noffsinger Chapter 191 Affection Leads to Unnecessary Trouble
Chapter 191 Affection Leads to Unnecessary Trouble
Chapter 192 Affection Leads to Unnecessary Trouble
Lu Jianghe has never liked to talk nonsense, let alone guess.
Zhuang Huayi knew that the other person was like that, so she suppressed her surging emotions, her eyes dimmed for a moment, and her tone was hesitant.
"Mr. Lu—I—"
Lu Jianghe looked at her and said calmly, "Just say it."
Zhuang Huayi said in a low voice, "It was my fault for failing to protect you. Not long after you left Tianxing City, several Core Formation cultivators attacked us near the fiftieth level of the cave. Although I killed them all in the end, Yan Ruyan was seriously injured and her natal flying sword was broken."
Yuan Yao's beautiful eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with her small hand, unable to hide her shock.
It should be understood that a cultivator's natal flying sword is connected to the cultivator's own Great Dao, and their life and body are intertwined.
Otherwise, how could it be worthy of being called "my destiny"?
Once damaged or even shattered, the consequences are extremely serious.
At best, it can shake a cultivator's mind and severely damage their vital energy; at worst, it can damage their Dao heart, shake their foundation, and cause their cultivation level to drop.
Zhuang Huayi continued, "Xin Ruyin is fine. Right now, the two of them are in the market of Tianxing City, searching for materials that can repair their natal flying sword."
After listening, Lu Jianghe remained expressionless, simply raising his hand casually with his fingers slightly spread, as if gently clenching in mid-air.
In an instant, the space within a hundred feet around the cave seemed to be stirred by an invisible hand, suddenly forming a huge, silent vortex.
The light and shadow are distorted, and the scenery is blurred, as if time has reversed.
For Yuan Yao, the scene before her eyes was only momentarily blurry, and she did not perceive any deeper changes.
But for Zhuang Huayi, a Nascent Soul cultivator, it was a completely different kind of shock.
She clearly sensed that the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a radius of a hundred feet was being forcibly sorted, distinguished, and traced back to its source by a force!
Soon, several clumps of spiritual energy remnants of different colors and auras condensed in Lu Jianghe's outstretched palm.
The three clusters of energy were violent and chaotic, carrying the horrific aftermath of burning cultivation techniques and depleted life force. They were clearly remnants of cultivators' self-destruction or acts of mutual destruction.
The other one was pitch black, exuding an eerie aura.
Lu Jianghe's gaze narrowed slightly; this was some kind of profound demonic art.
Lu Jianghe spoke calmly, his fingertips twirling the few remaining wisps of spiritual energy.
"Using a Core Formation cultivator as a pawn to conduct this test is far too childish."
He shook his head slightly, a hint of confusion in his voice, "Within Tianxing City, are the senses of Nascent Soul cultivators just for show? What can a Core Formation cultivator possibly detect?"
In Lu Jianghe's view, this kind of test, which sacrifices Core Formation cultivators, is costly but yields little result, and seems foolish and unnecessary.
In reality, this was a simple and brutal two-pronged strategy employed by the Reverse Star Alliance.
After discovering that Xin Ruyin and Yan Ruyan often frequented a small shop on the tenth floor of the market, they made two preparations.
First, they set up an ambush on the tenth floor; second, they laid hidden stakes near the fiftieth floor cave.
The gamble was on the absence of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and Zhuang Huayi's ability to manage both situations alone.
If they succeed in kidnapping either Xin Ruyin or Yan Ruyan, they can quickly evacuate using the convenient teleportation array within Tianxing City.
Zhuang Huayi's lips trembled as she tried to explain something, wanting to take all the blame for this oversight on herself.
However, before she could speak, Lu Jianghe smiled and said, "It's alright, I'm back."
Without questioning the details or being overly critical, just a simple sentence—is this the comforting peace of mind that a true great cultivator brings?
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Huayi's tense nerves finally relaxed.
It wasn't that she was afraid of punishment, but rather that she feared becoming insignificant in Mr. Lu's eyes, reduced to an unwanted and dispensable existence.
For her, that seemed to be the most unacceptable outcome.
At this moment, Yuan Yao secretly raised her eyes to look at her master, Zhuang Huayi.
The latter immediately glared at her, his tone filled with lingering fear and reproach: "You little brat, you're too bold! How many things are you hiding from me? You dared to trespass into the Void Heaven Palace alone?"
Yuan Yao knew she was in the wrong, so she lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, her voice barely audible: "Master, you don't actually have many, just this one."
"Still being stubborn!"
Zhuang Huayi was amused by her appearance. "It's a tradition of my Baibi Mountain lineage. Although you're just a nominal disciple, have I ever kept the core inheritance from you? Although you're nominal, you've already been my disciple for a long time. But you, without saying a word, went to the Void Heaven Palace. Do you know that the previous Baibi Mountain Master perished there?! Such a life-or-death matter, and you didn't even consult me, just acting on impulse?"
Startled by the stern words and the painful precedent mentioned, Yuan Yao shrank back, lowering her head even further. Seemingly a little aggrieved, she muttered softly, "Mr. Lu didn't say anything—"
Zhuang Huayi walked over and, without any hesitation, raised her hand and flicked Yuan Yao's forehead with a flick of the wrist.
"How dare you mention Mr. Lu again! This is a matter of life and death—going to the Void Heaven Palace to find the Soul-Nourishing Wood—and you didn't discuss it with Master, but instead told Mr. Lu first? You little brat!"
Yuan Yao covered her forehead where she had been hit, raised her head with a wronged expression, her little face full of "wronged".
She had kept this matter hidden deep in her heart, not even revealing a word to her closest master. How did Mr. Lu know? Could there really be such a mysterious and divine power in this world that allows one to see into people's hearts and know what is going on beforehand? She secretly raised her eyes and quickly glanced at Lu Jianghe, who was standing quietly beside her, with a heart full of doubt.
Seeing her hesitant expression, still glancing at Mr. Lu, Zhuang Huayi felt both heartache and annoyance. She shook her head helplessly, "Alright, alright. Now that Mr. Lu is here, tell me honestly what your plans are for the future. Are you really going to seek out the most yin place to perform a resurrection technique to save your senior sister?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao immediately composed herself, her expression becoming extremely serious, and nodded vigorously.
"Master, my senior sister's kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. I, Yuan Yao, can never repay such kindness and affection in this lifetime. Master, please rest assured, I have read the scriptures. Even the worst backlash from using the Resurrection Technique will not endanger my life. You can be completely at ease about that!"
Zhuang Huayi snorted irritably, "Yeah, you won't die, but what about your Core Formation stage cultivation and realm? Do you still want it? Forcibly using that kind of forbidden technique that defies fate will at least severely damage your foundation, and at worst, ruin your cultivation! At that time, your spiritual power will dissipate, your realm will collapse, and you will fall back to the Foundation Establishment stage. You can forget about ever forming a Core again in this lifetime."
Yuan Yao laughed heartily, "If it were my senior sister, even if I lost some of my cultivation, it wouldn't matter, since I would still be alive."
Zhuang Huayi looked at the almost stubborn, carefree smile on her apprentice's face, feeling both annoyed and amused.
"Would your senior sister be willing to see you ruin your future and burn through a hundred years of hard work just to save her?"
Yuan Yao's smile faded slightly, and she said in a clear voice, "Master, I understand the principles you have explained, but if I cannot repay this karmic debt with all my might, my heart will not be at peace, and my Dao heart will not be stable. Cultivating immortality is certainly something to aspire to, but if one turns a blind eye to one's closest relatives and friends for the sake of immortality, or even cowers in fear, then what is the point of cultivating immortality? What difference is there between this immortality and withered wood or stubborn stone?"
"Besides, Master, you yourself said that the worst that could happen is a drop in cultivation level, not death. As long as one is alive and one's Dao heart remains, one's cultivation level—I believe there will always be a day when one can rebuild it. But Senior Sister's soul cannot wait that long, nor can it withstand the passage of time."
As Lu Jianghe watched the master and apprentice exchange words in front of him, each sentence revolving around the same topic but always circling around it, he couldn't help but sigh softly, his tone carrying a hint of understanding and helplessness.
"Alright, that's enough. You two, master and disciple, have been circling around me like this, trying to see if I have a solution."
Yuan Yao chuckled.
Zhuang Huayi lowered her eyes slightly and did not deny it.
That was indeed her wish.
If there were a safe way to fulfill the young girl's wish, rescue Yanli, and preserve Yuanyao's Core Formation cultivation and path, that would be the best outcome.
She knew that Yuan Yao's obsession with her senior sister was almost a demon. If it could not be properly resolved, even if she forcibly stopped Yuan Yao from using the Resurrection Technique, this obstacle would become a fatal hurdle when she tried to break through to the Nascent Soul stage in the future.
Her actions were also driven by the idea that "those who are capable should do more."
Lu Jianghe shook his head and sighed, "Since ancient times, those who are sentimental have often troubled themselves. The feelings here are something that only the heartless can understand."
The two women were astonished that such a phrase could be used in such a context.
Lu Jianghe tapped his finger lightly and said calmly, "No rush, no rush, we can only take it one step at a time."
In any case, he must personally resolve each and every matter in the Chaotic Star Sea.
Once this matter is resolved, his connection with the clouds and mist of this chaotic starry sea will likely come to an end.
Some things ultimately need to be explained face-to-face.
Thinking of this, he vanished in a flash.
Tianxingcheng Market.
As always, the place was bustling with noise, and various magical artifacts of different colors darted through the sky. Trade was thriving, and the atmosphere was as noisy as the sea.
Without bothering to conceal their presence, Xin Ruyin and Yan Ruyan strolled around casually, searching for what they needed in each shop.
The two women were exceptionally beautiful and had extraordinary bearing, attracting the attention of many cultivators as they walked.
Many people couldn't help but speculate.
Whose daughter is this, or perhaps a prized disciple of some prestigious sect?
Such grace and poise made one want to stop and stare.
At this moment, several young men in brocade robes flew to the two of them from the sky.
One of them spoke with a hint of frivolity: "Ladies, we've noticed you've been browsing the shops for quite some time now. What are you looking for? Tell us, and perhaps we can lend a hand in our small way."
Yan Ruyan didn't even glance at the other person out of the corner of her eye. She was still focused on scanning the rows of shops in Tianxing City Market, silently calculating the rare materials needed to repair her natal flying sword.
As for Xin Ruyin, she completely ignored it, quickly calculating the number of spirit stones in her storage bag and the value of the array tools she had accumulated over the years, wondering if she could exchange them for one or two key materials.
Seeing that the two ignored his words as if they hadn't heard him, the man who had spoken earlier frowned and said with displeasure, "It was just a sentence, no need to pretend you didn't hear me, was there?"
Yan Ruyan then glanced at him casually, as if shooing away an annoying mosquito, and said casually, "Go play somewhere else."
The young man in brocade robes who was leading the group immediately turned grim.
His companions also looked displeased, clearly feeling greatly slighted.
"It would be best if you spoke more politely, fairy!"
Another boy couldn't help but step forward, "Do you know who you're talking to?"
Upon hearing this, Yan Ruyan seemed to find it extremely amusing, a cold, mocking smile playing on her lips: "Heh, you really don't know. Tell us, we're all ears. If you can really scare us—"
She paused deliberately, her gaze sweeping over the group with undisguised sarcasm. "Don't even talk to us nicely. We two young women might have to cling to your coattails."
I never expected to see someone like this in Tianxing City Market.
Such is human nature; whether in the secular world or the world of cultivation, this kind of behavior is always emerging.
The boy with a somewhat fierce look on his face was about to reveal the leader's illustrious family background when the young leader raised his hand to stop his friend's unbridled words.
The young man knew very well that the forces in Tianxing City were deeply entrenched and murky.
The fact that these two women could walk so calmly in broad daylight and remain so composed in the face of provocation suggests they must have something to rely on.
He was initially attracted by the two women's stunning beauty and wanted to approach them to chat and make their acquaintance.
After all, with such stunning beauty, who wouldn't want to get close to her?
His faction was the direct line of the Sixth Elder of the Star Palace. In this Heavenly Star City, there was practically no younger generation whose authority could surpass his.
However, this is not a license to act recklessly, especially before you know the other party's background.
They are ultimately different from the brainless villains in classic folk tales.
The young man was indeed attracted by the extraordinary charm of the two women in front of him.
His intention was simply to take a few more glances and then stop.
He was only provoked by a few "friends" around him who were good at reading people's expressions and flattering him. In addition, his youthful temper finally got the better of him and he couldn't suppress his restlessness, so he stepped forward and spoke up.
At this moment, faced with the other party's undisguised indifference and even sarcasm, the young man's romantic thoughts were instantly extinguished.
After a moment of hesitation, he ultimately said nothing more, suppressing a hint of displeasure and embarrassment at being humiliated, and simply raised his hand to take his leave.
Seeing that he could actually swallow his anger and was prepared to let the matter rest, Yan Ruyan was slightly surprised.
This was unlike the arrogant and domineering behavior she had imagined, which was typical of spoiled brats who relied on their family background.
Her gaze swept over his companions, whose faces were pale and whose eyes were darting around. A knowing yet slightly disdainful smile curved her lips. She pointed at them, then at the young man, her voice cold and clear.
"Stay away from them in the future. They're just bad influences, that's what they mean. Think twice."
Upon hearing this, the young man's expression changed, his heart filled with mixed feelings. He hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not refute it.
However, the "friends" around him whose thoughts had been exposed instantly turned ashen-faced, their eyes practically spitting fire.
Why have they gone to such lengths to get close to this Sixth Elder's close associates all these years, catering to his every whim, serving him faithfully, and flattering him?
Isn't it all about climbing up to this big tree, getting some resources out of his hands, and seeking some real benefits for themselves or their families?