Volume 1, Chapter 7: Hiding a Big Treasure Inside a Big Treasure?

Ye Qinghan thought to herself, "Master, you truly don't even consider her a human being..."

Shangguan Rou was truly blind; having suffered a minor setback, she felt her pride was wounded and began brandishing her sword, intent on killing. Could she not read the room? Did she really think she and Ye Qinghan were on the same level? Was her Foundation Establishment equivalent to Ye Qinghan’s Qi Refining in any world? Ye Qinghan was using an Innate Supreme Treasure—an upgraded one at that! She practiced the Ling Shuang Sword Technique; in her eyes, Immortal-grade cultivation manuals were nothing but trash. Even the liquid she bathed in was pure spiritual essence. What could Shangguan Rou possibly use to compete? Ye Qinghan was actually worried that if she went too hard, she might accidentally shatter that delicate little body.

Ye Qinghan didn't mind, though; it was the perfect chance to test the immortal swords within her sword case.

"Hold on a second, let me find where I put it."

As she spoke, Ye Qinghan pulled at her collar, turned her back, and began rummaging through her robes.

*(Oh, my precious, why are you hiding treasures inside your treasures?)*

"Huh? Where did I put it?" Ye Qinghan looked adorably confused. She clearly remembered putting it inside her robes along with her jade pendant and immortal pills. Why was the sword case missing? She leaned into Su Cheng’s space, and right under his nose, she tugged at her neckline with one hand while digging around with the other.

"You vixen! You’re courting death!"

With a shout, Shangguan Rou lunged forward with her sword. In an instant, the blade was behind Ye Qinghan. Ye Qinghan was annoyed! Couldn't she see that she was busy showing her master her treasures? Her master was staring at her so intently, and here this girl was, causing trouble!

Without even looking, Ye Qinghan turned slightly and lashed out with a kick. She forgot to pull her punch, and the force sent Shangguan Rou flying while vomiting blood. Shangguan Rou was caught by Lu Cheng, who stood nearby, and only then did she manage to catch her breath.

"Hey! Don't you dare try to pin this on me! I didn't even use any strength!"

Ye Qinghan gave up on searching and simply commanded, "Stupid sword case! Get out here!"

She had only tried it on a whim, but to her surprise, the sword case was actually obedient. With a "whoosh," it turned into a streak of light, flew out from her collar, expanded in mid-air, and slammed heavily at her feet, shattering the road surface. Ye Qinghan felt there was no need to use the immortal swords at all; she could just swing the case itself and crush Shangguan Rou to death!

"Since Master has given the word, I’ll play with you for a bit, but don't take too long. I still need to go out for a meal with Master! Consider this a pre-dinner performance for him!"

Ye Qinghan stomped her foot, her spiritual energy surging instantly. Her red lips parted slightly as she whispered, "Sword, come!"

*(Huh? My top disciple—why does she suddenly feel so cool after stepping out? She wasn't like this back at Lingxian Hall!)*

With two loud clicks, as if locks were springing open, the sword case unfolded, revealing a dozen or so immortal swords of various styles lying inside. Since they were immortal swords, there was a limit to what Ye Qinghan could control. Four of them flew out instantly, heading straight for Shangguan Rou.

Shangguan Rou had lost her cool; she intended to deflect the flying swords and take the life of this arrogant girl. But reality proved she was overthinking it. Attempting to parry an immortal sword? The moment her blade touched it, the sheer power forced her backward. In an instant, Shangguan Rou sobered up. Glancing at Ye Qinghan, who was now sitting on the sword case and adjusting her collar, she saw her only as a monster. She was at the Foundation Establishment stage, while Ye Qinghan was only at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, yet she had to use her full strength just to block the attack!

The relentless flying swords gave her no time to ponder further. As she parried, she screamed, "Second Elder! What are you waiting for? Help me kill her!"

"But..."

The Second Elder wasn't stupid. This was a woman favored by the Sect Leader; should he really kill her?

"What 'buts'! I’ll take the responsibility! Just attack!" Shangguan Rou was frantic. She was a prodigy, the top disciple of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion! Was the Second Elder’s brain fried? How could he just watch his own people get beaten?

Ye Qinghan looked at Su Cheng, who merely smiled without a word.

*(Let Qinghan play; she seems to be looking forward to fighting the Second Elder. Given Cheng Liang’s favor for her, the Second Elder likely won't dare to deal a killing blow. Qinghan should be safe. As long as his target isn't me, even if that old man Lu Cheng dares to harbor murderous intent, I can instantly kill him.)*

Su Cheng was confident in his skills; he could likely kill anyone below the Transformation stage in a single blow. The only catch was that they couldn't be aiming for him, otherwise, he—a man without cultivation—would be left standing there as a mere mortal, unable to withstand the assault.

Ye Qinghan understood this perfectly. She felt she was getting to know her master better. Although he was powerful, he lacked cultivation and was fragile, needing her protection! *Hehe.*

Ye Qinghan wasn't in a hurry. Shangguan Rou was struggling against just two swords; if not for the fact that her master didn't want her to kill anyone, Shangguan Rou would already be dead. Ye Qinghan decided to send two swords after Lu Cheng instead, and while chatting with her master, she managed to suppress both of them.

Once the clash began, Lu Cheng was stunned. "Sect Leader? You call this the ninth layer of Qi Refining? If she ever reached Foundation Establishment, ten of me wouldn't be enough to handle her!"

At the same time, he understood why Cheng Liang was so desperate to have Ye Qinghan. Such a powerful "demoness" would naturally be a target for every major sect. It was just a pity that she had chosen such a useless man, treating him like a treasure and calling him "Master" at every turn.

Lu Cheng wielded a bamboo staff, a low-grade Heaven-tier artifact. Relying on his Nascent Soul cultivation, he could barely hold his ground. However, Shangguan Rou was on the verge of collapse. Her arms and legs were covered in cuts, and her clothes were shredded, giving her a modern, "distressed" look.

Seeing that things were going poorly, Lu Cheng went all out. Ye Qinghan was taken aback. *Oh? Master is still watching! You want to make me look bad?*

"You want to trade blows with me, Ye Qinghan? Do you even have the strength for it?"

Ye Qinghan stomped her foot again. *You want to play, right? You don't know when to quit, right?* Two more immortal swords flew toward Lu Cheng. She began to fight in earnest; controlling six immortal swords was the limit of her precision—any more, and she wouldn't be able to handle them with such ease.

Lu Cheng was baffled. What kind of monster was this girl? Ye Qinghan scanned the surroundings. She had expected the merchants to flee in terror, but they were keeping a safe distance, silently watching the "gods" fight.

"Qinghan, stop."

"Is Master hungry?" Ye Qinghan actually wanted to use this Second Elder to test her Ling Shuang Sword Technique, but since her master had spoken...

"If I hadn't told you to stop, you would have started harboring murderous intent, wouldn't you?" Su Cheng said, rubbing her little head with a doting expression, showing no signs of blame.

Ye Qinghan said nothing, silently retracting her swords. She squinted at Shangguan Rou, put the sword case away, and stood obediently behind Su Cheng.

"Miss Shangguan is truly a hero among youth, living up to the name of a prodigy. I am truly impressed." Su Cheng spoke up. "I, Su Cheng, apologize on behalf of my disciple for her lack of restraint. I haven't disciplined her well, and she has offended you. When we return, I will certainly teach her a lesson! Second Elder, if there is nothing else, I shall take Qinghan to get something to eat."

Lu Cheng and Shangguan Rou were both bewildered, but compared to the hot-headed Shangguan Rou, Lu Cheng was more experienced.

"Sect Leader Su is too kind. Miss Qinghan is naturally gifted; in time, she will surely become a dragon among men. Sect Leader Su, I shall not delay your time any further. Please, go ahead."

Su Cheng smiled and took Ye Qinghan to a restaurant.

"Qinghan, order whatever you like! You did a great job today; Master is very happy!"

"Wow! Thank you, Master!"

Ye Qinghan didn't really need to eat; she only craved her master's praise and head pats! As long as she had his approval, she could grow strong just by photosynthesizing! However, considering she didn't know if her master still had money, she didn't order everything on the menu. She only picked two of her favorites and then ordered the dishes her master liked.

*(My Qinghan is so cool! Hehe, as expected of my disciple! It was worth my careful guidance! But this incident serves as a warning; I need to equip her with more artifacts! We managed to handle these two, but what about next time? What if the opponent is stronger or has more people? I don't care about my own life—it's cheap—but Qinghan is my personal disciple; I have to take responsibility!)*

Ye Qinghan listened quietly. Was this her master’s "training strategy"? Was he really planning to shower her with heavenly treasures and artifacts?

*(That's it, it's decided. If we can't compete in raw talent, we'll fight an "equipment war"! I may lack many things, but I have plenty of artifacts and gear! If they push me, I’ll get Qinghan a Pangu Axe. Damn it, anyone who dares to bully my disciple will get their entire sect wiped out!)*

Ye Qinghan was dumbfounded. So, Innate Supreme Treasures weren't even the most ruthless things he had?

"Qinghan, I have a treasure here. Do you want it?"

Ye Qinghan paused. She wasn't in a hurry now. If that was her master's intent, those treasures would be hers sooner or later. Why rush? If she needed them, her master would surely arrange it without her even having to ask.

"Master has already given me so much. I don't ask for anything else; I only wish to stay by your side and serve you."

*(Uh... is she in 'obedient mode' now?)*

"I said, tell me you want it."

"Alright, Disciple wants it." Ye Qinghan smiled, putting on an expression that said, *I really can't do anything with you, Master.*

"This is my Galaxy Ruler. If you can reach the Foundation Establishment stage before the secret realm opens, I will give it to you. How about that?"

*(Hehe, with Qinghan's personality, she definitely won't refuse!)*

"I don't want it." *Oh? Master knows Qinghan so well?*

Ye Qinghan wasn't truly interested. She hadn't even finished studying the six rituals yet! With so many artifacts, she didn't even know how to use them, so they were useless to her. Besides, what was her master’s was hers. If she ever wanted something, she just had to act spoiled and she'd get it—why bother?

*(That shouldn't be right! Does she not like artifacts anymore?)*

"You don't like it? I have others. Do you want the Banana Leaf Fan? Or maybe the Immortal-Slaying Zither?"

"I don't want them."

*Hiss...*

*(Something is wrong! Extremely wrong! Is the food poisoned?)*

"Master, if I manage to do it, can you promise me a small request?"

"As long as it's your request... I... I can promise it..."

*(Is Qinghan... going to ask to leave Lingxian Hall?!)*

"Well, maybe not *all* requests!" Su Cheng added quickly.