Stealing the female lead's favor turns her from a heartthrob to a universally disliked figure.

Li Qingqing was quite proud of herself, so she kept a close eye on her four disciples.

After discovering that Xia Nanfeng had successfully established her foundation, the system rewarded her with a Soul Nourishing Pill and a Spirit Purifying Pill, and she began to absorb the surrounding spiritual energy.

An hour later, disciples on the inland side of the spirit boat began to break through to new heights.

Half an hour later, a large amount of spiritual energy surged towards the rest room where the Spirit Chef Peak Master was located.

Before long, the Spirit Chef Peak Master's hearty laughter rang out.

"After being stuck for so many years, I've finally broken through."

"Congratulations, Senior Uncle!" Li Qingqing said.

"Thanks to you!" The Spirit Chef Peak Master was extremely grateful.

"This was also a lucky coincidence, as we happened to be near the small secret realm."

"This is also thanks to you. Your performance of summoning spirits to form an array has saved our Nine Spirits Sect so many resources!"

Elder Wu nodded in agreement, "That's right. I just counted, and fifty-six disciples have already broken through."

"If this spirit array lasted longer, I estimate that even more disciples would be able to break through," the Spirit Chef Peak Master remarked with emotion.

"Judging by the density of this spiritual energy, it should last for another hour or two," Elder Wu estimated.

Just as Li Qingqing was about to speak, she heard a loud roar coming from outside the spirit boat.

"Who was the scoundrel who drained all the spiritual energy from the small secret realm? Without enough spiritual energy to sustain it, the small secret realm will collapse. There are already so many people inside!"

Li Qingqing was stunned for a moment, then quickly looked at Elder Wu, "Should we remove the spirit array?"

Elder Wu estimated for a moment, "Ignore it for now, give the disciples another half hour. That guy outside is probably just jealous."

"I'll go down and take a look. If there's a problem with the small secret realm, I'll remove the spirit array. If there's no problem, I'll ignore it."

Li Qingqing stood up, preparing to disembark from the spirit boat.

"I'll go down with you." The Spirit Chef Peak Master prepared to go and take a look together.

Elder Wu nodded and opened the door of the spirit boat, letting them disembark.

After disembarking from the spirit boat, Li Qingqing discovered that the area around their Nine Spirits Sect's spirit boat was already crowded with people, all trying to absorb the spiritual energy.

The person who had been furious earlier was actually secretly cultivating by absorbing spiritual energy after his anger subsided.

Moreover, the owner of that voice was quite active.

[Damn, how many resources and Spirit Gathering Pills did those guys from the Nine Spirits Sect save?!]

[Wasn't it said that the Lingqin Peak Master and all his disciples were dead? Who is this person who can now use the sound of their zither to manipulate countless spiritual energies and draw spirits into the formation?]

This is outrageous! Why isn't someone like this from our Fenglan Sect?

Li Qingqing blinked; it seemed she didn't need to worry about whether the little secret realm would collapse.

Because, it's estimated, it won't collapse that easily.

Just as she was about to turn around, she heard another somewhat peculiar, conflicted voice.

I originally wanted to join the Blazing Flame Sect, but I was suddenly won over by the Spirit Harp Peak Master halfway through. If I were to switch allegiances and join the Spirit Harp Peak of the Nine Spirits Sect, would my uncle try to kill me with his flaming blade?

Li Qingqing glanced at the owner of that heartfelt message.

Then, she was stunned.

Because he had long, fiery red hair, his eyes were closed, and his handsome face was as beautiful as a ball of fire.

This is a dazzlingly beautiful young man.

The information above his head also indicated that he was single and available for flirting.

Wen Yang: Male.

Spiritual Root Attribute: Top-Grade Fire Spiritual Root

Cultivation level: Early stage of Golden Core

Talent value: 95

Favorability rating: 30 (Meets the criteria for accepting apprentices)

Li Qingqing's mouth was slightly open, as if she couldn't believe it.

Why haven't I joined a sect even though I'm at the early stage of the Golden Core realm?

Moreover, with such great talent, wouldn't someone want to steal him?

"Little Li, I'll go check out the entrance to the small secret realm." The Spirit Chef Peak Master glanced around and suddenly spoke.

Li Qingqing nodded quickly, "Okay. Then I'll stay here outside."

"Alright," the Spirit Chef Peak Master replied and left.

Li Qingqing glanced at Wen Yang and, seeing that there was no one to his left, walked over and sat down next to him.

The people cultivating nearby opened their eyes and glanced at her, then all of them stared wide-eyed.

Wen Yang also opened his eyes as if sensing something.

When he saw the beautiful girl standing very close to him, his heart suddenly started pounding wildly.

"Which sect do you belong to?"

Li Qingqing smiled slightly, "The Lingqin Peak of the Nine Spirits Sect. Would you like to join Lingqin Peak?"

Wen Yang's clear eyes seemed to be filled with the glow of the sunset, and his tone was slightly incredulous.

"Really? You're going to introduce me to someone?"

Li Qingqing nodded, "Really. You'd be perfect to be my fifth apprentice."

"Huh?" Wen Yang didn't react for a moment.

A moment later, as if he had thought of something, his face and ears suddenly turned bright red.

"You...you are the peak master of Lingqin Peak?"

Li Qingqing smiled and nodded, "You now have a chance to call me Master and become the fifth senior brother of the future junior brothers of Lingqin Peak. Are you willing?"

She spoke the last four words extremely gently, even with a hint of coaxing.

This apprentice is too talented; I want to keep him!

Wen Yang felt her mind was filled with those four sweet and warm words, "Are you willing?"

Yes, he's willing, very willing!

Then he said, "I do!"

When Li Qingqing saw that he agreed, her smile became even gentler.

"Then call me Master!"

"Master...Master!" Wen Yang called out, a little embarrassed.

This master is so young, so small!

But he really wanted to join Lingqin Peak!

[Congratulations, host, on successfully accepting an apprentice! The mission reward has been issued.] The system message sounded promptly.

Li Qingqing closed her eyes slightly, feeling the abundant spiritual energy surging towards her.

"Don't waste spiritual energy, cultivate diligently."

Li Qingqing gave a reminder, and then placed a dual-space storage ring in Wen Yang's hand.

Just as Wen Yang was about to speak, he discovered that his little master was actually drawing in spiritual energy, causing his cultivation to surge.

The people around looked over in astonishment.

There are just too many people coming to Shanxi today!

When Li Qingqing opened her eyes again, her cultivation had reached the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul Realm.

She was just a hair's breadth away from entering the Spirit Division Realm.

Looking at Wen Yang again, she couldn't help but ask, "You're already at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, why haven't you joined a sect?"

Wen Yang scratched his head of red hair, a little embarrassed. "I have a carefree personality and don't like being restrained. Plus, my family is well-off, so they hired someone to teach me cultivation. Later, I encountered some problems with my cultivation. My uncle originally came from the Blazing Flame Sect and wanted me to join the Blazing Flame Sect as well. But later, I changed my mind."

"Yes, you have a good eye," Li Qingqing praised him affirmatively.

After scrutinizing him for a while, she gave him a Cleansing Spirit Pill and then generously gave him the Soul-Protecting Armor she had just obtained.

"Your problem is that the fire spirits absorbed into your body are too chaotic. Use the Purifying Spirit Pill to purify the spiritual fire within your body. Wear the Soul-Protecting Armor to protect your soul from the fire spirits burning it during your cultivation."

Seeing that all his problems had suddenly been resolved, Wen Yang didn't know what to say.

It took him a long time to remember to thank her.

"Thank you, Master!"

"Okay. Come with me, let me introduce you to some of your senior brothers."

Li Qingqing led Wen Yang onto the spirit boat. Seeing that only Xia Nanfeng and Lan Cen were there, she introduced Wen Yang to the two of them first.

When Elder Wu saw that she had taken on a disciple in just a short time, and that the disciple possessed a rare and top-grade fire spirit root, his smile stretched from ear to ear.

Xiao Li has such good taste!

The important thing is to be decisive and never miss out on promising talents.

That's bold! That's bold!