74: Chapter 74 Being coveted by so many senior sisters, just thinking about it makes my back ache.

The woman addressed as Liu Yueer was an elite Disciple of the Hehuan Sect, renowned for her practical combat abilities and belonging to the 'Hundred Battles Hall'.

Hearing this, she wasn't annoyed. Instead, she openly admitted, 'Infatuation is a bit of a stretch, but curiosity is certainly real.'

'Junior Brother Xu managed to break through Madam Qingli's Great Fox Illusion. That kind of mental fortitude and... hmm, potential, is indeed worth paying attention to.'

'What, is only you, Su Mei, allowed to 'pay attention,' while others can't even come take a look?'

The confrontation between the two made Xu Ruyu's head ache even more.

It was only then that he realized, with horror, that in the short time it took for these few sentences to be exchanged, no fewer than a dozen female Disciples had emerged from the surrounding mist, behind the corridors, under the flowering trees...!

They wore dresses of various colors, with different appearances and temperaments—some were charming, some aloof, some lively, some dignified. Their ages seemed to range from their teens to their twenties. The only common point was that, at this moment, all their gazes were focused on Xu Ruyu!

Those gazes were filled with curiosity, inquiry, scrutiny, assessment, and undisguised... interest and a certain eagerness to try something.

Xu Ruyu felt his scalp go numb and a chill run down his spine. He felt like a little lamb suddenly thrown into a circle surrounded by wolves, with pairs of gleaming green eyes all around.

He now understood completely.

What prohibition isolating outsiders? That only forbade outsiders from actively entering the Ningyin Hall area to cause trouble for him!

But now, he was the one who had actively walked out!

The prohibition never stipulated that others couldn't 'bump into' him, 'strike up a conversation' with him, or even 'escort' him outside the hall!

These senior and Junior Sisters had clearly long been filled with interest and a desire to observe him—the one who could 'break through' the Great Fox Illusion, was exceptionally accepted as a Personal Disciple by the Sect Master, and was shrouded in layers of mystery.

Previously, they hadn't dared to act rashly due to the Sect Master's strict order.

Now that this piece of 'prime meat' had voluntarily walked out of the 'protected zone,' wouldn't they all swarm forward?

First, there was his Revered Master, Xiao Nianyin, with her direct methods and clear goals, who already kept him up at night.

Then, there was Madam Qingli, charming yet dangerous, with unfathomable intentions, living next door and watching him like a tiger eyeing its prey.

And now, over a dozen Senior Sisters who all seemed formidable in their own ways and harbored their own designs had appeared...

Xu Ruyu felt his kidneys beginning to ache faintly. Before his eyes, a tragic scene seemed to materialize: his future self being subjected to these 'female demons' taking turns to 'exchange pointers' and 'seek guidance' with him, ultimately leading to a 'broken back and demise,' reduced to a dried-up husk of a man.

'S-Senior Sisters...' Xu Ruyu swallowed with difficulty, his voice dry as he attempted to break through the encirclement. 'I... I am under Revered Master's orders to go to the Hall of Power Transmission to Cultivate. It's getting late, I... I must take my leave...'

With that, without even caring about the direction, he lowered his head and tried to slip through the gaps between the people.

'Hey~ Don't be in such a hurry to leave, Junior Brother!'

Su Mei, quick-eyed and deft-handed, stretched out her slender jade-like hand, placing a light, non-touching barrier in front of him. Though she didn't make contact, the cloyingly sweet fragrance and the sense of pressure made Xu Ruyu halt his steps.

'That's right, Senior Brother Xu,' Qingyan also spoke up timidly, yet her voice clearly reached everyone's ears. 'You... do you know the way to the Hall of Power Transmission? From the way you looked earlier, it seemed like you were searching for the path...'

Liu Yueer crossed her arms, watching Xu Ruyu's awkward state with leisurely composure, the smile at the corner of her lips deepening.

From among the other surrounding women, a few soft giggles and whispers also emerged.

Xu Ruyu's face flushed bright red. Having his embarrassment pointed out so bluntly by Qingyan made him feel even more mortified.

He truly didn't know the way!

At that moment, a cute young girl in a goose-yellow dress, who looked the youngest with a round face, bounced over cheerfully and said with a laugh, 'Senior Brother Xu, the Hall of Power Transmission is really far! It's on the 'Bowing Peak' on the eastern side of the mountain gate!

'From our Ningyin Hall here, you have to pass through the 'Hundred Flowers Valley,' the 'Listening to Waves Ravine,' and even go around the 'Alchemy Workshop'... It's easy to get lost without someone to guide you!'

'Right, right!' Another woman in a green dress chimed in, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Xu Ruyu. 'And there are quite a few Formations near the Hall of Power Transmission. If you take a wrong turn and trigger a Restriction, it would be troublesome. Since Senior Brother Xu is new here, it would be better to have someone accompany you!'

'I think Junior Brother Xu looks kind and has a connection with me. How about letting this Senior Sister take you?' Su Mei seized the opportunity to press closer again, her smile blooming like a flower. 'This Senior Sister is very familiar with the Hall of Power Transmission. On the way, I can even tell you some interesting stories about our Sect~'

'Senior Sister Su, aren't you supposed to go to the Meixiang Court today to refine 'Condensed Fragrance Dew'? You probably don't have time, right?' Liu Yueer countered nonchalantly. 'It's better for an idle person like me to accompany Junior Brother Xu. Coincidentally, I also have some questions about Cultivation I'd like to... I need your help. Junior Brother Xu.' She imbued the word ' consult' (seek guidance) with profound meaning.

'Senior Sister Liu, you jest. Your Hundred Battles Hall duties are busy. How could we trouble you with such a small matter?' Qingyan spoke in a soft, gentle voice, yet she didn't yield an inch. 'Senior Brother Xu is from our Ningyin Hall lineage. I am a Disciple of the Fifth Elder, so we're practically neighbors. It's most appropriate for me to be the guide.'

'Junior Sister Qingyan is young. I'm afraid she might not know the entire route?'

'Senior Sister Su is being overly 'enthusiastic.' Don't scare Junior Brother Xu.'

'Senior Sister Liu's Killing Intent is too strong. Not suitable, not suitable.'

'I think it should be me. I happen to need to go to the Hall of Power Transmission today to borrow a tome on Formations...'

'What a coincidence, I need to go too!'

'Let's all go together!'

For a moment, the women actually began a 'heated' debate around the question of 'who should take Xu Ruyu to the Hall of Power Transmission.' They chattered away, voices like orioles and swallows, creating quite a lively scene.

One said she wanted to give him pointers on Cultivation, another said she wanted to introduce him to the Sect; this one praised his handsome looks, that one lauded his extraordinary talent... Overt and covert flattery, probing, and vying for his attention almost drowned Xu Ruyu.

Surrounded by them, Xu Ruyu felt his ears buzzing. His nostrils were filled with a complex mix of various powder fragrances, floral scents, and personal aromas. Beautiful faces and graceful figures swayed before his eyes, yet he felt not a shred of luck, only deep helplessness and fear.

These women... they really all wanted to 'eat' him!

Not as a metaphor, but possibly in the literal sense of 'eat'!

In the end, no one knew who started it first. Perhaps feeling the argument wouldn't yield a result, or fearing that delaying too long might attract the attention of an Elder, the women reached a strange, unspoken 'consensus.'

'Alright, alright, since everyone is concerned about Junior Brother Xu, why don't we all go together!'

'Yes, it's livelier with more people, and we can look out for each other on the way!'

'Junior Brother Xu, let's go, let's go. Your Senior Sisters will accompany you to the Hall of Power Transmission!'

And so, before Xu Ruyu could even react, he was 'escorted' by this overly enthusiastic group of senior and Junior Sisters, almost half-pushed and half-carried, away from the vicinity of Ningyin Hall and onto an unknown mountain path leading to the Hall of Power Transmission.

On his left was Su Mei, smiling charmingly, occasionally 'accidentally' brushing his arm with hers. On his right was Qingyan, pretending to be well-behaved, quietly pointing out the way but always 'unintentionally' tugging his sleeve at corners. Ahead was Liu Yueer, heroic and spirited yet with a playful glint in her eyes, glancing back at him from time to time as if appraising an interesting prey. Behind and around him were the other dozen or so women of varying appearances, chattering and laughing incessantly, their gazes always intentionally or unintentionally falling upon him.

Xu Ruyu walked in the center, like the moon surrounded by stars, yet also like a prisoner under escort.

He maintained a stiff smile on his face, but inside, he was wailing frantically:

'Revered Master... this token you gave... is it an opportunity, or a new pit?!'

'This Hall of Power Transmission... will I even make it there? Or will I be 'divided up' by these sisters halfway?!'

'My back... you have to hold on! The days to come are probably going to be even harder...'

The morning light gradually brightened. On the mountain path, a group of gorgeously dressed female Disciples clustered around a handsome young man with a look of utter despair, forming a peculiar sight as they wound their way towards Bowing Peak.

And the news about 'the Sect Master's Personal Disciple Xu Ruyu being 'escorted' to the Hall of Power Transmission by numerous Senior Sisters' would likely, before long, spread throughout the Hehuan Sect in various exaggerated versions.

The name Xu Ruyu, along with the mysterious aura and 'attraction' surrounding him, was destined to stir up even more waves within the Sect.