Lin Xinyi gently lifted her fingers, admiring that exquisite face as if it were a work of art—a masterpiece that belonged solely to her.
Although Qin Huaiyin was blindfolded, she seemed to sense the malice and shrunk back slightly.
“You have reached the ninth level of cultivation and possess the strength of the Golden Core Stage. You truly are a genius with a Sacred Body—”
Qin Huaiyin was not only gifted in music but also possessed the Wanxing Body, one of the Ten Great Sacred Bodies.
Regardless of whether she was actively cultivating, as long as she absorbed spiritual energy, the effects were a hundred times greater than normal.
Lin Xinyi had discovered this constitution from the very beginning.
The cultivation level she had nurtured with spiritual medicines since Qin Huaiyin was a child resulted in spiritual power that was exceptionally pure.
Furthermore, as a cauldron for Dual Cultivation, refining that power would only require a simple conversion.
Perhaps Qin Huaiyin’s fate had been sealed from the start.
Lin Xinyi had raised her to be her exclusive, top-quality cauldron.
Not only was she beautiful, but her figure was also quite proud.
Lin Xinyi had never once treated her as a disciple.
“After all these years, is it not time for you to repay your Master?”
Lin Xinyi’s hand unconsciously wrapped around that willow-like waist, pulling the girl into her embrace.
Although Qin Huaiyin’s eyes darted around under the blindfold, she could only submit to the embrace.
She even nearly dropped the pipa in her hands because her grip had turned so unstable.
“Master’s kindness in raising me… and the opportunity you gave me… your disciple naturally understands…”
“Is that so? You truly are my good disciple. I am glad you understand—”
“As long as Master has a need, why would I have any reason to refuse…”
There was no luster in Qin Huaiyin’s eyes, but Lin Xinyi’s fingers continued to stroke that soft hair.
In her mind, she had already claimed the girl as her own property.
“Yes, you have no reason to refuse. All I need is tonight—”
Qin Huaiyin’s body trembled slightly, but she managed to calm herself.
Lin Xinyi saw everything, the playful smirk on her lips becoming even more pronounced.
How could she not savor such a wonderful beauty once she finally had her in her mouth?
Qin Huaiyin’s expression grew dim, and she even bit her pink lips until they bled without realizing it.
Watching her disciple’s terrified state, Lin Xinyi felt incredibly delighted.
This was the posture a weakling should have when facing the strong.
She was the dominant ruler; the weak were meant to be trampled underfoot.
Lin Xinyi’s expression was the picture of bliss as she reached out to gently climb toward that fragile neck.
Qin Huaiyin suddenly felt a sense of suffocation welling up in her heart.
“Ma… Master… it… it hurts…”
Qin Huaiyin’s face turned pale.
However, the strength in Lin Xinyi’s hand did not weaken in the slightest.
Feeling the pulse throb beneath her fingertips, the joy in Lin Xinyi’s eyes became even more apparent.
Even though Qin Huaiyin felt she was about to suffocate to death, she did not even attempt to resist.
It was only when her eyes began to roll back and she was truly on the verge of death that Lin Xinyi finally let go.
“Oh dear, I wasn’t paying attention. You really are getting more and more obedient—”
Lin Xinyi gently stroked Qin Huaiyin’s smooth hair, but there was no tenderness in her gaze.
Only after she slowly released her did Qin Huaiyin collapse weakly onto the ground as if a heavy burden had been lifted, gasping for fresh air.
Because of the recent suffocation, her legs lacked any strength.
Qin Huaiyin could only support herself feebly with her hands, coughing incessantly. Despite technically possessing the cultivation of the Nascent Soul Stage, she could not even guarantee her own life.
“Do not make me wait too long tonight…”
After saying this, Lin Xinyi walked toward the exit of the grotto-heaven.
Qin Huaiyin remained there alone, unable to recover for a long time.
She did not even dare to let the tears at the corners of her eyes fall.
“Your disciple… understands…”
…
As Lin Xinyi stepped out of the grotto-heaven, the surrounding scenery shifted instantly.
As far as the eye could see, hundreds of peaks rose majestically, each possessing its own unique grotto-heaven belonging to a specific lineage.
Lin Xinyi took a step and soared into the sky.
Any disciples passing by immediately bowed in greeting.
Lin Xinyi enjoyed the privileges brought by being powerful.
After all, her mind and body had never been this relaxed since she had eliminated that traitorous disciple.
“Greetings, Master…”
Lin Xinyi stepped through the air, and a floating island soon appeared.
She looked at the islands, each linked together by massive rectangular chains the size of mountain peaks.
‘I need to make more preparations to refine the 3,000 Dao Seeds. After all, once I finish the Dual Cultivation with that cauldron tonight, the True Immortal Realm will be within my grasp.’
Lin Xinyi arrived above the floating island and looked at the surrounding shops.
These were all establishments set up by the various branches within the sect for exchanging and trading resources.
At the same time, one could sell materials for sect contribution points.
‘The thought of my upcoming progress makes my mood much better.’
Lin Xinyi hummed a light tune as she turned and entered the Pill Branch’s shop.
She currently had little need for spiritual energy absorption since she had already fused with the Supreme Bone; her main concern now was preventing any accidents during the absorption of the Dao Seeds.
“Disciple greets Master Changqing!”
As soon as Lin Xinyi walked into the vicinity of the shop, the disciples guarding the sides hurried to bow.
Although the purchasing power of the average disciple was large in volume, the items an Elder bought were usually true treasures.
“I am here to purchase ten Cleansing Heart Pills and one top-grade Qi Condensing Pill…”
Lin Xinyi did not linger.
She walked straight to the counter and stated her requirements.
She did not want to waste too much time in such a place.
She only wanted to hurry back to refine and absorb those 3,000 Dao Seeds, as well as properly dote on the cauldron she had cultivated for so many years.
“The… the shop has plenty of Cleansing Heart Pills, but the other pill seems to be in short supply lately…”
The female disciple at the counter looked at Lin Xinyi, clearly nervous to the point of stuttering.
Lin Xinyi’s brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this.
She could not understand why such a common pill would be in short supply.
“However, if the Elder needs it, I can report it to the disciples of the Pill Branch…!”
“No need. It is just one pill…”
Lin Xinyi picked up the jade bottle on the table, tossed some spirit stones down, and prepared to leave.
She only wanted the pill as an extra layer of insurance.
After all, the idea of a mortal soul attempting to seize the body of a cultivator was sheer fantasy.
‘The Qi Condensing Pill was only to ensure the spiritual energy doesn’t fluctuate during refinement.’
Lin Xinyi left the shop and wandered through other stores for a while, buying a few trivial things.
She had thought that since she didn’t come here often, she might as well buy more before heading back.
However, after walking a few more paces, the Supreme Bone inside her body suddenly gave off a strange vibration.
Lin Xinyi immediately recalled the abnormal feeling she had when she touched the Dao Seed.
She hurried to check her body with her Divine Sense but found no issues at all.
Lin Xinyi could only assume she was being paranoid and that her mind was playing tricks on her.
‘Dead is dead. What am I being so suspicious for? Is it possible that even though she’s dead, I’m still afraid of her?’
Lin Xinyi no longer had the heart to continue shopping.
She walked to the edge of the floating island and looked at the mountain range below, where the terrain was obscured by distance.
Even the peaks beneath her looked small and indistinct.
Despite the view, her mind felt like a chaotic mess.
‘Her bones were ground to dust, and her soul was extinguished. Even if she truly was the Daughter of Destiny, it would be impossible for her to revive…’
Lin Xinyi took a slow step forward.
Even though she had killed the girl with her own hands, the discomfort in her heart would not vanish.
She began to wonder if she had been tortured by that girl until she developed a heart demon.
“That girl is dead! She’s dead! Stop thinking about her!”
Lin Xinyi rubbed her head irritably, but that figure refused to leave her mind.
By the time she snapped out of it, she was already back at the foot of the mountain range.
‘The Qi Condensing Pill is gone, so I’ll have to pay more attention to the flow of my breath during the refinement later…’
Lin Xinyi rubbed her head in frustration and appeared outside her grotto-heaven.
She intended to use a hand seal to open it, but just as she summoned the spiritual energy within her body and began to move it through her fingertips, she froze in place.
‘The barrier was tampered with?’
Lin Xinyi’s eyes swept quickly over the formation.
Although the patterns looked normal, she spotted the problem instantly.
The sequence of the formation was not the same as when she had left.
‘I haven’t even been gone for half an hour. Could someone have entered my residence?’
Lin Xinyi hesitated.
Once one reached this level of cultivation, caution was never in short supply.
Even within the sect, there was no shortage of intrigue and deception.
As she pondered whether to enter, a thought suddenly struck her.
There was another possibility besides an outsider entering—someone had come out from the inside.
“Qin Huaiyin!!”
Lin Xinyi’s first reaction was that her carefully nurtured cauldron had fled
She no longer cared about anything else.
As her fingertips touched the formation and spiritual energy was injected, the barrier snapped open.
Lin Xinyi transformed into a breeze and teleported directly into the residence.
‘Damn it, I gave her too much freedom after all…’
Upon entering the grotto-heaven, Lin Xinyi’s Divine Sense spread out instantly to search the entire residence.
However, as expected, there was no aura to be found.
Lin Xinyi’s heart skipped a beat.
‘Curse it! Did she really run?!’
Qin Huaiyin had a secret technique placed upon her by Lin Xinyi, so she wasn’t worried about the girl actually escaping.
Just as Lin Xinyi was about to rush out to hunt her down, she turned and noticed something slightly off.
She slowly looked back and realized the entire residence was a bit too quiet.
“What is going on? Why is it so silent?”
Lin Xinyi stood her ground, slowly becoming alert to her surroundings.
She looked specifically at the pool in the center of the grotto-heaven, which was as still as dead water.
The Black Flood Dragon she kept there wasn’t making a single movement.
That Black Flood Dragon was something she had personally captured to use as material.
Every time she returned, the creature usually made a massive fuss.
Sometimes it even required Qin Huaiyin to play her pipa to soothe it.
And yet, in the entire grotto-heaven, there were no chirping insects or singing birds.
Even the pool was deathly still.
A strong sense of incongruity flooded her entire body.
“Master?”
“Who is it?!!”
With her nerves wound tight, a familiar, soft call from behind caused Lin Xinyi to react instinctively.
Dozens of flying swords shot out of her spatial storage in an instant, all pointing at the figure behind her.
At the same time, she did not hide her Nascent Soul Stage cultivation.
Lin Xinyi turned her body rapidly and gripped the other person’s throat with both hands, pinning them hard against the gate.
“Cough… cough… Ma… Master…”
When Lin Xinyi saw the figure clearly, she hurriedly relaxed the strength in her hands.
The person who had suddenly appeared behind her was none other than her eldest disciple, Qin Huaiyin.
She had thought the girl had escaped, but she had somehow appeared right behind her.
‘When I searched just now, I clearly didn’t detect any aura. How did she appear behind me so silently?’
Lin Xinyi’s heart was a mess of emotions.
Looking at Qin Huaiyin, whose fate was held in her hands, she felt that something was wrong.
However, she was worried about accidentally hurting her resource.
Though she remained guarded, her grip eventually loosened by several degrees.
“Master, you… you’re hurting me…”