Chapter 97 It feels so warm to be protected by a girl.
"Senior Brother Leng, it's clear that you have a deep connection with this snake-head vine. You're really lucky to have such a companion by your side."
Unlike me, I'm just an outcast of my family.
When I was young, I lived in a family of cultivators. My father was not talented and had poor comprehension, so it was difficult for him to obtain cultivation resources.
So he devised a plan to continuously marry ordinary women as concubines and father countless children.
He felt that with more children, there would inevitably be a few with good aptitude, who would then receive more attention from the family and be allocated more cultivation resources.
I must say, his method is quite effective. Among my more than eighty brothers and sisters, there is one with a single spiritual root, two with double spiritual roots, three with triple spiritual roots, and several with four or five spiritual roots.
I am one of the three spiritual roots.
Someone like me, neither here nor there, is unlikely to gain the family's attention, nor is I worth my father's effort to cultivate.
However, it would be a pity to give up like this, so he decided to train me to the Spirit Fusion Realm and then give me to a high-level cultivator as a concubine in exchange for his benefits.
I was treated quite well from a young age. My concubine mother also received the title of aunt because she gave birth to me.
Back then, I naively thought that my dad was a decent father, except for being a bit of a womanizer.
It wasn't until the day I successfully broke through to the Spirit Fusion Realm, when my mother arranged for someone to send me away, that she told me the truth.
It turns out that my two older sisters, who each possessed three spiritual roots, had already been given by my father to a high-level alchemist and a high-level weapon refiner.
The difference is that the alchemist at the Tongtian Realm took my sister as a concubine, while the weapon-refining master at the Wentian Realm used my sister as a furnace, and she died from being drained of her essence within half a year.
I fled that home and went to a faraway place under an assumed name.
Later, I met Aunt Song, who was a talisman master whose lifespan was coming to an end, but she was unable to break through her limits. Her body began to age and deteriorate.
Seeing that I was simple-minded, Aunt Song let me stay by her side to take care of her daily life and then taught me how to draw talismans.
Unexpectedly, I have some talent in the art of talismans, and I quickly surpassed my teacher.
Aunt Song spent all her savings to bring me to the Five Elements City.
Before she passed away, she instructed me to make sure I got into Shifang Academy.
I stayed in Five Elements City for more than two years, and finally waited for the entrance exam held once every five years, and then I was lucky enough to pass it.
After entering Shifang Academy, I realized that my so-called talent was far inferior to that of a true genius.
I've been in the beginner's class for over five years, yet I'm still no match for Junior Brother Zuo Chen, who's only been in the academy for half a year. He's the real genius!
Ni Zhiyong was deeply moved by Leng Qiuchan's words.
He originally thought he was already miserable enough. His mother died in the mouth of a monster a long time ago while trying to save his father's life, leaving his father to raise him alone.
When he finally picked the Sparrow Feather Grass and exchanged it for the Nine-Return Pill, he found that his father's body had already hardened.
It turned out that his father had already died on his way from home to Shexian Mountain, and he did not live to see the life-saving Nine-Return Pill.
But compared to Junior Sister Leng, he was lucky. At least his parents were loving and affectionate throughout their lives, and they both genuinely loved and cared for their only son.
As for Junior Sister Leng, her mother was taken home by her father as a tool to have children, with the purpose of exchanging the best for resources.
She seemed lucky, born with decent qualities, but the purpose of raising her was to sell her for a higher price.
Ni Zhiyong secretly made up his mind that he would treat his junior sister Leng better. At least in this trial, even if he couldn't make it to the end, he would do his best to help her.
Leng Qiuchan was unaware that she had already been pitied. When she told her about her background, she simply wanted to exchange secrets for secrets, so that everyone would be fair and no one would owe anyone anything.
“Senior Brother Ni, the sun has already begun to slant westward from its zenith, and it doesn’t seem so hot outside anymore. Let’s head east,” Leng Qiuchan said.
"Why head east?" Ni Zhiyong asked, puzzled.
"Because when we first arrived this morning, I noticed that the sun was rising behind those sand scorpions, which should be in the east."
Since this is a trial ground, the appearance of those sand scorpions must be to block our progress.
"So I deduce that if we keep heading east, we'll eventually cross this desert and reach the exit of the fourth level," Leng Qiuchan said.
"Junior Sister Leng, you're so clever. I didn't even think of that." Ni Zhiyong's eyes shone with admiration, which made Leng Qiuchan even more embarrassed.
Ever since she escaped that home, apart from Aunt Song, almost no one has ever praised her so sincerely.
In the beginner class of talisman making, the five of them formed a group. Most of the time, she was the leader of the group, simply because she had suffered hardships outside and was stronger than the others.
As for their talisman-making skills, all five of them were about the same, none of them were much better than the others. They were just sticking together for mutual support.
It wasn't until Junior Brother Zuo Chen arrived that things changed. He was exceptionally talented and took good care of the five of them. With his wisdom, he helped them avoid punishment more than once.
She had always thought that only her junior brother Zuo Chen deserved such a reverent gaze.
Unexpectedly, this Senior Brother Ni in front of me sincerely admires her.
"Senior Brother Ni, stick this Vajra Talisman on your body. In case of an attack, at least you'll have some room to maneuver." Leng Qiuchan handed him a Vajra Talisman.
Ni Zhiyong, who originally planned to protect her with snake vines: The feeling of being protected by a girl... is very warm.
“Okay.” Ni Zhiyong held the Vajra Talisman in his palm, but never stuck it to his body.
“Senior Brother Ni, don’t be stingy with your talismans. Don’t forget I’m a talisman maker. I brought a lot of talisman paper with me this time, so I can draw new ones whenever I run out,” Leng Qiuchan said with a smile.
“Hmm.” Ni Zhiyong quietly took out a spare Vajra Talisman from his storage ring, affixed it, and then hid the one she had given him.
Leng Qiuchan was completely unaware, only seeing Ni Zhiyong split off more than a dozen snake-head vines to surround her, with two of the vines each topped with a snake head.
At first glance it was a bit scary, but after looking at it a few more times it became clear that the two snake heads were just coiled on her head, shielding her from the scorching desert sun, and did not approach her.
After she looked at them a few more times, they seemed a little embarrassed and quietly turned their heads away.
So this cold, unapproachable snake can be this cute at times?
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