Chapter 40: Waiting for a Rabbit by a Stump

"Oh?"

"There's actually a map?"

Zhang Yan, the Qi Refining Tenth Layer cultivator who had been pursuing Luo Yao, found a map in the Storage Bag after killing the Qi Refining Eighth Layer bandit.

And Luo Yao had also obtained a copy of this map from the bandit's companion, and she had already planned to go explore it.

"Not bad!"

A smile appeared on Zhang Yan's gloomy face; although he hadn't caught Luo Yao or recovered the Thousand-Mile Transmission Talisman, obtaining a map to an Ancient Cultivator Cave Abode was not bad either.

He just hoped the good treasures inside hadn't been taken; thinking this, he turned and flew toward that Cave Abode.

"Then endure it for a while; I will release you after I see Master."

"This..."

Luo Yao's heart skipped a beat; sure enough, anyone who wasn't an idiot could see that Xuanyuan Sect and Ziguang Sect were bound to have a great battle.

It was no wonder the people in the Market had started to decrease; they must have guessed it too, so many people left.

"This talisman stores ninety percent of my power; once activated, it is equivalent to a full-strength strike from the peak of Qi Refining."

Boom!

The next afternoon, Luo Yao broke through from Qi Refining Fifth Layer to Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

"It doesn't matter." Xiao Kui shook her head. "Once I enter the Storage Bag, I enter a dormant state, so it doesn't matter how long I stay."

"Master~"

Then, she slapped her forehead; how could she be so stupid? Xiao Kui was a Puppet; strictly speaking... wait, did Xiao Kui really not count as a living thing now?

"Master, I broke through!"

After learning that the Cave Abode contained Star Frost Sand, Luo Yao made up her mind to go there as soon as possible.

However, Luo Yao glanced at Xiao Kui and immediately hesitated because Xiao Kui was a Puppet, and her Master was a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator; he might see through Xiao Kui's identity at a glance.

"No problem."

So she was somewhat worried; if Master asked where Xiao Kui came from, she wouldn't know how to explain.

"In a few days, I have to go help the Sect guard the Spirit Stone Mine, so I won't have time to take care of you. Afterward, you stay in the Sect and don't go out. We and Ziguang Sect will have a great battle sooner or later; your strength is still too weak..."

Gongsun Ming handed the modified Heavenly Yin Art to Luo Yao. "You keep it and cultivate it. I'll be back in as little as a month or as long as several months..."

Luo Yao naturally had many questions; now that she had the chance, she quickly brought them up, such as her lack of attack methods, or how a Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivator could learn high-grade Spells, and so on.

At that time, Gongsun Ming had gone into seclusion immediately after bringing her back to the Sect, so he actually couldn't take her as a disciple; that's why he said he wouldn't take her as a disciple because her talent was poor!

After all, she knew Gongsun Ming had gone into seclusion then to attempt breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage; if he had taken her in and failed to break through, she would still have no Master and would still be bullied.

"During this period, try not to leave the Sect; go into seclusion and cultivate the Heavenly Yin Art. If you can break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage as soon as possible, that would be even better..."

"Hmm?"

Even if Luo Yao didn't go, he could still finish exploring the Cave Abode; it wouldn't affect anything.

"If you have any cultivation confusion, you can speak up; I happen to have time to guide you!"

"You don't have consciousness now, so could it be..."

But these past few days, Luo Yao had indeed felt her Master's kindness toward her; he had given her cultivation techniques, Pills, and Dharma Treasures, and patiently guided her breakthroughs...

You know my talent!

So, she decided to return to the Cave Abode and break through to Qi Refining Sixth Layer first; at the latest within three days, she would leave.

She tried it, and indeed there was no problem; moreover, her Divine Sense discovered that Xiao Kui was indeed asleep inside the Storage Bag.

"The Sect is urging me to go support them as soon as possible, so I won't be able to teach you to re-cultivate the technique hand-in-hand."

However, before she even reached the Cave Abode, she received Master's transmission and had to hurry back immediately.

To be honest, she had hated and disliked Gongsun Ming before, but only later did she understand.

Master, your request is too high!

With someone guiding her, it was naturally different; one day and one night allowed Luo Yao to avoid many detours.

"Master, what happened?" Luo Yao asked somewhat nervously.

"Stay here for these two days and don't run around; first, improve your strength." Gongsun Ming looked serious; his face looked much better than before, but he still appeared somewhat cold.

Xiao Kui seemed to see through Luo Yao's thoughts and quickly spoke to remind her.

Uh...

Moments later, Luo Yao hurriedly rushed back to the Cave Abode; Gongsun Ming's Cave Abode was also open, obviously he had emerged from seclusion.

What if Master wanted Xiao Kui?

What if Master wanted to take Xiao Kui apart to study her?

When she went to Xu Zhanglao just now, she hadn't even thought of these things; luckily, Xu Zhanglao was busy with Alchemy, and Xiao Kui hadn't entered the Alchemy Room, so Xu Zhanglao hadn't seen her.

Luo Yao immediately felt somewhat guilty; Master had been so good to her, yet she... To be honest, the Nine Nether Departing Water Art she cultivated could also reach the Golden Core Stage directly; she didn't need to change techniques.

After giving his instructions, Gongsun Ming turned to leave, but after walking a few steps, he turned back and handed Luo Yao a piece of Talisman Paper.

"I see the technique you cultivate seems different from the techniques within the Sect. Although I don't know where you got it, given the resources around us, even high-grade techniques are merely incomplete."

Gongsun Ming wanted to say something else, but he received a Sound Transmission Talisman; his brow immediately furrowed, and then he looked at Luo Yao.

"So, wanting to covet high-grade techniques is no problem, but you must think clearly about the future. Although breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage still offers one chance to switch techniques, re-cultivating from the Foundation Establishment Stage still has flaws."

"Little Yao, I can stay inside the Storage Bag."

Gongsun Ming also showed a hint of satisfaction, then took out the Heavenly Yin Art from his Storage Bag. "I have modified this technique; it should no longer cause backlash, and you won't need to dissipate your cultivation to re-cultivate."

"This Heavenly Yin Art is a Yellow Grade Upper-Rank technique, and it goes all the way to the Golden Core Stage, so there is absolutely no need to worry about the problem of needing to switch to other techniques after the Foundation Establishment Stage."

Luo Yao said happily; every breakthrough meant she was one step closer to immortality.

"I see."

However, Master had always considered her, yet she couldn't bring herself to refuse.

"Perhaps that person will go as well; by then, I can simply wait for the rabbit to strike the tree."

Luo Yao breathed a sigh of relief; fortunately, it was not as she had imagined. If it were her, staying in a cramped and dark place for days and nights would drive her mad.

"Master~"

Upon hearing this, the smile on Luo Yao's face froze; she opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but Gongsun Ming cut her off.

So, perhaps this is the reason why, as soon as Master emerged from seclusion, he took me as his disciple!

Although, all of this is merely Luo Yao's own speculation.

"Enter the Storage Bag?" Luo Yao was stunned. "Can't a Storage Bag not hold living creatures?"

Warmth filled Luo Yao's heart, and her eyes also grew misty. "Master, be careful; I will wait for your return!"

Gongsun Ming's steps paused for a moment, then, without lingering, he hurriedly left the Cave Abode.

PS: Please support... *

(End of this chapter)