777: Telling a story?

"Really?! Yay!!" Qiong Shuang's face immediately lit up with joy, and she was so happy she almost jumped up!

Although she was safe being confined within the Sect, for a dragon like her who naturally loved freedom and was a total foodie, it was truly stifling!

"Big Brother is the best! I want to go to the Xuan Ye Dynasty to try their 'Ice-Fire Profound Snake Soup' and 'Thousand-Layer Crispy Jade Cake' over there! I heard they're delicious!"

Yao Delong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Alright, alright, there'll be plenty!" This girl's obsession with food and treasure was truly second to none.

After soothing Qiong Shuang, Yao Delong's figure flickered, turning into a faint streak of light as he flew toward his Junior Sister Lin Qingxue's Immortal Cave.

The atmosphere in the small courtyard of Lin Qingxue's Immortal Cave was somewhat heavy at the moment.

By the stone table, Lin Qingxue, whose temperament was as cold and elegant as a snow lotus, was holding a cup of fragrant tea, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

Several Elders in the Nascent Soul Realm stood respectfully to the side, softly reporting on the many recent mundane affairs of Luoxia Peak:

"...Reporting to True Disciple Lin, regarding the resource allocation for the new Disciples..."

"...The Restriction Formation on the southern side of the peak's herb garden has fallen into disrepair over the years and needs a new batch of Spirit Stones..."

"...The Hall of Deacons has sent another batch of dossiers that need to be signed by the Peak Revered Master or the Dao Child..."

Lin Qingxue pinched the bridge of her nose, a hint of helplessness appearing on her cold face.

There was no helping it. Her Senior Brother, Yao Delong, as the Chief Dao Child of the Yin Yang Sect, had absolutely no interest in these trivial peak matters besides Cultivating, stabilizing his Foundation, and doing big things; he simply acted as a hands-off manager.

And their Revered Master, Leng Yuekui, was even more of a Cultivation fanatic, often elusive and hard to find all year round. Unless it was a major event like the sky falling, she also couldn't be bothered to intervene in peak affairs.

Thus... Lin Qingxue, the 'Junior Sister' who had just made a Breakthrough to Soul Transformation and should have been focusing on stabilizing her Realm, was forced to take over the massive and complicated management work of Luoxia Peak!

From Disciple resource allocation to Formation maintenance, from external receptions to dossier reviews... she had practically become the 'Chief Manager' of Luoxia Peak!

Revered Master Leng Yuekui's original words were: 'Your Senior Brother doesn't care, and you've just broken through to Soul Transformation, so it's a good time to get some exercise! Clear Snow, those who are capable should do more work!' Lin Qingxue had almost rolled her eyes at the time.

Just as Lin Qingxue was getting a headache from the pile of mundane affairs, a familiar aura appeared at the courtyard gate without warning.

"Senior Brother?!" Lin Qingxue's eyes lit up, and her furrowed brows instantly smoothed out, like melting ice and snow.

The 'Chief Manager' aura that had been surrounding her also instantly dissipated, and she reverted to the young girl who would reveal her true emotions in front of her Senior Brother.

"Greetings, Dao Child!" Upon seeing Yao Delong, the several Nascent Soul Elders immediately bowed in greeting, their voices incredibly respectful.

Yao Delong nodded casually, his gaze falling on Lin Qingxue with a hint of a smile. "Mm, thank you for your hard work, Elders. I have some matters to discuss with my Junior Sister; please come back later."

The Elders didn't dare to stay any longer and hurriedly bowed to take their leave. "Yes, we shall take our leave!"

The courtyard instantly became quiet.

"Senior Brother!" Lin Qingxue put down her teacup and came forward to meet him, her tone carrying a hint of imperceptible reproach. "Where did you go for the past half month? It's like you vanished into thin air; the jade talisman for messages didn't even get a response."

Yao Delong walked to the stone table and naturally sat on the stone stool next to Lin Qingxue, smiling. "I went back to the God Burial Abyss Secret Realm to receive the subsequent Legacy from Senior Sword Heart."

Lin Qingxue understood; she knew about her Senior Brother's Opportunity in that Secret Realm and nodded. "So that's it. Senior Brother has improved again."

She could feel that the aura on her Senior Brother was deeper and more restrained, yet it also made her heart skip a beat even more.

"Junior Sister," Yao Delong retracted his smile and said seriously, "I will be setting off tomorrow for a trip to the Xuan Ye Dynasty."

"What?! The Xuan Ye Dynasty?!" Upon hearing this, Lin Qingxue's pretty face instantly changed color, and she suddenly stood up. "Senior Brother! You know full well that's the Nine Nether Sect's sphere of influence! They... to you..."

Lin Qingxue didn't finish, but the meaning was self-evident. The Nine Nether Sect's hatred for Yao Delong was already etched into their bones.

Last time, Yao Delong had killed Nine Nether Sect Disciples in the Myriad Flower Spring Outing Valley and ruined many of their plans. With such deep-seated hatred, how could the Nine Nether Sect let it go? For Yao Delong, the Xuan Ye Dynasty was no different from a dragon's pool or a tiger's den!

Yao Delong, however, was completely relaxed. He laughed and patted the back of Lin Qingxue's hand to reassure her and have her sit down. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Don't forget, I have an 'old friend' over there to meet me. More importantly..."

A glint of cunning flashed in Yao Delong's eyes as he lowered his voice. "My 'Thousand Mechanisms Formless Art' can completely change even my Origin aura. With my current cultivation level, unless an old monster in the Undergoing Tribulation Stage appears in person, even someone in the Integration Realm wouldn't be able to see through my background face-to-face!"

Hearing 'Thousand Mechanisms Formless Art,' Lin Qingxue immediately thought of her Senior Brother's miraculous transformation techniques, which could even disguise his most familiar aura seamlessly. Her heart eased slightly, but her worry still lingered.

She looked at Yao Delong, her cold eyes full of concern, and said seriously, "Senior Brother, even so, you must be careful! The waters of the Xuan Ye Dynasty are too deep, and the Nine Nether Sect has operated there for many years with deep Foundations. If there's... if there's a situation you can't handle, you must send a message immediately!"

Her tone was resolute. "All of Luoxia Peak and the entire Yin Yang Sect are your strongest backing, Senior Brother!

Even though Revered Master doesn't handle affairs, she will never sit idly by if you are in trouble!"

Feeling his Junior Sister's heartfelt concern and unreserved support, a warm current flowed through Yao Delong's heart.

He smiled and reached out, habitually stroking Lin Qingxue's smooth black hair, the action intimate and natural. "I know, my good Junior Sister."

Seeing Lin Qingxue's still slightly furrowed brows, Yao Delong suddenly laughed. "Alright, don't look so gloomy. It's been a long time since I told you a story. Senior Brother is in a good mood today; how about I tell you a new one?"

"Telling a story?" Lin Qingxue was slightly taken aback, and then a bright light of surprise flashed in her eyes!

That time... was when her Senior Brother's Cultivation talent was still 'mediocre' and she herself was still ignorant and naive.

It was under the sunset on the back mountain of Luoxia Peak, amidst the tedious Cultivation, when her Senior Brother would sit beside her and use his wild stories to paint countless wonderful worlds for her... those were the warmest and most relaxing memories belonging solely to the two of them.

"Okay!" A smile finally blossomed on Lin Qingxue's face like melting ice, like a snow lotus in full bloom, breathtakingly beautiful.

Subconsciously, just like when she was a child, she shifted her body and gently rested her head on Yao Delong's firm and broad shoulder.

Yao Delong also gave a slight smile and naturally extended his strong arm, gently wrapping it around Lin Qingxue's slender and soft waist so she could lean more comfortably.

Feeling the warmth and fragrance of the beauty in his arms and listening to her even and shallow breathing, Yao Delong's voice carried a strange magic as it slowly rang out, flowing through the quiet courtyard:

"Today, Senior Brother will tell you a story about a monkey that jumped out of a rock..."