Lin Cheng was stunned!
He had already entered the Innate Realm. In all of the vast Jingyun Sect, who could threaten him, besides the Grand Elder who never left seclusion?
And yet, he had sensed a hint of danger from this ordinary-looking girl, who was actually rather cute.
It was simply unbelievable.
It was utterly impossible!
And yet, it had truly happened.
Thinking this, Lin Cheng activated his Eye of Truth-Breaking and circulated his true qi. Violet light shone in his eyes as he looked toward Meng Tangtang.
In an instant, a strange scene appeared before him, somewhat like a thermal image.
But unlike an ordinary person's body,
Meng Tangtang's energy radiated in two halves: one icy cold, the other scorching hot.
Two forces powerful enough to leave even an Innate expert aghast were hidden within her tiny body, starkly divided and clashing with each other.
One could imagine how much pain she had to endure.
Lin Cheng withdrew his power and couldn't help admiring the little girl's resolve and fortitude. If it had been him, he would probably have been tortured beyond recognition by now.
At the same time, he more or less understood what she was after.
Since he felt a measure of admiration for her, Lin Cheng wanted to help as much as he could.
"Extreme cold and extreme heat—the two forces of ice and fire."
"It does resemble the special constitution from legend, the Innate Divine Body known as the Ice-Fire Dual Essence Body. Its bearer is almost certain to reach the Innate Realm, or even higher. Those who failed to reach the Innate Realm had already died." Lin Cheng recalled what he knew.
As for this constitution,
it was indeed powerful.
But without proper cultivation, ice and fire would clash, and the instant their power erupted, the bearer would die without a doubt.
The key was to guide the ice and fire until they harmonized.
You within me, me within you.
Generating and overcoming one another, forming a cycle of their own.
According to the records, someone with this constitution had once appeared on the continent. Even when an expert beyond the Innate Realm stepped in to treat them, he could not suppress the energies of ice and fire. The bearer of the Innate Divine Body had died in a burst of explosive force, full of bitterness.
Afterward, the expert had said that to guide this energy, one would either need to invite a Nascent Soul old monster with divine sense to intervene, or find the cultivation method of the legendary Great Emperor of Dual Essence.
Either option was exceedingly difficult.
The cost of asking a Nascent Soul expert for help went without saying.
And searching for the cultivation method was even more of a pipe dream.
As time passed, this constitution had gradually become a "terminal illness." Countless people of extraordinary talent could do nothing but die with bitterness and regret.
"But this isn't difficult for me. A few days ago, I signed in and obtained a cultivation method—the Ice-Fire Emperor Scripture of the Great Emperor of Dual Essence. It may not compare to the Nine Transformations of the True Spirit, but it's still a peerless divine art, without equal in all history. This little girl's time hasn't come yet."
A scroll radiating the aura of ice and fire suddenly appeared in Lin Cheng's hand, along with a bottle of Lesser Restoration Pills and a mid-grade spirit weapon sword.
Pills like the Lesser Restoration Pill were of no use to him anymore.
Over the past two years, he had given away quite a few.
As for spirit weapons, he had plenty.
The cultivation scroll, however, was a treasure.
Lin Cheng didn't want to give it away casually.
After a moment's hesitation, his eyes lit up as he came up with an idea.
Meng Tangtang wandered alone among the bookshelves, occasionally pulling out a book.
Time passed little by little. Before she knew it, she had been there for almost two hours.
Gradually, despair crept over Meng Tangtang.
The Grand Elder must have thought her unworthy.
She had never doubted the legends about the Library Pavilion. So many people had gained opportunities there; they couldn't all be made up.
"It's time to leave."
Meng Tangtang looked gloomily at the sky outside and pressed down the hurt and indignation in her heart. She didn't resent the Grand Elder; she had no right to. She only hated that her aptitude was so poor that she wasn't even worthy of catching his attention.
Her heart felt desolate.
She was just about to head for the Library Pavilion's exit.
Suddenly,
"Little one, are you willing to take me as your master?"
An elderly voice abruptly sounded beside her ear. Startled by the sudden turn of events, Meng Tangtang's heart jolted, and then her delicate body began to tremble.
Then came overwhelming joy!
It had to be the Grand Elder!
Only he could use such mysterious, godlike voice transmission!
Was he finally willing to meet her?
At that moment, Meng Tangtang felt as if the whole world had brightened.
It was hope!
Hope that she could live on, healthy and well!
And besides—
What had she just heard? The Grand Elder wanted to take her as his disciple!
Meng Tangtang felt as if her soul were about to float away.
She felt like she was dreaming.
"I... how could I possibly deserve this?" Meng Tangtang's eyes grew wet.
All the grievances she had accumulated over the years erupted in that instant. Tears poured down her cheeks, and she dropped to her knees with a thud!
Without the slightest hesitation!
"Your disciple Meng Tangtang pays her respects to Master!"
At last!
Could she finally escape that nightmarish illness?
She believed that an immortal-like figure such as the Grand Elder would surely have a way.
In the eyes of ordinary people, the Innate Realm was no different from that of the immortals.
Meng Tangtang naturally thought the same. Since a figure like him was willing to take her as his disciple, he must have a way to cure her chronic illness.
Not far away,
Lin Cheng watched Meng Tangtang weep bitterly and sighed softly. It seemed she had indeed suffered greatly over the years. He was only giving her a hand, yet it would free her from misery and save her life.
Besides, he could also gain a disciple of extraordinary talent in the process.
Why not?
The power of heaven and earth carried the scroll, pills, and sword to the ground before Meng Tangtang.
The hoarse, elderly voice sounded again.
"Take these."
Meng Tangtang bowed gratefully, then extended both hands and respectfully lifted the scroll and pills.
She was so cautious, as if afraid she might be dreaming and that the slightest touch would shatter the dream. Seeing this, Lin Cheng's heart ached inexplicably. This child had surely suffered countless hardships since she was little.
"Drip your blood on it to see the cultivation method's information. Study it carefully, and do not slack off."
Lin Cheng sent his voice across the air.
Meng Tangtang quickly answered respectfully. Following his words, she used the dagger she carried to prick her finger and let a drop of blood fall.
The next second,
a vast and complicated torrent of information, along with countless insights, surged into Meng Tangtang's mind. Thanks to the inheritance, she grasped the basics in an instant. The cultivation method began circulating on its own, and the ice-and-fire energies within her body stirred with delight, merging of their own accord.
In the blink of an eye, her aura surged.
She broke through three levels in a row, becoming a third-grade cultivator.
Meng Tangtang's delicate body trembled. What a profound and wondrous cultivation method!
Even with her limited experience, she understood how precious it was. It must be an extremely important treasure, even to the Grand Elder.
And yet he had bestowed it upon her so casually!
Such trust, such care!
Her heart tightened with emotion.
A warm current flowed through her.
"Thank you, Master, for this gift. I can never repay your great kindness. I have nothing else to offer in return. In life, I will be a person of the Jingyun Sect; in death, its ghost. I swear to fight for the rise of the sect!"
Feeling the surging inner strength within her, Meng Tangtang felt unworthy of the gift. She immediately bowed three times toward the inner area of the Library Pavilion and solemnly made her vow.
In her eyes, the powerful expert within the Library Pavilion had to be the Grand Elder of the Jingyun Sect.
There was nothing wrong with pledging her loyalty.
Little did she know that the one who had bestowed this opportunity upon her was merely a lowly sweeper.
Lin Cheng could only laugh helplessly.
He truly didn't care much about the Jingyun Sect. When all was said and done, he was just a lowly sweeper in the sect. Even if it were destroyed, as long as no one disturbed his cultivation and sign-ins, he couldn't be bothered to interfere. Still, with the thought that a stronger Jingyun Sect meant fewer troubles for him, he tacitly accepted Meng Tangtang's pledge.
"Your disciple takes her leave."
After calming down from her excitement, Meng Tangtang respectfully took her leave.
Once more, Lin Cheng was alone in the entire Library Pavilion.
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