Chapter 7: How Could I Deserve This  

The guest reception and alchemy rooms were located downstairs, while the two rooms upstairs served as a bedroom and a meditation chamber. 

Yu Lanqing's mind was still preoccupied with the sword intent she had sensed earlier at the Sword Glory Hall. Without stopping to examine each detail, she hurried upstairs and entered the meditation chamber. 

Meanwhile, Shen Huaizhuo returned to the Green Bamboo Courtyard, took some pills, and dozed off briefly. Upon waking, he suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to give his new disciple the token for entering and exiting Green Bamboo Peak. 

Extending his spiritual sense toward the two-story cottage by the stream, he was momentarily surprised not to catch sight of his little disciple at first glance. 

Had she wandered off somewhere else? 

Just as he was about to search further downstream, he sensed the defensive formation he had set up on the second floor of the cottage being passively triggered. 

Focusing his "gaze," he realized the missing disciple was none other than the one currently sitting cross-legged inside, eyes closed in meditation. 

Ho! 

He, Shen Huaizhuo, had actually taken in such a diligent disciple! 

Beneath the towering ancient tree, the white-robed man lounging crookedly on a recliner instinctively straightened up. 

The next moment, he flopped back down and lazily flicked his fingers, nudging the branches above to shift slightly, allowing the warm sunlight to spill over him. 

Since his disciple was so self-motivated, there was even less need for him, as her master, to push her! 

He reclined with a clear conscience. 

After some thought, Shen Huaizhuo stuffed the token, along with a hundred top-grade spirit stones, a stack of promised sword talismans, and a bottle of high-grade Spirit-Stabilizing Pills, into a storage pouch. 

It wasn't that he was unwilling to give her a better storage ring or bracelet—it was just that the ones he had on hand were all designed for male cultivators. His little disciple was slender, with delicate arms and fingers, and wearing those would look awkward. 

Better to wait a couple of days when the Treasured Pavilion restocked and pick out something nicer. 

At least then she wouldn't think he was just handing her his unwanted leftovers. 

Shen Huaizhuo lacked many things, but he had never lacked spirit stones. 

His disciple deserved only the best! 

A wisp of breeze carried the storage pouch to the door of the meditation chamber. Shen Huaizhuo withdrew his spiritual sense and began fiddling with the newly delivered formation disc from the Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion earlier this month. 

Supposedly, this formation could pull clouds down from the sky and anchor them to the ground. 

Perfect for decorating his Green Bamboo Garden with a few fluffy additions. 

The sword intent left behind by past masters was truly extraordinary. Yu Lanqing remained seated in meditation for a full ten hours. 

Whether it was due to Green Bamboo Peak's abundant spiritual energy or the calming effect of the meditation mat beneath her, the gains from these ten hours surpassed what she would have achieved in ten days elsewhere. 

Her newly established Foundation Establishment cultivation had already surged forward, nearly crossing the threshold to the second layer! 

In her past life, after reaching Foundation Establishment, it had taken her over half a year to advance from the first to the second layer. 

Back then, though she had become Chang Yuan's disciple, her residence remained on the mountainside, adjacent to the outer disciples of Lingxiao Peak. She had once asked Chang Yuan if she needed to move, to which he replied that since she was already accustomed to it, there was no need. 

Yet in the same breath, he arranged for her junior sister to reside at the peak, second only to his own dwelling—the second most spiritually rich location on Lingxiao Peak. 

It wasn't the lack that troubled her, but the inequality. Yu Lanqing had never expected her master to shower her with favors. 

But faced with such disparity, the less favored one couldn't help but feel wronged. 

Still, her slow cultivation progress wasn't solely due to that. After formally becoming Sword Venerable Chang Yuan's disciple, her days were often spent instructing fellow disciples on sword techniques, while her nights were devoted to tending the half-acre of Frostshadow Grass in the spirit fields. 

That had been the first task Chang Yuan assigned her as her master. The herbs were precious, and the field's restrictions were keyed only to her. Not daring to delegate the work, Yu Lanqing had no choice but to squeeze every last drop of time from herself. 

Between Lingxiao Peak's demands, her daily cultivation time dwindled to just one or two hours, and even then, her mind struggled to settle. 

When she requested a period of secluded cultivation to focus without interruption, Chang Yuan rebuked her for disregarding camaraderie. Somehow, this spread, and her reputation took a hit. 

To the outer disciples of Lingxiao Peak, advancing one layer in half a year was already impressive. She had overheard them whispering that her request for seclusion was merely a ploy to pressure Chang Yuan into relocating her to a better residence—to compete with her junior sister, Ji Fuyao. 

Other peaks spread rumors that she had grown arrogant after becoming Chang Yuan's disciple, looking down on ordinary disciples. 

Even though she continued patiently guiding those who sought her advice, the slander never faded. 

In her past life, Yu Lanqing had agonized over this. 

Having died once, she now understood—people would talk no matter what. There was no need to change herself for others' opinions. 

The fault had never been hers, but Chang Yuan's—for exploiting her to bolster Ji Fuyao's cultivation and reputation! 

As hatred and fury flared in her heart, a soothing, tranquil energy emanated from the meditation mat, instantly calming her agitation. 

Yu Lanqing didn't recognize the material of the mat, but she could guess it was no ordinary item. In her past life, even as a Golden Core cultivator, she had seen enough to know that even the weakest calming mats cost at least a thousand spirit stones. 

As for one as potent as this, it must have cost several thousand! 

Her master's generosity was staggering. Everything in this meditation chamber and cottage was of exceptional quality. 

She had thought taking him as her master was about forging a new life for herself and repaying him to avert his future calamity. 

Yet after becoming his disciple, all she had done was take advantage of his kindness— 

First, a treasure crafted by Sword Venerable Cang Huang. Then this serene, meticulously arranged cottage, the rich spiritual energy, the cultivation-aiding meditation mat… 

How could she, Yu Lanqing, possibly deserve such a master? 

The brief pride she had felt at nearing a breakthrough in just one day instantly evaporated. 

What was there to celebrate about advancing from the first to the second layer of Foundation Establishment? 

With such an ideal cultivation environment provided by her master, rapid progress was only to be expected. 

Only by remaining humble, diligent, and disciplined could she live up to his efforts. 

And only with sufficient strength could she protect her master, who possessed so many treasures. After all, in her past life, it was precisely because he carried rare treasures that he had been schemed against, vanishing without a trace, his life token shattering… 

Her resolve to grow stronger burned fiercer than ever. 

Yu Lanqing closed her eyes again, circulating her cultivation technique. Riding this determination, she broke through to the second layer of Foundation Establishment before finally withdrawing her energy, rising, and pushing open the chamber door. 

A golden-threaded storage pouch lay quietly at the threshold.

***

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