“You said what?!”
Lin Yin’s originally cold eyes flickered with confusion upon hearing Duo’er’s shout—your matters, you ask me?
“Ahem… Your strength just now… it seems you’ve reached the Consolidation Stage, right?”
“Yay!!!”
Duo’er immediately burst into uncontrollable joy!
She knew that as a River Clam Demon with extremely low talent, no matter how devoted she was to cultivation, her progress was painfully slow.
But the Pearl inside her was different.
This Pearl could absorb the Spirit Energy of heaven and earth and perfectly transform it into water attributes.
It could attack, defend, and aid in cultivation. For some unknown reason, it provided an inexhaustible supply of Spirit Energy, though she couldn’t fully command it yet.
When she reached the mid Qi Refinement stage, she realized that having such a natural Magic Treasure meant her cultivation method shouldn’t be conventional.
So, she chose to first refine this Magic Treasure.
But even refining it was like scaling a mountain—this Pearl seemed to have multiple protective layers, and she had to peel them off slowly.
Moreover, she always felt the Pearl didn’t want to be refined by her.
Three years had passed, yet she hadn’t fully refined it.
At first, she thought she had chosen the wrong cultivation path, but unexpectedly, she was right after all—only three years and she had Consolidation Stage strength.
She couldn’t help but chuckle to herself.
Looks like she really was the one-in-a-million genius.
But just as Duo’er was reveling in the great joy of reaching Consolidation Stage, puffing out her chest and wearing a silly grin of “so this is how awesome I am,”
Lin Yin moved!
No sword light spilled, no Spirit Energy whistled through the air.
Lin Yin’s figure vanished like ink wiped away, leaving only a faint afterimage behind.
In almost an instant, she appeared behind Duo’er.
Duo’er suddenly felt a cold chill at her chest, followed by searing pain! Her smile froze completely.
Looking down, she saw a huge diagonal gash across her chest and abdomen on her thin Zao Yi, now torn and lying on the ground. A large burst of water gushed from the wound.
“It seems you possess a rare Magic Treasure, even containing Dao Yi. It easily suppresses my Sword Intent. Too bad… my cultivation level still surpasses yours.”
Duo’er felt as if the ground had been pulled from beneath her, letting out a muffled grunt.
The intense pain made it impossible to stand steadily; her body swayed.
But as she turned, the sword scar slowly began to heal.
The flat plain on her chest once covered by the Zao Yi now revealed only her dark green long hair.
She grimaced in pain, but the wound was almost fully mended.
“Immortality?”
“Hmph! Scared now? If you’re scared, just put me down and scram. My Spirit Energy is endless; you can’t kill me, and if you keep attacking, I’ll wear you out!”
Lin Yin was somewhat surprised. She’d never seen such a special case before, probably because she rarely faced demons. She felt a bit troubled.
Duo’er, on the other hand, was still very panicked.
In her heart, she kept hoping her words had scared Lin Yin off, but after waiting a long while, Lin Yin showed no sign of leaving.
Lin Yin remained calm and silently extended her Shen Shi, instantly covering the entire cave.
Cold rock, faintly glowing pearls, scattered cookware in the corners… everything was revealed in detail.
She even checked Jiang Che’s status, confirming he was merely sleeping, which slightly eased her tense nerves.
However, her Shen Shi ultimately fixed on the enormous, lustrous Large River Mussel Bed before her.
She stepped forward and approached the River Mussel Bed again.
Without hesitation, she reached out and precisely pinched the flesh cluster.
“Hmmph!”
A suppressed grunt burst out from Duo’er’s mouth!
Lin Yin turned to look, seeing Duo’er shielding her chest with her arm.
Noticing Lin Yin’s gaze, she shyly lowered her arm.
She moved her fingertips to a slightly lower spot on the flesh cluster, applying more force to pinch sharply again!
“Ugh—!”
A barely perceptible glimmer of understanding passed through Lin Yin’s icy eyes, quickly transforming into a teasing cold smile.
So that’s how it was.
Lin Yin flipped her hand, raising the Qingluan Sword overhead.
The spot she swung down upon was the exact center of that enormous River Mussel.
“I’m gonna die, gonna die, gonna die! My shell!”
Duo’er panicked at the sight, half her soul almost flying away.
She didn’t have time to think—only one thought filled her mind: survival first!
“Plop!”
She stumbled and almost fell hands and knees in front of Lin Yin, moving as fast as lightning and completely ignoring the previous tense, life-or-death standoff between them.
“Waaah—!! Xian Nv Jie Jie! Xian Zi Jie Jie! Please spare me! Spare my life! You can’t cut this! If you cut it, I’m done for! Please don’t chop my bed… no, don’t chop me!!!”
Duo’er screamed in the loudest, most pitiful cry she could muster.
Lin Yin didn’t move at all, not lowering her sword in the slightest.
“I didn’t expect you to cultivate a second body. As long as your true body lives, you’re immortal. Coupled with your strange Magic Treasure, it’s remarkable. But if you meet a high-level cultivator, hiding your River Mussel won’t help.
Still, you surprised me. Your Magic Treasure actually contains the Dao Yi of Huo Zhi Da Dao. Even though you yourself haven’t reached the Shang Shan Ruo Shui state—the realm where water is the softest yet strongest, undefeatable by any firm force— your Magic Treasure achieves that. But it’s not truly yours.
Originally, I didn’t intend to kill you, but you harmed my Disciple and must pay the price!”
Duo’er’s heart skipped a beat. But she noticed Lin Yin’s words carried a lecturing tone, and that child was her Disciple.
A new idea popped up in her mind, and she immediately clung to Lin Yin’s leg, crying out.
“Wuu wuu wuu! You’re so amazing! Please accept me as your Disciple! Master! Master, master! Please don’t kill me! I really didn’t touch her! She fainted on her own, it’s not my fault! Wuu wuu wuu!”
Lin Yin was caught off guard by this barrage.
Although she didn’t lower her sword, Duo’er clearly noticed the black aura on Lin Yin’s body had lessened somewhat, making her feel hopeful.
But at that moment, Jiang Che stirred.
Hmm!
I knew the medicine I prepared was fine, and luckily my body’s resistance is strong. I don’t know how long I slept!
Jiang Che groaned a few times. The only downside of the Meng Hun Tang he’d taken was a severe headache upon waking.
He felt dazed but sensed a warm arm helping him up. It felt very familiar—not Duo’er’s, as her hands were ice cold.
Nor was it Qiao’er-jie’s—their arms were much smaller, and not Feng Yaqin’s, whose unique fragrance always mingled with his medicine’s scent.
“Che’er… are you okay?”
That voice was gentle as water, but to Jiang Che’s ears, it pierced his heart painfully, almost instantly!
Lin Yin!
That call, etched deep in his bones, spread an icy pain and overwhelming hatred throughout his body faster than any poison!
Jiang Che quickly removed the hairpin from his head.
The sharp pinhead transformed into a cold gleam, thrusting toward the person before him.
Unfortunately, Lin Yin’s quick reflexes allowed her to clamp down on his arm with her other hand.