The habits of the Snow Lotus Sect’s fairy maidens were all too familiar to Lin Wu—he had plenty of blood-bag experience.
Inside and outside the Divine Maiden Peaks, there were ten halls, each with its own responsibilities, and every month they were required to offer Scarlet Lotus Essence Blood to the Sect Master.
Most of the Chang Lao held cultivation at the Nascent Soul Realm, while Qing Han and Leng Yu, the discipline elders of the second and third halls, possessed Soul Transformation cultivation, making them the most difficult targets—best to rule them out first.
The Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter Halls mainly oversaw the cultivation of Green Lotus Dao Grounds and selection of talent; their overall strength was comparatively weaker, making them the best targets.
Winter Spirit Hall was wounded; Lin Wu had seen it with his own eyes—right now, they were at their weakest!
“You two sisters have worked hard. I heard Winter Spirit Chang Lao had a setback in cultivation. I, this junior, once received her guidance, so I’ve come to offer this Healing Secret Medicine.”
At dawn, Lin Wu arrived early at the entrance to Winter Spirit Hall, seeking an audience, clutching a Superior Spiritual Pill he’d robbed from someone.
Despite a torrent of sweet words and sugar-coated bullets, the two women only shook their heads.
“Junior Brother Lin, you are too polite. Master said she will not see anyone for the time being. Just leave your gift with me and I’ll pass on your regards.”
The White Lotus Maiden guarding the cave residence gave a shy smile—she found this new junior brother strikingly handsome, no wonder Yun Shimei was so bewitched.
The other female disciple trembled with fear, not daring even to glance at Lin Wu, and whispered something in her companion’s ear.
The girl’s expression changed, and she immediately fell silent, no longer daring to say a word to the youth.
“Sorry for disturbing you.”
Lin Wu gave a bitter smile and cupped his hands, then had no choice but to leave, shaking his head.
Winter Spirit Hall was indeed cautious—most likely had already guessed that Mu Bingxin treated him as her personal meat lingzhi, and sternly warned her disciples not to associate with him.
Even if she wasn’t injured, she probably wouldn’t dare meet with me alone—if word got out, her position would be at risk.
This was becoming harder and harder—what a rough start.
Lin Wu had to turn his attention back to Autumn Ming Hall.
There was still another Chang Lao there—someone with both the intent and the nerve for mischief.
With the Sect Master away, would you really not sneak a bite?
The Snow Lotus Sect’s cultivation methods were unique, but otherwise it operated much like any other Immortal Sect—rewards and resources were all earned through merit.
Lin Wu took a low-level trial from his own Winter Spirit Hall to collect wild ginseng, and purposely strolled over the skies of Autumn Ming Hall, stepping across jade rulers toward Thousand Mountains White Peak alone.
In the snowy woods, white mist swirled, and visibility was extremely low.
The white-robed youth whistled as he carried a shovel, choosing only the most secluded paths.
This was the perfect crime scene—cry to heaven or earth, no one would answer.
Lin Wu squatted down and sniffed the frozen soil, when suddenly he noticed the bushes ahead rustling.
“Who’s there?”
A curvaceous woman stepped out from the woods, her smile warm and gaze sparkling with charm.
“The last time we met, you were just a Qi Gathering novice, and now you’ve already established a White Lotus foundation—truly a talent.”
“Disciple Lin Wu greets Autumn Ming Chang Lao.”
Lin Wu let out a breath and saluted respectfully.
“No need for formalities. Why aren’t you here with Mengyao today?”
Autumn Ming flicked her red sleeves and squinted, testing him.
Lin Wu replied honestly, “Disciple is here to collect wild ginseng. For such a small matter, I’m more than enough. No need to trouble Senior Sister.”
Autumn Ming let out an “oh,” slowly drawing closer, and said with a laugh, “I suppose that child’s blood no longer satisfies you? From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were no ordinary fish in a pond!”
“Chang Lao overpraises me. Still, why are you here in this place?”
Lin Wu pretended ignorance, continuing to tease her.
“Obviously, I’m here to catch you. Don’t think that just because Yun Mengyao has the Sect Master behind her, I wouldn’t dare take a bite.”
Autumn Ming licked her red lips, her gaze contemptuous as she unashamedly sized up her delicious prey.
Lin Wu’s face went pale, and he nervously stepped back.
“Chang Lao, please have mercy. I’m already a disciple of Winter Spirit Hall. No one else is allowed to harvest White Lotus Essence Blood from me. If you come any closer, I’ll…”
“You’ll what? Shout for help?”
Autumn Ming gave her sleeves a light shake, spiritual energy surging—it was obvious she paid Winter Spirit Hall no mind.
“The boundless Kunlun, the desolate wilds—I’ve already set up a Sealing Formation here. Even if you shout yourself hoarse, no one will hear. But if you know what’s good for you and serve me well, not only will your foundation remain intact, I’ll even bestow you with a stroke of fortune.”
Tch, ‘shout yourself hoarse’—that matches my stereotype of fairy maidens all too well.
Clearly, this wasn’t Autumn Ming’s first time at such mischief—she’d never failed at snatching rice from another’s pot.
Lin Wu’s face flickered through several expressions, then after a moment’s hesitation, he decided to play along: “Disciple understands. I only ask Chang Lao to be gentle.”
“That’s more like it. Slow and steady wins the Dao. From now on, you’ll serve not only Winter Spirit, but me as well. And if you want, you can pick any of the White Lotus direct disciples of Autumn Ming Hall as you please. Isn’t that convenient and delightful?”
Autumn Ming’s flirtatious gaze sparkled with laughter, and in a flash she pressed herself close to the youth, embracing him intimately like lovers.
The fairy maiden threw herself into his arms, her ample, soft red lotus pressed against his chest, filling the air with a rich fragrance.
Lin Wu’s smile turned sly as he actively withdrew his protective qi, allowing the biting cold to cling to his neck.
Drink, drink as much as you want—let’s see if you can get drunk off this.
Gulp—
The instant the fresh blood entered her mouth, Autumn Ming shuddered, feeling every spiritual meridian in her body tremble—never before had she tasted such an intoxicating flavor.
No wonder—back in front of Divine Maiden Hall, she hadn’t been mistaken. This youth’s bloodline spiritual energy was several times richer than anyone else’s.
Amazed as she was, a hint of doubt arose in her heart.
“With such sweet White Lotus Bloodline, are you really… just a newly established Foundation Establishment cultivator?”
“Is Chang Lao satisfied?”
Lin Wu didn’t let go—instead, he hugged Autumn Ming even tighter, encouraging her to drink more.
“Excellent, excellent—hah! You’re truly a natural-born Lian Zong Ling Tai. No wonder they value you so highly!”
Autumn Ming drank with abandon, vaguely sensing something was amiss, but unable to resist such a delectable treat.
For a whole year, her Nascent Soul Realm cultivation had stagnated—now it felt like a bottleneck was finally loosening.
If she could drain this boy dry, perhaps Soul Transformation would be within reach?
Yet just as this wicked thought sprouted in her heart, a sharp pain intensified within.
A burning sensation spread from her mouth to her organs, instantly sweeping through her body and igniting her Dao foundation!
“Mm!?”
“Too late.”
The Blood Enchantment had already begun to take shape, steadily eroding the Nascent Soul in her Jade Palace.
Bang!
Startled, Autumn Ming let go, her icy jade fingers slashing out with a chilling palm strike—but Lin Wu remained unmoved.
“What?”
The youth who’d been soft and yielding a moment ago, was now as solid as iron and stone!
Lin Wu grunted, still feeling some of Autumn Ming Chang Lao’s power, but even greatly weakened, it only sent a shiver through him.
“What was it the fairy just said? Even if I shout myself hoarse, no one will hear, right?”
Prey and hunter had now switched places.
Within the Mist Grand Formation, the crimson light of a Jindan Cultivator’s blood soared to the sky, the furnace blazing and stoked ever higher.
Autumn Ming’s face was deathly pale—she realized too late she’d walked right into a trap.
She hadn’t even managed to use a single trick from her storage pouch—her whole body was already limp as mud.
The boiling blood coursed through her, yet even if she wanted to vomit, she couldn’t.
“A Jindan Cultivator? What are you… oh ho ho ho ho ho!”
Autumn Ming wailed in despair. Her icy skin and jade bones melted away entirely, as if plunged into hot oil, while the blood lotus Nascent Soul in her Jade Palace teetered on the verge of collapse.
The more eager she’d been before coming, the more hopeless she felt now—she hadn’t even finished her buffet before being served up herself.
“Now listen—that’s what a true fairy should sound like, with perfect enunciation.”
Lin Wu couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.
Little White Lotus still had so much to learn~