21: Little fairy world to catch little white flowers

All Heavens Star Palace, by the spiritual spring on the back mountain.

Lin Xuan sat cross-legged on a bluestone, a wisp of chaotic energy twisting a foxtail grass between his fingers, idly teasing Little Nine, the Nine Nether Hound cub splashing in the spring.

The little fellow had just finished gnawing on half a piece of Star Essence Gold and was now baring his fangs, competing with Little Black, the Nether Candle Dragon cub, who was blowing bubbles at the bottom of the spring—fierce yet adorable.

Not far away, in Kong Ming's small courtyard, the silent barrier glowed, faintly revealing a shiny bald head leaping up and down inside the barrier, his mouth moving rapidly, yet no sound escaped.

“Tsk, the world is quiet,” Lin Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

This silent barrier, costing 100 Luck Points per hour, was well worth it!

Suddenly, the foxtail grass in his fingers paused.

His Law-Breaking Sword Eyes unconsciously swept across the depths of the void, capturing a faint spatial fluctuation carrying a scent of despair.

His divine sense spread out like a spiderweb instantly.

“Hm?” Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

It was a pathetic small world-bubble, clinging to the edge of the main world, with sparse spiritual energy, its size only slightly larger than a mortal kingdom in the Xuanhuang World.

At this moment, the fragile outer wall of this world-bubble was covered with countless, densely packed creatures!

These things were extremely repulsive: entirely grey, covered in rough chitinous carapaces, their bodies like slugs magnified countless times, yet they possessed dense, centipede-like segmented limbs.

They had no eyes, only a giant mouth occupying most of their head, filled with spiral-shaped sharp teeth!

At this moment, these giant mouths were frantically gnawing at the world-bubble's boundary wall!

Greyish-white saliva, or rather digestive fluid, dripped onto the boundary wall, emitting hissing corrosive sounds, and the boundary wall thinned and melted at a visible speed!

Inside the world-bubble, countless desperate wails of living beings faintly echoed.

Warning! World-Devouring Insects larval colony detected!

Level: Primarily Golden Core stage, with a small number of Nascent Soul stage Insect Kings.

Threat level: Low, for the host.

Suggestion: Can be used as a practical combat training target for disciples.

“World-Devouring Insects? And they are still larvae?” Lin Xuan chuckled.

Isn't this just a sandbag delivered right to his doorstep?

Not high level, but plenty in number, perfect for his hungry disciples to get some practice!

His divine sense instantly covered the entire Star Palace.

“Qing Yao! Yue Chan! Xinghe! Linglong! Su Yuan! Come to the back mountain at once!” Lin Xuan's voice echoed directly in the five individuals' sea of consciousness, carrying a hint of excitement, as if saying, “It’s time for work.”

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Five figures instantly appeared by the spiritual spring.

Yun Qingyao was cool as moonlight, Leng Yuechan's sword qi was restrained, Chu Xinghe held a glowing array disk, Linglong's peach blossom eyes darted around, and Su Yuan wore a focused expression, as if divining heavenly secrets.

“Master!” The five saluted in unison, their eyes, however, all darting towards Kong Ming, who was covered by the silent barrier and silently performing a “solo stand-up comedy,” their mouths twitching uncontrollably.

“What are you looking at?” Lin Xuan tapped the bluestone, “There’s serious business.

I’ve found a good place for you all to level up.” He raised his hand, and a wisp of chaotic energy outlined the scene of the small world being devoured by the World-Devouring Insects.

“Hiss… so many bugs!” Linglong rubbed her arms in disgust, “They’re so ugly! Just looking at them makes me lose my appetite!”

“World-Devouring Insects larvae…” Chu Xinghe pushed up his non-existent glasses, his Array Dao Enlightenment Body naturally exuding an analytical aura, “Vast in number, but individual strength isn’t high.

Perfect for practicing large-scale battle formations.”

Leng Yuechan said nothing, only tightened her grip on the sword hilt at her waist, her Chaos Sword Bone at her spine humming with a thirst for battle.

Yun Qingyao and Su Yuan also nodded.

“This is it.” Lin Xuan pointed to the pitiful small world-bubble in the image, “Qing Yao will lead, Yue Chan will be the main attacker, Xinghe will set up formations and control the field, Linglong will provide illusionary support, and Su Yuan will deduce the insect swarm’s movements.

Objective: Clear out all the insects and save that world.

Bring a group of the nimble Outer Sect Disciples too; they’ll be responsible for cleaning up the battlefield, collecting insect corpses—they’re all good materials for refining artifacts and pills—and rescuing survivors.

Consider it… a sect team-building exercise.”

“Yes, Master!” The five accepted the order, battle intent burning in their eyes.

Cultivating in the sect every day had made their bones itch for action!

“Oh, right.” Lin Xuan seemed to remember something, his gaze sweeping over Little Nine and Little Black, who were frolicking in the spring, and then to Da Zhuang, the Earth-Rending Demonic Ape cub, who was diligently carrying a piece of Star Essence Gold for the Star Palace’s expansion, finally landing on the Lie Tian Divine Tiger, who was napping.

“You guys,” Lin Xuan pointed at Heaven Splitting, Little Black, Little Nine, and Da Zhuang, “don’t just idle around.

Go play in the Burial God Abyss.

Come back after you’ve trained for a month.”

The Lie Tian Divine Tiger suddenly lifted its head, its amber eyes instantly lighting up: “Roar!”

Little Black lazily poked his head out of the spring, a hint of excitement flashing in his dark blue dragon eyes.

Little Nine, on the other hand, yelped excitedly, almost dripping saliva onto Lin Xuan’s robe.

Da Zhuang scratched his head, asking innocently, “Roar? Is there a fight? Will there be food?”

“Plenty.” Lin Xuan waved his hand, “Now scram.”

A flash of crimson-gold divine flame, and Heaven Splitting wrapped up his three little brothers, tearing open space and diving into the rift leading to the Burial God Abyss.

The back mountain instantly became much quieter.

Lin Xuan looked at the suddenly empty back mountain and nodded in satisfaction.

Disciples off to clear dungeons, divine beasts off to special training, Outer Sect Disciples off to be corporate slaves… Perfect!

He, the hands-off manager, could finally do his own thing.

He brought up the system panel, his gaze fixed on a flickering coordinate—Small Immortal Realm!

Mission Objective: SSS+ grade talent, Pure Heart of Emotion!

Status: About to be abducted by a scumbag!

“Tsk, is the innocent little white flower about to be defiled by a pig?” Lin Xuan’s mouth curled into a dark, schadenfreude-filled smile, anticipating a good show, “This spectacle, this lord must go see.”

He took a step, his figure instantly vanishing from the spot.

There was no sound of space tearing; a Void Refinement stage cultivator’s control over space had reached perfection.

Where his mind willed, a thousand miles felt like a mere step… Small Immortal Realm, Eastern Region, Wangyou Immortal City.

The spiritual energy here was so dense it almost liquefied; magnificent palaces and jade towers floated above a sea of clouds, with immortal cranes and spiritual birds soaring through them.

But at this moment, outside a secluded courtyard in the west of the city, full of white pear blossoms, the atmosphere was a bit… greasy.

“Miss Xue Li,” a greasy-haired, powdered young man in a flashy bright silver immortal robe, holding a jade-boned folding fan—the Jade-Faced Gentleman, Liu Wufeng—said softly towards the courtyard gate with what he believed to be his most charming smile, “This humble one has long admired your zither music, and my presumptuous visit today is truly due to uncontrollable affection.

I heard you seek the Seven Emotions Soul Severing Grass to save your father? What a coincidence!

This humble one happens to have a treasured stalk at home! As long as you are willing to accompany this humble one back to my residence for a chat, this grass will be presented with both hands!”

Inside the courtyard, silence reigned.

Only the rustling of the wind through the pear trees could be heard.

Liu Wufeng’s smile remained unchanged, but a hint of impatience flashed in his eyes.

He had been eyeing this pure and untainted little white flower for a long time!

Possessing the rare Pure Heart of Emotion, yet her cultivation was not high, and her mind was as simple as a blank sheet of paper—she was simply an excellent cauldron!

As for that “Seven Emotions Soul Severing Grass” to save her father… hehe, he could pluck a handful from the weeds in his backyard!

He had to trick her today!

He cleared his throat, about to add more fuel to the fire.

Creak—the courtyard gate opened.

A woman in snow-white clothes walked out.

She appeared to be no more than twenty years old, with skin like snow, features like a painting, and a cool, pure demeanor like fresh snow on a mountaintop, untouched by dust.

Especially her eyes, clear to the bottom, so pure without a trace of impurity, as if they could reflect all the filth in the world.

It was Xue Li, who possessed the SSS+ grade Pure Heart of Emotion.

She looked at Liu Wufeng, her eyes calm and unmoving, her voice clear and cold like an ice spring: “Young Master Liu, is the Seven Emotions Soul Severing Grass really at your home?”

“Absolutely true!” Liu Wufeng patted his chest, guaranteeing, his eyes so sincere they could drip water, “My heart for you, young lady, is witnessed by heaven and earth!

As long as you accompany me…”

“Oh.” Xue Li nodded, seemingly believing him.

She tilted her head slightly, asking very seriously, “Then… is your home far? My father can’t wait.

Also, if I go back with you, you won’t be like that Young Master Li last time, trying to take off my clothes, will you?

Father said that men who casually take off girls’ clothes are bad people and should be beaten to death.”

Liu Wufeng: “…” His smile instantly froze, and his mouth twitched.

This… this little white flower speaks too directly, doesn’t she?

And her father… He suppressed the urge to curse and squeezed out an even gentler smile: “Miss Xue Li, you jest!

This humble one is a gentleman!

How could I be compared to such a sordid scoundrel?

My home is not far, just in the east of the city…”

“Gentleman?” A teasing, lazy voice suddenly sounded above their heads, “Why does this lord see him as a beast in human clothing, specializing in deceiving young girls?”

Liu Wufeng and Xue Li looked up simultaneously.

Above the small courtyard, a figure in black robes had appeared at some unknown time.

The person leaned casually on a lazy grey cloud, still toying with a foxtail grass in his hand, a half-smile on his face, his gaze indifferently sweeping over Liu Wufeng, as if looking at a piece of roadside trash.

It was Lin Xuan, who had torn through space and crossed realms!

“You… who are you?” Liu Wufeng was both shocked and angry.

He, a dignified early-stage Mahayana cultivator, hadn’t even noticed when this person appeared?

And the aura from the other party… unfathomable!

It instinctively made his heart palpitate!

Xue Li also looked at Lin Xuan curiously, her clear eyes showing no fear, only a pure trace of curiosity: “Who are you? Are you also here to find me and want to take off my clothes?”

Lin Xuan: “…” He almost fell off the cloud.

This girl… her words were really stifling!

He suppressed the urge to rub his forehead, trying to make his voice sound a bit more “amiable” “This lord was passing by and saw that this greasy-faced fellow didn’t look like a good person, so I’m just giving you a warning.”

“Miss Xue Li! Don’t listen to his nonsense!” Liu Wufeng grew anxious; the little white flower was almost within his grasp, and a troublemaker had appeared halfway!

He shouted sternly, “This person’s origin is unknown, he must be coveting your beauty!

Watch as this humble one captures this fiend for you!” He decided to strike first!

The pressure of an early-stage Mahayana cultivator erupted, and he fiercely waved the jade-boned folding fan in his hand!

“Myriad Flower Bewitching Charm!”

Buzz—!

Countless pink peach blossoms, emitting a sweet, strange fragrance, appeared out of thin air, forming a pink torrent, carrying a power that could bewitch the mind, sweeping towards Lin Xuan!

Wherever it passed, space subtly rippled!

This was his most adept insidious move, specifically designed to break a woman’s mental defenses, but it could also make a man’s soul disoriented!

“Master said that men who randomly release pink things are also not good things.” Xue Li looked at the pink flower petal torrent and concluded very seriously.

Facing this insidious attack, which was enough to make ordinary Mahayana cultivators flustered, Lin Xuan didn't even bother to lift an eyelid.

He didn't even stand up from the cloud.

He simply extended the finger that held the foxtail grass and casually… flicked it towards the surging pink torrent.

Pop~

A soft sound, like a soap bubble being popped.

The imposing, mind-bewitching pink torrent of flower petals, at a distance of ten zhang from Lin Xuan, instantly solidified as if it had hit an invisible wall of sighs!

Then, like ice and snow thrown into the scorching sun, it silently melted, annihilated, and turned into nothingness!

Not even a trace of fragrance remained!

Liu Wufeng’s sneer instantly froze, replaced by boundless horror!

This… how is this possible?! His secret art, unleashed with full power, just… vanished?

“Is that all?” Lin Xuan picked his ear, a look of disdain on his face, “Early Mahayana stage? You’re quite watery.

Must have gotten there by taking pills, right?”

“You… you’re courting death!” Liu Wufeng was both shocked and enraged, completely shedding his disguise!

He roared, and dazzling silver light erupted around him!

A silver immortal sword, entwined with the power of wind and lightning, appeared in his hand, its runes lighting up, carrying a terrifying power that could tear through the void, and slashed fiercely towards Lin Xuan!

This was his ultimate treasure, the Wind and Thunder Immortal Sword!

A full-power strike was enough to heavily injure a mid-stage Mahayana cultivator!

“Wind and Thunder Sky-Splitting Slash!”

The silver sword light tore through the sky, wind and thunder roared, its might shaking heaven and earth!

The entire Wangyou Immortal City was startled by this terrifying aura, and countless shocked divine senses swept over!

Xue Li subconsciously took a step back, a trace of nervousness appearing in her pure eyes for the first time.

Lin Xuan finally stood up from the cloud.

Not because he was scared, but because he felt that fighting while lying down was a bit disrespectful to his opponent, even though the opponent wasn’t worthy of it.

He looked at the magnificent silver sword light; under his Law-Breaking Sword Eyes, the mixed spiritual energy contained within the sword light, the forcibly activated wind and thunder laws, and Liu Wufeng’s unstable soul foundation… full of flaws!

It was simply unbearable to watch!

“Flashy.” Lin Xuan curled his lip, not even bothering to use a weapon.

He raised his right hand, fingers spread, and casually… slapped at the incoming silver sword light, as if swatting a fly.

There was no earth-shattering energy collision.

There was no world-destroying clash of laws.

Only… *Slap*—!

A crisp, loud slap echoed through the clouds!

Lin Xuan’s slender, pale palm, as if traversing space, arrived first despite moving later, disregarding all defenses and might of the wind and thunder sword light, and solidly, fiercely, smacked Liu Wufeng’s greasy, powdered handsome face!

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

Liu Wufeng’s shock, anger, ferocity, and his self-important dashing demeanor instantly froze!

His body was like being directly hit by a high-speed flying star!

Crack, crack, crack—!

A dense series of teeth-grinding bone-cracking sounds rang out!

Liu Wufeng, like a broken sack with its string cut, spun and screamed in an extremely distorted posture, forcibly slapped away by that single blow!

His speed was so fast that he left a long parabola in the air, mixed with teeth and blood!

Boom—!

He directly smashed through the protective array of a floating immortal mountain on the outskirts of Wangyou Immortal City and crashed heavily into the depths of the mountain’s interior!

Dust soared into the sky!

The entire immortal mountain shook violently several times!

Dead silence!

Absolute dead silence enveloped the entire Wangyou Immortal City!

All divine senses observing the area froze!

Countless cultivators gaped, their eyeballs almost popping out!

An early-stage Mahayana cultivator… was slapped… and sent flying like a fly?

And embedded into a mountain?

Xue Li was also stunned, her small mouth slightly agape, her pure eyes filled with shock.

She looked at the dust-shrouded immortal mountain, then at the black-robed young man on the cloud who was shaking his hand as if it were dirty, her little head struggling to process it all.

Lin Xuan retracted his hand, a wisp of chaotic energy swirling around his fingertips, purifying the bloodstains and greasy powder.

Only then did he turn his gaze to the little white flower below, who was staring at him in a daze.

“Xue Li?” Lin Xuan tried to make his voice sound gentler, though the effect was not ideal.

“Ah? Yes… it’s me.” Xue Li snapped back to attention, nodding subconsciously.

“Want to save your father?” Lin Xuan asked.

Xue Li nodded vigorously, her clear eyes full of urgency: “Mhm! I need the Seven Emotions Soul Severing Grass!”

“That stuff, I grow it as weeds in my medicine garden.” Lin Xuan said lightly, “Join my sect, and I’ll cure your father.

And by the way…” He pointed to the mountain where Liu Wufeng was embedded, “I’ll help you clean up the trash.”

Xue Li blinked her pure, large eyes, looking at Lin Xuan, then at the still-smoking mountain, then thinking of that deceitful Young Master Liu… With almost no hesitation, she lifted her skirt and bowed gracefully towards Lin Xuan, her voice clear and firm:

“Disciple Xue Li, greets Master!”