After noticing Gu Qinghuan’s lip movements, Lu Ning froze in place, her mind going completely blank.
At this moment, the Lingquan Pool’s shimmering light reflected the confrontation between the two of them.
The atmosphere instantly turned ambiguous and dangerous.
“Rebellious disciple, what do you mean by this?”
Lu Ning, coming back to her senses, spoke, trying her best to make her voice sound as cold and dignified as before.
Yet the barely noticeable tremble betrayed her inner tension.
Gu Qinghuan let out a soft laugh, slowly picking up that undergarment as she approached Lu Ning.
“Your disciple is merely a little curious, that’s all.”
Gu Qinghuan’s gaze roamed wantonly over Lu Ning’s body, from her taut jawline to her delicate collarbone, and finally to the chest tightly bound with white cloth.
“So, the Master Demon Sect Leader, who strikes fear into countless so-called righteous cultivators across the heavens and the earth, is actually… a woman.”
Her voice was low, carrying the excitement of having uncovered an earth-shattering secret.
“This is truly… far too interesting.”
Hearing Gu Qinghuan lay things bare so directly, Lu Ning found herself at a loss for a moment.
Her aura of “absolute deterrence” was still present, yet it seemed to have no effect on the Gu Qinghuan before her.
The shock of this secret had completely eclipsed her fear of the pressure from a Great Ascension cultivator.
“Rebellious disciple…”
Lu Ning’s tone was icy.
“Do you know the consequences of revealing my secret?”
She was making a final effort, trying to use her status and the rules to suppress her.
“Consequences?”
Gu Qinghuan smiled, her beauty so dazzling it was almost frightening.
“Of course your disciple knows. To betray one’s master and ancestors is to suffer the agony of a thousand demons devouring the heart.”
As she spoke, she gently draped the undergarment over Lu Ning’s shoulders.
Her fingertips brushed softly across Lu Ning’s neck.
“But…”
Gu Qinghuan leaned in beside Lu Ning, her warm breath curling around Lu Ning’s ear.
“Master, surely you wouldn’t want the rest of the Master Demon Sect to discover that the Sect Leader they revere as a god… is actually a woman?”
As her words fell, Lu Ning’s pupils contracted slightly.
She hadn’t expected her greatest secret to become something the other could use against her.
The Master Demon Sect revered strength above all, honoring domination and power.
If the entire sect discovered that the leader they followed, “Lu Ning”, had not only lost her cultivation but was actually a woman disguised as a man, what kind of chaos would erupt?
There would be no need for the righteous sects to attack; the sect’s internal outrage and backlash alone would tear her to pieces.
At the thought of such consequences, Lu Ning fell silent.
She knew that from this moment on, the dynamic between her and her “good disciple” had completely reversed.
Seeing Lu Ning silent, her expression shifting uncertainly, the smile in Gu Qinghuan’s eyes deepened.
She knew she’d made the right gamble.
Master really did care about this secret.
That was wonderful.
Gu Qinghuan straightened, once again assuming her usual respectful posture.
As if the overbearing disciple from just now, whispering by her ear, was nothing but Lu Ning’s hallucination.
She picked up the outer robe and helped Lu Ning put it on.
“Master, do you think your disciple is correct?”
Her voice returned to its usual coolness, but now carried a hint of irrepressible delight.
Lu Ning didn’t answer, letting her do as she pleased.
She hadn’t expected to be threatened by a young girl.
And this young girl was nominally her own disciple.
What a farce this was!
While helping tidy up the complicated layers of clothing, Gu Qinghuan casually remarked, “News of Master’s serious injuries will surely spread throughout the sect soon. Those elders are not exactly obedient.”
“But rest assured, Master. With your disciple here, no one will shake your position as Sect Leader.”
“Your disciple will help you… stabilize the situation.”
Lu Ning understood her implied meaning.
She would keep her secret, and help deal with those scheming elders.
But there was another condition hidden within…
“What do you want?”
Lu Ning finally asked, her voice hoarse.
“Your disciple does not dare to ask for much.”
Gu Qinghuan fastened the final sash, raised her head, and looked innocently up at her, smiling pure and harmless.
“Your disciple only wishes to remain at Master’s side at all times, sharing your burdens.”
“From now on, your disciple will move her sleeping quarters into Master’s palace, so I can attend to you at any moment and keep any petty troublemakers from disturbing your cultivation.”
Sharing a bed?
Lu Ning’s eye twitched.
This rebellious disciple truly knew no shame.
“No.”
Lu Ning refused without even thinking.
“Oh?”
Gu Qinghuan’s smile faded slightly.
“Is Master… inconvenienced?”
She reached out a finger, gently tapping Lu Ning at the spot bound beneath the chest.
“Or… does Master no longer care about this secret?”
Hearing this, Lu Ning was stunned.
She saw an uncompromising obsession in Gu Qinghuan’s eyes.
She knew that if she refused again, this rebellious disciple might really do something irreparable.
After a few seconds of stalemate, Lu Ning took a deep breath.
“Fine, as you wish…”
“Thank you for your understanding, Master.”
As soon as those words fell, Gu Qinghuan’s smile bloomed, radiant as ever.
She supported Lu Ning by the arm, her manner close yet still respectful.
“Master has just bathed and your body is still weak. Let your disciple help you to the bed to rest.”
Lu Ning lacked the strength to resist, letting her be led to that spacious, luxurious Xuan Ice Jade Bed.
Lying on the cool jade bed, Lu Ning watched as Gu Qinghuan tucked her in, straightening the bedding with gentle, meticulous hands—just like a truly filial disciple.
But Lu Ning knew it was all a facade.
“Master, please rest well. Your disciple will go arrange the move right away.”
Gu Qinghuan spoke softly, then turned and walked toward the hall’s exit.
At the door, she suddenly stopped, glanced back at Lu Ning, and the corners of her mouth curled into a meaningful smile.
“By the way, Master.”
“It must be hard wearing men’s clothes all this time, right?”
“Your disciple has a few new dresses made from the most comfortable fabrics. I’ll bring them tomorrow for Master to try on.”
Without waiting for Lu Ning’s reply, she pulled open the hall door and walked out.
“Bang!”
The hall door closed, returning the bedroom to silence.
Lu Ning lay on the bed, staring listlessly at the ornate canopy above.
Dresses?
Not long ago, she was a model young man—how could she possibly wear that kind of thing!
“Gu Qinghuan…”
“Just you wait… Once I recover my cultivation, I’ll show you what happens to those who betray their master and ancestors!”
After venting, reality remained ice cold.
Lu Ning was now a useless person at the mercy of others.
Just then, the system’s cold prompt sounded in her mind.
[Ding! ‘Absolute Deterrence’ Experience Card duration has ended.]
Immediately, the powerful aura she’d been faking vanished without a trace.
She closed her eyes, letting her consciousness sink into her mind, and began frantically calling her system.
[System! System! Are you there? Is there any way for me to quickly restore my cultivation?]
[Only giving one experience card in the newbie pack—isn’t that way too stingy? Are there any other grand rewards? Hidden quests? Lotteries?]
[Ding! Host permission too low, unable to query.]
[Current Main Quest: Survive in the Master Demon Sect.]
[Mission Hint: As the Sect Leader of the Demonic Path, strength is everything. Please find a way to recover your cultivation as soon as possible.]
[No kidding! Of course I know I need to recover! But how? Give me a clue!]
Lu Ning roared inwardly.
The system fell silent for a moment, as if searching.
[According to database analysis, Host’s current cultivation method is ‘Heavenly Demon Codex’. This technique is overbearing to the extreme, but once one’s foundation is damaged, it is extremely difficult to repair.]
[Restoration Plan One: Seek out rare treasures to reshape your meridians. Recommended: Nine-Revolution Soul-Returning Herb, Phoenix Nirvana Heart, Taiyi True Water…]
Listening to this string of names that only appeared in games and legends, Lu Ning’s mouth twitched.
[Stop! Give me something realistic.]
Forget being a cripple— even at her peak, she’d need incredible luck just to encounter any of these things.
[Restoration Plan Two: Destroy your cultivation and start over.]
[Start over? By the time I reach the Great Ascension stage again, flowers will have wilted! My grave grass will be three feet tall by then!]
[Restoration Plan Three: Based on the underlying data from the game ‘Immortal-Demon Era’, analysis reveals partial ‘loopholes’ in world rules. Host may try using game knowledge to find unconventional restoration methods.]
Game loopholes?
Lu Ning’s eyes lit up—now that was an idea!
As a hardcore veteran of ‘Immortal-Demon Era’, she knew all about the bugs and hidden mechanics in the game.
But bugs that could restore cultivation…
Lu Ning fell into deep thought.
Just then, she remembered something.
In one early version of the game, the Master Demon Sect’s technique, ‘Heavenly Demon Codex’, had a certain property— or more accurately, a bug.
That is, if a cultivator of this technique was gravely injured and near death, and managed to harmonize with a woman possessing the “Taiyin Body,” there was a chance to break through and come back even stronger!
Because it was so overpowered, this bug was quickly patched out.
But now, did the world’s rules still retain that early version setting?
Taiyin Body…
Gu Qinghuan’s stunningly beautiful face surfaced involuntarily in Lu Ning’s mind.
She remembered clearly that, in the game setting, Gu Qinghuan, the Master Demon Sect’s Saintess, was one of the rarest possessors of the Taiyin Body.
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