Chapter 253: The Bizarrely Addictive Shiyáo Tea
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"Coming, coming!"
Dongfang Jue had also gathered nearby, though not yet formally initiated, merely mimicking the motions.
Even so, she learned quite a bit, especially with Yulan and Baitao occasionally offering guidance.
"Shiyao has been training diligently these past days. Her cultivation progress is truly rapid! Could she be nearing the formation of her core soon?"
Shiyao grinned dumbly: "Really? I don't feel anything special. Master's cultivation technique just feels so comfortable~"
Dongfang Jue pressed eagerly. Her curiosity about Ye Qinghan and Li Shiyu's mysterious cultivation techniques had been building for quite some time!
"Comfortable? Senior Sister, tell us more~"
Li Shiyu tilted her head, biting her finger as if deep in thought, seemingly racking her brain for the right words.
"Hmm… My skin feels smoother, my body feels more relaxed, I have endless energy, and my appetite is great~"
"Is Senior Sister about to form her Core now?"
"Not quite yet. The cultivation technique Master gave us is no ordinary practice—it's incredibly demanding! It's grueling and exhausting. Just circulating it through a few Great Circulation Cycles leaves me famished…"
Dongfang Jue found this somewhat unbelievable…
What on earth was going on? Was Li Shiyu's energy replenished by eating meat?
If she kept eating like this, wouldn't that…
Despite Li Shiyu's words, Dongfang Jue saw no sign of hardship in her. She appeared remarkably at ease.
"I heard from Elder Shi that Shiyu never cultivates on her own initiative."
Li Shiyu nodded in surprise—Dongfang Jue had hit the nail on the head!
The elders of Holy Mountain treated her kindly, but their cultivation methods were exceptionally strict!
"Jue'er doesn't know that cultivation on Holy Mountain is different from what Master teaches!"
"The elders demand Shiyu practice every three days. I've tried countless ways to escape, but I always get caught."
Dongfang Jue looked slightly puzzled: "Why run away? Aren't the elders very kind to Shiyu?"
Li Shiyu adopted an exaggeratedly dramatic expression, as if about to tell a ghost story.
"Their training is called seclusion. They lock me in a cave, forbid anyone from speaking to me, and don't even give me food!"
"So?"
"Master Ling Xian is different. He never rushes me. I get to train with my senior sisters and the elders. When I'm tired, we can chat. I love Lingxian Hall~"
Dongfang Jue pondered thoughtfully. Even a Holy Maiden has her own troubles~
It made sense. Since childhood, Dongfang Jue had been trained in every skill—music, chess, calligraphy, painting, archery, horsemanship, and archery on horseback. In short, she had to excel at everything!
From childhood, she'd been molded into a fiercely competitive spirit, constantly measured against others. As a princess, she naturally had to stand out among the crowd.
As the Holy Maiden of the Sacred Mountain, Li Shiyu likely didn't have it much easier. One could tell just by her straight posture and dignified gait.
At least since Dongfang Jue had known Li Shiyao, she had always been this way. He had never seen her display a lazy posture. Though not particularly clever, she knew how to stand and sit with proper bearing.
This habit, ingrained in her very bones, was merely one of countless lessons she had endured.
Asking Li Shiyu, who possessed only a child's intellect, to cultivate alone was indeed a bit unreasonable.
However, at Lingxian Hall, the cultivation environment was different. Li Shiyao had good friends now, and they could hold hands and cultivate together!
This time, Li Shiyu cultivated for a full seven days and nights, exhausting every last bit of the thirty thousand system points worth of rare treasures and treasures bestowed by Su Cheng.
"Elder Yulan, Shiyu is a bit tired."
Li Shiyu had originally intended to achieve a Breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage in one go, catching up to her senior sister's pace. Yet forming the golden core seemed far more difficult than she had imagined.
After completing a Great Circulation Cycle of the cultivation technique, Yu Lan exhaled slowly before speaking.
"Take a break. After practicing for so long, the Second Young Miss must be starving~"
Li Shiyu gently placed her hand on Yu Lan's small one, glancing around furtively before speaking.
"Elder Yulan, hehe, could you do Shiyu a little favor?"
Yu Lan was slightly surprised. When the Second Young Miss wore that sly look, it usually meant she had some mischievous scheme in mind!
"Of course, Second Young Miss, just say the word. Yu Lan will gladly assist."
Li Shiyu leaned close to Yu Lan, reaching into her bosom. She pulled out a packet of powdered medicine.
Wrapped in black cardboard was a peculiar powder. Li Shiyu held it up with a mischievous grin, as if to say: Get it?
"Second Young Miss, what is this?"
"This is the 'Drink This and Fall for Shiyu Tea'~ It was given to me by Sister Liu. If Master drinks it, he'll fall in love with me~"
Uh… Weird… Drink it and… fall in love with Shiyu Tea…
"Second Young Miss, are you serious?"
Yu Lan was utterly bewildered. The Second Young Lady was about to make a grave mistake!
Li Shiyu thought to herself, Did I sound like I was joking?
"Of course! Sister Liu is a good person. She wouldn't deceive Shiyu. As long as Master drinks this, he'll definitely like Shiyu!"
"Um, actually, Yu Lan thinks even without the medicine, Master Su would still like Shiyu."
"Hehe, Elder Yulan, please help Shiyu~"
Yu Lan dared not get involved. Li Shiyu wouldn't suffer any consequences—in fact, Master Su might even have to apologize to her afterward!
But she was different. She might end up getting punished…
"Um… Second Young Miss, it's not that Yu Lan refuses to help, but I truly dare not drug Master Su…"
"Hehe, once Master drinks this, he'll fall for Shiyu. Then Shiyu will speak up for Yulan!"
Yu Lan dared not get involved and hurried off to tattle to Su Cheng.
In the Main Hall, Su Cheng sat at his desk studying a map of the Northern Realm. According to intelligence from Ye Qinghan, unifying the Northern Realm was imminent.
Ye Qinghan now commanded his own Demon Clan army, led by Xu Zhanfeng in his stead.
Ye Qinghan had never imagined commanding an army, yet in the blink of an eye, she seemed to have become a proxy Demon Emperor.
Xu Zhanfeng reported that people were praising her deeds in the Northern Realm—eliminating evils for the people, her armies causing no harm to civilians—hailing her as a kind and benevolent Demon Emperor.
Ye Qinghan didn't know what kind of demon emperor her subjects desired.
She had no intention of pretending to be anything she wasn't. Ever since that day when Li Shiyao had suddenly drawn her sword, Ye Qinghan seemed to understand what her people truly needed.
To free them from the anxiety of survival, to spare them worry over their next meal—that was her true duty.
【I knew it, Qinghan would never disappoint me.】
【After much thought, I still have a few words of caution. Qinghan, do not think your master is being tedious. Though you are the Demon Emperor, you were not placed upon that throne by force.】
【Never lose sight of your true self, nor sacrifice the greater for the lesser.】
【Qinghan need not become the Demon Emperor by force, nor must she follow rigid conventions. The Demon Emperor is not a specific type of person. Qinghan is the Demon Emperor. Do not lose your true self simply because you stand tall.】
In this master's eyes, Qinghan need only be yourself to be a qualified Demon Emperor, a qualified ruler of the Northern Realm.
The situation in the Northern Domain unfolded largely as anticipated. Su Cheng had expected Ye Qinghan to advance cautiously, step by step, but the decisive push achieved much the same result.
Encircling the cities from the countryside and seizing power through armed struggle proved highly suitable for the Northern Domain, where villages predominated and fortified cities were scarce.
Ye Qinghan transformed into a spiritual leader, adopting a "students to the countryside" approach to let the people witness this trustworthy Demon Emperor. Simultaneously, his armies advanced swiftly, seizing crucial passes.
If this plan succeeded, two of the three elements—heavenly timing, geographical advantage, and popular support—would be secured, leaving only the heavenly timing to be awaited.
However, Su Cheng had no intention of interfering. The First Disciple's mission was a trial by fire. With the general commanding the field, it would be unwise to micromanage—such meddling might only backfire.
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