As if his consciousness had finally returned, the elder’s previously lazy expression was instantly swept away. He looked at Ye Ping’an with a shocked expression.
“It is indeed the Condensed Essence Art,” Ye Ping’an said with certainty.
“Young master, you’ve really gone muddle-headed this time!” the elder surnamed Zhao slapped his forehead, looking heartbroken and distressed.
After all, as the young sect master of the Xuanxing Sect, there wasn’t a single elder who didn’t know his aptitude like the back of their hand.
Especially when it came to cultivation potential—they were as familiar with it as their own names.
This was only natural, as it concerned the issue of succession, and every elder held expectations.
Unfortunately, they were all disappointed. The young master’s aptitude was merely at the mortal level.
Even cultivating was a problem, let alone daring to touch a cultivation technique like this—one that only prodigies from top sects or holy lands would even think of training in.
Wasn’t this just sealing off his own future? It was like sabotaging himself.
“Don’t worry, Uncle Zhao. It’s like this. A few days ago, my mother took on a new disciple. Since she hasn’t had time to look after her, she asked me to bring this girl over to choose a technique.”
“My junior sister’s main cultivation method is the Spirit Essence Art. Since we couldn’t find a technique truly suitable for her, we had to pick an ordinary one like this.”
“I brought the Condensed Essence Art purely for her to use as a reference,” Ye Ping’an explained calmly.
He wasn’t lying just to lie. The truth was, the ability to cultivate the Condensed Essence Art would be absolutely shocking in the Lower Domain.
No one in their entire area of the Lower Domain had ever successfully cultivated it. At least, not in the part Ye Ping’an was from.
If his junior sister really did manage to cultivate it and word got out, the Heavenly Profound Holy Land might take her away.
Wouldn’t that be like losing a cabbage he painstakingly raised?
Ye Ping’an was counting on his junior sister to take him to greater heights in the future!
So no matter what, he wouldn’t tell anyone about her extraordinary talent.
Of course, that excluded Ning Yue, who was helping him monitor her cultivation.
“Oh! So that’s how it is. As a lower-tier substitute for the Condensed Essence Art, it does make for a decent reference,” the elder nodded in realization.
Just as Ye Ping’an said, aside from the Condensed Essence Art—a universal technique meant for geniuses—there was indeed an ordinary version: the Spirit Essence Art.
However, compared to the Condensed Essence Art, the gap wasn’t just in grade. Even among ordinary techniques, the Spirit Essence Art ranked very low.
If not for the lack of any other options, no one—let alone a dog—would choose to cultivate it.
Still, since the young master said no other techniques suited the girl, this would have to do.
The elder nodded again and spoke seriously: “Even if your junior sister has some talent, she absolutely must not try to cultivate the Condensed Essence Art.”
“While it can be converted into any technique after the Foundation Establishment stage, during the Qi Refining stage, its characteristic of compressing spiritual energy poses a serious risk of damaging one’s cultivation foundation when switching techniques.”
“Don’t worry, Uncle Zhao. I’ll make sure to keep a close watch on her,” Ye Ping’an assured him.
“Mm! Good. You may leave now. Though we don’t often use the Condensed Essence Art, it was granted by an upper sect, so be sure to return it as soon as you’re done. It must not be lost.”
With that, the elder returned to his lazy demeanor.
“Understood!” Ye Ping’an nodded, saluted the elder, and then left.
After bringing his junior sister back to her room, Ye Ping’an began instructing her in cultivation.
After all, his junior sister was a complete novice, a blank slate.
Nearly everything needed to be taught by Ye Ping’an.
Of course, what Ye Ping’an taught wasn’t standard knowledge from the Xuanxing Sect—it was information he had learned in the future, during the protagonist Feng Aotian’s journey of growth.
And a protagonist’s path never went wrong.
Ye Ping’an taught until evening. Only when Ye Mengyao was nodding off from sleepiness did he finally let her rest and return home.
He sighed inwardly with helplessness. His junior sister was still very young and had just taken her first steps into cultivation. It was better to go easy on her for now.
Back in his room, Ye Ping’an felt a sudden warmth upon seeing the table full of food.
Although he didn’t see Ning Yue, he knew perfectly well she was the one who prepared it.
After all, the dishes matched those from lunch—and they all had one thing in common: they were nourishing.
Luckily, since he had sampled them earlier, Ye Ping’an knew that while the dishes were indeed nourishing, they weren’t overbearing or aggressive.
On the contrary, they were rather gentle.
Just right, since his body hadn’t fully recovered yet. Given the benefits, of course he wouldn’t pass them up—he dug in with gusto.
Far away, Ning Yue smiled as she watched Ye Ping’an eat the food she had prepared.
As she’d thought earlier that day, throwing a tantrum clearly wasn’t the best tactic. Now that she had his stomach under her control, she had the upper hand.
Following the logic that people go soft when they’ve eaten your food or taken your kindness, even if she threw more tantrums later, what could the young master say?
So, that afternoon, Ning Yue had brought Ye Ping’an another nourishing meal, hoping he would recover soon.
Now, seeing him eat every bite, she felt delighted.
She thought to herself: Since he’s eaten my food, he should come visit me soon to show appreciation, maybe even apologize for being distant lately because of that little fox.
She returned to her room, waiting for the young master to come find her.
And waited… until the next day.
That entire night, Ning Yue didn’t sleep.
She had thought the young master would come right after dinner, apologize, and talk about how awful the little fox was, praising her gentleness in comparison.
With that mindset, she waited deep into the night.
When it got late, she thought maybe—just like the night before—he would come vent his over-nourished energy with her.
After all, even though she had made the food mild, it was still very nourishing.
If he had fully recovered and was feeling a little… energetic, sneaking into her room at night would be entirely reasonable!
With that thought, she waited until dawn.
By now, she was on the verge of sleep. But her heart couldn’t help wondering—
Could it be that, once he recovered, the young master went back to that little fox again?
Forget it!
If that’s the case, then there are only a few paths left for me!
But… she was so tired now. No matter how precocious she was, Ning Yue was still just eleven or twelve years old—a child, strictly speaking.
Just as she was about to close her eyes for some rest, she suddenly heard the voice she had longed for.
“Ning Yue, are you there?”