Chapter 84 - The Harem Rescue Project

Xiao Lanle arched an elegant brow and said to Lin Qianshuang with a hint of grievance, "Senior Sister, why are you reacting so dramatically? Am I really that scary?" Lin Qianshuang hurriedly waved her hand and replied awkwardly, "No, that's not what I meant." Xiao Lanle's lashes lowered slightly as she earnestly attended to the wound on Lin Qianshuang's palm, channeling her true energy for healing. Her gaze then fell on the peculiar diamond ring on Lin Qianshuang’s left ring finger. She vaguely recalled the moment when Liang Jingxuan slipped this odd band onto Senior Sister Lin's finger; her expression was strange, staring at the ring several times as if it had captivated her. "Do you like the ring that Senior Brother Liang gave you?" Following Xiao Lanle's gaze, Lin Qianshuang noticed the diamond ring from Liang Jingxuan, which she had forgotten to remove. In the real world, her salary barely supported a cat, let alone a diamond of this magnitude that was somewhat tempting. With a twinge of reluctance, she took off the ring from her index finger and carelessly tossed it into the lake. The splash echoed as the diamond worth thousands sank to the bottom, soon disappearing without a trace. Xiao Lanle looked at the expression on Lin Qianshuang’s face, as if some meat had been sliced off her, slightly startled and darkened in thought. During the competition between the Penglai Immortal Sect and the Lingxiao Sword Sect, Xiao Lanle had stolen the show, effortlessly defeating challenger after challenger from the Lingxiao Sword Sect after she knocked Liang Jingxuan into the lake. It was clear to those with discerning eyes that Xiao Lanle’s grasp of swordsmanship was extraordinary, with profound comprehension, having already reached the late stage of the Golden Core formation—a point where many cultivators halted. Following this trajectory, she would eventually break through the Golden Core, comprehend her sword path, reform her core, and finally reach the high and unparalleled Nascent Soul stage, where her appearance would remain unchanged and surpass all in cultivation prowess. In the cultivation world, forming a Golden Core to extend one's lifespan is considered extremely fortunate. Entering the Nascent Soul stage is exceedingly rare, with only a few managing this across the continent, many falling on their path. Female cultivators attaining such heights are even rarer. A sect is fortunate to have a Nascent Soul cultivator. The fact that Penglai Immortal Sect's leader, Xiao Shen, had a daughter with such immeasurable cultivation scores was a source of great pride for the sect. Chen Sanxuan, the leader of the Lingxiao Sword Sect, also held a degree of expectation and regard for Xiao Lanle, even offering pointers on her swordsmanship and gifting her a treasure capable of controlling thunder upon departure. However, the leader of the Penglai Immortal Sect, Xiao Shen, maintained a furrowed brow, his expression not one of joy but concern as he gazed at Xiao Lanle as if she were an enigma. Lin Qianshuang quietly stood in a corner, feeding a drop of blood to the Hanchan Zither. The previously dull zither strings briefly shimmered silver upon contact with the blood. She observed everything, a flicker in her eyes. Xiao Lanle undoubtedly harbored some secret, one that made even her father, Xiao Shen, uneasy. After returning to the Penglai Immortal Sect, several demonic creatures frequently attacked small towns outside Tianshu City due to the establishment of the Demon-Locking Tower. Not long after, Xiao Lanle led a group of disciples down the mountain to practice demon-slaying. Lin Qianshuang, whose cultivation was still shallow, was kept back, especially after Jinghua Immortal found her lacking on three precepts during a study check, sending her back to the Reflective Cliff to focus on cultivation. During her months at the Reflective Cliff, Lin Qianshuang lived leisurely. Apart from occasionally capturing a few sprite creatures at the bottom of the cliff to supplement her demonic energy, she spent her days earnestly cultivating and leisurely exploring the celestial mountains, even discovering the cave imprisoning the ancient flood dragon behind a waterfall near a spiritual spring. On the mossy stone surface, an eight trigram star sigil was carved. It exactly matched the imprint at the end of the Star-Plucking Sword's hilt. Lin Qianshuang touched the star sigil on the stone surface, certain that Xiao Lanle must have been here. Otherwise, bloodstains wouldn't be present in the imprint. The cave's opening required pure blood from Xiao's descendants, which was why Liang Jingxuan had brought Xiao Lanle here in the original narrative. In this storyline, the male lead and Xiao Lanle had grown closer, relying on each other within the cave. "Senior Sister, you've come out from the Reflective Cliff?" A voice behind interrupted Lin Qianshuang’s train of thought. Xiao Lanle walked up to her side, her presence unsurprising as she inserted the Star-Plucking Sword into the sigil. In just a few days, Xiao Lanle's once pure and lively eyes had become deep and cold. Dressed not in her former pink attire but in exquisite black silk garments with a delicately embroidered belt cinched at her slender waist, she exuded an imposing aura that demanded respect. For a moment, Lin Qianshuang felt the person before her was entirely unfamiliar, with an aura that even seemed slightly threatening. "Junior Sister, you've returned from training as well?" "Yes." Lin Qianshuang realized her presence here seemed odd and quickly explained, "I was bored at the Reflective Cliff and decided to take a walk, which brought me here." Xiao Lanle merely responded with a simple acknowledgment, seemingly uninterested in Lin Qianshuang's explanation. Her slender fingers twisted the sigil, but the stone door did not emit a sound; instead, it slowly swung open inward. Seeing the open door, Lin Qianshuang guessed it was the male protagonist who had already entered using some method, but she put on a puzzled expression and said, "That's strange. This door doesn't seem to have been opened with the Star-Plucking Sword; there's a sign of intrusion." Strands of demonic energy slipped from her sleeve, quickly understanding the situation inside the cave. Lin Qianshuang withdrew her sensing magic and said to Xiao Lanle, "There still seems to be someone inside." Xiao Lanle tossed the Star-Plucking Sword to the ground, and it transformed into a withered banana leaf. "Senior Brother Liang has quite the trick, stealing the Star-Plucking Sword right under my nose." A flicker passed across Xiao Lanle's beautiful eyes, her elegant face tainted with anger. The Star-Plucking Sword could open the stone door, yet she could never undo the restrictions inside. How had Liang done it without Xiao's blood? She stepped into the stone door, blocking Lin Qianshuang from following, "Senior Sister, wait outside. It's dangerous in here." "A restricted area should not be entered unauthorized; how can I stand by idly and do nothing?" Would she really give Liang Jingxuan and Xiao Lanle time alone for their feelings to intensify? As if. Lin Qianshuang immediately pulled Xiao Lanle back, her expression serious, "Junior Sister, you should wait. If something happens to you inside, I'd never forgive myself." The hostility on Xiao Lanle's face dissipated, and a shy blush appeared, making her look soft and gentle, devoid of aggression, yet she forcefully pinned Lin Qianshuang to the stone wall. She stroked her chin with one finger, speaking closely, "Senior Sister, do you know that hearing you speak so earnestly about my welfare just melts my heart?" Lin Qianshuang felt the world spin. When she regained her senses, Xiao Lanle pressed her forehead against hers, locking her wrist and, with a pout, said, "I missed you, Senior Sister. I sent letters by messenger pigeon while in the mortal realm—why didn't you reply? Were you too engrossed in cultivation to receive them?" Transmission letters? Were those really a thing? Lin Qianshuang was baffled. She hadn't seen a single pigeon fly over the Reflective Cliff during her stay. Twisting Lin Qianshuang's fair wrist a bit, Xiao Lanle's eyes glimmered with hurt as she pouted, "Senior Sister, you've gained weight. Were you really having such a great time on your own while we were apart?" Lin Qianshuang maintained a stiff smile; truth be told, she had been enjoying herself, especially after being away from the chaos of troublesome matters, and yes, her face had indeed grown plumper. A loud splash and the scraping of chains suddenly echoed through the stone door, followed by an enraged beast's roar reverberating sharply in the air.