The male cultivators around them cast looks of envy, jealousy, and resentment at Shi Qingyun.
Damn it, this brat probably hasn't even grown all his hair yet, and he already has beauties like these at his side.
He must be another genius from some powerful faction!
Amid the women's playful laughter and the male cultivators' envious gazes, Shi Qingyun strode firmly through the entrance.
Thank you for your support.
Chapter 80: Born to Bewitch
Seated by the pavilion window, one needed only to raise one's eyes to see the people coming and going below.
Sipping tea while watching the bustle of everyday life was supposed to be a leisurely pleasure.
Yet Shi Qingyun felt rather restless at the moment. Wisps of white mist rose from the tea on the table.
Even the tea's rich vital essence failed to capture his attention. His gaze kept wandering around the room.
Little White, on the other hand, had already drunk several pots. It lay on the table with its belly bulging and all four limbs pointing skyward, its pink tongue licking the tea leaves stuck around its mouth.
Whenever it opened its mouth, the maid attending it would pop in a piece of fruit, then pour it a little more tea.
Shi Qingyun's mouth twitched at the sight.
Seemingly noticing Shi Qingyun's gaze, Little White shifted and turned over to face him.
The little girl beside Shi Qingyun noticed that his tea was about to grow cold again and immediately lifted a tea kettle larger than her head to replace it.
"Miss Yaya, there's no need to change it again."
Shi Qingyun spoke with a trace of helplessness and embarrassment.
But the girl acted as though she hadn't heard him. She quickly replaced the tea on her own, then turned her head away again, refusing to look at Shi Qingyun as she held the enormous kettle.
The maid feeding Little White nearby couldn't help covering her mouth and snickering.
Girls are such a bother! I've already apologized to her, and she clearly accepted it.
Why is she still acting like this? Aaargh!
Shi Qingyun could only lift the tea from the table and take a sip, keeping his expression unchanged as he tried his best to appear composed.
Even though he was going mad inside, he still had to maintain a calm exterior.
That strange atmosphere finally broke when the Witch returned.
Seeing the Witch arrive, Yaya and the other maid immediately rose and dipped into slight bows, their eyes filled with admiration.
"My lady."
With graceful steps, the Witch came over to Yaya, stroked her head, and dismissed them.
Yaya immediately broke into a happy smile at the touch. When she reached the doorway, she suddenly turned and made a face at Shi Qingyun, then promptly ran off.
Shi Qingyun sighed in relief at the Witch's arrival, grumbling furiously inwardly. This is even more exhausting than a fight. If she were a man, I'd have beaten him until he was crawling around looking for his teeth.
Seeing Shi Qingyun's state, the Witch chuckled and said:
"It looks like you and Yaya had quite a nice chat, little brother."
She placed particular emphasis on "nice." At her teasing, Shi Qingyun regained his earlier relaxed composure.
He had figured it out by now: this Witch had a devious streak. She might well have been hiding somewhere, secretly watching them all along.
"It was quite nice. Miss Yaya and I had a thoroughly enjoyable conversation."
"Oh, really?"
As she spoke, she sat on the table in front of Shi Qingyun, crossing her long, fair legs and swinging them in the air.
The expanse of pale skin before his eyes immediately made Shi Qingyun avert his gaze. He leaned back slightly and raised his teacup to his mouth.
Seeing him dodge her gaze, the Witch immediately leaned closer. Her slender, jade-white hand brushed his chest as she brought her lips near his ear, her captivating voice drifting into it.
"Would you like some more tea, little brother? Shall I top it up for you?"
Shi Qingyun felt his body stiffen. He immediately put his cup down on the table, only then realizing it was already empty. A trace of embarrassment appeared on his face.
He promptly raised both hands in surrender and looked helplessly at the Witch before him.
"All right, you win. Please tell me what you wanted to see me about."
The Witch did nothing further. She gave a soft, alluring laugh that echoed through the pavilion, as though even the air had melted under its spell.
A gleam of triumph flashed in her eyes at his surrender, and she stopped teasing him.
With a turn, she appeared in the chair opposite Shi Qingyun. Crossing one leg over the other, she swung her foot, looking utterly relaxed and languid.
"What could I possibly want? I merely saw your distinguished bearing, little brother, and wanted to make your acquaintance."
"After all, another friend means another path, doesn't it? And you needn't keep calling me 'miss.' It sounds so distant."
"You can call me the Witch, or you can call me big sister."
Shi Qingyun's mouth twitched. This Witch truly exuded seductive charm at every moment. She was indeed a beauty capable of bringing ruin.
Whatever truth or falsehood lay in her words, he had at least sensed no ill intent from her so far.
Since the Witch still harbored no malice toward him, he was happy to befriend her.
After all, there was some sense in what she said. Another friend meant another path; who knew when that might come in handy?
He lowered his guard a little and selectively forgot the latter half of her remarks.
"My name is Wan Muyun. It's an honor to have you as a friend."
The Witch lowered her legs and leaned toward the table, resting her chin on her hand. Her eyes, tender as water, gazed at Shi Qingyun as her soft lips parted.
"Oh? Just how honored are you?"
Instead of answering, Shi Qingyun asked whether there was anywhere nearby where he could forge artifacts.
"You certainly don't stand on ceremony, little brother. We've only just become friends, and you're already putting me to work."
Her words left Shi Qingyun rather embarrassed. He avoided her reproachful gaze and quietly waited for her to continue.
Seeing that Shi Qingyun wouldn't take the bait, she dropped the subject.
"A place to forge artifacts? There are places in the Imperial Capital dedicated to that. Would you like an introduction?"
Shi Qingyun shook his head and explained that he wanted to forge the artifacts himself. After all, the materials he possessed were far too precious.
If outsiders learned of them, even people from the Upper Realm might descend to seize them. He simply couldn't feel at ease entrusting the work to anyone else.
Besides, if word of what he carried leaked out, he might face endless pursuit.
He therefore couldn't afford to be careless in this matter. He had to exercise the utmost caution.
The Witch stood and paced a few circles in front of Shi Qingyun, her fair thighs appearing and disappearing beneath the hem of her clothes.
Suddenly, as though something had occurred to her, she stopped. Her eyes lit up, and she moved her jade-white hand away from her chin.
"I've got it."
Thank you.
Chapter 81: Where Divine Flame Fell, True Fire Remains
A smile immediately appeared on her face as she spoke. Then she strode briskly out on her long legs, leaving only the tapping of her footsteps behind.
Shi Qingyun waited in some puzzlement. Before long, the Witch returned with a beast-hide map in her hand.
She glanced at Shi Qingyun, who was looking over curiously, and did not keep him in suspense.
With a single step, she appeared behind him. Divine power surged as she raised her hand and swept it before him, sending the map floating into the air in front of him.
Coming to his side, she lightly touched a spot on the map with her jade-white hand. Instantly, an illusory image of an erupting volcano emerged from that point before his eyes.
She turned her beautiful eyes toward Shi Qingyun, and her melodious voice sounded beside him.
"This place has what you need."
The words "Godfall Mountain" beneath her slender finger exuded a mysterious allure.
Looking at the illusory projection of the volcano, he felt as though he had suddenly entered its blazing magma. A scorching heat washed over him.
The volcanic image kept expanding in his pupils while his body kept shrinking.
Looking at the volcano poised to erupt and the scorched earth surrounding it, both identical to the projection, he knew he had reached his destination.
Blazing heat swept through the surroundings. The magma churning within the volcano seemed ready to spill over, and thick black smoke stained half the sky.
Shi Qingyun swiftly approached the crater and glanced down around him. Everything was scorched black, and the solidified lava resembled enormous black dragons clinging to the volcano.
His figure left white streaks through the air, slicing through the black smoke billowing skyward.
Hovering above the magma, he felt waves of heat rush toward him. His divine power surged, and in an instant, a shield of interwoven black and white appeared around his body.
The rolling heat struck the shield without causing it any damage.
The surging air whipped his hair and set his robes snapping.
As he blocked the ceaseless waves of heat, Little White on his back was likewise covered in a five-colored shield. But at the sight of the constantly churning magma below, Little White grew uneasy.
Its two paws clung tightly to him. It glanced at the magma, then quickly looked away.
Shi Qingyun stared at the magma gathering for eruption. Divine power surged through him, and the shield around his body gradually took solid form.
With one swift lunge, he plunged straight into the magma.
"Divine flame supposedly scattered when a Divine Flame cultivator fell?"
Recalling the Witch's words, he wasn't sure whether they were true, but a volcano like this should suffice for his artifact forging.
Only his words lingered in the air before shattering amid the rolling heat, while his body fell into the magma like a star descending into the mortal world.
The churning magma swiftly swallowed him.
Back at the pavilion, the Witch reclined against the window, her fox tail swaying behind her.
Several plates of spirit fruit sat beside her hand, making her look utterly leisurely and content.
Suddenly, an aged voice sounded from the void.
Before you continue