After a simple yet delicious breakfast, the master and her four disciples sat around the table chatting.
When Ye Fan entered, Zi Bing and Zi Qing were already in seclusion, so this was the first time he had met these two mysterious senior sisters since his transmigration.
Zi Bing wasn't very talkative, only speaking a few words occasionally. She appeared somewhat aloof.
Zi Qing, with her petite figure and a pale yellow long dress, had the air of a delicate young lady.
Unfortunately, she seemed very nervous throughout the entire time, her body rigid.
Looking at his master and three senior sisters before him, Ye Fan suddenly felt a bit strange.
The eldest and second senior sisters were both one hundred and fifty to sixty years old, and even the youngest, Sister Zi Yan, was just over a hundred.
As for True Master Zi Yun, there was no need to mention her; she was a solid thousand years old.
And she was suspected of having a dark psychology...
Yet, all of them looked like eighteen or nineteen-year-old girls, creating a strong sense of incongruity...
Ye Fan's expression flickered with a moment of daze.
In his previous ninety-nine lives, he had been married once.
His son and daughter-in-law had given him three lovely granddaughters.
It was a pity that those three granddaughters had bad fates, all dying around the age of ten.
Thinking of the past, Ye Fan felt a pang of sadness.
If they had managed to grow up into adults, they would likely be as graceful and elegant as these young ladies...
Unconsciously, Ye Fan's gaze towards his master and three disciples softened with paternal affection...
True Master Zi Yun had clearly seen the way Ye Fan had looked at her three disciples just now.
Upon seeing Ye Fan's reaction, a fond smile spread across True Master Zi Yun's face, like that of an indulgent aunt.
She knew very well that the small Zi Yun Sect could not possibly contain a dragon among men like Ye Fan.
She feared that one day, Ye Fan would leave the Zi Yun Sect.
Her three female disciples were all orphans she had raised herself.
She saw them not just as disciples, but more like her own daughters.
If Ye Fan could hit it off with any of them, it would be wonderful.
However, True Master Zi Yun also knew that this matter couldn't be rushed.
Let them get to know each other gradually, and things would naturally fall into place later.
And right now, there was a perfect opportunity!
"My good disciple, can I discuss something with you?" True Master Zi Yun asked, sensing the mood was right.
"Master, you are too polite. Please, speak freely," Ye Fan replied courteously.
However, his internal alarm bells were ringing!
He had been pondering the system's schemes for the past few days, keeping him on edge.
Simply put:
"There are always troublesome people trying to harm me..."
His first reaction wasn't about what his master wanted to discuss, but rather...
He suspected his master might be controlled by the system and was about to make a move on him!
"It's like this," True Master Zi Yun said with a chuckle. "In a little over a month, your eldest and second senior sisters will be participating in the Imperial City Grand Competition. I've been a bit busy lately, so would you mind accompanying them then?"
"Imperial City Grand Competition?" Ye Fan was completely bewildered.
"Simply put, it's a talent assessment for our Great Liang Kingdom," Zi Yun explained. "Passing the assessment would bring immense benefits, both to them and to our Zi Yun Sect."
Ye Fan understood.
It was like the Zi Yun Sect was a high school, and the so-called Imperial City Grand Competition was the college entrance examination.
"You haven't been out much since you arrived, so this is a good chance for you to get some fresh air," Zi Yun added.
In reality, True Master Zi Yun wanted Ye Fan to act as a bodyguard, as Ye Fan's strength was far greater than her own as their master.
With Ye Fan there, she could rest assured.
Furthermore, it would be a chance to create opportunities for these young people to get to know each other better.
After speaking, True Master Zi Yun looked at Ye Fan with apprehension.
Given Ye Fan's temperament, she wasn't sure if he would agree...
"I see..." Ye Fan nodded. "Alright."
Having decided to be a slacker in this life, Ye Fan had already included going out and about in his plans.
In his previous ninety-nine lives, he was either cultivating or fighting.
His days were too rushed, leaving him no time to appreciate the scenery along life's journey.
This, he had to admit, was a regret.
The world is so big, it's time to go out and see it!
"My good disciple, I know that you..." True Master Zi Yun's prepared speech faltered halfway.
She was a bit stunned.
Ye Fan's agreement was too straightforward, catching her completely off guard...
"Wonderful, wonderful!" True Master Zi Yun's face lit up with joy.
After a few more brief exchanges, True Master Zi Yun left with her three female disciples.
Ye Fan walked outside and continued tending to his flowers and plants.
The Zi Yun Ice Flame Flower had grown significantly recently, looking even more crystal clear than before.
Its blossoms and leaves swayed gently in the breeze, contentedly enjoying Ye Fan's watering.
It loved the feeling of its master's water showering its entire being, nourishing it all over.
Drip, drip, drip. Water droplets slid down the petals, all the way to the heart of the flower.
It felt wet and very comfortable.
The arrival of Zi Yun and the others was merely a minor interlude for Ye Fan.
Life on the mountaintop continued its usual leisurely pace.
The air was filled with the scent of a contented slacker.
That night.
Twilight Peak.
The disciples of the Second Elder were fiercely guarding all the exits leading down the mountain, with several even lying on the rooftops.
Their sole purpose was to prevent the Second Elder from sneaking out and causing trouble again.
The few elders left behind by True Master Zi Yun sat cross-legged on the beds in the guest rooms, meditating.
Their divine senses had already covered the entire Twilight Peak. Any slight movement from the Second Elder would be detected instantly.
In the bedroom, over a dozen disciples stood before the bed as if facing a formidable enemy, their eyes fixed on their master.
Twilight Peak was currently as impregnable as a fortress; not even a mosquito could escape.
The Second Elder remained wrapped in his quilt, sitting motionless on the bed.
His exposed eyes still held a simple and clear gaze.
He hadn't moved, but his gaze kept shifting between his disciples.
The disciples felt a little flustered by his stare...
Although their master's gaze was clear, it sent an inexplicable chill down their spines...
Mustering their courage, they continued to meet his gaze...
Suddenly, the Second Elder ripped away his quilt.
The disciples immediately tensed up, unsure of what to do.
"Master... what are you...?" The eldest disciple, suppressing the chill, asked cautiously.
"The cocoon has broken, and naturally, I have successfully transformed into a butterfly," the Second Elder replied, a benevolent smile on his face.
"You are tired and should rest now," the Second Elder's smile widened.
Upon hearing this, the disciples' hearts skipped a beat!
Without the Second Elder making any discernible movement, they all lost consciousness.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!..."
More than a dozen disciples all collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
At the same time, a sound of objects falling came from the rooftop.
The elders in the guest rooms all opened their eyes!
In that instant, the disciples' breathing on Twilight Peak had vanished simultaneously!
"Damn it, the Second Elder is causing trouble again!"
Without daring to delay, they rushed towards the Second Elder's room.
Getting up, taking steps, falling down...
The entire process was seamless, with no wasted movements.
The Second Elder neatly arranged the disoriented disciples in a row and then walked out of the room.
Suddenly, the Second Elder's body slowly began to float upwards into the air!
If others saw this, they would undoubtedly be stunned!
After all, for cultivators to fly, they needed to reach at least the Golden Core realm.
However, after being injured, the Second Elder's cultivation had been stuck at the tenth level of Foundation Establishment.
Strangely, his aura still felt like that of the Foundation Establishment realm.
Floating in mid-air, the Second Elder glanced down at Twilight Peak.
"Hmph, I have now transformed from a cocoon into a butterfly. You villains will never be able to keep me confined again!"
With that, the Second Elder slowly flew away.