As Chu Xinxin spoke, she observed Xiao Linyi's expression. After she finished speaking, she felt uneasy, wondering how she should answer when Xiao Linyi asked her how she knew. To her surprise, Xiao Linyi simply nodded and then took her hand and led her towards the sycamore tree.
"Xiao Linyi, aren't you going to ask me how I know?" Chu Xinxin couldn't help but ask.
“Everyone has their own secrets.” Xiao Linyi turned to look at her, his cold gaze softening instantly when he saw Chu Xinxin. He seemed to understand Chu Xinxin’s unease and comforted her, “It’s okay, I’ll wait for the day you want to tell me.”
Chu Xinxin was stunned. How could this person be so kind?
[Sister, please, please get married already! I can't stand watching this anymore. Aren't you moved at all? Are you cultivating the path of ruthlessness?] The system, as if watching a drama, was moved to tears by the devoted male lead. It then asked, [Would Xiao Linyi have to jump off the Execution Platform before you finally realize you can't live without him?]
"I'm smitten! Didn't I tell you last time that I was really smitten?"
[It's different. I'm talking about genuine feelings of attraction, the kind where you miss him terribly when you're apart from him, and feel incredibly sad without him.]
"Why are you so insistent on making me fall in love? Can't I just focus on completing my mission?"
Chu Xinxin explained, "I just think it's so funny to tease him, don't you think? That icy, aloof face of his, when he's angry or shy, it's just so..."
Too much what?
Chu Xinxin thought back carefully. Sometimes she would deliberately say something to tease him or do something to flirt with him. Seeing the vivid expressions he made because of her gave her a strange sense of satisfaction. It was as if she had his emotions in her hands. She could make him laugh if she wanted to, and make him unhappy if she wanted to. She could control him... the satisfaction.
Does this count as being smitten?
I don't think so.
After thinking it over, Chu Xinxin concluded: "A faster heart rate or a fluttering heart is just a way of enjoying the sense of accomplishment in winning him over."
Sister, I knew it! I should have bound you to a "scumbag woman system."
The system sighed deeply, lamenting Xiao Linyi's sincere heart.
Chu Xinxin ignored his teasing this time. She just found it strange that the system suggested he should be paired with a "scumbag woman" system. Even the matchmaking system itself was under someone else's control; if it accidentally revealed her physical condition in the main world, it would be dragged back and locked up...
"We've arrived." Xiao Linyi suddenly spoke, interrupting Chu Xinxin's thoughts.
Chu Xinxin looked up and saw an ordinary hall in front of her. The hall was dark, with only a faint light coming in from the ventilation vents.
Xiao Linyi formed a hand seal and chanted a spell. His spiritual energy gathered into a luminous light source that illuminated the surroundings. Only then did Chu Xinxin see the gray phoenix egg on the high seat in the main hall.
"System, are you sure this is a real phoenix egg? Why does this bastard give off the feeling that I'm just an ordinary egg?"
[It couldn't be more real; the more ordinary you are, the more likely you are to survive.]
That makes sense. Chu Xinxin turned to Xiao Linyi and asked, "Then I'll go get it, and we'll go home after I get it."
Xiao Linyi's hand, which was about to stop Chu Xinxin, paused for a moment in mid-air. His heart was slightly squeezed by the words "go home." When he came to his senses, Chu Xinxin had already taken a few steps forward.
Chu Xinxin walked towards the high seat, but halfway there she was suddenly stopped and hugged, and then she was lifted up by one hand.
"Xiao Linyi, what are you doing?" Chu Xinxin was startled and grabbed Xiao Linyi's shoulders tightly.
“There’s a formation.” Xiao Linyi explained solemnly.
"There's a formation to break it, why are you hugging me?"
"This method will solve the problem faster."
Chu Xinxin: ...
[Sister, I must say, Xiao Linyi looked really cool breaking the formation with one hand.]
His finger techniques were exquisite, his movements graceful, his silver robes fluttered without wind, and wisps of spiritual energy surrounded his entire body, making him appear even more refined and elegant.
He used spiritual energy to its fullest extent, and he broke those formations that seemed impossible to outsiders with ease. Before long, Chu Xinxin was brought to the phoenix egg.
The egg wasn't big, a little smaller than Chu Xinxin's palm; she could pick it up with one hand.
Chu Xinxin failed twice, and even when she tried to lift it with both hands the third time, she couldn't manage it.
Seeing this, Xiao Linyi had no choice but to help her, but the phoenix egg remained motionless. Xiao Linyi then placed his hand on the eggshell and began to examine it.
Taking the opportunity, Chu Xinxin asked, "System, do you know what it does?"
[This is likely a protective formation set up by its elders. You need to awaken it to take it away. You can try infusing it with some spiritual energy.]
At the same time, Xiao Linyi finished his investigation and turned to Chu Xinxin, saying, "Take out the Sumeru Ring."
Chu Xinxin didn't ask any questions and did as instructed.
"Pour the spiritual energy inside into the egg."
"good."
The moment the Sumeru Ring touched the eggshell, a vast and pure spiritual power surged forth, and patterns gradually appeared on the eggshell. As the patterns grew brighter, the phoenix egg became dissatisfied with the spiritual power within the Sumeru Ring. It floated into the air, remained silent for a second, and then, in the next moment, all the spiritual power of the entire holy land rushed towards it.
The spiritual energy was too dense, and Xiao Lin wanted to put up a protective shield for Chu Xinxin. But when he turned his head, he saw that Chu Xinxin was calm and unaffected.
How could this be...? This level of spiritual energy is so dense that even a Nascent Soul cultivator would be unable to withstand it, yet Xin Xin is completely unharmed.
A sound of an eggshell breaking came from the air, and Xiao Linyi had no choice but to suppress his doubts.
Having absorbed enough spiritual energy, the phoenix broke free from its eggshell in one go, letting out an extremely loud cry that resounded throughout the heavens. This cry spread to every corner of the sacred land, and everyone who heard it instantly felt refreshed and their spiritual energy flowed much more smoothly.
In the main hall above the underground palace, the shell of the fake phoenix egg had become translucent, and a phoenix silhouette could be vaguely seen inside. The people in the hall were stunned for a moment, and then they fell into an even more frantic scramble.
Inside the underground palace, after the phoenix broke free of its restraints, it was completely out of Chu Xinxin and Xiao Linyi's control and even began to attack them.
Such a divine beast, possessing terrifying spiritual power and cultivation from birth, is simply beyond the capabilities of Xiao Linyi and Chu Xinxin, who are only at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Xiao Linyi was busy protecting Chu Xinxin when, without realizing it, Phoenix struck his left shoulder.
Chu Xinxin's heart clenched: "System! You need to find a way to suppress it!"
The phoenix's melodies are beautiful; the flute's influence restrains it, but you soothe it with your zither playing!
The system didn't dare to openly help them, but secretly formed a protective shield around them.
Xiao Linyi immediately noticed it, assuming it was caused by Chu Xinxin's zither music. In addition, the situation was urgent and he didn't have time to investigate further, so he didn't pay attention to it.
Chu Xinxin's zither music was gentle and soothing. After the phoenix cub's rage cooled down, it turned into a cheerful and lighthearted tune. The phoenix was lured to circle around Chu Xinxin's fingertips. The intense flames around its body burned Chu Xinxin's fingers, but she had no choice but to endure it and continue playing.
Rationally, Xiao Linyi knew that subduing a mythical beast like the phoenix would definitely come at a price, and Chu Xinxin's price was relatively light. However, emotionally, Xiao Linyi still felt extremely distressed, and his gaze towards the phoenix was particularly gloomy.
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