Chapter 72 A Heart that Cherishes Talent – He Immediately Throws a Sword at Old Deng
Wildflowers bloomed among the weeds on the palace rooftop, and Qu Ruoxuan caught a faint, lingering fragrance.
Not only Qu Ruoxuan smelled it, but the six people chasing her from above also smelled it.
Song Yin and Shi Heming remembered Wu Jue's instructions and immediately held their breath.
Shi Heming quickly set up a small array, creating a small, independent space for the two of them.
The six people covered their mouths and noses, retreated a hundred meters in unison, and looked warily at the entrance of the ruins.
Qu Ruoxuan swayed, her eyes glazed over. The scene that only she could see slowly unfolded.
Two hundred years ago, twins, a boy and a girl, were born in the Qu family courtyard. As the siblings grew up, the brother was found to have exceptional spiritual talent, while the sister was even more extraordinary, possessing eyes that could see the treasures of the world.
Knowing her sister's special nature, the Qu family consulted numerous ancient texts and concluded that she possessed the Heavenly Treasure Spirit Body, one of the innate Daoist physiques, granting her eyes the ability to find all the world's treasures. From then on, her sister was protected with impenetrable security, and anyone who approached her had to undergo rigorous screening.
The young girl asked the head of the family in her childish voice, "Father, Father, why can't I go out? Why are there so many people guarding me even when I'm sleeping?"
The dignified patriarch stroked his elder sister's head and said, "Because you are a treasure of the world, a blessing from Heaven to the Qu family, you will sit in my place in the future and lead the Qu family to new glory."
The younger sister liked the Qu family. She agreed with her father's words and obeyed all the family's arrangements. In her little world, the Qu family was her everything.
Later, the older sister realized that she was different from everyone else, and that she was trapped in a small world. Only when the Qu family needed her eyes would they take her out of the cage.
The younger brother asked his older sister, "Why can't you play with us?"
"Because my sister can't go out."
Brother: "Hmm...but everyone goes out to play, sister, you're so weird."
Listening to the laughter and play of the other children in the family, the older sister had an idea for the first time.
Yeah, why can't I do it?
Later, when the siblings grew up, the older sister, Tianbao, was exposed and faced being hunted down by malicious people. She also experienced the continuous deaths of those who protected her, and fell into self-doubt and self-blame.
Her beloved older sister is dead, her guardian uncle is dead, her playmate is dead, her kind uncle is dead, her childhood maid is dead... So many dead people, I can't breathe, help, I want to escape!
The Qu family developed rapidly, surpassing other aristocratic families in just a few decades. Her elder sister tirelessly searched for treasures for the family, yet those around her continued to die one after another, and the family's restrictions and control became increasingly severe. She felt suffocated, and new ideas kept popping into her head.
The younger brother, sensing his sister's thoughts, offered to help her escape. The siblings evaded detection, and the sister, freed from her shackles, felt the winds of freedom for the first time. Freedom came with risk, and their lives were in grave danger. Fortunately, they were rescued by three nameless individuals, and the siblings returned home in a sorry state. The sister, heartbroken and despondent, abandoned her escape plan, a single thought constantly haunting her.
I am an unlucky person who will only bring disaster to those around me.
The scene then changes.
The older sister became obedient and continued to search for treasure for the family, surrounded by many people, as she ventured into secret realms. But she also developed feelings of hatred; she hated those eyes.
Of those who accompanied the person into the secret realm, the first died from a fatal heart attack, the second from being surrounded, the third from self-destruction, the fourth from taking the hit, the fifth from being trapped in a fight, the sixth from exhaustion, the seventh from covering the rear, the eighth from dying in someone else's place, and the fate of the ninth is unknown.
Now, she has brought misfortune to others.
"No! Don't kill them!"
"It's all my fault, I'm the one who killed you all."
"Don't protect me, you'll die, boohoo—"
Qu Ruoxuan vented her emotions in the air like a madwoman, tears streaming down her face, looking utterly disheveled and losing all semblance of her noblewomanly demeanor.
The six people in the distance did not approach, but simply watched Qu Ruoxuan go crazy. To them, it didn't matter whether Qu Ruoxuan went crazy or not, as long as she didn't die.
“This…” Song Yin transmitted her voice to Shi Heming, “She seems to have gone mad.”
“She’s being controlled by an illusion, and we don’t know what she’s seeing.” Shi Heming had a flash of inspiration and continued to transmit his voice: “The fragrance of flowers can induce hallucinations. If we collect the flowers and use them in conjunction with the illusion array, the effect will definitely be even better. We can also incorporate them into talismans to make a special fragrance talisman.”
Song Yin revealed a wicked smile and transmitted her voice: "Hehehe, this is a good idea. When combined with my Illusionary Heart Demon Pill... it might be able to be used against Nascent Soul stage cultivators."
Qu Ruoxuan is still tormented by the illusion, and the past pain is being torn apart and played out again and again before her eyes.
"Waaah, I don't want it anymore, I don't want these eyes, I don't want the Heavenly Treasure Spirit Body, it's a curse, waaah." Qu Ruoxuan's high-pitched venting turned into a low sob.
Song Yin and Shi Heming looked at each other, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.
No wonder the Qu family has developed so rapidly in recent years; no wonder the Qu family was willing to offer spiritual essence just to find their child; no wonder Qu Ruoxuan could pinpoint the location of the sixth-order spiritual sword after just one look around the evil cultivator's cave; no wonder Qu Ruoxuan is being relentlessly pursued now, no wonder!
All doubts have been answered, and the unreasonable points have been explained.
Song Yin transmitted her voice: "If I remember correctly, the Heavenly Treasure Spirit Body has unique eyes that can find treasures. You could say it's a human-shaped treasure-hunting rat."
Because of her own pure spiritual body, she had specifically studied various Daoist bodies.
"Young friends." The six approached again, using various methods to block the fragrance of the flowers. "Now that you know Qu Ruoxuan's secret, we cannot let you live in this world."
“Yes, we are people of some standing, and we cannot allow such despicable and shameless acts to be spread by you. Therefore, we can only let the two of you rest here forever.” The black-robed array cultivator’s fingers were like withered tree bark, and his palms faced upwards. The array was successfully constructed on his palms.
Song Yin silently gripped her sword; a battle seemed unavoidable. In her other hand, she clutched the Illusionary Heart Demon Pill.
A string of talismans flew out and quickly formed two circles, surrounding Song Yin and Shi Heming respectively.
"Sword cultivators and talisman cultivators are both promising talents, what a pity," the black-robed array cultivator lamented, feeling a sense of shared loss.
"The talismans he draws... his brushstrokes and distribution of spiritual energy are so precise, he's a promising talent." The golden-robed talisman cultivator took notice of the talent. If the handsome young man was willing, he could bring him back to the Qingxuan Sect and transform him from a rogue cultivator into a sect disciple.
The black-robed cultivator turned to the side and asked, "Don't tell me you're planning to take on disciples?"
The golden-robed talisman cultivator said, "Let me go over and ask."
The golden-robed talisman cultivator flew alone to Shi Heming's side. Seeing the promising young man he had his eye on ready for battle, he cleared his throat and said, "I see you use talismans quite well. Did you draw all these talismans?"
Shi Heming: "So what if it is? We two have nothing to do with the people you are chasing. Today's events will not be revealed to anyone. Why are you pressing us so hard?"
The Spirit Binding Array was just about to be completed. Shi Heming wanted to keep the person in front of him calm and buy time to complete the array.
The golden-robed talisman cultivator crossed his arms and said, "I can let you go, but you must agree to one condition."
Shi Heming: "What are the conditions?"
The golden-robed talisman cultivator said, "You shall take me as your master and become my disciple."
"If you're going to take on a disciple, why not show your true face and reveal your real identity?" Song Yin's lips curled slightly as she glanced at Shi Heming, then replaced the Illusionary Heart Demon Pill in her hand with a recording stone and continued, "We are both rogue cultivators who have supported each other along the way to achieve our current cultivation levels. If he were to suddenly become his disciple, how would he establish himself in the cultivation world if you were a heretical cultivator?"
The golden-robed talisman cultivator looked at Song Yin with disdain, "The disciple I want to take in is him, not some little sword cultivator like you."
The black-robed array cultivator flew towards Qu Ruoxuan, cursing the golden-robed talisman cultivator as he did so: "What are you dawdling for? If you don't make a move, I'll take her away." As soon as he landed on the ground, the black-robed array cultivator's expression changed, and he released spiritual energy from his palm to cut off the unformed array eye.
The black-robed cultivator chuckled and strode steadily toward Song Yin and the others. "Who set up the formation?"
With his formation abruptly interrupted, Shi Heming quickly adjusted his strategy, considering the possibility of other formations. The black-robed formation cultivator before him could so quickly decipher his formation; he was likely a formation cultivator himself. In a battle between formation cultivators, only formations that could be formed instantly were viable; it was a contest of speed to control the opponent first.
Song Yin: "What, you want to take on apprentices too?"
The golden-robed talisman cultivator pushed aside the black-robed array cultivator, saying, "Go away, go away, I came first." He then said to Shi Heming, "Quickly say you are willing to become my disciple."
Shi Heming lowered his eyes. "My friend is right. I need to know your true identity and appearance before I can decide whether to become your disciple."
"Hey, you little brat, you're such a nuisance." The golden-robed talisman cultivator waved his hand, and his fake face disappeared, revealing his true identity. In his view, Qu Ruoxuan was already his for the taking, and there was no one else nearby. One of the two rogue cultivators in front of him was about to become his disciple, so revealing his true identity and appearance wouldn't have much of an impact on his already certain victory.
“I come from the Qingxuan Sect. Although I am not an elder, I am still a Nascent Soul cultivator. You will not lose out by becoming my disciple.”
Nascent Soul cultivator?
The black-robed array cultivator said, "Are you crazy? If there were other people around, wouldn't they be ashamed if they exposed what happened today?"
Golden-robed talisman cultivator: "It's alright."
The four people hovering in the air in the distance watched the two bicker quietly. One of them nudged the person next to him with his elbow and said, "Go tie Qu Ruoxuan up. We'll take the people and leave. Let the two of them stay here."
The black-robed cultivator turned around and cursed, "I can hear you." He ignored the two rogue cultivators, who couldn't cause any trouble anyway, and turned to grab Qu Ruoxuan.
Qu Ruoxuan was still struggling in the environment, and she managed to break free from the illusion with her own will. She took a deep breath and when she came to, she saw the black-robed array cultivator holding the Immortal Binding Rope, about to tie her up. On the other side, the golden-robed old man had his back to her and seemed to be planning to attack his savior.
Qu Ruoxuan took out a dagger and held it to her eyes. Her voice was completely hoarse from crying and screaming earlier. "Stop! If you move again, I'll destroy your eyes, and you won't get them. The most precious thing about a Heavenly Treasure Spirit Body is its eyes. Without eyes, it's nothing. You need complete, undamaged eyes. Not even one less. Let's see if you can move faster than my dagger."
The sharp blade was already pressed against her eyelids, the cool touch soothing Qu Ruoxuan's emotions. Seeing that the man in black had indeed stopped, Qu Ruoxuan slowly backed away, "Tell your people to let them go."
Hearing the commotion, the golden-robed talisman cultivator turned around. "It seems you not only know each other, but you're quite familiar with each other."
Song Yin put the image-remembering stone back into her spatial storage.
With the golden-robed talisman cultivator's back to her, it was the perfect opportunity. In an instant, Song Yin pierced his heart with a sword!
At the same time, the Cold Edge Formation instantly took shape, with each stream of spiritual energy within the formation like a blade, overwhelming the golden-robed talisman cultivator.
The golden-robed cultivator's clothes were covered with various runes, blocking all attacks. However, the attack from the sixth-order spirit sword was no match for him. He looked down and saw the sharp blade piercing through his chest, blood continuously flowing from his chest and the corner of his mouth. He was furious and his spiritual energy exploded.
"How dare you, you brat, hurt me!"
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Author's Note: Golden-Robed Talisman Cultivator: Damn it, I was careless!
Song Yin, a phoenix-like overpowered protagonist who loves sneak attacks and underhanded tactics [rainbow fart]
It will take many chapters to write, but all I can say is that Yinyin gained a lot in the end, and there were even some unexpected surprises [doge head with a rose in its mouth]
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[Empty bowl]
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