The inexperienced Er’er circled the hot spring three times, muttering as she set up an illusion barrier.

Although cultivators weren’t as strict about gender separation as mortals, bathing in a hot spring in front of someone was truly too brazen. Er’er formed hand seals while giving a silly smile to the powerful figure seated on the throne.

Then, once the barrier was complete, she turned her head and splashed straight into the pool.

“Splash!” White water droplets sprayed high into the air.

This comfortable feeling was long overdue. Er’er paddled dog-style across the pool a couple of times, then contentedly rested at the edge, sighing with satisfaction.

The hot spring felt wonderful, truly great.

Waking up still alive was truly great.

Being one step closer to her goal of becoming a cat in the great master’s arms was truly great!

Excitedly twisting her waist, Er’er scrubbed herself while humming a little tune. When she reached the high notes, she went off-key and couldn’t help glancing embarrassedly in the great master’s direction.

…

…

With the barrier blocking the view, the great master couldn’t see the scenery in the hot spring. Seemingly bored, he was supporting his brow, taking a short rest.

Withdrawing her gaze, Er’er continued splashing about freely.

…

Li Ye pinched the bridge of his nose.

He had seen many immortals with low cultivation, but this was the first one with such confidence despite her low skill level.

She clearly couldn’t even conjure a bathtub, yet what gave her the confidence to think she could block his view with an illusion barrier?

Not that there was anything worth seeing even without the barrier.

His gaze swept over her skinny frame, and Li Ye felt somewhat disdainful. Looking at those muscles, forget about internal cultivation—even her external cultivation was probably just superficial.

His eyes moved downward, and he glimpsed her waist.

A slender white section with several finger-shaped bruises.

Li Ye could hardly believe it.

He looked at his hand, then back at her.

He hadn’t used much strength at all, yet he’d left such marks?

He took back his previous thought—forget about superficial practice, this little immortal had never practiced external cultivation at all. She’d wasted hundreds of years, must have spent her time slacking off and enjoying herself.

With talent like this, she still wanted him to accept her as a disciple?

Maybe in tens of thousands of years.

Shaking his head inwardly, Li Ye didn’t want to look anymore and waved his hand, intending to repair her scattered barrier.

However, just at that moment, the little creature splashing in the hot spring suddenly trembled, and a wisp of milky white mist secretly seeped from her wrist, attempting to merge with the mist outside.

His eyes sharpened, and Li Ye immediately rose from his seat.

Er’er was happily bathing when, without warning, she saw a figure rushing toward her, grabbing her wrist and yanking her out of the hot spring.

“Wah—” she screamed, quickly pulling his fiery red sleeve to cover herself.

“You, you, you…” she stared at the person before her, shocked and angry. “What are you doing?!”

The man before her had a gloomy expression and showed no remorse for his impulsive action. Instead, he channeled his true energy into her meridians.

Er’er was frightened by this scorching energy, frozen stiff and not daring to move. She felt it flow from her baihui acupoint downward, burning like magma through her blood vessels until it reached her lumbar gate.

With sudden insight, she asked, “Are you looking for something?”

The man before her paused.

Then, the scorching energy burst through her zhongjiao and qugu acupoints.

Er’er hadn’t cultivated diligently, and her zhongjiao and qugu acupoints had always remained closed and difficult to open. Suddenly receiving the great master’s assistance, she immediately felt her mind clear. The pool water that had seemed ordinary before now appeared to have a layer of superior divine power floating on it.

She was overjoyed and no longer cared about being offensive. She immediately grasped the great master’s arm and exclaimed, “Thank you for your guidance, Master.”

Li Ye:?

He had only feared she would discover Kan Ze’s existence and use it to blackmail him, so he pretended to be helping her open her meridians. How did he end up with an undeserved disciple?

This undeserved disciple looked very moved, looking up at him with reddened eyes: “Master can help me to this extent, I cannot disappoint you!”

“…” What room did he have to be disappointed?

Having let Kan Ze slip away from under his nose once more, Li Ye felt irritated. He shook off the little immortal’s hand and said glumly, “Don’t call me Master.”

“Yes, Master, no problem, Master.” Er’er jumped back into the hot spring with a splash, only her head visible as she gazed at him, her delicate face slightly flushed.

The immortals of the Ninth Heaven were so excessive—accepting disciples required examining their bodies.

However, with just one glance, he had gifted her two hundred years of cultivation. No matter how you calculated it, the great master was getting the worst deal.

Excitedly forming hand seals, Er’er took advantage of her newly opened acupoints and directly fed on the divine power in the pool, attempting to fill her meridians.

However, perhaps the great master’s divine power was too strong, and she found it difficult to absorb. Something inside her body seemed to be painfully crashing about. Her once-flushed face quickly turned pale with pain.

Nothing is difficult in the world if you’re willing to give up.

Er’er immediately gave up.

She was afraid of pain. Whether her cultivation level was high or not didn’t matter—being comfortable was most important.

Li Ye stood by the pool watching, then suddenly said, “Refine everything in this pool.”

A chill ran down her spine, and Er’er turned with a mournful face: “All of it?”

Li Ye nodded expressionlessly.

Fine then, Er’er thought. This wasn’t like Taihe Immortal Gate. When under someone’s roof, one should know when to bow their head.

So she raised her small hands and continued breathing exercises with a worried expression.

Li Ye quietly observed as flames danced across the little immortal’s body, circulating through all her limbs and acupoints.

The milky white mist uncomfortably showed itself, extending a small tendril, but as soon as it touched his energy outside, it immediately retreated.

Very good.

Li Ye finally relaxed his brow.

It didn’t matter if he couldn’t catch it—Kan Ze wouldn’t be able to use her to be reborn either. As long as this little immortal practiced Li Sect’s immortal techniques, water and fire would counteract each other. The stronger she became, the weaker Kan Ze would grow.

This way, in a hundred years, Kan Ze would no longer pose a threat to him.

Finally finding a way out of this tangled mess, Li Ye was in an excellent mood. Even this useless little immortal seemed more agreeable to him.

However.

She was a bit too useless. After an hour of her breathing exercises, she had only absorbed one-tenth of the divine power in his pool.

What did one-tenth mean? If you poured water from a spoutless pot into a cup from a height, you’d still fill five or six-tenths. This little creature wasn’t even as good as a cup—superior divine power right in front of her, and she couldn’t consume it.

Li Ye’s brow, which had just relaxed, furrowed again.

This thing? His disciple?

Some disciple.

Er’er cultivated for a while and felt her cultivation advance significantly. When she opened her eyes, everything seemed much clearer.

She wiped the fragrant sweat from her forehead and sighed with relief: “That was so difficult for me. Can I rest for a while?”

With that, she grabbed the stone at the edge of the pool, intending to get out.

A fiery red sleeve flew over, mercilessly sweeping her back in.

“Everything,” Li Ye repeated coldly.

Er’er surfaced from the water, looked in his direction, and felt a bit wronged.

She had already worked much harder than before—he should praise her a little.

Li Ye sat coldly on the throne, showing no intention of praising her. Instead, he was prepared to sweep her back to the center of the hot spring if she tried to climb out again.

Cold-blooded and heartless.