Over the next few days, Ling Tian stayed on Qingyou Peak and didn't go out. He couldn't bear his mother Humei Niang's reproachful glances. But he hadn't been idle, either. He'd been studying formations every chance he got, and now he could easily set up several simple ones. He'd tested them on small animals, and the Confinement Formation and Killing Formation had worked pretty well.
"Whew, I've finally figured out the entire Spirit Gathering Formation. Now I can go to Qingdie Peak, right? If I teach this formation to Min'er, she'll be so happy." That day, Ling Tian came out of his formation practice and thought of Hua Min'er. A deep tenderness welled up in his heart.
The Spirit Gathering Formation could draw in the spiritual energy of the world. Anyone cultivating inside it could achieve twice the result with half the effort. Ling Tian knew Hua Min'er wanted to cultivate quickly so she could avenge her parents. He figured she'd be delighted if he taught her this formation.
"Mother's letting me go out now. I'll head to Qingdie Peak today." With that thought, Ling Tian set off for Qingdie Peak.
His mother Humei Niang had said he could go out after a few days. More than a few days had passed by now. Ling Tian didn't know exactly how many days she'd meant, but surely enough time had passed.
Lately, Qingdie Peak had been crowded with people every day, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the newly emerged genius. Quite a few also hoped to charm Hua Min'er, a little girl, with their dashing good looks, but they were all turned away at the mountain gate. The female disciples of Qingdie Peak weren't pushovers. They formed a sword formation, their eyes flashing with killing intent, and frightened away plenty of lechers. Even so, many disciples still lingered outside the gate, waiting for Hua Min'er to come out.
That day, Ling Tian arrived and saw people sitting cross-legged, chatting in groups of three or five, or standing on the treetops on tiptoe. He couldn't help but feel baffled, wondering if something had happened at Qingdie Peak. Growing worried for Hua Min'er's safety, he quickened his pace.
Halfway up the mountain, Ling Tian saw a group of Qingdie Peak disciples standing ready. His concern deepened, and he shot upward like a streak of smoke.
"Brother, save your energy. Those women's sword formation is fierce. Several people have already been hurt by their swords. You'd better not try to force your way through," a disciple kindly warned Ling Tian.
The man's words piqued Ling Tian's curiosity. He stopped and asked, "Martial Brother, sorry to trouble you, but did something happen at Qingdie Peak? Why are they so on guard?"
"You really don't know?" The disciple looked at Ling Tian as if he were some kind of monster.
"Uh, I've been in seclusion for a long time, so I really don't know what happened at Qingdie Peak. Please enlighten me, Martial Brother." Ling Tian scratched his head, feeling a little awkward, but earnestly asked the disciple for an explanation.
"I see. No wonder." The disciple looked enlightened. Some powerful cultivators often went into seclusion for months or even years, so it was perfectly normal that Ling Tian didn't know what was going on at Qingdie Peak. He paused, then continued, "Didn't Qingdie Peak produce a genius?"
"Yeah, I know about that. And then..." Ling Tian nodded, making a perfectly attentive listener.
"And then, well, we're all men, you know. We all want to catch a glimpse of her immortal beauty and all that." The disciple showed a flicker of embarrassment, but remembering that Ling Tian was a man too, he quickly returned to normal.
"If you want to see her, why not just go in? Why are you all gathered here?" Now that Ling Tian knew Hua Min'er was safe, he wasn't too worried. He asked casually, indulging the man's desire to show off.
"Hua Min'er isn't someone just anyone can see. Her master says she's cultivating and won't receive visitors." Seeing that Ling Tian was listening so earnestly, the disciple couldn't help feeling secretly pleased with himself.
"But there's no need for these senior sisters to be so ready for a fight, is there? You didn't do anything out of line, did you?" Ling Tian's curiosity flared again.
"Not really. Besides, how would we dare? It's just that a few people tried sneaking in and got thrown back out. So we're waiting here for Hua Min'er to come out." The disciple scratched his head sheepishly. He was probably one of the ones who'd tried to sneak in. And who didn't know that waiting was just another word for lying in ambush?
"Hahaha, Martial Brother, you guys are something else." Ling Tian couldn't help bursting into laughter.
"Heh heh." The disciple gave an awkward, sheepish laugh.
"Then keep waiting, Martial Brother. I'm going up." Without waiting for a reply, Ling Tian immediately used his movement technique and headed for the summit.
"Hey, didn't I tell you not to force your way through? Why are you still going up, kid?" Seeing Ling Tian continue up the mountain, the disciple called out in surprise.
But Ling Tian had already gone too far to hear him.
By then, Ling Tian had reached the group of women. He bowed slightly and said, "Senior Sisters, I'd like to see Hua Min'er. Could you please let her know?"
"We've already told you that Min'er isn't seeing anyone. Can't you take a hint?" The female disciples were all sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed, so naturally they hadn't noticed that it was Ling Tian.
"Um, I think Hua Min'er would want to see me." Ling Tian felt helpless, but said it anyway.
"How can you be so shameless? We said she wasn't seeing anyone. Why are you still pestering us?" A woman in her mid-twenties sounded impatient. She'd driven off at least a hundred people like him today.
"Eh? Are you Ling Tian?" The woman opened her eyes and cried out in surprise.
The other disciples, who'd been resting with their eyes closed, opened them too. They all looked at Ling Tian with delight.
"Yes, that's me." Ling Tian smiled faintly.
"Then you can go up. Min'er often talks about you, and Master said you could come straight in. We didn't know it was you just now. Please forgive us." The woman apologized awkwardly.
Ling Tian's standing was completely different now. Besides, Ye Feidie had said he was an honored guest of Qingdie Peak and could enter without being announced, so she naturally didn't dare offend him.
"It's all right, it's all right. You're too kind, Senior Sister. So I can go up?" Ling Tian hurriedly stopped her, glancing at her questioningly. The disciple wouldn't dare stop him now and quickly nodded. Ling Tian passed through the group and continued up the mountain.
At the foot of the mountain, the disciple who'd kindly warned Ling Tian was still worrying that he'd get beaten up. But a moment later, he stared in utter shock.
"He really made it up there. Could they have made an exception and let him go see Hua Min'er?" the disciple thought to himself.
But a moment later, he dismissed the idea. Another person who'd followed Ling Tian up the mountain was kicked back down.
"That's strange. But that person looks familiar." The disciple rubbed his head, trying to remember.
"Ling Tian! He's Ling Tian!" the disciple exclaimed, then smacked his own head and cursed himself. "I'm blind! Ling Tian was standing right in front of me, and I didn't even recognize him!"
Leaving aside the disciple's frantic regret, Ling Tian arrived at the plaza of Qingdie Peak.
"Ah, why didn't I ask that senior sister to show me the way?" Ling Tian reached the entrance to Qingdie Peak's Great Hall, then hesitated to go in. Who knew whether it was all right to enter?
"Should I just walk in?" Ling Tian wondered, but quickly gave up on the idea.
"What should I do? Call out loudly?" Ling Tian shook his head.
"Martial Brother Ling Tian, what are you standing here daydreaming about?" Yun Ying's voice rang out. Seeing Ling Tian looking dazed, she couldn't help asking curiously.
"Senior Sister Yun Ying, it's wonderful to see you. I was just wondering how to find Min'er." For the first time, Ling Tian thought Yun Ying's voice sounded so lovely.
"Tsk, I thought you were looking for me, Sister. You got my hopes up for nothing. Now I'm so sad, boo-hoo." Yun Ying pretended to cry, unable to resist teasing the handsome young man before her.
Ling Tian's face turned slightly red. He'd never encountered anything like this before, and for a moment he was at a loss for words. He could only stare blankly at Yun Ying.
"Pfft!" Seeing Ling Tian's flustered expression, Yun Ying couldn't help laughing. Her smile was truly radiant, enough to turn the heads of all living beings.
"All right, all right, I'll stop teasing you. I'll go call Junior Sister Min'er." Yun Ying kindly let Ling Tian off the hook for the moment.
"Thank you, Senior Sister." Ling Tian watched Yun Ying leave, then waited anxiously where he stood.
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