Chapter 24: Looking Unbelievably Old!

Just as Yun Yi, Yu Qingting, and Feng Qingjue stood at daggers drawn, on the verge of a clash, Luo Qingyao suddenly broke into a charming smile. She walked up to Yun Yi, knelt down with a thud, and spoke with profound sincerity, "Master, please accept your disciple's kowtow!"

Yu Qingting: ...
Feng Qingjue: ...
The crowd: ...

Yun Yi was stunned for a moment before bursting into hearty laughter. "Haha... Good disciple, rise quickly. There is no need for such grand gestures in the future; I am not one for formalities!"

This girl was quick on her feet—a truly brilliant and clever little spirit! He had already intended to take her as his apprentice, but he hadn't expected to achieve his wish so soon. He really owed a debt of gratitude to the two people standing before them. Especially given how she had resolutely stood by his side and supported him at such a critical moment, Yun Yi felt his heart swell with joy, and his affection for her deepened.

However, the expressions on Yu Qingting and Feng Qingjue’s faces were indescribable. As for the others, they were collectively struck dumb in an instant. How could this be?

It was clearly supposed to be the Palace Mistress of the Jade Pure Palace taking on a disciple, so how did it turn into Luo Qingyao becoming the apprentice of Young Master Yun in the blink of an eye? Meanwhile, Wen Yue, standing to the side, felt a surge of relief; if Luo Qingyao was not joining the Jade Pure Palace, then her own Ruoshui had a chance.

Yu Qingting was trembling with rage, her pretty face alternating between pale and livid. "Luo Qingyao, you..."

Luo Qingyao heard this and offered a faint, calm smile. Her tone was indifferent, yet it carried an undeniable sense of resolve. "Since your Jade Pure Palace did not find me worthy, it is quite possible that I, Luo Qingyao, do not find your Jade Pure Palace worthy either!"

Gasp!

As those words fell, the entire crowd drew in a sharp breath. What kind of place was the Jade Pure Palace? It was one of the three great powers in the world, famed for its Maiden Sword Art! Every disciple who emerged from the Jade Pure Palace was revered by all for both their cultivation and their character. Women across the land would burn incense, pray, and scheme endlessly, all wishing to enter the Jade Pure Palace; even the noble princesses of the Lanxi Kingdom would stop at nothing to squeeze their way in. Yet, here stood Luo Qingyao—a girl on the platform with no spiritual roots and no ability to refine pills—arrogantly declaring that she looked down upon the Jade Pure Palace!

Perhaps this was the first time such a thing had happened since the founding of the Jade Pure Palace.

Completely incensed, Yu Qingting could no longer maintain her image of a jade maiden or the temperament of a fairy. Her right hand traced a series of motions in the air, and a long sword suddenly materialized. "Since you look down upon my Jade Pure Palace, then allow me to experience this 'profound cultivation' of yours, so that my palace may be convinced!" She formed a sword seal and lunged toward Luo Qingyao.

However, before she could even get near, Yun Yi soared into the air, intercepting her to protect Luo Qingyao. He hovered in mid-air, his white robes billowing and his hair flowing in the wind. He appeared languid and carefree, yet he exuded a powerful, sharp, and formidable aura that could not be ignored. "If Palace Mistress Yu wishes to spar with my little apprentice, you really should ask me, her Master, whether I agree to it, shouldn't you? Hmm, to bully my precious apprentice right in front of me—you really are acting unbecomingly for your age!"

*Acting unbecomingly for your age!*

As these words reached Yu Qingting’s ears, her delicate frame trembled with fury, and she nearly plummeted from the sky. She shrieked, "If that is the case, then allow me to test the prowess of the great Young Master Yun!"

With that, she let out a sharp cry and charged toward Yun Yi.