In the original text, none of the disciples of the Myriad Paths Sect, including Yang Lin, were particularly outstanding. After all, no matter how they were, they could not compare to the protagonist, Shen Changlin, who was the chosen one of destiny. Moreover, in the original text, Shen Changlin's innate Dao body was still intact.
Therefore, even Ruan Qing'an didn't know if Yang Lin also had an important backstory...
But after a moment of contemplation, just as she was about to refuse—
Elder Ruan.
Just then, Zhan Hongyuan suddenly spoke up, turning to look at Ruan Qing'an: "Elder Ruan, speaking of which, Yang Lin, this disciple, has some connection with you. He is wholeheartedly devoted to you and follows the same path of the sword as you. Why not give it a try?"
At that moment, Yang Lin also said, "I beg Elder Ruan to grant my request!"
Ruan Qing'an's eyes flickered for a moment, then she turned to look at Zhan Hongyuan: "Is this your intention, Sect Master?"
"Elder Ruan, you're mistaken about that."
Zhan Hongyuan couldn't help but chuckle: "I'm just appreciating talent. Elder Ruan, Yang Lin is quite talented after all. Judging from his persistent look, if he can't become your disciple, he probably won't choose another elder to become his disciple. It would be a waste of his talent to keep him in the outer sect."
"Besides—your Yanlai Peak is indeed a bit deserted. Now that you have accepted Shen Changlin as your disciple and Yang Lin as your nominal disciple, it will bring more life to Yanlai Peak."
Being a nominal disciple is not considered formally becoming an apprentice, but it's still better than being an inner disciple.
Zhan Hongyuan's words were quite eloquent and reasonable, but they also subtly revealed a hint of forcefulness.
It didn't sound like a discussion, but rather... a notification.
Thinking of this, Ruan Qing'an's eyes darkened, and she vaguely felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't figure out what Zhan Hongyuan was thinking. Since it was difficult to refuse, she might as well go with the flow and see what this sect leader Zhan Hongyuan was up to!
After a brief silence, everyone's eyes involuntarily fell on Ruan Qing'an, wanting to see what she would decide.
Only then did she say, "I can't refuse such kindness."
"In that case, Yang Lin, you shall be a disciple in name only."
Upon hearing this, Yang Lin, who was kneeling on the ground, was overjoyed. He bowed again and said loudly, "Thank you for your kindness, Elder Ruan!"
However, in the audience, Shen Changlin's eyes suddenly turned cold.
But the next moment—
"How...how could she agree?"
The black mist in the sea of consciousness murmured to itself, seemingly incomprehensible.
Shen Changlin, who could keenly perceive the changes in his sea of consciousness, raised an eyebrow and suddenly asked, "What do you mean? Master shouldn't have agreed?"
"..."
After a brief silence, the black mist said, "That shouldn't be the case. Even in my lifetime, Yang Lin only stayed temporarily at Yanlai Peak and didn't have much interaction with Ruan Qing'an. He had absolutely no connection with becoming a disciple, and he wasn't even a nominal disciple."
"So, it's different from your previous life?"
Shen Changlin paused, his mind racing, and suddenly realized something was amiss. A hint of excitement flickered in his dark eyes.
For the past year, he has been troubled by the "prophecy" of the black fog.
Sensing Shen Changlin's meaning, Hei Wu sneered: "Don't even think about it. Even with the current changes, do you really think it's a good thing for you? Yang Lin's hostility towards you is considerable."
"Besides, even if the future can be changed, people's hearts cannot be changed. When it's time for Nguyen Thanh An to take action, he will still take action."
"We are her stepping stones until she can break through!"
But Shen Changlin ignored the last few words from the black mist, as he was now looking towards the arena.
Yang Lin stood up, bowed, and said to Ruan Qing'an, "Elder Ruan, I will go back to the outer disciples' residence to pack my things immediately. I can go up Yanlai Peak tonight. What do you think?"
"It's up to you."
Ruan Qingan waved casually.
Then, she stood up and turned to look at Shen Changlin. The young man also stood up and stood quietly behind Ruan Qing'an.
When Yang Lin looked up, he met Shen Changlin's gaze.
He had never considered this useless Qi Refining stage cultivator as a potential enemy, but—at this moment, when he met Shen Changlin's gaze, he vaguely felt something was amiss, like a lurking ferocious beast.
He's only in the Qi Refining stage...
Yang Lin suppressed his doubts and unconsciously clenched something in his hand. Seeing that Ruan Qing'an was about to leave with Shen Changlin, he quickly cupped his hands and said, "Elder Ruan, please wait."
"What is it?"
Her voice was as pleasant as a babbling brook.
Yang Lin was slightly taken aback, then looked at Shen Changlin and said, "A year ago, I had a little misunderstanding with Junior Brother Shen. Now that I am going to join Yanlai Peak, I naturally hope to clear up the misunderstanding."
"This is something I specially prepared for Junior Brother Shen."
As he spoke, Yang Lin took out a storage ring from his pocket, stepped forward, and offered it to Shen Changlin.
He adopted the demeanor of a good senior brother: "Back then, I was blinded by greed and offended you, junior brother. I hope you won't mind. Let's let bygones be bygones. Consider this compensation to you, how about it?"
Ruan Qing'an merely swept his divine sense over it.
There wasn't much in the storage ring, just some cultivation materials that Shen Changlin could use. They were useless to Yang Lin, who was at the Golden Core stage, but they were quite valuable to Shen Changlin.
Seeing that Ruan Qing'an did not stop him, Shen Changlin chuckled and accepted the storage ring, looking as shy as a good young man.
"I've forgotten what Senior Brother Yang was saying."
"That's good, that's good."
Yang Lin smiled, and it seemed genuinely sincere.
Shen Changlin accepted the storage ring and then followed Ruan Qing'an, while Yang Lin stood in place and respectfully raised his hand in greeting.
"Respectfully seeing off Elder Ruan, Junior Brother Shen, please take care."
Only after they disappeared from sight did Yang Lin raise his head, glance at Zhan Hongyuan in the main seat without showing any emotion, and then, without lingering any longer, cupped his hands in farewell and took his leave.
After Ruan Qing'an brought Shen Changlin back to Yanlai Peak, he temporarily abandoned his cheap disciple and returned to his cave to continue his seclusion.
Just practice one principle—
The real strategy is to wait to be the one being strategyd.
037: If it weren't for the love value of 50, I'm really afraid that my ancestors would crash and burn.
Ruan Qing'an continued his cultivation, and Shen Changlin was not idle either. He sat cross-legged on the boulder by the stream again, closed his eyes, and circulated his spiritual energy.
As for the things Yang Lin gave him, he didn't open them. He remained cautious and casually tossed them into his storage ring.
However, the black mist in his sea of consciousness attempted to spread wisps of its power into the storage ring—
"hiss!"
Within his sea of consciousness, the voice of the black mist felt a moment of pain.
On the boulder, Chen Changlin suddenly opened his eyes: "What?"
After a long pause, the black mist finally said, "That Yang Lin was indeed up to no good. He placed the restriction on the storage ring itself. If you put your divine sense or spiritual power on the storage ring, you will immediately be devoured and then controlled by the owner of the restriction."
Shen Changlin was slightly taken aback: "Master didn't detect it?"
"The person who set up this restriction is probably more powerful than Ruan Qing'an, or someone with a higher level of expertise in array formations and restrictions."
The black mist paused, its voice laced with sarcasm: "Or perhaps, Ruan Qing'an discovered it, but she didn't stop you, or... perhaps, this restriction was originally placed by her?"
"I have always assumed the worst about her."
"..."
Shen Changlin simply closed his eyes briefly: "Don't bother me."
Is there anyone with higher cultivation or better skills in forbidden techniques than her?
Who exactly is it...?
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