I started by controlling his master, and the protagonist begged me to slow down my kicking.

How did I become a judge?

Gong Yueli frowned slightly.

Logically speaking, with so many cultivators from the Jade Pool Holy Land present, they should have been able to determine their relative strengths and weaknesses...

She narrowed her eyes slightly and first looked at Ye Chen.

Ye Chen was staring at him expectantly...

Then, he looked at the wicked disciple.

The wicked disciple was staring expectantly at his OO...

What a shameless beast!

Gong Yueli was instantly filled with shame and indignation. She silently recited the Heart Purification Mantra several times before she could suppress the anger in her chest.

However, by this point she had more or less figured out what was going on.

"Your paintings are about the same quality, so you want me to judge them?"

They are not evenly matched...

Cheng Ran glanced at Ye Chen, then nodded slightly:

"Please, Master, see the truth."

Gong Yueli didn't even glance at this unfilial disciple, afraid that seeing him would make her face turn red with anger. She simply said indifferently:

"Bring the painting up."

"Yes, Master."

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen took the lead and presented the painting with both hands.

Gong Yueli took the painting and examined it for a moment with her clear, cold eyes.

As expected, just as she had predicted, Ye Chen's painting did indeed have a story behind it, thanks to the life-giving power of the Heavenly-grade spiritual pill.

She commented quietly:

"The flow of Daoist charm is natural, and the sword intent is also skillful, which is rare for a beginner."

"Thank you for your comments, Master!"

Ye Chen rolled up the Xuan paper and curled the corners of his mouth upwards at a thirty-degree angle.

You should know that the master is always strict and pragmatic. To be praised by the master means that his painting is truly something special.

Hmm... Master is indeed worthy of being called Master!

You have a good eye!

This is exactly the kind of woman I, Ye Chen, admire!

"Senior Brother Cheng, it's your turn."

Ye Chen nodded to Cheng Ran and said in a sarcastic tone.

Cheng Ran nodded to Ye Chen, but did not speak.

He brushed past Ye Chen, who was coming down, and then displayed the painting to Gong Yueli, saying in a humble tone:

"Master, please enlighten me."

I'll teach you my foot!

Gong Yueli glared fiercely at Cheng Ran, saying the same thing every time this wicked disciple made a move.

She accepted the painting with a hint of annoyance, but a sense of curiosity lingered within her.

What merit does this wicked disciple possess to be on par with Ye Chen in terms of the Dao of Life?

Could it be due to the power of Xuan Yin?

however.

When her gaze fell upon the painting, her clear, cold eyes trembled involuntarily.

"How could this be?"

The painting before me not only contains a powerful life force in its brushstrokes, but the white-clad fairy with a sword in the painting also faintly exudes an extremely majestic sword intent.

It perfectly matched the sword intent within that wicked disciple's body...

This is something that no ordinary cultivator could do!

To achieve this effect in a painting, it must possess both a strong life force and a powerful sword intent.

Gong Yueli couldn't understand why that wicked disciple was able to do such a thing!

and……

In that case, the bet...

Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Master."

Ye Chen suddenly called out.

He didn't notice the momentary surprise in Gong Yueli's eyes.

He was simply smug, ready to hear the results of the competition:

"In your opinion, which painting, mine or Brother Cheng's, is superior?"

Which is better or worse?

Gong Yueli was taken aback upon hearing this.

Where do you get the confidence to compare yourself to Cheng Ran's painting?

It's important to understand that her silence wasn't because the two paintings were making it difficult for her to choose.

However, if these words were to fall into the ears of the wicked disciple, they would definitely be misinterpreted.

After all, she had a bet with her wicked disciple, and if he won, they would have to play a fancy sword duel.

These words sound as if they're offering oneself up for desecration...

This is so annoying!

but.

Annoyed as she was, she couldn't possibly side with Ye Chen just to avoid being bullied by her wicked disciple.

Gong Yueli sighed helplessly, her gaze calmly fixed on Ye Chen:

"Your paintings are 'painting,' while his paintings have already 'integrated with the Tao.'"

"He has won this time."

Yes, we won...

and many more?

I...I lost?

Ye Chen's smile froze.

He was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses.

He wanted to say something, but his master's words kept replaying in his mind.

"He won."

How is that possible?

If others say Cheng Ran won, he will feel that they are targeting him.

But his master was the woman he admired, respected, and trusted most, and she was also a woman with a clear sword mind, aloof and cold.

Given her personality, she would never show favoritism and would say Cheng Ran won.

Cheng Ran is definitely going to win.

But... why is it that even Master is moved by Cheng Ran's paintings?

Could it be that...?

Ye Chen suddenly looked up, a possibility flashing through his mind:

"I understand! Master, Cheng Ran... did he cheat?! You know his strength best; there's absolutely no way he could beat me!"

"No."

Gong Yueli shook her head slightly; how could she not have thought of this?

"I have sensed it; the Daoist charm in the painting is pure and natural, not enhanced by external forces."

Ye Chen felt even more pain in his heart upon hearing this:

"But......"

"No buts."

Gong Yueli's tone was icy. She was already annoyed by having to duel with her wicked disciple, and Ye Chen's lack of composure was simply contrary to her swordsmanship.

"That's enough about this matter. I'm going back to my room to rest."

After saying that, she turned up and asked a female cultivator from Yaochi to lead the way before leaving the observation platform.

Master...

Ye Chen's face turned ashen.

He knew he had angered his master and felt a dull pain in his chest.

First it was Sister Yunxi, and now it's Master. Why is it that the women he admires always get angry with him?

Why?!

Ahhhhh! !! !!

Ye Chen clenched his fists tightly, his mentality on the verge of collapse.

however.

A smile doesn't disappear, it just moves on.

[The host indirectly caused Ye Chen to lose his composure, thus reducing Gong Yue Li's favorability towards Ye Chen.]

[Ye Chen's luck value -20, host's villain value +20.]

[Ding! Host, an unexpected complication has arisen; you have prevented Ye Chen from showing off in front of the cultivators of Yaochi Holy Land!]

[Ye Chen's luck value -20, host's villain value +20.]

[Reward: Star Crossbow Cuffs]

[Star Crossbow Shackles: Using this item during dual cultivation increases the submission level gained by the Lady of Destiny.]

Looking at the panels that kept popping up and Ye Chen frozen in place, Cheng Ran couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

Junior Brother Ye, oh Junior Brother Ye.

I didn't mean to bully you either...

This damn system, it's given me way too much!

......

......

As the painting of the spirit came to an end, the crowd in the observation tower gradually dispersed.

With no other activities planned, the Yaochi stewards instructed their disciples to lead Ye Chen and Cheng Ran to an empty room on the flying boat to rest.

It was Su Chan'er who led Cheng Ran to rest.

The two walked side by side down the corridor without saying a word.

Su Chan'er lowered her head shyly, seemingly unsure of what to say.

As for Cheng Ran...

He noticed the corner behind him, where a group of female cultivators from the Yaochi Holy Land were following.

I'm speechless.

The two quickly entered the room.

Its interior is decorated in a simple and elegant style, and it also has floor-to-ceiling windows for viewing the scenery. It is clear that the hospitality is very thoughtful.

However, Su Chan'er did not leave after delivering the package.

Instead, she stammered:

"Senior Brother Cheng..."

Before he could finish speaking, Cheng Ran interrupted him:

"By the way, I have some questions I'd like to ask Junior Sister Su, if that's alright?"

"Um."

Su Chan'er nodded.

Cheng Ran sat on the couch, recalling his master's words, and asked:

"I've heard that the Yin-Yang Sect wiped out an affiliated sect of your Holy Land... It's said that none of the sect's disciples survived. Is that true?"

Su Chan'er paused slightly upon hearing this, then quickly affirmed:

"That's true. I went there too. Of all the cultivators who were inside that day, some had some limbs left, while others were completely destroyed."

Cheng Ran frowned.

This doesn't make sense...

According to the usual procedure, surely someone would have to come out to tip them off, right?

Why is this happening?

Su Chan'er pondered for a moment, then sighed and said:

"From what I've heard, it was the demon race and the Yin-Yang Sect who joined forces to wipe out an entire sect without leaving any survivors."

"But this shouldn't be the case either."

Cheng Ran stroked his chin, still unable to quite understand:

"Even the demon race shouldn't possess such strength. Back then, the four strongest demon kings in the Northern Territory were killed by my master, with two killed and two severely injured..."

"I don't know."

Su Chan'er also shook her head.

There was a moment of silence in the room.

But at this moment, Su Chan'er suddenly mustered her courage and tentatively asked:

"Senior Brother Cheng, is this all you wanted to talk about?"

What else?

I'll talk to you about your family of origin, about philosophy and art, and then ask you to look at my legs?

Cheng Ran's lips twitched.

He certainly understood what Su Chan'er meant, but for some reason, he still felt that something was off about this woman.

Fine, might as well give her a try.

After a moment's thought, Cheng Ran, the head of the Senate, suddenly said:

"Hmm... If Junior Sister Su is interested, we can have a fierce duel between adult cultivators."

"Intense, fierce battle?"

"Still an adult cultivator?"

Su Chan'er was taken aback at first, and then her pretty face under the veil turned bright red.

Of course, the girls eavesdropping outside the door also blushed.