Inside the Sovereign Hall.
After Gu Qinghuan released the aura of Great Transcendence Perfection, her gaze turned toward the shocked Lu Ning.
“Master, while you were away, I made sure to cultivate properly.”
Gu Qinghuan’s voice returned to its usual tenderness, but beneath that softness lay a hidden obsession.
“You said before that I was becoming more and more undisciplined.”
“I thought about it, and you were right. I have indeed been a bit lacking in discipline.”
“However…”
Gu Qinghuan’s tone shifted, and a dangerous light flickered in her cold eyes.
“I feel that it is time for the rules to change.”
“From today onward, you are still the Sect Master of the Tianmo Sect.”
“But the owner of this Sovereign Hall should be changed.”
As she spoke, she beckoned to Lu Ning with a finger, a provocative gesture.
“Master, come to my side of your own accord.”
“Let me show you my love.”
“I intend to return all the longing I have accumulated over the past two months to you, all at once.”
Lu Ning: “???”
Lu Ning felt speechless as she looked at the rebellious disciple before her, who had completely turned to the dark side and even wanted to reverse their roles.
She knew that if she did not show her true ability to suppress this disciple today, the girl would likely continue to push her luck.
Fortunately, she had come prepared before leaving the Forbidden Land.
Lu Ning met Gu Qinghuan’s obsessive gaze, and the astonishment on her face gradually faded.
“Qinghuan.”
“Do you think that because you have broken through to Great Transcendence Perfection, you can do whatever you want?”
“Do you truly believe you have surpassed your master?”
Hearing this, Gu Qinghuan’s brows furrowed slightly.
She did not understand how her master could remain so calm at a time like this.
‘Does she still have some trump card I don’t know about?’
Just as her heart filled with doubt, Lu Ning’s voice rang out again.
“Qinghuan, have you considered one possibility?”
The corners of Lu Ning’s mouth slowly curled into a smirk, one filled with disdain.
“The reason I left the Forbidden Land is not because your grandmaster was merciful.”
“It is because…”
Lu Ning paused, a chilling light flashing through her eyes that made one’s heart race.
“My strength has recovered.”
As the words fell, an aura that was not a single bit weaker than Gu Qinghuan’s — and was even more pure and overbearing — erupted from Lu Ning’s body!
Although that aura was only at the Great Transcendence Mid-stage, its quality far exceeded Gu Qinghuan’s imagination.
Before that aura, the Great Transcendence Perfection pressure she was so proud of was forcibly suppressed!
“How… how is this possible!”
Gu Qinghuan stared blankly at Lu Ning, who had fully unleashed her aura.
Her cold and beautiful face was filled with unbelievable shock.
‘Master… she actually recovered to the Great Transcendence stage? And her strength is actually so terrifying! Just what is going on?’
Gu Qinghuan looked at the Lu Ning who stood there like a deity, her mind going blank.
She could not understand it.
Only two months had passed; how could such a heaven-turning change occur in her master?
Her master had not only escaped from Liu Ningshuang’s “imprisonment,” but she had also recovered her cultivation to the terrifying realm of the Great Transcendence Mid-stage in one fell swoop.
Although she was still two minor stages behind her in terms of realm, the purity of that power made Gu Qinghuan’s heart pound.
She even had a feeling that with her master’s current strength, she might not necessarily lose even when facing a Great Transcendence Perfection cultivator like herself.
“Qinghuan…”
Lu Ning’s voice rang out again, breaking the silence.
She slowly walked across the floor to the large jade bed and then, under Gu Qinghuan’s stunned gaze, she lay down on her side with a dominant posture.
She propped her head up with one hand, her sharp eyes sweeping indifferently over the still-shocked Gu Qinghuan.
“Now, do you still think the owner of this Sovereign Hall should be changed?”
Lu Ning’s voice was full of mockery.
She wanted this arrogant, rebellious disciple to understand once and for all who the true master of this house was.
Hearing this, Gu Qinghuan’s body trembled violently.
She slowly raised her head and looked at Lu Ning, who was reclining on the jade bed with a playful look in her eyes.
Once upon a time, she had used the same method to toy with her high-and-mighty master.
But now, the roles of hunter and prey seemed to have reversed without her realizing it.
Her master was no longer that weak and pitiful figure from before.
A bitter smile appeared on Gu Qinghuan’s face.
She knew she had truly kicked a steel plate this time.
She had thought that by breaking through to Great Transcendence Perfection, she had gained the strength to suppress everything.
She even intended to take control and turn her master into her plaything.
But she never expected that her master would also recover her strength.
Moreover, she had become even more unfathomable than before.
“Why have you stopped talking?” Lu Ning asked.
“My dear disciple, where did all that arrogance from a moment ago go?”
Gu Qinghuan’s delicate body trembled slightly, and a rare blush surfaced on her cold, pretty face.
She took a deep breath, suppressing all the unwillingness and grievance in her heart.
She slowly stood up from the jade bed and then, under Lu Ning’s watchful gaze, she bowed slightly toward her.
“I… was wrong.”
“Oh?” Lu Ning raised an eyebrow. “Wrong about what?”
“I… I should not have been disrespectful to Master.”
“And?”
“I… should not have tried to challenge Master’s authority.”
“Mm, and what else?”
Lu Ning’s voice carried a hint of persistence.
She wanted this rebellious disciple to fully recognize her mistake.
Gu Qinghuan bit her lip, a flash of struggle in her eyes.
But in the end, she chose to yield.
“I… should not have had those improper thoughts about you, Master.”
As her words fell, the entire Sovereign Hall sank into a dead silence once more.
Beside them, A’Lin stared blankly at the scene, her large, watery black eyes filled with questions.
She did not understand what these two women were playing at.
After hearing Gu Qinghuan’s “heartfelt” confession, the anger in Lu Ning’s heart finally dissipated significantly.
She knew she could not push this rebellious disciple too hard.
Too much was as bad as too little.
A proper beating to make her remember was enough.
“Never mind,” Lu Ning said, waving her hand indifferently.
“Considering that you were unintentional this time, I will spare you for now.”
“However, while you may be spared the death penalty, you cannot escape punishment.”
Lu Ning paused, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes.
“From today on, you will stay here in the Sovereign Hall and be a personal maid for me. When I am in a better mood, I will consider whether or not to restore your status as the Saintess.”