A Smile

Sunset Glow Island was one of the largest islands in the Western Sea.

At the center of the island stood several towering peaks that pierced the clouds, and Duan Nian Palace was situated there.

"Palace Master, all the elders and disciples who went out to temper themselves and carry out missions returned to the palace yesterday."

"The two Supreme Elders have also come out from the rear mountain and are waiting for Senior's arrival."

Duan Nian Palace's Palace Master, Rou Yuqing, was sitting in the main hall, listening to the elders' reports.

"Mm! Very good. This Senior not only has peerless cultivation, but his alchemy also stands above all beneath heaven. If we handle the matters he entrusted to us well, even if he casually bestows a bit of fortune upon us, we will enjoy endless benefits!"

"Pass down my order. While Senior is a guest at our Duan Nian Palace, anyone who sees him is to treat him as they would this Palace Master. If anyone dares show the slightest disrespect, kill without mercy!"

"We obey the Palace Master's order."

"We obey the Palace Master's order."

"Yunrong, Qianxue, you two describe Senior's personality again. Let us see if there is anything else we need to pay attention to!"

Da Bai was flying toward Sunset Glow Island at an unhurried pace. Qing Mo rested his head on Liu Yurou's black-stockinged thighs, recalling the growth process of the Child of Destiny that he had seen in the river of time. He discovered that the Child of Destiny would actually find the two spiritual treasures he needed in the Great Thousand World, and he could not help laughing aloud.

"Master, what happened to make you so happy?"

Liu Yurou noticed that Qing Mo, who was pillowed on her thighs, had suddenly started laughing, and she was somewhat curious.

"I'm laughing at that Child of Destiny. After working himself half to death in the end, he still ended up benefiting me!"

"What happened, Master?"

"When I saw him, my mind sank into the river of time, and I saw his future, his process of growth."

"The river of time? This—!"

Liu Yurou's mouth opened wide, as if she had been frightened.

Qing Mo had never told Liu Yurou his true strength. Liu Yurou had also guessed that since Qing Mo could casually use the power of laws, his cultivation had to be very high, but she had not expected that he could enter the river of time at will! And he could even casually see another person's future and growth process!

Liu Yurou once again gained a new understanding of Qing Mo's strength.

Just as Da Bai was about to fly to Sunset Glow Island, everyone in Duan Nian Palace sensed an extremely powerful surge of spiritual energy. The higher-ups immediately flew toward the source of the spiritual energy. They knew Qing Mo had arrived.

Over a dozen Duan Nian Palace higher-ups waited outside the palace gate, with a crowd of disciples behind them. The two Supreme Elders stood at the very front. Before their eyes was a White Tiger the size of a small mountain, the spiritual energy fluctuations of the Sky Vault Realm seemingly there and not there as they emanated from it. On the White Tiger's back sat a strangely dressed young man and a woman whose beauty could make the moon hide and flowers blush.

Da Bai had just flown before the people of Duan Nian Palace when they heard...

"Greetings, Senior."

"Greetings, Senior."

"Greetings, Senior."

Qing Mo looked toward the highest peak on Sunset Glow Island and felt that this place was not bad either. Since his beach bath had been disturbed, he might as well switch to some mountain-forest scenery and enjoy himself!

"Mm! This place of yours isn't bad. This Young Master has come to play for a while, and along the way, there's something I'd like to ask your help with!"

When the higher-ups of Duan Nian Palace saw that even Qing Mo's mount was at the Sky Vault Realm, and then heard him say this, wild joy surged through their hearts. But the proper etiquette still could not be lacking.

"Senior is too courteous! For Senior to grace our Duan Nian Palace with your presence is an enormous blessing for our Duan Nian Palace! Senior, please give your instructions. Our Duan Nian Palace will certainly do everything in our power."

"Mm! Of all the people this Young Master has encountered along the way, you are the most polite. Not bad, not bad."

Qing Mo looked at the people before him and discovered Han Qianxue standing at the back. The corners of his mouth slowly lifted.

Duan Nian Palace's Supreme Elder also looked in the direction of Qing Mo's gaze. He understood in his heart, yet still remained perfectly calm and collected.

"Senior overpraises us! Please enter the palace, Senior, so that I may properly fulfill the duties of a host!"

The Supreme Elder's wrinkled face smiled until it was like a chrysanthemum in full bloom, though in Qing Mo's eyes, it was rather hard to look at.

Da Bai returned to the appearance of a little kitten and was held in Liu Yurou's arms. Qing Mo was still wearing his sunbathing outfit, and with a pair of flip-flops, he walked with the air of someone wearing leather shoes.

"So this is the Senior the Palace Master mentioned, whose cultivation and alchemy reach the heavens? With that outfit, he feels so carefree and dashing!"

"The clothes that beautiful big sister behind Senior is wearing are way too pretty, right? They feel like they were designed naturally for women. They make her legs look so long, so beautiful!"

"And that little cat, it's really so cute! I really want to pet it!"

"That's Senior's mount, a great demon of the Sky Vault Realm! And you still want to pet it? I think you're really tired of living."

Qing Mo listened to the Duan Nian Palace disciples chattering back and forth and smiled. This was Blue Star fashion. Never seen it before, had they?

When they arrived at the main hall, Qing Mo sat in the seat of honor, while Liu Yurou stood behind him.

"Call your Saintess over."

"Greetings, Senior!"

Shen Yunrong hurriedly stepped forward. In an instant, a burst of light flashed through Qing Mo's eyes, and Shen Yunrong's memories were flipped through like the pages of a book. He discovered that in the past, Shen Yunrong had come into contact with something he needed, only for it to be snatched away by someone else.

Shen Yunrong realized that Qing Mo had looked through all her memories with just one glance. Only then did she gain a rough understanding of Qing Mo's cultivation, and she immediately retreated several steps. When everyone saw Shen Yunrong, they could not help feeling somewhat curious.

"You once came into contact with something this Young Master needs—Ice Flame Grass. Explain the situation to your Palace Master and take that thing back. Since you were the one who discovered something this Young Master needs, you can follow behind Yurou and learn for a period of time! This is the reward for you personally. As for how much you can learn, that will depend on your talent."

Everyone from Duan Nian Palace was overjoyed! Liu Yurou, who stood behind Qing Mo, was someone whose cultivation they likewise could not see through, which proved that she too was unfathomable!

"Many thanks, Senior, many thanks, Senior!"

"Enough! Ask your Saintess about the details. Arrange a place for this young master with clear mountains, beautiful waters, and a view of the sea. Do not disturb this young master at will. If the matter is handled well, there will naturally be rewards!"

Afterward, everyone in Duan Nian Palace learned that when their Saintess had previously been tempering herself in the Abyss of Gloom of the Western Sea, she had discovered Ice Flame Grass, only for it to be snatched away by the Saint of Cloud Pavilion Hall, a sect of equal standing with Duan Nian Palace.

That thing was not of much use to Shen Yunrong, so having it stolen was not too great a pity. Shen Yunrong had originally planned to personally avenge that arrow in the back when the chance came next time, but since Senior had spoken, the arranged duel could only turn into a sect-wide brawl.

After the higher-ups of Duan Nian Palace learned of this, they immediately sprang into action. That very day, they sent people to investigate and found that the Saint of Cloud Pavilion Hall used precious medicinal ingredients every six months to temper his fleshly body. The Ice Flame Grass was meant to neutralize the various medicinal ingredients, and there was only half a month left before his next body-tempering session.

The Palace Master of Duan Nian Palace immediately ordered an attack on Cloud Pavilion Hall, determined to seize the Ice Flame Grass back. Meanwhile, Qing Mo once again began living the life of a salted fish in the back mountain of Duan Nian Palace. He arranged for Liu Yurou to teach Shen Yunrong five hours a day; he certainly would not hand over all of his little maid's time to someone else. After all, he still needed someone to warm his bed when he slept at night.

Under Liu Yurou's instruction, Shen Yunrong had already reached the middle stage of Dao Integration, and her combat strength had increased severalfold. Even against her own family's Supreme Elder at the peak of Dao Integration, she could last a hundred moves before being defeated.

"Yunrong, how are things outside? Has the thing Master wanted been seized back yet?"

"Teacher, Master is currently leading all the elders and senior and junior sisters in an attack on Cloud Pavilion Hall. Lu Yunchuan is Lu Linkong's only son, and the Ice Flame Grass is the most important medicinal ingredient for Lu Yunchuan. Cloud Pavilion Hall's foundation is not much different from my Duan Nian Palace's, so progress has been somewhat slow."

After Shen Yunrong answered Liu Yurou, she lowered her head, afraid the other party would blame them for being too inefficient. Then she heard Qing Mo's voice drift over.

"Go ask your Dao Protector whether she's willing to become this young master's maid." (‵▽′)/

As for whether Duan Nian Palace could seize the item back, he was not very concerned. If necessary, he would have Liu Yurou take action. If Liu Yurou did act, then Duan Nian Palace's opportunity would be gone, and they were well aware of that too.