Chen Baiqing naturally could see the pleasant surprise in Li Xing Tian's eyes.
Preparing this garment was indeed rather troublesome, mainly because there were no reference cases or methods to draw upon.
After all, no evil cultivator would specifically wear a garment with little defensive capability and exorbitant cost just to change the color of their spiritual energy.
A true evil cultivator with that kind of money would most likely invest it all into cultivation, and anyone with both wealth and talent naturally wouldn't throw themselves onto the dead-end path of evil cultivation.
One could only say that Second Senior Brother's situation was truly rare—someone who wasn't an evil cultivator, yet was more evil than actual evil cultivators.
Most importantly, Second Senior Brother seemed to deeply despise the identity of an evil cultivator.
From the looks of it, Second Senior Brother actually seemed quite fond of this outfit. So the effort spent hadn't been wasted after all.
Li Xing Tian gently stroked the garment but held back the urge to put it on and try it right then. He gave a slight nod and said:
"You went to great trouble. I like the gift very much."
"As long as Second Senior Brother likes it."
After replying, Chen Baiqing turned his gaze toward Xie Lingyu and retrieved a white jade bracelet from his spatial ring.
The bracelet's design was simple, without any ornate carvings, but the quality was exceptional, with barely any impurities.
"Uncle-Master Xie has never lacked for spirit treasures." Chen Baiqing extended the white jade bracelet toward Xie Lingyu. "This jade ring is merely an ordinary item, but it was crafted from mutton-fat jade that Eldest Senior Sister happened upon while gambling on raw stones during her journey, just the right size for a bracelet."
"The shopkeeper said he'd seen halls full of emerald jade, but never such top-grade mutton-fat jade. Even experts had misjudged it—in the mortal realm, it would be considered priceless."
"Eldest Senior Sister was thrilled for a long time, but upon reflection, she thought this mutton-fat jade suited Uncle-Master Xie's temperament better."
"For a cultivator, it's not worth many spirit stones, but it does require some fortune."
Xie Lingyu didn't decline. She reached out to accept the white jade bracelet from Chen Baiqing's hands and slipped it on slowly. Raising her hand to admire it, she found it quite beautiful.
She replied with a faint smile: "Thank you. I like it very much."
Chu Xingchen had waited for a while, and now his gaze carried a hint of curiosity as he looked at Chen Baiqing.
So everyone had received something, and they all appeared to be thoughtfully chosen—at least everyone liked their gifts, and the selections were fitting.
At this moment, Chu Xingchen was also curious about what his eldest and third disciples thought he would like.
Chen Baiqing looked at his master, first clearing his throat with a light cough. His expression grew slightly serious, and the tone of his speech changed as well:
"Master's gift? Let me think... Eh... Master has always been lazy, preferring not to move if he can avoid it."
"How about giving him a piece of clothing like I did for Second Senior Brother?"
"Too perfunctory? But Master was even more perfunctory when he brushed us off, wasn't he?"
"Alright, alright, I'll make sure to relay everything I've said to Master clearly."
Chu Xingchen's brow arched slightly. He naturally understood that this was a message his eldest disciple—the leaky cotton jacket—had asked Baiqing to pass on.
Chen Baiqing stood up, placed one hand on his hip, and looked at his master with a faint hint of disdain: "Master, your gift is rather special and needs a bit more time. Later, this great cotton jacket will personally deliver it to you, so you can stop saying I'm leaky."
Chu Xingchen was taken aback. All that talk just to tell him to wait a little longer?
Chen Baiqing finished speaking, his expression returning to normal. He then retrieved a box from his spatial ring and placed it on the table:
"Eldest Senior Sister's gift to you needs to be delivered in person. This is what Baiqing prepared for you personally."
Chu Xingchen's eyes lit up. He reached for the box, his face beaming with satisfaction: "Baiqing is still the most thoughtful one."
Everyone's curious gaze turned to the box in Chu Xingchen's hands, all wondering what the ever-thoughtful Chen Baiqing would give. Would it be a sentimental gift or a valuable one?
What exactly did this little cotton jacket Chen Baiqing think Chu Xingchen liked?
After all, aside from spirit stones and his own disciples, Chu Xingchen didn't seem to care much about anything else.
Qing He's curious gaze was the most blatant—she looked like she wanted to rush up and tear the box open.
But Chu Xingchen didn't open it. Instead, he tucked it into his spatial ring.
Qing He's eyes went wide. The surge of curiosity instantly peaked, and she immediately rose to her feet:
"Why did you just put it away?! Show everyone!"
Chu Xingchen gave her a puzzled glance: "Opening a gift in front of the giver is rather improper. Besides, this has nothing to do with you."
Hearing this, Qing He was momentarily speechless. She quickly turned to look at Cui Hao beside her, frantically glaring at him—aren't you curious too?!
Cui Hao was indeed somewhat curious, but before speaking, he first cast a sidelong glance at Chen Baiqing... After that look, he wasn't quite so curious anymore.
Chen Baiqing's eyes were calm and unrippled, as if he didn't care.
But Cui Hao had been "educated" by Chen Baiqing several times already, so he naturally recognized the specific meaning behind that look—Are you curious about what new methods I have to educate you?
Seeing Cui Hao was of no use, Qing He urgently looked around, trying to seek help from the others.
Unfortunately, no one was willing to speak up.
Although Chu Xingchen as a master had always been gentle and rarely used a scolding tone, that didn't mean his disciples didn't respect him.
Whether Chu Xingchen wished to display the gift Baiqing had given him was his own business. As disciples, they would not impose their own preferences upon their master.
Understanding the situation, Qing He could only forcefully suppress her curiosity and sat back down—anyway, Baiqing was close with her. She could just ask Baiqing privately later.
Chu Xingchen smiled contentedly as he picked up his teacup and took a sip.
In truth, no matter what Baiqing gave him, he would be delighted. Or rather, no matter which of his disciples gave him a gift, he would be happy.
——————
The tea party that Chen Baiqing had returned for officially concluded with Chu Xingchen's dismissal.
Everyone had received their gifts from Chen Baiqing. Ning Qianqian and Ning Kun each had one too, but they hadn't attended the tea party, so Chen Baiqing would deliver theirs separately afterward.
Though the gathering was dismissed, Chu Xingchen specifically called Li Xing Tian to the main hall.
Everyone's curious gazes turned toward Li Xing Tian and Chu Xingchen.
Li Xing Tian was also momentarily startled when he was called, but he followed along anyway.
In the sect's main hall, the two took their seats.
Li Xing Tian was already mentally prepared.
Although he was a bona fide veteran of the sect, in all honesty, he felt that most of his time was actually spent cultivating. He hadn't attended many of the sect's events, or had merely shown up to fill the numbers.
In truth, his interactions with his master were also much fewer compared to the other disciples.
At the very least, compared to the thoughtful cotton jacket that was Third Junior Sister, he certainly felt inferior.
At this moment, his master hadn't called the recently-returned thoughtful little cotton jacket but had specifically summoned him instead.
And he had just advanced to the Nascent Soul realm. It was obvious—his master had a task for him.
"Master need only command. Xing Tian will certainly complete it."
Before Chu Xingchen could speak, Li Xing Tian had already opened his mouth with determined resolve.
His master had treated him as a son, so naturally he treated his master as a father.
Upon hearing this, Chu Xingchen's gaze instantly filled with gratification:
" worthy of being my beloved disciple, to have such resolve! Since that's the case, I'll speak frankly. You should know that your current physique was modified by that millennium bone, correct?"
Li Xing Tian nodded slightly to indicate he knew.
Seeing this, Chu Xingchen continued: "I've studied your condition and discovered that your physique actually still has room for improvement."
"Really?" Li Xing Tian couldn't hide his emotion at this moment.
His master truly remembered him at every moment.
"Of course it's true." Chu Xingchen spoke decisively, then cleared his throat and added, "It's just that... your blood qi is partly a result of your current physique as well."
"The upgrade is real, but I can't be certain exactly what you'll become afterward. I can only confirm it will be in the direction of better cultivation."
"Naturally... there's also a possibility you'll become normal..."
Chu Xingchen's last sentence was noticeably lacking in confidence.
At this point, Li Xing Tian understood. If he were to use his master's humorous phrasing, it would roughly be—
Evil cultivator super evolution—Invincible Ultimate Great Demon!
[
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