Chapter 1036: Three Realms of the Golden Core; Returning to the Cold Pool (Part 3)

“As for the matter of Divine Skills, Little Friend, you will understand it in time. The reason I sought you out today, apart from exchanging insights on Core Formation, is more importantly… regarding the matter of the Ruins Country.”

“I am all ears.” Chen Ye said solemnly.

Xu Henshan brushed the sleeve of his coarse robe, his expression steeped in long memories:

“I’m sure you have heard, Little Friend, that the Ruins Country is said to have One Manor, Three Kings, and Seven Clans. My Xu family’s ancestor hailed from one of the Three Kings, King Dingxiang! The past is hard to recount in full… In short, years ago my father was forced to take me far to the Yan Kingdom, and now, with the line of King Dingxiang, we have a relationship that is neither entirely hostile nor friendly. There are also some old grudges left from our ancestors that need to be resolved.”

“Qing Jun lass has great fortune, bound to become someone extraordinary in the future. The only hope I hold is that when Qing Jun reaches the day of her Core Formation, she might lend this old man a helping hand, considering the ties between our two families. When the time comes, I will personally tell her the reasons. If by then she or you, Little Friend Chen, are unwilling, I will not force it in the slightest.”

A Golden Core True Man, able to maintain such a balanced attitude, has already shown utmost respect to Chen Ye.

Chen Ye’s thoughts raced.

In fact, he had already known a bit about this matter.

Years ago, when Xu Henshan taught Qing Jun the True Seal, he had mentioned it.

At that time, Xu Henshan had said, although the ancestral home was a Nascent Soul major family, once Qing Jun formed her Golden Core, resolving the cause and effect would be a simple matter.

It seemed it was not a blood feud of deep enmity…

“Senior’s open-heartedness and kindness in imparting knowledge to my disciple both emotionally and rationally leave Chen with no reason to refuse.”

Chen Ye said solemnly,

“If that day truly comes, Chen will certainly provide Senior with an explanation.”

The two chatted over tea in the Shuiyun Pavilion until the sky started to lighten with the dawn, bringing their all-night conversation to an end.

The grand ceremony was solemn,

Dragon Sleep Mountain was covered in a thin layer of Spiritual Mist.

When Chen Ye stepped into the guest courtyard arranged by the Xu Family in the morning light, he immediately saw his eldest disciple standing gracefully under an old pine tree in the yard.

The girl had her eyes slightly closed, with morning dew gathered into tiny droplets on her eyelashes.

As Chen Ye approached, the girl seemed to sense something, looked at Chen Ye, and slightly curved her lips, bowing in greeting:

“Master, you are back.”

“Yes, I chatted with Elder Xu for a while longer.”

Chen Ye smiled and gave a light, supportive wave, looking somewhat peculiarly at the closed room door,

“How did that girl perform last night? Didn’t slack off, did she?”

Hearing the Master inquire, Zhiwei couldn’t help but cover her mouth with a light laugh, her dark eyes laced with a hint of mischief:

“Master’s divine might, last night Qing Jun was so frightened at the mention of the Huanglian Grain-Avoiding Pill that she didn’t dare open her eyes and sat on the couch meditating and refining for three whole hours.”

“That’s good, that girl definitely needs discipline.” Chen Ye shook his head.

However, thinking of taking her to the cold pool for cultivation later, when this girl might break through restraints and see a surge in her strength, Chen Ye’s heart brimmed with the expectations of a mentor.

You know,

when that girl was in the early-stage Foundation Establishment, her extraordinary strength was enough to suppress the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer.

If she reached mid-stage Foundation Establishment, she might even challenge late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators!

…

The morning sun was rising, shortly afterward, the wooden door creaked open.

A small girl rubbed her red eyes, yawning, and sluggishly dragged herself out of the house.

Obviously, last night’s prolonged cultivation hadn’t allowed this girl enough sleep.

Yet when she lifted her head and saw Chen Ye standing in the yard, her eyes sparkled, becoming full of energy.

“Master!”

Qing Jun cheered, moved her short little legs, and dashed into her Master’s arms, completely forgetting the resentment from yesterday.

“What’s this? Last night weren’t you secretly calling your Master a big tyrant?”

Chen Ye held his disciple, pinching her soft cheeks,

“Qing Jun was just sleep-talking, Master is the best Master in the whole world!”

The little girl rubbed her head vigorously on Chen Ye’s shoulder, her voice soft and tender, then eagerly lifted her face,

“Master, are we going to the cold pool now? Qing Jun is all set and ready to show her skills!”

Jin’er also walked out from the side room at this time, her eyes falling on Qing Jun, speaking softly and gently:

“Senior Sister Qingjun, after refining so much Spiritual Cuisine essence last night, your little tummy seems to have grown rounder.”

“Lin Jin’er! You’re talking nonsense! That’s called Dragon Energy! Don’t you understand Dragon Energy!”

Qing Jun gritted her teeth, grinding her small tiger teeth.

Damn Lin Jin,

daring to speak about her in front of Master!

Watching the disciples playfully squabbling, Chen Ye chuckled, he patted Qing Jun’s back, and said with a serious expression:

“Alright, now follow Master to the cold pool in the back mountain. Zhiwei, Jin’er, you both come along to protect your Junior Sister.”

“Disciple obeys.”

The four of master and disciples left the guest courtyard, avoiding the guests of the various sects who hadn’t dispersed yet.

Under the guidance of the Xu Family’s steward, they walked for about the time it takes two incense sticks to burn and arrived at the cold pool.

The water of the cold pool was extremely deep, with strands of seemingly tangible white cold mist constantly rolling on its surface.

Qing Jun had been to the cold pool with Mao Qingzhu before.

But the other two disciples had never been here, inevitably finding it novel.

Jin’er rubbed her small hands, exhaled a breath of hot air, looking a bit afraid:

“Master, it’s so cold, we don’t have to go in for a bath, right?”

“A bath?”

Hearing this, Chen Ye couldn’t help but laugh,

“This is called entering the pool for cultivation, not taking a bath. Since you are here, you should also have a session in the pool.”

“As for Jin’er… You were born with a weak body, yet you practice the Celestial Burning Treasure Scroll and are parasitized by the Divine Fire. The cold pool may seem daunting, but it can balance your water and fire, removing the fire toxin. Afterward, you won’t suffer from the heat at night anymore.”

Qing Jun nodded repeatedly:

“Yes, yes, Jin’er, your heat is different from Senior Sister’s – yours is real heat!”

“…”

A black-haired girl’s face darkened slightly.

Jin’er was startled even more.

So…

Master knows everything.

Master not only knew she liked playing with rabbit dolls but even knew about being roasted by the Divine Fire at night, all seen clearly through his Divine Sense?

“Master… is so bad.”

Jin’er turned her head, her raven-like long eyelashes fluttering, her two white tender hands twisting together.

But since it was Master’s arrangement, since Master would be on the shore protecting her… Jin’er wasn’t afraid of going into the water at all.

“?”

Chen Ye was puzzled, why was this girl calling him bad again?

She had a Divine Fire in her body and was practicing fire techniques; feeling hot was natural, wasn’t it?

Enough, enough.

Chen Ye didn’t have the heart to blame his disciple, he closed his eyes.

His Divine Sense was comparable to that of a Golden Core True Man, transforming into countless delicate ripples, probing inch by inch to the depths a thousand meters below the blue pool’s surface.

Back in the day,

Dandan Qingjun had fallen into this cold pool.

Perhaps, there were other surprises hidden in this cold pool!