Chapter 10: Senior Sister?! We're Demonic Cultivators?!
Li Yingling's cold, detached face matched perfectly with her cutting words.
Li Xingtian silently turned to look at her. If not for the half-eaten rabbit head on her plate, he might have actually felt ashamed.
But still—
He explained earnestly, "It's not that I fail to appreciate kindness, senior. It's just that I have many matters left unfinished, and I cannot remain long within any sect."
"Otherwise, I would have already agreed to senior's offer. I understand that senior's intent in taking me as a disciple was not desire, but compassion—to save my life."
Hearing such sincerity, Chu Xingchen nodded approvingly.
"Indeed, most sects do like to bind their disciples," he said, then smoothly added, "But our Heavenly Dao Alliance is different. As long as your heart remains loyal to the sect, you may roam anywhere under heaven."
Upon hearing that, Li Xingtian looked at the fragrant rabbit meat before him and picked up his chopsticks without hesitation.
He understood the hidden meaning: so be it, disciple then.
Repaying kindness was his principle, and perhaps this was the true opportunity granted by his rebirth.
If the sect turned out to be worthless, he could always leave again.
He took a bite—
He froze.
This… this was the best rabbit he had ever eaten in his life.
The richer the rabbit, the better it tasted. Somehow, though, he felt as if he had sold himself with that bite.
Smiling, Li Xingtian praised, "Master, your cooking is truly exceptional."
[Disciple Accepted]
[Second Disciple: Li Xingtian]
[Technique Granted: Hunyuan Demonic Bone Body Refining Scripture]
[Compatible with Heavenly Demon Physique]
[Quest One Complete: Reward — Spirit Gathering Array]
[All rewards have been placed in the system inventory]
Seeing the system's completion screen, Chu Xingchen nodded in satisfaction.
"If you like it, eat more."
"Yes, Master."
Li Yingling watched as Li Xingtian began acting polite and deferential, then straightened her posture with a serious air.
"As Master's second disciple, you must work hard to uphold our name," she said encouragingly.
Li Xingtian caught her meaning immediately and bowed respectfully. "Understood, I will not disappoint Senior Sister."
Li Yingling's smile softened with approval.
The new junior seemed obedient enough—she'd look after him later.
After all, he had nearly gotten himself killed after a single day outside. Clearly, not the brightest one.
She wasn't sure what her master saw in him, but perhaps their sect was just short on people.
Still, it was her first time being a senior sister—no, the first senior sister—and she couldn't help but feel a little proud.
Her gaze drifted toward her master, expecting to see him relaxed and smiling now that things were settled.
Instead, Chu Xingchen's face showed faint distress.
What was going on?
Not only Li Yingling noticed—Li Xingtian did as well.
"Master?" she asked cautiously.
Chu Xingchen quickly dismissed the system panel before turning to her. "What is it?"
"Master, are you all right?"
"What could be wrong with me?"
"It's just… you looked a little troubled earlier."
Realizing his expression had been noticed, Chu Xingchen hurriedly said, "Ah… I was just studying your junior's cultivation method."
Li Xingtian quickly interjected, "Master, there's no need. I already have my own cultivation method."
Chu Xingchen said nothing further, only retrieved the Hunyuan Demonic Bone Body Refining Scripture from the system inventory.
A crimson book radiating a faint scent of blood appeared in his hand. Handing it to Li Xingtian, he said reassuringly, "It's fine. Look through this technique first. If it doesn't suit you, you may continue cultivating your own."
Hearing that it wasn't an order, Li Xingtian relaxed, reaching out to accept the eerie, blood-tinged book.
After handing the book to Li Xingtian, Chu Xingchen quietly stood up, returned to his wooden bed, and lay down without another word.
His two disciples exchanged a puzzled glance.
Li Xingtian raised a brow and made a subtle gesture with his eyes.
[What's wrong with Master?]
Li Yingling understood immediately but only smiled faintly before resuming her meal, biting into her rabbit head.
If she knew what was wrong with Master, she wouldn't have asked why his expression looked strange earlier.
This junior… clearly not the sharpest.
Li Xingtian was confused but said nothing more. He lowered his gaze to the dark red-covered book in his hands.
The calligraphy on the cover was powerful and fierce, carrying a faintly murderous aura.
He brushed his fingers across it, finding it to be ordinary paper.
A replica, perhaps? But why would a mere copy smell of blood?
Without overthinking, he opened the first page—and immediately, his mind trembled. His eyes raced across the text, one line after another, then quickly flipped to the second page.
The more he read, the more horrified he became.
Noticing his startled expression, Li Yingling adopted a senior's calm demeanor and said comfortingly, "Junior brother, it's normal for cultivation manuals to go through revisions. If the handwriting's a bit unclear, that's fine too—practice boldly."
Li Xingtian glanced at her silently, then turned to look at Chu Xingchen resting on the bed.
Lowering his voice, he said incredulously, "Senior sister… are we demonic cultivators?!"
Frowning, Li Yingling retorted, "Demonic cultivators? What nonsense are you spouting? We practice righteous techniques!"
Li Xingtian didn't argue. He simply handed her the Hunyuan Demonic Bone Body Refining Scripture.
Taking it curiously, Li Yingling flipped through the first page.
The handwriting was neat and vigorous—clearly the work of a skilled calligrapher.
What could be wrong with this? It looked far more refined than her own manual.
But as she read on, her expression began to twist in disbelief.
After flipping through several pages, she quickly shoved the book back into Li Xingtian's hands.
Heavens! What kind of cultivation method was this—so drenched in blood and gore?!
"Senior sister?!"
"Ahem… senior sister is tired. I'm going to sleep first. You, uh, find somewhere to lie down."
Li Yingling didn't even bother finishing her rabbit head. She scurried off to her corner, pulled up a wooden board to block her view, and shut herself inside.
Being a Golden Core True Person, Chu Xingchen naturally heard every word of their conversation.
"That book isn't a demonic cultivation method," he said calmly.
Li Xingtian looked down again at the text that read:
'During the Foundation Establishment stage, one must first slaughter a thousand blood offerings, dismember their bodies, and refine their bones into one's own.'
"Master… is your definition of 'not demonic' perhaps a bit too lenient?"
"'Blood offerings' don't necessarily mean humans," Chu Xingchen replied lazily. "Go to the forest near Ten-Mile Slope and hunt some mindless beasts instead."
Li Xingtian reread the manual. If what his master said was true—and beasts could be substituted—then the technique was actually far superior to the one he'd cultivated in his past life.
It also perfectly complemented the Heavenly Demon Physique he gained from fusing with the Millennial Bone Jade.
He wasn't one to overthink. If it required blood offerings, so be it—he'd make do with beasts.
Once he finished refining the Bone Jade, he'd test the technique. If something went wrong, he could always abandon it.
His worries faded away.
But Chu Xingchen's didn't. That troubled expression earlier had a reason.
Because the "Spirit Gathering Array" rewarded by the system… was only a blueprint.
It couldn't just be summoned or placed anywhere freely.
Nor would it automatically construct itself without materials.
It was literally just a design plan!
He'd have to gather the materials, the spirit stones, and build it by hand.
All the blueprint did was show him how.
Was this some kind of scam?!
Where was he supposed to get the spirit stones for this?!
If the "True Martial Hall" reward turned out to be another blueprint he had to build himself… he'd truly lose his mind.