He had seen many pills that could advance one's spiritual power, except this one . In fact, the cultivation of one's spiritual power had to be done in an orderly way with a painstaking amount of effort . It was not advisable to depend on the pills alone . Otherwise, one's cultivation might easily go haywire . Also, most of the pills contained vicious elements that came with side effects .

Shen Nianmo's father reserved a lot of miraculous medicines and elixirs for him, but all of them were to maintain his health and were not for the advancement of his spiritual power . Shen Jiuli once told him that the administration of pills would spoil the entire cultivation by destroying the very conditions upon which success depended .

Yet, Gu Xijiu had given him a pill . Was Gu Xijiu very desperate for his advancement?

"I remember that you wanted to take me as your disciple?" Shen Nianmo asked very suddenly .

"Yes, but you refused to . Why? Have you changed your mind?" Gu Xijiu's eyes danced with merriment .

"Definitely not . " Shen Nianmo shattered her hope directly .

Gu Xijiu studied his expression and continued, "Why have you asked then? Now that you know who I really am, you should know that I am not any worse than any of your ten masters; in fact, I am probably stronger . I am skilled in the use of poisons, spells, and array formation . "

Gu Xijiu named a few of her special abilities . "I know as much, or even more than all the skills that your masters have to offer . If you accept me as your master, I will definitely help you to increase your spiritual power in no time and achieve greater successes . "

Shen Nianmo interrupted, "Do not even think about it . I will never agree to become your disciple . "

Gu Xijiu did not know what to say . She could only settle as his senior apprentice then . If he was not willing to be her disciple, why did he even bother to ask? She thought there was hope .

"I have noticed that you are very much interested in my advancement . Is it your mission as well?" Shen Nianmo asked the right question .

Gu Xijiu did not answer his question .

Shen Nianmo continued to pressure her with his intense gaze . "Is it really a mission?"

The child was indeed smart . How did he manage to conjecture that?

Gu Xijiu hesitated . "We should not focus too much on the mission . You should know that I am doing this for your own good . Isn't it good if I can help you in your advancement?"

He was right . It was a mission . If it were not for the mission, she would not even bother to stay close to him at all . Shen Nianmo stared at her blankly for a while . Abruptly, he rose and left .

Gu Xijiu was utterly surprised . Was he upset? Why? She was confused . He was only a child, a child of incalculable moods . Maybe, he was starting to experience his teenage revolt in advance .

Many speculations flashed by in her head, but she still could not figure out why . She decided to leave the subject behind and focus instead on the Cherry Blossom Snake . There were two people whose lives depended on her .

They continued to explore the tunnel for another half an hour . Meanwhile, Shen Nianmo used the Snake Pearl to attract the snake two more times but failed both times . Finally, on the last try, the snake appeared .

The snake was covered entirely in pitch-black skin, which was about a foot long . It was as thin as the size of a chopstick . Despite its size, it was the leader of the snakes . It moved very swiftly and was hard to spot . Also, it was capable to spout out venom in the color of faint cherry pink . It was the most beautiful and yet the most venomous kind .

Gu Xijiu was experienced, so she managed to catch it in the end . The search was not in vain .

They had time, so Gu Xijiu decided to stay and explore the entire tunnel . Along their way, they managed to decipher many deadly tricks that were set in the tunnel . Finally, they arrived at the end .

The end of the tunnel led them to an area of open water . The place was unusually cold . Many flower buds floated graciously on the surface .

The place that surrounded the Tree Palace was mysterious . Gu Xijiu felt as though she had just stepped into a utopia of flower blossoms . The banks of the lake were filled with blossoming trees, forming an array of cherry blossoms . The view was spectacular .

"She must have escaped from here, riding a crane . " Shen Nianmo took a walk around the area and found the traces left behind by the young palace master .

He had seen many pills that could advance ones spiritual power, except this one . In fact, the cultivation of ones spiritual power had to be done in an orderly way with a painstaking amount of effort . It was not advisable to depend on the pills alone . Otherwise, ones cultivation might easily go haywire . Also, most of the pills contained vicious elements that came with side effects . Shen Nianmos father reserved a lot of miraculous medicines and elixirs for him, but all of them were to maintain his health and were not for the advancement of his spiritual power . Shen Jiuli once told him that the administration of pills would spoil the entire cultivation by destroying the very conditions upon which success depended . Yet, Gu Xijiu had given him a pill . Was Gu Xijiu very desperate for his advancement? I remember that you wanted to take me as your disciple? Shen Nianmo asked very suddenly . Yes, but you refused to . Why? Have you changed your mind? Gu Xijius eyes danced with merriment . Definitely not . Shen Nianmo shattered her hope directly . Gu Xijiu studied his expression and continued, Why have you asked then? Now that you know who I really am, you should know that I am not any worse than any of your ten masters; in fact, I am probably stronger . I am skilled in the use of poisons, spells, and array formation . Gu Xijiu named a few of her special abilities . I know as much, or even more than all the skills that your masters have to offer . If you accept me as your master, I will definitely help you to increase your spiritual power in no time and achieve greater successes . Shen Nianmo interrupted, Do not even think about it . I will never agree to become your disciple . Gu Xijiu did not know what to say . She could only settle as his senior apprentice then . If he was not willing to be her disciple, why did he even bother to ask? She thought there was hope . I have noticed that you are very much interested in my advancement . Is it your mission as well? Shen Nianmo asked the right question . Gu Xijiu did not answer his question . Shen Nianmo continued to pressure her with his intense gaze . Is it really a mission? The child was indeed smart . How did he manage to conjecture that? Gu Xijiu hesitated . We should not focus too much on the mission . You should know that I am doing this for your own good . Isnt it good if I can help you in your advancement? He was right . It was a mission . If it were not for the mission, she would not even bother to stay close to him at all . Shen Nianmo stared at her blankly for a while . Abruptly, he rose and left . Gu Xijiu was utterly surprised . Was he upset? Why? She was confused . He was only a child, a child of incalculable moods . Maybe, he was starting to experience his teenage revolt in advance . Many speculations flashed by in her head, but she still could not figure out why . She decided to leave the subject behind and focus instead on the Cherry Blossom Snake . There were two people whose lives depended on her They continued to explore the tunnel for another half an hour . Meanwhile, Shen Nianmo used the Snake Pearl to attract the snake two more times but failed both times . Finally, on the last try, the snake appeared . The snake was covered entirely in pitch-black skin, which was about a foot long . It was as thin as the size of a chopstick . Despite its size, it was the leader of the snakes . It moved very swiftly and was hard to spot . Also, it was capable to spout out venom in the color of faint cherry pink . It was the most beautiful and yet the most venomous kind . Gu Xijiu was experienced, so she managed to catch it in the end . The search was not in vain . They had time, so Gu Xijiu decided to stay and explore the entire tunnel . Along their way, they managed to decipher many deadly tricks that were set in the tunnel . Finally, they arrived at the end . The end of the tunnel led them to an area of open water . The place was unusually cold . Many flower buds floated graciously on the surface . The place that surrounded the Tree Palace was mysterious . Gu Xijiu felt as though she had just stepped into a utopia of flower blossoms . The banks of the lake were filled with blossoming trees, forming an array of cherry blossoms . The view was spectacular . She must have escaped from here, riding a crane . Shen Nianmo took a walk around the area and found the traces left behind by the young palace master .