Go with the Flow

[You have transcribed "Miscellaneous Talks of Profound Spirits." Reward: 8 years of Lifespan.]

[You have transcribed "Record of Antiquity and Modernity." Reward: 10 years of Lifespan.]

As Lin Fan transcribed the books, the corresponding information automatically popped up, and his Lifespan increased once again.

Feeling the vigorous life force within his body, and then thinking of his current cultivation realm, Lin Fan felt a sense of solidity.

As long as he continued to lie low here and transcribe books, he could gain more Lifespan, and consume that Lifespan to prepay for more Technique Proficiency and grow stronger.

Of course, there were many benefits, but the problems he faced were also numerous.

Not to mention the terrifying, unknown demonic threats on Blackwood Cliff that could end his life, even the secret of his own status panel, once exposed, would be enough for the Blood Demon Sect to directly tie him up and slice him open for research.

Moreover, judging by the Blood Demon Sect's methods, they might not even wait for dissection; they might just cast some technique to directly search his soul and seize the secrets within Lin Fan's body. If that happened, he would be caught between life and death.

This was a demon sect; encountering any kind of cruel treatment was possible.

"To survive here, I need to be cautious and careful enough."

"Although I've found a Dual Cultivation partner now, my cultivation level has risen too dramatically. It's still hard to explain convincingly."

"If only I had a technique to conceal my aura. Then, even if a Formal Disciple personally came to inspect me, they might find it difficult to discover my true realm."

Lin Fan thought to himself.

Unfortunately, Menial Disciples like him could only transcribe strange records and tales; they had no access to various technique manuals. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so troubled.

In the Blood Demon Sect, the hierarchy was strict. Menial Disciples could only access the "Basic Demonic Art." As for other techniques, they couldn't even dream of them.

After the busy work, it quickly reached the afternoon.

At this time, there was a commotion outside. Lin Fan looked up and saw five or six newcomers being brought over.

Here, the turnover of Menial Disciples was very fast. New people would be brought in every day or two; sometimes it was one or two people, sometimes six or seven.

Looking at those bewildered and helpless newcomers, Zhou Wanqing, who had already been here for a few days, showed a look of fear, then lowered her head and silently transcribed the books.

The sun set in the west.

Lin Fan put down his brush and ink, stood up, and stretched.

Zhou Wanqing, afraid that Lin Fan might forget her, quickly pressed close to him, tightly gripping his arm.

Her features were delicate, her skin snow-white and smooth, and her figure was fiery. The soft warmth pressing against Lin Fan's arm made his mouth feel a little dry.

"Brother Lin, where will we stay?"

Zhou Wanqing asked softly.

"Let's go pick out a new house."

Lin Fan said after thinking for a moment.

The houses on Blackwood Cliff were lined up in rows; the Menial Disciples didn't have to worry about not having enough space to live in.

"Okay."

Zhou Wanqing nodded obediently, looking extremely docile.

Just as the two walked out of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, Lin Fan caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye. Not far away, Feng Ling was pulling a girl with a delicate face and chatting about something.

"So Feng Ling's taste is also a bit unique."

Lin Fan thought to himself.

That girl with the delicate face was probably one of the newcomers who had arrived today.

Lin Fan chose a fairly clean house. As soon as Zhou Wanqing entered, she tidied up a bit and even spread a soft blanket on the bed.

She seemed delicate and fragile, but her hands were very quick, which made Lin Fan quite satisfied.

After closing the door, Zhou Wanqing sat on the bed, her pretty face flushed pink, and called out softly to Lin Fan, "Brother Lin, come here quickly."

"Actually, there's no need to be so hasty." Lin Fan coughed dryly.

Although he had mentally prepared himself, when it came down to the real thing, a thought of retreat suddenly arose in him.

"Don't you like me?"

Zhou Wanqing asked, puzzled. "Am I not pretty enough?"

As she spoke, she unfastened an outer layer of clothing, revealing a thin, white gauze.

Vaguely visible through it, her snow-white skin, her straight and slender legs, and her curves made it hard for Lin Fan to look away.

Forget it, forget it. If it's just about lust, then so be it. Who's afraid of whom?

Zhou Wanqing didn't give Lin Fan a chance to change his mind either. She softly and gently came before him. Her small, boneless hands slid down from his chest, exploring downwards, until finally they seized something. The hot, robust feeling made her eyes grow hazy...

Between reluctance and acquiescence, Lin Fan experienced a bliss like that of immortals.

After sweating profusely, Lin Fan not only didn't feel tired, but became even more energetic, while Zhou Wanqing fell into a deep sleep.

"Just one moment of pleasure, and the Spiritual Power within my body has become one or two percent purer."

"No wonder the Menial Disciples here all want to find someone for Dual Cultivation."

Noting the subtle changes in the Spiritual Power within his dantian, Lin Fan murmured to himself.

Looking at the beauty sleeping peacefully before him, Lin Fan knew that from tonight onward, he was Zhou Wanqing's backer.

Whether it was heart or body, she had already been marked as his.

He stood up directly and sat silently behind the door, keeping watch.

The next day, as the sky barely began to lighten, Zhou Wanqing opened her drowsy, beautiful eyes.

A searing pain made it hard for her to rise.

But when she saw the figure sitting by the door, her heart suddenly warmed, and she thought to herself, "My judgment shouldn't be wrong."

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

Lin Fan had fully adapted to the monotonous and tedious copying work in the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.

Over these half a month, through copying books, he had accumulated 450 years of Lifespan.

During this time, Lin Fan didn't rush to draw Technique Proficiency in advance. Instead, to avoid revealing anything, he occasionally engaged in Dual Cultivation with Zhou Wanqing.

Dual Cultivation made Lin Fan's Internal Force increasingly pure, and his body grew stronger, while Zhou Wanqing, on the other hand, became weaker and weaker.

In truth, Lin Fan's treatment of Zhou Wanqing was already considered good.

The youth who had previously lived with Wang Biao had vanished without a trace many days ago.

Wang Biao's explanation was simple, just a single sentence: "That person was frail and sickly, so he's gone..."

Anyone with eyes knew what had really happened, but no one spoke the truth.

Those in the know almost all had Dual Cultivation partners; everyone was in the same boat, and speaking out would only make things ugly.

As for those who didn't know, they foolishly let themselves be drained, enjoying it without understanding a thing.

On the first floor of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, Lin Fan was sizing up Wang Biao not far away.

A newly arrived young girl was beaming under Wang Biao's flirtations.

"This guy goes for both men and women."

Lin Fan clicked his tongue in wonder.

"Brother Lin, why do you keep staring over there?"

Noticing Lin Fan's gaze, Zhou Wanqing asked curiously.

"Nothing."

Lin Fan shook his head.

"Brother Lin, I heard the Market at the foot of the mountain is about to open."

"They say the Market not only sells Pills but might even have some technique manuals that Menial Disciples rarely get to see on a normal day."

Zhou Wanqing lowered her voice and said.

Lin Fan had also heard people mention this mountain-foot Market. The vendors there were almost all Blood Demon Sect disciples, though quite a few mortals were mixed in as well.

This Market mainly served as a place for Blood Demon Sect disciples to trade surplus items with each other, and purchases were made using Contribution Points.

"Brother Lin, I've saved up some Contribution Points too. If you want to buy something at the Market, I can give you my Contribution Points to use."

Zhou Wanqing said softly, handing her Token to Lin Fan.

A Menial Disciple's Token not only served to prove one's identity but also stored the Contribution Points earned.

In the upper-right corner of Zhou Wanqing's Token, a number "4" was displayed—exactly four Contribution Points, no more, no less.

Setting aside the Everlasting Lamp and daily expenses, being able to save up these Contribution Points in half a month was already no small feat.

Zhou Wanqing understood very well that only if Lin Fan improved could she benefit along with him.

"Thanks."

Lin Fan didn't refuse. His own accumulated Contribution Points at the moment were only six.

After receiving Zhou Wanqing's Contribution Points, Lin Fan didn't immediately head to the mountain-foot Market. Instead, he planned to first observe what others were doing.

In the past few days, news of the mountain-foot Market had spread, but he noticed that old-timers like Wang Biao and a few others showed no movement at all, while the newer Menial Disciples who had just arrived were all eager to give it a try.

"Could there be some trick to this?"

Lin Fan thought to himself.

He calmed down and continued to wait and see.

The next day, Lin Fan finished his copying work early, then went outside the Hidden Scripture Pavilion to stretch.

In the distance, peaks rose and fell; nearby, a black cliff stood towering, while deep at the bottom of the cliff, a bloody Sha Qi permeated the air.

That was the Blood Mist, which appeared every few days. During the day, it only lingered at the bottom of the cliff, but at night, it would spread outward.

Moreover, after half a month of observation by Lin Fan, regardless of wind or rain, the Blood Mist would appear every five or six days or so.

Most importantly, on days when the Blood Mist appeared, the activity of demonic fiends would surge severalfold, and it was also the time when lives were most easily lost.

Just as Lin Fan was gazing at the scenery, a voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Junior Brother Lin."