Chapter 1: Whose Scenery is Whose!

  "Barely passed?" The old man in black, Fang Yun, slightly narrowed his eyes and showed a look of displeasure. "If it's just barely passing, then he'll be listed as an outer disciple!"

  "This...” A look of difficulty flashed across his face, and after a moment's thought, he laughed and said: "Why must Brother Shifu include him in the outer sect? It would be better to follow the usual practice and send a mediocre person to become Sister Jiang's disciple every year. His talent is so mediocre that it can't be more mediocre! Going to worship under Sister Jiang's gate is just right!"

  He accepted Bai Yu's benefits and always had to help with things. Otherwise, such good things would not come his way in the future.

  As for who I will apprentice under, what business is it of yours? Can't Bai Yu still turn things around?

  "Jiang Shimei?" A flash of hatred appeared in the eyes of the black-robed old man.

  He smiled in a somewhat unpleasant manner: "You should know that after joining Sister Jiang's sect, he will eventually go to the outer sect!"

  Fang Yun nodded and said, "Just like the previous years, bring him into Jiang Qiao's lineage. Tomorrow, find some disciples who have opened up their meridians to bully him a bit, and let Jiang Qiao's lineage gradually decline. I'd love to see how long Jiang Qiao can hold on! Hmph!"

  He harbored resentment in his heart.

  "Jiang Qiao, you took the second set of sword techniques passed down by our ancestors, I don't believe you'll never take out this second set of sword techniques! Every year, I send a mediocre disciple to you, and then humiliate him, it's to make this lineage infamous! You have no way out!"

  A fierce killing intent suddenly flashed in his eyes!

  Ye Xuan was taken aback in his heart, and he had been discussing with the black-robed old man for a while, but he didn't know what they were talking about.

  "You'd better join my sister Jiang's sect and cultivate diligently from now on, striving to make our sect prosper and shine. Yuan Dou, take him to your aunt Jiang Qiao's Cuiyu Pavilion." Yu Wei instructed.

  "Yes!"

  Yuan Da bowed his head and saluted, then looked at Ye Xuan with a sympathetic gaze, saying: "Younger brother, follow me!"

  Ye Xuan's heart became even more puzzled, why did Yuan Dou look at him with eyes that carried a sympathetic meaning?

  Is Jiang Qiao's family line really that terrifying?

  ……

  Soon, Yuan Dou led Ye Xuan to Qiao Yu Ge.

  This cleverly built Rain Pavilion is neither big nor small, with one pavilion connected to another, and has a watercolor painting feel. Ye Xuan thought that he didn't know who was living in it, but indeed there was a kind of elegant and refined atmosphere, such a beautiful pavilion, is really a good place for quiet cultivation.

  "Ginger Master Uncle, I have brought this year's disciples over!" Yuan Du bowed politely towards the pavilion.

  Just after a bow, Yuan Duan quickly said to Ye Xuan: "I've brought the junior brother here!"

  Having said that, Yuan seemed as if he didn't want to stay here for a moment and ran away quickly.

  "Come on in!"

  A woman's cold voice came from inside the attic.

  Fang Ran slightly furrowed his brow, a sense of vigilance arising in his heart, and stepped into the attic.

  Inside this attic hung a few ink paintings, each with its own unique scenery. Ye Xuan looked deeply at one of them, and in the next moment, he suddenly froze.

  All that was seen was a fluttering white-clad figure falling from the sky, it was a woman who was not very old, about 27 or 28 years old. The woman's figure was slender and delicate, with only a purple waistband needed to outline her slender figure completely.

  Willow eyebrows and a pretty face, ink-black hair falling on her shoulders, charmingly moving people, a pair of white arms like jade, as clean and white as snow.

  This was not a black-robed old man or an old man or woman like Yu Weiban, but a thousand charming and beautiful women.

  It's just a pity that this woman's face is cold and clear, and the expression on her face can't be distinguished as joy or sorrow, grief or pleasure.

  At this moment, Jiang Qiao was holding a jade bowl in her hand, and the fragrance from the bowl was overwhelming, as if it were some delicious dishes.

  "Is... this his own master?" Ye Xuan was taken aback for a moment.

  Jiang Qiao glanced at Ye Xuan lightly and said: "You are this year's new disciple who has joined our sect?"

  "Yes!" Ye Xuan bowed.

  "What's your name!" Jiang Qiao asked slowly.

  "Ye Xuan!"

  Ye Xuan said so, but in his heart, he had endless doubts. According to Bai Yu, each of the inner sect's lineages had hundreds or even thousands of disciples. As for those two, Yan Wei and the black-robed old man, their disciples were too numerous to count. Yet, this clever attic was extremely quiet and deserted.

  Logically speaking, one should have senior and junior fellow disciples in order to be proper.

  But until now, he has seen no one except Jiang Qiao, and there is not even half a shadow of anyone else.

  "Hmm!" Jiang Qiao nodded slightly.

  Ye Xuan saw this and immediately knelt down on one knee, saying: "Ye Xuan pays his respects to Master!"

  Jiang Qiao glanced at Ye Xuan, the corner of his mouth slightly raised, and said: "Your brain is indeed clever, you haven't even waited for me to accept you as my disciple before you've already started calling me Master! However, it's still too early for you to call me Master, there are only two people in this lineage now - just the two of us! There isn't even half a disciple under me!"

  Ye Xuan was at a loss.

  Under Jiang Qiao's hands, there isn't even a single disciple?

  Even if Jiang Qiao's strength is not high, having such a beautiful woman by his side would likely make many people eager to become his disciples.

  "Come here!" Jiang Qiao's voice was soft and gentle, but unfortunately, it didn't carry any flavor.

  Ye Xuan took a few steps closer.

  Jiang Qiao grasped Ye Xuan's arm, closed his eyes, and after a brief moment, shook his head and said in a cold voice: "It turns out that Yu Wei and Fang Yun didn't have any good intentions. The disciples they sent over to me are all mediocre talents!"

  Ye Xuan was stupid and guessed that Jiang Qiao and Yu Wei had a feud with the black-robed old man, Fang Yun.

  "According to the rules, I should have transmitted to you the 'Five Mystical Ranks' period of opening up the acupoints and cultivating the technique. However, your innate talent is mediocre, so I will first transmit the techniques for opening up the Qi aperture and the Brain Spirit aperture. Once you've opened up the Brain Spirit aperture, then I'll teach you how to reach the Flying Heaven Rank!" Jiang Qiao stood with his hands behind his back, his voice still cold and clear.

  As they spoke, a small black book appeared between her fingers at some unknown time.

  "Take it away!"

  Ye Xuan accepted the book and knew in his heart that this was definitely a cultivation method to open up one's meridians and brain, and hastily thanked him: "Thank you, Master!"

  "In this clever rain pavilion, there are only the two of us. I have cultivated many spiritual herbs in this pavilion. If you need them, you can pick them freely, but on one condition: you must survive until tomorrow!" Jiang Qiao stood with her hands behind her back, her slender figure elegant and refined, her eyebrows raised slightly as she spoke calmly.

  "What does 'Shifu' mean? I don't understand!" Ye Xuan was really puzzled.

  Jiang Qiao smiled meaninglessly and said, "You haven't eaten yet today, have you? I just cooked some food. If you're full, then go cultivate. Tomorrow, disciples from other sects will probably come to bully you again. If you can't hold on, then obediently go to the outer gate!"

  Before Ye Xuan could figure out what it meant, Jiang Qiao turned around and walked away with his hands behind his back.

  Ye Xuan looked at Jiang Qiao's cold and calm back, his mind filled with thoughts.

  But just at this time.

  He furrowed his brow.

  Jiang Qiao is somewhat wrong.

  It's not that people aren't right, it's just that their bodies aren't right.

  Jiang Qiao's body seems to have been injured.

  "My master's body appears to be fine on the surface, but upon closer inspection, her internal energy is somewhat unstable, as if she has some hidden injuries. She seems to have been hurt, and it doesn't look like a light injury!" Ye Xuan thought to himself.

  He is extremely confident in his medical skills.

  Her master is probably injured.

  "Huh?"

  The next moment, he slapped his forehead.

  "I still can't change this habit of mine where I see someone hurt and can't help but treat them!" Ye Xuan shook his head with a bitter smile.

  When I recall what Jiang Qiao said at that time.

  Ye Xuan couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

  "I'm afraid it's about Master Jiang Qiao and some grudges with other high-ranking members of the inner circle, which somehow involve me..."

  "It's not easy to get in, so no matter what, I won't be easily driven out!"

  Ye Xuan clenched his fists.

  His thirst for strength, on the surface, has not revealed much, but in his heart, that flame cannot be extinguished no matter what.

  His uncle's expectations of him.

  He said he would never let anyone down!

  "According to Master, there are many spiritual herbs planted in this pavilion, and they can be picked at will!" Ye Xuan's curiosity rose, and he looked around to find a spiritual herb garden.

  It doesn't matter this time.

  "Because of the herbs, and also the Scarlet Spirit Fruit!" Ye Xuan's eyes lit up.

  "These are all miraculous herbs for treating illnesses!"

  Ye Xuan didn't like it, the way of medicine, acupuncture is one, making medicine is also a unique skill among them. The sacred book of Taoist medicine mainly talks about 83 needle methods, and apart from these, there are also many techniques for making medicine. Many spiritual herbs he had only seen in books, but had never really seen before.

  "Baby!"

  Ye Xuan thought to himself, since Jiang Qiao allowed him to take whatever he wanted, then he would take some.

  Although Jiang Qiao didn't say it explicitly, he was clear in his heart that taking one or two of these spiritual herbs might be okay, but taking more would likely be unacceptable.

  "Hiss, hiss! Hundred Steps Cloud Bamboo Grass! And also Begging Spirit Grass!"

  ……

  Jiang Qiao stood on the attic, her eyes fixed on Ye Xuan below, a hint of puzzlement flashing between her eyebrows as she muttered to herself: "What is this kid doing with these rare spiritual herbs that have extraordinary healing properties? No, ordinary people usually don't even recognize spiritual herbs specifically used for healing injuries!"

  She planted spiritual grass in this attic, mainly to recover from her injuries, but unfortunately, the injury was too severe and ordinary spiritual grass could hardly cure it.

  She placed her pale and slender hand on her chest, a faint pain and the sword energy hidden in her body that could not be suppressed.

  "In the past, between the clouds and the square, there were also those senior brothers and sisters who joined forces to target me, wanting to force out from me the second sword technique created by Qing Yin Lao Zu. However, wanting to deal with me is not that easy!" Jiang Qiao stood with her hands behind her back, her red lips slightly parted, frowning as she muttered to herself.

  Eyes gazing at Ye Xuan under the attic, thinking that tomorrow Ye Xuan will definitely be targeted by other disciples of several veins, and helplessly shook his head.