Upon hearing Wangya mention the Cloud Raiment Pavilion, Liu Huaigu glared at him irritably. “Wangya ah… you have potential succession prospects for becoming Sect Leader someday… don’t end up breaking your cultivation progress in the Nine Revolutions Jade Condensation Art right before achieving it…”

Wangya felt greatly embarrassed. “Teacher… what nonsense are you talking about? How come I don’t understand…”

“Alright, alright… now you’ve grown up too… both your cultivation level and status far surpass mine nowadays… it’s not fitting anymore for an old fellow like me to be lecturing you. Just keep things measured within your heart then…”

Wangya hastily bowed again, saying, “By the way, Teacher… within a few months, the Lingxu Sect will host an Appreciating Pills Grand Assembly… Would Teacher accompany me, representing our Yunmiao Sect together?”

Liu Huaigu flicked his sleeve dismissively. “This old man won’t go! Their sect produced some Earth-grade pill among junior disciples, yet they still want to hold a grand assembly—pah! Should I go watch a bunch of old fogies flaunt their prestige there?”

Wangya gave an awkward smile—such troublesome duties only fell upon him to handle personally.

Liu Huaigu sighed emotionally. “Among the second-generation disciples, the Lingxu Sect produced Long Zhi, who originally already suppressed the other five sects somewhat… Now, unexpectedly, another pill refining grandmaster has emerged, heard also Long Zhi’s apprentice, possessing a top-grade Fire Spirit Root—damn, the Lingxu Sect is really lucky…”

Wangya kept sighing repeatedly—he always prided himself on his genius reputation, which had once resonated throughout the Southern Region.

A few years ago, upon meeting Long Zhi, he realized there was always someone beyond a person, a sky beyond the sky indeed… Now, a newcomer named Yang Poxiao had emerged. He heard the person’s bone age was less than a hundred years, yet they were already at the late Golden Core stage and simultaneously a pill refining grandmaster—simply awesome beyond belief.

“Don’t just stand there blocking the way anymore—aren’t there many affairs needing your attention on your busy schedule? Go attend to yours then…”

“What about the Zhang Xian matter…”

“Alright, alright—this old man won’t beat him to death anyway. Even if expelling him from the sect is required, it needs your order and approval, so why worry so much?” Liu Huaigu spoke irritably.

“This student takes his leave then…”

Wangya exited the mountain cave, inwardly cursing Zhang Xian—the little fellow is lust-blinded and truly troublesome. Already possessing a peerless beauty Dao Companion like Lin Yinyin, yet still coveting others, moreover targeting the teacher’s precious daughter right to her head…

I, a dignified Peak Master concurrently Deputy Sect Leader, yet a junior chasing girls needs me to wipe his butt afterwards. What a headache!

Better later give a hint or reminder perhaps—no, my position is not suitable. I’ll directly tell Pavilion Master Yun Wanqing, let her directly educate her juniors instead…

Watching Wangya exit the mountain cave wearing a worried expression and stepping onto his sword to fly away, the nearby disciples were all greatly delighted.

“Peak Master erupted, ha ha ha! Elder Wangya cannot protect him either!”

“Heaven has eyes indeed! Peak Master, crush the dog thief Zhang Xian! Expel him from the mountain sect!”

“Zhang Xian can be driven away, but Junior Sister Yinyin must stay!”

“Yes, yes, still want to take over afterwards…”

After Wangya departed…

Liu Qingxuan lowered her head, her voice muffled. “Father, I will try to gather money to buy a Beauty Preservation Pill to return to him…”

Liu Huaigu stared at his daughter for quite a while, remaining silent.

“Actually, besides gifting these presents, Zhang Xian hasn’t committed other excessive actions, nor has he expressed pursuing me either. All those were just speculations among the disciples…” she added further.

Liu Huaigu stroked his beard and suddenly asked, “What if he truly intends to pursue you then?”

Startled, she instinctively looked up. “What?”

“This father is asking whether any interest toward Zhang Xian exists perhaps?”

Her face suddenly flushed crimson, her voice completely trembling. “Fa-father! What nonsense are you speaking?! Didn’t you intend to punish him earlier?”

“When did I say I would punish him?”

He continued at a leisurely pace. “This father merely inquired about his origins, discovering he is not only generous with his spending but his background is quite profound too. If you could become Dao Companions together…”

Furious shame mixed together, she retorted, “Impossible! He already possesses a Dao Companion!”

“What does that matter? This father’s own Dao Companions exceed just your mother alone, after all…”

“We barely acquainted for less than two months. We’re not familiar yet!”

“He gifted you two Ascension Immortal Grasses. Do you know what that signifies perhaps?”

“He-he has mediocre spiritual roots and an ordinary appearance…”

“He gifted you two Ascension Immortal Grasses…”

“He-he is over a hundred years old and barely at Foundation Establishment Stage Three…”

“He gifted you two Ascension Immortal Grasses…”

She was blushing and furious, tears welling in her eyes.

Seeing his daughter truly angered, he finally dropped his joking demeanor and sighed leisurely. “Qingxuan, this father merely hopes you live well…”

“The cultivation world is cruel. It emphasizes wealth, companionship, methods, and land. Many cultivators are trapped lacking resources, lifelong unable to advance an inch. Even among the seventy-two peak masters and supervisors of our Yunmiao Sect, half are traveling outside, risking their lives exploring secret realms, contending for slim immortal fate opportunities…”

“Now, a wealthy cultivator is willing to pave the path forward for you. Isn’t that fortunate indeed perhaps?”

He turned, looking at his daughter, his eyes showing rare gentleness. “If he treats you sincerely, it might be a decent destination. If he is fickle or shallow, severing the feelings later is still timely enough…”

Liu Qingxuan lowered her head, her voice a fine mosquito hum. “But daughter is unsure how to respond appropriately…”

Liu Huaigu laughed heartily, stroking his beard and saying, “You need do nothing. Simply attempt to accept enough. The fellow keeps giving; eventually, he will express his affection. Then you can decide whether to accept later.”

“Just next time he gifts you something, for example, the Ascension Immortal Grass yesterday, don’t refuse so thoroughly. Give others a bit more opportunity perhaps…”

“But—daughter is unsure whether he truly likes me perhaps…”

“Silly girl!” He slapped his thigh, exclaiming, “He spends so lavishly! He specifically enrolled under Li Fuxi, a woman who, though fiery-tempered, has top-notch appearance and figure. He is clearly a lecherous little pervert fond of beauty!”

Hearing her father speak thus, Liu Qingxuan recalled Zhang Xian’s righteous and solemn expression and couldn’t help giggling involuntarily.

Liu Huaigu proudly pointed at his daughter, saying, “My child’s features are elegant, clear, and possess a transcendent aura. Which aspect is inferior to others? If he dislikes you, why gift you the Ascension Immortal Grass and the Beauty Preservation Pill? He knows those two Ascension Immortal Grasses are enough to cause the seventy-two peak masters to fight until their heads are bloody and broken indeed!”

Speaking thus, he stood up, saying, “No good! I must meet this Zhang Xian. He said yesterday he would gift another Ascension Immortal Grass; since you refused, I will go help retrieve it instead!”

Liu Qingxuan was greatly embarrassed and quickly pulled Liu Huaigu’s arm. “Father, calm down! Running to demand the Ascension Immortal Grass will make it impossible for your daughter to face people afterward!”

“Oh, right.” He slapped his forehead, saying, “Indeed, facing the Ascension Immortal Grass, nobody can maintain calmness indeed…”

Thus, the words spoken earlier—that she merely felt accepting the spiritual grass and pills was somewhat improper—had transformed. Upon careful reflection, her heart stirred with a faint ripple, a strange feeling.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xian, who was meditating: “?”

The disciples lurking outside the cave entrance for a long time finally awaited the emergence of the father-daughter pair.

They only saw Liu Huaigu burst into hearty laughter and transform into a green light, soaring skywards and departing!

The disciples: “?”

“What is the Peak Master happy about?”

Before they could ponder thoroughly, Liu Qingxuan emerged, walking slowly with lowered eyelashes. Her fingertips unconsciously twirled her waist ribbon, a thoughtful expression on her face, heading directly toward the medicinal garden.

“What expression is Supervisor wearing? She was supposed to interrogate and expel Zhang Xian; why is she heading to the medicinal garden instead?”

“Perhaps Elder Wangya already expelled him from the mountain sect?”

“Is that so? That doesn’t seem likely. Her expression seems preoccupied, but she doesn’t appear sad either, perhaps…”