4. Senior brother is really pure-hearted.

Mist and clouds veiled the sky, as the sun emerged from the haze.

Between the flickering of the faint light, a handsome young man slowly opened his eyes.

Even after a night of sleepless cultivation, not a hint of fatigue could be seen in those eyes, which seemed even clearer and brighter.

As he exhaled softly, the cyclones of Qi that revolved in his dantian following the celestial cycle gradually calmed down as well.

"This feeling of getting stronger every moment is just too wonderful."

Xu Yuan was somewhat excited, but when he thought of the five female leads who were even more monstrous than him, his expression immediately turned bitter.

According to the game's settings, their cultivation speed was many times faster than his, and with the added access to resources, their one day of cultivation could easily match his hundred days of arduous training. How could he even compete with that?

"Sigh, what a hassle. If I'd known I'd be transported into the game, I would've chosen some hack-and-slash game over this unfeeling experience."

Xu Yuan massaged his temples, inadvertently bringing to mind the risque images of Lin Qingque he had solidified in his mind once more.

It wasn't for any other reason than to make the most of his subjective initiative; while his filter for her hadn't faded yet, he wanted to deepen his good impression of her first. That way, he wouldn't need to be too afraid of her suddenly using her Heart Voice ability to peer into his thoughts.

After all, as the saying goes, to deceive others, you must first deceive yourself.

No, that's not right. I'm not deceiving myself.

How could I deceive myself? I genuinely have feelings for Lin Qingque.

Those just-right pigeon breasts, those snow-white and smooth legs that one could play with for a year—wait, Tian Liuli's seem to be even longer, or maybe those legs bound in ice silk belonging to someone else are not bad either.

No, that's not right. Surely the little junior sister's are the best.

Xu Yuan faced the mirror and let out a smile.

Yes, perfect.

She probably won't notice, will she?

...

"Senior brother, good morning!"

Just as he stepped out of his room, Xu Yuan was startled by the sight of the girl who had been hovering beside the cliff, waiting for quite some time.

Lin Qingque was rarely dressed in a bright yellow chest-high blouse that made her appear as vivid and vibrant as a small yellow flower contending with peonies in a garden.

Upon seeing him, Lin Qingque, who normally presented herself detachedly, now flashed a naïve smile. With a light step off her sword, her long, taut legs descended to the ground.

She pulled a butter-yellow pouch from behind her waist and asked, "Want some?"

"Junior sister, I have now reached Foundation Establishment and have given up eating."

As he spoke, Xu Yuan took a different turn.

"However, since it's a gesture of kindness from my junior sister, I will certainly accept it."

"Humph, so you mean to say you wouldn't have eaten it if it weren't from me?"

"Of course, after all, cravings of the palate are desires too, which do not benefit cultivation."

Xu Yuan whispered, "Cultivators, if influenced by desires, can easily lose themselves. Master mentioned this before, so junior sister, next time, don't bother bringing any."

"Okay."

Lin Qingque, while saying so, yet not slowing her hand movements, curled the corners of her mouth slightly, feeling delighted inside.

She couldn't help but recall the vision of snow-white she had glimpsed in his mind the previous night, causing her cheeks to redden again.

"Speaking of which, senior brother, you seem a bit off today. Did you have a dream about something last night?"

Lin Qingque asked quietly while scrutinizing him.

"Nothing?"

Xu Yuan feigned a demeanor of composure laced with panic as he spoke.

"Is that so?"

Lin Qingque looked at him with a smile, her eyes squinting in suspicion, "It couldn't be that you dreamed of me again, could it?"

"No, no, wait, how did you know?"

"Hee hee, of course, I guessed it. I didn't expect that my casual guess would be right. Surely you weren't mistreating me in your dreams, were you?"

"No, not at all."

Watching Xu Yuan's ears turn slightly red, Lin Qingque smiled like a weasel that had just observed a chicken steal some rice.

'Senior brother is really quite innocent.'

She couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

...

When the two arrived, sunlight streamed through the bamboo windows, scattering across the grand hall in a mottled pattern.

The disciple's dwelling was already quite splendid, but compared to the Heavenly Dao Sect's extravagantly luxurious hall, it still fell far short.

Just one gram could extinguish the extreme cold of the Ten Thousand Year Volcano, just a single section could revive the life of a Primordial Spirit cultivator… The palace, built from these most top-notch Immortal Materials and carved with countless Secret Array patterns on top,

could be said to be a top-tier Immortal's Magical Treasure in itself.

The dust suddenly began to stir.

Feeling a presence from afar, a woman deep within the hall nonchalantly opened her eyes.

Her facial features were delicate and flawless, her skin as smooth and pale as cold jade.

Her hair was pinned up, a wooden hairpin inserted at an angle, and she wore a thin black and white Daoist robe. Merely standing there with an indifferent expression, she seemed like an unsheathed sharp sword, stealing away all the sharpness of the top-tier magical treasure around her.

In her presence, even the Magical Treasure that had countless offensive Arrays and was faintly gaining some spiritual intelligence became docile.

And she was none other than the mentor of Lin Qingque and Xu Yuan — the next Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect, the Celestial Maiden from Beyond, Mu Qianyan.

Although Mu Qianyan's name contained the character for "shallow," she was, in fact, profoundly inscrutable.

In the later stages of the game, she was the strongest character aside from the five main heroines.

In the game, many players had the idea to challenge their Master in an act of rebellious apprenticeship, to see the depth of Mu Qianyan.

However, the result was that those who tried perished; they couldn't even break through the entrance of Heaven's Dao Hall before they expired.

"Master."

Upon entering the hall, the two were met with their mentor's gaze.

Xu Yuan and Lin Qingque greeted their Master with proper respect.

"Hmm, you two stand aside for now."

After sweeping a glance over Xu Yuan indifferently, Mu Qianyan nodded slightly.

Her voice carried a faint coldness, yet it wasn't the type that kept people at bay like that of an ordinary woman, but more like frost on a sword, mist on snow — elusive and unmeltable.

They both nodded quickly in response.

At this moment, other disciples in the grand hall had already assembled, standing in two rows.

Xu Yuan simply found a shady spot out of the sunlight and, after standing there, closed his eyes to continue his cultivation.

Throughout the entire process, he did not once glance at his Master — the female Sword Immortal who held the admiration of many.

This in turn allowed Lin Qingque, who was standing by his side, to breathe a sigh of relief,

Competing with the fiancée of that brother, the Cold Palace Sword Immortal, she felt no great pressure.

But if it came to their Master, she almost had no confidence.

What she didn't realize was that Xu Yuan, using the corner of his eye that she couldn't see, was secretly watching every move of Mu Qianyan.

As a seasoned flirt.

How could Xu Yuan not have thought about Mu Qianyan.

Like other players, he had not succeeded in winning over Mu Qianyan, acclaimed as the foremost among Sword Immortals.

He could feel that she had some unspoken feelings for him as well, but it seemed as if she feared something.

It appeared that she was afraid… afraid of them.

This was why he never entertained the idea of asking for his Master's assistance.

"They've arrived."

Just then, Mu Qianyan's beautiful eyes focused slightly.