Qian Qiu suddenly opened her eyes, filled with longing as she looked at Gu Liangyuan.

  "Is what the immortal master said true?"

  Gu Liangyuan smiled and turned to walk up the mountain.

  "With the methods of an immortal, it's naturally a piece of cake."

  Watching Gu Liangyuan turn and leave, the self-doubting Qian Qiu felt a bit anxious.

  What did the immortal master mean by this? Did he leave because I asked too many questions?

  Is he angry?

  Does he not want me anymore?

  Just as she was lost in her thoughts, Gu Liangyuan's voice came from ahead.

  "Let's go, silly girl."

  Only then did Qian Qiu snap back to reality, a lovely smile appearing on her face as she responded crisply.

  "Alright, coming."

  Gu Liangyuan led the way, with Qian Qiu following behind.

  The setting sun stretched their shadows long, merging them into one.

  Qian Qiu looked at Gu Liangyuan's sturdy back, engraving this scene deeply into her mind.

  For the next hundred thousand years, this scene would often appear in her dreams, especially the words "silly girl," which she found unforgettable.

  It was at this moment that the gears of her destiny began to turn.

  Walking ahead, Gu Liangyuan immersed his mind in the system interface, satisfied as he sensed the Devotion Value rising to 20.

  Eighty points to reach the disciple recruitment threshold was quite easy to achieve.

  Thus, the two of them continued until dusk, finally reaching the top of Emotionless Peak.

  As Qian Qiu walked along, she noticed that Emotionless Peak not only had beautiful scenery but also many halls.

  Some were built against the cliffs, strange and peculiar; others were intricately carved and painted, uniquely designed. The entire layout was like stars surrounding the moon, guarding the central Emotionless Hall.

  But among these halls, there were no signs of inhabitants.

  Gu Liangyuan noticed Qian Qiu's confusion and explained.

  "Emotionless Peak was once the head of the Taishang Seven Peaks, but it later declined. These are the residences left by the predecessors, feel free to choose one to live in."

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  Qian Qiu blinked.

  "Where does the immortal master live?"

  Gu Liangyuan pointed to the Emotionless Hall. "This is my residence."

  Qian Qiu pointed to the side hall next to the Emotionless Hall. "Then I'll live here, so it'll be convenient if the immortal master needs anything."

  "Alright."

  Just as Qian Qiu was about to settle down, the Mountain Protection Array of Emotionless Peak suddenly trembled.

  Gu Liangyuan flipped his hand, taking out a bronze mirror.

  The image displayed in the mirror was of the mountain gate of Emotionless Peak.

  Outside the gate stood a woman in a cyan Daoist robe, bowing respectfully.

  "Chu Xingyue from Limitless Peak, here by my master's order, seeking an audience with Martial Uncle Ancestor."

  Gu Liangyuan formed a hand seal, and the Mountain Protection Array opened directly.

  Chu Xingyue entered the mountain gate and, with a few flashes, appeared before Gu Liangyuan.

  "Greetings, Martial Uncle Ancestor."

  "No need for formalities."

  Chu Xingyue looked up at Gu Liangyuan, momentarily dazed.

  Clearly, Gu Liangyuan's appearance hadn't changed, yet he seemed much more handsome than before.

  And the Dao Essence flowing around him made him appear otherworldly, as if not of this mortal realm.

  "Why did Nephew Lv send you here?"

  Hearing Gu Liangyuan's words, Chu Xingyue snapped back to reality, silently cursing herself for losing composure.

  She patted her storage bag, and a slender treasured sword appeared in her hand.

  Bowing slightly, she raised it above her head with both hands.

  "My master said that Martial Uncle Ancestor was once troubled by emotions, wasting many resources, which she found regrettable. So she specially ordered me to deliver this sword to Martial Uncle Ancestor, hoping you can overcome the Love Trial."

  Gu Liangyuan scanned it with his Divine Sense, slightly surprised.

  He hadn't expected the sword before him to be a Supreme-Grade Heaven-Grade Magical Artifact.

  Magical Artifacts are divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow, corresponding to the Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul stages. Beyond that, up to the point of becoming an immortal, they belong to the category of spiritual treasures.

  In the outside world, a Supreme-Grade Heaven-Grade Magical Artifact could be considered a sect's treasure, and even in a sacred land, it was extremely precious. Many elders might never acquire a Heaven-Grade Magical Artifact in their lifetime.

  In Gu Liangyuan's impression, Lv Qingmei had always been cold towards him, her junior uncle. Why was she so generous today?

  But there was no reason to refuse something already in hand.

  He casually accepted the sword, giving it a slight shake, causing it to emit a series of resonant sounds.

  Upon closer inspection, the words "Autumn Water" were inscribed on the blade.

  "Autumn Water Sword, a fine sword, a fine name. Please thank Nephew Lv for me."

  Chu Xingyue bowed again. "Xingyue will certainly convey your message."

  Watching Chu Xingyue fly away on her sword, Gu Liangyuan turned to look at Qian Qiu, noticing her gazing longingly in the direction Chu Xingyue had left.

  Clearly, she was deeply fascinated by the cultivation world's abilities to soar through the skies and delve into the earth.

  Gu Liangyuan retrieved a few pills and handed them to Qian Qiu.

  "Snap out of it. Cultivators don't eat grains, and there are no cooking fires on Emotionless Peak, but as a mortal, you must eat. Take these Fasting Pills; one pill can keep you from hunger for half a month."

  Qian Qiu accepted the Fasting Pills, feeling touched once again.

  Her mother had died when she was young, and though she was a princess, she was a concubine-born princess, unloved by her father.

  Especially after her forehead was burned, she didn't see her father for years.

  In the deep palace, her father's favor was everything.

  Seeing she wasn't favored, even the palace maids and eunuchs would secretly withhold her food and clothing.

  As a woman, unable to even see her father, she could only endure silently.

  At fourteen or fifteen, her country was destroyed, and the women in the palace met tragic ends. Due to her unattractive appearance, she narrowly escaped and began her life in exile.

  She could say that since she had memory, she never knew what it felt like to be cared for.

  Especially after entering the cold cultivation world, she suffered even more bullying.

  She never expected to feel cared for by Gu Liangyuan, whom she saw as a high and mighty immortal.

  And he said he went to Pill Peak to find medicine for her...

  How could this be, how could someone be so good to me?

  Do I deserve it?

  Qian Qiu felt like crying.

  When she came to, Gu Liangyuan was already gone.

  She sniffled, rubbing her slightly reddened eyes.

  Looking at the morning star on the horizon, she felt a strange sensation in her heart...

  Before long, Gu Liangyuan returned.

  Seeing Qian Qiu waiting in the wind, he waved her over.

  "Come on, it's windy outside. Let's go inside the hall and apply some medicine."

  "Okay."

  Qian Qiu responded softly, her heart filled with both anxiety and anticipation as she followed Gu Liangyuan into the hall.

  ***

  Half an hour later, Qian Qiu looked at herself in the mirror, unable to suppress the joy on her face.

  The scar that had troubled her for so long was finally gone!

  Though her complexion was still sallow, without the hideous scar, she looked rather delicate.

  But Gu Liangyuan knew that Qian Qiu's spiritual roots hadn't awakened yet, and this wasn't her true appearance.

  Only when she washed away the worldly dust could her true beauty be revealed!

  Qian Qiu gazed at the mirror for a while, tears of joy streaming down her face as she knelt and kowtowed repeatedly.

  "Thank you for your great kindness, immortal master. From now on, Qian Qiu will serve you without complaint."

  Having experienced discrimination due to her appearance, Qian Qiu knew all too well the importance of looks for a woman.

  Now, she felt that Gu Liangyuan's kindness was nothing short of a rebirth.

  Gu Liangyuan looked at Qian Qiu's Devotion Value, now at seventy, surprised at how quickly it had risen.

  Just by removing a scar, it was almost enough to reach the threshold?