The ninety-eighth floor of the Spirit Pagoda.
Tang Qingye turned the door handle, intending to fetch a few things.
He raised his eyes and stopped short.
The lights were off inside. Morning light streamed through the window lattice, illuminating a figure standing quietly there.
The woman said nothing, simply standing in the room and looking up at him as he entered. A faint layer of reproach floated in her eyes, her gaze locked firmly on him without shifting in the slightest.
Their eyes met, and the boy stiffened all over. "Hi, Sister Nu Jiao."
The woman remained silent, still fixing him with that quietly reproachful gaze.
Sister, you're being really scary.
Tang Qingye knew he was in the wrong. They had agreed to seek the great Dao together, yet he had broken his word. In that case, he could only bring out his ultimate move.
Tang Qingye walked up to the woman, reached out with a warm hand, caught her slender, graceful ankle, and swept her up, setting her on the bed.
He lifted one of her lower legs and rested it on his knee.
Her blue-green skirt slid down a little, revealing her fair, delicate calf.
He soon slipped off her embroidered shoe, revealing a dainty foot wrapped in a plain white silk sock.
Blue-green spiritual energy appeared in Tang Qingye's palm as he held her exquisite ankle and began gently massaging it.
His thumbs slowly pressed along the meridians on either side of her ankle, working from top to bottom with soothing, measured pressure.
Once the taut muscles had relaxed a little, his fingertips moved down to knead her slender toes one by one, slowly pressing from their bases to their tips.
Taiyi Azure Wood Mark: So this was the proper way to use me. This life was worth it!
"Jiaojiao, don't be angry anymore."
Tang Qingye planted his thumb firmly against her sole and slowly applied pressure.
The woman still did her utmost to maintain a calm appearance, but her toes curled repeatedly beyond her control, and the tips of her ears quietly flushed scarlet. She could barely maintain that cold aloofness that had kept others a thousand miles away.
"Don't. It tickles."
Leng Nu Jiao finally could not help speaking.
"Then you're not allowed to be angry anymore."
Tang Qingye looked utterly shameless.
"I'm not angry anymore. You're awful."
"Where did you go last night?"
Leng Nu Jiao stared straight at Tang Qingye with her emerald eyes.
"Yesterday's training was a little intense, so I slept at Master's place."
Tang Qingye explained.
"Wasn't the afternoon supposed to be practical combat at the Spirit Ascension Platform? Why did you go to your teacher's place?"
"Ahem. Master said going to the Spirit Ascension Platform all the time was too boring, so she arranged some other training for me."
"Mmph."
The girl wanted to ask more, but the boy stopped her.
The Spirit Pagoda's dedicated illusion floor.
Gentle yet omnipresent spiritual fluctuations rippled through the air. Upon entering, one's Sea of Consciousness naturally rose and fell with them.
Unlike ordinary spiritual illusions, the World of Illusions had been born from Han Tianyi's ability to manifest his thoughts.
It truly made whatever he imagined appear within that world.
"Old Han."
Tang Qingye bowed slightly with his hands clasped, offering the proper greeting of a junior.
The surrounding sea of clouds surged, layer upon layer of illusions constantly shifting.
As his call faded, a path slowly opened through the center of the clouds.
An old man emerged from the depths of the white mist. As he walked, every illusion around him froze. All the illusory scenery between heaven and earth rose and fell with his thoughts.
Tang Qingye's mind trembled slightly. Was this the Spirit Pagoda's foremost expert in spiritual cultivation?
What an impressive entrance. That was real style.
Level 98 Illusion Brain Douluo, Han Tianyi!
Han Tianyi's indifferent gaze settled on Tang Qingye, as though carefully sensing the aura hidden within him. After a long while, he spoke slowly.
"I think you're more of a monster than those old fellows at Shrek. In all my years, I've never seen anyone your age with such a powerful physique and Spiritual Power.
"If Heavenly Phoenix hadn't told me, I would probably have thought you possessed a Body Martial Soul."
"You flatter me, Old Han."
Han Tianyi continued, "Heavenly Phoenix asked me to teach a freak like you. To be honest, I intended to refuse.
"But I also wanted to see this genius who had shocked even her. At my age, all I seek is to leave my name in the annals of history.
"The Qiangu Family now dominates the Spirit Pagoda. Qiangu Dongfeng approached me too, but neither he nor his grandson caught my eye, so I refused.
"Do you understand what I mean?"
"I believe placing your wager on my master and me will be the beginning of your name going down in history.
"As for the Qiangu Family, they may seem glorious now, holding more than half the Spirit Pagoda's authority, but their foundations have long since become hollow.
"They occupy lofty positions yet give no thought to fairness, seeking only benefits for their own clan. Their virtue does not match their station.
"The higher they stand, the more devastating their eventual fall will be."
"Hahaha! You little rascal, you're the first person who's dared judge the Qiangu Family like that. Aren't you afraid I'll tell Qiangu Dongfeng?
"That fellow is particularly fond of ambitious young prodigies like you."
Qiangu Dongfeng: Boy, let me show you what Nightmare Entanglement means.
One body sank into the soil to nourish the spirit veins,
And from then on, this person existed no more in the world.
Buried deep in heavy earth, his bones took root,
His vital essence scattered to nourish the dust of the wilds.
"Naturally, I trust your character, Senior. Otherwise, my master wouldn't have sent me to you."
"Heavenly Phoenix certainly took in a fine disciple. What a pity. If only you possessed a Body Martial Soul," Han Tianyi said helplessly.
"Senior, do you wish to revitalize the Body Sect?" Tang Qingye's gaze shifted.
Han Tianyi nodded. "Who wouldn't want their home to grow stronger?
"Across this entire land, only the Spirit Pagoda could provide enough resources to support my continued exploration of my own great Dao.
"I had no choice but to leave the sect."
"But if not for Shrek... how could the Body Sect have..." A chill flashed through Han Tianyi's eyes, and the spiritual ripples flowing around him sank slightly.
Tang Qingye's mind stirred. It had something to do with Shrek. Could it be...
"Starting tomorrow, you'll spend your afternoons undergoing special training in the Real Illusion of my Illusion Space's Virtual Combat Arena. I won't hold back," Han Tianyi said mildly.
An expert was an expert. He adjusted his mood so quickly. His mental fortitude was excellent.
"Your not having a Body Martial Soul spares me some conflict, too. When I left the Body Sect, I swore on my Martial Soul never to teach anyone the secret method of Second Awakening, and you don't need it anyway.
"But from here on, I'll gradually teach you some of the Body Sect's other secret methods. How much you learn will depend on you.
"Still, I don't think it should be a problem with that monstrous vitality of yours."
The corner of Tang Qingye's mouth twitched. Why was he insulting me now? Still, Han Tianyi's words undoubtedly showed that he was already leaning toward his master's camp. He would have to put in more effort on his end, too.
"I'm deeply grateful that you're willing to impart such precious secret methods to me, Old Han." Tang Qingye bowed deeply.
He paused briefly, a hint of hesitation appearing between his brows, and said softly, "There is just one more matter I'd like to trouble you with, Old Han."
Han Tianyi raised a hand and gently stroked his beard, studying the boy with interest for a moment before speaking slowly.
"Now I'm curious. What else could be worth making a separate request of me?"
"Senior, you're one of the few rank-nine Mecha mechanics in the world. I have a senior sister who specializes in that field too, and I'd like to ask you to give her some instruction," Tang Qingye said.
After hearing his request, Han Tianyi first froze, then shook his head with a laugh. "You little rascal. You've only just obtained secret methods from me, and now you're turning around and finding me another job. You certainly know how to work an abacus."
"Old Han, the capable shoulder more work. You're first-rate in two fields here at our Spirit Pagoda." Tang Qingye chuckled, his tone easy.
Han Tianyi laughed despite himself and slowly stroked his beard. "You certainly know how to pick pleasant words. Very well. Since you've put it that way, I'll agree to this."
"Old Han, my senior sister is waiting right outside."
The girl stood silently outside the door, her gaze fixed upon it, as though that barrier no longer existed and her eyes fell directly upon the person she held in her thoughts.
Han Tianyi casually raised his arm and brushed it through the air. Wisps of spiritual light passed through the wall, quietly enveloping the person outside. Space rippled slightly, and the girl standing outside flickered, silently entering the illusion and landing directly in Tang Qingye's arms.
Illusory light bore her figure near; bewilderment did not hurt her brain.
"Huh? Young Master."
Before you continue