MTLNOVEL Chapter 21:
Chapter 21: Killing Intent:
By the time Bai Qiulan returned to the competition arena, the battle between Xiao Huarong and Chu Ling had already concluded.
As expected, Xiao Huarong had lost. However, the fact that she could even exchange a few moves with Chu Ling was already something to be proud of.
With this result, Chu Ling was now set to compete with Lu Ye for the championship. Chu Ling cheerfully stepped onto the stage, waiting for Lu Ye to approach.
To be honest, if it weren’t for the necessity of obtaining the treasures from the Grand Dao Vault, Lu Ye might have turned and walked away right then.
He felt a surge of murderous intent within him.
These thoughts swirled in Lu Ye’s mind as he stepped onto the stage, bringing his fingers together once again.
Murderous intent?
Chu Ling froze. The smile on her face suddenly became very forced.
‘The young master… actually harbors murderous intent toward me…’
Chu Ling’s eyes fixed on Lu Ye. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Lu Ye finally looked at her directly.
Initially, Chu Ling had planned to surrender the moment she stepped on stage. However, upon sensing Lu Ye’s killing intent, her heart was filled with intense pain.
Suddenly, she dropped to her knees on the stage and closed her eyes.
“Go ahead. Kill me!” she said softly. “I took your life once, and today, I’ll repay you with mine.”
After all, her current life was dull and devoid of meaning. She might as well die. Dying at Lu Ye’s hands would even feel like some form of destiny.
This unexpected scene baffled everyone present.
“What’s going on? What kind of debt does Chu Ling owe Lu Ye to act like this?”
“Is this woman insane?”
“My goodness, what’s the relationship between these two?”
The spectators below were abuzz with confusion. Chu Ling’s actions were beyond comprehension.
Who begs for death like this?
Lu Ye frowned at the sight and finally spoke, “There’s no bond between us anymore. I won’t kill you. Just stay far away from me, alright?”
Damn it, she can’t be killed.
If Lu Ye had struck during a fight, there was a 90% chance he could have killed Chu Ling outright. But in her current state, any move from him would undoubtedly be stopped by someone.
He couldn’t understand.
If they had already severed ties, why couldn’t they just live their own lives? Why continue this entanglement?
“No. Young master can kill me, but I absolutely won’t leave you!” Chu Ling replied firmly.
“Damn it, you lunatic!”
With a sudden wave of his hand, Chu Ling was sent flying by a blast of energy. She spat blood as she landed off the stage.
Victory.
But Lu Ye wasn’t in the best of moods.
“The winner is Lu Ye!”
The deputy sect master announced the results of the competition.
Lu Ye decided that once he obtained what he needed, he would leave the Grand Dao Sect and find another place to cultivate in peace.
‘A bunch of lunatics. If I can’t provoke them, I can at least avoid them.’
Bai Qiulan returned, accompanied by Sun Ruowei, who chattered away beside her.
“When did you become this strong? You even defeated someone at the Integration Realm!”
“I feel like you’re hiding so much from me. Are we still best friends or not?”
“Come on, spill the truth!”
“After hearing what the sect master said, I’ve noticed you’re not the same as before. Now, there’s something… um… something…” Sun Ruowei scrutinized Bai Qiulan carefully.
“Hmm… a touch of charm! Oh no, what have you been up to behind my back?” Sun Ruowei suddenly widened her eyes.
Charm!
Bai Qiulan’s features remained the same, still cold and noble, as if she were untouched by the world’s dust. Yet now, there was an inexplicable allure in her demeanor, as if she had transformed from a celestial being into a woman.
Bai Qiulan raised an eyebrow, ready to respond.
Suddenly, an icy chill swept through her entire body. Her hand clenched into a fist, and her true essence began to circulate.
Threads of frost emanated from her, and her delicate brows furrowed deeply.
Standing beside her, Sun Ruowei’s expression shifted.
“What’s wrong?”
Even from a short distance, the faint chill made Sun Ruowei, a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, feel as if she were freezing. How could such an aura appear on Bai Qiulan?
“It’s nothing.”
Bai Qiulan suppressed the cold energy, though unease lingered in her heart.
At this moment, a drop of gray-blue liquid condensed before her Nascent Soul, exuding an extreme coldness that made her tiny Nascent Soul frown uncontrollably.
“I have something to take care of. I’ll leave for now.”
Bai Qiulan dared not delay. The Chaotic Yin Poison had appeared earlier than expected. Her first encounter with it should have been at the Integration Realm.
However, it shouldn’t pose too much of an issue.
She had already found a method to deal with the poison. Once she returned and operated the Taiyin Transformation Sutra, she could dissipate it.
In a hurry, Bai Qiulan left.
“Hey, wait for me!”
…
Lu Ye collected his reward. He had accurately detected the chill emanating from Bai Qiulan earlier, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
The Chaotic Yin Poison appearing at this point was timely. Bai Qiulan, having returned from rebirth, naturally experienced rapid progress in her cultivation. Defeating someone at the Integration Realm while still at the Void Refinement Realm showed she was only a step away from reaching the Integration Realm.
‘Dear master, Chaotic Yin Poison…
I hope in this life, you can surpass your previous limits and dissolve the poison through your own power.’
Becoming the champion of the sect competition, Lu Ye was granted the title of True Disciple.
True Disciples held a higher status than Inner Disciples.
At the moment, Lu Ye was the first to achieve this rank. Even if others attained it later, they would still have to address him as Senior Brother.
But Lu Ye wasn’t concerned about such titles.
He immediately headed to the Grand Dao Treasure Pavilion, presenting his token.
“You may choose three treasures below the seventh level. To make your selection, simply press your token against the barrier,” the elder guarding the pavilion explained with a smile.
“Understood.”
Having been here before in his past life, Lu Ye was familiar with the pavilion. The Grand Dao Sect indeed housed many treasures, with nine levels in total. The higher the level, the more precious the treasures.
In his previous life, stepping into the pavilion had left him dazzled. However, this time, he moved slowly, examining everything at a leisurely pace.
Every treasure’s effects and details were clear to Lu Ye.
The first item he chose was the Wood Spirit Pearl.
The second was the key to the Burial God Ridge.
The third was a treasure furnace.
The treasure furnace would be used on the Pill Peak to exchange for a Profound Yin Soul Fruit, as it was considered a medicinal material and not stored in the pavilion.
With his three items, Lu Ye left the pavilion and headed straight for the Pill Peak.
“Attention! Nine-Dragon Furnace available for trade! Exchange it for a Profound Yin Soul Fruit! Only trading for Profound Yin Soul Fruit—don’t miss this chance, fellow disciples!”
“No need for 998 spirit stones, no need for 668! Just one Profound Yin Soul Fruit, and the Nine-Dragon Furnace is yours!”
“The Nine-Dragon Furnace—great quality, great efficiency! Nine layers of heating and extraction, ensuring perfect pills every time!”
Having not called out like this for a long time, Lu Ye felt a bit rusty, but he was satisfied.
He wasn’t the only one hawking goods here. Under the Pill Peak, dozens, even hundreds of cultivators shouted out their offers, including alchemists at the Void Refinement Realm.
Sometimes, one might even catch an Integration Realm alchemist promoting their goods…