The Thousand Fragrances, Ten Thousand Beauties Painting, a Supreme-Grade Dharma Artifact, could conjure countless peerless beauties to bewilder opponents.
When the scroll unfurled, ethereal celestial music drifted through the air as the Mystic Maiden of the Nine Heavens danced gracefully.
The beauties within the painting each possessed their own charm—some gentle and lovely, some seductive and enchanting, some cold and noble—and they changed according to the enemy's preferences.
Once an enemy gazed upon the scroll, they would fall into it and lose all control.
It combined offense and defense. For attack, it could unleash the Thousand Fragrances Divine Light; for defense, it could ward with the Immortal Array of Ten Thousand Beauties.
Xiao Yu looked at the Supreme-Grade Dharma Artifact before him, his brows lifting with delight.
With a casual wave of his hand, several streaks of rosy light shot forth. Faintly, beautiful women seemed to accompany them with music. When he looked again, the forest ahead had been cleaved in two.
Xiao Yu was secretly astonished. He was only at the Qi Refining First Layer, yet it possessed such power.
Even if that Senior Sister Mei came again, he would no longer fear her!
Afterward, he entered Hua Lian's Judgment Room once more.
He remained there for three days and three nights.
When Hua Lian woke again, she looked at Xiao Yu beside her, her face blank with confusion.
Thinking back on everything from those three days, it all felt like a dream.
For some reason, she did not really want to leave.
This time, she truly did not want to leave.
Staying here could repair her Spiritual Root and restore her cultivation.
Moreover, she was now Xiao Yu's woman, and her master was still in his hands.
If she escaped again, would he harm her master someday if he became angry?
Hua Lian found another reason to persuade herself.
Looking at Xiao Yu before her, Hua Lian subconsciously reached out and wrapped her arms around him. "M-Master, Lian'er won't leave anymore. Can you help Lian'er recover from her injuries?"
"Could you please stop hurting Master... Lian'er is willing to be Master's maidservant..."
Hua Lian spoke in Xiao Yu's arms with a pitiful appearance that would stir compassion in anyone who saw her.
Yet when Xiao Yu saw her Judgment Score, a cold sneer rose in his heart.
Over these three days, her Judgment Score had already reached 90%!
But once it reached 90%, it had become stuck and stopped moving.
Clearly, this woman had yet to fully recognize her mistakes.
Even though she looked so pitiful now, even though she believed she herself was in the wrong, deep in her heart there was surely still a line of defense.
Xiao Yu pursed his lips and held Hua Lian's soft waist. "I'm rather curious. Your Jade Maiden Sect was so powerful—how did it end up being destroyed by the declining Hehuan Sect?"
Hua Lian nestled against Xiao Yu's chest and spoke softly. "It was mainly Second Junior Sister's fault. She betrayed us... But Master should also make preparations early... Demon Island sending your four sects to invade Hexi Province was merely a pawn sent ahead of the army!"
Xiao Yu chuckled softly. She had actually begun worrying about him?
"Of course I understand what you mean. The Hehuan Sect, Thousand Poisons Sect, Blood Refining Hall, and Demon Refining Sect that launched this war are merely minor sects in Demon Province. I reckon they will be driven back before long!"
Hua Lian added, "Mm... Didn't Master say before that you wanted to leave this place? I suggest Master make preparations early. Lian'er does not want anything to happen to you!"
Xiao Yu held her with an indulgent expression, his grip extremely tight. "Mm, good. Isn't this much better? By the way, besides your master, do you have anyone else you especially cherish?"
At his words, Hua Lian instinctively clenched her fists, then hurriedly shook her head. "N-No... there isn't anyone else..."
Xiao Yu said without a second thought, "Is that so? I thought that since you were willing to follow me now, if you had any wishes, I could help you fulfill them. If not, then forget it!"
Hua Lian hesitated, wanting to speak yet holding back. After thinking for a moment, she ultimately said nothing.
Xiao Yu began observing her again.
Her hair, her clothes, her embroidered shoes.
At last, he spotted a red Lovers' Knot at her waist and immediately snatched it away.
Hua Lian's eyes flew wide, and she cried out in panic, "G-Give it back to me..."
Xiao Yu remained unmoved. One arm held her while his other hand carefully examined the Lovers' Knot.
The red knot bound two hearts as one, its threads intertwined in exquisite craftsmanship beyond compare.
Its color resembled vermilion scattered across it, brilliant and eye-catching, like sunset clouds reflected in the sky.
Xiao Yu frowned slightly. "If I'm not mistaken, this Lovers' Knot is a token of love, isn't it, Lian'er?"
Hua Lian nervously gripped the corner of her skirt, her fingers nearly pinching themselves bloody. "N-No, it isn't..."
Xiao Yu stared at the Lovers' Knot with a thoughtful look. So this woman's final line of defense was love.
After all, this was manual operation. Her heart would need some manual operation as well.
Although he was confident that he could raise her Judgment Score to one hundred if given a few more days, he had never liked wasting time.
"Mm, Lian'er, which senior brother do you like? He probably isn't from your Jade Maiden Sect, is he?"
"I remember your master saying before that disciples of the Jade Maiden Sect were forbidden from falling in love. That means you hid some things from her before, doesn't it? If I tell her about your affair, I imagine she'll be furious enough to vomit blood..."
Hua Lian's pupils abruptly shrank, and her lips turned pale. "No! Anything but that..."
Xiao Yu suddenly roared, "If you don't tell me, I'll go find your master!!!"
Hua Lian instantly shrank back, the terror she felt toward Xiao Yu written all over her face.
Xiao Yu said angrily, "So I saved you and your master's lives, and it was one thing for you to try to poison me. Now, not only did I not kill you, I didn't hand you over either, and this is how you repay me?"
"Can the man you like repair your Spiritual Root? Were you planning to heal your injuries here, then go out and find him again?"
"If it weren't for my Nine Yang Divine Body, you would be destined to remain a mortal for the rest of your life. Think carefully!"
"Anyway, I've had enough fun!"
As Xiao Yu spoke, he began putting on his clothes. Hua Lian was so frightened that she hurried forward. "I-It's Senior Brother Lin Ce... Senior Brother Lin Ce of the Profound Spirit Sect. I privately pledged myself to him for life... Master, don't be angry. Lian'er knows she was wrong..."
The moment Xiao Yu heard that, he thought of something.
The Profound Spirit Sect, Lin Ce?
Wasn't that the guy who had led people in hunting him down on Jiangliu Mountain...
That man seemed to be one of the Profound Spirit Sect's chosen disciples. He styled himself as a righteous member of an orthodox sect and had quite a few admirers.
He was also the sort who constantly proclaimed that slaying demons and exterminating evil was his duty.
For some reason, Xiao Yu felt a little sick whenever he heard about those people who sought fame and reputation.
Back then, several Body Tempering Stage disciples of the Profound Spirit Sect had wanted to kick Bai Yue while she was down.
Although Bai Yue was no good person either, she was now his possession after all.
Sooner or later, she would submit as well.
When Hua Lian saw Xiao Yu fall silent, she thought he intended to tell Bai Yue about how she had secretly pledged herself to Lin Ce.
She immediately burst into tears, her face full of grievance. "Master... Master, Lian'er was wrong..."
"Lian'er swears that she will never see Senior Brother Lin again. Please don't tell Master. She will hate me... She truly will hate me..."
"Second Junior Sister fell in love with a man from the demonic path. Master refused to accept it and dug out that man's Spiritual Root. She absolutely would not allow us disciples to fall in love before forming a Golden Core. I beg you, don't tell Master..."
"Lian'er will never go anywhere again. I will serve only Master... life after life!"
Hearing this, Xiao Yu felt somewhat irritated. "You mean the Second Junior Sister who betrayed your sect did so because your master had crippled the man she loved?"
Hua Lian nodded with a wronged expression. "Mm... There is a saying in our Jade Maiden Sect: when a female cultivator falls in love, her immortal path knows no peace... Among us righteous and orthodox sects, our Dao companions are arranged by the sect. Master's kindness toward me is heavier than mountains. I truly cannot let her find out..."
"Master... please spare Lian'er this once..."
Xiao Yu looked at her Judgment Score, which had still not risen, amusement glinting in his eyes.
It seemed this woman still held fantasies about Lin Ce. "Lian'er, if I told you that several days ago, it was disciples under your Senior Brother Lin Ce who intended to violate your master on Jiangliu Mountain, would you still keep this Lovers' Knot?"
Hua Lian was momentarily stunned. After hesitating for a while, she lowered her head, clearly unwilling to believe it.
Xiao Yu said softly, "That day, I took your master and fled. On the way, we encountered some people from the Profound Spirit Sect. That Lin Ce stepped forward and declared that he was Lin Ce, an inner disciple of the Profound Spirit Sect. Then he drew a dharma sword and joined several junior brothers in surrounding and attacking us."
"Do you know why I hated your master so much?"
"It was because that day, those people wanted to defile your master. If I had not taken a Bloodburst Pill to save her and escape, she would probably have gained a whole group of Dao companions from the Profound Spirit Sect by now!"
Hua Lian had heard Bai Yue mention this matter before, but she had not known that the people involved had been brought by Lin Ce.
Seeing that she was still unmoved, Xiao Yu immediately grew impatient. "So you're still thinking of eating from the bowl while looking at the pot, huh? Fine, then keep being a mortal. I don't like raising a woman whose heart belongs to another man. You might as well forget about your Spiritual Root!"
After saying that, Xiao Yu released the Thousand Fragrances, Ten Thousand Beauties Painting. Hua Lian immediately panicked.
"Master... Master, don't... Lian'er, Lian'er swears that I will absolutely never see him again..."
By the time Hua Lian reached this point, tears were already streaming down her face.
Xiao Yu chuckled softly. Her Judgment Score still had not risen.
No wonder people said beautiful women could lie.
She was crying herself into such a state, yet she still would not speak the truth?
"Lian'er, I actually like you quite a bit, but don't keep testing my bottom line. Your master likes obedient children!"
"Once you follow me, with my Nine Yang Divine Body, your cultivation speed will surely far surpass ordinary people's. Within a few years, you will definitely be able to form a Golden Core!"
"And I promise you: as long as you swear upon your Dao heart that you will follow me with unwavering devotion from now on, I will absolutely not kill you or your master. I will even grant you an enormous opportunity!"
"Even if you do not consider yourself, you must consider your master!"
As Xiao Yu spoke, he opened a window to the neighboring Judgment Room. Bai Yue's screams instantly carried over.
Hua Lian immediately burst into tears, her entire body shaking violently. "Master... Master..."
Xiao Yu said in a low voice, "I'm telling you to swear upon your Dao heart. As long as you swear upon your Dao heart to follow me, I won't make things difficult for you!"
Listening to Bai Yue's screams, Hua Lian's tears flowed uncontrollably.
Although her master had forbidden them from falling in love, she had raised Hua Lian throughout her life.
She remembered when she had still been an orphan.
If not for her master, Bai Yue, perhaps she would have already been eaten by someone.
"Master... Disciple... Disciple has let you down..."
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