Am I not willful enough?

The following meal passed without any scandalous events.

At most, Xiao Menglan helped Cao Xueyan pick up some food or wipe her mouth.

Other than that, nothing inappropriate happened.

Cao Xueyan felt a bit awkward.

Just now, while eating the fruit, she had been teased endlessly.

Now, everything was so proper.

The in-between feeling was uncomfortable.

Yet, she remained restrained.

No matter what, she could never act as if ravenous.

“Do you know, these dishes are made from second-tier demon beast meat.

After eating, you must diligently refine them, without negligence.

Otherwise, undigested food in the stomach may disrupt your internal energy and blood, requiring tenfold or hundredfold time to recover.” Xiao Menglan reminded her while serving food, showing a few traces of the elder’s demeanor.

She recalled that not long ago, someone had kept a piece of fruit in their mouth.

Despite her disciple’s repeated pleas, she refused to share.

Only when her disciple impatiently rubbed her clothes like a little cat did she relent.

Overall, Cao Xueyan enjoyed the meal.

Xiao Menglan refrained from teasing, allowing her to focus on the food.

The dishes were indeed made from second-tier demon beast meat.

The contained spiritual energy was astonishing.

One bite made internal energy and blood stir, yet perfectly balanced.

The taste was not bad, and the texture was exceptional—melting in the mouth.

Xiao Menglan knew she couldn’t drink alcohol.

So, the palace had prepared plenty of beverages.

Some were fruit juices like the fruit she had just eaten.

Others were made from beast milk mixed with honey.

On the table today was a drink Xiao Menglan had mentioned before: fried tea leaves mixed with sweetened beast milk, boiled and cooled.

Yes, it was milk tea.

In the cultivation world, this was not a novelty.

Do not underestimate cultivators with long lifespans and idle time.

Some had no interest in seeking immortality or climbing the Dao, preferring to tinker with small things overlooked by others.

The tea’s bitterness and the milk’s sweetness had been combined long ago, balancing flavors to appeal to most.

Yet in the cultivation world, food indulgence remained niche.

Even those who liked it rarely shared with peers, fearing ridicule.

Thus, even though milk tea had existed for some time, few knew of it.

Xiao Menglan directly instructed the kitchen.

The puppet maids understood better than she did.

With clear instructions, they perfected it in one afternoon.

Cao Xueyan was delighted to try cultivation-world milk tea.

That day, she drank three large bowls.

Her belly swelled, looking as if three months pregnant.

Xiao Menglan teased her, patting the rounded belly and pressing her ear close—just to hear the sounds.

Gurgling, she laughed.

“Since when did the Moon Invitation Palace raise a little cat?”

Still, a greedy little cat.

“Speaking of which, today is your birthday.” Xiao Menglan suddenly said.

“Is there anything you wish for?”

“Birthday gift?” Cao Xueyan thought.

In the Moon Invitation Palace, she ate well, drank well, and was entertained.

Even the gods wouldn’t have such a comfortable life.

Moreover, the sect elders had been generous.

Even cold Lu Jiansheng had been lavish and unstingy.

She had no desired gifts.

As for a birthday cake… could one even exist in the cultivation world?

Even if made, seeing these aromatic dishes on the table, a mere formality seemed unnecessary.

Cao Xueyan finally shook her head.

“Disciple desires no gifts.

If anything, having a lifetime by Master’s side, serving Master, is the best birthday gift.

Henceforth, each year on my birthday, what I desire most is this promise from Master.”

“You must consider carefully.” Xiao Menglan playfully lifted a strand of Cao Xueyan’s hair into her palm, caressing gently.

“Today, you may indulge in some willfulness.”

“Am I not already willful enough?” Cao Xueyan pouted.

“Ha, if that counts as willful, how many spoiled sons are there in the world?”

Cao Xueyan thought her ambiguous relationship with Xiao Menglan allowed her to be reckless in many things.

But by nature, she could not act more audaciously.

Seeing that Cao Xueyan truly wanted no birthday gift, Xiao Menglan did not insist.

Such a well-behaved disciple, understanding limits, rare to find.

Moreover, her body was supple.

Ah, how easily one’s mind wanders.

After tea and meals, Cao Xueyan resumed cultivation as instructed.

Today’s master-apprentice ceremony took much time.

She had no spare moments to practice spells.

Her Ice Soul Silver Needle still required practice.

She couldn’t fight with only a finger-wide stick, after all.

Its advantage was stealth; wielding it made her conspicuous.

However, she planned to use the new simulation attempts she had obtained.

With just over 200 cultivation points remaining, she could elevate her talisman path to entry-level in one go.

Then she would be a once-in-ten-thousand genius of the Talisman Path at Qingyun Sword Sect.

Cao Xueyan already imagined Xiao Menglan’s expression.

She wondered what reward she would receive.

She sought nothing else—just one successful attempt, even if tiring.

[At 21, you formally became Xiao Menglan’s disciple.]

[A few months later, the sect held a demon-hunting conference. You, skilled in spells, chose to participate.]

[Several disciples wished to partner with you, and you gladly agreed.]

[The demon hunting went smoothly, gaining much practical experience and deeper spell understanding.]

[Days passed quickly. The conference ended. All participants gained something. You sold demon corpses for spirit stones, though dissatisfied with your share. You distributed them to your companions, gaining a reputation for generosity in the sect, admired as the elder sister of the Sword Sect.]

[At 23, you finally mastered the Ice Soul Silver Needle to entry-level. Following your agreement with Xiao Menglan, you both descended the mountain to train.]

[During this time, demonic cultivators wreaked havoc. Xiao Menglan accompanied you, intent on eliminating evil and protecting the Dao.]

[Over several months, you traveled across nearby towns and cities, eliminating countless malicious demons. Many praised you both as celestial goddesses descended, and mortals built long-life shrines in your honor.]

[At 24, Xiao Menglan received a sect message. You did not know the content. Even pampering Xiao Menglan remained silent, only saying the cultivation world might face the most turbulent century due to the emergence of an ancient relic. Various forces investigated.]

[You and Xiao Menglan searched for relic information. Many demonic cultivators pursued the relic, causing repeated clashes. Some were at Golden Core level.]

[It became unsuitable for you to continue training outside. Xiao Menglan entrusted a few inner disciples to escort you back to the sect. Though concerned, you accepted your limited power and returned.]

[During your return, you encountered a group of demonic cultivators. They struck before anyone could react, killing the inner disciples with a glance. You resisted with protective artifacts, but as time passed, your power and spirit stones dwindled. Defeat seemed inevitable.]

[Deciding on a desperate move, you drew the Frost Moon Sword gifted by Qin Ximo.

The Golden Core sword forced the demonic cultivators to retreat.

Just when escape seemed possible, a Golden Core demonic cultivator descended from the sky and fought your sword.

Realizing you could not win, you sensed these demonic cultivators intended to capture, not kill.]

[From previous experiences, you had seen too many fall into the hands of demonic cultivators, their fate miserable.

To avoid a lifetime of humiliation, you chose to take your own life.]

[The Golden Core demonic cultivator, still entangled with your sword, could not stop you.

Watching your lifeless body, he coldly laughed: “The person is dead, but the body remains intact.

My goal is achieved.

The sword resembles that woman’s work.

Take it to reunite with her below. You and she should thank me in the afterlife!”]

[The demonic cultivator misunderstood something, and you finally lost consciousness completely.]