85: Chapter 85 Lin Aotian Projects to the Lower Realm

This sudden turn of events caused Nangong Xue's movements to stiffen.

The greed and desire on her face instantly receded, replaced by deep astonishment and anger.

Who is it?!

Who dares to jump out and spoil her fun just as she was about to taste something delicious!

Nangong Xue abruptly looked up, gazing out the window.

Within the golden pillar of light that pierced through heaven and earth, a blurry yet majestic figure was slowly condensing into form.

Though the figure was indistinct, the mere Aura it exuded carried a unique majesty and dominance belonging to a superior, as if this world itself could not contain its presence!

This Aura...

Nangong Xue's pupils suddenly constricted, and a name that she both hated and feared surfaced from the depths of her heart.

Lin Aotian!

Damn it! How could this bastard suddenly descend to the Lower Realm?!

"Damn it! He really knows how to pick his timing!"

Nangong Xue cursed inwardly. The duck that was almost in her mouth had flown away, making her so frustrated she wanted to kill someone.

But she also knew that now was not the time to lose her temper.

She quickly reined in all her seductive charm and Aura, and tidied her slightly disheveled gauze dress.

Her face once again adopted a respectful yet somewhat fragile expression, and she swiftly walked out of the room.

Su Yun remained seated cross-legged on the bed, a playful glint in his eyes as he watched Nangong Xue's masterful display of changing expressions.

Instead of going out, he leisurely poured himself a cup of tea, preparing to be a quiet spectator.

"Lin Aotian? Now, this will be interesting."

At this moment, outside the Purple Bamboo Courtyard.

All the Elders and Disciples of the Heavenly Sovereign Alliance had been alarmed by this terrifying pressure, rushing out one after another, staring in horror at the majestic figure in mid-air.

"This... who is this person? What a terrifying Aura!"

"Could it be a mighty expert from the Upper Realm descending?"

Within the golden light, Lin Aotian's Divine Thought projection finally solidified completely.

He wore a white robe, was handsome and elegant, with a face as if sculpted by a knife and chisel. His eyes were as deep as the starry sky, and as they opened and closed, it seemed as if the sun and moon revolved within them.

He merely floated quietly in mid-air, yet he exuded an unparalleled Aura of ruling the world and looking down on all beings.

"Nangong Xue pays respects to Senior!"

Nangong Xue was the first to fly forward, respectfully bowing to Lin Aotian's projection.

Lin Aotian's gaze, like two sharp swords, fell upon Nangong Xue, carrying a scrutinizing meaning.

"Nangong Xue, I ask you, where is your Revered Master, Fairy Ziyun, now?"

His voice was not loud, yet it seemed to carry the might of the Heavenly Dao, resounding deep within everyone's Soul.

Nangong Xue's heart tightened, but her face remained impassive. She put on a sorrowful expression, on the verge of tears, and said.

"Reporting to Senior Lin, Revered Master... she unfortunately suffered a Qi Deviation while attempting to break through to a new Realm. Her mind is now unclear, and she is recuperating in the Forbidden Ground."

"Qi Deviation?" Lin Aotian frowned, clearly unconvinced.

How could Zi Yun's Dao Heart be so unstable as to easily suffer a Qi Deviation?

"This matter is absolutely true; all the Elders in the Alliance can testify," Nangong Xue said with a frank expression.

Lin Aotian's gaze swept over the Elders below, who were silent out of fear, and he snorted coldly, his words full of force.

"I don't care what they say. I want to see Zi Yun with my own eyes! Have her come and speak to me personally!"

Nangong Xue cursed inwardly, but a troubled expression appeared on her face.

"Senior Lin, Revered Master's mind is currently confused, and she doesn't recognize anyone. If she were to meet Senior Lin, I'm afraid she might act disrespectfully..."

"Enough nonsense!"

Lin Aotian ignored her explanation, his voice suddenly turning cold.

"I'll say it again, have Zi Yun come out and see me! Otherwise, don't blame me for slaying you here!"

A terrifying killing intent, as if tangible, instantly enveloped the entire main Peak.

Everyone felt as if they were crushed by a great mountain, and even breathing became difficult.

Nangong Xue's face turned pale with "fear," and her body trembled slightly, seemingly intimidated by Lin Aotian's might.

"Yes... yes, Junior will go invite Revered Master now..."

She turned around, and the moment her back was to Lin Aotian, a chilling glint and venomous hatred flashed in her eyes.

Hypocrite! Only knows how to coerce women with such tactics!

Though Nangong Xue was seething with hatred, her actions were swift.

She quickly formed several extremely subtle hand seals.

A faint, almost imperceptible purplish-black Devilish Qi silently drilled into the ground, extending towards the Forbidden Ground.

This was her contingency plan left within Fairy Ziyun's Puppet body, an extremely advanced Puppet Secret Art.

A moment later.

The stone gate of the Forbidden Ground slowly opened.

A graceful and noble figure slowly walked out.

It was Fairy Ziyun.

She appeared somewhat pale, and her eyes were a bit vacant.

Her Aura had been faked by Nangong Xue using a Demon Race Secret Art to appear as the Peak of the Void Refining Realm, making her seem no different from an ordinary person.

When she saw Lin Aotian in mid-air, a ripple suddenly appeared in her originally hollow eyes, revealing a hint of surprise and longing.

"Aotian... is that you? You... you're back?"

Her voice carried a trace of weakness, a trace of bewilderment, yet was full of genuine emotion.

This scene caused all the ignorant Elders and Disciples present to feel a pang in their hearts.

Alliance Leader, she... still remembers Senior Lin Aotian.

Lin Aotian's brow finally relaxed slightly, but the doubt in his eyes had not completely disappeared.

He descended and landed in front of Fairy Ziyun, carefully examining her.

"Zi Yun, do you still remember me?"

"I... I certainly remember."

'Fairy Ziyun' showed a gentle smile on her face, her eyes filled with attachment.

"How could I forget you? It's just... my head hurts so much, so many things, I can't remember them..."

As she spoke, she revealed a pained expression.

Lin Aotian reached out, wanting to probe her Divine Soul, but 'Fairy Ziyun' instinctively dodged him.

"Don't touch me... I'm so confused..."

Seeing this, Lin Aotian's doubts dissipated a few more points.

It seems her Divine Soul was indeed damaged, leading to memory confusion.

To further confirm, he asked again.

"Do you still remember, a hundred years ago, under the Soul Severing Cliff, that Nine-Colored Immortal Lotus we discovered together?"

This question was extremely secret; besides the two of them, absolutely no third person could know.

Nangong Xue's heart instantly leaped into her throat.

This memory was one of the fragmented pieces she obtained after devouring half of Fairy Ziyun's Divine Soul, but it was incomplete!

However, just then, a clear image suddenly appeared.

It was something You Lan had inadvertently overheard when she was enduring humiliation by Lin Aotian's side back then.

Nangong Xue's heart settled, and she immediately transmitted the answer through the Puppet Secret Art.

A trace of bewilderment flashed in 'Fairy Ziyun's' eyes, then, as if making an effort to recall, she slowly said.

"I remember... of course I remember... that lotus flower... had nine petals, each a different color... you also said... you would wait for it to fully mature, pick it, and give it to me, as... as our token of love..."

By the end, a girlish shyness even appeared on her face.

At this, the last trace of doubt in Lin Aotian's heart completely vanished.

Looking at the woman before him who was "infatuated" with him, a strong sense of satisfaction and a hint of guilt surged within him.

Lin Aotian sighed, revealing a deeply affectionate look, and softly comforted her.

"Zi Yun, don't worry. I came back this time just to help you. After I deal with the Sect Grand Competition matters, I will find an ancient divine medicine for you, and you will surely recover as before."

"Really?"

A glimmer of hope lit up in 'Fairy Ziyun's' eyes.

"When have I ever lied to you?" Lin Aotian said gently.

He was completely unaware that the object of his deeply affectionate confession.

Was merely a Puppet manipulated by Fairy Ziyun's 'good Disciple'.

And all of this was clearly seen by Su Yun, who was hiding in the room drinking tea.

"Pfft—"

Su Yun almost spat out the tea in his mouth, complaining inwardly.

"Damn, this acting, it would be a waste if she didn't win an Oscar!"

At the same time, he gained a deeper understanding of Lin Aotian, whom he had never met before.

Arrogant, suspicious, yet easily swayed by emotions.

He was simply a perfect target!

Seeing Lin Aotian finish comforting "Zi Yun" and prepare to retract his Divine Thought and leave.

Su Yun felt it was time to add some fuel to the fire.

A mischievous smile played on his lips, and at some point, a crystal-clear Image Stone had appeared in his hand.

At the same time, a sound transmission was silently sent to the courtyard where the Mysterious Maiden Sect Disciples were located.

"Frost, it's your turn to go on stage. Remember, just follow our plan, the bigger the commotion, the better!"