Chapter 217

Her gaze was flat and indifferent, revealing no emotion whatsoever, and even appearing somewhat cold.

"Greetings, Head Master."

Xiao Minghuang bowed her head in respect, her attitude sincere.

Mu Qingkong did not respond, but simply gazed at Xiao Minghuang silently for a long time before slowly asking, "Who are you? And what brings you here?"

Her voice was calm and indifferent, as if she had seen through the ways of the world, exuding a sense of tranquility and serenity.

"I am a junior Xiao Minghuang, lacking in talent and virtue, yet I have been fortunate enough to be valued by the head disciple and accepted as his personal disciple. I have come here to express my gratitude."

So they're just going to deny it now?

Xiao Minghuang thought to herself, "What do you mean?"

"Oh?"

Mu Qingkong raised an eyebrow, staring at Xiao Minghuang with interest, and asked casually, "How come I don't remember having a personal disciple like you?"

Although she said it calmly, Xiao Minghuang knew that she was suppressing her anger, which was why she spoke so sarcastically.

Therefore, she didn't need to waste time with small talk and could just get straight to the point.

"Does the Chief's previous proposal still stand?"

Xiao Minghuang suddenly asked.

"Um?"

Mu Qingkong was taken aback, then quickly realized what she meant. A playful smile appeared on her lips as she said with a bright smile, "You mean, you're willing to be my Dao Companion?"

"This junior is willing."

Xiao Minghuang nodded and said.

"His posture was servile at first, then obsequious; it's laughable!"

Mu Qingkong's smile suddenly vanished, and she coldly snorted, "You think you can just take it or not take it? Do you really think I'm someone you can bully?"

"Your Excellency, you've misunderstood, I... I..."

Xiao Minghuang looked up in surprise, a look of grievance appearing on her face.

"Hmph! Tell me, why did you suddenly change your mind?"

Mu Qingkong glanced at her coldly and said indifferently, "If you dare to lie to me, you're dead."

Immediately, Xiao Minghuang told the story she had prepared long ago.

"Here's what happened..."

Upon hearing this, a flash of anger appeared in Mu Qingkong's eyes. "Does the Hundred Inquiries Pavilion Master really want to force you to become her dual Dao Companion, which is why she wants to ask me for help?"

259. Bottleneck

"Yes." Xiao Minghuang lowered her eyes, then took out Image Talisman, and a lifelike painting appeared.

The girl in the painting has exquisite features and a serene and elegant temperament, like a fairy, ethereal and otherworldly.

"This person is Gu Qingyu Young Pavilion Master of the Hundred Inquiries Pavilion."

"This is outrageous!"

Even looking at the stunning beauty of the girl in the painting, Mu Qingkong felt no liking for her. She gritted her teeth and said, "In broad daylight, under the clear sky, Gu Qingyu dares to bully men and women. It's simply outrageous! She doesn't respect the rules of the Holy Academy at all!"

Enraged, she slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly, shouting, "Don't worry, with me here, she won't dare do anything to you!"

Xiao Minghuang frowned, realizing that things were not so simple. She had specially selected Gu Qingyu's most beautiful painting, but it seemed to have no appeal to Mu Qingkong at all.

Her thoughts shifted rapidly, and she adopted a pitiful expression. "But she forced me to eat a pill called the Load Sinking Spirit Returning Pill,' and if I don't receive a follow-up pill after a month, I'll die..."

"This woman is truly shameless!" Mu Qingkong clenched her fists. Of course, she knew about the Load Sinking Spirit Returning Pill. This kind of pill was usually taken by cultivators who were in seclusion. After taking the pill, they would go all out and emerge from seclusion if they did not break through to a higher realm.

"Could the Chief report this matter and ask a high-ranking official in the academy to mediate?" Xiao Minghuang asked tentatively, wanting to know if others might get involved before making any further plans.

Mu Qingkong let out a soft sigh, calmed down, and said slowly, "No need. I remember now. This Gu Qingyu is clearly here for me. Three thousand years ago, at my Longevity Banquet, she challenged me. Now that she sees that I have feelings for you, she can't wait to cause me trouble."

"Moreover, my eldest master has been away on business recently... I guess Gu Qingyu seized this opportunity to make trouble for me!"

Mu Qingkong's face showed understanding, and she snorted softly, "Don't make a fuss about this. Just stay here and settle down. As for the rest, I'll go and explain things to Gu Qingyu myself!"

Xiao Minghuang cupped his hands, looking troubled, and said, "Please calm down, Chief. Don't let me cause you and the Young Pavilion Master to become enemies. Otherwise, I'll become the sinner!"

"That's true." Mu Qingkong looked thoughtful and said, "How about this, you stall her for a while, and I'll go and find out if the Myriad Treasures Pavilion still has any Load Sinking Spirit Returning Pill in stock. If we have the pills, we won't be at her mercy anymore."

Xiao Minghuang respectfully replied, "Thank you, Chief Master. This disciple obeys."

Mu Qingkong smiled and said, "Still calling me the First Seat?"

"... Clear sky!"

A slight blush appeared on Xiao Minghuang's face as she called out.

"Why!"

Mu Qingkong waved her hand, gesturing for Xiao Minghuang to come to her side.

Xiao Minghuang did as instructed.

The next second, she felt a pair of slender, soft arms encircle her waist, and she heard Mu Qingkong's gentle murmur in her ear.

"Minghuang, I don't know why I like you. We've only met a few times, but I just feel like you're right for me, and I want you by my side. I think it might be fate from a past life. I know you might not be willing right now, and I don't know how much of what you said was true and how much was false, but I'm willing to believe you. I'll wait for you until you can accept me, and then we can officially be together, okay?"

Xiao Minghuang's heart skipped a beat, and she thought to herself, "She really did notice something amiss with me."

But she didn't expose him, nor did she interrogate him; instead, she preferred to believe him.

"... Um!"

Xiao Minghuang nodded in agreement.

Mu Qingkong smiled and released her.

"Please settle in at the Second Hospital first, and I will take care of Gu Qingyu's matter as soon as possible," Mu Qingkong said gently.

"OK."

Xiao Minghuang nodded slightly and then left Mu Qingkong's room.

As she left, she couldn't help but take a deep breath, a look of relief on her face.

She never imagined that Mu Qingkong liked her so much!

After all, they had never met before, let alone been familiar with each other.

If it weren't for liking her, there would be no need to treat her like this.

But this feeling was too much for Xiao Minghuang to bear.

After leaving the room, I saw the Little Lily Sisters.

"Miss Xiao, please come this way. Our master has already informed us."

"Good!"

Xiao Minghuang responded.

Then, led by the Little Lily Sisters, she arrived at a quiet courtyard, adjacent to a lake, shaded by green trees, with beautiful scenery and a blessed natural environment.

"Miss Xiao, please stay here for now. If you need anything, you can use this talisman to communicate with us."

Thank you both.

Xiao Minghuang accepted the talisman handed to her by the Little Lily Sisters and thanked them.

The two then left the room.

Xiao Minghuang glanced around the room; it was very clean. She went outside and sat in the courtyard, reflecting on her experiences over the past few days.

She couldn't afford to offend either Mu Qingkong or Gu Qingyu. Fortunately, although these two were eccentric and domineering, they were both kind and soft-hearted. Otherwise, if it were some sickly old monster, he wouldn't care what she thought or whether she was willing, and would have forced himself on her.

"I should be able to have some peace and quiet for a while. I need to take advantage of this time to improve my strength as soon as possible and qualify for the two halls at the Heavenly Dipper Assembly. Once I'm in the sights of other important figures, it will be an extra layer of protection."

Xiao Minghuang knew very well that she had no foundation in the Holy Academy. Her previous actions were like dancing on a knife's edge. Although she had temporarily fooled Mu Qingkong and Gu Qingyu, they would know that she was deceiving both of them if they communicated in the future.

At that point, she'll probably be beyond saving.

Therefore, she needs to advance to the two halls as soon as possible. Once she becomes Two Halls Disciple, she will no longer be an insignificant ordinary disciple. Even high-ranking members of the Holy Academy like Mu Qingkong and Gu Qingyu will have to think twice before they try to harm her.

"Let's hurry up and improve our skills!"

After diligently cultivating, Xiao Minghuang truly realized that the Load Sinking Spirit Returning Pill that the Young Pavilion Master had given her was indeed an extremely exquisite elixir.

The pill had long since transformed into a pure Innate Qi, dormant in her Dantian, until it quietly stirred when she circulated her cultivation technique.

With the help of the medicine and her already profound foundation, Xiao Minghuang successfully broke through to the Nascent Embryo Triple Realm in three days.

After that, she used the pills she had stored up to cultivate, but after half a month, she made little progress.

Xiao Minghuang discovered that after advancing to the Primal Embryo Realm, the effects of external Spiritual Qi and pills without Innate Qi on her were greatly reduced.

Even if it's Earth-grade pill, it won't be enough to improve her cultivation if it doesn't contain Innate Qi.

"Looks like we'll have to think of another way."

260. Long time no see

Xiao Minghuang pondered.

She then left the room.

We had agreed to visit Ye and Lin once we settled in, and now it's time.

She knew that Ye Ruoshui had already entered the Third Hospital and seemed to be highly regarded.

She learned these things from the Little Lily Sisters.

Soon, she arrived near the gate of the Third Academy.

The Third Hospital is different from the Second Hospital.

The head of the Second Academy lived alone on the main peak, far away from where the disciples gathered. Although Xiao Minghuang was a disciple of the Second Academy, she had never seen any of the other disciples.

The three academies are quite the opposite. Most of their disciples gather on the main peak and often spar and compete there. Almost every day, countless people are fighting each other.

This is all because the head of the three academies has a rather flamboyant personality, and his elders and disciples have inherited this trait.

When Xiao Minghuang arrived at the gate of the Third Academy, he showed his token to the gatekeeper.

"So you're a direct disciple of the Second Academy! My apologies for not recognizing you!"

Upon seeing the token, the guards immediately became much more polite and led her into the mountain.

The Sanyuan Mountain Range is vast and boundless, with its peaks intricately intertwined, resembling a giant dragon coiled up.

Xiao Minghuang flew into the mountains.

Soon after, she arrived at a cave dwelling located halfway up a mountain.

The cave was surrounded by spiritual mist, clearly indicating that a powerful array had been set up.

At this moment, a man and a woman are standing in front of the cave, waiting.

The man was tall and strong, with a resolute face.

The woman had a graceful figure and a beautiful face.

Xiao Minghuang didn't recognize either of them.

"Are you also here to have Senior Sister Ye refine pills?"

"May I ask who you two are?"

Xiao Minghuang looked puzzled. If she remembered correctly, Ye Ruoshui had only been a disciple for twenty days, right?

In such a short time, her reputation for alchemy has spread far and wide?

Moreover, these two are clearly at the peak of the Primal Embryo Realm, so why would they address Ye Ruoshui as Senior Sister?

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My Li Han, and this is my younger sister, Li Ling!"

The burly man grinned. "We witnessed Senior Sister Ye's triumphant victory at the Pill Refining Conference a few days ago, and we wanted to come and visit her to ask for her help in refining pills. What? Fellow Daoist, you didn't come here to ask for pills?"

Xiao Minghuang slightly curled the corners of her lips; she truly wasn't after the pill.