The argument between Gu Qingying and Gong Baiyu inside the cabin quickly caught the attention of Lu Li, who was outside steering the spirit vessel.
“Hey! Qingkong! Who are you talking to?”
Lu Li noticed the commotion inside the cabin and immediately pushed open the door to enter.
As he looked up, he saw Gong Baiyu quarrelling with Gu Qingying inside, and an unmistakable expression of shock appeared on his face.
“Young Master Gong? You… what are you doing here?”
Lu Li furrowed his brows slightly, his gaze sweeping over Gong Baiyu, who looked smug while lightly waving her feather fan, then over Gu Qingying, whose cheeks were puffed out in anger from being provoked by Gong Baiyu.
Confusion and questions instantly filled his mind.
Seeing the sect master enter, Gong Baiyu’s expression changed in an instant; the playful, teasing demeanor she had earlier vanished without a trace.
She quickly put down her fan, stood up, and bowed deeply to Lu Li with utmost respect, her voice clear and sincere.
“Please forgive my sudden arrival, Senior. I had no choice but to come without prior notice. I hope you can understand!”
Gong Baiyu’s eyes burned with admiration and determination as she looked at Lu Li.
“A few days ago, when we fought side by side, I witnessed your heroic stance slaying demons and the exquisite Sword Dao you wielded, which stirred an infinite longing within me.”
“So… after much thought, I deeply feel that meeting you this time is my destined opportunity. If I don’t seize it, it will be a lifelong regret!”
“I discussed this with my father, but he stubbornly insists that I should inherit the family business and forbids me from seeking apprenticeship.”
“That is why I resorted to this desperate measure—sneaking away from home to ask you to be my master!”
“Senior, please, you must accept me as your disciple!”
The moment Gong Baiyu spoke, Lu Li was stunned.
Huh?
Accept a disciple?
The Young Lady of the Pill Refining Pavilion wants to take me as her master?
While Lu Li was still surprised, Gu Qingying immediately flared up like a protective little cat.
She jumped in front of Lu Li and spread her arms, blocking Gong Baiyu, her purple eyes blazing with fury as she scolded sharply,
“Gong… Gong Baiyu! What nonsense are you spouting? Taking a master is a lifelong matter for a cultivator. It must follow the wishes of one’s parents and be reported to the sect! You, as the Young Lady of the Pill Refining Pavilion, how can you treat apprenticeship so frivolously?”
“Besides, you coming to seek apprenticeship without any notice! How can you justify this to the parents who raised you? Moreover… you are the future heir of the Pill Refining Pavilion. By abandoning your family’s great legacy to come here to Duanqing Peak to apprentice, what exactly do you intend to do with your family’s vast foundation?”
Turning to Lu Li, Gu Qingying said,
“Master, please don’t listen to her! Before we go any further, turn around and send this troublemaker back!”
Lu Li felt a headache coming on from this sudden request for apprenticeship.
Rubbing his brow, he looked at Gong Baiyu with some hesitation and advised,
“Young Master Gong, I understand your intentions. But if I’m not mistaken, your cultivation has reached Foundation Establishment, and your talent in the Pill Dao is extraordinary.”
“If that is the case, why would you need to take me as your master? Besides, my specialty lies in the Sword Dao. I fear I have little to offer you in Pill Dao.”
Gong Baiyu seemed to have anticipated this question.
Calmly, with that same sincere smile on her face, she began her persuasion.
“Senior, you are too modest! As the saying goes, a true master is someone to look up to. Your Sword Dao cultivation is beyond my reach, and that is precisely why I want to learn from you!”
“As for cultivation…”
Gong Baiyu shifted her tone, a cunning glint flashing in her eyes, “Your current cultivation is at the peak of Foundation Establishment. Core Formation is only a matter of time.”
“Therefore, what I am doing, to put it bluntly… is a kind of venture investment.”
“Oh? Venture investment?”
Lu Li raised an eyebrow, finding her explanation rather novel.
“Yes, exactly!”
Gong Baiyu nodded.
“If I sought apprenticeship under a well-known Golden Core cultivator, such a powerhouse might not regard my humble contributions. Under their tutelage, it would be difficult for me to receive attention.”
“But apprenticing under you is different! I am willing to wholeheartedly assist you on your path to Core Formation. When you condense your Golden Core and become a great power…”
“As an investor aiding your Core Formation, this bond and my position in your heart would be incomparable to mere favors.”
“So clearly, this is timely help—a win-win deal!”
With that, Gong Baiyu seemed to perform a magic trick.
Suddenly, she pulled a jade vial from her bosom.
The vial emanated a misty aura that radiated outward like a spiritual glow.
It was clearly no ordinary item.
Gong Baiyu offered the vial with both hands:
“Senior Lu, this is our Pill Refining Pavilion’s treasure, Ningdan Powder. It greatly benefits cultivators condensing Core Formation.”
“I… uh, ‘borrowed’ it from home.”
“I’m willing to offer this as the formal gift for apprenticeship, hoping it will help you reach Golden Core sooner!”
Ningdan Powder!
Hearing this, Lu Li’s pupils contracted slightly.
Right now, his most urgent need was to establish Core Formation to complete his system task and escape the threat of death.
Ningdan Powder was exactly what he needed!
After all, whether it was improving a disciple’s cultivation or aiding his own Core Formation breakthrough, as long as it helped him reach Golden Core and complete his task, it was good!
Thus, Gong Baiyu’s move struck right at his soft spot.
Lu Li’s eyes instinctively fixated on the jade vial, even his breath quickened slightly.
“Ah! Master! Don’t trust her!”
Gu Qingying panicked, no longer caring about anything else.
She clutched Lu Li’s arm tightly, practically hanging on him, crying as she shouted, “That woman… she’s definitely deceiving you! Who knows what’s actually inside that vial?”
“She’s only trying to get close to you with ulterior motives!”
“Master, refuse her quickly and send her back!”
Lu Li was unsettled by Gu Qingying’s frantic warnings, yet his gaze wouldn’t leave the Ningdan Powder.
Reason told him Gu Qingying’s worries were not unfounded, but the temptation of Core Formation and the pressure of his system task stirred fierce inner conflict.
Gong Baiyu seemed to ignore Gu Qingying’s words, increasing her stakes.
Her voice carried a seductive tone, like a devil tempting from hell.
“Senior, I deeply understand how difficult your cultivation is. If not for pressing circumstances, why would the head of a peak personally undertake a sect mission?”
“Resources are paramount in cultivation.”
“I dare not boast, but I’m sure you can see that my family has considerable assets, and I myself have some achievements in Pill Dao.”
“If you would accept me as your disciple, I’m willing to supply monthly spiritual stones and pills to support your and Senior Brother Gu’s daily cultivation needs.”
With that, Gong Baiyu smiled sweetly, shooting Gu Qingying a deep, meaningful glance.
“In the future, all the pills and medicine needed by you and Senior Brother Gu can be fully provided by me. I will spare no effort to refine the best pills! You will never need to worry about resources again!”
All the medicine included! Monthly provision!
Lu Li’s eyes lit up instantly, like two bright lamps igniting in the dark!
At this moment, Lu Li seemed to envision a steady stream of spiritual stones flowing into his storage bag, various auxiliary spirit herbs laid out before him, and his Core Formation path clearing smoothly!
Even the looming shadow of death from his system task seemed to dissipate under Gong Baiyu’s words.
Seeing her master’s evident wavering and faint glow in his eyes, Gu Qingying’s heart sank.
She was about to argue again when Lu Li took a deep breath, his gaze complicated as he looked slowly at Gong Baiyu, his voice barely shaking with a hint of tremor.
“Young Master Gong… do you truly mean this?”
Gong Baiyu chuckled inwardly, knowing the bait was set.
Yet her expression grew even more respectful and sincere.
“Senior! Every word I speak is true!”
“If you do not believe me, I’m willing to immediately swear the Heart Demon Oath!”
Hearing this, Lu Li’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he grabbed Gong Baiyu’s hands tightly, his face full of eagerness.
“Hehe~ What a fine disciple you would be!”
“Since you’ve said it so clearly, then what else is there to discuss?”
Gu Qingying knew the situation was lost and was nearly steaming with rage.
On the other hand, Gong Baiyu looked triumphant, sweetly addressing Lu Li,
“Master above, please accept your disciple’s bow!”
Then, with a meaningful glance at her junior sister—her junior sister from her past life and senior sister in this life—she used a secret sound transmission to openly mock her.
Hehehe… Little junior sister!
Today’s lesson from your senior sister is a hard one!
Let me tell you honestly, in the cultivation world, there’s nothing that can’t be settled with spiritual stones!
If there is, it just means you didn’t pay enough!
Remember this—our survival in the cultivation world doesn’t rely on fighting or killing, but on human relationships and social dealings~
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