Chapter 56: Charm

"Do you wish to take me as your master?" Chen Xuan looked at Yun Yao and asked.

It was hardly a matter of her choosing to become a disciple of her own accord.

It was simply because Chu Lingyun had taken away the Pristine Spirit Fruit and killed Ye Fan within the Immortal Sword Sect, leaving her with no other option than to join the Profound Pill Sect.

Yet Yun Yao could not speak the blunt truth, so she merely nodded. "Yes, please accept me as your disciple, Sect Master."

"Very well. From today onward, you shall be my fourth disciple. As for the apprenticeship ceremony, we shall dispense with it. I observe that your cultivation technique is ill-matched with your inherent aptitude. You should first go to the Scripture Pavilion and the Treasure Pavilion to select a suitable cultivation technique and a weapon."

Chen Xuan tossed a token to Yun Yao, within which twenty thousand contribution points were stored. "As for the sect rules, Lingyun will inform you of them."

"What is it? Is there something else?"

Seeing that Yun Yao had not left, but instead wore a hesitant expression as if she had more to say, Chen Xuan inquired.

Yun Yao hesitated for a moment before hardening her resolve. "I desire the Pristine Spirit Fruit."

"The Pristine Spirit Fruit? For what reason?" Chen Xuan asked, surprised.

"My master, Jian Batian, suffered a sneak attack by the demon race and is gravely wounded. He requires the Pristine Spirit Fruit to heal."

A disciple should never serve two masters.

Yet now, she was taking Chen Xuan as her master while demanding the Pristine Spirit Fruit from him in order to save Jian Batian. This was completely disrespectful to Chen Xuan.

However, Jian Batian had raised her with the grace of a parent.

Yun Yao had no choice but to repay that debt.

Thus, she forced herself to ask Chen Xuan for the Pristine Spirit Fruit.

Nevertheless, Chen Xuan cared little for such so-called notions of respect. As long as Yun Yao could help him elevate his cultivation and bring him contribution points, that was quite enough.

"I cannot give you the Pristine Spirit Fruit right now. We can discuss it once you have accumulated enough contribution points."

Chen Xuan stated decisively, "Lingyun, take her away."

Disappointment clouded Yun Yao's expression.

True to expectation, Chen Xuan had not given her the Pristine Spirit Fruit after all.

Still, Chen Xuan had at least left her with a glimmer of hope; as long as she gathered enough contribution points, it would be possible.

"Junior Sister, let's go. Senior Sister will take you to select your cultivation technique and weapon." Chu Lingyun smiled and led Yun Yao away.

"Many thanks, Senior Sister."

Yun Yao nodded.

As for cultivation techniques and weapons, she had not placed much stock in them. Although the Profound Pill Sect had been rising rapidly of late, and she had heard rumors that the sect possessed sacred artifacts and sacred-grade cultivation techniques, she was merely someone who had just taken Chen Xuan as her master.

Furthermore, she had shown disrespect to Chen Xuan.

It was impossible for him to bestow upon her any truly supreme technique.

Upon arriving at the Scripture Pavilion:

"Junior Sister, let us first check how many contribution points Master has given you before I take you to choose a technique." Chu Lingyun motioned for Yun Yao to inspect her contribution points.

"Twenty thousand."

Yun Yao replied indifferently. The Immortal Sword Sect also possessed a contribution point system.

Twenty thousand contribution points were not considered a vast sum within the Immortal Sword Sect; at most, they were only sufficient to exchange for a lower-earth-grade cultivation technique. Since she was currently practicing a lower-heaven-grade cultivation technique, there was fundamentally no need for any exchange.

"Twenty thousand?"

Chu Lingyun gasped in astonishment. "Master actually values you this much? He bestowed twenty thousand upon you right at the start. Master is truly partial; when others warm Master's bed, it costs a staggering fifty thousand contribution points."

Yun Yao was left even more speechless.

When you went to warm Chen Xuan's bed, you actually had to pay fifty thousand contribution points out of your own pocket?

Could Chen Xuan's bed help someone ascend to immortality?

"Come, Senior Sister will take you to pick out a technique." Chu Lingyun pulled Yun Yao into the Scripture Pavilion.

"Senior Sister, where are we going? Aren't the cultivation techniques right here?"

Seeing that Chu Lingyun intended to pull her upstairs, Yun Yao was filled with utter perplexity. Weren't all the earth-grade techniques located right here on the ground floor?

The first floor was filled entirely with earth-grade techniques, numbering well over a thousand.

It seemed the Profound Pill Sect was indeed remarkably affluent.

At the very least, the Immortal Sword Sect possessed no such abundance of earth-grade techniques.

"These are merely earth-grade techniques, worth a mere ten contribution points. They are prepared entirely for outer sect errand disciples. You possess twenty thousand contribution points; why would you waste them on these?" Chu Lingyun shook her head.

"W-what? Errand disciples? Ten contribution points?"

Yun Yao was dumbfounded.

These were earth-grade techniques, after all! Within the Immortal Sword Sect, they were restricted to inner sect disciples and elders at the very least.

Yet Chu Lingyun casually remarked that these were for errand disciples to practice.

Worse still, they cost a mere ten contribution points.

"Indeed. Come quickly, let us go upstairs." Chu Lingyun tugged Yun Yao upward.

The second floor:

"So many heaven-grade techniques!"

Yun Yao wide-eyed her gaze, her heart no longer able to maintain its calm. "Senior Sister, can I purchase any of these?"

"These cost at most a hundred contribution points."

Chu Lingyun stated, "Our destination is the third floor."

"Heaven-grade techniques for a hundred contribution points?"

Yun Yao felt as though she might faint. Holding twenty thousand contribution points in her hand, did that not mean she could purchase two hundred heaven-grade techniques? Good heavens above!

The entire Immortal Sword Sect possessed merely a single heaven-grade technique.

With a single wave of his hand, Chen Xuan was gifting her two hundred heaven-grade techniques. Just how immense of a blessing was this?

To think she had actually worried earlier that Chen Xuan did not hold her in high regard!

She was now burning with eagerness to witness what manner of spectacle awaited on the third floor.

"Junior Sister, pick one that suits you." Chu Lingyun gestured toward the surrounding techniques.

"Sacred-grade techniques!"

Yun Yao was so excited she was nearly suffocating. There were several dozen sacred-grade techniques present, and their price tag was merely a few thousand contribution points.

Chen Xuan had essentially bestowed a sacred-grade technique upon her!

Was this even a master?

This was a biological father.

Overwhelmed and flustered by excitement, Yun Yao never imagined that the moment she joined the Profound Pill Sect, Chen Xuan would directly present her with a sacred-grade technique.

What staggering kindness was this?

Yun Yao finally understood why Chu Lingyun idolized Chen Xuan to such a degree.

Extravagant with gifts, unfathomably powerful, breathtakingly handsome, and deeply affectionate—who could possibly fail to love such a man?

She suddenly realized how deeply charming Chen Xuan truly was.

"Junior Sister, hurry and choose! We still need to pick out a weapon afterward," Chu Lingyun urged. If they delayed any longer, night would fall.

"Yes, yes."

Yun Yao stepped forward in a flurry of excitement. With far too many techniques on display, her vision began to blur.

Yet, in the end, her attention was captured by a particular manual.

*The Vitality Classic of Grass and Trees*

This was an upper-sacred-grade cultivation technique, priced at exactly ten thousand contribution points.

In truth, ever since she practiced the Sword Dao, she had faintly sensed that she was fundamentally unsuited for it; she had merely pursued it because Jian Batian had raised her, making it imperative for her to inherit his mantle.

Now, encountering this *Vitality Classic of Grass and Trees*, she felt an intuitive certainty.

She had a profound sense that this technique had been custom-tailored for her, proving far more fitting than the Sword Dao she had previously cultivated.

"This is the one!"

Yun Yao purchased the technique, her heart overflowing with incomparable joy.

Following this, the two proceeded to the Treasure Pavilion, where Yun Yao was once more dazzled by the sacred artifacts housed within.

By this point, her reverence for Chen Xuan had reached absolute devotion.

To gift a sacred-grade technique and a sacred artifact the very moment one entered the sect—not even the supreme sacred lands could afford to be this generous.

"Senior Sister, how does one earn contribution points?" Yun Yao eagerly inquired, already slightly intoxicated by the thrill of shopping with contribution points.

Furthermore, she still needed to earn contribution points to exchange for the Pristine Spirit Fruit.

"To the Mission Hall."

The two then headed toward the Mission Hall.

Upon laying eyes on the mission rankings posted within the Mission Hall, Yun Yao finally understood why Chu Lingyun had repeatedly brought up the bed-warming mission earlier.

Five hundred contribution points per session.

Would that not mean she could exchange for a sacred-grade technique or a sacred artifact in a mere twenty days?

A brilliant light flashed in Yun Yao's eyes.

"We have an agreement: you are not allowed to compete with me for them!"