Chapter 459 – My Master Is Not Human – Tang Tang “Goes to Study” (06)
Bai Tang didn’t think much about the little villain being driven out. He simply continued doing what he usually did. Since Medicine Peak chose not to pursue the matter, everyone who had been worried finally felt their restless hearts settle.
Offending Daoist Heyi was bad for anyone. Even if one was extremely careful not to get injured and didn’t need spirit herbs or medicinal pills, the sect leader and elders would still treat them coldly. The consequences could be as serious as losing one’s life.
Taking advantage of Pei Boyi being in seclusion, Bai Tang went to the Scripture Pavilion to look for cultivation techniques.
“When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it first tempers their will and body.” Bai Tang knew that the Heavenly Dao had given Pei Boyi mixed spiritual roots to temper him—so he could strengthen his resolve, overcome inner demons, and grow. With A Yi’s talent and intelligence, given time, he would surely become an all-powerful cultivator. Metal, wood, water, fire, earth—there was nothing he wouldn’t be able to master.
“Greetings, Daoist Heyi.” The disciple guarding the Scripture Pavilion quickly stood up and bowed when he saw Bai Tang arrive.
Although Daoist Heyi didn’t care much for formalities, the disciples below couldn’t afford to be disrespectful. If other elders found out, they would be expelled from the sect.
Outer disciples had no right to enter the Scripture Pavilion. Inner disciples had to pay spirit stones to enter, and the higher the floor, the more they had to pay. Sect leaders and elders, however, were exempt.
Remembering the rules, Bai Tang casually handed over two mid-grade spirit stones. “I’d like to take a look at the third floor. Sorry to trouble you.”
Daoist Heyi wasn’t just unpretentious—he was practically the embodiment of kindness.
The guarding disciple was so dazzled by Bai Tang’s smile that he felt lightheaded. Only when the cool weight of the spirit stones landed in his hand did he snap out of it—wait, why had he accepted Daoist Heyi’s spirit stones? Peak masters didn’t need to pay to enter!
The disciple hurriedly tried to return the stones, but all he could see was Bai Tang’s retreating figure in green robes as he entered the pavilion.
“Water generates wood, wood generates fire, fire generates earth…” Bai Tang murmured, reciting the cycle of the Five Elements. Pei Boyi’s spiritual roots were precisely these five—what kind of cultivation method could prevent the conflicting elements from clashing, while allowing the mutually generating ones to grow stronger?
The techniques on the third floor weren’t considered high-level, making them suitable for Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Bai Tang browsed around the third floor and eventually chose two breathing techniques to stabilize the foundation. He couldn’t bring himself to be as bold as A Yi. In his view, taking things steadily, step by step, was the safest approach. When A Yi reached a bottleneck, he could choose a more suitable cultivation method himself.
Holding a scroll in each hand, Bai Tang turned to leave—only to notice a young girl leaning against a bookshelf, frowning.
Judging by her features, wasn’t this one of Pei Boyi’s future confidantes? In this world, the male and female leads were officially paired, but the talented young male lead had quite a few admirers. Among them was his junior sister, Yin Chun—one of those who would later hinder the development of the main couple’s relationship, aside from the male supporting character.
They were all supporting characters—why make things difficult for another cannon fodder?
Now that Pei Boyi had regained his past memories, Bai Tang believed that A Yi would never fall for anyone else. Therefore, he didn’t feel much dislike toward the young girl, who had yet to become the later version of herself—the one who turned bad after loving in vain.
Bai Tang moved like the wind. As the girl turned, she caught a glimpse of him walking toward her. She lowered her eyes slightly and greeted him respectfully, “Yin Chun of Sword Peak greets Daoist Heyi.”
Bai Tang nodded. “Are you having some difficulty?”
Yin Chun’s expression remained calm, but her gaze was respectful. “There are too many cultivation methods. This disciple does not know how to choose.”
Wen Ling rarely concerned herself with the daily lives of her disciples. She practiced a laissez-faire approach—after providing ample resources, she allowed them to grow freely. How much they learned depended on their own comprehension. Of course, when her disciples faced life-threatening danger or the risk of perishing, she would still step in.
Wen Ling had given Yin Chun a basic cultivation method and left her to train on her own. Yin Chun was ambitious and disliked moving slowly, so she came to the Scripture Pavilion herself to seek opportunities.
Bai Tang could tell that the girl had already reached the third level of Qi Refinement. For someone who had only been cultivating for half a year, this was already impressive.
Yin Chun possessed a single wood spiritual root, which made her naturally suited for Medicine Peak. However, Bai Tang only had eyes for Pei Boyi and had taken in no other disciples. Otherwise, with the girl’s talent, she might have advanced beyond the third level within half a year.
Bai Tang felt a faint sense of guilt, as if he were suppressing the rise of a genius. So he selected two cultivation methods for her—one suited for sword cultivators, and another for tempering spiritual roots. Only through repeated refinement and expansion could spiritual roots contain more spiritual energy and better improve one’s cultivation.
The young girl was overjoyed. A hint of happiness appeared on her small face. Daoist Heyi was gentle and approachable—truly a good person.
Moreover, Bai Tang possessed wood-element abilities, originating from the same source as wood spiritual roots. Standing near him made Yin Chun feel completely at ease. She quietly raised her head—he was standing very close to her. She could even see the fine, soft hairs on his fair skin, like a ripe peach, so enticing it made one want to take a bite.
Startled by the sudden thought that flashed through her mind, Yin Chun quickly composed herself. Seeing that Bai Tang didn’t seem to notice her momentary lapse, an indescribable feeling stirred in her heart.
Daoist Heyi is truly handsome—and kind as well.
After leaving the Scripture Pavilion with Yin Chun, Bai Tang thought that since he had nothing else to do, he might as well do a good deed and escort her back to Sword Peak. He remembered that Wen Ling had given Pei Boyi a fine sword, so it was only fair for him to show a bit of care toward her disciple in return.
For hundreds of years, no one had ever seen Daojun Heyi get close to anyone. Now, he was suddenly escorting a young girl back to Sword Peak—naturally, everyone craned their necks to watch. Some even began speculating about his intentions.
Yin Chun was still young, so marriage seemed unlikely… could it be related to Fairy Shuanghan, Wen Ling?!
Life in the sect was dull and monotonous. Being able to chat and gossip from time to time was a welcome change, and everyone watched the scene unfold with great interest.
After all, at the disciple recruitment ceremony, Daojun Heyi and Fairy Shuanghan had once confronted each other over a disciple with mixed spiritual roots. Not long ago, Fairy Shuanghan had even gifted an unparalleled sword to Daojun Heyi. And now, Daojun Heyi had gone to Sword Peak—wow, wow, wow! This was a huge secret. It felt like they had uncovered (or at least imagined) something extraordinary.
Could it be that Fairy Shuanghan and Daojun Heyi had taken a liking to each other? That would explain their recent frequent interactions. After all, no one had ever seen Fairy Shuanghan give gifts to anyone before—let alone personally step in to discipline Sword Peak over rumors about Daojun Heyi’s disciple, forbidding the spread of gossip.
When Wen Ling learned that Bai Tang had personally come to Sword Peak, she hurried after him just as he was about to leave and warmly invited him to stay for tea.
Bai Tang thought he had nothing better to do—Pei Boyi was still in seclusion, and returning to Medicine Peak would be boring—so he nodded in agreement.
After a few cups of tea, Bai Tang had to admit that the food on Sword Peak was quite good; even the tea leaves contained spiritual energy.
He completely forgot that this was a cultivation world, where spiritual energy was abundant. Everything cultivators consumed contained it. If Qiu’er were here, he would be overjoyed.
Wen Ling was extremely knowledgeable. It was no wonder she could become the male lead’s master in the original storyline. She was very different from the female leads in previous worlds—this was someone with real substance.
Now that Bai Tang no longer had to worry about the male and female leads ending up together, he openly admired Wen Ling’s vast knowledge. When he listened to her explanations, his eyes lit up, which pleased her greatly.
Bai Tang wasn’t very good at classical Chinese and had difficulty understanding advanced cultivation techniques. However, after spending time with Wen Ling, he realized how insightful she was. He even considered that once Pei Boyi came out of seclusion, he would send him to Sword Peak to learn. Bai Tang could teach him how to grow herbs and prepare medicine, but teaching him how to kill—that he couldn’t do. Sword cultivators, however, could. Their path was one of detachment, their strikes imbued with killing intent.
Pei Boyi’s seclusion lasted eight months. With memories from several lifetimes, his comprehension was extraordinary. Even with mixed spiritual roots, he was still favored by the Heavenly Dao. In just eight months, he advanced to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment—if others found out, they would be utterly shocked.
Excited, Pei Boyi went to look for Bai Tang, only to learn that Bai Tang had gone to Sword Peak—and had been going there almost every day lately. Rumor had it that Medicine Peak and Sword Peak might even form a union.
He had only been in seclusion for half a year, yet someone had already tried to steal his person.