Master: This Villainous Disciple Is Not The Holy Child - Chapter 12: Since You’re Already Here…

Qi Meng Die sat gracefully upon her white jade lotus throne, the very image of a celestial fairy. As Chu Xiu entered the hall, she instinctively reached up to adjust her snow-white robes, her composure faltering for a fleeting moment.

Her brow furrowed slightly. “Rebellious disciple, why did you keep this from me?”

“Keep what from you, Master?” Chu Xiu ascended the jade steps, feigning confusion.

“The fact that you’ve obtained an heavenly sword intent,” she replied, her body shifting slightly backwards on the throne.

“Oh? And how did you know that, Master?” Chu Xiu asked, his voice laced with mock surprise.

Ignoring his master’s subtle attempt to distance herself, he sat beside her, his arm casually draping around her slender waist. A delicate fragrance, sweet and intoxicating, wafted from her robes, filling his senses.

Qi Meng Die struggled briefly against his embrace, but finding it futile, she simply sighed and said, “The Holy Master is a Saint King realm overlord, her mastery over spatial laws is near absolute. The fluctuations caused by your comprehension of sword intent… you couldn’t possibly have concealed them from her.”

‘I see…’

Chu Xiu nodded, a knowing smile spreading across his face.

“And?” he asked, his voice laced with feigned innocence. “Does this mean the Holy Land is going to shower its resources on me, its newly discovered genius?”

“Hmph!” Qi Meng Die scoffed, her beautiful face contorted in a sneer. “There are no free handouts in the Tài Sù Holy Land. Even if you were the reincarnation of an ancient emperor, you would still have to earn your resources, to fight for them. Flowers raised in a greenhouse cannot withstand the wind and rain.”

“I wholeheartedly agree, Master. Resources… they’re always more satisfying when you’ve earned them yourself.”

“Master… it’s getting late. Shall we retire for the night?”

Qi Meng Die’s expression shifted, her beautiful face flushing crimson, her breath catching in her throat. “Rebellious disciple… no… not tonight…”

“But Master… I’m already here.” Chu Xiu’s smile widened, his voice a low murmur. “And since we have nothing better to do… why don’t we… enhance my aptitude?

…

An hour later, Chu Xiu, feeling refreshed and invigorated, left the Peak Master’s hall.

Qi Meng Die, her face flushed, her breath ragged, lay sprawled across her jade throne, her body weak and trembling.

[Wow, Host, you’re such a bad boy! You’ve dual cultivated with your master again! Triggering special reward: Sixth-grade Crane Crown Poison x1 pot.]

[Cultivation aptitude +100]

[Cultivation aptitude +100]

[Cultivation aptitude +100]

[Host’s aptitude has reached 917 [Heaven Grade]. Cultivation speed increased by thirty-one times.]

[Ding! Host’s cultivation has improved! You are now half a step away from the Sea of Qi Fifth Layer. Keep up the excellent work! Hehe…]

“The effects are diminishing.”

Chu Xiu frowned, a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice. He estimated he would need 2000 aptitude points to reach Immortal Grade.

“The Heavenly Fragrance Physique shouldn’t be this weak!”

‘Could it be because Master’s cultivation is sealed?’

‘Should I… unseal her cultivation next time…?’

He shook his head, pushing the dangerous thought aside for now.

Back in his cave dwelling, after reinforcing the soundproofing and anti-detection formations, he laid out his spoils from the recent competition.

Clatter… Clatter… Clatter…

A mountain of treasures shimmered before him, spiritual weapons, heavenly materials, and piles of spirit stones, their radiant glow reflecting in his eyes.

He picked up a common-grade broadsword and selected the “exchange” option.

[Consuming common-grade broadsword – obtaining 1 breakthrough point.]

“System, get your ass out here!” Chu Xiu demanded, his brow furrowed in annoyance. “The last time I exchanged a common-grade item, I received 5 breakthrough points! Why has it dropped to 1?”

[Hehe… as the Host’s cultivation level increases, the quality of items required to exchange for breakthrough points naturally increases as well.]

[Just between us… breakthrough points also have quality levels! 嘎嘎嘎~]

[If the Host wishes to accumulate breakthrough points with low-quality items… well… let’s just say… that won’t be possible. Hehe…]

[Also, spirit stones cannot be directly exchanged for breakthrough points. Don’t ask why; let’s just say I don’t want to calculate the exchange rate.]

“You… you little shit…”

Chu Xiu cursed under his breath as he gathered his spoils and left his cave dwelling.

He needed to sell these low-quality items and purchase higher-grade treasures to maximize his gains.

…

Jùbǎo Peak.

The department responsible for managing the Tài Sù Holy Land’s finances and resources.

Externally, they were merchants, establishing businesses in various kingdoms, ancient clans, and other sects, facilitating trade and generating revenue for the Holy Land.

Internally, they were the sect’s stewards, responsible for resource allocation and distribution.

Although their combat strength wasn’t particularly impressive, they held a position of considerable influence within the Tài Sù Holy Land. Only Tai Su Peak and Tian Xing Peak could rival their authority. After all… they controlled the purse strings.

Chu Xiu, following his memories, arrived at the Jùbǎo Pavilion, the central hub of the treasury department.

His black and gold cloud robes, a symbol of his status as a direct disciple of Yúnxiá Peak, immediately caught the attention of the inner disciples.

A young woman, her face adorned with a charming smile, approached him. She wore a light green dress, its skirt embroidered with images of gold ingots.

Bowing slightly, she greeted him, “Chu Xiaoran, inner disciple of Jùbǎo Peak, greets Senior Brother Chu Xiu.”

Chu Xiu wasn’t surprised that she recognized him. His attire, the distinctive black and gold cloud robes, marked him as the chief disciple of Yúnxiá Peak.

“Is the person in charge here?” he asked, getting straight to the point.

“Senior Brother is here to sell some items, I presume?” Chu Xiaoran replied with a sweet smile.

“Oh?” Chu Xiu’s lips curved into a playful smirk as he reached out, his finger gently lifting her chin. “And how did you know that, Junior Sister? Have you perhaps… learned the art of mind reading?”

A blush crept up Chu Xiaoran’s cheeks as she took a step back, her eyes downcast. “Senior Brother’s impressive display at the Tian Xing Peak arena today… it’s the talk of the Holy Land. You won a substantial amount of spirit stones from many of the direct disciples.”

“And now… you’ve come to the Jùbǎo Pavilion. It’s not difficult to deduce that you’re here to sell your spoils.”

“Please, Senior Brother, this way.”

She turned and led him towards a private room on the second floor, her movements graceful and fluid.

Chu Xiu followed, his eyes lingering on her slender figure, a hint of amusement in his gaze.

‘A Divine Ability realm cultivator pretending to be an inner disciple… she approached me the moment I arrived… she didn’t react to my… flirtatious… gesture… and she’s clearly trying to… get close to me. There’s definitely something going on here…’

Sensing his gaze, a subtle but unmistakable predatory stare, Chu Xiaoran quickened her pace slightly.

They arrived at a private room on the second floor, where they were greeted by the person in charge of the pavilion.

The man, short and stout, dressed in a loose-fitting green robe, his face adorned with a meticulously groomed mustache, his eyes uneven in size, was Meng Dacai.

Despite his unassuming appearance and rather common name, his cultivation was nothing to scoff at. He was a Fifth Layer Small Saint.

Rumor had it that before embarking on the path of cultivation, he was an ordinary merchant in a mortal kingdom. After his family was slaughtered by demons, he, by a stroke of luck, survived and eventually joined the Tài Sù Holy Land. His sharp business acumen, combined with his talent for cultivation, propelled him through the ranks, and he eventually became one of the three elders in charge of Jùbǎo Peak, overseeing the operations of the Jùbǎo Pavilion.

“Elder Meng,” Chu Xiu greeted him with a slight bow.

Meng Dacai rose from his seat, returning the gesture with a jovial smile.

Putting aside cultivation level, Chu Xiu, as the chief disciple of Yúnxiá Peak, held a similar status within the sect. It was a courtesy Meng Dacai couldn’t afford to ignore.

Unlike other powerful cultivators, Meng Dacai lacked the usual air of authority. He seemed more… approachable, more like an ordinary merchant than a powerful elder.

Chu Xiu wasted no time. He produced two storage pouches and emptied their contents onto the floor.

Clatter… Clatter… Clatter…

A mountain of treasures shimmered before them.

Chu Xiaoran’s eyes widened, her delicate features contorting in surprise.

“This… this is quite a haul, Senior Brother!”

“Please, Elder Meng, appraise them,” Chu Xiu said, pulling up a chair and settling down.

He had won a total of three million spirit stones in the competition, and the remaining thirteen million spirit stones worth of items were now piled before them.

Meng Dacai’s powerful divine sense swept over the treasure trove, assessing its value.

After a few moments, he smiled, stroking his mustache thoughtfully.

“Twelve million four hundred and fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones.”

Chu Xiu nodded. The appraisal was roughly five hundred thousand spirit stones less than what the Tian Xing Peak elders had estimated.

He didn’t suspect Meng Dacai of underselling him. The market value of items fluctuated constantly, and the Tian Xing Peak elders weren’t as well-versed in these matters as Meng Dacai.

“I won’t settle the spirit stones just yet,” Chu Xiu said. “I intend to purchase some items from the pavilion.”

“Excellent!” Meng Dacai rubbed his hands together, a shrewd glint in his eyes. “Xiaoran, accompany Senior Brother Chu Xiu.”

“Yes, Elder Meng,” Chu Xiaoran replied, bowing gracefully.

“Senior Brother, if you would follow me…”

…