Sensing the aura of a Flood Dragon erupting from the young man—one not at all inferior to her own—Lingxi’s small mouth parted in surprise.
Beside her, Tai Lingxuan also wore a look of astonishment.
So, Yuyang, he too obtained a Flood Dragon’s scale from the Tribulation of Thunder.
But why had he never mentioned it?
She recalled vividly the terror of the Flood Dragon Roar Tribulation.
She’d felt it clearly when helping Lingsha through her tribulation, so she knew just how dreadful it was.
But…
Lingsha had only endured the final half of the thunder tribulation, and was nearly killed, needing more than half a month of recovery to barely regain her strength.
Yuyang, how did he survive that tribulation all on his own, with no help at all?
Tai Lingxuan gazed at the youth standing proudly before her, noting the confidence and pride on his face.
He must have kept silent because he didn’t want her to worry.
He had no treasures to protect him, no defensive formations, and at the time, he’d even been hunted by demon beasts.
His cultivation had been forcibly raised by a fortuitous encounter, leaving it unstable…
In such a state, he still had to face the Flood Dragon Roar Tribulation…
Tai Lingxuan dared not imagine what sort of desperate straits Chen Yuyang had fallen into back then.
She could almost picture him—after surviving the tribulation, battered and bloodied, lying beside the corpse of a demon beast, coughing up blood as he gazed at the sky, perhaps even calling her name… Just the thought made Tai Lingxuan’s nose tingle, and she nearly burst into tears.
At that moment, the battle was still ongoing.
Both sides possessed the Flood Dragon’s might, which meant neither could suppress the other spiritually.
In this situation, the outcome depended solely on their cultivation techniques, moves, and skills… And in all these, Chen Yuyang was visibly stronger and more proficient than Lingxi.
Not to mention, Chen Yuyang’s spiritual power was as boundless as the ocean, surging endlessly, showing not the slightest hint of exhaustion no matter how much he used.
Lingxi bit her lip, her eyes filled with unwillingness.
Still can’t win, can I?
Senior brother, you’re clearly a realm below me… It’s so frustrating…
If it were any other day, if you won, you won.
But today—can’t I even give you a good beating?
The unwillingness in the girl’s eyes turned to plaintive resentment.
Her spiritual power depleted, she had already unleashed every move and spell she knew, all of which had been countered—now she had nothing left.
Chen Yuyang stood as always, floating in the air, wearing a gentle, contented smile.
His junior sister had improved quite a bit, but a senior brother is a senior brother after all.
Lingsha bit her lip, lowered her gaze, and cupped her hands toward Chen Yuyang.
“Senior brother, your skill is remarkable. I admit my defeat.”
“Now that you understand the gap between us, go back, reflect on your failure, and keep striving to study and cultivate,” Chen Yuyang said without holding back.
For he knew Lingxi never accepted defeat— the more pressure he put on her, the faster she advanced.
So rather than praise, he always offered more instruction than comfort.
Lingxi nodded earnestly, approaching Chen Yuyang, admiration in her voice as she drew near: “Senior brother, your Solar Fire is so hot! The ribbon formed by my spiritual power was instantly… There’s a flaw!”
Suddenly, Lingxi’s expression shifted and her aura erupted.
But what followed wasn’t some killer move—just a simple, straightforward punch. Chen Yuyang raised an eyebrow.
In truth, when Lingxi drew close, the unnatural flow of spiritual energy in the air, the subtle tension in the girl’s muscles—Chen Yuyang had noticed the deception.
But he had no intention of defending.
He was simply surprised—this little junior sister was actually abandoning martial virtue!
A punch landed squarely on the youth’s chest.
Then a second punch, a third!
Chen Yuyang noticed that these punches seemed less like an attempt to defeat him and more like a venting of frustration.
He wondered why his junior sister harbored such resentment.
Had he offended her somehow?
Chen Yuyang was puzzled, but seeing her like this, he simply let her vent, offering no resistance as Lingxi swung her fists.
But after a few hits, when she saw he remained motionless, Lingxi stopped of her own accord, glaring at him, “Hmph, senior brother, why aren’t you fighting back!”
“It doesn’t hurt at all. It’s even a little cute—why would I fight back?”
Chen Yuyang answered with a smile.
“C-cute…” Lingxi’s pretty face instantly turned crimson.
Senior brother actually called her cute.
No, no, that means he’s looking down on me!
So annoying.
Steaming with frustration, Lingxi threw another punch.
“If junior sister keeps beating me like this and I end up really hurt, this sword… I’ll have to sell it for my medicine fees.”
Before the punch could land, Chen Yuyang put on a regretful expression and produced a fifth-grade spiritual treasure sword from his sleeve.
It was the very sword, “Cunduàn,” that Chen Yuyang had promised to gift her after her breakthrough.
The moment she saw it, Lingxi’s eyes widened.
So senior brother kept this sword all along!
“What’s that supposed to mean? I promised I’d give it to you, of course I—wait, don’t tell me this is why you’re upset?”
Chen Yuyang narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“N-no, of course not.”
Lingsha’s gaze immediately darted away, her face flustered, though she couldn’t hide the joy in her eyes.
“How could I possibly be mad at senior brother?”
“I don’t have enough time to like you as it is.”
With that, Lingxi grabbed Chen Yuyang’s arm and began acting coy.
“Senior brother likes his junior sister best too, doesn’t he?”
The girl blinked her bright eyes, wearing a sweet smile.
Seeing her in such a radiant mood, Chen Yuyang knew he’d guessed right.
This girl had simply misunderstood, thinking he’d given the sword to someone else or didn’t intend to keep his promise, so she’d been nursing a grievance.
Really, what does she take me for?
Am I someone who goes back on my word?
“All right, all right, take the sword and refine it as soon as you can.”
Chen Yuyang waved his hand, handing the sword over.
Lingxi took it at once, beaming as if she’d won a great treasure, her dimples returning in full bloom.
“Senior brother is so good, the best in the world.”
“I’ll treasure the sword you gave me.”
Chen Yuyang could only shake his head helplessly as Lingsha, overjoyed, hugged the sword and ran off, eager to refine her new weapon.
After Lingxi left, Chen Yuyang turned and bowed respectfully to his watching master.
“Master, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
However, Tai Lingxuan stopped him with a single word.
“Master, do you have further instructions?”
Chen Yuyang asked.
“In the Ziyang Secret Realm, you went through the Flood Dragon Roar Tribulation, didn’t you?”
Tai Lingxuan floated down from the pavilion, eyes fixed on the youth.
Only now did Chen Yuyang notice that Tai Lingxuan’s eyes were faintly red, as if she’d been holding back tears.
Seriously?
What’s going on now?
He’d just soothed his junior sister’s mood—now his master was acting strangely too?
Despite his inner confusion, Chen Yuyang maintained a respectful demeanor and replied, “Yes, Master.”
The woman’s hand fell onto the youth’s shoulder.
The next moment, Chen Yuyang felt himself pushed forward, his face pressed directly into the snowy jade peaks of her chest.
Mmph, hard to breathe.
“Master, this is…”
Before he could ask, Tai Lingxuan’s voice trembled as she asked, “Did it hurt?”
Startled, Chen Yuyang suddenly understood—his master was distressed over the pain he’d suffered.
But she couldn’t have known how easily he’d passed the tribulation.
Chen Yuyang couldn’t help but recall his first time undergoing the Flood Dragon Roar Tribulation—it had truly been a brush with death.
But that was countless tens of thousands of years ago.
His master really cared for him.
Even knowing he was safe now, she still ached for the suffering he’d endured in the past.
The thought soothed Chen Yuyang’s heart, filling him with a gentle warmth.
He didn’t resist, simply rested his head against her softness, feeling her warmth, inhaling her fragrance, and listening to her heartbeat.
“Knowing Master was waiting for me, no matter how painful, I endured,” Chen Yuyang replied.
He spoke from the heart.
Tai Lingxuan’s cheeks instantly flushed red.
This child…
Where did he learn such words?
He actually…
Tai Lingxuan bit her lip, lowering her head to look at the youth, her fingers gently caressing his shoulder.
A tingling current ran through her, sending ripples through her body.
Chen Yuyang immediately noticed her physical reaction—her temperature, her heartbeat, her breath… hot, intense, rapid…
Suddenly, Chen Yuyang wondered—could Master be…
But then, startled by his own thoughts, he reflexively put a hand to his chest, feeling the abnormal rhythm of his own heartbeat, and found it incredible.
Am I… falling for her?
While he was still uncertain, Tai Lingxuan suddenly pushed him away and took two steps back.
“Yuyang, from now on, if anything like this ever happens again, you must report it to me at once.”
“The Golden Core Tribulation is the Mosquito Roar Tribulation—your future Nascent Soul Tribulation will only be even more terrifying. You need to prepare thoroughly and well in advance.”
“At that time, I’ll protect you with all my power and prepare a defensive array for you.”
Tai Lingxuan quickly turned her back, speaking as she did.
Because she had turned away, Chen Yuyang couldn’t see her expression, couldn’t sense her feelings.
He only knew that in that instant before parting, her heart was beating wildly.
Her body heat was so intense, it felt as if it might melt him.
“Yes, Master,” Chen Yuyang replied, still watching her.
“All right, Yuyang, it’s getting late. Go and make your preparations. I have some matters to attend to,” Tai Lingxuan continued.
Chen Yuyang nodded, finally withdrawing his gaze and turning to leave.
Once the youth was gone, Tai Lingxuan looked back, gazing after him with a soft sigh.
Yuyang, could it be…
Otherwise, how could he say such things?
But what if Yuyang only felt respect and gratitude…
After all, she’d raised Yuyang with her own hands—she was both master and mother to him… As for herself… damn it…
Could a single sentence really move her so deeply?
Luckily, her long skirt hid the marks…
Otherwise, she truly wouldn’t know how to explain it to him…