Xin Ruyin

Hearing this, the young woman's expression turned slightly dazed. After witnessing the flying swords by Lin Yun's side, she knew she was no match for Lin Yun.

Because of this, she intended to hand the legacy directly over to Lin Yun, asking only that he spare her life once he obtained the heritage.

After all, in the mortal world, even fathers, brothers, and sons would fight to the death over a bit of gold and silver treasure, let alone this precious cultivation legacy.

Before absolute strength, the young woman did not dare hope to keep the heritage; she only wished to preserve her life.

Yet Lin Yun's attitude toward an opportunity within arm's reach was truly astonishing.

Precisely because of this, the young woman finally relaxed her vigilance entirely.

Seeing the young woman relax, Lin Yun began to inquire about her identity and background.

After some conversation, Lin Yun finally confirmed that this young woman was none other than the array genius Xin Ruoyin.

It turned out that Xin Ruoyin was originally the daughter of a wealthy family in a nearby city. Not long ago, by a stroke of fate, she had accidentally strayed into the array within this small mountain.

As for how a wealthy young lady managed to wander into these desolate mountains, Xin Ruoyin did not go into detail with Lin Yun, but judging by her expression, Lin Yun could only deduce that it must have been some melodramatic domestic family drama.

Once Xin Ruoyin obtained the legacy left by the original master of this place, she stayed in this small mountain to cultivate, only occasionally going down the mountain to purchase daily necessities. She did not know much about the cultivation world, and until today, Lin Yun was the first cultivator she had ever encountered.

"Since Young Master was able to break through the array, these things are also partially Young Master's." Xin Ruoyin led Lin Yun to a bamboo house and pointed to the things inside as she spoke to him.

Inside the room sat several bookshelves, which, apart from some jade slips, actually held many books as well.

Lin Yun walked in, picked up these items, and flipped through them casually. These books were actually made from fierce beast leather, and their contents consisted of array essays, travel notes on the cultivation world, and some Five Elements cultivation techniques.

Lin Yun picked up the jade slips instead and swept his spiritual sense over them quickly, discovering that what these jade slips recorded were all arrays. Some complete arrays Lin Yun estimated were passed down by the Heavenly Star Sect, while the rest were various complete or incomplete ancient arrays.

Seeing Lin Yun examining the books, Xin Ruoyin said with a hint of apology, "Aside from these, everything else has rotted away. I hope Young Master will not mind."

Lin Yun put down the leather-bound book in his hand and said, "These things originally belong to Miss Xin, so why would I mind? I should be thanking Miss Xin for letting me peruse them."

Pausing for a moment, Lin Yun continued, "Judging by what you said, Miss, you haven't been entering this place for long. Then I wonder how long you have been cultivating?"

If he remembered correctly, Xin Ruoyin possessed the Dragon-Yin Body—a male body mistakenly born in a female form. If she cultivated, her meridians would gradually wither and decay until death, and her lifespan would not be long.

For such a cultivation genius in arrays like Xin Ruoyin to perish in this manner would truly be a pity.

Hearing this, Xin Ruoyin was slightly dazed, not knowing why Lin Yun asked this, but she still answered truthfully, "This humble woman obtained the legacy half a year ago, and cultivated for about three days before condensing my first strand of spiritual power."

Condensing the first strand of spiritual power after cultivating for three days? Lin Yun was extremely surprised upon hearing this.

This talent was truly remarkable, not far behind even a Heavenly Spiritual Root. Just what kind of constitution was the Dragon-Yin Body?

After pondering for a moment, Lin Yun hurriedly asked again, "Then when Miss Xin cultivates, do you experience any discomfort?"

Xin Ruoyin was once again stunned, a trace of strange emotion flashing in her eyes before she said, "Indeed. When this humble woman cultivates, the meridians within my body feel as though they are burning with fire. How did Young Master know?"

"Let me take your pulse." Lin Yun did not answer directly, instead speaking with a solemn expression.

He did not actually know what the Dragon-Yin Body truly was, so he still needed to examine her to find out if there was any way to treat it.

Seeing Lin Yun's solemn expression, Xin Ruoyin did not act coy either, extending her fair wrist to offer it to Lin Yun.

After taking her pulse for a moment, Lin Yun's expression changed several times before finally returning to calm.

The good news was that he possessed medicinal pills that could temporarily suppress the Dragon-Yin Body.

The bad news was that he temporarily lacked a method to cure the Dragon-Yin Body at its root.

Lin Yun informed Xin Ruoyin of the result, "This constitution is called the Dragon-Yin Body. It is a male body mistakenly born in a female form, leading to the inversion and chaos of Yin and Yang. If you continue to cultivate, it will cause your Yang energy to run in reverse and backfire on your meridians, ultimately leading to death by meridian desiccation."

Xin Ruoyin's expression shifted, and then she said with elegant composure, "The Dragon-Yin Body? So that's how it is. No wonder my body felt uncomfortable when I cultivated previously. Thank you, Young Master, for letting me know."

Then, taking elegant steps, she walked over to the bookshelf, reached out to stroke the jade slips, and said with a hint of reluctance in her tone, "I wonder if I still have time to continue researching these arrays."

Although Xin Ruoyin had only just begun studying these arrays not long ago, they held an immense fascination for her, as if she were naturally meant to study them. Perhaps these arrays were the very meaning of her existence.

Therefore, upon hearing that her life might soon be cut short, Xin Ruoyin's very first reaction was whether she still had time to continue studying arrays.

Seeing this, Lin Yun was somewhat astonished by Xin Ruoyin's reaction, but without wasting words, he found a medicine bottle in his storage bag, handed it to Xin Ruoyin, and said with a smile, "Fortunately, Miss Xin is rather lucky. I happen to have a bottle of medicinal pills here. This pill is called the Flowing Moon Pill, and it should be able to temporarily suppress the Yang energy of the Dragon-Yin Body."

This pill was a byproduct of his pill alchemy, formed when surplus moonlight spiritual qi was combined with the scattered medicinal properties of several water-attribute medicinal herbs during the pill-refinement process.

Lin Yun felt the medicinal strength of this pill was far too gentle and of no use to himself, yet he truly could not bear to waste its medicinal properties, so he left a spot for this pill to form in the corner of the cauldron. He never imagined it could come in handy for Xin Ruoyin today.

One could only say that the word fate was truly wondrous.

Looking at the medicine bottle before her, Xin Ruoyin felt that the dramatic ups and downs of life were simply too fast. She was originally going to die, yet her savior was right before her eyes? How could it be such a coincidence?

With her intelligence, it was not that she had never suspected the truth or falsehood of Lin Yun's words, but upon careful thought, she had nothing worth coveting. Furthermore, she was no match for this person in the first place, and everything in this bamboo house was already his for the taking-why would he bother to go through the superfluous trouble of deception?

As for her beauty? Xin Ruoyin had self-awareness; she was hardly a peerless beauty. The person before her had handsome features and an untethered, ethereal demeanor. How could such a figure soaring above the clouds ever take a fancy to her?

Shaking her head and letting her mind settle, Xin Ruoyin finally took the medicine bottle and said, "I never expected Young Master to be proficient not only in arrays, but also in alchemy."

Noticing the change in Xin Ruoyin's expression, Lin Yun could not guess what she was thinking, but he couldn't help teasing, "Aren't you afraid there's something wrong with my pills, Miss Xin?"

Who would have thought that under the surge of her emotions, Xin Ruoyin would actually cast a sideways glance at Lin Yun, then directly open the medicine bottle, pour out a crystal-clear, slightly silver-tinted pill, and place it straight between her cherry lips.

After swallowing the pill, Xin Ruoyin felt a current of coldness slide down her throat, and the slightly stinging meridians within her body felt remarkably comforted. She could not help but feel extremely amazed by Lin Yun's medicinal pill.

After this, Lin Yun originally intended to bid farewell and leave, but Xin Ruoyin invited him to stay temporarily, insisting that he at least finish reading the jade slips inside the bamboo house first.

She stated that since he broke through the array to arrive here, the legacy in this room naturally should be considered partly his. Moreover, he had saved her life, and since she had no worldly possessions to offer, the contents within these jade slips would serve as her repayment.

With nothing pressing to do on his end, and finding those ancient arrays rather interesting, Lin Yun stayed behind. Every day he studied those array techniques, and from time to time he would discuss array insights and matters of the cultivation world with Xin Ruoyin.

Xin Ruoyin was truly worthy of being an array genius. In just a short few days, she was actually able to exchange array insights with Lin Yun on equal footing-one must know that Lin Yun had even grasped a fraction of the essence of the Twofold Dust Array!

Taken by enthusiastic interest upon finding such raw talent, Lin Yun could not help lingering for a few more days, spending every day discussing array principles with Xin Ruoyin and only heading out of the small mountain to nearby cities to select personnel and establish a commercial association once Xin Ruoyin went off to cultivate daily.

Two full months passed. By the time the establishment of the commercial association was complete, Lin Yun knew it was time for him to return to Yellow Maple Valley.

Xin Ruoyin saw Lin Yun off down the mountain. After two months of living under the same roof, she felt a sudden pang of reluctance at the impending parting and said, "Big Brother Lin, when will you be coming back?"

Lin Yun felt no particular sense of reluctance and smiled, saying, "It's bound to take a year or half at least. Rest assured, I still have to bring you your medicine. You must remember, Ruoyin, you need to take a Flowing Moon Pill every three days to suppress the Yang energy in your body and allow you to cultivate safely."

"Rest assured, Big Brother Lin, I've noted it down." Xin Ruoyin nodded gently.

"Right, take this sword for self-defense." Lin Yun handed Xin Ruoyin a small sword.

This was a sword talisman he had refined using some Iron Essence. Aside from a movement technique that could carry someone away in flight, the sword also retained three of his sword qi attacks, which were more than enough to deal with a cultivator at the Great Circle of Qi Condensation.

"Alright, Ruoyin, you don't need to see me off any further. I will be back in half a year's time." With that, Lin Yun urged his sword light forward and soared straight into the sky.

Midst the sword light, Lin Yun glanced back at Xin Ruoyin, who was still standing quietly in place, and couldn't help thinking: just how high an attainment in array mastery would this young woman achieve in the future if she managed to survive?

In his view, for such a peerless talent of the immortal path to be buried in obscurity would truly be a pity.