Free Web NovelChapter 198: Chapter 191: Are You Okay?
As per protocol, Su Ling’er turned and began to give Ye Longtao a tour of the Guixi Sect.
As she gave the tour, she extended her Divine Sense to give Ye Longtao the routine "counter-briefing."
[Su Ling’er]: Mr. Ye, this place is treacherous. There are traps everywhere.
[Su Ling’er]: Disciples duel within the sect, and the loser is immediately executed. What’s more, the Artifact Refining Pavilion and the Alchemy labs use living sacrifices... Remember, be careful with everything. Observe more, speak less.
Ye Longtao nodded impassively, appearing to listen intently, but inwardly, he was sneering.
In his eyes, these so-called dangers were mere illusions that only trash from the outer sect, like Su Ling’er, would fear.
He listened to Su Ling’er’s "warnings" while watching the looping images on the sky screen above.
The thought of her cultivation level about to surpass his, combined with the image of tens of thousands of people worshiping her, finally made him unable to contain his jealousy. He began to speak sarcastically.
[Ye Longtao]: I must disagree. I, on the other hand, feel that this is a true place to seek the Dao. Look at you—aren’t you the best example?
[Ye Longtao]: With a Pseudo Spirit Root, you toiled for three years at Qingxu Temple and only reached the third level of Qi Refining. Yet here, you’ve ascended to the heavens in a single step. Faced with such an opportunity, are you telling me your heart hasn’t been swayed?
Although Ye Longtao tried his best to sound restrained, ending with what seemed like a question to probe her heart, the underlying meaning still sent a chill down Su Ling’er’s spine.
She stopped in her tracks and took a deep breath.
[Su Ling’er]: Mr. Ye, everything I do is for the sake of the righteous path. I endure this so that one day I can expose the truth of this demonic den to the world. I walk in darkness, but my heart yearns for the light. I hope you can understand the burden I carry.
[Ye Longtao]: Oh? Is that so? I certainly hope so.
After that, he said no more.
Along the way, Su Ling’er noticed something strange.
There were exceptionally few disciples in the sect today.
The usual figures who were always running wild and stirring up trouble were nowhere to be seen.
The few she did see had vacant eyes and stiff movements, showing no reaction as she and Ye Longtao passed by.
A chill slowly crept up Su Ling’er’s spine.
’Where did all the troublemakers go?’
’Did... did Eldest Senior Brother and the others organize them? Sent them out to slaughter some village or attack a small righteous sect?’
’Leaving only these brainwashed, empty-shelled puppets behind?!’
Su Ling’er led him past one sect building after another. By the time they had toured the final Sword Mausoleum, the day’s itinerary was complete.
As the sky darkened, she noticed more disciples starting to appear within the sect. ’Did they all sleep in today?’
’No way, it’s almost evening! Are you telling me they’re just waking up now?!’
It was especially strange that Eldest Senior Brother didn’t even show up to meddle when Ye Longtao headed for the Asking Dao Ladder.
Su Ling’er didn’t dwell on it, simply leading Ye Longtao down a quiet path toward the heart of the sect.
...
「Meanwhile, on the quiet path.」
Lin Qingfeng was in an excellent mood today.
He had just ordered the first-generation "Life Fire Seed" restoration potion—and at a 20% discount, no less!
It was supposed to improve one’s physical constitution, delay aging, that sort of thing.
The thought made him feel fantastic.
He even started to wonder, ’Could I practice Cyber Cultivation in the real world, too?’
Just then, he saw Dong Changsheng being hauled over by ’Ji’.
They wanted to see just how durable the [Strong Luck] tag floating over the guy’s head really was.
"Eldest Senior Brother, for what reason have you summoned this disciple?" Dong Changsheng asked with a respectful look on his face.
"Nothing much. The time has come to test your champion’s heart!"
Lin Qingfeng smiled amiably, then said to ’Ji’, who was standing nearby, "String him up."
’Ji’ understood immediately, scooping Dong Changsheng up in a net with a single motion.
He was trussed up like a "human ball."
Dong Changsheng immediately panicked. "Eldest Senior Brother! Senior Brother Ji! What is this?! What are you doing?!"
"Don’t be nervous,"
Lin Qingfeng produced a wooden stick from thin air, tested its weight, and took a practice swing at the balled-up Dong Changsheng.
"I’m giving you a chance! A chance to break through your limits, embrace a challenge, and walk the path to success!"
"Don’t you always say that the path of the strong is paved with hardship?
That every setback is a stepping stone to success?
Well now, I, your brother, will personally act as your stepping stone to help you soar to the heavens!
Don’t worry, I won’t use any Spiritual Qi. Just my physical strength."
Hearing this, Dong Changsheng struggled to turn his head and say to Lin Qingfeng:
"No! Eldest Senior Brother! This isn’t how you treat people! And it’s not that this disciple can’t withstand such a trial!"
"It’s not that I don’t want to, Eldest Senior Brother!
It’s just that I’m afraid... I’m afraid for *you*, Eldest Senior Brother!
Your status as the Eldest Senior Brother of the sect is so incredibly noble!
Every strike you deliver should be imbued with the supreme principles of the Dao, used to enlighten the lost lambs who truly need your guidance!
To use such a blessing on this disciple... it’s... it’s a waste of resources!
You should save this precious opportunity for the junior brothers and sisters who need it more!!"
Lin Qingfeng was momentarily stunned by the speech.
’Well, I’ll be. Even at a time like this, he’s still trying to lecture me?’
He smiled.
"You make a very good point."
"But I refuse!"
Lin Qingfeng’s tone shifted, his smile becoming exceedingly amiable.
"Since you feel so strongly about it, I, your brother, think it’s best to grant you this favor!"
Before the words left his mouth, he swung the wooden stick with all his might, hitting him with a "home run"!
...
「On the other end of the quiet path.」
Ye Longtao, trailing behind Su Ling’er, was now certain that she wouldn’t dare to turn on him.
And so, in front of this "outer sect trash," his words grew more and more audacious as he barraged her with questions.
[Ye Longtao]: Don’t you enjoy this power?
[Ye Longtao]: That feeling of being worshiped like a god on the sky screen... you never received that kind of treatment back at Qingxu Temple. Let’s be honest, if it weren’t for this place, you’d probably still be chopping firewood on the back mountain right now.
Su Ling’er stopped walking.
Ye Longtao’s heart skipped a beat for a moment, but he immediately puffed out his chest.
’So what if a piece of trash has taken a crooked path? What can she do?’
Su Ling’er remained stopped, her back still to him.
’He’s right,’ she thought. ’If it weren’t for this place, I’d probably still be just a piece of outer sect trash doing menial labor.’
’But can’t someone mired in darkness still yearn for the light?’
[Su Ling’er]: Mr. Ye, you don’t seem to understand. Here, words have power, and arrogance invites disaster.
[Su Ling’er]: I can perhaps tolerate your personal probing and your thinly veiled insults. But your contempt for the Holy Daughter’s status is a challenge to the rules of this place.
Her ice-cold voice made Ye Longtao’s heart clench, but his arrogance quickly morphed into a sneer.
’What rules?’
’Just a bunch of tricks to fool idiots.’
[Ye Longtao]: Is that so? Then why don’t I see for myself what happens...
[Su Ling’er]: It will make you... shut up.
Just then, a black shadow, accompanied by a terrifying sonic boom that ripped through the air, slammed into him and sent him flying!
The sneer hadn’t even faded from his face; the approaching black dot had only just registered in his pupils!
"BOOM—!!!"
A terrifying force of impact struck him squarely in the side!
[Su Ling’er]: "???"
’No way! Have I cultivated the power to make my words reality?!’
Su Ling’er felt a furious gust of wind blow past her from behind. She watched, wide-eyed, as Ye Longtao, so arrogant just a moment ago, was sent flying into the distance at a bizarre angle by the black shadow!
And that black shadow was none other than Dong Changsheng, sent flying by Lin Qingfeng’s "home run"!
Su Ling’er was stunned!
’Uh... what...?’
"Mr. Dong! Are you okay!!!"
