Mortal: Fifteenth Realm Sword Cultivator

"Fellow Daoist Han's arrival must be due to a need for formations. Feel free to take anything here that catches your eye. I can make the decision, and all spirit stones will be waived."

Xin Ruyin was worried that Yuan Yao would say something that would upset her, so she simply changed the subject.

Upon hearing this, Han Li gently shook his head and said, "Miss Xin, you're too kind. Business is business. Even with Brother Lu's connection, I can't accept benefits for nothing. Besides, I'm not here to buy ready-made array equipment. To be honest, I'm looking for books that explain the fundamentals of arrays and the basics of the Five Elements, Three Powers, and Four Directions."

Without saying a word, Xin Ruyin took out several books from her storage and handed them to Han Li.

"These are some insights into formations that I have compiled, as well as some weapon-refining techniques and methods left behind by Brother Qi."

"Fellow Daoist Han, please accept them all. As for any payment or anything like that, there's no need to mention it. I copied these in my spare time. Since you need them and are Senior Lu's junior, we don't need to discuss such formalities."

Han Li did not immediately reach out to take it, but first used his divine sense to investigate.

This scan immediately filled him with immense joy.

The book's explanation of the principles of formations is extremely profound, especially regarding the principles of the mutual restraint of the five elements, the coordination and balance of the three powers of heaven, earth, and man, the mysterious positioning of the twenty-four mountains in the eight directions, and the principles of mutual generation and restraint between formations of different attributes. All of these are explained very thoroughly.

What's even more remarkable is that the book not only details the methods of setting up formations, but also clearly explains some key experiences in breaking formations and finding the core of the formation.

As for the other weapon-refining manual, it records Qi Yunxiao's weapon-refining methods, many of which Han Li had never heard of before.

It's like searching high and low without finding it, only to have it come to you effortlessly.

Puppets, alchemy, spirit insects, formations, weapon crafting.

With these two things, I can say that I've at least made up for my last remaining weakness.

Han Li didn't stand on ceremony. He reached out and took the gift, then cupped his hands and said, "In that case, it would be impolite of me to refuse."

After saying this, he had a thought, and a jade bottle flew out of his storage bag and gently landed in front of Xin Ruyin.

Immediately, a pill floated out from the mouth of the bottle, its surface shimmering with a jade-like luster; it was the Dust-Subduing Pill.

"I observe that Miss Xin's False Core Realm has reached perfection and she can attempt a breakthrough at any time. Please accept this Dust-Clearing Pill. After taking it, it can cleanse your Qi Palace, stabilize your Dantian, and increase your chances of forming a Core by several percent."

Xin Ruyin was about to decline, especially since she already had a Dust-Reducing Pill.

However, before she could speak, Han Li's next words made her swallow back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

"No need to refuse. A few years ago, Brother Lu came to Kuixing Island to find me and said that this pill was prepared for you, Miss Xin. Unfortunately, some things happened at that time, and Brother Lu and I were forced to separate. Now that we have seen it, this pill can be considered as 'returning it to its rightful owner' in a sense."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao's eyes sparkled with admiration.

Mr. Lu is being far too gentle...

She was amazed.

He even remembered such a small thing, all so that Sister Xin could successfully form her core.

Such a powerful being, yet possesses such a delicate and considerate mind...

Yuan Yao's gaze unconsciously drifted towards Xin Ruyin.

There seemed to be a hint of...envy in his eyes?

Han Li then got up to take his leave.

Before leaving, he left one last sentence.

He is also preparing to break through to the Core Formation stage.

It's on the 39th floor of Tianxing City.

Xin Ruyin: "Please accept this Dust-Clearing Pill."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao shook her head, her cascading black hair swaying as a few strands gently brushed against her cheeks.

"How can I do that? This is a pill that Mr. Lu specially prepared for you. What would it look like if I took it? Besides, I'm still a long way from reaching the Core Formation stage."

Seeing this, Xin Ruyin smiled gently and said, "Senior Zhuang gave me a Dust-Clearing Pill before. Please accept this one and save it for when you break through to the Core Formation stage. Wouldn't it be great if we could both successfully form our Cores one after the other? Besides, I do feel that my bottleneck has loosened a bit, and I plan to go into seclusion soon to try to break through to the Core Formation stage. I'm afraid I'll have to temporarily entrust the daily management of 'Yuanyan Pavilion' to Sister Ruyan and you."

Seeing the other party's affirmative expression, Yuan Yao had no choice but to accept the Dust-Clearing Pill.

Then, she finally asked the question that had been weighing on her mind ever since Han Li left, a question she couldn't bear to leave unanswered.

"Is this young man surnamed Han really Mr. Lu's junior? Or perhaps a nephew or niece? I have met Mr. Lu before."

Her tone was clearly confused and slightly critical.

"These two people look so different!"

That's partly true, but not entirely true either.

Lu Jianghe's appearance wasn't strikingly handsome, but wherever he stood, his aura of "no one can beat him" overshadowed all his physical appearance.

Even so, in terms of facial features alone, she far surpasses Han Li's ordinary appearance.

If Han Li heard this, he would definitely be on the defensive again.

Xin Ruyin chuckled, "What are you talking about? If he were really a nephew or niece, Senior Lu would definitely have taken him under his wing and taught him."

Since Tiannan came to the Chaotic Star Sea and parted ways on Kui Xing Island, the two have not seen each other for nearly thirty years.

Yuan Yao frowned even more, her little face full of confusion: "Besides this, I really can't understand why he's closer to Senior Lu than you are, sister. Why is that?"

In her understanding, the fact that a woman of exceptional beauty like Xin Ruyin and Yan Ruyan could be kept by a Nascent Soul cultivator's side inevitably led people to think of a deeper relationship—being his concubine.

This is quite common in the world of cultivation.

Yuan Yao even felt that even other Nascent Soul cultivators might not go to such lengths for a female cultivator who hadn't even reached the Core Formation stage, like Mr. Lu.

He bestowed upon them cultivation methods, protected them on their path, and presented them with elixirs.

Concubine?

They're clearly raising Sister Xin like a daughter!

Xin Ruyin felt helpless as she listened to Yuan Yao's straightforward speculation, which also revealed a bit of girlish sentiment.

"Since it's the most likely, then it definitely isn't."

Saying it means not saying it.

In fact, Xin Ruyin couldn't understand it either.

However, when I was in Tiannan, I helped him repair that ancient teleportation array, that's all.

The other party, however, showed her great favor because of this, curing her Dragon Roar Body, bestowing upon her cultivation techniques, arranging for Nascent Soul cultivators to protect her, and so on. This favor was so generous that it was astonishing.

She couldn't understand why this was all for.

In terms of appearance, although she was pretty, she was by no means stunningly beautiful.

Yan Ruyan was radiant and beautiful, and she and Yan Ruyan were like twin flowers, equally stunning.

Senior Zhuang Huayi is a legendary beauty, whose aloof elegance makes people afraid to look directly at her.

Compared to her, Xin Ruyin considered herself to be nothing special.

Yuan Yao's cultivation level is low, but she was born with a captivating and alluring face. Given time, her beauty will surely surpass all others.

As for the younger Wang Ning from Miaoyin Sect, she was a beauty from a young age. When she grows up, how breathtaking will her appearance be?

Thinking about this...

Xin Ruyin realized that she hadn't seen the little girl for several years.

After she emerged from seclusion, she learned from Zhuang Huayi that Wang Ning had visited the cave once.

Later, after learning about the current situation of Miaoyin Sect.

She and Yan Ruyan had twice taken the initiative to visit Miaoyin Sect, wanting to meet this little girl.

However, he was unable to meet her on either of the two occasions.

The first time was unlucky; the other person happened to be out.

When I went a second time, it still wasn't inside.

After failing to meet them on both visits, the two men already knew what was going on.

This was not a coincidence, but rather the little girl deliberately avoiding him, unwilling to see him.

Since that was the case, they tacitly agreed not to bother them anymore.

After that, the three of them were separated by a great distance and never crossed paths again.

Yuan Yao's eyes were filled with sorrow, her long, clear eyes shimmering as if they could speak, silently questioning Xin Ruyin.

Why did you stop halfway through your sentence?

Xin Ruyin covered Yuan Yao's eyes, and then the two of them played and laughed.

Yuan Yao's hands roamed over the other person's sensitive areas.

Xin Ruyin begged for mercy repeatedly, her voice as delicate and melodious as a nightingale's song.

A moment later, both of them were weak and their faces were flushed. more than.

A sweet, cloying fragrance began to fill the air.

The two closed the shop and returned to the fiftieth level of the cave. There they saw Lu Jianghe and Zhuang Huayi sitting together in the pavilion, while Yan Ruyan stood by her side, looking just like a maid serving tea and water.

Yuan Yao and Xin Ruyin quickly went over to say hello.

"Senior Lu."

"I've met Mr. Lu."

Yuan Yao bowed, her waist bending down in an exaggerated way, almost forming a graceful arc.

Then, she took the initiative to bring up her encounter with Han Li to Lu Jianghe, and recounted in detail how Han Li took out the Dust-Reducing Pill and mentioned that he was going into seclusion to break through to the Core Formation stage and living on the thirty-ninth floor.

Yan Ruyan stood to one side, her eyes fixed on her nose, her nose seemingly indifferent to her thoughts.

However, when she heard that the matter Yuan Yao was referring to should have been told by Xin Ruyin, her gaze shifted slightly, and she glanced at Yuan Yao discreetly.

Hmph, vixen!

Zhuang Huayi took in all the expressions and behaviors of these people, seeing them clearly.

She was the true observer, calmly holding a cup of tea.

She couldn't ask about such things.

I don't want to ask.

Zhuang Huayi also saw Lu Jianghe, but she showed complete indifference.

It wasn't a deliberate display of indifference, nor was it a haughty disregard; rather, it was a deeper kind of "indifference," as if stripped of all superfluous "carelessness."

He didn't care about the fawning look in Yuan Yao's eyes, nor did he try to figure out what kind of turmoil was hidden in Yan Ruyan's eyes.

Lu Jianghe listened quietly, his gaze fixed on the speaker, seemingly only to receive information.

That's irrelevant.

What truly haunted Zhuang Huayi was an indescribable unease.

Perhaps "unpleasant" isn't quite the right word; it's more like a "How could you do this?"

Because she discovered a heartbreaking truth.

Whether it's Yuan Yao, Yan Ruyan, or Xin Ruyin, whom she has protected for three hundred years.

Even Zhuang Huayi herself, a dignified Nascent Soul cultivator who has lived for three hundred years and is the master of White Wall Mountain.

In most cases, the gaze Lu Jianghe casts is simply the way one looks at a "junior".

A woman who could make even the Six Paths Supreme Saints go to great lengths to obtain.

But in the eyes of the other party, this is their status.

Zhuang Huayi was both angry and amused.

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