Pass Level Reward

But the expected deathly pain didn't come.

A sound like tearing air reached her ears.

Puchi—!

Su Ling'er's eyes slowly opened a crack.

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

The massive Giant Rock Scorpion was cleanly sliced in half from head to tail.

The cut was smooth as a mirror, without a trace of blood, only scorched marks emitting wisps of smoke.

The two halves of the corpse then crashed to the ground.

Too fast!

She couldn't even see what Senior Disciple Brother Lin Qingfeng had done; the giant scorpion was already in this state.

But for some reason, her Senior Disciple Brother stopped again, examining the giant scorpion's corpse, appearing to ponder something.

Afterward, his figure flickered, and he quickly positioned himself between Su Ling'er and the giant scorpion's corpse, adjusting to a suitable spot.

Then, he drew his sword and raised it once more.

This time, Su Ling'er saw clearly.

A sword light emanated a dazzling radiance, boundless brilliance manifesting around him, his black mystic robes spotless.

The flying sword was coated in a hazy halo, and countless points of light descended from the cave ceiling, as if a myriad of stars were encircling him.

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

If one had to describe it, the Senior Disciple Brother at this moment was like an immortal descending from the heavens.

It's just that...

He created such a spectacle after the giant scorpion was already dead, leaving Su Ling'er somewhat speechless.

Seriously, the scorpion is already dead, what kind of pose are you striking?

If you wanted to strike a pose, why didn't you kill it so quickly before!

So close, my judgment was correct after all, Senior Disciple Brother did come to save me in the end!

But his method of saving people has to be so ethereal and transcendent, pretending to be a righteous person, right?

If I hadn't squinted and peeked just now, I would have really been fooled by him!

And her Senior Disciple Brother stood before her, like an unyielding mountain, and said in a deep voice:

"Junior Sister, open your eyes. This fiend has been vanquished."

Lin Qingfeng also broke out in a cold sweat.

He had accidentally killed it in passing, too fast!

This was supposed to be the perfect opportunity to ignite his Junior Sister's aspiration for the Way, to show her how reliable he, her Senior Disciple Brother, was, and strengthen her sense of belonging to the Gui Xi Sect!

Alas, he'd used the 'Stop Sword' and instantly killed it without paying attention.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly and quickly turned on all the light and shadow effects.

Regardless, based on the visual effects alone, it should be dazzling enough, right?

After maximizing the effects, he turned to ask Su Ling'er:

"Junior Sister, are you alright?"

Su Ling'er instantly suppressed the twitching expression on her lips. The moment her Senior Disciple Brother turned, she put on a dazed, adoring, and shocked face.

Seeing her completely stunned and surprised expression, Lin Qingfeng nodded with satisfaction.

Yes, the expression feedback from my Junior Sister is spot on.

Cold sweat streamed down Su Ling'er's back.

Her 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 how he drew his sword before that Giant Rock Scorpion was decapitated!

Fortunately, her gamble paid off.

At this moment, Lin Qingfeng exuded the demeanor of a grandmaster. He raised his hand and beckoned, and the flying sword let out a clear hum, then transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into his palm.

However, Su Ling'er's joy at surviving the ordeal didn't surge forth; it was extinguished by a new thought.

She still didn't understand why her Senior Disciple Brother had to shout "Stop!" before making his move.

What was the point?

Was it a prelude to his grand entrance?

That Yao Beast couldn't understand human speech anyway.

And his actions after instantly killing the Yao Beast, returning to do all this...

Su Ling'er's mind constantly speculated on her Senior Disciple Brother's intentions.

Then, she understood!

Senior Disciple Brother had actually been appreciating a play he personally directed, with his own life as the stake!

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

Only when she was at her most desperate did he appear in a blaze of glory, like a savior, to bring this play to a perfect conclusion.

Good thing I realized he actually killed the monster first, then came back to strike a pose.

Otherwise, I would have been truly awestruck!

He truly is a Demonic Dao Evil Cultivator who plays with human nature!

Since he wanted to play the savior of the Righteous Path, how should she react?

A woman who had just entered an Immortal Sect and walked through the gates of death, what should her expression be right now?

She leaned against the rock wall, shakily standing up. Looking at Senior Disciple Brother's retreating back, her voice trembled as she said:

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

"For this kindness today, Ling'er has no way to repay you, but in the future, I will surely repay your debt of gratitude by tying grass to his hooves and offering him a ring of gall, to repay Senior Disciple Brother's kindness today!"

"Junior Sister, there is no need for thanks."

Lin Qingfeng used the newly learned immortal cultivation principles to speak again.

"On the path of the Great Dao, life and death are separated by a mere thread.

Facing a powerful enemy, knowing you are outmatched, yet still possessing the courage to draw your sword, this heart is commendable.

But you must remember, courage is not strength.

Today's danger was not your tribulation, nor my accomplishment, but a test from the 'Dao' for you."

"Today, I am here to protect you for a time.

But the immortal path is long, and no one can be your shield forever.

To place your hope in others is no different than a candle in the wind, extinguished with a single blow."

"The Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual you hold teaches one to follow the Dao and act in accordance with heaven.

For those with outstanding talent, this method is a path to the heavens;

but for someone with your common roots, it is merely drawing a cage for yourself.

Your entire life, you will be like a frog in a well, unaware of the vastness of the sky."

"The Sword Refining Art cultivates the body as a boat to cross this boundless sea of suffering;

it uses the sword as a ladder to ascend the nine heavens of the immortal palaces!

It is the sword intent that refuses to be mediocre and dares to contend with heaven!"

"Junior Sister, do you wish to be an ant trampled by others, or do you wish to be a person who can cleave through clouds and storms to ascend to heaven?"

Lin Qingfeng shook his head with his hands behind his back: "Think about it carefully, we should leave the tower now."

Su Ling'er lowered her head: "Mm-hmm~, Junior Sister is still too dull. Thank you, Senior Disciple Brother, for your guidance."

Once I complete the mission and return to Qing Xu Temple, the Sect Master will cleanse my bones and wash my marrow. Why would I need your Sword Refining Art?

I don't want to cultivate this evil method that requires the blood sacrifice of others' lives!

Senior Disciple Brother flicked his sleeve and turned, and the dreamlike, illusory galaxy vanished with him.

Su Ling'er quickly followed, step by step, perfectly playing the role of a junior sister who was frightened but admired Senior Disciple Brother.

Outside the Monster Locking Tower, two figures emerged.

Behind the stone desk, Qian Buyu's gaze turned towards them again.

He raised his hand and pointed a finger at the token in Su Ling'er's hand. The token flashed with a faint light.

Immediately after, a small cloth bag appeared out of thin air on the stone desk.

Qian Buyu pushed the cloth bag in Su Ling'er's direction.

Su Ling'er stepped forward and picked up the cloth bag. It felt slightly heavy in her hand.

She opened it, and her breath hitched.

There were ten low-grade spirit stones in the bag!

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

Even if she risked her life on those perilous missions, saving seven or eight in a month would be a great stroke of luck.

But here, just by being forced by that demon to kill a few insignificant monsters, she received ten?

Su Ling'er almost shed tears of joy in this Demon Den.

Although she felt this was like a sugar-coated bullet corroding her Dao heart.

They used such generous rewards to lure disciples into becoming accustomed to killing, accustomed to putting themselves in danger.

But as her fingertips touched the smooth texture of the spirit stones, an irrepressible desire surged in her heart.

This Demonic Sect... is truly amazing!

Sect Master, do you know what immense temptation your disciple is enduring right now, all for the sake of upholding the Righteous Path and for our Qing Xu Temple?

"Junior Sister."

Lin Qingfeng's voice came from above. Su Ling'er startled and quickly put away the cloth bag, a genuine smile blooming on her face.

These were ten low-grade spirit stones!

This was an amount of spirit stones she might not even be able to earn in a whole month of hard work!

Even though this amount of spirit stones was insignificant for the Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual, it was something she had earned through her own efforts by killing Yao Beasts!

This sect is too rich and generous!

He turned and walked deeper into the clouds.

"Let's go, the next place is called the 'Dao Seeking Ladder.' We have enough spirit stones now."

"There, perhaps a greater opportunity awaits you."

Enough spirit stones?

What did he mean?

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

In her heart, she was condemning the decay and evil of the Demonic Dao, while at the same time... she couldn't help but start looking forward to it secretly.

The Dao Seeking Ladder...

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