I am about to be injected with Master’s vital energy!

Xiao Menglan holding onto Cao Xueyan’s hand, in the eyes of other disciples, did not seem ambiguous at all, but more like a declaration of sovereignty.

Truly enviable.

Xiao Menglan was a Golden Core stage cultivator, the Peak Master of the Talisman Peak.

Her power and status within Qingyun Sword Sect were among the very highest, and it would not be an exaggeration to say she stood beneath only one person, above ten thousand others.

To be accepted as a disciple by such a figure meant that one could walk sideways in the sect, and no one would dare to question it.

How many lifetimes of accumulated fortune must that person have?

But even if they envied her, she already belonged to someone else.

If Xiao Menglan chose her, she must surely have some extraordinary qualities.

Perhaps she had an extremely rare single spiritual root, one that appeared only once in centuries, making cultivation as easy as eating and drinking.

Or perhaps she possessed extraordinary comprehension in the Dao of Talismans, earning Xiao Menglan’s deep favor.

These disciples would never guess that among the many reasons Xiao Menglan accepted Cao Xueyan as a disciple, the greatest one was lustful intent.

Yet, even if such a claim were spoken aloud, no one would believe it.

How could an immortal who seemed untouched by mortal desires possibly take a disciple for such a reason?

Careful, lest you be accused of slander!

When the two arrived at the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion, the old man who had kept his eyes closed and slept soundly until just now suddenly opened his eyes and yawned with no regard for appearance.

“Huh? I was just dozing off, when suddenly I smelled a familiar scent.

Turns out it’s you, Qin girl…”

The old man’s voice was drowsy and muddled, as though half-awake.

Xiao Menglan, however, treated him with respect, as if she knew his identity.

She said softly, “I apologize for disturbing Senior Li’s rest just now.

But Senior is mistaken—I am surnamed Xiao.

The one surnamed Qin is my senior sister, the current Sect Master.”

This old man surnamed Li rubbed his bleary eyes, looked closely at her for a moment, then muttered, “Ah, so that’s it.

No wonder something felt off.

Turns out you’re Xiao girl.

Since you formed your Golden Core, you haven’t come here.

By my count, it’s been several hundred years since I last saw you.

No wonder I mistook your scent.”

“It is indeed this junior’s fault for not visiting for so long.”

“What junior and senior nonsense—you people always put on this act.

Back when your master was alive, he never once called himself a junior before me.

Did I complain? Hm?

That little girl beside you—she must be your personal disciple?”

Xiao Menglan replied, “Indeed.”

Hearing this, Old Man Li muttered under his breath, “Truly, each generation is worse than the last.

That Qin girl hasn’t even reached the Nascent Soul stage after all this time, and now you’ve brought along a disciple with utterly poor talent.

Who knows what you’re thinking.”

Standing nearby, Cao Xueyan heard every word clearly.

Her face burned with shame, and she wished she could dig a hole with her toes and hide inside.

This Old Man Li was exactly like the “Sweeping Monk” characters in martial arts novels—ordinary in appearance, no different from a common man, yet in truth his strength far surpassed even the grand villains.

If shallowly cultivated disciples couldn’t see through her foundation, surely this mysterious old man could.

She was doomed.

Xiao Menglan, however, did not argue the point.

Instead, she said, “According to sect rules, the Scripture Pavilion allows only one entry and one exit.

But my disciple is dull-witted.

May I trouble Senior to make an exception and allow me to accompany her inside?”

“That’s all?” Old Man Li waved his hand dismissively, already closing his eyes again as though preparing to nap once more.

“No one else is inside at the moment.

Go in yourselves.

Remember, nothing inside may be taken away—only copied.

That rule cannot be broken, keep it in mind… hmm… snore… snore…”

Seeing the old man tilt his head and fall asleep again, Xiao Menglan said no more.

She simply pulled Cao Xueyan along into the Scripture Pavilion.

Upon entering, they were greeted by the overwhelming fragrance of ink, so strong that it immediately made Cao Xueyan sneeze.

“Here, besides cultivation methods, there are also strange tales of the cultivation world and manuals of various side paths.

By the way, that ‘True Understanding of Talismans’ I showed you earlier—there’s also a copy here.

Go on, browse around and see if anything suits you.”

Obediently, Cao Xueyan wandered among the rows of bookshelves.

Dozens of techniques and manuals dazzled her eyes.

After about half an hour, she finally picked a manual called Record of Profound Yin.

According to its description, this technique did not require special spiritual root qualifications, but it could only be practiced by women.

Cultivating it allowed one to absorb the moon’s essence to strengthen one’s Yin energy, and even “supplement Yin with Yin”…

Why did it sound somewhat improper?

Xiao Menglan glanced at the manual, her expression showing satisfaction.

“Your spiritual root talent is not high.

This Record of Profound Yin suits you.”

Cao Xueyan quickly asked, “This part about supplementing Yin with Yin—what does it mean?”

Xiao Menglan gave her a sidelong look.

“What else could it mean? Exactly what you think.”

“Isn’t that just dual cultivation…” Cao Xueyan had barely begun when Xiao Menglan interrupted.

“Yes.

Most people only know of balancing Yin and Yang, but this technique takes another path.

Still, it has merit.”

Xiao Menglan leaned close, her breath fragrant against Cao Xueyan’s ear.

“You and I, master and disciple, cultivating together—both will benefit.

You really do know how to choose well~”

Cao Xueyan nearly flung the book away in fright, but managed to hold back at the last second.

Xiao Menglan smiled.

“You still lack a defensive technique.

No need to search, I’ve already chosen one for you.”

Cao Xueyan accepted it and saw the title: Silver Needles of Frozen Soul.

Huh? But my surname isn’t Li…

After cultivation, one could condense spiritual power into extremely cold silver needles.

Even a scratch would send icy energy into the body, untreatable by medicine, only resolvable through extremely Yang cultivation or treasures.

Truly the best art for assassination, robbery, and ambush.

Practiced alongside the Record of Profound Yin, the two would complement each other, greatly enhancing effectiveness.

Once chosen, the rules required them to copy the texts by hand.

The two manuals together totaled over ten thousand words.

Cao Xueyan would likely be writing until sundown.

At the transcription area, brushes and ink were already prepared.

Cao Xueyan sat down and began copying, while Xiao Menglan sat nearby, like a teacher supervising a student’s homework.

Indeed, it was exhausting work.

By the time Cao Xueyan finished transcribing both manuals, her wrist was so sore she could barely lift it—no less tiring than drawing talismans.

Xiao Menglan rose and placed some spirit stones down, paying on Cao Xueyan’s behalf.

“Let’s go.

Since it’s already late, after dinner I’ll take you to test the wonders of this Record of Profound Yin.”

Cao Xueyan’s face turned pale.

“Master, my hand hurts so badly—I fear I cannot…”

Xiao Menglan leaned close, her expression seductive.

“Yan’er, what are you saying?

What does hand pain have to do with cultivation?

Besides, don’t you still have me?”

It was over—her master had become completely like the perverted woman from the simulator!

Before Cao Xueyan could react, Xiao Menglan had already taken her out of the Scripture Pavilion, summoned her flying sword, and flown them both back toward Moon-Inviting Palace.

The cold mountain wind whipped across Cao Xueyan’s face.

Her heart felt as sorrowful as that wind.

Tonight, she feared her master’s Yin energy would be forcefully poured into her!