"Jiutian, my good apprentice!"

"Quick! Shut the door!"

Atop a high mountain, within an ancient courtyard.

Ye Jiutian was meditating; upon hearing his master's sudden exclamation, he abruptly looked up.

An old man, exuding an ethereal charm, barged in with disheveled hair and a panicked expression.

That's when Ye Jiutian realized something was amiss.

Promptly ceasing his mediation, he sprang up and shut the yard door, while the old man dashed into the house like a flash of smoke.

Once both settled down, they remained visibly shaken.

"Old man," questioned Ye Jiutian, looking around nervously. "Have you exposed our whereabouts?"

"Damn it, don't even remind me!" The elder whom Ye Jiutian referred to as 'the old man' began to swear.

Charismatic and sprightly, he embodied the aura of a pre-eminent figure.

Yet when he spoke, his language was quite coarse.

"All I did was borrow a chicken egg from Widow Wang!”

"So they mobilized the whole village to hunt me down all over the mountain?"

He indignantly declared, unabashedly picking his nose.

Upon finishing, he pulled out a warm egg from his coat and handed it to his disciple.

"Good disciple, eat this! Your master is useless. I managed to scrounge up just this bit of food on my trip down the mountain..."

Ye JiuTian looked at the fresh booger lingering on the egg, smirked, but wanted to discard it.

However, the growling in his stomach forced him to bear the disgust - he dared not throw it away!

Iron-man needs food, as for humans a meal skipped will leave them panicky.

The master-disciple duo hadn't eaten anything for three whole days and nights.

The master named himself Gai Liuzi, a suitable name considering his situation.

Despite being highly educated, mastering miraculous martial arts and having profound medical skills that could startle the gods and make ghosts weep,

He didn't contribute to production or labor, living a life of leisure and never taking his actual job seriously.

Ye JiuTian was an abandoned baby that he had picked up and raised since childhood.

Like a father and son, they have been living in the mountains for twenty years.

The master imparted all his skills and knowledge to him.

As the saying goes, "a pupil can better his master", and thus Ye JiuTian’s skills are even superior to his master's.

No matter martial arts, medicine, Taoism, or even music, chess, calligraphy, painting, he has reached the pinnacle in all aspects.

However, what good life could a master leading a disciple have?

The two of them ate away all their provisions, and the master finally had to go down the mountain to borrow some food.

His methods probably weren't the most upright, so he got attacked by the whole village.

Ye JiuTian felt a sudden heartache, and his hands became as heavy as if they were carrying a thousand pounds due to a mere egg.

He stuffed the egg into his master's hands, inconspicuously wiped his snot onto the old man's hand as well.

"Master! You should eat, your disciple is not hungry!"

"Good disciple, you..."

The beggar was so moved by his disciple's filial piety, he was greatly touched and uncontrollably let out a burp.

"Burp..."

Ye JiuTian: ???

What's going on with this full mouth of BBQ smell?

Outside the door, the villagers' angry shouts could be heard.

"Bull-nosed man! Return my cow!"

"Old Taoist, my hen is for laying eggs, what did you do eating her? And why did you touch me when leaving!"

"Damn it! You didn't even spare the lamb and just went ahead to roast it?"

"Open up! Open the door! Open it!"

The loud pounding on the door was incessant.

Ye Jiutian: ...

"Burp!"

Seeing his master burping again uncontrollably.

He was so furious, he wanted to boot the old rogue flying!

He couldn't even bear to eat an egg.

Turns out, you were already full from eating down the mountain, and only then did you remember your disciple?

By the way, did you also get your hands on Widow Wang?

Why didn't the villagers kill you on the spot?

Unfortunately, it's not the right time to speak now.

A single penny can stump a hero.

They were both just waiting for the villagers, unable to open the door, to swear and stomp off before they dared to make a sound.

"You old thief, you..."

Ye JiuTian abruptly grabs the Elder's clothes, on the verge of letting out his anger.

"Ah..."

Unexpectedly, the Master let out a sigh, his expression deflated and face pale.

"JiuTian, your Master's days are numbered. I'm afraid I won't make it through this year."

"What?"

Ye JiuTian is startled at his Master's words, letting go of his Master's hand he has been holding and quickly placed it on his wrist instead.

His eyes widened immediately after.

"Elder, have you been led astray by your cultivation practices?"

Gailiuzi nodded, a look of sadness reflected on his face.

"My good disciple, the 'Nine Dragon Technique' we're practicing is incomplete. I've made a mistake in cultivating, and my life will not last long."

"So, don't fuss over what I should eat today, okay?"

Ye JiuTian is overwhelmed with sorrow. After hesitating for a while, he speaks again.

"Master, before you die, can you capture a few more sheep for me, as a reserve of food?"

Gailiuzi: ……

"Wicked disciple! Can't you think of any possible ways to save me!"

"Ah, is there still hope?"

"How... how did I end up accepting you as my reckless and wasteful disciple!"

The old man was utterly infuriated, and tragically passed away on the spot.

An hour later.

Master and disciple said their painful goodbyes at the door.

With a face full of reluctance, the old man held Ye JiuTian's hand, his eyes brimming with tears.

"JiuTian, after descending the mountain this time, you only need to do two things to save your master's life."

"First: In my early years, I had bought a Quadrangle dwelling in Yun Province's River City, along with some other properties. All these years, I've lived off the rent income."

"But in recent two years, there hasn't been a single tenant paying rent, leading us to drain all our resources."

"When you descend the mountain, go to the Quadrangle dwelling first and find them, collect all these years' rents, and promptly send the money up to the mountain. This way, your master doesn't have to die from starvation."

"As for the other properties, you can take your time to collect the rent, your master had adopted a few old dogs in the past."

"If they dare not pay or refuse to pay the rent, just let the dogs bite them."

Upon hearing this, Ye JiuTian nodded.

He had known a thing or two about the old thief's properties at the foot of the mountain.

Otherwise, the two would not have been able to calmly cultivate for twenty years, not meddling in worldly affairs.

Yejingtian didn't realize what his master meant when he mentioned 'them' living in the courtyard of the compound. They were all women.

Neither did he understand what his master meant by adopting the old dog.

The old man went on.

"The second matter, the latter half of the 'Nine Dragon Secret' technique, was also buried in the compound by your master years ago. I don't remember the exact location."

"After you collect the rent, take a good look around. Only when you find it will you be able to save your master."

"Similarly, your 'Nine Dragon Secret' can also be practiced to perfection, achieving demigod-like status, and ascend in daylight!"

Upon hearing this, Yejitian's breath quickened.

"Master, can our family's technique really allow one to attain immortality?"

"Nonsense!"

The beggar master regained his otherworldly demeanor.

"'Nine Dragon Secret' is an unparalleled technique inherited from ancient times in our sect!"

"Once mastered, after surviving the tribulation, you can ascend during daylight and become immortal or enlightened!"

"You, my disciple, have already reached the peak of the first half of the technique, invulnerable to both swords and bullets, even venom!"

"Once you have mastered the latter half..."

Yejingtian interjected with a smile: "I will be able to ascend to the realm of immortals. After Master has gone to the underworld, we, as master and disciple, can continue our karmic connection."

Upon hearing these words, Gai Liu Zi couldn't hold back his grief and resentment anymore, and kicked out.

"Scram! You little thief, if you can't find the Nine Dragon Scripture, be prepared to bury your master!"

But to his surprise, his foot merely kicked the air.

Only the scoundrel's clear laughter reverberated through the mountains and forests.

"Hahaha... Master, rest assured!"

"No matter where my journey takes me, even if I have to traverse the ends of the earth and the depths of the underworld, I will find the Nine Dragon Scripture to save your life!"

As the voice faded, the old Taoist priest cracked a smile.

He stood tall, regaining his demeanor as a one of a kind master.

Regrettably, his expression remained indescribably sly.

"Haha, this fool is still so easy to deceive!"

"If I didn't trick you down the mountain, how could I as an old Taoist live a peaceful life!"

After laughing for a while, he gazed at the spot where his disciple had disappeared, and heaved a sigh.

"My disciple, to ascend to greatness under the daylight and achieve Dao, you must not only survive the nine lightning tribulations, but also go through the nine emotional tribulations."

"The so-called lightning tribulation refines the body, emotional tribulation refines the heart."

"I, your master, have set up nine marriage arrangements for you in the Four-sided Courtyard for you to experience!"

"Whether or not you can ascend to Heaven, it's all up to you!"

...

Three days later.

In the bustling district of Jiang City, Yun Province.

An ancient, valuable courtyard house stands on every inch of the expensive land.

Surrounded by tall buildings, the courtyard looks quite out of place.

Ye JiuTian, weary from his long journey, finally stands at the entrance. He tilts his head to observe for a while and chuckles.

"Wow, what a big courtyard! Following ancient customs, it could have been a prince's mansion during the previous dynasty."

"Oh pitiful old thief, just how many assets have you been keeping from me."

"But, the middleman you mentioned died last year. No wonder you can't collect the rents."

Ye JiuTian shakes his head and sighs.

"I have no choice but to act as the wicked landlord!"

I need to collect the rent, find the secret to Dragon Shifting Art, and then I can save my master.

With these thoughts in mind, he eagerly pushes open the courtyard door and walks inside.

He had assumed the old courtyard to be overrun with wild grass and dilapidated.

To his surprise, the space inside was unexpectedly clean and tidy, filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers.

Even faintly wafting...

A woman's scent?

Ye Jiutian sniffed, muttering to himself about the oddness of the situation.

In the ‘Nine Dragons Skill,’ there was a technique called ‘Recognizing Women through Fragrance.’

Via the natural scent that a woman exuded, it was possible to discern her physical appearance, and even her likes and dislikes, personality, or martial arts skills.

He had unexpectedly caught the scent of a top-tier beauty!

Could it mean that the old rogue had hidden a beauties in this courtyard?

Ye Jiutian couldn't help but chuckle, a wicked thought crossing his mind.

Following the scent, he came to the door of a side room.

He heard the hushing sound from inside, hollered, took a step, and barged in.

"Hey! The landlord is here!"

"Tell me! Why aren't you..."

Ye Jiutian spoke halfway, after which he couldn't form words.

What he saw before him caused his eyes to bulge, and his blood vessels to burst.

"Why aren't you... not wearing clothes?"

Ye Jiutian's nose started to bleed, pouring out in a constant stream.

Damn it!

This was too stimulating!