"This humble one is Miteer Ya Fei. You may call me Ya Fei, Saint." Ya Fei bowed respectfully, her hands clasped in front of her abdomen. Her voice was lilting, and a bewitching note shone through its gentleness. Perhaps she had matured early; during the journey up the mountain, Ya Fei had already accepted her situation. If she couldn't escape, she would simply do the best she could.

He nodded slightly, his gaze a little dazed as he looked at her stunning face. His heart pounded. In a brief moment of confusion, Zhang Nian stammered, "Mm, yes. Ya Fei, you'll manage the rest of them. Today, have them organize and catalog everything left behind by the Misty Cloud Sect. I need the results as soon as possible."

"Yes!" Ya Fei nodded, then turned and left with her new team. The vast square was now occupied only by Medusa and the two servants behind her.

Zhang Nian turned his wrist and focused his mind, taking the Ninth-Grade Profound Pill, the Heaven-Seizing Creation Pill, from his system storage. He held it out to Medusa.

"This pill is called the Heaven-Seizing Creation Pill. It's a Ninth-Grade Profound Pill that anyone can take, regardless of their cultivation. Take it."

"For me?!"

Her lovely face was filled with disbelief. This was a Ninth-grade Pill! Medusa might not know much about pills, but she knew that the ninth grade was the highest.

"That's right. Take it. There's an extremely powerful bloodline hidden within you. Without a pill to support you, breaking through to Dou Zong will be very difficult in the future. This is the best pill I can offer you at the moment, so naturally, it's yours."

Zhang Nian nodded and extended his hand a little farther, smiling.

She would have been lying if she said she wasn't moved. It was her very first day as his apprentice, and he had already... A feeling of relief welled up inside her. It seemed everything was moving in the best possible direction...

For both the Snake-People Tribe and herself...

[ Ding! Medusa's favorability +10. Current favorability: 70 (Respect). Return multiplier increased to 1,000. ]