"Senior, I heard Fairy Lin was wounded by love, unable to overcome her emotional tribulation, and her state of mind was damaged, causing her realm to drop two stages! Is that true?"
Likewise, when the cultivator from the Penguin News Department amplified his voice with Spiritual Power and asked the question, it resounded throughout the entire square.
For a time, the square, filled with nearly ten thousand people, fell silent. Soon, however, a wave of hushed murmurs erupted, along with quite a few angry voices.
"Since ancient times, heroes have struggled to pass the beauty's gate."
This was even more true for cultivators. Emotional wounds were difficult to heal. If Lin Qingwan had really dropped two stages in one fell swoop, then even if it truly had nothing to do with an emotional wound, these people could still speculate and write whatever they pleased. By then, even if it were untrue, some people would probably believe it was true.
The problem was that the other sects could not do anything to these people. If they clashed with them over a bit of public opinion, wouldn't that instead confirm it?
"Brat! Why should my senior sister tell you why her realm fell?"
"We've already tolerated you time and again, and now you're pushing your luck! What does my senior sister's business have to do with you?"
"Does no one in your Penguin News Department have any morals?"
"Exactly! Where are your elders? Have gossip reporters become this brazen and shameless?"
"Support Fairy Lin!"
"Apologize!"
"Exactly! Apologize!"
For a time, many people in the square spoke up for Lin Qingwan. Meanwhile, Lin Qingwan continued standing with her sword in hand, her tranquil expression utterly unmoved.
Looking again at the female elder from Dragon Gate Sect, one could even notice, upon closer inspection, the faint smile curling up at the corner of her lips.
What was news? True news meant seeking truth from facts. What was gossip? It was adding fuel and vinegar to the foundation of news. Yet news and gossip contained one another, and one was contained within the other.
This female elder from Dragon Gate Sect knew full well how important news and gossip were. She also knew the fame throughout Wutong Province of this disciple of hers, who possessed both strength and beauty.
If this person did not ask, would no one ask in the future? Of course someone would. And even if no one asked aloud, would people not still suspect in their hearts that "Lin Qingwan was wounded by love for Jiang Lin"? Of course they would.
Since that was the case, she might as well bring it into the open herself! Take control of the person who had asked the question! Control the news herself!
This was just like what Jiang Lin had told her back then: news and gossip were a vast field of study.
Confusing people and muddying the waters was indeed crucial. What a pity that such an intelligent disciple was actually a member of the Demon Sect.
What a pity.
Looking at this cultivator from the Penguin News Department whom she had spent five Mid-Grade Spirit Stones to hire—the very person who was her stooge~~~~
"Young brother, since you're the one raising doubts, do you have a Spirit Testing Stone?"
"Of course!" The fellow solemnly took out a jade-green stone. "This stone can test any realm below the Jade Purity Realm. I ask Fairy Lin to test herself with this stone tablet!"
"Good! This one!" the female elder replied solemnly. In reality, this stone tablet had already been tampered with. When the time came, even a full-powered strike from the Cave Mansion Realm would display Dragon Gate Realm...
The female elder used Heart-Lake Transmission:
[Qingwan, don't worry. Use this sword strike however you like. It's fine. I, your elder, have already tampered with it a little.]
Hearing the female elder's voice in her heart, the girl beside her first froze, then smiled and shook her head. Although the upward curve of her lips was less than five degrees, everyone fortunate enough to see it was sent straight to A'wei's mass grave.
Seeing Lin Qingwan's relaxed expression, the female elder also breathed a sigh of relief. She had truly feared that this little girl was too stubborn and would refuse to fake it.
The female elder gently patted Lin Qingwan beside her and spoke loudly:
"Qingwan, someone has questioned your realm. Sorry for the trouble, but please use a sword strike."
Lin Qingwan nodded. The fellow from the news society tossed the Spirit Testing Stone into the air, sending it soaring high overhead.
Lin Qingwan gripped her jade-green sword. With a light sweep of her slender hand, she stirred up a faintly fragrant breeze.
Bang!
A streak of sword light flashed past, and the Spirit Testing Stone directly crumbled into powder in midair. An incomparably clear sword intent drifted throughout the square.
"Nascent Soul Realm... First Stage..."
The voice drifting from the Spirit Testing Stone spread throughout the entire square.
"What! Nascent Soul Realm First Stage! This..."
"How is this a drop of two stages? It's clearly a rise of two stages!"
"Looks like the rumor that she was wounded by love really was false!"
"Nonsense, of course it was false! A Goddess is still a Goddess. How could she fall for someone else?"
"Doesn't that mean Fairy Lin can enter the top five among the younger generation of Wutong Province?"
"I'm certain of it—the next Rising Tides List will definitely be revised!"
In an instant, the square erupted into a tumult. All the news cultivators stood there dumbfounded.
[How did it become Nascent Soul Realm? Wasn't it arranged to be Dragon Gate Realm? I'm not paying extra, you know.]
The female elder hurriedly used Heart-Lake Transmission to the stooge.
[I don't know either! I really did set it to Dragon Gate Realm...] [It wasn't you who arranged it?] [Of course not! A fake Spirit Testing Stone for Nascent Soul Realm is incredibly expensive. I couldn't bear to spend that much.] [Then that means...]
The female elder looked toward the beautiful woman who had long since sheathed her sword, though her sword intent remained imposing and her expression remained tranquil.
She could only say that she truly lived up to her innate Saintess Body! She was terrifying beyond words!
"Elder Sister Sword Spirit, this Elder Sister Lin..."
In another corner of the square, a woman wearing a veiled hat asked.
"Not yet twenty years old and already at Nascent Soul Realm First Stage—she's a genius among geniuses. But fortunately, she isn't our enemy. And Xueli needn't feel discouraged either. You were born with a Supreme Bone, and you're only sixteen. You won't be any worse than her. But you must also cultivate diligently and not slack off."
"Yes, Elder Sister Sword Spirit!"
Inside a pavilion above Black Tortoise City Square, two women of peerless bearing stood together.
"So this is the Fox Spirits you told me about, Yuni? If nothing unexpected happens, this Lin Meimei will surely have a place among the ten people who will dominate the world in the future, won't she?" the woman dressed in palace robes said with a smile. She glanced at the charming woman beside her, only to find that the latter had been staring at Lin Qingwan the whole time. "Hey, Yuni, are you listening to me? Yuni!"
After a long while, Jiang Yuni finally withdrew her gaze and patted her chest as she let out a breath of relief. "Safe, safe. Her chest isn't as big as mine, her legs are the same length as mine, and she isn't prettier than me either. Sure enough, Little Lin will still like my type."
"..."
On the other side of the square, Jiang Lin, his face covered by a Mask, stood together with Fang Chaoqun. Feeling the imposing sword intent, Jiang Lin gave his face a deep wipe.
"Brother Jiang... why did Fairy Lin break through after you kissed her like crazy?" Fang Chaoqun swallowed. "How about Brother Jiang kiss me too..."
"Get lost!"
Jiang Lin shoved Fang Chaoqun away as he leaned over.
Who would have thought that Senior Sister Lin's heart knot had actually come undone? She had even broken through two realms in succession!
Originally, Jiang Lin should have been happy that Senior Sister Lin had broken through. After all, Senior Sister Lin had always treated him very well and was a wonderful girl.
But... why did the corners of my eyes feel damp with tears?
Years later, would I really avoid having my ashes scattered to the winds...?
Before you continue