18

Chapter 522: Trouble for Everyone
============================================================

Dongfang Jue stared dumbfounded at the cultivation technique her master had given her.

It resembled a script more than a cultivation technique.

One thing remained consistent with the other disciples, however: this cultivation technique absolutely must not be seen by a second person. If it were, it would plunge the world into chaos and leave the people suffering!

Truthfully, upon seeing this, Dongfang Jue felt a flicker of delight!

She thought to herself, Finally, it's my turn! This is exactly what I've been waiting for!

To prop up the crumbling edifice, to rescue the nation from peril!

Once she cultivated this…

Wait a minute—what the hell is this?!

[Zhao Cuicui, nineteen years old, from Luo'an. She has two older brothers. Her mother is gravely ill. Her father and two brothers support the family by taking odd jobs…]

It was practically a full biography. From her childhood to her current age of nineteen, every detail of the girl's life was laid out before him, written down with meticulous precision!

With her current cultivation, she could read ten lines at a glance and remember everything. Dongfang Jue read swiftly, turning page after page!

Even the details of Zhao Cuicui's birth were recorded meticulously—who the midwife was, how anxious her father had been…

It must be said, the Master had written it quite well. Even minor details were vividly portrayed, making Dongfang Jue feel as if he were experiencing them firsthand!

But!

This had nothing to do with cultivation techniques—absolutely nothing at all!

He'd read most of it, nearing the account of her eighteenth birthday, where her mother now lay gravely ill in bed!

Dongfang Jue couldn't make heads or tails of it!

How was she supposed to cultivate this? The Master even said he'd come check on their progress when he had time. What kind of nonsense was this?

But since it was given by the master, she still planned to finish reading it. After all, it wasn't as thick as Li Shiyao's four-character idiom compendium. At her current pace, she wouldn't take long to finish.

Even if she didn't grasp the cultivation methods, at least when the master inquired about the book's contents, her photographic memory would allow her to answer, right?

And so, Dongfang Jue decided to keep reading, simultaneously searching the book for clues. Could cultivation techniques be hidden between the lines? Or perhaps some other profound secret?

She kept reading until she came across her master's instructions. Actually, the tone wasn't so much an instruction as a command, a warning.

The meaning was clear: from the moment Dongfang Jue read this page, he was forbidden to use any magical arts, forbidden to kill anyone, forbidden to transfer or give away any immortal pills or spiritual medicines to anyone…

Two entire pages filled with prohibitions—do not do this, do not do that—along with orders to conceal her cultivation level. Without her master's explicit permission, she must never reveal any information.

Only now did Dongfang Jue begin to sense something amiss. If this were the case, wouldn't she be indistinguishable from ordinary mortals…

Was that it?

And now, having read the final line, Dongfang Jue's jade-like hand had already grasped the next page, poised to turn it.

"Master, I've calculated everything, but I never anticipated that Zhao Cuicui would be none other than myself…"

As the words fell, Dongfang Jue's hand could no longer hold the next page. Overwhelming spiritual power and restraining force forcibly pulled her hand away, turning the page on its own!

The next page contained no text, only a teleportation array…

As the page turned, the teleportation array on the book burst into dazzling golden light, instantly expanding to fill the entire room!

Dongfang Jue, seated cross-legged and clutching the "technique," now found herself standing directly at the center of the teleportation array!

"Master, you really outdid yourself…"

Dongfang Jue had chosen this location for its extreme secrecy. Since Master had said it must not be seen by anyone, that meant absolutely no one.

If he could share it with his senior sisters, then it meant it couldn't be seen by outsiders.

Truthfully, Dongfang Jue had initially doubted this whole thing. After all, her master was highly unlikely to make such a mistake. So why hide it from her senior and junior sisters?

Now she understood—it was to prevent anyone else from being transported away with her…

Meanwhile, Chu Youwei was also studying the "technique" her master had given her.

She had long suspected something peculiar about it, but even she hadn't imagined it would be this bizarre!

The usual rules applied: like all other disciples, she was warned that the cultivation technique must remain secret from everyone. Violators would bear the consequences themselves.

Chu Youwei could imagine her master's reasoning behind the "consequences will be borne by the offender" clause. It was likely genuine concern that some dimwits might make mistakes, or perhaps fear that overly harsh wording would make them overly cautious. That's why specific punishments, like expulsion from the sect, weren't specified.

Chu Youwei believed that if the Master had replaced "consequences are your own responsibility" with "expulsion from the sect," these disciples would have gritted their teeth and died rather than leak a single word.

Upon reading this, Chu Youwei had already begun pondering her master's intentions. She no longer questioned the authenticity of the cultivation technique.

If it were truly a superior technique, it should have been in their hands long ago!

The cultivation techniques they practiced now? She could only imagine these were the best techniques their master possessed!

Given her master's nature, she'd likely share even the most precious things she couldn't bear to use herself, and force-feed them the tastiest treats!

Last time, when General Yuyan brought those exotic fruits—said to be a rare variety that beautified the complexion—Master had given them all to her!

At this moment, Chu Youwei simply smiled. Standing in the courtyard outside Lingxian Hall, she found a spot to sit down and opened the cultivation technique to examine it.

Hmm, no mistake—it truly was a wondrous cultivation manual. Not a single word.

The entire book, even the cover, was devoid of any writing!

Page after page, all blank!

"Hehe, Master really is mischievous~"

Still, Chu Youwei intended to study it. Though she suspected it might not be anything good, she didn't believe her Master would go to such lengths just to tease her.

Her master wouldn't do something so pointless—at least, Chu Youwei didn't think her master would.

This cultivation manual likely held some peculiar significance. Given how mysteriously the other disciples behaved, they probably faced similar challenges.

Master had likely set a goal or puzzle for each of them. As for the true reward, it probably wouldn't be obtained until they met the requirements or solved the riddle?

But what exactly did "a book without words" mean?

It could be said that at this moment, Chu Youwei was the one with the most positive mindset among them. She was actually quite looking forward to this puzzle-solving game with her Master~

If she solved the riddle of the wordless book, what reward might await?

Could she get the Master as a reward for one night? Hehe~

After all, aside from that, she truly desired nothing else. She simply wanted her master—wanted him to stay by her side forever.

Truthfully, she wasn't particularly interested in dual cultivation. All she wanted was for her master to be honest and obedient, to simply stay by her side. That was all she desired.

Closing the Book of Wordless Techniques, Chu Youwei offered only a faint smile as she headed toward the library to see if she could find a solution.

Though rewards didn't matter much, what if Master set a challenge and she was the only one who failed? What if Master ended up disappointed in her?

With this thought, Chu Youwei flicked her sleeves, conjuring a small vial from nowhere. She poured the spiritual liquid onto the wordless manual, then pointed her jade-like finger. A surge of potent spiritual energy shot forth instantly!

============================================================