Chapter 0010

Chapter 10: Master’s Reward: Take It Off!

At those words, everyone around sighed in amazement. Tang Qi was arrogant, but he truly had the strength to back it up.

Mo Liu Su clapped and smiled, her eyes full of expectation as she said: “Good. You are worthy of being my disciple. From today on, you are my personal disciple. I will give you better resources so you can surpass all rivals.”

She meant to let the whole world know that, in her eyes, Zhou Tong was not worth mentioning. Throwing him away was as casual as tossing out a sesame seed. If she wished, she could teach another Zhou Tong with ease, one even stronger.

The crowd shivered as they understood it: Mo Liu Su was set on lifting up Tang Qi and abandoning Zhou Tong.

Jiang Yu Yao and the others cheered as they said: “Great. With this, junior brother will charge ahead and leave that trash far behind.”

“Boom!” A majestic roar rolled across the sky and earth. Everyone flinched and looked toward the bursting thunder.

Someone blurted out like a stone tossed into a still lake, stirring wave after wave: “Is that… heavenly thunder and earthly fire?”

Another voice hissed in shock as they said: “No way, right? When heaven’s thunder and earth’s fire appear, a rare treasure is born. Could a seventh grade pill really have come out?”

Tang Qi smiled and drew all eyes as he said: “You’re overthinking it. Thunder that short only means a failed alchemy.”

Someone asked in surprise as their face changed: “You mean Zhou Tong tried to force an alchemy and failed?”

Tang Qi nodded as he said: “Yes. He not only failed, he was also struck by backlash from the Heavenly Dao.”

Ge Hong Qiu spoke in a sharp, sour tone that won many nods as she said: “Ha. Serves him right. He is a nobody, yet he dared to challenge junior brother. He never knew his own weight. He got what he deserved.”

Red Dust Mountain, Joyous Union Sect.

Mu Rong Ya held a delicate Bodhi Pill between glowing fingers and lowered her other hand. Just moments ago, with a body still weakened by decay, she had split apart a Heavenly Tribulation with one palm and erased it, stopping the storm in its tracks. [So strong. At her peak, she might really have had the power to sweep a hundred sects.] Zhou Tong was impressed.

The little demoness urged from the side as she said: “Master, please take it now.”

Mu Rong Ya nodded, parted her thin lips, and placed the pill in her mouth with perfect grace. At once, a peaceful wave rose from within her, soft and kind, like a gentle force that could wash away all ferocity and dissolve inner demons.

After ten breaths, the quiet returned. Mu Rong Ya slowly opened her eyes.

Zhou Tong asked in a low voice: “How do you feel?”

Mu Rong Ya answered calmly as she said: “Most of my inner demon has been suppressed, but the Dao wound remains and needs careful care. Right now I have about twenty percent of my peak strength.”

Zhou Tong’s pupils tightened. [If it were a normal inner demon, the pill I refined should have cured it already.]

He steadied himself and spoke with confidence as he said: “It’s fine. With my help to guide your recovery, within half a year the inner demon will fade and the Dao wound will heal.”

Before he finished, a fragrant breeze brushed by. Mu Rong Ya moved and pulled Zhou Tong into her arms. “Mm…” Caught off guard, his face sank into warm softness.

Her voice wound around his ear, tender and bewitching as she said: “That ugly woman from the Jade Purity Sect was blind. She didn’t want such a treasure. Lucky for me. I have nothing on me as a meeting gift, so you can take this hug as your reward.”

The sound tugged at his soul. If not for his unmatched spiritual will, he might have lost himself. Zhou Tong pushed out each word with effort as he said: “Please let go first. I can’t breathe.”

He struggled free at last. She smiled like a flower and pressed a hand to her chest, where his warmth still lingered.

Mu Rong Ya nodded in approval as she said: “Your mind is firm. You pass. You may learn the Joyous Union Heavenly Art.”

Zhou Tong felt as if struck by lightning. He hurried to refuse as he said: “No, no, no. I have countless peerless arts already. I’m not interested in the path of yin and yang union.”

She laughed like a clever fox and grabbed his wrist as she said: “Come here, you. You entered my gate, so you carry my supreme art. You cannot run.”

Before he could struggle, her slender fingertip touched his brow. Four large characters bloomed inside his mind: Joyous Union Heavenly Art.

A question and answer followed at once: “What is joyous union?” “To join the great Dao of heaven and earth, to share one heart with the ages. That is the path of joyous union.”

Just those few words made Zhou Tong’s body shake. [Have I misunderstood the meaning of joyous union all along?]

He took a breath and spoke with new resolve as he said: “Master, I’ve thought it through. I want to learn the Joyous Union Heavenly Art.”

Mu Rong Ya’s smile deepened, her eyes soft as water as she said: “That’s more like it.”

She lifted her chin and gave the first order as she said: “Step one is practice. Take it off.”

Zhou Tong blinked in confusion as he said: “Take what off?”

She stared like it should be obvious as she said: “Clothes, of course. The first layer of the art is bedchamber arts. You didn’t know?”

Zhou Tong turned to stone again. [This escalated fast.]