A Towering Building Rises from the Ground

Saint Water Palace, Heavenly Kui Quarter, Assembly Hall.

“Palace Master, over the past two years, the daily expenses of the Dijie Quarter, which falls under my jurisdiction, have been steadily rising. We truly need a larger budget…”

Elder Li Jiuzhao, the Internal Affairs Elder, was responsible for all provisions, clothing, daily expenditures, and overall consumption within the palace.

“Elder Li, I meticulously calculated and clarified the budgets for all the quarters ten years ago using Heavenly Divination. Don’t go adding unnecessary drama for yourself! Lest the Palace Master think I, Liu Cuilai, have grown old and useless, hmph!”

Liu Cuilai held dual roles as the Financial Affairs Elder and the Head of the Five Elements Pavilion. He was skilled in Five Elements numerology, array formations, and mystical gates, renowned for his infallible calculations and highly respected by the palace disciples.

“I say, Old Man Liu! What are you meddling for? I never said your calculations were wrong! I’m merely reporting the facts to the Palace Master. I strictly follow your regulations for daily material distribution, so just stand aside for now!”

Li Jiuzhao impatiently flicked his sleeves at Liu Cuilai. While Liu Cuilai was good in all other aspects, he possessed a stubborn temper and couldn’t tolerate anyone questioning his abilities.

Luo Bingyan wore a smile, yet inwardly, she was cursing both old men. ‘Damn it, I knew that presiding over this ridiculous assembly would always turn out like this.’

Despite her annoyance, she had to maintain her authority before the gathered elders.

“Elder Li, have you discovered the reason for the overspending?”

“Indeed, the Palace Master truly understands the core of the matter, unlike certain stubborn old fools…” Li Jiuzhao remarked, casting a sidelong glance at Liu Cuilai, who stood opposite him.

“I!…”

Seeing the two old men on the verge of another argument, Luo Bingyan quickly waved her hand, signaling Liu Cuilai to cease his contention.

“Elder Li, please elaborate.”

“Yes, Palace Master. This matter began two years ago with a small boy who suddenly appeared in the Dijie Quarter…”

Li Jiuzhao recounted the tale vividly before everyone, detailing the many misdeeds of the boy he spoke of.

Upon hearing this, the elders were each filled with righteous fury. How outrageous! A mere child, a mischievous brat, dared to cause trouble within the Saint Water Palace!

If word were to spread to other sects, where would the Saint Water Palace’s prestige stand?

Luo Bingyan, seated on the Palace Master’s throne, found her mouth twitching uncontrollably.

‘That brat! So, every day he claimed he was going to pee, only to be gone for half an hour, doing all this? Was the food I made not good enough?’

“Palace Master!”

Li Jiuzhao’s loud shout startled Luo Bingyan, making her think he had caught her daydreaming. She quickly straightened her posture.

“Originally, I was reluctant to speak, but the palace rules have been meticulously refined by countless predecessors. They cannot be wantonly destroyed by those who are arrogant due to favor or talent!”

Liu Cuilai mistakenly thought Li Jiuzhao was referring to him. He glared fiercely, his beard bristling high. “Old man, don’t you dare slander me! I know you’ve long coveted my position as Head of the Five Elements Pavilion. Let me tell you, there’s no chance, not in this lifetime! I’m about to advance to the Void Refinement stage, and my lifespan is still quite long!”

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall beamed with joy. “Congratulations! Elder Liu is truly remarkable!”

“Hmph hmph!” Elder Liu squinted at Li Jiuzhao, only to find him also smiling, which didn’t seem feigned. ‘Could I have misunderstood?’

“Palace Master, today I intend to expose Hall Master Ning Jing of the Enforcement Hall for bending the law for personal gain!”

At these words, the entire hall gasped in astonishment.

Only Luo Bingyan’s eyebrows twitched involuntarily, a bad premonition stirring within her heart.

Ning Jing, however, remained perfectly composed, a faint smile even playing on her lips.

“Hehe, Elder Li, you’re exaggerating…” Luo Bingyan felt awkward, yet at this moment, she found herself unable to offer an explanation.

“Palace Master, you wouldn’t believe it. A year ago, that boy was actually apprehended. But after being sent to the Enforcement Hall, he received no punishment whatsoever. To this day, that child remains at large, even escalating his misdeeds, bringing two demonic beasts daily to the Dijie Quarter’s dining hall to wreak havoc.”

“Rumors among the disciples claim this child is Hall Master Ning’s illegitimate son, which is why no one dares to provoke him. Therefore, I implore the Palace Master to make a ruling today and punish Hall Master Ning for knowingly breaking the law.”

Li Jiuzhao’s barrage of accusations sparked a flurry of discussion among those in the hall. Yet, Ning Jing, the subject of the accusations, remained utterly unconcerned, exuding a detached air.

Luo Bingyan secretly glanced at Ning Jing, only to find Ning Jing looking back at her. Suddenly, Ning Jing extended her fragrant tongue, licking her lips with a smile, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

‘Damn it, daring to seduce me? Think my butt isn’t curvy enough?’ Luo Bingyan shot Ning Jing a fierce glare, her threat abundantly clear.

Ning Jing merely rolled her eyes, then looked up at the sky, her gesture conveying, ‘You handle it yourself!’

Liu Cuilai, standing closer to Ning Jing and Luo Bingyan at the lower end of the hall, caught every subtle expression on their faces. Despite his stubborn nature, he was a shrewd observer in daily life and sensed something amiss. He subtly kicked a few pebbles by his feet, quickly performing a rough divination.

“This…”

“Elder Li, let’s deliberate on this matter further and conduct a more detailed investigation. As for the excess expenditure, since there’s indeed a reason behind it, please report it thoroughly. Additionally, the budget for the Dijie Quarter will be increased by twenty percent…”

Luo Bingyan could only arrange things this way for now. After all, even cultivators would find it hard to accept a sword giving birth to a baby, wouldn’t they? It might even lead to misunderstandings…

“Palace Master!…” Li Jiuzhao was about to press his argument further when he felt his foot being repeatedly kicked.

Glancing beside him, he saw it was Elder Liu. What was he doing?

“You’ve already gotten your benefits, what are you still grumbling about? Stop spouting nonsense!” Liu Cuilai hissed through clenched teeth, whispering his advice while tugging at Li Jiuzhao’s sleeve.

Seeing Liu Cuilai’s anxious demeanor, Li Jiuzhao immediately realized there must be more to the story.

“Cough, cough, Palace Master, the ‘Source Remembrance Festival’ is approaching. Uh, I’ll go inventory the supplies now to prepare early!” With that, Li Jiuzhao pulled Liu Cuilai out the door. The two walked closely, whispering to each other, so much so that an outsider might have thought they were very close.

Luo Bingyan nearly blurted out an expletive. The ‘Source Remembrance Festival’ was important, but it wasn’t so crucial that preparations needed to begin eight years in advance, was it? ‘You’re making such an obvious excuse, everyone knows there’s something else going on.’

Indeed, the elders seated below all had shifty eyes, as if transmitting messages to each other through divine sense.

“Cough… Let’s adjourn today’s assembly.”

Upon hearing this, everyone reacted as if granted a great pardon, each running faster than the last.

They weren’t merely leaving; they wanted to catch up to Elders Li and Liu, who had already fled, to thoroughly listen to the gossip.

“Hall Master Ning, please stay. I have some palace affairs to discuss with you in detail.” Luo Bingyan said, extending a pair of what she mentally dubbed ‘An Lushan’s claws.’

Ning Jing’s smile never faded. She gazed intently at Luo Bingyan, then licked her lips again. “Yes~ My Palace Master~ My Lord~”

“Elder Liu, you’re saying that child is related to the Palace Master? You’re not trying to fool me, are you? The Palace Master has maintained her purity for a thousand years, and there’s never been any scandal about her in the cultivation world.”

“I already told you, this is the result of my divination! It only showed a connection; I don’t know the specifics!” Liu Cuilai said with a helpless expression. He regretted telling him; Li Jiuzhao had been pestering him the whole way.

“I still find it hard to believe. We’re both experienced men. I observe the Palace Master’s legs are tightly kept, clearly indicating she’s still a virgin!”

“Pah—you lecherous old man, where are your eyes looking? Get lost! This old man isn’t going to fool around with you anymore. Go meditate in front of a wall yourself!” With that, Liu Cuilai summoned his flying sword and vanished in a puff of smoke.

“Hey, why run so fast? Wasn’t I just concerned about the Palace Master? She’s guarded the Saint Water Palace for a thousand years; what if she did have a child?” Li Jiuzhao grumbled, displeased with Liu Cuilai’s habit of speaking in riddles.

Suddenly, he felt someone flying on a sword behind him. Turning his head, he exclaimed, ‘Damn, these old farts, so eager for gossip! Why don’t they go work as chroniclers for the Flower Fairy magazine?’

Without further delay, he quickly summoned his own flying sword as well…

Shortly after, Hall Master Ning Jing left the assembly hall, her face flushed crimson.

‘That brat, having a grand time, huh? Just casually doing the homework I assigned every day. Ning Jing’s idea is good, though. But I need to find a way to convince Miaomiao to agree.’ Luo Bingyan’s forehead was covered in fine sweat, her collar disheveled. It was unclear what had just transpired with her.

Sure enough, Luo Bingyan, having calculated the timing, easily intercepted Wugou, who had just “returned victorious.”

A-miao, beneath Wugou, saw Palace Master Luo looking at them with a wide smile. It quickly shook Wugou off its back, its four legs scrambling at incredible speed. After barely scrambling fifty paces away, it suddenly fluttered back, bit A-wu, who was still dazed on Wugou’s head, and then instantly fled.

“Good afternoon, Palace Master Luo~ Hehe!”

For the past eight years, whenever Luo Bingyan smiled at him like that, it usually meant nothing good.

“Um, where’s my stepmother?”

Wugou’s eyes kept darting towards the bamboo house, yet he couldn’t spot Miaomiao.

‘Damn it… this woman is plotting something…’

“Miaomiao has gone to the market in the Dijie Quarter to buy daily necessities for you!” Luo Bingyan said with a smile, doing her best to appear gentle.

“Wh-Why?”

“Why~ Naturally, it’s so you can become a true cultivator, a true man~” Luo Bingyan said, gently tapping Wugou’s glabella with her finger.

“Huh?”

“Miaomiao and I have decided to train you to become the strongest cultivator on the continent—of course, excluding myself~”

Luo Bingyan emphasized “excluding myself” particularly strongly, a testament to her own pride.

“Then what? What does that have to do with Stepmother going to the market?”

Wugou couldn’t grasp the logic.

“Oh~ That. Well, as the saying goes, ‘a doting mother spoils her child.’ So, we’ve decided to send you to the Skill Transmission Elder of the Saint Water Palace. After all, a towering building starts from solid ground, and it’s better to have professionals teach you to lay a good foundation~”

“What?”