Chapter 8 My junior sister's cultivation has recovered!
[Name: Lin Fan]
[Realm: Early Stage Golden Core]
[Luck Rank: Cyan (Child of Fortune)]
[Life Script Updated: ...Due to sensing the arrival of a powerful aura from the Sect, he was forced to abandon killing Zhang Kuang. However, he has completely formed a blood feud with the Zhang family, a fight to the death! To avoid the limelight and increase his strength, he will head to the outskirts of the "Heifeng Mountains" northwest of the Sect in two days to train. He will "accidentally" discover part of the Legacy of the ghost cultivator "Yinji Ghost Way" in a deep cave (which is actually a Possession trap set by his remnant Soul). Relying on his Luck and schemes, he narrowly survives and instead devours the remnant Soul, causing his Soul power to soar. He also subdues a stunning Ghost Servant (the daughter of Yinji Ghost Way), greatly increasing his strength.]
[Recent Key Opportunity: Tomorrow, Heifeng Mountains outskirts, deep cave, Yinji Ghost Way Legacy! Location...]
“Heifeng Mountains... Yinji Ghost Way Legacy... Stunning Ghost Servant...” A glint of greed flashed in Xiao Ming's eyes. “Lin Fan, oh Lin Fan, your Luck really is so good it makes people jealous. However, you won't be able to handle this great gift; I'll take it for you instead!”
At this moment, the owner of that powerful aura had already arrived. His gaze landed on Zhang Kuang, whose Dantian had already been crippled, and he let out a roar: “Kuang'er! Who did this?!!”
Terrified by the pressure, Liu Feier collapsed to the ground, crying out as she pointed in the direction where Lin Fan had disappeared while recounting the events.
Watching Lin Fan's retreating figure, Xiao Ming stopped paying attention to the chaos here, a cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth.
His mind raced: “Lin Fan is already at the Golden Core stage. Although I don't fear him, he's still a nuisance. The Sect is full of undercurrents, and I don't know how that silly woman is doing after recovering her cultivation. Her attitude toward me... cough, it's hard to guess!”
He no longer hesitated, turning to leave quietly.
On the other side, at Heartless Peak, deep within the sleeping quarters.
Luo Li had changed into a brand-new, tightly wrapped black ice-silk dress. The high standing collar completely hid her slender neck, and the wide sleeves and floor-length hem left no gaps, as if she wanted to use this extreme closure to isolate all the unbearable memories of last night and rebuild her majestic barrier as the Peak Revered Master.
She sat cross-legged on the Black Blood Jade Throne, trying to use her newly recovered Peak Nascent Soul Stage demonic power, which surged like a river, to calm her mind. However, as that majestic power circulated through her Meridians, it uncontrollably flowed through certain secret Meridians that had been roughly loved and explored, bringing waves of strange and shameful soreness that constantly reminded her that this body was no longer pure.
She subconsciously raised her hand and, through the thick and smooth fabric, pressed hard below her collarbone—there, beneath her clothes, an ambiguous red mark remained clear. It was as if the burning sensation of being sucked and bitten, along with that suffocating masculine scent, had once again arrogantly invaded her senses through the fabric.
“Wicked Disciple! Xiao Ming! This seat will definitely extract your Soul and refine your spirit, then grind your bones to dust!”
A towering killing intent rose along with intense shame, causing her delicate body to tremble violently. Her fingers pressed against her chest tightened suddenly, nearly tearing the heavy dress.
Just as this destructive impulse reached its peak, her peripheral vision caught the unignorable dark purple ring on her right index finger—the [ring of concealment].
This was what he had forced onto her.
In her ears, his deep voice echoed inappropriately with a certain hateful concern:
“Silly woman, protect yourself.”
“Utterly shameless!”
She scolded in a low voice, but her stunning cheeks unhelpfully flushed with heat. The anger in her heart that was enough to burn everything seemed to have a ladle of warm water poured into it; although it wasn't extinguished, it suddenly became sluggish and chaotic.
An indescribable, tingling, and strange warm current rose senselessly from the depths of her heart, like clinging weeds underwater, quietly tripping up her resolute killing intent and stirring the cold ice of hatred into ripples that could no longer be restored.
Just as her thoughts were racing and her mind was in a mess, a maid's respectful voice came from outside the hall: “Peak Revered Master, the Vice Sect Master has arrived.”
Luo Li's heart suddenly tightened, as if she had been caught in bed. She quickly took a deep breath, forcing down her churning emotions. Her jade-like hand casually smoothed out non-existent wrinkles on her skirt, and her face quickly resumed its usual cold and aloof mask. Only in the depths of those peach-blossom eyes did a trace of panic and bashfulness, which she couldn't hide in time, ripple out like a stone thrown into a quiet lake.
“*Cough cough*... Senior Sister, please come in!”
The hall doors opened, and a woman dressed in a flame-red dress with a powerful aura stepped inside. She was the Vice Sect Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect and Luo Li's Senior Sister—Luo Hongyi.
She wore a flame-like Phoenix-fire colored dress with a trailing hem like flowing lava, perfectly outlining her mature, curvaceous, and breathtaking figure. Over it was a light, smoke-like Crimson Shark-Silk Gauze Robe; her skin was as white as snow, appearing even more dazzling against the red dress. Her face was exceptionally gorgeous, with eyebrows reaching her temples and eyes that held thousands of charms yet hid an unquestionable majesty. Most striking was the tiny, vermilion-like red beauty mark below the corner of her left eye; when she smiled or gazed, that beauty mark was like a red plum in the snow, adding a touch of eeriness and allure. The scorching aura unique to the Fire Phoenix Body faintly emanating from her formed a sharp contrast with the coldness of the sleeping quarters.
“Junior Sister, you...” As soon as Luo Hongyi entered, her burning gaze immediately locked onto Luo Li, and a flash of surprise instantly crossed her beautiful eyes. She didn't see the signs of cultivation recovery, but she keenly sensed that this Junior Sister, who used to be sorrowful and weak due to the loss of her cultivation, was actually... radiant! That cold face revealed an unusually healthy rosy glow, like a begonia moistened by morning dew. Those peach-blossom eyes, which had recently always carried a bit of melancholy, although still complex, lacked their usual deadness and were inexplicably... more filled with a lingering languidness and charm after being moistened by rain!
“Senior Sister, why have you come so suddenly?” Luo Li forced herself to stay calm, subconsciously pressing her legs together. Her fingers under her sleeves curled up nervously, fearing that this high-cultivation, sharp-eyed Senior Sister would see through her unbearable secret.
Luo Hongyi was overjoyed and stepped forward quickly, taking Luo Li's slightly cool hands without a word. The warmth brought by the Fire Phoenix Body pressed against Luo Li's cold skin, making her tremble slightly.
“Seeing your complexion so good, I can rest easy!” Luo Hongyi's smile was bright, and the beauty mark at the corner of her eye became lively. “Has your state of mind opened up?” She simply assumed her Junior Sister had walked out of the gloom herself.
Feeling the unreserved warmth and concern from her Senior Sister's palm, Luo Li felt a pang in her heart as warm currents and inexplicable emotions intertwined. She gripped her Senior Sister's hand back, took a deep breath, looked up into her eyes, and spoke with uncontrollable excitement:
“Senior Sister, it's not my state of mind. It's my cultivation... it has recovered!”
“What?!” Luo Hongyi's delicate body shook violently, her grip on Luo Li's hand subconsciously tightening. Her beautiful eyes widened, filled with disbelief. “The nine nether demon seed... is gone?! How is this possible?” Her powerful Divine Thought surged toward Luo Li like a tide, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea; she only felt the other's aura was restrained and harmonious, like a Mortal, making it impossible to probe her depth!
“It's absolutely true.” Luo Li nodded vigorously. With a thought, she actively released her aura. In an instant, a pure and majestic Peak Nascent Soul Stage aura, even stronger than before, erupted from within her body, filling the entire hall!
Feeling this undeniably powerful aura, Luo Hongyi was first stunned, then a look of wild joy colored her cheeks like a flame. She excitedly pulled Luo Li into a tight embrace, her voice carrying a hint of a sob: “Great! Heaven has truly blessed us! Quick, tell me, which hidden Revered Master helped you? And what kind of Heaven-Defying technique was used? This kindness is like being reborn; my Heavenly Demon Sect will surely use the power of the entire Sect to repay them generously!”
Being held tightly by her Senior Sister, the hot embrace made Luo Li feel warm, but it also caused the guilt and shame in her heart to magnify infinitely. She gently pulled away from the embrace, her gaze shifting slightly, not daring to meet the other's eyes. Her tone carried an undeniable hesitation and stiffness:
“Senior Sister, it wasn't an outsider. It was... the Disciple under my seat named Xiao Ming.”
“Xiao Ming... a Disciple?” Luo Hongyi was slightly stunned and quickly began searching her memory. It just so happened that her Junior Sister hadn't taken many Disciples, so she understood after a moment. “The one... who has a very good appearance but mediocre Aptitude?” She didn't have a deep impression of this person, only remembering that overly outstanding face.
“Yes, it's him.” Luo Li nodded, trying to keep her voice steady. “His... ancestors seem to have passed down a secret method that just happened to... um... be able to restrain the ‘nine nether demon seed’. It's just that the cost of performing it wasn't small, and the process was... quite dangerous and complicated. Fortunately, it was successful in the end,” she summarized vaguely, her cheeks uncontrollably heating up.
Luo Hongyi was a formidable figure; holding the position of Vice Sect Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect, her ability to observe words and expressions had long reached the peak. She immediately caught the evasiveness in her Junior Sister's words and that somewhat unnatural stiffness.
But she knew well that everyone has their secrets, especially involving such Heaven-Defying secret methods. As long as the result was good, she could set aside the process for now. She considerately didn't pry further, a relieved and appreciative smile blooming on her face as she reached out to affectionately pinch Luo Li's cheek:
“So that's it! I truly didn't expect that the Disciple you casually took in would be a lucky star with such miraculous skills! Such a ‘good Disciple’ who ‘respects the Revered Master and honors the way’ and is willing to take risks for his Revered Master is not common nowadays!” She smiled and patted the back of Luo Li's hand. “Li'er, you've really taken in a good Disciple! When I return, I must prepare a generous gift to reward him! Why not call him over now so I can see this young hero and thank him in person?”
“Respects the Revered Master and honors the way?”
“Good Disciple?”
“Reward him?”
Hearing this series of heartfelt praises from her Senior Sister, Luo Li's mouth twitched uncontrollably. It felt like ten thousand horses were galloping in her heart, and she almost spat out a mouthful of blood!
‘That Wicked Disciple! He respects his Revered Master so much that he... got his Revered Master into bed?’
‘Good Disciple? Would a good Disciple take advantage of someone's peril and use that... that kind of method to “detoxify”?’
‘Reward? I want to tear him into ten thousand pieces! And you want to reward him, Senior Sister? Do you know what he “rewarded” your Junior Sister with?’
An extremely absurd, aggrieved, and ashamed feeling rushed to her head, making her almost unable to maintain the stiff expression on her face. She felt like she was going crazy from this bizarre reality, and yet she couldn't reveal a single word of the truth!
She forced a smile that looked worse than crying and waved her hands repeatedly: “No, no need, Senior Sister! He... he just detoxified me and suffered a great loss of essence and Qi. I've already sent him back to rest well. As for the reward... we'll talk about it later, talk about it later!”
“In that case, let him rest well. I'll make a note of this merit for him first.” Luo Hongyi went along with it, but her interest in Xiao Ming grew even stronger. Her tone shifted, and her expression returned to the steadiness and sharpness of a Vice Sect Master. “However, Li'er, the recovery of your cultivation is top secret and shouldn't be spread for now. We can use this to deceive those in the shadows...”
Seeing that her Senior Sister was no longer insistent on seeing Xiao Ming immediately, Luo Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly composed herself and began to seriously discuss the undercurrents within the Sect and the countermeasures with her Senior Sister.
However, her Senior Sister's words “good Disciple who respects the Revered Master” and “generous reward” were like a demonic voice ringing in her ears, looping over and over and making her restless. Throughout the discussion, she was constantly distracted, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the dark purple ring on her index finger again and once more.
‘Xiao Ming... you Wicked Disciple!’ she gnashed her teeth inwardly, an indescribable irritability swirling in her lower abdomen. ‘Wait until the next time I see you, I will definitely make you... wish you were dead!’