"But... Senior brother, you did so much for the people of Lingxiao Sect and Lingyin Sect, and none of them know it. They only know to thank Murong Jin. If it weren't for you, even if Murong Jin were there, they wouldn't have been able to move them all away."
“You were seriously injured because of them, so Fifth Senior Sister should know about this.”
The one who said this was Qin Zijin, Bai Ying's sixth junior brother.
The senior brother he mentioned was Bai Ying's third senior brother, Yan Chiling.
In the days since Bai Ying left, Yan Chiling has been cultivating like a madman, running to wherever there is danger. He doesn't value his own life at all.
When he heard that Patriarch Huayang was going to deal with Lingyin Sect, Yan Chiling immediately led his fellow disciples to Lingyin Sect.
As soon as Qin Zijing finished speaking, Yan Chiling clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles cracking. The wound on his chest, which had not yet healed, began to bleed again, staining his plain white robes a glaring red.
"Shut up!" Yan Chiling's voice was terribly hoarse, his eyes churning with complex emotions. "I did all this... never to let her know."
He did so many things to hurt Bai Ying back then; Bai Ying must hate him to the core by now...
Although he was under Ruan Xinrou's control at the time, he still did those things himself...
The mountain wind suddenly turned fierce, whipping up his disheveled long hair and revealing his haggard yet still handsome face.
Qin Zijing stepped forward, her eyes red-rimmed: "But Senior Brother! You clearly..."
"I said shut up!" Yan Chiling slammed his hand on the ancient tree beside him. He was breathing heavily, as if he was being crushed by some invisible burden.
In the distance, laughter and conversation could be heard coming from the cave. Yan Chiling gazed in that direction, his eyes filled with an indescribable emotion.
He slowly loosened his clenched fist, his palm already bloodied and mangled from being dug in by his nails.
"Let's go." His voice had returned to calm as he turned, but his back looked exceptionally lonely. "Bai Ying probably doesn't need me here to protect the Lingyin Sect anymore. Let's go to the Ancestor."
Yan Chiling was afraid that Bai Ying would be in danger if she couldn't kill the ancestor.
Although his cultivation level is not as high as Bai Ying's, if the situation were to arise again where the ancestor wanted to kill Bai Ying with one blow, he would risk his life to protect her.
Qin Zijing wanted to say something, but was pulled back by her fellow disciples.
Everyone knows how Yan Chiling has cultivated like a madman over the past three years, and how he has escaped death in every dangerous situation.
Those Lingyin Sect disciples who were moved away by Murong Jin would never know that if Senior Brother Yan hadn't used himself as bait to lure away the Huayang Sect people, they would never have been able to escape unscathed.
As night deepened, Yan Chiling walked alone at the front.
The moonlight stretched his shadow long, but it couldn't illuminate the unfathomable darkness in his eyes.
Only in a secluded corner would he gently caress the faded sachet at his waist. It was a gift from Bai Ying, which he had discarded as trash. After regaining his memories, he searched desperately for it and finally found this treasure.
—
As the last wisp of healing light dissipated in the cave, Bai Ying slowly finished her practice. She looked around at her fellow disciples who had already recovered, her gaze as firm as a still, deep pool.
"Now that everyone is safe and sound," her voice was cold yet resolute, "I will go find Ruan Xinrou and Patriarch Huayang to settle this blood debt."
"We'll go with you!" everyone said in unison.
Even knowing that Bai Ying was already a Void Refinement expert, they still took a step forward without prior arrangement. The Grand Elder of the Lingxiao Sect even directly summoned his natal magic weapon, his aged face filled with a resolute determination to face death.
Bai Ying's lips curved slightly, and a warm feeling welled up in her eyes. She knew her fellow disciples' personalities all too well, and knew that trying to dissuade them would be futile.
Just then, Murong Jin came out.
His slender fingers gently stroked the sword at his waist, the "Sky-Piercing" divine sword, which he had obtained after countless brushes with death in the Sword Tomb, emitted a clear and melodious sword cry. The ethereal blue light flowing across the blade reflected on his handsome profile.
"Junior Sister," he said, holding the sword with both hands and solemnly presenting it to Bai Ying, "this sword is for you."
Bai Ying's eyes flickered slightly, but she did not refuse.
She knew the battle was dangerous, and every bit of help she received would increase her chances of winning.
With a gentle lift of her hand, the moment the sword hilt fell into her palm, the "Sky-Piercing" divine sword suddenly burst forth with an unprecedentedly dazzling light.
"Thank you for lending me your sword, Senior Brother." Bai Ying twirled her sword, and the trajectory of the blade left a spatial crack in the void that lingered for a long time.
When she raised her eyes, the cold glint in them mingled with the light of her sword. "With this divine weapon at my aid, that old scoundrel from Huayang will surely pay for his crimes in blood!"
Murong Jin nodded to Bai Ying.
"Let's go." Bai Ying's voice interrupted his thoughts.
She pointed her sword at the heavens, and a beam of sword light pierced through the cave's dome, declaring, "Today, I will show the entire Huayang Sect what the cycle of heaven truly means!"
The crowd followed closely behind, streaks of light piercing the night sky.
—
When Bai Ying and her group arrived at the market at the foot of Huayangzong Mountain, the entire market was immersed in a frenzied atmosphere.
Ruan Xinrou sat high on a white jade lotus platform, surrounded by seven-colored rays of light. She wore a magnificent golden silk robe, and the vermilion mark between her brows shimmered with an eerie glow. Below the platform, kneeling cultivators who had come to pay homage rose and fell in a chorus of flattering praises.
"Fairy Ruan possesses unparalleled talent; she broke through to the late Nascent Soul stage in a very short time!"
"I heard that Bai Ying from the Lingyin Sect isn't even worthy of carrying Fairy Ruan's shoes!"
"Yes, Bai Ying is far inferior to Fairy Ruan!"
Ruan Xinrou's red lips curved slightly, her slender fingers gently stroking her temples.
In his mind, the system's voice was smug: "I always thought that since Bai Ying was dead, you couldn't get her luck, but I didn't expect that as long as you replace her and become the focus of everyone's attention, you can become the protagonist of this world."
Haha, I told you to send people everywhere to say that Bai Ying is inferior to you, and it really worked! Your luck has increased a lot now.
Ruan Xinrou's eyes were filled with joy: "Really?"
"Of course." The system's mechanical voice was seductive. "The entire cultivation world is now praising your fame. Even if Bai Ying comes back alive, she'll be nothing but a joke. You are the protagonist of this world."
Before the words were finished, a clear and melodious sword cry suddenly rang out from the sky.
"Yeah?"
The sound wasn't loud, but it exploded in everyone's ears like thunder. Ruan Xinrou suddenly looked up and saw a white rainbow piercing the sun. Wherever the sword light passed, the seven-colored glow she had carefully arranged shattered like bubbles.
Bai Ying stood in mid-air, her white robes fluttering in the wind. The "Sky-Piercing" divine sword in her hand emitted a chilling light.
"Ruan Xinrou." Bai Ying's voice was soft, yet it instantly silenced the entire market. "Long time no see. You've become... quite the actress."
Ruan Xinrou stared at the person in front of her in disbelief, her smile instantly freezing.
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