Chapter 99: Life's First Time
Jiang Yu's smile never once faded.
In the past, she never understood why her senior and junior sisters were so fond of shopping.
After all, the Star Temple lacked nothing. The clothes and jewelry crafted within the sect were far more refined and powerful than anything sold outside.
Why waste time picking items inferior to what the sect already provided?
But only today did she realize how pleasant shopping could be.
Seeing novel garments and exquisite accessories, feeling the thrill of discovery, and the joy of expecting to find something even more perfect—it filled her with constant delight.
Especially with someone accompanying her.
Whenever she felt annoyed, she could vent a few complaints to him—it was far too satisfying.
Jiang Yu's eyes shimmered like water as she discreetly glanced at the utterly lifeless Gu Qing, murmuring inwardly, "For my first time shopping in life, I'll have to trouble you a bit. I'll make it up to you later."
She browsed and chatted idly with the maid, occasionally asking Gu Qing for his opinion, her usual divine aloofness completely shattered.
Gu Qing stared blankly at her, unable to believe that Jiang Yu could be like this.
After five hours of selecting, she had bought absolutely nothing. That in itself was astonishing.
"Ji Ning, what's wrong with her?" Gu Qing couldn't help but transmit a voice message.
"I have no idea," Ji Ning replied honestly. "The Hall Master was adopted as a baby by the previous Hall Master and grew up in the sect. She has always been focused on cultivation. I've never heard of her liking shopping."
She truly didn't know.
In her memory, Jiang Yu was noble like a deity, the brightest gem in the starry sky.
A woman of unmatched talent, seemingly capable of everything.
Who could have known she had such a hidden side?
It was truly eye-opening.
However…
Ji Ning sneaked glances at the two of them. The more she looked, the more they seemed like a young couple.
The woman was gentle and graceful; the man, handsome and poised—a match made in heaven.
"The officials have already arrived—time to get married…" Ji Ning muttered to herself, pointing playfully.
…
Three days passed in a flash.
At this time, the hottest topic in the Imperial Capital was that Liu Ruyan was not a witch and had severed all ties with the Liu Clan.
Discussions also swirled around the Star Temple and everything related to Liu Ruyan.
She displayed the bearing of a peerless genius, defeating countless opponents in the Purple Mansion Realm—winning over a hundred consecutive matches.
And at most, she used only three moves.
Liu Ruyan was now regarded as nearly invincible, drawing countless admirers. Even many renowned prodigies sought to follow her.
But Liu Ruyan rejected them all.
"Boom!"
On the arena stage, Liu Ruyan sent a young man flying—both him and his sword—with a single punch. The top-grade spirit weapon showed visible cracks.
Her brows furrowed tightly, clearly dissatisfied with the power of her divine technique.
She wanted to shatter it completely, just like Gu Qing—unquestionably invincible.
"Hiss—"
"An Innate Divine Ability!"
"Does the Star Temple raise nothing but monsters?"
As they watched Liu Ruyan bathed in divine light, the crowd trembled in fear and awe.
They thought of Gu Qing, who had shattered a royal weapon with a single finger, overturning their understanding of power.
Now Liu Ruyan could even fracture a top-grade spirit weapon, though far from destroying it outright.
Yet she was still so young. Given time, she might one day achieve the same feats as Gu Qing.
After all, the might of an Innate Divine Ability was boundless. It was not something anyone could awaken. Even those with supreme divine bodies and perfectly attuned divine cultivation methods had but the faintest hope.
Only those with a Supreme Divine Body had as much as a thirty percent chance of awakening one.
That meant Liu Ruyan was at least a Supreme Divine Body and had cultivated an exceedingly profound divine-grade technique.
Watching Liu Ruyan, bathed in divine radiance, her aura divine yet demonic, the crowd's eyes filled with envy and yearning.
If only they too could enter the Star Temple.
Even as mere attendants, it would still be better than being a Holy Land's Holy Son.
At the very least, joining the Star Temple meant limitless possibilities—an opportunity to cultivate its peerless divine arts.
"Ruyan…" Jiang Qiuyue murmured blankly.
Seeing Liu Ruyan shining like a goddess under the gaze of all, she finally realized how terribly wrong she had been.
Liu Ruyan was never a demonic body but possessed an ancient and unimaginably powerful constitution. No wonder even after being stripped of her origin, she still gained Gu Qing's favor.
Regret and bitterness filled her heart.
"Unfilial wretch…" Liu Yuanzhong's eyes were dark and venomous.
The more outstanding Liu Ruyan became, the more hatred he felt—hating that she no longer regarded him as family.
Now that she had grown her wings and slipped from his control, the Liu Clan had become a laughingstock, their reputation utterly ruined.
Fortunately, he still had Liu Ruyi.
Liu Ruyi's talent was equally terrifying—one with the potential to ascend to divinity.
"Sister Chu Yao, Ruyan is truly amazing."
"It's really the Star Temple that's amazing. Even after losing her origin, Ruyan still has such battle power. I can't imagine how powerful she'd be if her origin were intact."
On the high platform, several beauties surrounded Chu Yao, each stunning beyond measure, with backgrounds and talents among the finest in the Eastern Region.
Yet now, one after another, they flattered Chu Yao earnestly.
Chu Yao gave a soft laugh, idly twirling a strand of her hair as she said carelessly, "Empty flattery."
These people were only trying to get her recommendation, weren't they?
Unable to reach Gu Qing, they had come to her instead.
"You know how it is, Sister Chu Yao," one of them said awkwardly, her face full of embarrassment.
After all, they were usually goddesses admired by countless suitors, yet now they had to lower themselves in flattery—it was humiliating.
"The opportunity favors those who prepare for it."
Chu Yao smiled faintly. She didn't resent them for it. Striving for a chance through one's own effort was nothing shameful.
"Sister Chu Yao, does that mean you'll take us to the Star Temple?"
Their eyes lit up instantly, excitement shining brightly.
"Yes, but you must be prepared. The Star Temple's competition is extremely harsh," Chu Yao replied with a nod.
"Chu Yao, you're leaving again?"
A middle-aged man sitting beside her spoke calmly.
"Yes." Chu Yao answered lightly.
"If you wish to return to the Star Temple, that's fine—but you must marry me first."
The man's face darkened.
"No time."
Chu Yao replied coldly, her captivating fox-like eyes filled with disgust.
The man before her had not originally been her fiancé, but rather her fiancé's granduncle—a cultivator at the second level of the Venerable Realm.
Not long ago, she had successfully withdrawn from her engagement, only for Qin Xian to set his sights on her and propose marriage himself. To her fury, her father had agreed.
It was utterly detestable.
Just the thought of being pursued by such an old monster made Chu Yao's skin crawl.
"You dare defy me?"
Qin Xian's expression turned grim as a vast supreme pressure spread outward. The clear sky filled instantly with a terrifying aura, as if a primordial beast was awakening.
"So what if I do?"
Chu Yao sneered and stood up, turning to leave without giving the human Supreme the slightest respect.
Before she joined the Star Temple, she would have had no choice but to obey.
But now—even if the Qin Clan's ancestor broke through to the Divine Fire Realm—she would not fear in the slightest.
After all, her master was Jiang Yu.
And with the entire Star Temple as her backing, she had nothing left to fear.
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