"Su Wan!" Nuyue Fairy Zhao Si'er's pupils tightened slightly, and the knuckles of the hand that was holding the talisman turned somewhat pale.
"Why would the people of the Wind-Riding Sect be mixed up with the Qingluo Sect?"
The girl Su Wan smiled sweetly.
"The Four Sects are branches of the same tree, but when it comes to something like the Spirit Spring child, your Plum Blossom Sect actually wants to monopolize it. It's no wonder that I stepped in."
"It is not our sect's intention to do so. You are overthinking it." Nuyue Fairy's pretty face grew even colder.
"Hahaha, I met Miss Su Wan on the way here. When I heard about the emergence of the Spirit Spring child and that the Plum Blossom Sect didn't notify the other three sects, I decided to come straight over to see how Nuyue Fairy would explain...."
Zhuang Tianci talked while unconsciously letting his gaze fall onto the pert buttocks of Su Wan who was behind him. Su Wan wore a black dress that clung tightly to her, and although it was a long dress, the wind blowing from behind pressed the fabric tightly against her hips and legs, showing off clear enticing lines.
Glug...
Zhuang Tianci couldn't help but swallow quietly. He had been with plenty of women, but ones as young and tempting as this were few. After this matter was over...
"Have you had your fill?" Suddenly, a gentle voice arose beside his ear.
Zhuang Tianci's face changed dramatically, and the green mist around his body thickened with a rumble.
But a fair and slender hand moved faster than the mist, piercing straight through the green fog and landing a heavy slap on his chest.
Bang!
The green mist in front of Zhuang Tianci instantly collapsed, and his chest caved in, revealing a delicate palm print.
"What are you doing, Su Wan?!" He bellowed in shock and rage.
"Of course, it's to kill you! Hahaha!" Su Wan laughed almost hysterically, leaping forward like a little sister bounding into her brother's arms, graceful as she pounced toward Zhuang Tianci.
"What on earth are you trying to pull?!" Zhuang Tianci was utterly confused. He had just negotiated terms with this enchantress, not anticipating that in less than half an hour she would turn on him!
"Flow-Cutting Palm." Su Wan's right hand drifted out lightly, with a black, complex rune emerging on her palm that emitted a faint dark glow.
"Since you've led the way, you're of no use anymore. Better to die, right?" Su Wan's face showed a smile, but her eyes were exceptionally cold.
"Don't think I'm afraid of you!" Zhuang Tianci was instantly enraged, his green mist surging as it engulfed Su Wan along with him.
Onlookers couldn't see what was happening inside, but Nuyue Fairy Zhao Si'er's face was frosty as she and Lin Zhiwen took several steps back.
"What... what exactly is going on?" Two young men and women from the Plum Blossom Sect, masters who had come to aid, leaped next to Zhao Si'er and asked in a hushed tone with shock on their faces.
Zhao Si'er shook her head slightly.
"Su Wan is capricious. Though the Wind-Riding Sect is one of the Four Sects and belongs to the orthodox sects, their core consists in manipulating flows. Wind is but one type of flow; all flowing liquids are also within their scope. Their cultivation technique is truly unorthodox. I'm not clear about what's going on."
"Perhaps there was some unpleasantness between the two of them earlier." The female master from the Plum Blossom Sect sneered coldly.
"It's possible. Su Wan faced obscenities from her foster father at a young age, which made her very extreme..." Hiss!
Before Zhao Si'er could finish her words, she suddenly grabbed with her right hand, dispersing a transparent stream of air that had been directed at her face.
"Dear Nuyue sister, don't expose people's shortcomings behind their back~~" Su Wan's voice drifted from afar.
Zhao Si'er's expression shifted slightly.
"This enchantress has grown stronger again..." She had already suffered at the hands of this woman before; she now kept her mouth shut, unwilling to speak further.
At this point, nobody dared speak more, fearful that Su Wan might suddenly launch another attack.
In the distance, Zhuang Tianci and Su Wan were close to determining the victor.
Zhuang Tianci was far away when a palm hit his shoulder, revealing a giant black rune symbol enlarged on his back, which flashed momentarily and then disappeared.
With a boom, his whole being actively broke through a wall to avoid a follow-up pursuit, the green mist around his body dissipating as well, while he was helped up by other Qingluo Blade warriors who arrived.
"Retreat!" Zhuang Tianci gritted his teeth and bellowed. The right shoulder of his clothing was torn, with a black character emerging clearly on his skin, burrowing into his flesh like a worm.
"I, Zhuang Tianci, will remember this favor! Su Wan, you just wait!!"
The Qingluo Sect people quickly evacuated, and soon the large group was rapidly retreating and disappearing from the streets.
However, Su Wan just returned to the courtyard with a beaming smile, not pursuing them.
By the broken wall, Lin Xin and An Ying emerged from around the corner, their expressions grave as they watched the departing Qingluo Sect people.
"I am willing to offer the Spirit Spring child to the two fairy ladies!" At this moment, the voice of Lin Zhiwen came from within the Lin Family courtyard.
Lin Xin promptly grabbed An Ying, determination flickering in his eyes as he strode through the gap in the broken wall.
The courtyard was a scene of devastation, with rockeries, pools, and flower gardens looking as though they had been corroded by some sort of toxic gas, slightly tinged with a yellow-green hue. Large patches of plants were wilted and yellowing.
"Xinru!" Lin Zhiwen called out upon seeing Lin Xin and the other, quickly beckoning loudly.
Following the voice, Lin Xin saw Lin Zhiwen and the others from home standing behind a beautiful Daoist nun, who looked at him with concern.
"Father." He called out hastily as he walked towards them, scrutinizing the beautiful Daoist nun with an icy expression with the corner of his eye.
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He had actually arrived earlier, but had been observing the situation inside the wall from outside all along. He also heard that this beautiful Daoist nun was Xianzi Nuyue from the Plum Blossom Sect.
He quickly pulled An Ying and ran behind Lin Zhiwen, joining the rest of the Lin Family, and only then did Lin Xin's heart slightly relax.
The danger facing the Lin Family today was temporarily relieved. Now, it all depended on this Nuyue and that Su Wan.
"Brother... are you alright?" his cousin Lin Xinyuan squeezed over and whispered, "Today was truly perilous. If it weren't for the Plum Blossom Sect's Nuyue and the Wind-Riding Sect's Su Wan, our Lin Family would have really been in a bad spot. I've never seen anyone as beautiful and powerful as the two fairies before, today has truly been eye-opening."
Although she was young, her mind was somewhat worldly and astute. Even though she spoke in a soft voice, she intentionally flattered the two fairies, obviously guessing that they might be able to hear her.
Clearly, Nuyue didn't react to her flattery.
Lin Xin felt helpless inside. He knew his cousin's mind too well, but this performance was too obviously contrived. The Immortal Masters would be less likely to appreciate it and might even feel annoyed.
By this time, Lin Zhiwen had already sent someone to fetch his treasured Spiritual Artifacts. He respectfully handed them to Nuyue, Zhao Si'er.
"Three Spiritual Artifacts?" Opening the case, Nuyue hadn't expected the Lin Family to actually have as many as three. Her brows immediately showed a hint of joy—coming to Red Pine City was truly worthwhile.
In her palms lay three black lotus seeds that looked no different from ordinary ones, except for their black color. Unassuming to the eye, no one could guess that these items were the reason the Immortal Masters from the Three Sects had come from miles away.
"Sister, the three Spiritual Artifacts, how shall we divide them this time?" Su Wan floated over from not far away and gently landed on the right side of the crowd.
At this moment, besides the Lin Family, there were hardly any outsiders in the courtyard. The Protector soldiers and the like had all sneakily fled during the earlier fight. The Lin Family didn't dare to breathe loudly, only daring to whisper among themselves, making the whole yard hauntingly silent.
Lin Xin kept his head down and stood in the back with Lin Xinyuan and An Ying, hearing Nuyue hum in contemplation before speaking up.
"Su Wan, my sister, you drove away Zhuang Tianci. Originally, it could have been divided equally among the three families. Being here, your realm is the highest, your strength the strongest, you should rightfully take two Spiritual Artifacts."
"Sister is too polite... That Zhuang Tianci was planning to take advantage of me. He secretly released Soul-Enchanting Incense along the way, thinking I hadn't noticed. If he hadn't had a Spiritual Artifact to protect himself, my palm strike would not have been so easy to endure," Su Wan said with a charming smile.
"Besides, we Four Sects share a common lineage. How could we let the Qingluo Sect get their hands on treasures within our territory?"
"What my sister says is true," Nuyue agreed.
"However, since we've taken the Lin Family's Spiritual Artifacts and happen to have two decent seeds here. Why not do a good deed, Su Wan, my sister? Recommend them to join our Sect?"
"A Sect? I came here to investigate, not to recruit disciples and take on two burdens," Su Wan replied casually. "Sister, if you have the intention, feel free to do as you please."
Hearing this, Lin Xin's heart suddenly thumped rapidly.
Two decent seeds? Could she be referring to him and An Ying? He didn't dare look up, still keeping his head respectfully low. From the fight they had just witnessed, it was clear that these Immortal Masters were far beyond ordinary people who could only use their Inner Strength to amplify speed and power.
Nuyue fell silent for a moment.
"Inner Qi has taken root. Unexpectedly, even in such a remote place as the Lin Family, there are two seeds of Inner Qi."
Lin Xin suddenly felt a clear gaze upon him, a strange sensation. Although it was just a human glance, it felt like an icy chill scanning up and down his body.
Hearing this, he already knew whom the other was referring to. Overcome with elation, he heard Lin Zhiwen say out loud.
"Xinru, Miss An Ying, the Immortal Master is calling you out,"
Lin Xin hurriedly pulled An Ying out with him. He slightly raised his head and caught a glimpse of his jealous cousin Lin Xinyuan and Lin Xinguang, whose envy was barely contained.
Trying to calm himself down, Lin Xin still felt as if his emotions were boiling uncontrollably. In his previous life, he had been extremely interested in martial cultivation, enjoying even the most difficult martial arts games. He never expected to have a real chance to get involved now.
"Look up," Nuyue's voice came.
Lin Xin and An Ying quickly looked up. An Ying was somewhat clueless while Lin Xin was exceptionally nervous.
They were standing less than two meters in front of Nuyue, facing her directly.
The beautiful Daoist nun was evaluating them with a scrutinizing gaze.
She first looked at An Ying.
"To have reached such a level of Inner Qi at this age, not bad, not bad." As she spoke, her tone softened more and more. Clearly, she was quite satisfied.
Then she turned her attention to Lin Xin.
"Inner Qi at its initial stage, huh, not bad either. Although you're a bit old for your age, it's still good enough for an entrance."
"May I ask the Fairy, is there any chance for others in my Lin Family to be accepted into your noble Immortal Sect?" Lin Zhiwen seized the opportunity, knowing it was once in a lifetime and that if missed, there would never be another. He was willing to be audacious at this moment, bravely stepping forward.
Nuyue hummed in contemplation.
"To enter my Immortal Sect, one first cultivates Inner Qi. After achieving great accomplishment in postnatal Inner Qi, one turns to innate and achieves great accomplishment again, then one starts Qi Cultivation and eventually everything for building the Dao foundation. Therefore, Inner Qi is the most fundamental basis. With your ages, you must first cultivate Inner Qi, and many people spend decades just cultivating Inner Qi. With your talents..." She shook her head slightly, not finishing her sentence.
Lin Zhiwen was somewhat disappointed, but he also knew that this matter couldn't be forced. Lin Zhiwu and the other young people of the Lin Family behind him also couldn't hide their disappointment.
"It's not hopeless. I've heard that some minor sects have explored a Blood Pill Method, where one ingests a Living Pill containing a live worm with fresh blood to stimulate the body's potential and produce a hint of Inner Qi. Thus enabling entrance. It's also very covert, usually undetectable by common means," Su Wan idly commented while twirling her hair around her finger.
"Such a practice is considered an Evil Path and even if Inner Qi is stimulated, the future potential is limited. This method has long been listed as a lower-class taboo by our Four Sects. Once discovered, having one's cultivation destroyed is the least of the consequences," Nuyue said sternly.
"Sister, don't be so serious," Su Wan chuckled.
But Lin Xin shivered at these words. This so-called Blood Pill Method was exactly the same as the way he had refined the Return to Origin Pills!
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