In Xianxia With The Investment Return System, Starting My Journey by taking Demon Empress as a Disciple (Patreon)

Chapter 5: The Heavenly Dao Hall Appears, Another Reward

Chen Daoxuan, who had just been about to offer a few comforting words after watching Leng Yanran finish her breakthrough, was startled by her sudden cry.

"What’s wrong?"

"Did something go wrong in your cultivation?"

Ignoring the impurities and grime that had risen from her pores during her training, Chen Daoxuan quickly placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, concerned.

In this Heavenly Dao Hall, he was confident he could handle anything—even if Leng Yanran’s cultivation had gone awry.

“No, Master…”

“It’s just… I suddenly realized there’s this sticky grime all over me, and it feels embarrassing to be in front of you like this.”

Touched by her master’s concern, Leng Yanran couldn’t help but lower her head and whisper. She was especially moved that her master showed no care for the filth that covered her.

Feeling the warmth of his hand, along with the treasures and techniques he had bestowed upon her, Leng Yanran resolved that she would certainly repay her master one day.

“Haha, so that’s all it was; you gave me quite a scare.”

“This grime is just impurities pushed out by the Bone-Cleansing Pill you took.”

“Just head to the hall and clean up.”

Chen Daoxuan smiled faintly and withdrew his hand, placing it behind him.

“The hall?”

Leng Yanran was puzzled by her master’s words, as the surroundings were nothing but wilderness. Where was this hall?

“Oh, I had forgotten.”

Hearing this, Chen Daoxuan looked toward the direction of the hall, only to see an empty space. He slapped his forehead.

After hearing the system alert, he’d come right over, concealing the hall in case any passersby saw it from afar and were too intimidated to approach. If he scared off a future prodigy, that would be a terrible loss!

Now that his disciple had arrived, there was no need to keep hiding the hall.

With a simple gesture toward the empty ground, a grand hall emerged with a rumbling roar!

The hall looked ancient as if it had existed since primordial times, exuding a timeless aura and engravings.

On its plaque were two massive characters, "Heavenly Dao," seeming to gather the power of three thousand paths of Dao.

Just looking at the plaque, Leng Yanran was momentarily paralyzed, as if her soul were drawn into it, lost in an ocean of three thousand Dao paths, completely losing herself.

“Awaken!”

Seeing this, Chen Daoxuan shook his head slightly and called out softly.

Hearing her master’s voice, Leng Yanran gave a sudden shudder, snapping back to consciousness.

Already covered in sticky grime, she now also broke out in a cold sweat.

“Forgive me, Master, for my incompetence! Thank you for your help.”

Ashamed, Leng Yanran respectfully bowed to her master, though inside, she was shaken even more deeply!

Just a single glance at that plaque had caused her to lose all sense of self, as if she had been torn into the realm of Dao laws!

The hall where her master lived was already this terrifying—just who was her master, exactly?

And the hall itself, directly named "Heavenly Dao"… what kind of confidence did he have?

To know that all things in the world must follow the Heavenly Dao—even cultivators can only work in harmony with it, as opposing the Dao leads only to a dead end!

To bear the name of the Heavenly Dao Hall—isn’t that asking to incur the wrath of the Dao?

Could it be… my master has already transcended such fears?!

Leng Yanran dared not think further. 

She could only convince herself that this hall likely contained some special formations to give it such divine power. 

Otherwise, she couldn’t comprehend why such a terrifying figure would take her as his disciple.

"No need to worry. Take this jade pendant; with it, you can freely view the Heavenly Dao plaque anytime. It contains the essence of the Dao, and if you can comprehend even a fraction, it would be a tremendous opportunity," Chen Daoxuan said, with a wave of his hand. 

A jade pendant materialized in his grasp, engraved with the character "Leng," clearly made especially for her.

With this pendant, she could move around the hall safely.

"Thank you, Master!" Leng Yanran said, bowing and holding out her hands to receive it.

Chen Daoxuan paused briefly, surprised by her formal response. 

In his view, it wasn’t necessary to have endless formalities between master and disciple.

He then produced a string and instead of placing the pendant in her hands, gently hung it around her delicate neck.

“Between us as master and disciple, there’s no need for so much formality. I have put the pendant on for you. Go into the hall, choose a room you like, and take a moment to clean up,” he said softly before turning to leave.

“Thank— thank you, Master!” she stammered, her face flushing as his slender fingers accidentally brushed her neck. Quickly, she turned and entered the hall.

Though she had been admired by countless talents and powerful elders over the years, she’d never been so close to any man.

Entering the hall, Leng Yanran chose a side room closest to the main hall. Inside, she found every amenity she could need.

There was even a wooden bathtub with a light mist of warmth rising from it, as if hot water had just been poured.

“Master even prepared this…” Leng Yanran bit her lip, her eyes flickering with emotion.

But the sticky grime on her skin was uncomfortable, so without delay, she shed her bloodstained robes and began to bathe.

After several days of relentless pursuit, she was both mentally and physically exhausted. Enveloped in the warmth around her, she slowly drifted into sleep.

Meanwhile, outside the hall, Chen Daoxuan studied his system.

After taking on a disciple, the invincible range of his Heavenly Dao Hall had expanded from five thousand meters to fifty thousand meters—a tenfold increase, though not too useful just yet!

This Void Mountain was overrun with ferocious beasts, making human encounters rare.

But he wasn’t discouraged; if things continued this way, his range would eventually cover the heavens.

In fact, by that time, he might no longer need the hall’s invincibility!

Just now, during Leng Yanran’s breakthrough, he received a new system reward.

He hadn’t had a chance to check it in detail with Leng Yanran there.

[Ding! First disciple Leng Yanran has comprehended the initial stage of the Chaos Celestial Demon Art and entered the Profound Sky Realm. Reward: 150 years of cultivation, 150 system points, and complete mastery of the Chaos Celestial Demon Art.]

Seeing this notification, Chen Daoxuan felt a surge of excitement.

He’d been worried about finding a suitable cultivation technique, but it seemed he didn’t need to worry after all!

As long as his disciple trained, all he needed to do was… lie back… No, just focus on teaching well!