CHAPTER 3
The Six Ritual Gifts
============================================================
Following Su Cheng up the mountain, Ye Qinghan couldn't hold back upon seeing his master's Lingxian Hall…
This is Lingxian Hall? This is a sect?
"Master, you mean this is Lingxian Hall?"
Ye Qinghan pointed at the dilapidated structure before him, utterly incredulous…
"Indeed. Cultivating immortality requires a pure heart and few desires. Your master dislikes excessive luxury."
"But it doesn't have to be this shabby…"
Ye Qinghan stared at the small courtyard before him, unable to suppress his inner rant. Was there even fraud in the cultivation world?
【Congratulations, Host, on acquiring a disciple! The Villain System presents you with the following reward!】
【Lingxian Hall ×1】
【Innate Supreme Spirit Root Seed ×1】
【999 All-Purpose Spirit Essence ×1】
【Cultivation Support Materials (Ye Qinghan) ×10 Sets】
Su Cheng froze upon hearing the system's voice in his mind.
Ever since his transmigration, this antagonist system had vanished after introducing the world—no matter how he called out to it, it wouldn't respond!
If it hadn't suddenly popped up now, Su Cheng would've almost forgotten he even had a system!
What really pissed him off was this damn system! Were these cultivation materials bound to specific individuals?
Does it fear not giving them to disciples, hoarding them for its own use?
[System Store Permissions Activated]
"Go wait inside the house for your master."
Ye Qinghan didn't dwell on it much. Not only did she know her master wouldn't harm her, but even if he did, she wasn't afraid!
Having just been called cheap by his disciple, Su Cheng decided to give Ye Qinghan a visual spectacle instead.
The Immortal Hall ignored the terrain, requiring no site selection. Wherever it touched the ground, surrounding trees and boulders vanished in an instant.
In that very instant, the Lingxian Hall rose from the ground, fully equipped with every facility inside.
【Heh, now that’s more like a proper villain. What kind of miserable life did he lead before? Wasn’t he practically begging on his knees?】
【Besides, if the villain lacks any real power, how would he make you, Young Master Cheng, look formidable?】
"Come out."
Ye Qinghan could hear Su Cheng's inner thoughts from within the room, but the moment she actually saw him…
"Master… it was my ignorance…" Ye Qinghan felt a pang of guilt. Had she truly judged a noble heart by her own petty standards?
"It was my oversight for not discerning your needs. There are many rooms here—choose whichever you prefer."
Su Cheng spoke, then led Ye Qinghan deeper inside. The magnificent palace complex resembled a celestial palace, its spiritual energy thick and potent.
Su Cheng naturally chose the Main Hall. Ye Qinghan dared not object—her master deserved the largest chamber.
Ye Qinghan chose the room next to his master's. As a disciple, he naturally wished to stay close to his master!
After briefly tidying her quarters, Ye Qinghan proceeded to Lingxian Hall to perform the formal initiation rites.
She was already the First Disciple; this was merely a formality.
Yet Ye Qinghan never expected that the moment she knelt, a sharp reprimand startled her…
"Qinghan, where is your Ling Shuang Sword?" Su Cheng's voice was icy cold, his eyes turning terrifying.
Ye Qinghan froze, staring at her master's expression and feeling a wave of fear wash over her. Perhaps it was from kneeling all day, but her legs began to tremble uncontrollably…
"It's… in my room."
Seeing Ye Qinghan's state, Su Cheng's heart softened.
"I am not angry. But remember this, Qinghan: the Frostshatter Sword must never leave your side. Nor should it be stored in a storage ring."
[Should such a先天至宝 be lost, this world might… ]
Ye Qinghan hastily acknowledged her mistake and pledged, "This disciple will remember the master's teachings."
Ye Qinghan understood—this sword was more precious than her own life!
If the world learned of the existence of a先天至宝, one could only imagine the chaos it would unleash—the Three Realms would likely descend into madness…
She scrambled to her feet and dashed back to her room to retrieve the Frostshatter Sword, vowing silently that it would never leave her side again!
Fortunately, her master did not pursue the matter. Ye Qinghan fastened the Ling Frost Sword to her waist before presenting tea to her master and performing the formal bow of respect.
No one presided over the ceremony, no one witnessed it, but Ye Qinghan cared not a whit. She knelt down properly and performed the rites.
Though the ceremony felt somewhat austere, Ye Qinghan still believed it was an indispensable part of the process. Becoming a disciple should be done this way—it was the proper way.
Regardless of whether her master cared, as his disciple, she must not overstep her bounds. Becoming his disciple was only the first step. To avenge her mother, she needed this master.
[I cannot even protect myself, yet I had the audacity to take on a disciple.]
Slowly accepting the teacup, he took a light sip before gently stroking Ye Qinghan's head.
"I have prepared an initiation gift for you—six items in total, including the Frostshatter Sword."
Ye Qinghan stared blankly at the gifts on the table, frozen in place.
"Master, the six gifts should be prepared by the disciple for the master. Your kindness in recognizing my potential is beyond repayment. How could I dare…"
"This is the custom of Lingxian Hall. Qinghan, simply accept them." Su Cheng pursed his lips slightly as he introduced each gift to Ye Qinghan.
Ye Qinghan obediently nodded. Her master's words were sacred edicts; she simply had to comply.
"This is the Glass Silk Water-Sleeve Dress, the jade pendant symbolizing Lingxian Hall, and the Ling Frost Sword you wear. These three correspond respectively to restraining the body, restraining the heart, and restraining emotions."
[Her destiny is unique. Though the Ling Frost Sword suppresses her innate allure, she still needs to store life-saving measures within the Jade Pendant for critical moments.]
"The sword case against the wall is what your master prepared for you. You aspire to be a sword immortal, don't you? You'll need this sort of thing sooner or later. Take it back and study it carefully."
Ye Qinghan gazed at the distant sword case, equally astonished. Its craftsmanship was exquisite, enveloped in a halo of Taoist aura and spiritual energy—another treasure starting at the immortal tier…
Ye Qinghan felt that with these treasures, the only thing missing for her to establish her own sect was a protective formation…
What sect could possibly produce so many immortal-grade magical treasures? Now, looking at the jade pendant and the Glass Silk Water-Sleeve Dress, she suspected they were far from ordinary items either…
"And then there's the bracelet your master prepared for you. As for how to use it, take it back and study it yourself."
"Finally, this is a rare spiritual medicine I happened to obtain. It's extremely precious. Even if you're on your last breath, consuming this will restore you to full health."
Su Cheng poured the 999 Universal Elixir the system had given him into a small vial and pressed it into Ye Qinghan's hand.
"It's getting late. Rest well tonight. Tomorrow, I'll teach you the Frostblade Sword Technique and cultivation methods."
Ye Qinghan looked utterly bewildered. Truthfully, no one had ever treated her this kindly before.
Even if they had, it was only for her body or her talent.
But Su Cheng sought nothing from her, yet cared for her in every way. He clearly wanted to keep himself out of trouble and avoid worldly entanglements, yet because of her, he had no choice but to provoke Cheng Liang.
He clearly cherished a life of simplicity and detachment, yet because of her careless words, he ended up building an entire immortal palace.
She had intended to present the Six Rites to her master, yet he instead bestowed them upon her as an initiation gift.
"What's wrong? Why are you crying? Is there something else you need?"
Ye Qinghan realized tears were streaming down her cheeks only when Su Cheng spoke.
"No… no one has ever been so kind to a disciple before. I…"
[This poor thing… After all, she's just a sixteen-year-old child…]
Su Cheng ruffled Ye Qinghan's hair affectionately, gently wiping away her tears. "Go rest now."
Ye Qinghan nodded, accepted the six gifts, and returned to her room—which, frankly, was just next door.
Ye Qinghan couldn't sleep a wink. She laid out all six gifts on her bed. If she'd had her phone, she would've snapped photos and posted them on her social feed.
Her delicate hands gently rested on the Glass Silk Water-Sleeve Dress, feeling its exquisite texture. She marveled inwardly—truly a gift worthy of her Master! She wouldn't even dare wear this skirt herself!
She slipped into the new gown and glanced at her reflection. Though it looked loose when she put it on, it surprisingly hugged her figure perfectly! It felt tailor-made for her—far beyond just "fitting."
Such exquisite craftsmanship! What was that so-called "divine-grade" item? It was utter trash now—utterly beneath Ye Qinghan's notice!
Wearing the new skirt, Ye Qinghan began fiddling with the jade pendant again. To her surprise, it functioned like a storage ring, capable of holding items. Inside lay the rare treasures her master had prepared for her cultivation.
Next came the sword case. Since it was quite large, Ye Qinghan sat on the bed and clamped it between her legs. Even after much effort, she couldn't open it…
After much effort, she finally understood: the sword case was powered by immortal techniques, just like the Ling Shuang Sword. No external force could overcome it.
The case slowly unfolded, revealing a dozen or so immortal swords—the very type Ye Qinghan had once dreamed of possessing. Now they lay quietly inside, merely as gifts…
With Ye Qinghan's current cultivation at the ninth level of Qi Refining, she could simultaneously wield no more than four flying swords. For immortal swords, two would likely be the absolute limit.
Beyond that, Ye Qinghan noticed that neither the Frostsword nor the scabbard could be stored in his spatial pouch. It wasn't that his master forbade it—they simply wouldn't fit. Not even the jade pendant his master had given him could be stored there.
Figuring he wouldn't need them anytime soon, he decided to leave them at home. Carrying such a large sword case would be a hassle anyway.
Unexpectedly, the sword case seemed to sense Ye Qinghan's thoughts and instantly shrank to the size of a matchbox.
Ye Qinghan narrowed his fox-like eyes. He hadn't expected this thing to be so sensible. He simply tugged at his collar and tucked the sword case into the generous folds of his chest.
Though his master hadn't specifically instructed him about the sword case, Ye Qinghan sensed it was likely another treasure he couldn't part with.
【What’s with this? It’s like raising a daughter—even sleeping requires constant reminders!】
"Go to sleep!" Su Cheng, who was about to take a bath, noticed the light still on in Ye Qinghan's room and tapped lightly on the window twice.
Startled, Ye Qinghan hadn't heard his master's thoughts in so long that he'd assumed the old man had fallen asleep.
"Yes, Qinghan will sleep now."
Ye Qinghan hurriedly extinguished the lamp and lay down on her bed, feeling quite excited.
【She's such a handful. I'll end up dying at her hands sooner or later…】
Hearing her master's words—about raising a daughter and how troublesome it was—Ye Qinghan felt an inexplicable warmth in her heart.
Among the people she had known before, few had treated her badly, but Su Cheng was different.
Ye Qinghan couldn't quite put her finger on it, but this feeling brought her a profound sense of peace.
At first, she'd planned to swindle the elderly widow out of her treasures and flee. Now, she felt utterly undeserving of life!
Meeting her master was the greatest stroke of luck in her entire life. Thankfully, she hadn't given up halfway and had chosen him.
But then again, what was the Master doing out so late?
He slept all day—surely he wasn't tired now? What could possibly take him out at this hour?
Curiosity gnawed at her… She wanted to sneak a peek…
By the time these thoughts crossed his mind, Ye Qinghan's hand was already on the door handle.
Tiptoeing out of the room, he saw the light still on in the Master's quarters. He must not have gone far.
After searching the courtyard, she heard Su Cheng's inner thoughts outside another grand hall.
【Ah~ Feels so good…】
Ye Qinghan froze. What? Pleasure?
Fearing discovery, Ye Qinghan dared not approach too closely. Though his master possessed no cultivation, one could never be certain he might have some magical artifact or method to detect her presence.
"Care not for generals or nobles~ Care not for ages past or future~"
Ye Qinghan froze. Was his master singing? Such heroic spirit and ambition—his master truly was extraordinary!
But what exactly was the master doing to be so happy?
Feeling so exhilarated and joyful?
Ye Qinghan tiptoed inside, noticing the air felt slightly damp. Yet he could distinctly sense the spiritual energy here was far denser than anywhere else in Lingxian Hall.
"The boundless path of heaven and earth's great affection~ For her sake, I'd turn my back on the world~"
Huh? For whom? For me?
Master! You didn't have to go this far for Qinghan!
============================================================