Chapter 3

"What? Is she... has she gone mad?"

The moment Yu Bing spoke, the entire Floating Training Grounds erupted in an uproar.

"That's an opportunity countless people dream of. She's actually willing to give it up for a useless body?"

"Heavens, what kind of damn luck did this trash stumble into, to make a peerless genius go this far for him?"

Countless people looked at Lin Xuan with both envy and jealousy.

"Nonsense!"

"Little girl, do you know what you're saying? Do you know how many people would beg for such a fortuitous opportunity?"

"He is merely a useless body. Being able to live out his life in peace would already be a heaven-shaking blessing."

The Outer Sect Elder's voice rang out at just the right moment.

Yet Yu Bing stubbornly gave no reply.

"Idiot!" Zhang Tao cursed inwardly. If you don't want an opportunity like this, give it to me.

Of course, he knew his own limits. With his fifth-grade aptitude, he was not worthy of entering Liu Ruyan's eyes. Even the Outer Sect Elder would not spare him a second glance.

"Xiao Yu'er!"

Lin Xuan was deeply moved, his gaze toward the young woman brimming with tenderness.

Liu Ruyan's expression darkened slightly, and displeasure had already surfaced on her face. Looking at Yu Bing, her tone grew heavier.

"Have you thought this through? Your physique is unusual. If it is not properly sorted out, you will not live past three months."

"I can tell you clearly: in this Southern Region, aside from me, no one can save you."

"Do you truly intend to give up your peerless talent and your life for a mere useless body?"

At that moment, no one spoke. Everyone held their breath.

Yu Bing lightly bit her silver teeth. Without the slightest hesitation, she said, "Peak Lord Liu, thank you for your kind intentions, but if..."

At this point, Yu Bing paused slightly, turned to look at Lin Xuan, and broke into a radiant smile.

"Rather die than never see you again!"

With those words, everyone stared at her in shock, then looked at Lin Xuan with even greater jealousy.

Just how deep did their feelings have to be for someone to do this?

Lin Xuan was stunned as well. An unprecedented emotion spread through his heart.

At that moment, his feelings for Yu Bing surged straight to their peak.

The usually shy young woman had long since made such a resolution.

For an instant, he felt a faint sense of guilt, but it was immediately transformed into intense affection.

He yanked the Pig Slaughtering Blade from his waist and pressed it directly against his neck.

"Xiao Yu'er, I know how you feel, but I will not let anything happen to you. Today, I will leave. But one day, I will definitely set foot in the Divine Firmament Holy Land again."

"Go with Peak Lord Liu. Do not worry about me. If you insist on following me, then I will cut my own throat before your eyes. I do not want to become a stumbling block on your path of immortality."

"Rumble!"

At that moment, everyone was shocked. They could not understand why the two felt so deeply for each other.

They were both willing to die for the other!

Even Liu Ruyan's eyes trembled slightly.

The path of cultivation was incomparably cruel. True feelings were the rarest of all, and everyone fought for their own interests.

Yet today, she saw an entirely different side of this world. At that moment, even her icy heart melted by a fraction.

"No, Brother Lin Xuan. If you die, Xiao Yu'er will surely follow you."

Yu Bing's eyes instantly reddened, huge tears rolling down her cheeks. Yet deep in her eyes, an incomparably resolute light shone forth.

Lin Xuan lightly gritted his teeth and stared fixedly at Yu Bing, but he could not find even the slightest trace of retreat in her eyes.

After a long while, he slowly lowered the blade and shook his head with a bitter smile. "Silly girl!"

"Fine, fine. Then I will accompany you to the Yellow Springs together!"

"No, I do not want you to die, Brother Lin Xuan. Even if I die, I still hope you can live well."

Seeing Lin Xuan lower his blade, Yu Bing finally bloomed into a smile.

"Enough!"

At that moment, Liu Ruyan suddenly shouted coldly, "Neither of you needs to die. Today, we will simply accept him into the sect."

"Whoosh!"

The crowd immediately erupted, staring at Liu Ruyan in disbelief.

"M-Master... I-I'm sorry." Yu Bing came to her senses, and a look of wild delight abruptly spread across her face.

"This..."

"P-Peak Lord Liu, this breaks the rules. If the other immortal sects learn of this, then I..."

The Outer Sect Elder froze, then quickly reacted.

But before he could finish, Liu Ruyan gave him a cold glance, leaving him unable to utter another word.

"I will bear all consequences. Whoever dares mock the Divine Firmament Holy Land, I will personally pay them a visit."

At that moment, Liu Ruyan was utterly domineering, her eyes clear and bright as though the world itself was beneath her notice.

Everyone was terrified!

"This..."

"Yes!"

The Outer Sect Elder no longer argued and could only agree.

Liu Ruyan then looked at Lin Xuan. "Remember this: you only have half a year. If you have not reached the Body Forging Realm after half a year, you will leave on your own. Do not ruin her Dao Heart."

Ordinary servants who failed to enter the Body Forging Realm within a year would be expelled, but Lin Xuan was given only half a year.

Clearly, even someone as powerful as Liu Ruyan, known as the foremost person beneath the Holy Master of the Divine Firmament Holy Land, could not withstand the pressure of accepting a useless body. Half a year was already the limit.

"Thank you, Peak Lord Liu!"

Lin Xuan took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Liu Ruyan.

"Hmph..."

Liu Ruyan gave a soft snort and waved her hand. A force shot into the sky, carrying Yu Bing and Lin Xuan away as they vanished directly from the Floating Training Grounds.

"Damn, his luck is absurdly good. Even Peak Lord Liu had no choice but to compromise."

"Sigh, Peak Lord Liu simply cherishes talent. Peerless aptitude is not something one sees often."

"What a pity. Such peerless aptitude was nearly dragged down by a piece of trash."

"But it's fine. He only has half a year. After half a year, he should give up completely."

"Silence!"

"The test will continue!"

A terrifying pressure suddenly burst from the Outer Sect Elder's body, silencing everyone at once. None dared speak another word.

"Fine. If you had left, how could I have played you to death?"

Zhang Tao looked toward the horizon, a savage smile curling across his lips.

In the outer sect region of the Divine Firmament Holy Land, a streak of light descended from the sky.

This was an empty plaza, devoid of people. The streak of light landed, revealing Liu Ruyan, Lin Xuan, and Yu Bing.

"You will wait here. Once the test is over, everyone will come here together. At that time, someone will naturally tell you what to do."

Liu Ruyan's indifferent voice entered Lin Xuan's ears.

"Yes, thank you, Peak Lord Liu!"

Lin Xuan hurriedly cupped his hands in salute, then looked toward Yu Bing.

Yu Bing was looking at Lin Xuan as well, an innocent smile on the young woman's lips.

"Brother Lin Xuan, work hard. I believe you definitely are not a useless body. I believe there must be a way for you to remain in the Holy Land."

"If there really is no way, then I will leave with you."

Liu Ruyan could not help but feel a headache coming on, but she could not be bothered to say anything more.

She firmly believed that once Yu Bing truly came to understand the cruel truth of the immortal path, these feelings would slowly fade away.