Lu Qing stood frozen, her expression one of stunned disbelief.
She had expected many things today—being scolded by her clan for mingling too closely with Xue Lian, or perhaps enduring another day as a lowly maidservant—but she had never imagined that the peerless, serene beauty before her was actually a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Her mind reeled.
The elders of the clan were only at the Foundation Establishment stage, and the revered Clan Head himself—an aged, wrinkled man known for his temper—was merely at the Core Formation realm. Yet the man in front of her appeared not only youthful, but ethereal in presence, calm like the still waters of a celestial lake.
She stood there, unmoving, as if time itself had paused. Her throat felt dry. Her voice betrayed her. She couldn't form a single word.
My eye twitched slightly as I watched her stand there in silence. I didn't blame her. After all, I didn't look like your average Nascent Soul expert. I gave off a strange aura—serene, confident, and just aloof enough to make people wonder if I was even human.
Honestly, among all the paths in cultivation, the Array Path had always fascinated me. Reading those old cultivation tomes, it was the array masters that intrigued me the most—versatile, profound, and mysterious. And now, by sheer fortune, the system had rewarded me.
[System Reward granted: Aura of a Divinity Transformation Expert. Advanced Array Mastery comprehension received.]
The moment it happened, my mind surged with information. Intricate runes, interwoven energy paths, stabilizing sequences, and core activation nodes—it all unfolded in my head like a divine blueprint. The knowledge made me an advanced Array Master in moments, and I couldn't help but smile. On the outside, I remained composed, a picture of cold expertise. But inwardly, I was grinning like a lunatic.
Still, in front of her, I allowed a rare smile to appear and reached out, gently patting her head. "Xue Lian will be your senior sister," I said, my voice deep, calm, and tinged with a quiet authority. "You'll be learning together under me. Is that acceptable?"
Lu Qing snapped out of her trance, quickly cupping her hands and bowing deeply. "This unworthy servant of the Lu Clan will gladly become your disciple, honored master."
Xue Lian chuckled behind her. "You didn't tell me your master was this stunning," Lu Qing mumbled with a flushed face, clearly embarrassed. "I stood there like a fool…"
Xue Lian patted her shoulder gently. "Don't worry. Master's not only powerful—he's kind too. Besides, it's been so boring on Peak Mountain alone. It'll be nice to have someone to talk to."
Lu Qing nodded shyly, grateful for the warmth. Her life at the Lu Clan had been exhausting. Even a moment's rest was a luxury, and being only at the first layer of Qi Gathering, with no special spiritual roots, she had always felt... inferior. Just a maid.
She bit her lip. Why had he chosen her? Out of all the people in the clan?
Was it pity? Or did Xue Lian ask him to accept her?
That must be it, right?
She looked up at the sky, bitterness pooling in her chest.
But Xue Lian, still with her usual blank expression, smiled ever so slightly, and gestured for her to follow. A banquet had been prepared. No one dared question her presence now—not with a Nascent Soul expert by her side.
She smiled faintly and nodded, sitting beside them to eat.
Throughout the banquet, the Lu Clan Head hovered around me like a particularly persistent mosquito. He tried to act polite, but I could see the greed in his eyes, the calculation behind every smile. He was probably thinking about how to use me, how to secure benefits for his clan through my presence.
I returned his politeness with cool indifference. A single glance from me made him flinch. Internally, I wanted to swat him like a fly.
Eventually, he leaned in and said meekly, "Senior, in one month, we'll be conducting a
Attack in the Bai Clan. I hope, if it's not too much trouble, you could lend us your strength…"
His voice dripped with supplication.
I nodded faintly, my tone distant. "We'll see."
His face lit up with joy, as if I'd promised the heavens. The elders looked like children being gifted candy by an immortal.
Once the banquet ended, I rose, my robes billowing lightly with spiritual energy. "It's getting late," I said with finality. "We'll be taking our leave."
No one dared stop us.
We took to the skies. Xue Lian carried Lu Qing effortlessly like a child, her expression calm. I had no technique to allow someone else to fly yet, but thankfully, no one questioned it. That saved me from having to bluff again.
When we reached the quiet solitude of Peak Mountain, I told Xue Lian to leave us. She bowed respectfully and vanished to the house to cultivate.
Now alone, Lu Qing stood silently. Her gaze was wary. Her cheeks pinkened the longer we stayed silent. Her mind raced.
What did he want? Her... body? Her breath caught. Her face flushed a brighter red.
Well... he is handsome, she thought nervously. If it comes to it... I guess I can endure it...
She lowered her gaze and whispered, "M-Master... it's my first time... p-please be gentle..."
I paused.
Inside, my mind was screaming What the hell!?, but my face remained calm and unreadable. I cleared my throat slowly, lifting a hand, and with all the gravitas of an immortal sage, I said, "Take this first."
I handed her a pill.
"A Seventh-Tier Comprehension Pill," I explained. "It will calm your thoughts and enhance your perception. We begin your training tonight."
She had not heard what i said since her mind was at chaos at that time
Lu Qing stared at the pill in her hand, her expression unreadable. Arousal pill? she panicked. Is this it?
Still, she swallowed it bravely—and then blinked in confusion. Her heart rate slowed. Her thoughts became clearer, sharper. The haze of nervous tension lifted from her mind.
She opened her eyes, realization dawning. It's not what I thought... he... he really meant training.
I nodded in approval. "Now," I said calmly, "I shall teach you the foundation of the Array Path."
She gulped, then knelt, her face still burning. "Y-Yes, Master."
"Listen well, disciple," I began, my voice deep and resonant. "The array path is not simply drawing lines or copying patterns. It is the manipulation of spiritual energy into runes, symbols, and formations that resonate with the laws of the world. Each stroke must carry intent. Each glyph must harmonize with the elements around it."
I paused, watching her eyes widen with focus.
"Arrays can defend, attack, trap, heal, or deceive. But more than that… they are a reflection of the mind that creates them. Calm minds create stable formations. Chaotic minds bring instability and failure."
I raised a hand, and golden runes shimmered in the air, forming a small protective shield around us.
"This is a basic Barrier Array," I said. "Note the three key runes: Stability, Resilience, and Reflection. Try to remember their shapes. You'll be drawing them tomorrow at dawn."
Lu Qing stared in awe.
For the first time in her life, someone wasn't telling her she was useless. She wasn't a servant here. She was a disciple.