Lotus Mountain was not named because the mountain itself resembled a lotus flower, but because it nurtured a Stone Lotus within.
Its radiance was subtle yet profound, exuding an aura of mystery that seemed to resonate faintly with the heart.
Li Yunxian cast only a brief glance before withdrawing her gaze.
It was clearly crafted by Su Wenjing.
After carving the lotus flower, he had layered it with his own insights into the path of seeking immortality, then added a Fox Clan’s Heart Bewitchment Technique. The result looked convincingly authentic.
She held it up.
Tricking anyone below the Nascent Soul Stage was indeed no problem.
After all, a casual item from a former Tribulation Transcender still held some value for lower-level cultivators.
“Ancestor.” Li Yunxian’s figure was disheveled as she respectfully bowed toward the Golden Core True Person.
Upon hearing the soft address, the Stone Lotus, which had been in a state of perception, slowly opened its eyes, looking at Li Yunxian with an expression void of joy or sorrow.
“So, you are Ginkgo?”
“Yes.” Li Yunxian’s face was filled with grief and indignation. “Ancestor, that Lian Ping is truly unbearable…”
Li Yunxian poured out in detail how she had been plundered by Lian Ping.
The Golden Core only listened for a short while before growing impatient.
The pursuit and attack of Ginkgo by Lian Ping was common knowledge; the specifics of the chase didn’t interest him. What mattered was…
“So, you have nothing left on you?” The Golden Core said, eyes coldly examining Li Yunxian as if she were a lifeless object.
He had no shortage of subordinates who came back empty-handed.
Li Yunxian knew how to deal with these heretical cultivators. Lowering her eyes, she took out all the Storage Artifacts she had managed to keep, raising them high.
“Ginkgo only has these left. Most were seized by Lian Ping. I beg Ancestor to accept these and stand as Ginkgo’s advocate.”
With a flick of his finger, the Storage Artifacts flew from Li Yunxian’s hands to the Golden Core. Scanning their contents, his expression softened slightly.
Seeing this, Li Yunxian quickly said with some embarrassment, “Ginkgo only has these worthless items left. Lian Ping only took what was valuable and reluctantly stopped to retrieve them. Ancestor, you absolutely cannot let her go.”
Her words left no room for doubt.
She wanted the Golden Core to kill Lian Ping.
Yet many Hunters who turned from the righteous path sought exactly those decadent things of lust, greed, and wealth.
Hearing the words that revealed Lian Ping’s unique affluence, the Golden Core found it difficult not to feel tempted.
“DJ.” The Golden Core responded, but when looking at Li Yunxian, his gaze turned scrutinizing. “But just being Ginkgo isn’t enough—I don’t want subordinates who come back empty-handed.”
While he spoke, a student tightly bound was dragged out of a cage like a lamb to slaughter and thrown before Li Yunxian.
“You and your ‘no killing, no arson’ moral code…” The Golden Core’s words faltered as a flash of silver light streaked by, and the student he had tossed out choked out his last breath.
The Golden Core looked toward Li Yunxian, who returned his gaze with a questioning look, almost saying ‘Is that all?’
Her demeanor revealed the true nature of a demonic path cultivator.
The Golden Core’s lips twitched; his initial suspicion that Ginkgo might be righteous now seemed utterly ridiculous.
The claim of not killing or burning, and never harming Xuantong Academy students during the Secret Realm, were likely just tricks to deceive those students.
She was waiting for them to let down their guard so she could strike unexpectedly.
Such cunning Hunters were not few.
Unfortunately for Ginkgo, luck was not on her side. The Secret Realm was vast, yet she had bumped directly into the Academy’s top hand.
Naturally, the Golden Core classified Li Yunxian among these types, tossing her a token.
“Continue gathering treasures for me and search for Lian Ping. When found, use this token to summon me.”
“Yes.” Li Yunxian responded promptly.
After speaking, she shyly revealed the Spirit Sword in her hand to the Golden Core.
“Ancestor, my Spirit Sword was heavily damaged in battle against Lian Ping. I beg you to grant me a replacement.”
The Golden Core glanced at the sword and then fell silent for several seconds.
Aside from being of a somewhat inferior grade, there were no visible signs of damage—a detail only Li Yunxian’s earnest plea betrayed.
Still, the fact that Ginkgo managed to collect so many treasures in three days impressed the Golden Core.
He pinched his nose in resignation and retrieved a Spirit Sword from his sleeve, tossing it to Li Yunxian.
A Yellow Grade Top-quality.
“Go,” said the Golden Core.
Li Yunxian took it with joy and gratitude, then looked at the Golden Core with hopeful eyes.
“Ginkgo’s robe is in tatters. I beg Ancestor…”
“If you encounter Lian Ping again or other strong Academy cultivators, Ginkgo’s low strength truly isn’t a match…”
“If I’m caught off guard, I won’t know what to do…”
Li Yunxian’s tearful pleas ignored the increasingly darkening expression on the Golden Core’s face as she listed various equipment she needed.
“Ginkgo…” Just as Li Yunxian opened her mouth, a sudden gust of wind slammed against her, forcibly ejecting her from the Golden Core’s cave.
Bang!
The door to the Golden Core’s cave slammed shut before her.
Li Yunxian pouted.
So stingy.
She had only asked for various low-grade Yellow Grade items to be replaced, yet he acted like it was a huge favor.
In total, the entire set was still less valuable than the Xiayun Sword that Professor Chen Bujian had gifted her.
Ti…
From the way he summoned his move at the end, this Golden Core’s cultivation level matched his status: late-stage Golden Core.
And judging by the way he threw the sword, he was definitely not a Sword Cultivator, nor a Blade Cultivator.
His movements and reactions suggested a wielder of two-handed weapons.
His hands seemed to wield a heavy weapon—but not one excessively heavy…
Twin-handed maces?
Li Yunxian pondered as she descended the mountain, assessing the surrounding situation before choosing a place to set off.
***
Arriving there, she saw two groups engaged in combat and appeared with a flourish.
The moment her cultivation was noticed, the expressions of the Academy’s side changed dramatically.
Judging by Li Yunxian’s speed of arrival, she was clearly a formidable opponent.
The Hunters wore joyful expressions as they called out to Li Yunxian, “Fellow Daoist, come help us!”
Li Yunxian smiled and responded, “Alright, I’m coming.”
The next second, a tragic wail echoed from the Hunters’ side.
Their magical treasures were gone.
“You’re Ginkgo!!” This accusation was almost a trademark.
“But didn’t you wear yellow robes?!”
Now, Li Yunxian’s clothes were a pale blue.
She laughed mischievously, showing the token given by the Golden Core.
“Sorry, thanks to the Ancestor’s gift, I’m now working for him, so I’ve changed my outfit.”
“If anyone causes me trouble, I’ll summon the Ancestor.”
She wielded the aura of “borrowing tiger’s might” flawlessly.
The Hunters spat blood at her words, but unable to catch her, they could only watch helplessly as Li Yunxian disappeared from sight, just like their elders before them.
Li Yunxian gleefully collected another batch of items, and when encountering troublesome opponents, she decisively ran toward Lotus Mountain, shouting for the Ancestor’s help.
She fully demonstrated what it meant to have leveled up—and to be even more exasperating.
For a time, all Hunters within a ten-kilometer radius of Lotus Mountain took notice of the change in her aura.
After clearing out a tidy area, Li Yunxian quietly used the new resources in her hands to draw a Transmitting Talisman.
She sent the gathered information to Lian Ping.
After receiving the message, Lian Ping knew Li Yunxian was safe and immediately activated her own Transmitting Talisman to report back the situation.
She had encountered three people at the cliff she had designated.
They were Yu Juanshu and his companions.
This was awkward.
Lian Ping had simply thought the cliff she passed before was ideal terrain for her blade technique.
After all, in her eyes, she was the stronger between the two, so she chose the battlefield to best suit her own style.
Yet upon arrival, she discovered Yu Juanshu and Du Rong were training their Martial Intent of the Whip there.
The conflict between Li Yunxian and the Du Family was also widely known within the Academy.
This coincidence was quite the headache.
Unaware of when Li Yunxian would bring reinforcements, Lian Ping couldn’t change locations, so she only confided that she planned to have a death struggle with the Golden Core there.
Yu Juanshu offered his assistance. Since Li Yunxian was undercover, Lian Ping naturally could not reveal Yu Juanshu’s involvement to her.
She had no reason to refuse the three Academy students.
After all, students from the Academy always operated in teams. If the Golden Core arrived and saw only her, suspicion would surely arise.
Refusing Yu Juanshu and seeking others would seem strange.
When Li Yunxian contacted her, Lian Ping breathed a sigh of relief, briefly explaining the situation and asking if she wanted to change location.
Li Yunxian was speechless for a moment.
The Secret Realm was so vast that most people rarely met twice, yet these repeated encounters felt like a curse.
Having already taken Du Sen’s belongings, Li Yunxian considered the matter settled, meaning their grievances were resolved.
Lian Ping’s only concern was that if they killed the Golden Core with Yu Juanshu and his group’s help, they theoretically owed them a share.
She worried Li Yunxian might be displeased.
Li Yunxian replied indifferently, continuing her duties as the Golden Core’s underling.
The Golden Core had never taken Li Yunxian’s words too seriously.
The fierce loyalty of Hunters was just something to listen to.
But… Li Yunxian seemed genuinely different.
The Golden Core stared at the overflowing Storage Artifacts before him, stunned.
This Ginkgo… had taken everything without leaving anything for himself.
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