Some matters need restraint; after all, in the presence of the Heavenly Termination Immortal, it’s sufficient to show the right attitude without going too far.
Receiving Zhao Xuanjing’s eye signal, Zhao Sheng waved his sleeve indifferently, sending a subtle current to lift Yue Feifei, and said rather coldly, "Get up!"
Yue Feifei rose accordingly, her expression smooth and compliant, without a trace of the previous aloofness.
The Zhao Family watched in silence, secretly admiring the girl’s remarkable composure.
With these thoughts, Zhao Sheng turned his head, glaring at Zhao Hongyan, scolding irritably, "Wretch, still kneeling on the ground, are you waiting to show me your displeasure? You brazen thing!"
"Oh, oh, Master, calm down, calm down! The disciple is getting up, getting up right away!" Zhao Hongyan was overjoyed upon hearing this, immediately leaping up with a flattering smile.
Then, he sidled up to Zhao Sheng, earnestly babbling about how much he missed his Master, and other nonsense.
Believe it or not, after more than a hundred years apart, Zhao Hongyan’s face-thickening skill has achieved Great Success, and his eloquence is far beyond what it was a century ago.
Earlier, Zhao Sheng had discreetly checked his disciple’s cultivation and was quite surprised to find that the disciple’s cultivation speed hadn’t lagged much; he is now at the Golden Core Fourth Realm.
Considering his Single Spirit Root aptitude, this cultivation speed is commendable, especially since Zhao Hongyan is not yet two hundred years old.
After this brief interlude, the atmosphere in the hall eased considerably.
Shortly thereafter, Zhao Sheng, through the discussion between the two Divinity Transformation True Monarchs, quickly learned of the Heavenly Termination Immortal’s purpose for personally coming to Mountain City.
As expected, it was indeed for the "Blood Plague" experiment.
Zhao Sheng was not surprised by this.
Whether the information was leaked or someone deliberately informed the Shui Mu Palace, he held a welcoming attitude.
Overturning the Blood God Heavenly Dao, such a legendary endeavor against Heaven, has a very low success rate, thus requiring the unity of more forces to increase the chances of success.
A moment later, Zhao Sheng, with his embarrassed disciple and the Saintess Yue Feifei, quietly exited the great hall.
With the two Great True Monarchs negotiating inside, it was wise for the juniors to leave first, lest they lose decorum.
Upon leaving the Dingzhu Tower, Zhao Sheng, citing travel fatigue, immediately arranged for someone to escort Yue Feifei to Tingwen Pavilion for a temporary rest.
Zhao Hongyan was reluctant to part, but upon seeing his master’s stern gaze, he dared not protest.
However, Yue Feifei, with profound poise, showed no hint of discontent and obediently followed the escort away.
At the moment of parting, she didn’t even glance at Zhao Hongyan. Instead, Zhao Hongyan watched the lady leave, his eyes filled with infatuation.
Zhao Sheng, observing the scene coldly, grew more irritated, thinking, "It seems this disciple is a lost cause!"
He could tolerate his disciple’s arrogance, even his greed and selfishness. But he absolutely couldn’t tolerate his fascination with women, being so bewitched that he forgot he was a Zhao.
Returning to the Shensi Building cave mansion, Zhao Sheng, expressionless, floated onto a cushion, and looking at his bewildered disciple, suddenly shouted, "Kneel!"
This shout carried extremely pure mana, directly entering Zhao Hongyan’s Purple Mansion Soul Sea, shaking his soul violently.
Bang!
Zhao Hongyan knelt straight down, but his face showed a brave and fearless expression, like a hero willing to sacrifice everything for love.
Who would have thought...
"You impertinent wretch! After decades of my instruction, you can’t even handle a mere woman! What use are you to me!" Zhao Sheng slapped the Jade Table in front of him, scolding angrily.
Hmm?
Ehh!
"Where am I? Who am I? Is the old man talking about me?"
Zhao Hongyan had expected a storm of rebuke, but hearing this instead, he was utterly bewildered.
Seeing his master’s near murderous look, Zhao Hongyan shivered violently, quickly kneeling properly, stammering, "Master, please understand, the disciple and Feifei’s bond is as solid as gold; our hearts are in harmony, our spirits linked. Yet, our feelings have stopped at decorum, have not... have not..."
At this point, he hesitated and could not continue.
"Oh, you foolish thing, achieving cultivation but not wisdom! You’ve brought disgrace to the Zhao Family." Zhao Sheng ridiculed the disciple with cold laughter, then casually threw a few streaks of light, which drew arcs before landing in front of Zhao Hongyan.
As the light faded, there lay three completely white pill bottles, each palm-sized.
Zhao Hongyan was stunned, completely unsure of what his master intended.
"Hmph, why are you spacing out? Put them away!" Zhao Sheng snorted, not forgetting to explain after scolding, "These contain the Spring Rain and Dew Pill, Mutual Love Pill, and Yijing Baotai Pill—three secret pills refined by me, unmatched in this realm. They all now favor you, boy. Do you understand my intention now?"
"Understand! The disciple understands everything." Zhao Hongyan responded with excitement, quickly gathering the pill bottles into his arms.
Zhao Sheng ignored his disciple’s exhilaration, commanding sternly, "I don’t care what methods you employ. By the time the Star Gate opens next, I must see the two of you produce a child."
"But... Master, there’s less than thirty years until the Star Gate opens. In such a short time, this disciple... this disciple cannot guarantee..." Zhao Hongyan stuttered in protest.
At this moment, Zhao Sheng became utterly unreasonable, declaratively saying, "Hmph, I don’t care. If you fail, I’ll break your three legs. Do you hear me?"