139: Chapter 139 An SSR-level utility character, delivered right to my doorstep?

"Robbery?" Lin Wei looked as if he had heard some grand joke.

He snapped his folding fan shut, the ribs striking his palm with a crisp "snap."

"In this Yunlan Sect territory, no one dares to touch anyone from my Lin Family."

He looked Gu Yan up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment on the Guest Elder's Daoist robe, which had been washed until it turned white. The disdain in his eyes was almost overflowing: "A Guest Elder who isn't even as good as an Outer Disciple—it seems you're tired of living and want to find a good piece of land to bury yourself in?"

Gu Yan didn't speak.

He simply took a step forward.

The black rock beneath his feet shattered silently, turning into fine stone powder.

"I already gave you a chance."

The moment the voice fell, Gu Yan's figure vanished into thin air.

Lin Wei's pupils shrank, and he instinctively raised the folding fan in his hand. It was a Low Grade Spiritual Artifact. As the fan unfurled, several cyan wind blades whistled out, sealing off all space in front of him.

"Petty tricks!"

Lin Wei shouted sharply, trying to mask the inexplicable panic rising in his heart.

However, the next second, a large hand covered in calluses tore directly through the net of wind blades. Those wind blades, capable of cutting gold and jade, struck that hand, sparking only a few flashes and not even leaving a white mark.

Crack.

That hand ignored all defenses, grabbing Lin Wei by the throat and lifting him off the ground.

"Cough… uh…"

Lin Wei's feet kicked wildly in the air, his face turning a liverish color, and the folding fan in his hand fell to the ground.

"Lin Family?"

Gu Yan leaned in a little closer, his tone as flat as if he were asking what was for dinner: "Are the bones of the Lin Family members all this soft?"

The two lackeys beside him were scared silly.

They were also at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, but in the face of Gu Yan's pure Physical Body oppressive pressure, they couldn't even muster the courage to draw their swords.

"Let… let go of Young Master Lin!" one of them shouted tremblingly, his voice shaking.

"Noisy."

Gu Yan flicked his hand casually.

Lin Wei was thrown toward the two like a broken sack. The three rolled into a heap, crashing into a huge rock, emitting a dull thud and the crisp sound of breaking bones.

Gu Yan walked over unhurriedly.

He bent down, skillfully ripped the Storage Pouch from Lin Wei's waist, and confiscated the other two's Storage Pouches as well.

He forced his Divine Sense in and wiped away their marks.

Clatter.

A pile of Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, and Talismans were poured out, forming a small hill on the ground.

"Is this the foundation of a big Family Disciple?"

Gu Yan casually picked up a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, feeling the abundant Spiritual Qi inside, and his mood improved slightly: "Carrying so much money when going out, aren't you afraid of thieves? Fortunately, you met me; I'll keep it safe for you."

[Ding! Illegal income recorded. Assets out of poverty.]

[Host, that folding fan is also a Spiritual Artifact. Don't waste it. Although it's a bit broken, the System recycling bin doesn't mind.]

Gu Yan followed the advice, picked up the folding fan on the ground, and stuffed it into his bosom.

The three on the ground groaned, wanting to get up but unable to move. Gu Yan's throw just now used a clever technique, scattering the True Qi throughout their bodies; for at least three hours, they would be mere Mortals.

"Scram."

Gu Yan spat out the word without looking back.

The three were granted amnesty; disregarding the pain in their bodies and the lost wealth, they scrambled away into the distance.

After cleaning up the spoils, Gu Yan turned around and looked at the woman who had been standing on the side, still clutching that self-destructing Medicinal Pill.

Jiang Wanrou's brain was currently lagging.

She had envisioned countless endings: being humiliated, self-detonating, or fighting to the death.

She just never imagined that these three Lin Family Disciples, who ran rampant in the Sect, would be cleaned up like trash by a Guest Elder who had suddenly appeared.

And… was this benefactor's robbery technique a bit too practiced?

"That Medicinal Pill is five hundred Spirit Stones each."

Gu Yan pointed to the explosive pill in her hand: "It's a pity to crush it. It's better to keep it and sell it for money."

Jiang Wanrou was stunned and subconsciously loosened her hand.

"Many… many thanks, Senior, for saving my life." She took a deep breath, curtsied, "I am Jiang Wanrou from the Pill Pavilion. I will definitely repay this great kindness in the future."

"The future is too far; I want it now."

Gu Yan walked in front of her, his gaze falling directly on her without any avoidance.

Jiang Wanrou's body stiffened, and her heart, which had just relaxed, rose again. Could it be that she had just left the wolf's den only to enter a tiger's mouth?

"Don't misunderstand."

Gu Yan seemed to see through her thoughts. His gaze was clear, even carrying a bit of assessment as if evaluating goods: "I have no interest in forced intimacy. What I am interested in is why the Lin Family wants your flame seed?"

Mentioning this, Jiang Wanrou's face instantly dimmed.

"Lin Zixuan… he is stuck at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage Bottleneck and wants to charge towards the Golden Core." She bit her lower lip, "But the Cultivation Technique he practices is special and requires an extremely Yang and pure flame to assist in refining Medicinal Pills. And the 'Green Lotus Fire' passed down by my Jiang Family is exactly what he desperately needs."

"Just to charge towards the Golden Core?"

Gu Yan raised his eyebrows slightly.

[Beep—! System analysis intervention.]

[Combined with the previous intelligence on the 'Blood Sacrifice Grand Array,' the Lin Family is collecting large amounts of high-purity energy sources. This 'Green Lotus Fire' is not only for Alchemy but also a key catalyst for stabilizing the Blood Sacrifice array hub!]

[Conclusion: Lin Zixuan is not just doing this for himself, but for that Secret Realm!]

Gu Yan understood in his heart.

So that was it.

This flame seed was a key.

"If I'm not mistaken, Lin Zixuan won't let this go." Gu Yan looked at Jiang Wanrou, "These three today were just underlings. Next time, it might be an arrest warrant from the Law Enforcement Hall, or a more direct assassination."

Jiang Wanrou's face went pale.

She knew Gu Yan was telling the truth. In the Yunlan Sect, the Lin Family's power was too great. A Pill Pavilion Disciple without a background like her was like meat on a chopping block.

"Do you want to live?" Gu Yan asked suddenly.

"I do." Jiang Wanrou looked up, her eyes full of unwillingness, "I still have to revitalize the Jiang Family's Alchemy. I cannot die."

"Then let's make a deal."

Gu Yan stretched out a hand, palm up, and a few Spirit Stones he had just "robbed" flipped between his fingers.

"I will protect you. In this Yunlan Sect, as long as I don't nod, even the King of Hell cannot take you away."

"In exchange…"

Gu Yan took a step forward, his tall figure bringing her immense pressure, but also a sense of security:

"Your person, your fire, and every Medicinal Pill you refine will belong to me from now on."

"Including… that?" Jiang Wanrou's cheeks flushed slightly, somewhat unspeakable.

"Which one?" Gu Yan asked knowingly, then smiled, "You are a smart person. I want a top-tier Alchemist who can provide me with resources. As for the rest… we'll see how you perform."

Jiang Wanrou looked at the man in front of her.

Arrogant, greedy, domineering.

But the look in his eyes when he crushed the Lin Family Disciple as if it were nothing made her believe that he could really do it.

"Okay."

Jiang Wanrou took a deep breath, put away the explosive pill in her hand, took out a jade pendant engraved with a green lotus pattern, and placed it in Gu Yan's palm.

"Jiang Wanrou is willing to be at your service."

It felt warm to the touch.

Gu Yan gripped the jade pendant, which was also the second piece of the puzzle for his rise in the Yunlan Sect.

[Ding! SSR-rank target successfully recorded!]

[Bond established: Employment / Protection.]

[Reward obtained: 'Mysterious Yin Fire Body' Dual Cultivation bonus preview (requires favorability to meet the standard). Current function unlocked: Exclusive Alchemist.]

"Let's go."

Gu Yan turned around and walked towards the teleportation array.

"Where to?" Jiang Wanrou followed subconsciously.

"Back to Shafeng Cave." Gu Yan didn't look back, "The Lin Family will receive the news soon. Before they go crazy, we must go back and set up your Pill Furnace."

"After all, I am really short of Medicinal Pills."

In the sunset, the shadows of the two were stretched long.

Jiang Wanrou looked at the tall back in front of her, and a premonition suddenly arose in her heart:

This man might really be able to poke a hole in the sky of this Yunlan Sect.