C74 The Immortal Sect Wanted to Test the Strength of the Devil Domain.

The gatekeepers at the First Immortal Sect's entrance spotted a figure they knew all too well. On closer inspection, they realized it was the Eldest Senior Brother.

They quickly approached him, calling out, "Eldest Senior Brother has returned! We must inform Master immediately."

With a composed gaze, Rong Yu took a fleeting look at the sect, a place that felt both familiar and strangely distant.

His recent mission to the Devil Sect wasn't exactly top secret, but it was certainly not for the ears of the Outer Sect disciples. They were under the impression he had simply gone down the mountain for a few days of training.

Word of Rong Yu's return spread like wildfire through the First Immortal Sect, drawing both Outer and Inner Sect disciples to him with warm greetings and inquiries.

"Eldest Senior Brother, we've missed you! You're finally back."

"Eldest Senior Brother, did you gain any new insights from your time away? Please, share with us."

Rong Yu felt a sense of detachment. Away from the Devil Sect, he was once again the Cultivation World's golden boy, the one many female cultivators dreamed of marrying.

His time in the Devil Domain had soured his mood, not least because he had to acknowledge that Jiang Su was indeed more handsome than he was.

Ye Yan emerged to find Rong Yu standing tall, his presence radiating an effortless elegance, yet there was something off about him.

"Senior Brother, Master has been asking for you."

"Understood." Rong Yu followed Ye Yan back to Hundred Battle Peak, his mind wandering as he took in the familiar landscape. His journey to the Devil Domain had felt like a lifetime.

"Senior Brother, you've been so quiet. You seem... different," Ye Yan remarked, her candor ever-present.

Rong Yu patted her head, "I'll explain later. Right now, I have important matters to discuss with Master."

"Okay then."

Entering the main house of Hundred Battle Peak, Rong Yu found Ye Qing already waiting.

"No need for formalities. Please, take a seat. Your mission to the Devil Domain must have been taxing. Were you able to discern their true state?"

Rong Yu seated himself and responded with a gentle tone, "Master, the four elders of the First Devil Sect have not advanced in their realms. The Outer Sect disciples seem rather lax, and I've only had brief encounters with a few from the Inner Sect. Their abilities are comparable to those of our Immortal Sect's Inner Sect disciples."

Ye Qing's brow furrowed slightly. Rong Yu had indeed managed to infiltrate the First Devil Sect, but it seemed the Female Ruler hadn't truly granted him an audience.

"How does Elder Chiu Yue's new Head Disciple fare in terms of talent?" he inquired.

Rong Yu's index finger absentmindedly traced the hem of his garment, yet his expression remained impassive. "He possesses a Single Spiritual Root. Initially a Medical Cultivator, he has now dedicated himself to the path of the Sword Cultivator," he responded.

Ye Qing's frown deepened. Why would Elder Chiu Yue take a Medical Cultivator under his wing?

Nevertheless, Ye Qing decided to shelf the issue for the moment. The sect's recruitment day was fast approaching, and with the Immortal and Devil Domains maintaining a delicate equilibrium, it was crucial for the Immortal Domain to enlist disciples of substantial potential. "Your efforts on this journey have been commendable. It's important to focus on reinforcing your cultivation in the coming days," he advised.

Rong Yu nodded in acknowledgment.

Once Ye Qing had departed, Ye Yan slipped into the room from outside. Spotting Rong Yu lost in thought on his seat, she crept up beside him and teased with a playful smile, "Eldest Senior Brother, what's on your mind?"

"I'm reflecting on the lessons I've learned during my time in the Devil Domain," he mused.

With a pout, Ye Yan expressed her discontent, "Still preoccupied with the Devil Domain? I've heard the First Devil Sect has its own Eldest Senior Brother, but I bet he's not as handsome as you."

Rong Yu offered a silent chuckle. "Curious about what he looks like?"

Ye Yan eagerly nodded.

Rong Yu made his way to the desk, Ye Yan trailing behind him. He meticulously ground the ink before taking up his brush, poised to paint. Renowned for his artistic prowess within the Immortal Domain, Rong Yu's creations were renowned for their lifelike quality.

He set about painting the First Devil Sect Elder's Head Disciple.

Ye Yan's interest in the subject of the painting was lukewarm at best. She pulled up a stool and watched Rong Yu, always believing her senior brother to be the most dashing and refined figure in the Cultivation World.

Her gaze was riveted on Rong Yu's focused expression as he painted.

Setting down his brush, Rong Yu announced, "The painting is complete. Take a look."

Ye Yan had intended only a cursory glance at the artwork, but upon laying eyes on the figure depicted, she found herself utterly captivated, unable to look away.

She inhaled deeply, feeling a sudden warmth in her chest as her heartbeat quickened.

She had utterly fallen for the figure in the painting!

The boy's features seemed as though they had been kissed by the divine. His eyes, nose, and mouth were strikingly handsome, both individually and as a whole.

Even strands of hair tousled by the breeze served to accentuate the strikingly handsome visage in the portrait.

Anyone caught in the tender gaze of those eyes would lose themselves completely.

This was the Head Disciple of the First Devil Sect!

Rong Yu, witnessing Ye Yan's reaction, chuckled and shook his head, "You really are still a kid, getting drawn in by anything beautiful."

Ye Yan was thoroughly enchanted by the young man in the artwork.

"Ye Yan, don't fixate on the painting. If you diligently cultivate, you'll meet him in person at the Immortal and Devil Domains' competition in three months."

Ye Yan dabbed at the drool with her sleeve, her eyes sparkling. The name Jiang Su, the Head Disciple of the First Devil Sect, crystallized in her mind.

From this moment forward, her admiration was split between Senior Brother Rong Yu and Jiang Su.

"Senior Brother, may I take the painting with me?" she asked.

Rong Yu nodded with a smile, "You're welcome to take it."

Ye Yan, with her senior brother's blessing, carefully folded the painting and tucked it into her pocket.

Rong Yu, struck by a thought, cautioned, "It's best not to show this painting to too many people."

The allure of Jiang Su was not to be underestimated, and he was not one for self-promotion. Revealing his likeness would breach his principles, and that would spell disaster for Rong Yu.

Ye Yan noted her senior brother's stern look, pouted, and assured him she wouldn't share the portrait indiscriminately before darting away.

A woman's mind is not so easily deciphered, and Rong Yu was perhaps too naive in his assumptions.

In a garden, a woman clad in a pale yellow robe practiced her swordsmanship with intense focus. Her lips were pursed as she fixed her gaze ahead. Petals, pale pink and delicate, drifted onto her shoulders, enhancing her beauty. Yet, her own radiance outshone even the flowers.

"Senior Sister Qingying, I've got something wonderful to show you!" came a cute and lively female voice. Su Qingying paused her movements, redirecting the fierce sword energy to gently descend among the blossoms, causing a flurry of petals to take flight in an instant.