NOVPUBTo capture the heart and spirit of a God Transforming cultivator, even if that person is an inexperienced virgin, is no mean feat.
For half a year, Li Qing patiently played the role of the obedient disciple.
Apart from the occasional frolics with Sima Jing, he disciplined himself and behaved with propriety, exhibiting both literary grace and martial prowess, focusing solely on diligently cultivating the Moonlight Transformation Technique.
Li Qing himself was already exceedingly handsome. After achieving minor success with the Moonlight Transformation Technique, the allure it added was further magnified by the effects of the [Sutra of Transgressive Ethics].
In addition, his astuteness and ability to deal with people could be said to have reached the pinnacle.
Thus, although he had only just been accepted as a disciple, Li Qing had already become the most popular cultivator on Lui Yue Peak.
In the time they spent together, the female cultivators gradually forgot the fact that Li Qing was originally a man.
Half a year later, on this day, the long-suffering Li Qing finally awaited an excellent opportunity.
Huo Jingtong’s mentor, the Great Elder of the Great Taoist Sect, a Unity-Path cultivator named Yang NiCang, neared the end of her life and failed in her breakthrough to the Immortal Realm, fading away within her secluded Cave Mansion.
Huo Jingtong was hand-picked by Yang NiCang from the foot of the mountain and brought up by her personally. 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝒐𝒎
They had a relationship like that of a mother and daughter.
The death of Yang NiCang dealt a tremendous blow to Huo Jingtong.
Even when passing on the Taoist Techniques to the disciples, she would suddenly become absent-minded.
And it was precisely at this time that the Taoist Sect’s Nine Veins and Seventy-two Peak Competition had begun.
The ranking in the sect competition not only affected the distribution of resources within the sect for the next hundred years but was also closely related to the granting of the Fruit of Eternal Life’s position.
One must know that even for the Great Taoist Sect, one of the Immortal Dao Ten Clans, the position for the Fruit of Eternal Life was exceedingly scarce and fiercely contested amongst the many Integration cultivators.
It was because the Moonlight line had fallen behind in the rankings during the last century’s competition that Yang NiCang’s position was lowered.
Thus, she died of old age without ever seeing the day when it would be her turn for the Fruit of Eternal Life.
This had become a knot in Huo Jingtong’s heart, so she was desperately eager to achieve good results in the competition to comfort her deceased master’s spirit.
Regrettably, the strength of the Moonlight line was already among the weakest in the Nine Veins. And while the most promising and talented of the younger disciples, Zhao Ruoxi, did not have enough cultivation time and was not yet ready to take on such a responsibility.
As a result, the competition ended with the worst showing in the history of the Moonlight line.
Li Qing, who was seemingly at the Foundation Establishment Stage and thus unqualified to participate in the competition, could not be blamed for this outcome.
However, the oppressive atmosphere within the Moonlight line after the competition did affect him.
As the saying goes, shame could serve as a catalyst for bravery; the Lunar Female Cultivators put away their frivolity and began to cultivate with determination and dedication, hoping to redeem themselves in the next competition.
The atmosphere within the sect thus became more disciplined, making it inappropriate and inconvenient for Li Qing to use his charming and clever words.
Huo Jingtong herself also underwent a change in temperament, shifting her preference from valuing appearances to valuing cultivation aptitude in her disciples.
Naturally, she began to grow cold towards Li Qing, whose cultivation base seemed to have stagnated.
But Li Qing was not at all worried.
He knew that although there were many female cultivators with outstanding talents on Lui Yue Peak, there was not a single peerless genius like Sister Zhao capable of shouldering the rise of the line.
Therefore, Li Qing was fully confident that once he revealed his true cultivation base, he would completely change Huo Jingtong’s perception of him.
"But now is not the best time. Just wait a bit longer."
Sure enough, things played out as Li Qing had expected.
The cultivation progress of the female cultivators on Lui Yue Peak could not meet Huo Jingtong’s expectations.
Her temperament became increasingly irritable, constantly scolding and berating them.
The disciples dared not to talk back and could only bow their heads in acceptance.
Mere punishment could not change the situation.
The atmosphere on Lui Yue Peak grew increasingly oppressive.
Under the immense psychological pressure, Zheng Keyin, a closely-nurtured disciple on whom Huo Jingtong had pinned great hopes, failed in her Nascent Soul breakthrough and damaged her cultivation foundation, making her future path in cultivation hopeless.
This incident caused the already emotionally unstable Huo Jingtong to completely lose her composure.
She didn’t even offer a word of consolation to the disciple she once doted on and left with a cold demeanor.
The indifference in those eyes left Zheng Keyin feeling utterly desolate.
Fellow disciples also began to sympathize with the fear that they might share the same fate.
After a long period of deathly silence, Li Qing knew that the perfect moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
He first helped the severely injured Zheng Keyin back to her quarters, then spent three full days tending to her shattered spirit.
Using the pure Primordial Yin Energy within her body, he made a breakthrough to the Mid Stage Golden Core.
After that, he patiently waited for another half month.
He confirmed that Huo Jingtong had nearly lost all hope in her current disciples and was ready to go down the mountain to accept new ones.
That night, Li Qing secretly knocked on Huo Jingtong’s door.
The Forbidden Formation on the door was undone, and Huo Jingtong’s cold voice came from inside.
"At this late hour, what business do you have?"
"Master... I have some doubts about my cultivation that I wish to consult with you," Li Qing said with a bow, displaying sincere trepidation.
Huo Jingtong was silent for a moment. She did not open the door but instead dismissed him, "Go and ask any of your senior sisters. They should be able to resolve your doubts."
However, Li Qing did not walk away.
Just as Huo Jingtong was starting to feel impatient.
Li Qing suddenly spoke again, "Master, I’m afraid the senior sisters cannot dispel the doubts in my heart."
With that, Li Qing let out a wisp of his Mid Stage Golden Core cultivation base.
"Hmm?"
The door flew open with a bang, and Huo Jingtong appeared before Li Qing in an instant, staring at him in shock.
