Clearance Reward

But the excruciating pain of death she had expected never came.

The sound of air being torn apart reached her ears.

Pfft—!

Su Ling'er cautiously cracked open one eye.

She saw Senior Disciple Brother's figure flash past the Giant Rock Scorpion.

The enormous Giant Rock Scorpion had been cleanly cut in half, from head to tail.

The cut was smooth as a mirror. There wasn't a drop of blood, only charred marks that smoldered with wisps of smoke.

The two halves crashed to the ground.

So fast!

She hadn't even been able to make out what Senior Disciple Brother Lin Qingfeng had done before the giant scorpion ended up like this.

But for some reason, Senior Disciple Brother stopped again, studying the giant scorpion's corpse as if pondering something.

Then he flashed into place between Su Ling'er and the corpse, finding just the right spot.

He drew his sword and raised it once more.

This time, Su Ling'er saw clearly.

A dazzling sword glint shone with radiant brilliance. Boundless splendor appeared around him, and not a speck of dust marred his black robes.

A hazy glow enveloped the flying sword. Countless points of light drifted down from the cavern ceiling, as if myriad galaxies were circling him.

The Giant Rock Scorpion's corpse seemed to exist only to accentuate Senior Disciple Brother's presence.

If she had to describe it, Senior Disciple Brother looked like an immortal descending from the heavens.

Except...

Putting on such a display after the giant scorpion was already dead left Su Ling'er at a loss for words.

Seriously, the scorpion was dead already. Why were you still striking a pose?

If you wanted to strike a pose, you could've taken a little longer to kill it!

That was close. Her judgment had been right after all—Senior Disciple Brother had come to save her in the end!

But did he really have to make his rescue look so ethereal, as if he were pretending to be a righteous cultivator?

If she hadn't peeked through her narrowed eyes just now, she really would have been fooled!

Standing before her like an unshakable mountain, Senior Disciple Brother said in a low voice:

"Junior Sister, open your eyes. The beast has been slain."

Lin Qingfeng also broke into a cold sweat.

He'd accidentally killed it in one move. He'd been too quick!

This was supposed to be the perfect chance to inspire his junior sister's desire to pursue the Dao, show her how dependable he was as her Senior Disciple Brother, and strengthen her sense of belonging to Gui Xi Sect!

What a shame. He'd used Stop Sword to kill it instantly without thinking.

At least he'd reacted quickly and switched on all the light and shadow effects.

However you looked at it, the special effects alone should have been dazzling enough, right?

After maxing out the effects, he turned to Su Ling'er and asked:

"Junior Sister, are you all right?"

Su Ling'er instantly suppressed the twitch at the corner of her mouth. The moment Senior Disciple Brother turned around, she put on a dazed, awestruck, and utterly shocked expression.

Lin Qingfeng saw how completely stunned she looked and nodded with satisfaction.

Mm, Junior Sister was giving him just the right reaction.

Su Ling'er was also sweating coldly.

Senior Disciple Brother's strength was truly not to be underestimated. No wonder he was the Senior Disciple Brother of this Demonic Sect!

She hadn't even seen him draw his sword before the Giant Rock Scorpion had been decapitated!

Good thing she'd bet on the right outcome.

Lin Qingfeng stood with the bearing of a grandmaster. He raised his hand, and the flying sword chimed before turning into a streak of light that vanished into his palm.

But Su Ling'er's elation at surviving was snuffed out by a new thought.

She still couldn't understand why Senior Disciple Brother had shouted "Stop!" before attacking.

What was the point?

Was he announcing his entrance?

The beast couldn't understand human speech anyway.

And why had he killed the beast instantly, then doubled back to do all that?

Su Ling'er's mind raced, trying to guess what Senior Disciple Brother was up to.

Then she understood!

Senior Disciple Brother had been enjoying a drama he had directed himself, wagering his own life as part of the act!

He had watched her struggle, watched her despair, watched her make choices on the edge of life and death.

Only when she was at her most desperate had he made a graceful entrance, surrounded by brilliant light, like a savior, bringing the drama to a perfect close.

Thank goodness she'd realized that he'd killed the monster first and come back to strike a pose afterward.

Otherwise, she really would have been awestruck!

He truly was an Evil Cultivator who toyed with human nature!

If he wanted to play the righteous savior, how should she react?

What was a woman who had only just joined an Immortal Sect and narrowly escaped death supposed to look like?

She braced herself against the rock wall and rose unsteadily. Watching Senior Disciple Brother's back, she said in a trembling voice:

"Thank you for saving my life, Senior Disciple Brother!"

"I have no way to repay you for what you've done today, Ling'er. One day, I will repay you even if I have to die for Gui Xi Sect, to show my gratitude for your kindness!"

"Junior Sister, there's no need to thank me."

Lin Qingfeng spoke again, drawing on the cultivation platitudes he'd just crammed into his head.

"The path to the Great Dao is one where life and death hang in the balance.

When facing a formidable foe, even knowing you cannot win, you still had the courage to raise your sword. That is commendable.

But remember, courage is not strength.

Today's danger was neither your tribulation nor my achievement. It was a test from the Dao."

"Today, I was here to protect you.

But the path of cultivation is long, and no one can shelter you forever.

If you pin your hopes on others, you are like a guttering candle in the wind, extinguished with a single gust."

"The Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual teaches one to follow the Dao and act in harmony with Heaven.

For those with outstanding talent, it is a great path to the heavens;

but for someone with your ordinary aptitude, it is nothing more than a cage of your own making.

You could spend your entire life like a frog in a well, never knowing how vast the sky or sea is."

"The Sword Refining Art teaches you to make your body a boat and cross this boundless sea of suffering;

to use your sword as a ladder and ascend to the heavenly palace!

It is the sword intent of one who refuses to be ordinary and dares to contend with Heaven!"

"Junior Sister, would you rather be an ant in the mortal world, at the mercy of others, or ascend to the heavens and cleave through wind and clouds?"

Lin Qingfeng clasped his hands behind his back and shook his head. "Think it over. We should leave the tower."

Su Ling'er lowered her head. "Mm, mm~ This junior sister is still too foolish. Thank you for your guidance, Senior Disciple Brother."

I'll finish the mission and return to Qing Xu Temple. The Sect Master will perform Bone Cleansing Marrow Washing for me then. Why would I need your Sword Refining Art?

I refuse to cultivate such an evil art that requires the lives of others as blood sacrifice!

Senior Disciple Brother swept his sleeve and turned away, and the dreamlike galaxy vanished with him.

Su Ling'er hurried after him, following close behind and playing the role of a junior sister who had been frightened and now admired her Senior Disciple Brother to perfection.

Two figures emerged from the Monster Locking Tower.

From behind the stone table, Qian Buyu turned his gaze toward them again.

He raised a hand and pointed at the token in Su Ling'er's hand. A faint light flashed across it.

A small cloth pouch appeared out of thin air on the stone table.

Qian Buyu pushed it toward Su Ling'er.

Su Ling'er stepped forward and picked up the pouch. It felt a little heavy in her hand.

She opened it, and her breath caught.

There were ten low-grade spirit stones inside!

As an outer sect disciple of Qing Xu Temple, her monthly stipend was only three low-grade spirit stones.

Even if she risked her life on missions with a nine-in-ten chance of death, saving up seven or eight in a month would have been a blessing.

But here, all she'd had to do was kill a few low-level monsters under the coercion of that fiend, and she'd gotten ten?

Su Ling'er almost burst into tears in this Demon Den.

She knew these were just sugar-coated bullets meant to corrupt her Dao heart.

They used such generous rewards to make their disciples grow accustomed to killing, and to putting themselves in danger.

But when her fingertips touched the spirit stones' warm, smooth surfaces, an irresistible yearning still welled up inside her.

This Demonic Sect... was so generous!

Sect Master, do you know how great a temptation I'm enduring to uphold the Righteous Path and stay true to Qing Xu Temple?

"Junior Sister."

Lin Qingfeng's voice came from above. Su Ling'er jolted and hurriedly put the pouch away, a genuine smile appearing on her face.

Ten low-grade spirit stones!

That was more than she might earn in a whole month of hard work!

The amount was negligible compared with what she needed for the Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual, but she'd earned it herself by killing monsters!

This sect was ridiculously wealthy!

He turned and walked deeper into the clouds.

"Come on. The next place is called the Dao Seeking Ladder. That's enough spirit stones."

"Perhaps an even greater opportunity is waiting for you there."

That's enough spirit stones?

What did he mean?

Su Ling'er, unaware of the truth, immediately lowered her head and followed.

In her heart, she condemned the Demonic Path's corruption and wickedness even as she couldn't help secretly looking forward to what lay ahead.

The Dao Seeking Ladder...

What kind of "surprise" would be waiting for her there?