It took Long Aotian seven days to cautiously return to the Qingxiao Sect.
He went straight to the mission hall, and while completing the mission, he also learned that Lin Fan had investigated his information, which made him furious.
Thinking that Leng Xingyue seemed to have changed, he reported the matter to the sect leader, leaving Zhao Kuo speechless.
This guy is indeed exceptionally talented, but his ability to file reports is also top-notch. He accuses Lin Fan of murdering him every few days. It's pure paranoia. Is he sick?
So, Lin Fan was summoned for another confrontation.
“Junior Brother Aotian, even if you have been wronged, it is Senior Brother’s fault. If you like the position of chief disciple, you can suggest it to the sect leader, and I will give it to you. Why do you keep saying that I am trying to murder you!”
Lin Fan feigned a pained expression, his eyes full of doubt, as if to say, "What a wonderful junior brother! Why does he like to have these fits of madness?"
He is also adept at using retreat as a means of advancement; green tea is not something only the chosen one knows the art of tea.
"Sect Leader, you can send someone to the scene of the incident. They will see at a glance that I am not lying," Long Aotian said angrily.
“Even if, as you say, there are signs of a fight there, I have two questions I’d like to ask you!” Lin Fan said with a smile.
"Which two points?" Long Aotian asked.
At this moment, he lost his mind due to anger and unknowingly entered Lin Fan's rhythm.
“First, on the day of the incident, my third junior sister and I were playing with the cat. She can testify for me,” Lin Fan said calmly.
He sneered inwardly. If, like in his previous life, Long Aotian was a fan who fawned over his idol, and his junior sister and master blindly believed him, then no matter what he said, it would be useless, and he would have to accept the blame.
Now, Long Aotian's luck seems to have been weakened. He can no longer be believed even if he speaks nonsense like he did in his previous life. So he is not much of a threat. At least until his strength surpasses his own, he will not be able to contend with him.
So he devised a new plan. If he could hinder Long Aotian's growth and make everyone in the sect disappointed in him, he might be able to change the future outcome.
“That’s right. That day, my senior brother and I fed the cats and played with Xiaobai. We didn’t part ways until it got dark.” Su Youxue nodded and said with a smile.
She was so happy that day. It was the first time her senior brother had ever approached her, and she even spent the whole day playing with Xiaobai.
"The assassins who tried to kill me were a man and a woman." Long Aotian gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, as if he wanted to devour him.
"That's unfortunate, Junior Sister Chu was also there at the time, as were all the junior sisters of Youzhu Peak, your Senior Brother Wu, and Senior Brother Ye," Lin Fan said, clapping his hands.
Wu Qiankun and Ye Chen lowered their heads awkwardly. Su Youxue had invited all her junior sisters and brothers that day, and everyone could testify to that.
It would take at least two or three days to get from the location of the incident to the sect, which doesn't match up with the timeline.
“It must be because you used a spatial talisman, so…” Long Aotian was interrupted before he could finish speaking.
"How dare you! In the entire Qingxiao Sect, only the Sect Leader and Master are capable of refining spatial talismans. Do you suspect the Sect Leader or Master of plotting against you? If it were them, do you think you could escape?" Lin Fan shouted.
"I didn't!" Long Aotian hurriedly explained, his mind a little blank.
Seeing this, Lin Fan was very satisfied. This guy had lost his mind. He continued, "My second question is, you said there were two people who tried to assassinate you, both of them were experts in the late Foundation Establishment stage. I want to ask you, junior brother, how did you survive being chased by two experts at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment?"
Everyone agreed that it made sense; a Foundation Establishment Level 1 against a Level 9 Foundation Establishment cultivator was destined for a complete defeat. Two Level 9 Foundation Establishment cultivators would only face certain death unless someone came to their rescue or had a way to save their lives.
Long Aotian clenched his fists, veins bulging. He couldn't answer this question. The soul of the ring was his trump card and his hope for rise. If it were revealed, it would be even more detrimental to him.
Lin Fan also sneered. He knew that Long Aotian couldn't reveal the secret and could only swallow his pride.
"But you investigated my whereabouts half a month ago, and coincidentally, I was ambushed when I returned. Who else could it be but you?" Long Aotian's eyes were bloodshot, and his face was extremely ugly.
If it weren't for the ring's spirit helping him, he would have died that day, the price being a period of slumber, which would have effectively cut off his hopes of rapid rise.
“Junior Brother Aotian, I know you are angry and aggrieved, but you can’t just make baseless accusations,” Lin Fan said with a sneer.
"It is one of the chief's responsibilities to find out the disciples on missions, so as to know the disciples' situation and provide timely rescue and ensure the disciples' safety if any changes occur."
"This is a right granted by the sect leader. If you feel that your whereabouts are somewhat shameful, you can ask the sect leader to abolish this right of the chief disciple."
The sect leader shook his head in disappointment. Although Long Aotian had exceptional talent, his character was terrible. He was vengeful, selfish, narrow-minded, and unwise.
It's hard to imagine what the consequences would be if the sect were handed over to such a person in the future.
He also briefly learned about the conflict between the two. Ever since he joined Youzhu Peak, he had been provoking the chief disciple. Lin Fan was magnanimous and broad-minded and did not hold it against him, but this only made him escalate his behavior more and more.
Unfit for important tasks!
This was the idea of the sect leader and several elders. What good is talent if someone is wicked and lustful? They cannot be entrusted with important responsibilities.
"Alright, since there's no evidence, let's drop it. As for who did it, I'll have someone investigate." Zhao Kuo waved his hand, too lazy to deal with this kind of thing.
Long Aotian uses his status as a personal disciple to come and complain all the time. Does he really have nothing better to do?
As everyone dispersed, Long Aotian's eyes flashed with murderous intent. Lin Fan stepped forward and sneered, "Have you ever heard the story of the boy who cried wolf?"
"What do you mean?" Long Aotian asked.
"If you lie too much, even if it's true, no one will believe you anymore. You're right, I was the one who tried to assassinate you."
Lin Fan said coldly, "Without the protection of your junior sister and master, what can you, a mere Foundation Establishment Level 1 cultivator, use to fight me?"
"Lin Fan..." Long Aotian roared in a low voice, his voice hoarse.
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; never underestimate a young man's potential!"
Lin Fan rolled his eyes. "You bastard, you were the one who provoked me first, and now you're putting on an act."
"This injury must have been quite serious. I wonder how many times your trump card can protect you."
Lin Fan laughed and left, looking every bit the villain.
Actually, female-oriented novels are quite enjoyable too. Tearing apart scheming men and toying with them like a cat playing with a mouse is an incredibly cool feeling.
Long Aotian's pupils contracted slightly. His situation was dire. His master and senior sister no longer listened to him, and the soul in the ring was dormant and unable to protect him.
He was surrounded by enemies and in great danger. He regretted that he should have listened to his master's advice first, focused on improving his strength, and waited until he achieved good results and gained good fortune after the competition before dealing with Lin Fan.
But his life was of the essence right now. He then returned to his residence and filled the room with talisman arrays. He was confident that he could trap a ninth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator if Lin Fan dared to harm him.
"Ding: Congratulations to the host for thwarting the confidence of the Chosen One and striking a blow to his arrogance. You are rewarded with a Breakthrough Pill."
"Heh, I knew the damn system wouldn't let such a good opportunity slip by."
Lin Fan looked at the Breakthrough Pill. Swallowing this pill would allow him to successfully break through to the Golden Core Realm, but he always felt that the damn system had ulterior motives.
Breaking through to the Golden Core realm doesn't necessarily require taking pills, but taking pills can increase the chances. Therefore, most people will spend a huge amount of money to buy a pill when breaking through a realm.
Of course, pills are rare and expensive. Some Foundation Establishment stage cultivators may never be able to afford one in their entire lives. Moreover, the success rate of breaking through realms varies depending on the quality of the pill.
"Since Junior Sister Chu is so eager to get rid of Long Aotian, why not let her break through to the Golden Core Realm first, and I will observe her from the shadows."
Lin Fan pondered that this Breakthrough Pill should help him see clearly whether Chu Yunying was an enemy or a friend.
If she is an enemy, she will definitely attack him after he enters the Golden Core stage; if she is a friend, she will try to find a way to deal with Long Aotian.
With the Golden Silkworm Robe protecting him, he could withstand attacks from those at the Golden Core stage, and he was confident that Chu Yunying posed no threat to his life.
The system was also speechless. This host was really cautious. Even at this point, he still didn't trust Chu Yunying.
As night fell, Chu Yunying came to his house as usual, like a quiet wife waiting for her husband to finish his work.
Lin Fan opened the door and saw her, a strange look appearing in his eyes.
It should be known that female disciples of a sect rarely visit male disciples at night. If they are seen doing so, rumors can ruin a woman's reputation, and those with poor mental resilience may choose to commit suicide.
Chu Yunying, on the other hand, is usually aloof and cold, with a restrained expression and an ethereal, fairy-like demeanor. She is the last person who should be visiting her at night.
However, the opposite was true; she came the most times, which was somewhat inconsistent with her "ice queen" persona.
"Junior Sister Chu, don't you care about your reputation?" he couldn't help but ask.
“We are innocent, so why should we fear the opinions of others!” Chu Yunying replied.
“But rumors are as fierce as tigers, and I worry that they might damage your Dao heart,” Lin Fan added.
"If there are really rumors in the sect, would you marry me to protect my reputation?" Chu Yunying looked at him quietly, her gaze gentle and calm, without much emotional fluctuation.
"I think if you want to come, you can wear black clothes and a mask to cover your face, then no one will know," Lin Fan said, changing the subject instead of answering.
"I have a clear conscience and don't care about what others think."
Lin Fan took out a Breakthrough Pill and handed it over, saying, "A few days ago, Junior Sister Chu said she was preparing to break through to the Golden Core Realm. This is a pill I found. I hope you won't find it unpalatable."
Chu Yunying looked at the bright and shiny pill, her mouth slightly open. She could sense the surging medicinal power of the pill. The quality of the pill was very high. Even the alchemy elders in the sect could not refine it.
She didn't refuse, took the pill, and said with a smile, "I'll prepare myself. I plan to break through to the next realm in three days. I'll ask Senior Brother to protect me!"
"I will!" Lin Fan nodded, then made an excuse to send her away. Having received the pill, Chu Yunying couldn't refuse, so she decided not to practice swordsmanship with him tonight.
After watching Chu Yunying leave, Lin Fan narrowed his eyes slightly and then walked towards Black Bamboo Peak, where the male disciples lived.
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