Shi Qingjun was very interested in Xu Changāan, but since she was his "senior sister," she couldnāt use her Divine Sense to peek at Xu Changāan like she used to... So, if she wanted to look at him again, she had to think of a way.
And now, Li Zhibai, this "teacher," was a very useful person.
It was only natural for a teacher to care about their student.
Moreover, Xu Changāanās good impression of Li Zhibai was clearly recorded in the dossier.
"Open a Water Mirror? I understand." Li Zhibai was not surprised by Shi Qingjunās interest in Xu Changāan, after all... both celestial thunder and rain were related to Xu Changāan.
She just didnāt quite understand why she had to be the one to do it.
However, the Sect Leader had her reasons, so Li Zhibai didnāt hesitate. She gently waved her hand in the air, and an image appeared in the cabin.
In the image, a young man was alone in an ancient-looking room, with some calligraphy and paintings filled with a feminine aura hanging on the surrounding walls.
Shi Qingjun, intrigued, poured herself a cup of wine, then picked up a stone mortar and slowly ground some bright petals, scattering them into the wine cup. After taking a small sip, she looked up, "Itās already 9 p.m., what is he doing at this hour?"
"Ah..."
Listening to Shi Qingjunās light tone, there was none of the heaviness concerning the reincarnation of an Immortal, but rather the care of an elder sister for a junior.
Li Zhibai was stunned for a moment, her expression somewhat flustered, lacking the demeanor of a strict teacher and Pill Master, appearing more like a startled child.
There was nothing she could do.
In front of Shi Qingjun, Li Zhibai was just like Xu Changāan in front of her ā an ordinary woman... By comparison, she might even be considered a young girl.
Moreover, facing the person she admired, she didnāt even watch Xu Changāan after opening the Water Mirror; her attention was entirely on the Sect Leader.
The Sect Leader... without cultivation, her once cold demeanor, now drinking wine and even grinding flower petals?
Could it be that the Sect Leader really underwent a tribulation and had her Cultivation elevated?
Li Zhibaiās mind was in chaos.
Originally, she intended to inquire about the reincarnation of an Immortal and celestial tribulation the next time she met the Sect Leader.
Now, completely struck by Shi Qingjunās change, she no longer knew what to say.
"Zhibai." Shi Qingjun knew her change was significant and could understand Li Zhibaiās shock, even horror. She helplessly pushed a glass of wine toward Li Zhibai, "Come back to your senses."
"...Mm." Li Zhibai looked up, at the helplessness in Shi Qingjunās eyebrows. She took a deep breath and said, "Sect Leader... you... were never like this before."
"I underwent a Heart Demon Tribulation, realized many things, and also recovered some memories." Shi Qingjun gently shook her head.
Thanks to Xu Changāan, half of the feelings that started to dissipate after she entered the Qiankun Realm had returned, which was always a good thing.
She swirled the wine cup, "Are you worried about me?"
"No." Li Zhibai shook her head. In Qing Province, everyone was worth worrying about, except for this Qing Jun. She had absolute and sufficient trust in her.
"It seems Xu Changāan has influenced you greatly; your former self... would not show such expressions." Shi Qingjun said.
Li Zhibai: "..."
For a moment, she was speechless.
Did the Sect Leader not realize the immense impact she had brought upon her?
Thinking of the red ribbon Shi Qingjun left behind, which made the Peak Masters at the Sect Leader Level in Qing Province contend for it, one could see that she was akin to a God in the hearts of others.
Then looking at Shi Qingjunās tone, attire, the things she was doing...
She really lacked self-awareness.
Li Zhibai wanted to say that her fast heartbeat had nothing to do with Xu Changāan, purely because the Sect Leader was too... but she couldnāt speak it out.
Shi Qingjun, while watching Xu Changāan in the image, calmly said, "If I am no longer able, the Chaoyun Sect will have to be entrusted to you, always teaching me how to be at ease."
Li Zhibai didnāt respond.
The Sect Leader no longer able?
Impossible.
She was the sky of Qing Province, with the entire Chaoyun and Eight Directions Gathering tied to her.
Shi Qingjun did not explain that her Cultivation had inexplicably been reduced by twenty percent, making her unable to suppress the entire Demon Sect by herself as before. At least... the Demon Sect Leader already had the qualification to look her in the eye.
After losing the ability to suppress Qing Province on her own.
Shi Qingjun gave Li Zhibai a deep look.
When the true test comes, she feared she would have to rely on juniors like Li Zhibai and Zhu Tongjun.
"Hmm, maybe not necessarily." Shi Qingjun tilted her head, gently exhaled, and, while drawing circles on her leg with her finger, stared intently at the young man in the image.
There was still a formidable weapon there.
"Saints often roam the world, also manifest the world as saints." Shi Qingjun murmured, "If such White Jade Purple Thunder lasts a bit longer..."
Everyoneās Cultivation in the world would be sealed.
By then, even mortal armies could make the entire Cultivation Realm run with blood, make any Demon Sect Leader, or Qing Jun of a state no different than mortals.
Shi Qingjun sighed, in Li Zhibaiās bewildered gaze, she lamented, "Sometimes knowing too much truly makes... oneās own cultivation feel meaningless."
This Yellow Heaven and Post-Earth, Heavenly Dao and human principles are like a prewritten script.
The more one cultivates, the more there seems no end in sight.
Li Zhibai had already experienced enough turbulence in her Mental Realm today, yet even so, hearing Shi Qingjunās words expressing "an unstable Dao Heart," her body trembled violently, pretending to be calm as she said, "Sect Leader, you said before, throughout ancient and modern times, a peaceful world awaits."