Chapter 128: This Is a Spirit-Infused Isatis Root

“Cough, cough, no laughing! Such a serious matter—how could I possibly laugh? I really am inhuman...”

Suppressing the urge to chuckle, Ye Qiu inwardly scolded himself. Maintaining a solemn expression, he turned to Qingcheng and said, “Xiaocheng, how’s your swordsmanship coming along?”

Qingcheng was momentarily taken aback by Ye Qiu’s gaze, which seemed to hold some mischief. Nervously, he replied, “Master, I’ve been diligently practicing the sword techniques today, trying to grasp the subtle sword intent you left behind. I’ve made some progress, but unfortunately, I feel like something is missing. No matter what, I can’t seem to fully comprehend it.”

“Oh?”

Ye Qiu furrowed his brows, a troubled look crossing his face. Qingcheng immediately sensed something was off. What was going on? Why that expression from the master?

“Master, if there’s something on your mind, just say it outright. If it’s within my power, I’ll handle it for you. No need to keep it to yourself...” Qingcheng’s anxiety grew with Ye Qiu’s increasingly serious demeanor, genuinely believing some major event was unfolding.

Ye Qiu broke into a grin. “Heh heh, you’ve been tricked!”

“Cough, cough, it’s nothing serious! I heard there’s a demon monkey wreaking havoc in the Eastern Sea, causing unrest across the region. Unfortunately, I can’t leave on my end to subdue it. If left unchecked, it could become a great disaster. My thought was, though this demon monkey is powerful, it hasn’t reached the level of an earthly immortal. Perhaps sending you as its opponent would be a good test.”

Ye Qiu said this hesitantly, his face calm, but inside he was already delighted. Well, what a way to put someone on the spot! First, he made Qingcheng mow the weeds, now he was sending him after a demon monkey?

Upon hearing this, Qingcheng grew anxious. “A demon monkey? Surely you’re joking, master. I’m just a minor cultivator within a small realm; there’s no way I can contend with such a creature. Sending me to subdue it is like sending me to my death.”

Qingcheng wasn’t naïve—he knew his own limits. Asking him to capture a demon monkey was tantamount to a suicide mission.

However, Ye Qiu never expected this excuse to actually send him off; this was just the beginning. Just wait and see how I’ll trick him further—when it comes to fooling others, Ye Qiu had never feared anyone.

“Hmm, you have a point. But don’t worry, since I’ve chosen to send you, I won’t just let you go unprepared. Right now, even though the forbidden seal inside you has opened, your Heavenly Gate remains closed, preventing you from entering the realm of earthly immortals. Against the demon monkey, you stand no chance. Over these past days, I’ve been studying many ancient texts, searching for information on the innate Dao embryo and uncovering some secrets.”

Ye Qiu then walked calmly to the side, gazing up at the stars, casting a sidelong glance at Qingcheng.

Thinking to himself, “Heh heh, this kid isn’t the sharpest, but he’s not entirely gullible either. I need to organize my thoughts carefully—how to trick him into setting off on this path.”

“Cough, cough, through my studies, I’ve gradually grasped the essence of the innate Dao embryo. Soon, I will open your Heavenly Gate, and then you can go and capture that demon monkey...” Ye Qiu said calmly.

Open the Heavenly Gate?

I really don’t know how to do that. Let me first convince this kid to believe it, then use him as a test subject. Maybe it will actually work.

At this thought, Ye Qiu felt a pang of guilt. “Am I too cruel? Such an innocent child, and I’m tricking and coaxing him into becoming a fool...”

Hearing the possibility of opening his Heavenly Gate, Qingcheng’s excitement burst forth instantly. “What! Master, you can really help me open my Heavenly Gate?”

Wow, I never expected it—my spring is finally arriving! Oh heavens, I’m about to become extraordinary...

Qingcheng could no longer contain himself, grasping Ye Qiu’s hand fervently, shaking it as he said, “Master, hurry! Open my Heavenly Gate, and I’ll go catch the monkey for you.”

Ye Qiu’s expression darkened as he eyed the boy. How was it this kid seemed even more excited than himself?

“Stop shaking! Damn it, you’re ruining the dignified image I’ve worked so hard to build.”

“Calm down! What’s the rush?” Ye Qiu snapped, smoothing his clothes and shaking off Qingcheng’s grip. “This is exactly why you won’t achieve greatness. Look at yourself—when faced with a challenge, you panic and fidget like a child. That’s not how someone who accomplishes great things behaves. To succeed, you must understand this truth: no matter when, where, or what happens, you must remain calm and composed. Like Mount Tai collapsing before you, yet your expression remains unchanged. Look at you, then look at me. Can’t you be a little more mature?”

Ye Qiu chided him harshly, yet couldn’t resist praising himself in the same breath.

Sigh... indeed, my charming aura is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Being invincible is a lonely state.

Qingcheng felt a little ashamed after Ye Qiu’s rebuke. Upon reflection, it was true.

Ye Qiu was right. Someone destined for greatness cannot be so jittery and childish all the time.

“Is this the gap between me and the masters? I understand now. No wonder the master has so many admirers. It’s his calm and unruffled demeanor, his steady and indifferent temperament, that unconsciously builds a towering image. To outsiders, he seems like a recluse untouched by the world. Could this be what people call... putting on airs?

Oh... I think I’ve discovered something extraordinary! Heh heh... I must learn well. If I can master even a fraction of the master’s skill in putting on airs, I’ll be able to walk with my head held high!”

Qingcheng grew more excited the more he thought about it. If Ye Qiu knew what he was thinking, he would probably be furious.

What the hell are you thinking? I’m teaching you how to carry yourself with dignity, and you’re imagining putting on airs?

Damn it, is there anyone normal left in this world?

“All right! Enough chatter. Once I open your Heavenly Gate, I’ll teach you some secret techniques, and then you can go catch that monkey...” Ye Qiu said impatiently, suddenly producing a medicinal herb in his hand.

“This is a sentient Isatis root. During the chaos in the tavern, it tried to escape but I caught it back. Eat it, then try to absorb its power to see if you can open your Heavenly Gate. If not, I have other herbs we can try one by one. No rush...”

Ye Qiu smiled slyly. Experiments must be conducted one by one. Fortunately, he had no shortage of herbs—Qingcheng could keep eating to his heart’s content.

But if he got sick from it, Ye Qiu wouldn’t be responsible.

“Isatis root?” Qingcheng took the herb and sniffed it, suddenly stunned. “Hiss... this is the legendary Nine Springs Revival Herb, one of the Nine Springs treasures...”

“Ah?” Ye Qiu was momentarily stunned. He thought, “Is it really that powerful? It’s just a sentient Isatis root. How did it become one of the Nine Springs treasures?”

He hesitated. Such a precious herb—was it too wasteful to give it to him? Maybe he should pick another one?

“Thank you, master. I will not disappoint your nurturing...”

Before Ye Qiu could change his mind, Qingcheng swallowed it whole. Ye Qiu cursed inwardly in anguish.

What a loss! I thought this was the least valuable herb, but it turned out to be so precious. The Isatis root was in poor condition; I thought it was ruined by pigs. Who knew it was a Nine Springs treasure?

What a waste, what a waste! You don’t feed this to pigs, do you? It’s heartbreaking.

If Qingcheng knew what Ye Qiu was thinking, he’d probably cry.

You really are hopeless.