Chapter 61: Chapter 59: Lin Sha’s Tribulation
Chen Yingzhi glanced at the greedy glint in the eyes of the few Registered Disciples and Outer Disciples. She heard their suddenly ragged breathing and knew that this Fellow Daoist Qiu was right.
These few bottles of elixirs could really incite those lowly curs to attack her.
Not that she was afraid. They were just a few Registered Disciples she could crush with a wave of her hand.
But she couldn’t afford to become a laughingstock.
"Qiu Garrison, you’re an interesting man." Chen Yingzhi’s expression shifted in an instant. She laughed delightedly, then turned to the woman standing on the Red Silk, her tone turning vicious. "You wretched servant, what are you waiting for? Do you want me to teach you a lesson personally?"
"Senior Sister, please don’t!" the woman pleaded, her face deathly pale. After a moment of hesitation, she landed a seemingly light palm strike on her own chest.
The motion was slight, but she immediately coughed up a violent spray of blood.
Du Youqian’s vision was exceptional; he could tell she hadn’t held back and was now genuinely, severely injured. Only then did he let the matter rest.
If the woman had dared to play any tricks or fake the injury, he wouldn’t have hesitated to teach her a lesson himself.
His cultivation might not have been higher than the woman’s, but did anyone think that being a True Disciple of an orthodox Profound Sect was a joke?
He was armed with a full suite of top-tier Secret Techniques, Magical Artifacts, and Talismans.
He could bury her under a mountain of Talismans.
Chen Yingzhi’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. "Fellow Daoist Qiu, I can grant you this favor and sell you their lives at a discount. But first, could we speak privately?"
Du Youqian considered it. ’She has no reason to ambush me,’ he thought. So he said graciously, "After you, Fellow Daoist."
"Please!"
The two moved to a secluded corner nearby, where Du Youqian casually set up a sound-insulating Portable Array.
"So, Fellow Daoist, what did you want to discuss in private?"
Chen Yingzhi’s gaze burned as she stared at Du Youqian. "I hear that Fellow Daoist Qiu’s cherished confidante is none other than the current Senior Sister of my Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect, Senior Sister Lin?"
Du Youqian asked in surprise, "She’s the Senior Sister now?"
"In our Holy Sect, strength is what matters most," Chen Yingzhi smiled. "Senior Sister won the Sect tournament, and everyone now wholeheartedly accepts her position."
Du Youqian shook his head. "Heartily accept? I doubt it. More likely, every last one of them is plotting how to kill her and take her place. That’s the kind of environment you have in the Demon Sects. No need to put on an act for me."
Chen Yingzhi, unwilling to dwell on the topic, quickly got to the point. "Fellow Daoist Qiu, are you aware that even though our Senior Sister was granted a Foundation Establishment Pill by the Sect’s elders, and her own foundation is more than sufficient, she is destined to face a tribulation during her upcoming Foundation Establishment?"
Du Youqian’s brow furrowed.
He didn’t doubt the truth of her words, as even Lin Sha herself wasn’t optimistic about her chances of reaching Foundation Establishment.
’But why?’
Clearly, Chen Yingzhi had no intention of leaving him in suspense. She smiled and began to explain. "This is just something I’ve heard through the grapevine, so take it with a grain of salt. I’m just passing along a rumor."
Du Youqian nodded. "Please, go on. I’m all ears."
Chen Yingzhi said, "Senior Sister Lin should have no problem achieving Foundation Establishment itself. The problem will arise the very moment she succeeds."
"Senior Sister Lin’s master was once one of the Sect’s most promising talents, reaching the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage at a young age. Unfortunately, he was injured during Magical Combat. His Realm fell, his Dao Foundation was damaged, and in the twenty-odd years since, his Power hasn’t increased in the slightest."
"He saw Senior Sister Lin’s talent and paid a great price to cultivate her, all so he could wait until she reached Foundation Establishment. Then, he plans to strike, plundering her newly formed Dao Foundation and using a Secret Technique to repair his own."
"By doing this, not only would his Power be fully restored, but he might even advance further. More importantly, his severed path on the Dao could be reconnected, granting him a sliver of a chance at Core Formation."
"So, Fellow Daoist Qiu, do you think he’ll let Senior Sister Lin live?"
Du Youqian gave no outward reaction.
Across his many lives, he had long since learned to hide his emotions.
’He couldn’t be sure if this woman’s words were true.’
’And even if she was telling the truth, he had no idea what scheme she was running.’
’The last thing he wanted was to fall into the trap of a Demon Sect Demoness.’
After a moment of contemplation, he laughed. "So, why tell me all this? I’m just a lowly Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer Practitioner. You can’t possibly think I’m capable of thwarting the plans of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, can you?"
"Who knows? Perhaps Fellow Daoist will have a string of breakthroughs," Chen Yingzhi’s smile was cryptic.
Du Youqian didn’t waste his energy trying to decipher her games.
Instead, he took the offensive. With a casual smile, he said, "Since she’s a member of your Sect, it’s up to your Sect to solve her problems. If your higher-ups think she’s a worthwhile talent, they’ll kill her master and let her reach Foundation Establishment. If they don’t think she’s valuable enough, then letting her master steal her Dao Foundation to recover his own cultivation isn’t a bad outcome for you, either."
A smile bloomed on Chen Yingzhi’s face, revealing shallow dimples. She looked as sweet as the girl next door. Despite the sexy, cut-out dress she wore, she exuded no hint of vulgarity.
"Fellow Daoist Qiu, I simply don’t believe you could be so heartless."
"You don’t believe me? A man’s heart can be as hard as iron. Just you watch." Du Youqian didn’t want to waste any more breath on her, lest he be caught in her web of words.
"Fellow Daoist, I must take my leave!"
"Fellow Daoist Qiu, wait!" Chen Yingzhi grew anxious as she recalled her master’s instructions.
’Master had said: *This True Inheritor from the Zhongxuan Sect has some real substance. And that girl, Lin Sha, seems to hold him in special regard. That’s not good. We might as well destroy him while we’re at it. Tell him Lin Sha is in trouble, and that he must find a way to save her. If he actually manages to kill that Old Ghost Helan, it will save me a lot of trouble. Even better if he’s severely injured in the process, his potential exhausted and his cultivation stalled forever. If he dies, that would be perfect.*’
’*If he doesn’t go save Lin Sha... then you will kill Old Ghost Helan yourself. In any case, Lin Sha must be saved, and Old Ghost Helan must die.*’
’*The choice is yours!*’
The consequences of failing to carry out her master’s orders...
Chen Yingzhi couldn’t help but shudder.
Du Youqian stopped. "What other wisdom do you have to impart, Fellow Daoist?"
Chen Yingzhi instinctively began to use her Charm Skill. Her eyes filled with a sorrowful look as she said in a soft, sweet voice, "Fellow Daoist Qiu, I’ve always been close with Senior Sister Lin. I truly can’t bear to see her suffer such a fate. Unfortunately, my own power is limited; I’m helpless to do anything. But... if Fellow Daoist is willing to step up and play the hero saving the damsel in distress, I do have something that might be of use to you."
Du Youqian said nothing, silently watching her performance.
’To dare and display such a pathetic Charm Skill before him... she truly doesn’t know her own limits.’
Of course, Chen Yingzhi couldn’t hear Du Youqian’s internal monologue. She produced a Jade Scroll and tried to provocatively tuck it into the front of his robes.
Du Youqian, however, grabbed her by the wrist and roughly snatched the Jade Scroll from her hand.
"What is this?"
Chen Yingzhi shot him a hurt glare. Her fragrant, soft body leaned in, her breath like orchids as she spoke, "This is a Pill Formula I was fortunate enough to find while exploring an immortal’s cave. I hear that Fellow Daoist Qiu is on the verge of becoming an Alchemy Master. Surely you’re confident you can refine this elixir and protect Senior Sister Lin during her tribulation."
With a frown, Du Youqian pushed her away. "Fellow Daoist, please conduct yourself with dignity."
With a resentful expression, Chen Yingzhi began to question Lin Sha’s taste in men.
’How could she fall for such a boorish, unromantic man? Senior Sister, do you have something seriously wrong with your eyes?’
