Su Liyue.
She's one of the most beautiful women in the sect.
A big sister that came up in the discussion of many men in the sect be it disciple or elder.
She's just that beautiful.
Yet the surrounding disciples stared at her furiously.
It wasn't because Su Liyue was a Core Formation expert at such a tender age.
Nor was it simple jealousy over her status as the sole disciple of Grand Elder Huo Batian, or her renowned mastery over spiritual plants that made her indispensable to the sect's alchemy halls.
No. They hated her for an entirely different reason.
"That witch… she's going after Chief Li now?"
"Over our dead bodies."
"There is no man that can resist Big Sister Su!"
"She has as much appeal as Grand Elder Song!"
In short, Su Liyue was the reason so many of them were here in the first place.
Most of the disciples now flocking to join the Li Clan settlement had joined the sect around the same time as Su Liyue which was over twenty years ago.
Back then, they had all been bright-eyed outer disciples with dreams of soaring to the heavens.
Yet now? They looked decades older than her.
Worn, haggard, no trace of youthful vigor.
Their cultivation had stagnated hopelessly for two decades while Su Liyue got stronger.
And everyone knew why.
Every month, when cultivation resources were allocated to every peak in the sect, Grand Elder Huo Batian would first set aside half for the peak's elders.
Then, with that same doting, foolish smile he always wore around her, he would hand another full half of what remained directly to Su Liyue.
Whatever scraps were left after that were tossed to the rest of the disciples like crumbs to beggars.
She had come from a small mortal clan, an orphan girl with decent spiritual roots discovered by Huo Batian during one of his rare journeys to the mortal world. From the very first day she stepped foot in the sect, the grand elder had been utterly ensnared by her beauty.
He took her as his only personal disciple, showered her with pills, treasures, and the finest spiritual plant seeds, and turned a blind eye whenever she sweetly asked for "just a little more" resources.
They'd been "dating" for fifteen years now.
The entire sect knew Huo Batian was shamelessly in love with her.
He followed her around like a loyal old dog and his bald head gleamed whenever she deigned to plant a chaste peck on it as reward for yet another favor.
Yet in all that time, Su Liyue had never once allowed him to touch her.
Not a hug, not a kiss on the lips, nothing.
She kept him dangling on a string.
"My cultivation comes first, Elder Huo… once I reach Nascent Soul, then…"
Half the disciples on Zhulong Peak were convinced she was only biding her time, hoarding every resource she could wring from her lovesick master so she could achieve Nascent Soul and finally discard him like trash.
Female disciples boiled as they saw her now.
They desperately wanted to strangle the woman who had stolen their futures.
She's a shameless man-eating parasite!
The men weren't much better… they cursed her under their breath for treating them like dirt, yet the moment she turned those watery amber eyes on them and asked for a favor in that soft, pleading voice, they crumbled.
Even those with barely any resources left would hand over their last low-grade spirit stone.
Su Liyue gave Li Qingmu a nice, long look.
She had heard rumors of the new clan chief but had never seen him up close. Surely a man who rose from nothing would be dazzled by her beauty.
『He's never seen me before. I'm one of the top beauties in the sect. Even elders have shamelessly begged on their knees for pair cultivation with me.』
Her tiny finger slid beneath the band of her thigh-high and gave it a slow tug.
A lot of male disciples drooled at this.
『Once he sees this face, this body… and tastes the food my junior cooked… he'll be mine.』
She smiled proudly and thrust her chest out in a way that felt like her two bouncy peaks would deliciously burst out of her sleeveless qipao-style top.
"Junior Brother Li~ ♥️"
She greeted in a voice like honeyed wine.
"How has your day been?"
Li Qingmu glanced at her.
"A bit stressful, truth be told."
She laughed softly, stepping closer until her generous chest pressed deliberately against his arm while her soft flesh spilled from her low neckline like oiled dough.
Surely she applied that scented oil on purpose!
It made her pearl-like breasts shine like sizzling pieces of juicy meat waiting to be eaten.
Li Qingmu's eyebrow arched.
He glanced down at her chest but remained calm.
Inside, the woman grinned viciously.
『Hooked already. Men are so easy.』
The surrounding female disciples hissed with anger.
"That's cheating!"
"Pressing her chest like that is so shameless!"
The yellow-eyed beauty ignored them.
She lifted an ornate jade food box with both hands and offered it sweetly.
"I know you've been working hard overseeing this and that. I had a junior brother prepare some spirit chicken glazed in honey and boar marrow dumplings."
She pressed against him more.
"If you're hungry… I could feed you myself."
She giggled behind her tiny fingers.
"Or satisfy… any other needs~"
Li Qingmu stared with a blank face.
"Thank you for the kindness, senior sister."
He gently pushed the food box away.
"But I've eaten."
He pointed toward the heap of debris nearby.
"Though if you're offering help, some heavy lifting needs doing over there."
The woman blinked.
"Eh?"
Every female disciple within earshot went pale.
"Eh—!?"
The beauty stared, mouth slightly open, as if she couldn't process the rejection.
The senior sister's proud smile froze.
"I-, Is that… all?"
Li Qingmu tilted his head innocently.
"Oh? You want more work?"
"N-no! That's plenty!"
She jerked back like a startled rabbit as her face sizzled red with humiliation.
By then Li Qingmu had already walked away.
The woman stared at his retreating back.
『TCH! HE'S SO UNLIKEABLE!』
There was deep, burning hatred in her eyes.
Her fingers clenched as if imagining wrapping them around his throat.
He suddenly paused and glanced over his shoulder.
She instantly switched to a sweet, innocent smile as she tilted her head cutely.
Li Qingmu snapped his fingers.
"Oh yeah, do you know which part of the estate has the strongest dragon vein?"
Relief flooded her face. She nodded quickly.
"I'm not an expert, but… if I had to guess, it's likely in the other half that hasn't been seized yet."
Li Qingmu's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Hm?"
She hurried to explain.
"Only half the estate has been cleared. Official Wong and his clan are still protesting the eviction. They claim it's unfair treatment."
A predatory smile spread across Li Qingmu's face.
"So you're saying the very best dragon vein spot is still in Official Wong's half?"
He gave the beauty a thumbs-up.
"Good job, senior sister. You've been helpful."
Her cheeks flushed bright red.
She clutched at her chest as her heart pounded.
『Why is my… hole… clenching so hard…』
She moaned internally.
If she got any closer she'd surely wet herself.
It was now his fertile aura was hitting her.
『I'm used to toying with men… I never catch feelings like they do. But he's so calm, so handsome… why is my body burning like this?』
She squeezed one breast unconsciously and bit her lip like her virgin gates were being breached.
In her 33 years of life this has never happened!
『This is so disgraceful…』
Drool almost slipped down one corner of her mouth but she blinked back to her senses.
Next, she shrieked after him.
"I-, I'll wait right here for you, Junior Brother Li!"
He just gave a lazy wave without turning back.
Moments later.
Li Qingmu floated high above the untouched half of the estate on his flying sword.
Wind whipped his robes and hair as he surveyed the grand manor below.
Elegant pavilions, spirit lakes, ancient spirit trees still firmly in Official Wong's possession.
He stroked his chin with amusement.
"Fate really is a funny thing."
With a dramatic swish of his wide sleeves, he laughed softly to the heavens.
"Today, I won't just take Official Wong's land."
His smile turned sharp as a blade.
"I'll take his wife too."
He would oppress the wife-stealing official!