Yulin Peak

After just one night of cultivation, how did she manage to get herself into such a mess? Yu Yan slightly furrowed his brows, flicking his hand to cast a magic seal.
Zhu Yao, feeling utterly exhausted, sensed a warm current flood her entire body. Her weary and sluggish body was swept clean, and even her breathing stabilized. This was magic art, truly wondrous.
Seeing his new disciple finally get up, Yu Yan felt relieved. He observed her from head to toe, and a thought suddenly struck him: Could it be...
"You walked up the mountain?"
Zhu Yao pouted, "Isn't that how it's done?" she said disdainfully.
Yu Yan gave her a strange look, "Why didn't you use the teleportation formation at the foot of the mountain?"
Could it be that she wanted to temper herself, to prove her determination to cultivate immortality to him? As Yu Yan thought this, his expression instantly brightened. He felt a hint of satisfaction with this seemingly foolish disciple. It seemed that although this disciple wasn't very intelligent, at least she was diligent.
The foolish disciple: "..."
Her heart was filled with boundless anger. Damn it, why didn't you tell me there was a teleportation formation earlier?! You made me suffer! Argh!
Taking several deep breaths, Zhu Yao managed to suppress the smoke from rising from her head. One under the eaves cannot but bow their head, let alone the other party was her solid backing for the future.
"Disciple greets Master."
Zhu Yao bowed, a proper and respectful salute.
"Mhm!"
Yu Yan nodded, his heart filled with satisfaction. After more than ten thousand years, he finally had a successor disciple. He had finally lived up to the instructions of his Master, who had already ascended, and Yulin Peak now had an heir.
The more he looked at the disciple before him, the more pleasing she became to his eyes. He wished he could rush over and hug her. He observed this small disciple up and down. If only she were a little younger, that would be even better. Alas! Why didn't she come to acknowledge him as Master sooner? Yu Yan's thoughts spun rapidly, but his face remained as cold as ice, without a trace of expression.
He waved his hand, and Zhu Yao's tattered, dirty clothes instantly returned to their original state. Even the stubborn stains that she couldn't wash off before vanished without a trace.
"How amazing."
Zhu Yao tugged at her clean clothes in surprise. How overbearing, so cultivating immortality was this good.
"Does Master want to teach disciple this magic art?"
With this, she wouldn't need to wash clothes anymore. How wonderful.
"The Dust-Wiping Secret Art is just an introductory spell. You'll learn it after you've mastered Qi Induction into the Body."
Yu Yan said indifferently: "You've just entered the sect, so you should first familiarize yourself with the environment. Early morning is when spiritual energy is most abundant. Tomorrow morning, I will teach you Qi Induction into the Body."
Zhu Yao nodded. Even if she had to pretend to be foolish here for a while. Although she was curious about cultivating immortality, there was no need to rush.
"Follow me."
Yu Yan swept past his disciple, walking along the path she had taken up the mountain.
Now she would learn to familiarize herself with the environment? Zhu Yao perked up, eagerly following. Along the way, she tried hard to remember her surroundings, to avoid getting lost later.
Noon on Yulin Peak was very quiet. Occasionally, there were sounds of insects chirping and birds singing, but other than trees, there were only trees. Zhu Yao wanted to remember a bit, but she didn't have the energy to. She couldn't remember the shape of every single tree. Having no other choice, she quietly followed behind.
Yu Yan was not a talkative person; one could tell from his ice-cold face. And Zhu Yao wasn't familiar with him, so the two didn't converse along the way.
Two hours later, Zhu Yao truly couldn't hold back, "Master, aren't we there yet? If we keep going, it'll be dark."
Yu Yan turned to look at her, "Ahead is where we need to go."
Zhu Yao remained silent. Another period passed. Even if it was just a short distance, her legs were about to break. Yet, the person in front of her showed no intention of stopping.
How could she persuade him? Her heart was filled with doubt, but she could only grit her teeth and endure, inadvertently glancing at the scenery along the path.
Ah, that crooked tree looks familiar, and that big rock that looks like a turtle, even that red-bottomed monkey looks like one I've seen before.
"We're here!"
The person in front stopped. Zhu Yao looked around. Damn it, wasn't this the same spot she stood yesterday? Master had led her all morning, only to return to this place? Seeing how beautifully she had climbed up, surely he didn't want her to climb the mountain again?!? He wasn't holding a personal grudge and harming his disciple, was he?!?
"Master..."
She really wanted to cry.
Yu Yan looked at her making a pitiful face. What did she mean by this expression? His foolish disciple must be up to some silly trick again. Calmly looking away, Yu Yan pointed to a large, circular patch of grass on the right: "That is the teleportation formation. You cannot use Sword Flight within Yulin Peak. Enter this formation, and you can reach the peak."
Ah, so he made her walk the old path just so she could see this formation. Zhu Yao glanced at the lush green grass patch over there. It didn't look any different.
Yu Yan pointed, signaling her to go over and stand firmly there. Suddenly, a shimmer appeared beneath her feet, and a circular formation lit up. Within the hazy mist, thunder rumbled. Immediately after, the white light grew brighter and brighter, and the scenery before her eyes instantly changed. She was already standing on the peak. What a miraculous formation.
Zhu Yao's interest was piqued. She circled the flashing formation several times, but no matter how many times she looked, she couldn't understand its operating principle. Indeed, cultivating immortality was truly magnificent and wondrous.
"This formation supports bidirectional teleportation. You can also use it to teleport down the mountain."
Seeing his disciple's interest in the formation, Yu Yan proactively explained.
"Really?!"
Zhu Yao was a little excited and quickly stepped in. Sure enough, the light flashed again, and with a "whoosh," she was standing at the formation at the foot of the mountain. Then she stepped into the formation again, and with another "whoosh," she was on the peak. Zhu Yao went back and forth several times. She couldn't help but admire this miraculous magic art. Compared to cars or airplanes, it was truly like a firefly compared to the sun.
Ah, wait a minute! She turned her head to glance at the ice-faced man behind her, "Since this formation can teleport, why did Master make me walk the arduous mountain path all morning?!?"
Yu Yan was stunned by her accusation. It seemed he also thought of this problem, and his face changed slightly to conceal it. He opened his mouth and said: "You should rest early. Tomorrow I will teach you Qi Induction into the Body."
Having said that, he turned and walked into his room, then closed the door. He must have been affected by his foolish disciple's intelligence, otherwise, he wouldn't have forgotten that he could use the formation to go down the mountain.
Zhu Yao's head was fuming. Did Master have another skill, specializing in harming his disciples?
She silently looked at the thatched hut before her. Yes, this thatched hut. She looked at the thatched hut that this overbearing, wicked Master was living in, a thatched hut, and it was the only one on this peak. All around was a desolate wasteland...
So the problem was, there was no construction technique... Oh, damn it, did he want her to rest up there tonight? Master, have you forgotten something?
She silently studied the terrain for half a day, confirming that there was no other place to stay on the peak besides this one. Zhu Yao could only obey Master's command and went to knock on the door.
After three short knocks, the door creaked open automatically. Inside the room, the furnishings were very simple. Apart from a bed, there was nothing else, and her Master was sitting in the middle of the bed in meditation.
"What is it?"
"Master, where do I rest tonight?"
Zhu Yao asked honestly.
Yu Yan was stunned. Only then did he remember that his disciple was just a mortal, unlike a cultivator like him, who could choose any cave abode to cultivate. He had been too careless.