71: Chapter 71 Cute? That's it!

By the Twin Lakes, a gentle breeze brushed past.

Several tall Crape Myrtle Trees were in full bloom, their clusters of pale purple or pink flowers adorning the branches like brilliant rosy clouds reflected in the clear lake surface.

On a bluestone by the lakeside, Ling Hao sat cross-legged, explaining the Dao to the Sect's Disciples.

"The path of Talismans lies in channeling the power of Heaven and Earth, etching rules within a square inch; the path of Formations lies in constructing the momentum of Heaven and Earth, circulating rules within the world. The two seem distinct, but their Origin is actually the same..."

As Ling Hao explained the exquisite principles, he casually traced several basic Talisman and Formation patterns in the air.

Amidst the flickering spiritual light, he demonstrated the possibility and power of combining Talismans and Formations.

"...If one can use a Talisman as the eye of a Formation and Formation patterns as the veins, the two will complement each other. Their power is by no means a simple addition; it can turn the mundane into the miraculous!"

Beside him, Lin Xiwei, who usually habitually verified things by deducing them repeatedly in her mind, now had eyes that shone with an unprecedented light. A combination of Talismans and Formations?

This brand-new line of thinking was like a crack chiseled into her existing cognitive barriers, allowing her to see a vast world full of unknowns and possibilities.

She subconsciously began to silently deduce the feasibility of combining several basic Talismans with Spirit Gathering Formation Patterns, her heartbeat quickening slightly. This seemed... to be an extremely exquisite and infinitely potential path!

If she could Revered Master this, her ability to play it safe... and protect herself would increase by several points!

When the lecture ended, the Disciples respectfully took their leave, each carrying new insights back to contemplate.

Ling Hao returned to the top floor of Haoran Tower, but he was somewhat distracted.

He stood leaning against the window, his gaze unconsciously falling in the direction of the distant Fuqu Courtyard.

After he had made an excuse to leave the guest room that day, he had seen Xiao He and Xiao Xue enter the room.

He wondered what the two had said inside. When Xiao Xue came out, her gentle face was flushed... She couldn't have... found out something, could she?

"Revered Master."

A soft voice sounded outside the door.

Ling Hao snapped back to reality and looked toward the door, but the moment he saw the visitor, his heart was gently touched once again.

Qin Zhaoxue stood quietly outside the door, dressed in a Misty-green Soft Silk Dress. The fabric was light and the color as warm as the sky after a fresh rain.

Her satin-black hair was loosely tied in a simple hanging bun, held in place by an elegant Green Jade Lotus Seedpod Hairpin. A few supple strands of hair fell by her cheeks, looking soft and moving.

She seemed to have applied a light layer of powder today, with a faint touch of yellow on her forehead. Her already clear and peerless face appeared even more lustrous, like jade.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn waters, her nose delicate and straight, and her lips the color of cherry blossoms.

Two small, lustrous white pearl earrings adorned her earlobes, swaying gently and emitting a soft glow.

She was like a secluded orchid in an empty valley, exuding a quiet and elegant scholarly air, yet possessing the pure beauty unique to a young girl.

That careful yet subtle light makeup further enhanced her gentle and graceful temperament to the extreme.

Qin Zhaoxue lowered her head slightly, revealing a section of her beautiful, fair neck. Her voice carried a hint of nervousness and anticipation.

"Disciple... Disciple feels that my spiritual energy is full, and I am about to Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage."

"I would like to ask Revered Master... to act as my Protector."

"Alright."

Ling Hao suppressed his thoughts and nodded warmly.

"Do it right here; the Spiritual Qi is most concentrated in this place."

It seemed Xiao Xue didn't know yet?

Qin Zhaoxue was delighted. She quickly sat cross-legged on the prayer mat in the center of the tower, closed her eyes to focus, and began to circulate her Cultivation Technique.

Before long, the Spiritual Qi at the top of Haoran Tower began to fluctuate violently.

A pale gold Spiritual Qi vortex slowly formed above Qin Zhaoxue's head. At first, it was only the size of a palm, but it quickly expanded like an inverted funnel, frantically absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi from all directions!

In the center of the vortex, Qin Zhaoxue's body glowed with a jade-like light, and her aura rose steadily!

Inside Fuqu Courtyard.

Chi Wanhe was lying lazily on a rattan chair in the yard, while Lu Changning was in the small kitchen nearby researching new snacks.

Suddenly, Chi Wanhe sensed something and looked up toward Haoran Tower, seeing a pale gold Spiritual Qi vortex slowly rotating.

"It's Second Junior Sister! She's breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage!" Chi Wanhe's tone carried heartfelt joy.

Lu Changning also put down the spiritual vegetables in her hand and looked up at the spectacular Spiritual Qi vortex, her small face full of envy.

"Wow... so amazing..."

Chi Wanhe smiled at Lu Changning and encouraged her, "Work hard, little Changning! You're at the Seventh Level of Qi Refining now. When you Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage, you can also ask Revered Master to act as your Protector!"

"Is that... really possible?!"

A hint of anticipation also appeared on Lu Changning's small face.

Up in the tower, Qin Zhaoxue successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, her spiritual light now contained within.

She looked up at Ling Hao, her heart racing from the aftereffects of the Breakthrough and a certain expectation.

She stood up and approached Ling Hao, her eyes downcast.

"Revered Master, you must have read those 'leisure books' your Disciple wrote... my feelings..."

"Feelings? What feelings are you referring to, Xiao Xue?"

Ling Hao tilted his head slightly, a mischievous smile hidden in his eyes, as if he were truly puzzled.

Qin Zhaoxue's cheeks burned even more intensely.

Revered Master... he's definitely doing this on purpose! He clearly read those novels and knows that 'Ling Han' in the books is his Incarnation, and he knows those plots are all my feelings!

She was both ashamed and annoyed. Her fingers twisted the corner of her clothes tighter, and her head lowered until it was almost buried in her chest.

"My Disciple,"

Ling Hao's voice became even gentler, with a tone of patient guidance.

"Feelings are not something that should be kept hidden in the heart. I don't know mind-reading. If you don't say it, how will I know?"

Qin Zhaoxue looked up; her Revered Master's handsome face was close at hand.

"Second Junior Sister, if you like him, go for it! Senior Sister... Senior Sister... I... will fully support you!"

Chi Wanhe's encouraging words in the guest room that day still rang in her ears. However, Qin Zhaoxue found it a bit strange; why did it feel like Senior Sister was being a bit insincere when she said that?

Senior Sister is behind me; I cannot retreat!

Quickly, Qin Zhaoxue made up her mind!

She took a step forward, looked up, and bravely stared directly into Ling Hao's eyes.

"Disciple has admired Revered Master for a long time! I want to become Revered Master's Dao Companion!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a massive wave of shame instantly overwhelmed Qin Zhaoxue. She felt her cheeks were hot enough to fry an egg and wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

Ling Hao also took a step forward, leaving only one body's distance between them.

"Xiao Xue, look up and look at me."

Qin Zhaoxue's heart pounded wildly. With a hint of timidity and infinite shyness, she raised her already crimson face.

Ling Hao's fingertips gently lifted her chin, forcing her to be unable to avoid his gaze.

"I have received your feelings."

"Then Revered Master, you..."

Gazing into her shimmering eyes, the corners of Ling Hao's mouth curled up, and his voice was low.

"Me?... Naturally, I like you too."

He couldn't tell when it started. Perhaps because she was his fellow townsman? Or perhaps she was particularly beautiful today... ahem, was it his lust at work?

In any case, liking her was liking her!

As for whether to confess his status as a transmigrator, after much consideration, Ling Hao finally decided to hide it for the time being.

Firstly, they had just established their relationship, and such a huge shock would ruin the sweet atmosphere. Secondly, Ling Hao was worried she would become even more mortified because of her previous 'Social Death'.

Boom—!

This sentence instantly ignited the blood in Qin Zhaoxue's entire body.

The focus and tenderness in those deep eyes were like a vortex, swallowing her up in an instant!

"Ah! Mas... Revered Master! You... you..."

Her brain completely stalled, her cheeks as red as a cooked shrimp. The massive shame almost made her evaporate on the spot!

She wanted to close her eyes, lower her head, and run away, but under Revered Master's focused and gentle gaze, her body seemed to be frozen, leaving only helpless panic and a heartbeat that almost jumped out of her chest.

It turned out Revered Master liked her too... it wasn't just unrequited love.

Looking at her reaction, which was cute to the extreme and completely exposed to his sight, Ling Hao's heart was also filled with indescribable satisfaction and doting.

He subconsciously reached out, habitually stroking the head of this shy little rabbit to soothe her emotions. A thick smile appeared on his face.

"Alright, alright, don't be shy. Be good. With the way you look... are you trying to kill me with your 'moe'?"

!!!

The moment the word "moe" left his mouth, the smile on Ling Hao's face instantly froze!

A chill rushed from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!

Holy crap! I got carried away!

How did I say the word 'moe'?!

This is a damn different world!!! And she's standing right in front of me!!!

I'm screwed!